Read REACH, then LEAP, and finally, LIFT, in order. Otherwise nothing would make sense....
There is uncertainty for Oklahoma native Roy Walker, a former stuntman caught up Los Angeles's golden days. Tormented from life-changing mistakes and broken c...
Roy Walker's head pounded. A dull pain throbbed through his temples to the back of his eyes. He knew it was from a combination of getting blackout drunk the night before and the agony of watching the woman he loved sob till the point of hyperventilation. Agony.
MacKenzie was no longer pregnant.
There wasn't much that could be done. The nearest hospital was two hours away. The on call house doctor arrived in fifteen minutes.
A common occurrence in times of stress, he said.
She'd recover with rest and support.
His wife suffered the same occurrence, he said. Bore him three children later.
He didn't comment on the fact that MacKenzie and Roy were not married.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Yet Roy couldn't bring himself to say the words out loud. Not when she curled up against him in the bathtub, the scalding water showering down on them and burning away her tears. Not when he kissed her forehead and her muffled sobs disappeared under the sound of running water. Not when she clung to him in bed that night, suddenly feeling so empty and vulnerable, too tired to cry, too tired to do anything but clutch at Roy's chest until she gradually fell asleep. If she was sleeping.
And he couldn't help but think this was somehow his fault. Somehow, his influence in her life made her miscarry. She was drinking, she was grieving, she went out to the club. She should've been taking better care of herself, but Roy knew that was her way of coping with her aunt's passing. And Roy felt responsible for not giving her what she needed.
I could've done better for you.
You don't deserve this.
"I love you, Roy."
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"Yeah. I know."
I miss your smile. Your smile is my favorite.
"Where do we go from here?"
"It's not the end of the world, Kenz."
Roy tensed, realizing how harsh that sounded on his part. MacKenzie didn't respond. She shakily got up and left the bedroom door open. Roy instinctively followed her.
"Just..." she began.
"I-I'm sorry, I-"
"You didn't want a baby."
"I never said that, MacKenzie."
"You never wanted a baby. This is good. This is a good thing that happened, this is a.." she whimpered, holding back tears.
Roy slowly went to put his arms around MacKenzie's waist but she flinched.
"I-I'm sorry..."
"I need to clear my head." MacKenzie quickly stepped onto the porch.
"You need to go rest," Roy insisted.
She turned back to face him, her eyes glassy from tears. The breeze blew her hair back from her face.
Dear god.
"You know you're beautiful, right?"
MacKenzie smiled slightly.
"I'm sorry. I feel like I never tell you enough."
She clenched her fists and sighed.
"Come on. You need to eat something."
"Then let's go out to eat."
"Okay, let's then."
"I need to get out of this house, Roy. I'm going crazy."
"It's only been two days. I don't want you to overdo it."
