Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

into my forehead quite firmly.“Go back to sleep,” he whispered as he pulled himself back. “I justwant to hold you in my arms and be grateful that you are still herewith me.”

“Of course Iam still here,” I whispered back as my eyelids got heavy. “I’m notgoing anywhere.”

***

The following,morning Bryce had to leave for an appointment with Jessica. I askedhim if he was okay and reiterated that if ever he felt he needed totalk, I would always be there for him, to listen, to advise, toshare. He assured me that he would talk to me if he needed to andthat the reason he was seeing Jessica was simply to get an updateon Gareth. But I suspected our recent heartbreaking loss was goingto be a topic of discussion, which kind of irritated me. Itshouldn’t have, though, because Dr. Jessica Carrot-Top was hispsychologist and had been for a long time; therefore, it shouldn’tbother me that he would talk to her and tell her things that hewould not tell me.

I couldn’tdeny that I was jealous.

I think it wasprobably because she was a stuck-up, toffee-nosed bitch more thananything. Regardless of my immature insecurities and dislike forDr. Jessica, I was glad he talked about his feelings rather thanbottle them up. I appreciated that fact.

Bryce kissedme deeply just before the doors to the elevator opened and Lucyentered the apartment. He broke away from me slightly breathless,winked and walked toward her. She gave him a long embrace whiletalking quietly to him and intermittently rubbing his back. Tearsfilled my eyes at seeing her love and support for her brother. Itreally was touching.

“I won’t belong,” he said to her as he stepped into the lift.

“Go, its fine.She’ll be fine. I’ve got this.”

“Thanks.”

He turned tome and blew me a kiss as the doors closed. It was then that itdawned on me that he had arranged for Lucy to visit and babysit mewhile he was gone. Caring, over-protective arse. I wascapable of babysitting myself for an hour or so.

Lucy made herway over to where I was on the sofa. “Alexis, I am so sorry. Ican’t imagine what you are feeling right now and I’m not even goingto begin to try. Just know I am here for you, whatever you need.”She sat next to me and leaned in for a gentle hug.

“Thank you,Lucy. I’m okay. Just you being there for your brother is all that Ineed.”

“Don’t worry.I’m keeping my eye on him.”

I let out abreath. “Good, I’m relieved to hear that. So far he has been openabout the whole ordeal, but I worry about him being that he is acontrolling, stubborn arse at times.”

“Yes, he isall of those things and more, Alexis. But we’ve both learned frompast experiences that it is best to be open about our feelingsrather than to close them in and pretend they do not exist. Don’tworry. He’ll talk to me if he needs to.”

I smiled ather wearily. Not because I did not believe her, but because it wasobvious she knew exactly what she was talking about due to theirsad histories—and that was sad in itself.

“I hope so. Hedesperately wanted this baby, and I think he may be keeping ittogether for my sake. The thing is, I’m coping. I’m okay.Obviously, I’m devastated, but life does go on. I can’t bring mybaby back. I can’t reverse the clock and decide to take theelevator instead of the stairs. I just can’t. All I can do is moveon and treasure the time I had when my baby was a part of me. All Ican do is remember and be grateful.”

“You are astrong woman, and Bryce is a strong man. You were both meant foreach other. You’ll see he’ll be fine too, just like you. Knowing mybrother, he will break at some point, then he will find thestrength that you obviously already have. Now, I am going to makeyou a cup of tea. Sit back and relax. I’m here to wait on you handand foot—Bryce’s orders.”

Lucy made me acup of tea and we talked about the things we had always talkedabout. I asked her how Alexander was, and at first she tried tochange the subject. It was obvious when I asked her if he hadrolled over yet and she dismissively said, ‘Yes, two days ago,’ asthough it was nothing and then proceeded to talk aboutpolitics.

“Luce, itsfine. I can talk about babies, especially your adorable little son.Is that why he’s not here with you? Because you thought seeing himwould make me upset?”

She noddedapologetically. “He’s at home with Nic, but he’s sick and miserableand very clingy. He had a slight temperature last night.”

“Luce, go homethen. I’m fine. You should be with Alexander, not here babysittingme.”

“No, it’sokay, Nic is with him. She’ll cope.” Her voice did not soundconfident.

“Lucy Clark.Go home, now! Bryce will be back soon. My arse is pretty much stuckon this sofa, so GO!”

“Are you sure?Bryce will kill me,” she said, as she bit down on herthumbnail.

“I’ll handleyour brother, don’t you worry.”

She smiled. “Iknow you will. That’s what I love most about you. You have anuncanny form of control over my brother. No one else has even comeclose to having that type of power over him—no one.”

I smiled ather words, although at times I felt I had no power over him at all.He made it quite clear on numerous occasions that he holds theupper hand. Speaking of which, I need my crutches.

“Can you doone thing for me before you go, though?”

“Sure. What isit?”

“Get mycrutches from the basement carpark. Your control freak of a brotherleft them down there so I would have no choice but to let him carryme around.”

She burst outlaughing. “He’s good, I’ll give him that. Sure, I’ll go get themnow.”

***

Lucy found mycrutches and placed them next to the sofa before she left.

I was justabout to start my new book about a young girl who discovers hertrue identity, when the buzzer to the door rang. Fuck! Ofcourse, as soon as I’m alone and in the mood for a fictionalhappily ever after, I get a visitor. Just my luck.

I slowly gotup and, with the