It was frustrating as all hell. I just wanted some damn food, but the nurses were refusing it to me. They all said the same shit, they had to wait for the doctor to come in and approve it. I was starving and the rumbling of my stomach was driving me nuts.

I’d woken up in a hospital room with my parents watching over me. My first thoughts were of Serenati and where she was. They put my worries at ease when they let me know she was with their neighbor. It wasn’t too long afterwards the police and fire investigator showed up. I had to tell the whole story.

Thinking about it, I knew I was lucky to have survived and it was just my luck Minister Garland thought about me in the first place and came looking. The heartbreaking news was the bar was a total loss.

All the years Mr. Cross put into the place and it was gone in minutes. It was the only place in town that was a spot for the community to come together. We celebrated births, marriages, and even deaths in those four walls and now they were gone. Dust.

“Ugh,” I groaned at another rumble of my stomach, but the pain of that was nothing compared to what it felt like when I moved. Without the pump of constant pain medication, I wouldn’t be able to function as much as I could.

“I’m sure the doctor will let you eat soon. I’ve heard you’ve been a bit of a grouch,” came a sweet giggle filled voice which could only belong to one woman. Bethany.

She stood in the doorway, as much a mirage as she’d been the night when I saw her face in the bar. Her smile radiating the space around her. Her blonde hair draped over her shoulders, and those blue eyes shining like never before.

“They’re starving me,” I complained as I pointed out the sad cup of ice chips I’d been given. That was a fucking joke.

Bethany stepped into the room, a potted plant in her hand that she placed on a table before she stepped fully to my bed. The beauty dressed in red touched my arm and I nearly burst with the electric sensations that coursed through my veins.

“They need to make sure of a few things before they can let you eat. I promise you the food will come,” she reassured me with a soft smile that seemed to put some of my frustration at ease.

“Nasty ass hospital food,” I fussed and she giggled again.

“You’re impossible,” she stated as she took a seat next to my bed and sat down. She held my hand in her own as she’d done every visit over the last couple days. Having her near was my medicine. She was helping me heal, and keeping me strong. “Did you hear the news?”

“About Kayleigh?” I questioned and nodded. I’d actually gotten word through the local news.

The TV had been on and a story about the fire played. Kayleigh’s boyfriend and his crew were arrested on attempted murder and arson charges, while Kayleigh was arrested for accessory to commit murder and hiring a hitman. All of them were also picked up multiple drug charges. Kayleigh would be going away for a long time.

It was sad, mostly for Serenati. She didn’t know yet, but eventually she would know her mother was in jail. She’d eventually hear the details as to why, and she’d have questions. My job was to come up with the right answers—the truth. She deserved the truth in terms she could understand and as she got older I would divulge more when needed.

For now, my daughter would live on as a vibrant and joyful six-year-old girl. I’d recover and continue to build a life she could be proud of, the same way my parents had done for me.

“Her first court hearing is tomorrow,” Bethany commented. “I’m thinking about going, but I’m not sure yet. I’m still in shock she would do something so low. She’s not the girl who was one of my best friends growing up. She became a–”

“A monster. Drugs seem to have a way of doing that to people around these parts… and anywhere drugs are,” I added as I thought of the girl Bethany and I once knew. The one who’d become the mother of my child, and later the woman who wished me dead.

Bethany was silent as she stroked the back of my hand with her thumb. I was still in awe she even came. With the way we’d left things, I had doubts she’d ever return, no matter what happened. Yet, Bethany was sitting with me as if she’d never left.

My eyes left my hand in hers and travelled to see the tears rolling down her cheeks. My heart hurt whenever she shed tears.

“Girlie, what’s wrong?” I asked her, my voice soft.

She peered up at me and my heart shattered at the pain that filled her eyes.

“I saw the bar. Well, what was the bar. Liam, nothing is left. All of my dad’s hard work. Over thirty years of blood, sweat, and tears reduced to mere ashes. Liam, it’s gone. My everything. All I’ve ever known is gone,” she sobbed before she pressed her head to my bed. She cried for all she lost. It was hard enough losing her dad, but to lose the last bit of his legacy was the knife in the coffin.

“Baby,” I whispered as I rubbed her back with my bandaged hand. If I wasn’t in my current state, I’d pull her into my arms and hold her tightly.

“Everything is just gone,” she whimpered before she raised her head and glanced up at me. A new wave of pain seemed to hit her as she shook her head. “And then...and then...I almost lost...you.”

