Free Catching Caitlin by Amy Isan Page B

junior year of college, and right after she graduated with her
degree, we got married.”
    He sniffed, his voice
returning back to normal, no longer threatening to break. “I was happy. I
graduated soon after her, and started working for Silver Energy. They had hired
me on from my previous summer internship. Then that Thanksgiving, we had the
accident.”
    “Hugh...” I sat up,
trying to catch his eyes. He only briefly looked at me. He was still rubbing
his wedding band.
    “That’s why I still wear
my wedding band, because I still think about her, I still think about it. I
wish I didn’t have to, I wish I could stop — but I can’t.” He finally looked at
me, and his pain was deep. He looked scorched.
    “I’d understand if you
wanted to go home. You probably don’t feel right being with me anymore.”
    I nodded slightly. I
caught a glimpse of that darkness that was in him and it frightened me. Maybe I
thought that he would be a glimmer of hope in my life. But he was just as
messed up as I was...
    “I don’t know Hugh, I
don’t know if I should stay. It’s hard...”
    “I know. I know...” He
leaned into me, his hair sweeping up against my chest. I twisted my fingers
through his hair, while I stared at the far bedroom wall.
    After a moment, he spoke
again, his voice vibrating through me. “I’ll get the plane ready for you
tomorrow morning. I’m sorry I brought you here, Cay. I guess I don’t really
know myself.”
    I looked away, toward the
kitchen. “Now I feel like you’re making me go. I didn’t say I wanted to.”
    “I don’t know,” he
muttered. “It feels like that’s what you want to do. Sleep on it if you want.”
    I perked up a little,
lifting him off me for a moment. “Maybe we both could use some sleep. Do you
want me to get you anything? Do you have any junk food?”
    “Junk food?” He sat up
and gave me a funny look.
    “Maybe not with a body
like that...” I murmured.
    “No, I was saying that
sounds great. I have some rocky road in the freezer.”
    I was already halfway
through the kitchen as the words left his mouth. I found the half-empty tub of
ice cream and carved out two small bowls for us. When I came back to the
bedroom, he was already passed out, his face smashed up against the pillow. I
guess he was more drained than I thought.
    I slipped his legs under
the covers and joined him, hoping the morning would bring us both some peace.
    ***
    I kept my eyes shut after
I woke up. I could feel the heat and bright light from the sun, but I wanted to
savor the last few moments of my rest. I still felt a little mixed up about the
whole event, dead wives and grief.
    I finally opened my eyes
and squinted at the sunlight. The light was scattered in bright lines, dust
danced in the beams.
    My pillow was wet. Tears?
I must’ve been crying.
    I could hear Hugh as he
clamored around the kitchen, opening drawers and cupboards in a hurry. The
fridge cracked open several times. He must’ve started cooking, because a
sizzling smell wafted into the bedroom.
    I couldn’t remember if we
decided I was leaving or not. I wanted to stay, as ridiculous as it sounded.
The worst part was I knew better. I knew he couldn’t let me into his life if he
was still grieving over his wife. Maybe I thought I could help him? Help bring
him around?
    I felt heartless and
heartbroken at the same time.
    Hugh pushed the bedroom
door open and moved to my side of the bed. His hand was on my shoulder, his
touch exceedingly gentle. “Cay, do you want some breakfast? I made us some
grub.”
    That was all I needed to
hear. I threw the sheets off myself and sat up a little too fast. I squinted
against the bright sunlight pouring into the room. I leaned over to grab the
ice cream bowls, but they were already gone.
    “Did you take the ice
cream this morning?”
    He laughed. “I actually
ate a bowl. Well, I should say drank.” He seemed to be in a lot better mood,
which cheered me up too.
    “That’s good, I