After Forever & Ever

Chapter 118

Tessa-Present

All I want to do is cry...I'm in complete disbelief. I knew his illness was serious. But his demons are so big and so constant. The doctor told us he was talking to someone during the evaluation that wasn't there...and that killed me. And I know he doesn't realize that's what happened which makes it even harder.

I've obviously never witnessed him doing that and neither has Vance so it was shocking to us both. Even though his rehab and this doctor told us that is what was happening it doesn't make it any less shocking.

He doesn't want to talk to either one of us the whole ride home and if I am being honest I don't know what to say....

We load up the rest of his stuff from his apartment at the rehab to bring it back to the house.

When we get in the house he goes into our room and slams the door behind him.

"I don't believe it or I don't want to believe it...." I say to Vance.

"I know but you heard what the doctor said it could be because of the meds they were giving him at the other place....so once those are out of his system and he is back on the right meds he can eventually be weened off the antiphychosis medication....so I don't think it's him I think it's whatever they were doing at that fucking place messed him up." Vance says to me.

"He's been through so much and I just feel like this isn't fair." I tell Vance.

"You're right it's not...but he is lucky to have you. And I know it's hard but he will get through this." Vance assures me.

"Thanks Vance I know he just wants to be better and have his family so I'm willing to do whatever I can to help him." I tell him.

I spend some time organizing things at the house and hanging out with Emery. I am trying to give Hardin some space.

About 2 hours later he comes out of the room.

"What are you doing?" I ask noticing he looks like he is ready to go workout.

"Going to the gym." He tells me.

"Hardin the doctor doesn't want you going anywhere until your next doctor visit." I remind him.

"I'll just go for a run down by the beach you can even watch me...I just need to get out." He tells me.

"Hardin we trust you I just want to make sure you are okay while we get this under control." I tell him.

He kisses me on the forehead and walks out the back door and down the steps to the beach.

I don't want him to think I'm just watching him so I try keeping busy with stuff around the kitchen but it's been an hour...and I lost sight of him.

Vance comes downstairs and noticed the door to our room was open... "where's Hardin?" He asks.

"He went down by the beach for a run." I tell him.

"Tess he isn't supposed to leave..." he says with panic in his voice.

Just as he goes to rush out the back door Hardin comes back in drenched in sweat, shirtless with his athletic shorts and he takes his earbuds out and places them on the counter. Shakes the sweat out of his hair and puts his hat on backwards and puts his glasses on which I am still not used to. Then chugs a huge sip of water.

"How was the run?" I ask as if to not raise alarm that Vance and I were just about to enter panic mode.

"It was okay my knee is still not 100%." He replies.

"I have a chef coming in tonight to make us all dinner to officially celebrate us together here in California." Vance says to us.

"Alright....well I'm going to go shower." Hardin says walking away.