Page 141 of Fall of a Kingdom

“What about—”

“Hen, I’m begging you. Rest, aye? That’s all you have to do. Rest, get well, and everything else will be taken care of.”

My lip wobbled. “What about the stuff between us?”

“Stuff?”

“You were the last to know about my tumor. And I wasn’t the one to tell you.”

He sighed. “Aye.”

“Do you forgive me?”

He paused for so long I was afraid he wouldn’t answer. I was drifting off to sleep when he said quietly, “I don’t know, Barrett. I really don’t know.”

Chapter49

FLYNN

I didn’t movefrom her side until I was sure she was asleep. I let go of her hand and stretched my arms over my head. My muscles groaned and my bones creaked.

I felt fucking old.

Despite the car accident, I had no broken bones or significant injuries.

People talk of seeing a white light.

All I’d seen was darkness.

A nothingness, devoid of anything at all.

And then suddenly I’d been awake, as if nothing had happened, as if no time had passed.

I’d lost my phone and wallet in the river, but they’d identified me by my fingerprints. I’d called Barrett’s cell as soon as I could, but Ash had answered it. She’d told me that Barrett had just had the surgery and had been wheeled into recovery.

My wife had had brain surgery and I hadn’t been the one sitting by her bedside.

It had been Sasha.

He’d flown back from the States after making the call for her to have the surgery, and he’d been the one sitting by her bedside when I walked into her room.

Without a word, he got up and left.

It had been two weeks and I hadn’t spoken to him about it. Two weeks of waiting to see if my wife would pull through. Two weeks of not caring that the house had been set on fire or that Gianna had taken the podium at The Rex press conference and fielded questions from the press.

It had taken everything I had inside me to even call my children.

What the fuck was I supposed to tell them?

Your mother might die?

Your mother might live?

The fact that Barrett had survived the surgery didn’t surprise me. The fact that Barrett still seemed likeBarrettdidn’t surprise me, either.

I wasn’t sure what the future held for us and that was terrifying.

Dr. Elmond had removed most of the tumor but had warned me that she would still need radiation and chemotherapy. He’d sat me down and explained her diagnosis, prognosis, and what to expect in the coming months. Glioblastomas weren’t curable and we’d need to be vigilant for any signs and symptoms that the tumor was growing again.