Page 128 of Consumed By You

I realize immediately. No, he isn’t thinking about Arthur.He’s thinking about his brother.

I hate that I didn’t see it sooner. I should have realized he would be thinking of his brother right now.

“I’ll be inside in a bit, Darcy.” He wipes his nose on his sleeve, a gesture very unlike him.

“I’m not leaving you out here like this.” I plop down next to him. “We can sit here together.”

He sighs loudly, but I don’t care. There is no way I’m leaving him like this. I’ve never seen this man even close to crying, let alone a mess like he is now.

I completely understand what he’s feeling. I lost both my parents in one catastrophic moment. I didn’t have the chance to say goodbye. I didn’t get to tell them I loved them. Grief hits when you least expect it, and at the most inopportune times.

About ten minutes later, just as my toes are about to break off, he stands. I stare up at him and I too get up. We’re walking back to the hospital entrance when he takes my hand silently.

A thank you.

We enter Arthur’s room together. Benjamin steps up to Arthur’s bedside.

“Hey, Arthur. It’s Benjamin.”

***

“You two should go home.” Doris’s voice wakes me. I open my eyes and take my head off Benjamin’s shoulder. “It’s doing you no good to stay here all night.”

“We’re fine, Doris,” Benjamin reassures her.

I glance up at the clock. It’s three a.m.

“No, you’re not fine. You both look exhausted.”

“Doris—” I open my mouth to argue, but she holds up her hand, silencing me.

“I’ll call you in the morning.”

Benjamin frowns. “You’re sure you’re okay here? We don’t mind staying.”

“Bless you both. I’m fine.” She presses a kiss to Benjamin’s cheek and then mine. “You two are angels. You can come see him in the morning if you’d like.”

“Okay.” I stand, my body aching, and pick up my coat off the seat next to me. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

“All right, darling.”

We begin to make our way toward the exit. A few seconds before we are through the doors, Doris calls out for Benjamin and we both stop.

“Benjamin, thank you for paying the expenses for everything, really. You don’t know what it means to me.”

He nods, smiling sadly. “Arthur deserves the best.”

***

Although I was surprised when Benjamin asked if he could stay over at my place, I was comforted as well.

I pull my nightgown over my head.

“Thank you…for earlier,” he says.

“I did nothing,” I state, glancing at him curiously.

“You were there for me.” He stuffs his large hands into his pockets. “That was enough.”