Page 49 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)

Chapter Forty-Seven

Lexie

R affe greets us at the front door, holding it wide open for me.

“Hey, thanks for coming over here for your therapy. Rachel had a rough day yesterday, but she’s feeling a bit better today.”

He gives Ash a big hug. “Oh man, I can’t tell you how good it is to see you two together.” He points to a door. “Rachel has been excited to see you since you got back. Why don’t you go in and say hi while I catch up with Lexie?”

Ash’s head falls. “I’m glad to be home, but man, I just wish …” His voice catches, and he turns away from us.

Raffe puts his hand on his shoulder. “I know, brother, but this is a part of life, and we’ll get through it.”

Ash chuckles sadly, and I think to myself how wonderful it is that I’ve found a group of real men. Men who don’t shy away from the hard things and who aren’t afraid to show their emotions.

“I’m supposed to be comforting you, not the other way around.”

“Hey, she’s your momma too. Don’t sell yourself short here, kid. She loves you and your sister like her own.”

Ash nods and pulls himself together. “Okay, okay, I can do this.”

“She’s still the same Rachel.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Raffe gives him a little shove and then turns to me. “Come on, let’s go sit down. I see you’ve ditched the crutches.”

“Yeah, the doctor said I didn’t have to use them once I was able to tolerate pressure on my foot. I tried it this morning, and it feels really good, so if Rachel isn’t up to doing my therapy, I think I’ll be fine on my own.”

He laughs. “Don’t tell her that. She’ll give you a list of a million reasons why you’re wrong.”

I sit down and look around the room at all the photos on the wall. Each frame is filled with the life they’ve built for themselves over the years. Raffe notices as he lowers himself beside me. He follows my gaze and smiles, proud of his family.

“So, how have you been?” he asks.

“Good,” I tell him mindlessly.

He clicks his tongue. “I don’t want an auto response.”

It makes me laugh a little. “Okay, so I’ve been better. I’m sure Rachel told you how miserable I’ve been.”

“No. She actually gave us all a fairly upbeat report, except she was a little concerned about your prescriptions.”

“Don’t worry. I gave them to JD when I got home. He only gives them to me when I’m really in pain, but I’ve been getting by without them.”

“I’m really proud of you, Lex.”

I lean over, glancing down the hall to make sure Ash is still with Rachel. When I sit back, Raffe lays his hand over mine.

His small act of kindness dislodges the lump in my throat, and I spill everything. I tell him about Graham and all the years that led up to the event on the mountain.

When I hear the door down the hall open, I snap my mouth shut. Raffe pats my arm. “I’ll be right back,” he tells me, handing me another tissue.

I hear him talk quietly to Ash, and then he returns.

“Did … did he leave?”

“He did. He had to get to the shop. I told him we’d meet up with him later today out at the farm. I have to run over there to drop off the mountain of baby clothes that Rachel has already bought for Willow. Let’s just say I’m becoming good friends with my mailman.”

“I’m sorry. Here I am dumping my problems on you when you already have so much on your plate.”

He pats my cheek lightly. “Stop. We all have problems. Don’t think I won’t share mine with you too.”

“Really though, how are you guys doing?”

“We’re living one day at a time.”

I nod. “Rachel has been a life saver. She was my link …” I pause, remembering her and my conversation about the dragonfly. “It was nice seeing someone from the club,” I finish softly.

He’s quiet as he runs his hand down his beard. He looks at me curiously. “Her last session with you must have been impactful on you both.”

I nod my head with too much enthusiasm. “Yeah, I mean, yeah. We had a good talk. Um, maybe I should go in and see her so we can get started.”

Raffe shakes his head and places his hands on his knees before standing. “I’m going to go get some yard work done while you’re here, but holler if you need anything.”

“I will.”

When I knock on Rachel’s door, she’s having a coughing fit. I rush in and grab her water from the end stand. “Should I get Raffe?”

She shakes her head and waves for me to sit down beside her on the bed. “Sorry about that,” she rasps. “My meds just dry out my mouth so bad, and it gives me a damn tickle in my throat.”

I wait as she pops a little candy in her mouth.

“If you don’t feel up to this …”

She holds up her hand. “I’ve printed out all of the exercises you should be doing once you get your boot off. When do you go back to the doctor?”

“Next week.”

She nods as she hands me a folder. “I talked to Ash, and I’ve put him in charge of making sure you do them.” She tips her head down, looking at me over her glasses. “You’re young, and the break was clean. You’ll bounce back quickly.”

“This is great. Thank you.”

“So, now that we’ve got that squared away, I would still like you to come over a few times a week to help me. I’ll pay you.”

My head pulls back. “Rachel, gosh, you don’t need to pay me. I’d be happy to help you with whatever you need.”

“Well, I’m still paying you, because I can and I want to. Ash told me you like to write. I’m going to be writing letters for a lot of people. I was hoping maybe you could help me with that.”

“Of course, but I think it would be better if you wrote them in your own handwriting.”

She lies back. “I understand, and I will, but if time …” Tears begin to pool in her eyes. “If I get to where I’m not strong enough …”

“Then I’ll be here to happily transcribe for you.”

“Good.” Raffe passes by the window with the mower. “There’s so much I want to do for my family before I go. It’s the blessing in all of this. I get to prepare.”

Her gaze comes back to rest on me. “Thank you for helping me. You’re the angel who’s going to make sure my family doesn’t fall into despair.”

I laugh. “Um, I hate to burst your bubble, but I’m the furthest thing from an angel you can get. I don’t think I’d even qualify as a good knock off.”

She clicks her tongue. “I’m going to have Raffe work with you on that. You’ve got to change the narrative in your head. You are not your darkness. It’s only there for contrast. To show you how bright you can shine.”

I want to argue with her, but how do you dispute someone who is older, wiser, and facing a challenge I can’t even imagine?

Her face softens. “I hope I live long enough to see you realize how beautiful of a person you really are.”

“Sure, no pressure there,” I chuckle lightly.

“Ash said you were writing a book for my granddaughter.”

“Oh, I haven’t started …”

Rachel hands me a beautiful journal with gold and silver thread sewn throughout the cover. It’s covered in butterflies and dragonflies. “No time like the present to get started.”

She smiles at me as I run my hand over it. “Okay.”

We both settle in, and I wonder if this is more of the contrast she was talking about. She’s writing of endings while I’m tasked with weaving a tale for a new beginning.