Asher (Ashes & Embers 6)

“Well...you could do anything you’d like. There’s no rush to figure it out. You and Asher are financially set for life, so you don’t have to worry about working or money. You’re safe, and you’ll be taken care of in every way. I’ll be here for you, and so will Asher and Kenzi. You won’t be alone.”

Strangers taking care of a stranger. That’s what my life could be.

Shivery tremors ripple through my body.

“Honey, don’t worry about all that now. Just take it one day at a time. But I promise, you’re going to be fine no matter what. Focus on resting and getting your strength back. The rest will come.”

“Is it true about my parents? They don’t see me since the baby?”

She uncrosses then re-crosses her legs. “That’s a long, complicated story, but that’s correct. I called them last night, and we had a very long talk. They decided they want to come see you.”

On the TV, a family is sitting at a table having breakfast together. Teen sisters with their parents—all smiles and happiness over pancakes and syrup.

For the first time, I wish I could eat, and I wonder if I liked pancakes before.

“No.” I reach for the remote to change the channel. “I don’t want to see them.”

My memory may be gone, but I know enough to know that if my parents truly cared about me, they would have been here by now. They would have been sleeping on the floor like the guy.

They don’t seem to be worth trying to remember.

“Remember, just act natural and happy.”

“We know. You told us ten times on the way here. Stop worrying.”

Whispering voices rouse me, pulling me from a dreamless sleep.

Did I fall asleep after Katherine left?

Or is it a new day?

Bouts of sudden fatigue and spontaneous naps have been making it even harder for me to figure out what time it is, or even what day.

This, too, is on the long list of things that are supposed to get better.

Blinking, I realize Asher is here with a young woman. A few steps behind them is a man with hair past his shoulders and tattoos on his arms.

I assume he must be one of the brothers Asher mentioned.

“Did everyone not get haircuts while I was in a coma?”

They laugh as I slowly sit up in bed, and the guy from the back pushes to the front. He leans down and hugs me, engulfing me in muscles and denim. He plants a kiss on the top of my head before he pulls away with a big smile. “Glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”

I didn’t know I had one.

“Ember, this is Kenzi, our daughter, and Toren, our best friend since high school.”

My chest twitches as I lock eyes with the girl. She’s beautiful with purple-tipped blonde hair and teary green eyes. Perfect white teeth peek out behind her pink smile.

She could be a model. Or an actress. Or anything else that I don’t know.

A million words tumble around in my brain and catch in my throat, releasing in a short squeak.

Kenzi. Our daughter. My daughter.

How can that possibly be?

Where is the little girl with the bouncy curls I saw in the photos?

Asher told me she was all grown up, but I can’t let go of the idea of the little girl with the adorable smile.

I want that one to be here.

“Mom...” she whispers, taking a hesitant step closer to my bed. “I missed you so, so much.”

My heart races so fast, I’m afraid I may pass out.

My foggy brain recognizes the hope and desperation in her eyes. The little girl is still in there, needing and wanting the mother she lost a long time ago.

She thinks that’s me, but she’s wrong.

The mom is gone. The little girl is gone.

Everything is just gone, gone, gone.

I want to go back to sleep. I want my butterflies.

Her soft hand touches mine. “Daddy was right. You look amazing.” She smiles nervously and brushes the tears from her eyes. A large diamond ring glints from her finger. “I have so much I want to tell you…and show you. And ask you.”

The little girl is married.

“You’re married?” I say, eyeing her ring finger.

She pulls her hand up to her chest and looks from Asher to the other guy with her eyes wide. “Um…yes, actually, I…”

Asher smiles reassuringly, but their nervous glances at each other tell a different story.

“We were going to wait for a better time to tell you, Em. Kenzi and Tor are married.”

More waves of confusion muddle through my mind. I feel like there’s an itch in my head that I can’t reach.

“B—but he’s our friend.”

“That’s right. Tor is our age, and Kenzi is much younger. But they fell in love, and they’re together.”

The little girl who’s now big smiles brightly and grabs Toren’s hand. He smiles, but his dark eyes are apologetic.