Page 108 of Hate Me Like You Mean It

“We don’t have to do this today. There’s a small bed-and-breakfast I usually stay at during multi-day visits; it’s just down the street. We can go there for the night and come back tomorrow, once you’ve had a chance to sleep, eat, and… you know, process.”

“I don’t need to sleep. Or eat. Or process.”

“I do,” he lied.

“All right, so go. I’ll see you there in a bit.” I half jogged to catch up with Sage, stuttering a quick apology for making her wait. Then I blacked out, buried so deep in my own head that I didn’t realize what corners we turned or what doors we pushed through to get to her.

I just blinked, and there she was.

In my memories of her, Rosie was all color. She used to wear so many pinks, reds, and yellows that looking at her sometimes made me crave candy. The only other time I’d seen her dressed in all black was at my grandmother’s funeral. It was as startling then as it was now.

“Rosie, honey, you have another new visitor. Don’t you want to say hi?” Sage nudged, trying to pull her focused attention away from the backgammon board laid out in front of her.

It wasn’t until Dominic cleared his throat that I realized he was in the room, standing next to me, allowing me to lean against him for support.

Rosie finally lifted her head, and his arm was around my waist before I even knew I needed it, grounding me. She looked the same, but different. The evidence of the last eight years was etched around her eyes, her mouth, and everywhere else her smile touched.

“Her name is Alice,” Sage supplied gently.

After a moment, Rosie’s entire face lit up. She grinned, turning in her chair. “Is it, really? I have a daughter named Alice,” she declared proudly.

“Do you, now? First time I’m hearing about this,” Sage said, providing me with an extra few seconds to recover.

“She’s not my blood, but she’s my heart. Lovely, lovely girl.”

I forced my lips into a smile, my throat sealed shut, pins pricking at the back of my eyes.

Rosie’s attention shifted to Dom. With the same gentle kindness, she asked, “What’s your name?”

The large bay window nestled in the background, just behind her, slipped a blurry foot to the left before assuming position again.

“Dominic,” he provided calmly. His fingers pressed into my hip, and I reached for them without thinking, covering his hand with mine.

She nodded, pleased with the name he’d been assigned, then returned to contemplating the board. Sage offered me and Dominic a warm, comforting smile, and when he gave her the nod, she quickly slipped out the door.

“What’s this?” He inched us closer to the table, fingers still woven through mine. “You’re playing backgammon all by yourself?”

“Oh, no. I’m playing with my husband. He just went…” She trailed off. Then, “He’ll be back in a minute.”

“Went to get you flowers again, I bet,” Dom teased lightly, and she chuckled, a hint of color washing over her carved cheeks.

“He does love to buy me flowers.”

“What kinds?” He pulled out the seat to her left, gesturing for me to sit. He took the chair next to mine.

“All kinds,” she boasted.

“And which ones do you think he’ll surprise you with today?”

She paused to think, her smile fading a touch with the unexpected effort. As though she couldn’t remember what the flowers were called.

“Lilies, maybe?” he offered.

Relief washed over her expression. “Oh, yes, lilies. I love lilies.”

“Or maybe it’ll be tulips.”

She nodded again. “Yes, tulips would be good, too.”