Free My Forever June by DeAnna Kinney Page A

looked at me, her eyes wide with concern. “I need to stay with you.”
                  “It’s okay, June,” I reassured her. “You don’t usually stay the nights with me.” Then I winked at her. Okay, so it wasn’t the right time to be playful, but what else was I gonna do?
                  “But you weren’t sick then. I can’t let you stay in this place alone. You need me.”
                  The nurse approached June and placed her hand on her arm. “I understand your concern, dear, but I promise you we will take very good care of him. You can come back first thing in the morning and stay all day if you like. Okay?”
                  June was suddenly nodding in agreement. The nurse did make it much better. I felt more at ease as well.
                  The nurse supervised as I said my goodbyes to everyone, and I watched in sorrow as June turned and reluctantly left the room.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Twenty
    June
     
     
    It took me a while to get home. I just didn’t have my usual spark to drive fast. When I finally arrived at the cottage, I needed to hear a comforting voice, so I called home to talk to my dad. Unfortunately, my mom answered the phone.
                  “June! It’s so nice to hear from you. How are you?”
                  “Oh, hello, Mom. I’m okay. Is dad home?”
                  “Yes, but don’t you want to talk to me?”
                  Uh oh, here we go . “Well, it’s just that I have something I wanted to talk to him about.”
                  “Fine,” she snapped. “If you don’t want to talk to me, that’s just fine. Here’s your dad.”
                  I cringed. I should’ve expected that.
                  “Hello, darlin’,” My dad said, and I could tell he was smiling.
                  I smiled automatically. “Hey, Daddy. I just needed to hear your voice.”
                  “Okay, what’s wrong with my June bug?”
                  He knew me so well, and I fought the tears as I then went on to tell him all about the last twenty-four hours and the episode Tucker had. He was encouraging, just like I knew he would be, and I felt better after the conversation ended. I knew he would have to tell mom about our conversation. She had made it clear the last time I talked to her that she wasn’t supportive of our relationship. She felt it was the wrong time for me to be involved with anyone and thought that if I was so determined to be a painter then I should focus on that and not boys. This just reiterated to me that she didn’t know me at all.
                  I strolled through the house lacking my usual zeal. The man of my dreams was in a cold hospital room all alone and with nothing familiar. As far as I knew, he didn’t even have any additional clothes. This gave me an idea.
                  The next morning, I arrived at the institute bright and early. I had to check in at the desk. They said he was having some intense tests done, and that even though he would be a while that I could wait in his room.
                  I entered his room and soon found just what I was looking for—his keys.
                  Twenty minutes later, I was strolling through the door of his immaculate apartment in search of some things that would make him more comfortable. It felt strange going through his drawers in search of clothes, but it was necessary. After I felt I had all I needed, I headed back to the institute.
                  It was all worth it when his adorable face lit up with surprise as he stepped slowly into his room. “June, what have you done?” But his expression was impressed. I had his hospital bed made with all of his own sheets and comforter, along with his familiar pillow. I had fresh clothes