Read Turn Towards the Sun: Book Three- Forever in Bloom (The Sunflower Trilogy) for Free Online

Checca tell her story. I know that what I really need is routine and things to do. I shake my head softly to rid my mind of these thoughts and focus on the friends and family around me.
     
     

     
     
    AFTER EVERYONE LEAVES, I brace myself to go call my parents. They are the last people I want to talk to since I know there is no way I can fight back all this emotion once I hear their voices. It’s necessary though. I’ve made them wait long enough to speak to me.
    My hands shake as I dial the number. After a couple of rings, my father answers the phone. “Hi, princess,” he says, sadly.
    “Hi daddy.”
    “It’s good to hear your voice. How are you holding up?”
    My bottom lip quivers in response to his question. “Daddy,” I say as tears start to roll down my cheeks. “I’m broken. So very broken.”
    “I know, honey. I’m so sorry. What can I do to help?”
    “Nothing. No one can help. It’s just something I need to go through and only time will make it better.” I hope.
    “You have Enzo and I’m sure he is taking good care of you.”
    “He is. The best he can possibly do, which is a lot. I just don’t know how it happened.”
    “What did the doctor say?”
    “Nothing helpful.” I sob heavily now. “Is mom there?”
    “She is. In the craft room. I’ll go get her.”
    I take a deep breath and wait for my mom. The sound of her voice will trigger another avalanche of tears.
    “Ava, sweetheart. Mama’s here.”
    I can tell from her strained words she is trying to hold back her own emotion. I don’t even want to think about how hard she is taking this loss.
    “Hi,” is all I can say before the tears take over. We sit for ages simply crying together on the phone. Our shared grief is more than enough and words are simply not necessary for several minutes.
    “Ava, honey,” my dad says, “you know we love you and we are here for you. Do you want us to come out there?”
    “I don’t know. I just want to get back to my regular life. I hate feeling so sad.”
    “It’s okay to feel sad, Ava,” my mom says. “In fact, you should. You lost something so precious and it’s only right you would be heartbroken. Just let yourself feel the pain, rely on those around you for support, and let your husband and family love and comfort you.”
    Her words are so touching and hit me right in the heart. All I can do is continue to cry into the phone while I listen to my parents do their best to comfort me.
    When I finally hang up the phone, I’m exhausted and just want to go back to bed. I decide to visit my husband in his office before taking a nap. I knock softly on his door, listening to his lovely voice barking commands at some unknown caller.
    “Come in, Ava,” he says, his voice softening momentarily. “Can you just take care of it? I’ll stop by later today,” he says. He nods his head and hangs up. “Ciao, amore. How did it go with your parents?”
    “Brutal, but to be expected. You know how emotional my mom can be. I convinced them not to come out here since there is really nothing they can do for me. I think it would just prolong things for me.”
    He nods. “You look tired. Dr. Warner said you should rest and not push yourself.”
    “I know what Dr. Warner said,” I reply, a bit too defensively, I’m sure.
    “Ava,” Enzo says as he stands and walks towards me. “I know you are hurt, but you must try to remember that I love you and I’m here for you. I’m not being condescending when I tell you these things. I’m just reminding you to care for yourself. I’d rather you recognize these things, but if you don’t, I will make sure of it, capisci?”
    I look up at him, feeling like a small petulant child being scolded. He’s right and I keep striking out at him. “I just want to get back to the way things were.”
    “We will, but it will take some time. There is nothing wrong with taking some time to relax.”
    “I know. I’m sorry I’m so irritable.”
    “You don’t need to be