The Patchwork Heart

Chapter 9

May was coming to an end, and my son still hadn't arrived. The doctor told me everything was normal and healthy; he was just taking his time. We discussed inducing me but he didn't want to until June 1st. I was board and uncomfortable. Garrett came over to my parent's house everyday to keep me company while they were at work. He had planned on going to university to study engineering before Dex had the accident. Since Garrett was with him when he died, he struggled with a lot of survivor's guilt and remorse. He decided to take the year off and stay home, which at first was good for him but now he was board just like I was.

"So I got accepted into civil engineering at the University of Alberta. I'll be going to Edmonton in the fall." He told me. I smiled wide at him, "Congratulations Garrett! That is wonderful."

He nodded, "Yeah, I think I'm ready now. My therapist thinks it would do me good to start doing things for myself now. I need to let myself move on." His eyes clouded over, a tell tale sign that he was remembering what happened. I reached for his hand across the couch where we were sitting, "Garrett, come back." He shook his head, to push the memory aside.

"Sorry, he sometimes just sneaks up on me." Garrett muttered. I furrowed my brow, "I know what you mean." He met my eyes and smiled, "I know in my heart I couldn't have stopped him from hitting that train. I know it's silly to even think I had that kind of power. Sometimes, it's like he haunts me, reminding me of what I couldn't do."

I sighed, "I know, it wasn't your fault." Garrett nodded, "I know. Sometimes I think about that day. I want to go back and instead of agreeing to go quading, I want to suggest we just stay in and play video games. Then everything would be different, it would be the way it was supposed to be."

"My therapist told me that there isn't any 'what could have been' there is only what is. I had a hard time with that at first, because Dex was supposed to be here with me too. He was supposed to take me to grad, he was supposed to buy the pregnancy tests for me, he should have been the one in this with me but it wasn't meant to be. He was here for the amount of time he was supposed to be, and that is it." I told him. Garrett stared at me, "That's very wise, Bree."

I chuckled, "Well, I did say it was my therapist, not my words." He laughed, "True." After a moment of silence, Garrett asked, "Have you seen much of Jessica?"

I shook my head, "No, she came to see me a few months ago but didn't really have much to say. She sends me a text now and then but not much else. I have invited her over from time to time, but she never shows up and cancels at the last minute."

He shrugged, "Maybe she's still having a hard time with things. It's been difficult for a lot of people." I nodded, "We all grieve differently. I try not to think about her too much, because it fills me with mixed feelings of sadness and anger." Garrett nodded.

"So, when will you be moving?" I asked him, changing the subject. He smiled, "In August. I'm going to look for a little place to rent because I don't want to stay in the dorms. I hope I find something that isn't too expensive."

"Yeah, that would be best. You better not forget about me while you are away." I muttered. He smiled, "Never, Bree. We will be friends forever." I laughed, knowing he couldn't promise me that but I was sure Garrett would do his best to keep in touch after he left. I appreciated his friendship, Garrett had been there with me through all the hard times after Dex's death. I would never forget it.

"How is your house coming?" he asked. I smiled, "It's amazing. Do you want to see it?" I asked. He nodded. Garrett helped me off the couch and we made our way out to his truck. We drove to my little house and parked in the driveway. We went inside and Garrett was amazed how it looked.

As he walked around I sat down in the big comfortable chair. His eyes were wide when he saw the kitchen and living room, "Wow, Mitch has sure been busy. I can't believe all the work he has done." I nodded, "He told me he has more plans for this place too. He wants to upgrade the plumbing in the bathroom and the kitchen as well."

Garrett glanced at me, "Wow, that's generous." I nodded. I knew Mitchell had his reasons for doing all the renovations for me. He needed to take care of his brother's family, since Dex wasn't here to do it himself. He was a very loyal man, I was learning. The two brothers were very different, each with their good and bad points. Where Dexter had been outgoing and popular, Mitchell was reserved and guarded. Dexter had been impulsive and reckless, whereas Mitchell was cautious and considerate. They were both great men, but their personalities were very different.

"Your bedroom is very nice, Bree. That's a nice bed." Garrett called to me from down the hall. I frowned, "Bed? My bed isn't here yet." I listened for a minute until he replied, "Well, there is a bedframe set up in here already and it's really nice."

I stood up slowly, and waddled down the hallway to my bedroom. In the center of the room against the furthest wall was a large oak four poster bedframe. It was beautiful, but I had no idea where it came from. I glanced at Garrett, "I didn't buy this. I have no idea where it came from." He looked at me and then back at the bed, "Maybe the Leys' bought it for you."

I shrugged, "They have done so much already. I don't need anymore. The Leys' have been so good to me; I can't possibly ever thank them enough." Garrett chuckled, "The baby is as much a part of them as you. I think you should let them take care of you as much as they want to." I frowned but didn't reply.

As we walked around the rest of the house I heard the front door open. I peeked down the hallway to see Mitchell standing in the foyer with a hammer in his hand. He met my eyes and let out a loud sigh, "Oh God, Bree. I thought someone had broken into the house. Whose truck is that?"

I glared at him, "It's Garrett's. You know Garrett's truck." He nodded and set the hammer down on the bench. Mitchell took off his boots and came toward me. I gestured to my bedroom, "Did you buy me that fancy bed in there? It looks expensive."

Garrett came up behind me and leaned against the wall. Mitchell nodded to him before he looked back at me, he blushed slightly, "It didn't cost much. I thought you might like it. Don't you?"

I sighed heavily, "That's not the point. I'm sure it was expensive and I don't need it. You shouldn't spend all your money on me, Mitch. I have a perfectly good bed at my parent's house. I don't need two beds."

Mitchell's face fell completely, he shifted his eyes to the floor and adjusted his weight side to side awkwardly. Garrett moved around me and into the living room to avoid the silence. I took a deep breath before I spoke, "I appreciate all you have been doing Mitch but you don't need to do so much. You have already done more then Dex would have ever done for me. I feel like I'm taking advantage of your kindness."

He didn't raise his eyes to meet mine, he just leaned against the wall, "I should have asked you first. I thought it would be a nice surprise." I stepped toward him and touched his left arm softly, "It's very beautiful. I am sure it was expensive, but I do love it. Thank you very much."

"It wasn't expensive, all it cost was wood and nails. I built it myself." Mitchell whispered. I lifted his face with my fingertips, forcing him to meet my eyes, "You built me a bed? Did you really?" He nodded, his eyes still looking sadly into mine. I didn't stop myself this time, I kissed his cheek softly and pulled him into a hug. My very pregnant belly pushed against his body but I didn't care.

Mitchell patted my shoulder blade awkwardly and cleared his throat, "Yeah, I did. I thought you would like it so I built it over a weekend." When I let him go, I smiled wide at him, "It's beautiful, Mitch. Thank you." He only nodded and smiled back at me. He seemed relieved that I liked the bed. I couldn't believe he built it for me. I was at a loss for words.

Garrett called to us from the living room, "You two good now? I'd like to get going." I chuckled and moved away from Mitchell. "Yeah we can go, Garrett."

Mitchell shuffled on his feet and muttered, "If you want to stay, I can take you home later." I shook my head, "No, I am pretty tired, I think I'm going to lay down when I get back home." He nodded. Garrett and I left shortly after that and he drove me home. I took a nap in my room, trying to adjust my belly so I was as comfortable as possible. I couldn't believe how thoughtful Mitchell was. I didn't know what to say sometimes when he did things like that for us.