“But you didn’t lose me. I’m right here in the flesh. Don’t go crying over me. I’m right here.” I did my best to reassure her, but so many emotions were running through her at once. “Hey, when I get out of here we can do something like a fundraiser. We can raise money to rebuild the bar and the shelter.”

“I did meet with the insurance guy today and he gave an estimate on how much it should cost to rebuild, but honestly, I don’t think Dad would have,” she said as she reached into her bag and pulled out her tablet. “Instead, I had Olivia sketch me this.” She showed me the building on her tablet and I grinned.

“Crossroads Community Center and Shelter,” I read aloud as I looked at the expert sketch by our talented architect friend.

“I talked to Minister Garland about it and he likes it,” she noted as we looked over the sketch together. It was nothing like Fort Shasta had ever had before. “Community, it’s always been about the community and I think a place like this would bring everyone together.”

“I know everyone would pitch in for something like this. It will be out of this world. You’ve always been smart that way.” I brushed a strand of hair away from her face and ran my thumb that was free of the bandage over her smooth cheek. I had my girl, at least for that moment.

“I have always had this dislike for Fort Shasta. It has never been a secret, but Dad loved this town for all it’s great points and flaws. Dad’s gone and I have to be a vessel of him. He would want this place to have the best possible chance at thriving. My duty is to make sure that happens and in his name. I obviously want your help. Dad would want it that way.” Bethany wiped away the final remnants of her tears and gave me a weak smile.

“Baby, you know I’ll be by your side every single step of the way,” I proclaimed. It was a promise I knew I could keep without a doubt. Through the years, I’d made promises I couldn’t keep. I’d always told Bethany I’d love her forever, then I broke her heart. It was time for me to make up for broken promises.

“I did want to thank you for something,” Bethany began as she reached into her oversized designer bag. That was Bethany, no changing her. She was never a small town girl, but a big city girl with dreams that soared above all and her fancy handbags and shoes put that on display. She pulled out an envelope and from inside it she produced the picture from the Wall of Fame. “I don’t know if you remember, but when Minister Garland found you, you were clutching this picture in your hands for dear life. You saved one little piece of the bar, the most important bit to me.”

I hadn’t remembered what she described, but it sounded like me. I touched the now wrinkled photo with the tips of my fingers. I saw the pride on Mr. Cross’s face as he stood with his only child. Not just a reflection of him and his hard work, but a success in her own right.

“I want you to heal first and then I’ll come back up here. We can work on raising some money and getting this place together. I know it will be great, Dad would have made it great, so will we,” Bethany said as she placed the photo back in the protection of the envelope.

“You’re leaving?” I asked anxiously at the mention of her not staying around.

“I have a job, Liam. I have patients waiting for me. Don’t worry though, I’m coming back. I promise you, I can never leave you behind, not again. But–” she paused abruptly.

“But what?” I questioned.

“I love you. You know I do, but Liam. I don’t know how we could make anything work. My life is there and yours is here. I know you’d never move to L.A. and I’m not made for life in Fort Shasta. I’m just afraid we will end up back where we started, with our hearts broken, again.” Bethany turned away from me.

“Look at me,” I demanded and her gorgeous pools of blue met mine. She was honestly afraid of going back in time. She didn’t want me abandoning her again, she was already alone enough. “We’re not doing that again. We’ll figure it out. We’ll be long distance, whatever. I want you in my life. I know I fucked it up before, but I’m not fucking up the best thing in my life ever again. You hear me?”

“Yeah,” she whispered.

“Now, come here, my range of motion sucks after getting shot and I’d kiss you, but I can’t quite get to you,” I joked as I pointed out my current state in the hospital bed. It was almost easy to forget I was in the hospital when alone and talking to Bethany.

Bethany grinned and leaned in. Her soft lips met mine and all was right in my world. I had secured my daughter in my loving home and now Bethany was truly mine. It couldn’t get any better.

“Daddy!” screamed an overly excited voice that I could never forget. Bethany pulled away and I spotted Serenati bounding my way, her red pigtails bouncing with her.

My parents strolled behind her, Dad giving me a thumbs up as they’d obviously seen Bethany and I. I reached out for my daughter as she hopped onto the edge of the bed. She gave me the biggest hug she could muster up.

“Careful with your daddy, Renni,” my mom warned.

“Sorry,” Renni quickly apologized. “Are you feeling better, Daddy?”

“So much better now that you’re here. I’ve missed you so much!” I was beaming with my little girl there. I held her close and used my other arm to grab Bethany around the waist.

Though the circumstances were grim, this was my life and it was beginning to be a damned good one.