Chapters (48)
Becca laughed through her tears, easing herself out of the wheelchair. She wrapped her arms around Nina and the massive bear. “I missed you so much. I have a whole apology prepared. I’ve practiced it so many times. It might be the best apology ever written.”
“I’m sure it’s exceptional, but I don’t need an apology. All I wanted was for you to be okay.” Nina regarded her curiously. “Are you?”
“I got a little lost,” Becca said softly.
“It happens. The good news is you always find your way back,” Nina said. Becca spotted Ash and her mother heading their way, and she smiled. There was a long road ahead, but Becca was already on her way.
BECCA
BECCA
All Becca wanted was for things to return to normal for her and Ash, or as normal as possible after surviving a near-death experience. She tried to convince her mother that they’d be fine on their own.
Virginia wasn’t having it. “Save the martyr act, Rebecca. If I can’t help you girls during your recovery, what good am I?” Becca was so used to doing things on her own, this was an adjustment. Some days Becca wasn’t sure if Virginia was their nurse or their jailer. Even Ash was struggling with this new arrangement. “I swear, the other day she actually followed me into the bathroom,” Ash said.
After a few days though, things stabilized, and Becca found herself comforted by her mother’s constant presence. She’d taken over the kitchen, preparing her famous migas for breakfast and what seemed like an endless supply of casseroles, pies and cakes.
Ash and Becca spent their days camped out on the sofa, binging on Netflix and napping. Their bodies were healing at an impressive pace. Becca knew that the emotional recovery would take much longer. They had weekly appointments with therapists that began immediately. Becca and Ash were undergoing counseling together and on their own to process all they’d been through. It was painful work, but important for their healing. At least that’s what Becca told herself. On more than one occasion, she was jolted awake, the sound of Ash’s screams sending her running. On those nights, Becca would crawl into bed, holding on to Ash, Freud nestling between them.