Making it Home (Home book 2)

Part 4

I close my eyes, and let out a shaky breath before reopening them to see him in the doorway.  I run my gaze over him once before standing and walking over to him.  By the time I reach him I can feel the tears falling down on my cheeks, and hastily bury my face against him.  "Hey, now darlin' don't cry.  It's okay."  

I cut him off turning my face up to look at his.  "It's okay?!  Damn it Tyler, how is you disappearing for years okay?  How is you showing up at here needing help for yourself okay?  I thought....."  I let out a frustrated sob and fall against him, only to pull back when he staggers.  I sniff wiping my eyes and take a few steps back.  "Sit down Ty,"

"I'm fine Lyds, I can still stand for now."  I can see by watching him that he's in pain, and gently grab his hand pulling him to sit on the padded chair of my office.  I sit next to him leaning my head on his shoulder and tracing patterns over the back of his hand for a few minutes.

I bite my lip before glancing up at him, "What are you doing here?  What happened?  I thought maybe....maybe since they could never seem to find you that something had happened.  I thought...."  

"Hey, I'm okay baby girl.  A bit beat up and battered, but still I'm here."  He gently runs the pad of his thumb under my eyes wiping away the stray tears.  "I came by earlier because my doctor told me this place was amazing.  Now I can tell why, your in charge."  He smiles down at me and I give him a small watery smile.  "You always wanted to do this, and now you are darlin' and it looks amazing.  Not sure why my doctor thinks I need all of it but, hey it got me to find you again so I can't be to mad."  

"Are you really okay Tyler?  Not just saying you are, like any other time.  But actually okay?  I can help...."

"I'm fine Lydia.  The doctor is crazy, he thinks I need more PT and a fancy therapist.  But I don't, the PT I had worked fine, so I'm done."

"Then why did you even come huh?  If your so perfectly fine why did you even come by?"  I stand up pushing away from him and leaning on my desk.  "I mean really Tyler, if your so perfectly fine, why did you even come?"

"I came this morning and didn't know anything about this place other than it was supposed to be really good.  I was thinking about just seeing what work is done here. When I was told to come back later it drove me nuts, because really who just sends a new possible patient away?  So I came back to argue it because it seemed stupid."

"So argue with me!  If your not here for help then why are you?  Because you haven't tried arguing about that."

"I came because I looked this place up and saw your name.  Okay?  I had to come see you, baby girl."

I turn to the wall and blink back the tears threatening to spill over.  He doesn't think he needs help despite what he's been told, and he thinks he can just walk back in like nothing happened.  "Why now?  How long have you been back, and not told me?  What happened to you Ty, we were supposed to get married, and then it all went to hell!  You went missing and nobody would talk to me!  I thought you were dead for three years, and then you just show up and start blabbering about not needing help, when I can see that it would help you.  You seem to think we can go back to where we were, but how can we when everything is different?  I love you Tyler.  I do, but this.....I just...."  I hear him groan in pain before I feel his solid arms wrap around my body and hold me against him.  "I just want you to be okay.  I want to help."

"Lets go somewhere else to talk okay?  I can't exactly say this is what I thought off as our first conversation in three years."  He slides his hand down my arm looping our fingers together, and presses a small kiss to the top of mine.  I close my eyes for a moment and nod my head before walking out the back door of the office with him.

"Give me a minute to check with everybody before they leave for the day.  And kick Austin out to go visit mom and dad, so he won't bug us."  I walk back in and check with the staff before waving goodbye, and stopping next to my brother.  "Hey, I've got company so go help mom and dad or something.  Maybe go to the store and get your own freaking jug of milk so you stop drinking right out of the jug."  I smack his shoulder and walk back out and stop next to Tyler.  Glancing over my shoulder at the barn I let out a breath and walk towards the small house I've lived in alone for the last three years.  The house Tyler and I were supposed to live in together.  

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