Page 90 of Moving to Love

“Did they put LuAnn in jail?” Joci needed to know.

Jeremiah took a deep breath, looked at Gunnar, and then back at Joci.

“Not yet. They’re looking for her. She must have heard about the accident and then took off. Police are looking everywhere for her.”

David walked in just then. “Hey there, girl. You feeling better?”

Joci smiled at him. “I’m better. How about you?”

David laughed. “Well, you made my hair grayer. My wife is now married to an old man.”

He kissed Jackie on the temple and hugged Gunnar with one arm. “What about you, Gunnar?”

Gunnar grinned. “I’m going to have a little sister.”

David looked at Joci and Jeremiah, his brows high into his hairline.

Joci giggled. “Jeremiah thinks he’s the baby whisperer.”

“Hey, I know some things,” Jeremiah said with a grin and a fake defensive tone.

As the group quietly chatted, Joci drifted off to sleep. Sometime later, she woke to David’s voice, low and menacing. “Get out.”

Joci opened her eyes to see Connor and an older man standing in her room. Jeremiah looked at David and then at Joci. Gunnar was watching David, as well. Jackie’s mouth had dropped open, but not a sound came out.

“I said get out,” David said again as he stood up.

Connor stepped forward and looked at Joci. “Joci, he demanded I bring him here when he heard about your accident.”

Joci looked at the older man again and then gasped. It was Keith. He looked horrible—like he was twenty years older than he was.

Jeremiah looked at Joci with a question in his eyes.

“Keith,” was all Joci could say.

Jeremiah stood to his full height. “Now, I’ll tell you. Get the fuck out.”

Keith looked at Gunnar. Gunnar stared at him for a long moment.

Keith turned toward Joci. He stepped forward, and Jeremiah moved to block him from getting any closer. Keith stopped and looked at Jeremiah, then Joci.

Keith’s voice was barely above a whisper, but he said, “I just needed to say I’m sorry.” He took a few moments to catch his breath. “I didn’t know how badly you were injured. I’m sorry about your accident. But in case you didn’t make it out of the hospital before I died, I really wanted to say I’m sorry. That’s it.”

Keith’s voice was barely audible; he struggled to breathe. It must have been hard for him to make it here today. He was clearly very sick. His skin was ashy and gray.

Keith looked at Gunnar and nodded slightly.

“Why?” Gunnar asked.

Keith glanced at him. “Connor told me what your mom said.” Keith looked over at Joci. “It isn’t true, Joci. I’m not worried about my mortality. I’m ready for any punishment God thinks I deserve. I wanted you to know that I do realize how badly I treated you…and Gunnar.”

His eyes flicked to Gunnar and back to her. In a soft, breathy voice, he said, “I’ve thought about it so many times over the years. Dianna encouraged me to try and touch base on several occasions, but I was scared. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I worried that I wouldn’t get the chance to tell you.”

Keith took a short, trembling breath, then went on. “You were a wonderful girlfriend, Joci. Connor has kept me up to date with you and Gunnar all these years. I’m sorry I was such a dickhead.” He slightly chuckled as he rested to fill his lungs. “I have no excuse for my horrible behavior. I hope someday you’ll be able to forgive me. I treated you terribly, for no reason whatsoever. I really am sorry.”

Keith looked at Gunnar. “I’m sorry, Gunnar. I really am.”

Gunnar bobbed his head once and held Keith’s gaze.