''I missed you so much my love…''
Holly's kiss felt like coming home. It felt like someone brought Gail to life and breathed air into her lungs. They were kissing for some time and then Gail remembered what happened before and moved away. She slapped Holly so hard that it bruised after some time.
''Don't you dare touch me Holly Marie Stewart! Don't you dare!''
''I'm sorry…I just couldn't help it… Having you near me again is…. Like…. I can't explain….''
''Don't! I can't now…. Please leave it for now… We have more important things to handle.''
In next two weeks, Gail spent all her time with Holly in the hospital. Her face healed and some of the bruises faded. Her legs were healing well and doctors were satisfied with the progress. She was about to go home. She and Gail were glad that she could finally go home. Gail stepped out of the room to call Steve.
''Hey, it's me…''
''Gail… Where are you… We are out of our minds…. Mom wanted to pull some strings to find you…''
''We are coming home in three days…''
''We?''
''Me and…Holly…''
''Holly? As in Holly Stewart….your long lost wife?''
''Yes, that one…''
''Why? How?''
''Long story… I need you to wait for us at the airport…''
''Gail, I hope you know what are you getting into…''
''Steve, she is my wife and that is the only thing that matters to me.''
''Take care sis…''
''I will… Oh, and get Mia to clean the house.''
''Yes, I will…''
Gail came back to the room and Holly stopped reading her book.
''Everything OK?''
''Yes, I talked to Steve and told him we are coming home on Wenesday. You are leaving the hospital in the morning and it will take me about two days to pack your apartment. After that we return the keys to the dean and we ship your things home.''
''I will live with you?''
''Yes, is there any other place you can stay?''
''No…''
''That settles it… You are coming home with me…''
''Gail, what does that mean?''
''I don't know… Give me some time…''
In the morning Gail came with clothes for Holly. She brought her gray sweats and out of her bag she grabbed Holly's favorite flannel shirt. It was old and worn out, but Gail loved it so much.
''You kept it?''
''I kept a lot of things Holly…''
''Thank you…''
''You're welcome…''
Gail helped her get dressed and it was an awkward moment. She haven't seen her naked in years and now she had to put on her underwear and bra. Before that she gave her sponge bath so nurse would teach her how to wash her. Gail took her brush out of the bag and took off Holly's cap. Her hair flew out of it and it was longer than Gail remembers it. It was almost to the middle of her back. Funny thing was that her hair was the same length. She didn't cut it much because she knew how much Holly loved it.
''You will have to wash her hair in the salon, or we can do it now in the hospital.''
''Holly, want to do it now?''
She nodded so, Gail and nurse washed her hair. Nurse left the room and Gail stayed to dry it. It took them about hour to dry it and finish getting her ready to leave. Gail and Holly signed all the things they had to and male nurses placed her in the wheel chair. Getting Holly into her apartment was not too hard because it was on the ground floor. Gail liked it. It was small and cozy. She helped Holly to bed and went to kitchen to make them something to eat. Since the fridge was empty, Gail went shopping. She stocked the fridge for next three days and got boxes to pack Holly's things. She started with the kitchen. There was not much to pack. Holly told her what was hers and what things she found in the apartment were. It took Gail three hours to pack kitchen and Holly's clothes. They were in carefully labeled boxes and Holly found it funny how Gail never lost her sense for neat packing. She did the same thing when they were moving in together. She decided to pack living room and bedroom last. She made lunch for them and brought the food to Holly. They ate in silence.
''Gail..''
''Yes?''
''Are you OK?''
''I don't know…''
''What is bothering you?''
''A lot of things Holly.''
''Care to share?''
''How fucked up this is…''
''What?''
''Our situation… If this accident didn't happen I wouldn't have seen you at all. You would have sent me divorce papers and we would be done without saying a word to each other…''
''Irene is grate girl, but… I never thought about marrying her or anyone else for that matter. I never forgot about you Gail.''
''Than why did you date her?''
''I believed you moved on…''
'' I didn't…''
''I know that now…''
Gail had to end that conversation. She was not ready…
''Want some more chicken?''
''No, I'm fine… Maybe my pain meds?''
''O.K. I'll get them for you…''
Gail gave her pain meds and Holly fell asleep. She woke up around eight and Gail joined her in the bedroom. They were watching a movie. It was some stupid movie they saw million times, but anything was good to brake the ice.
''Come to bed, you are not confortable on that chair…''
''I'm fine…''
''Gail…''
''Holly, I'm not here to make out with you…. I'm here to take you home and take care of you…and that's all there is Holly.''
''Gail, I will not take advantage of you…''
Gail took a deep breath and realized she took it too far this time.
''I know… Sorry…''
She got to bed on the opposite side of Holly and made herself confortable. After few hours it seemed very familiar to be in bed like that, share popcorn and watch pointless movie. Holly fell asleep and Gail took off her glasses and placed them on the table beside the bed. She got out of the bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower and change into her pajamas. When she got out, she couldn't bring herself to sleep on the sofa. She sneaked back to bed and for some time she just looked at Holly sleeping beside her. She woke up with her head on Holly's chest and Holly playing with her hair that got out of the bun she made before falling asleep. She nuzzled to her neck and kissed it. It felt so good… She was so happy to be in Holly's arms….AND THAN SHE REALIZED SHE IS IN HOLLY'S ARMS. She jumped away from her and just stood looking at her. Holly was confused with the reaction Gail had.
''Gail, are you OK?''
''What happened? How did it happen?''
''I don't know. I woke up with you sleeping on me…''
''That was a mistake… That shouldn't have happened…''
''But it did…''
''I have to go to the bathroom…''
Gail went in there and locked herself in. She cried on the floor and couldn't stop sobbing… Holly heard her crying and she called for her.
''Please come back to the room. I can't get out of the bed… Please…''
Gail got back and Holly saw her lip trembling. She opened her arms and Gail got into them. She continued crying and Holly kept stroking her hair and kissing her temple and just holding her. Gail got herself of Holly's chest and looked her in the eyes. She saw traces of Holly she loved and remembered. She kissed her with all she had and then run out of the room. She came back an hour later with food for Holly…
''What now Gail?''
''What do you mean?''
''What happens when we get to Toronto?''
''We work on your health and then we'll see…''
''Do you want to end our marriage?''
''We can't do it until you need medical help…''
''I am not asking you that… I am asking do you want to divorce me?''
''I don't know…I am not the same person… You changed too… We can't go back to being us just like that…''
''What do we do Gail? We will live together for months….''
''We will have to work on it…''
''Do you want to work on us?''
''Is there us Holly?''
''I think there might be… You said you would stay married to me till the day you die… Do you still want it?''
''Do you?''
''I asked you first Gail…''
''I do, but I'm scared…''
''Of what?''
''Failing… You leaving again… Of not surviving it again….of not knowing how to be a wife after so much time I spent alone and single…''
''Gail, we share a lot of fears…But, my question is, are you ready to start over and give us a clean slate?''
''It's not simple…''
''It never was, but, I am asking you… something else…''
''Yes, to me it's worth it…''
Holly smiled…
''But, we have to start from the very beginning…. Like we just met…''
''I think I could do that… We did just meet in a way… It has been a long time Gail…''
''Yes, it has…''
''So, Peck… A fresh start?''
Holly offered a hand for Gail to shake… Gail put her hands around her neck and unclasped her chain. She took off Holly's ring and placed it back to Holly's finger. There was a small smile on Holly's face.
''I am Peck for people at work…For everyone else…I'm Mrs. Stewart….''
With that she shook Holly's hand…