Chapter 5
871 Words
Evening breezes tugged at the hem of her dress as the sky darkened around her. The only sound keeping her company was the call of birds she could not name.
After an hour of walking, her feet had gone numb, the pain had faded into nothing at all.
Wounds on the flesh heal in time, but wounds to the heart may never mend.
It was already nine o'clock by the time she reached the city center. Autumn could no longer hold herself up, and collapsed by the roadside.
When she woke up, she was not at home. She lay in a hospital bed instead.
The first thing she saw was Cameron beside her, his face drawn and worn, clearly exhausted from lack of sleep.
At the sight of her waking, the faint tension in his eyes eased. He reached out and brushed her forehead to check her temperature.
"Look at you. Why didn't you just call a ride? Your foot's swollen, and you fainted on the side of the road. You had me worried. Is there anything else that hurts?"
Autumn suddenly could not make sense of him at all.
He did not trust her, he had hurt her, he had left her like that for another woman, and now he was the one claiming to be worried.
She said nothing, simply turned her face away.
Seeing her coldness, he assumed she was angry that he had left her behind at the beach.
He took her free hand, the one not attached to an IV line.
"I know I messed up. I know you dislike her, but I had no idea she would turn up today. I'll make it up to you, I promise. And even if you hate her, you can't just push her into the sea! What if something had happened while I wasn't there? Thank goodness she's all right. I've calmed her down already. Once you're better, just go say you're sorry, and we can put this behind us."
He wanted her to apologize to Julianne.
She had done nothing wrong. She had been framed, slapped for no reason, abandoned by the man she had known her whole life, and forced to walk back with an open wound.
Now he expected the victim to beg forgiveness of the one who had hurt her.
Anger flared hot in her chest, and her voice rose sharp and urgent. "Cameron, I didn't push her! She jumped in on purpose! If you won't believe me, why don't you check the security cameras? I did nothing wrong, so why should I apologize?"
Cameron frowned, about to argue, when he saw Julianne standing in the doorway.
He stood abruptly and walked over to her. "Julianne? Why aren't you resting upstairs? I just got you to sleep."
Julianne had changed out of her party clothes. She wore a simple white dress now, looking gentle, harmless, and heartbreakingly fragile.
"Cameron... I woke up and got scared when you weren't there. Don't be angry with your wife anymore. I'm sure she didn't mean it. If she doesn't want to apologize, it's all right. I'm used to being pushed around... I'll be fine on my own..."
Her soft, hurt tone struck Cameron straight through the heart. He pulled her into his arms, his face full of concern.
"You are always so kind, so thoughtful of everyone else, even when you're the one who's hurt. How am I supposed to stay away from you?"
"I'm fine, Cameron. All I want is to stay with you."
Cameron lifted her into his arms and turned to leave. Before he walked out, he threw one last remark over his shoulder.
"Julianne is too good to hold this against you. But don't push your luck, and don't act like a child about this."
Autumn did not know how long she sat there, holding herself together, telling herself it would be all right, until her eyes stung and filled with tears.
Just as she steadied herself, her phone rang.
She took a deep breath before answering. "Hello?"
"Autumn... I miss you so much. I know you wouldn't let me fly back for your birthday, but why haven't you said anything about the money I sent you this morning?"
At the sound of Simon's soft, hurt voice, Autumn's heart softened completely.
She spoke gently to soothe him. "I've just had a very long day. Be good. We agreed you'd wait until the divorce is final, remember? Then we can see each other every single day. And didn't I tell you not to spend so much on me?"
His tone brightened a little. He paused, then said clearly, "Look out your window."
Autumn leaned toward the glass.
Out in the dark night sky, thousands of drones rose in formation, shifting shape until they spelled out her name and formed her portrait in lights.
Then fireworks burst open above, illuminating her face as she stared in disbelief.
Simon's voice came through the line, soft and true.
He spoke her name, slowly and seriously, "Autumn Clayton. Happy Birthday. I may not have endless wealth, but my love for you will never run out.
"And one day soon, I hope I can be the one you lean on, always."
- Writer
