Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“You will get to see your husband soon, Gloria,” Ashley whispers.
Gloria smiles. “How wonderful.” Her face falls. “It’s been twenty-two years since I’ve seen him.”
“What was he like? Tell me about him,” Ashley encourages, genuinely intrigued.
“He was the crankiest bastard that ever drew breath.”
I smile as I listen.
“But I loved him,” she whispers. “From the day I met him when I was fifteen, I loved him with all of my heart.”
“You are so blessed to have found your one,” Ashley says through a soft sigh, and I have to really listen to hear her gentle voice.
“You will find yours,” Gloria tells her.
There is a pause. “I already found him.”
“You did? This is great news,” Gloria whispers.
“Not really, Gloria. My story didn’t turn out so well. I’m afraid I won’t get my happy ending.”
I swallow as I listen. Is she talking about me?
“Why not?” Gloria asks.
I frown as I listen.
“He didn’t love me like I loved him.” She pauses. “It’s okay. I will get my happy ending with someone. It just won’t be with my one.”
My stomach drops. She feels how I feel. Regret hangs heavily in my heart over what I have done to us.
“There are lots of handsome men out there, Ashley.”
Ashley giggles. “I know. I’m going to find one really soon. I may even go on a date.”
“You are?” Gloria gasps. “Oh, I wish I would be here to hear about it.”
There is a pause and I peer around the corner to see Ashley softly pushing the hair back from Gloria’s face as she stares down at her lovingly. “I’m so happy to have met you, Gloria,” she whispers. “You have brightened my days here.”
I get a lump in my throat and I close my eyes.
“Will you read to me, dear?” Gloria whispers.
“I would be honored.”
“Can you read my favorite part?”
“Of course.”
I steel myself and walk into the room. Gloria’s eyes light up.
“Ah.” I smile as I take her hand in mine. “My two favorite girls here together. I’m a lucky man tonight.”
Ashley looks up from her book, and for the first time in a long time, I see relief in her eyes when she sees me.
I pick up Gloria’s hand and I kiss the back of it as I smile down at her. My gaze travels over to my beautiful Ashley sitting with the book in her hand. I pull up a chair on the other side of the bed and hold Gloria’s hand, listening to the words as Ashley reads through unshed tears.
After a short pause, Darcy added. “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still the same as they were last April, tell me at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me forever.
I love you, most ardently.”
Ashley finishes reading and we both glance up.
Gloria has gone in silence.
“Rest in peace, angel,” I whisper.
Ashley drops her head and silently weeps.
Death is so hard.
Ashley
“Oh my God,” Amber whispers as we walk down the hall to the cafeteria. “So, get this. We went back to his house and we are fooling around, and he asks me if I am feeling playful.”
Amber is filling me in on her latest fling with the hospital security guard. She’s grown on me. She really is the only fun thing around here and her stories keep me amused for hours.
I watch her as I walk with my folder in my arms. “Yeah?”
“Then he goes to the cupboard and brings out this life size blow-up doll.”
“No?” I whisper.
“I know, right?” She hits me as we walk. “He lays her on the bed next to me and tells me he wants to have a threesome with the two of us.”
My mouth drops open. “I have no words.” I shake my head as we get to the cafeteria and order our coffees. I notice Cameron is sitting with Seb in the corner, and I wave as we take our seats at a table. Cameron glances over and I make myself look away.
“What happened then?” I ask.
“You won’t believe it.”
I bubble up a giggle. “Probably not.”
“He goes downtown on me.”
I laugh and then shake my head. “Eww, I’m getting a visual,” I murmur, distracted.
She rolls her eyes.
“And?” I ask against my coffee cup.
“This is where it gets fucked up.”
I laugh in surprise. “You are in bed with a man and blow up, chick. This is already fucked up, Amber.”
“He starts going down on the doll.”
I laugh and slap my hand over my mouth to shut myself up. I glance around and see Cameron and Seb looking over at us.
“I have no words,” I whisper.
“Then he starts with this role play shit, telling me I have to wait my turn for his tongue, that he has other pussy’s to take care of.”
I hoot with laughter. “What the actual hell? What did you do?”