214 Wills novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: Sign It

Callie's POV

I heard every word through the door.

I heard Miles say no to the check, and I heard Bert Garland say the word headstone.

I lay on the hospital bed with my leg in a cast and my eyes on the ceiling tile.

My mother's stone is gray granite with a small carved rose.

I had never once asked who paid for the rose.

I had thanked Rob for it, on the day of the funeral, with handcuffs on.

The door opened.

Rob came in alone and shut it softly behind him.

He was carrying a clipboard, a paper cup of ice chips, and a small plastic bag from the hospital shop.

"I found the soft toothbrush," he said, and held it up.

"Where's Miles?"

"Still in the hall with Dad. Everyone's being very civil." He set the bag on the tray and pulled the chair close to my bed. "How's the pain?"

"Let him in, Rob."

"I will. Soon." He lifted a spoonful of ice to my mouth. "Open."

I turned my head away.

He waited, patient, and put the spoon down.

He has always been patient. That was the first thing I loved about him when I was nineteen.

By the time I was in the prison, he was the only name left on my visitor list.

"I know you're angry," Rob said. "You should be. You went to the diner this morning and said things you didn't mean."

"I meant them."

"You were upset. You'd been overtired for weeks." His voice was soft and level. "And now look. Look at what happened to you."

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