Taming Sawyer (editing)

Chapter 41

Peyton's POV

"She's dead,"

Those two words broke everything. Anna's gone. She was baking chicken and fell asleep on the couch. Something in the oven wasn't screwed on right and caused the whole oven to combust in flames. He hasn't been the same. Neither of us have, but he's the worse of us both. Anna was all he had as far as a parent went. She was an amazing mother to him. He never fully let her in. He was scared of letting his biological dad know that she's what he sees as a real parent. She was an example of a real parent that Anna was to him. One that stayed with him through everything, trusted him to make the right decision, and just loved him like he was her own. Love, trust, and a solid foundation was all Sawyer needed in a parent when his couldn't. Anna did everything she could to fill the gap that they left. I know Sawyer loved her and will forever do so.

It's been a couple days since the day at the hospital. Today is Anna's funeral. They're having a closed casket due to her extensive injuries prior to the fire. They offered Sawyer to go see her, but he refused because he didn't want his last memory of her to be like that.

He was staying with us; because finally having a irresponsible mom actually was good thing during this time. My dad made this his last straw and is now staying in a hotel. Mother says that he's just pouting and'll be back soon. But this was the last of my worries. Sawyer was at the top of my list.

He's supposed to sleep in the guest room, and he does, until he has nightmares. He has them every night. Every night he wakes up from the same nightmare and comes to lay with me. He never told me what it's about, but I know that it's rough when he can't even sleep in a room alone. I don't mind it. I also have a tough time sleeping. My mind keeps worrying about Sawyer that it gets to the point that I make myself sick. But when he comes to lay with me I feel better.

I was in my bathroom getting ready while he was in the shower.

"Anna's parents said they couldn't make it," he yelled out to me.

"They came to the viewing right?"

Anna's parents always hated the fact that Anna got herself into the fostering business. They didn't mind her to work there but to foster a child was another thing. Anna knew the kind of baggage Sawyer would be carrying with him and knew how to handle the best she could. Her parents saw it as a huge risk. As it can be in some cases. Since they were so set on her making a mistake. They never got to know him. They only visit once a year and never on holidays. They would tell Anna that they were too busy. But it came too obvious that with the two years that Sawyer's was with her, they never came.

"Yea, but they said the funeral and burying would be too hard for them," I could hear the distasteful tone in his voice. "Like they're the only ones that are having a hard time with this,"

I know he won't admit it, but it hurts him that Anna's parents don't approve of him. He always wanted to get to know them. It's just that they didn't want that from him.

"Maybe they'll surprise you," All I wanted to give him was optimism.

I heard him scoff. "Yea right,"

I finished my last piece of hair and put the iron away.

"You'll have me," I said as I turned toward the shower with a sympathetic smile.

He shower curtain pulled back just to reveal his face.

"You're all I need," he gave me a sad smile and resumed back to showering.