The Brightness Duet: Complete Series Boxset

by Bri Stone

  The intensity of her gaze holds me prisoner, and I willingly submit. For the first time, it seems, I realize that I’m better again. That I made it out of the disease that took my mother from me too soon. It was like she is still watching over me because I know it’s her that gave me another chance; that healed me. It would have been nice to see her again, just one more time. But I’m not finished here yet. With Perrie, as a man, or as a surgeon.

  I’ve been given a second chance, and I know I have to make the most of it. It’s the least I can do for my mom, who wasn’t lucky enough to get one.

  “You okay?” Perrie’s giggle makes me smile.

  “Yeah, just thinking about my mom. You sure you don’t want to take that job?” I ask her.

  She smiles wide. “Yes, I’m sure. I like things here. It was like... a new start for us. Maybe down the line, I might take it, and it might even be for Chief at that point.” She laughs.

  “Oh, typical. You want to be the bigger gun.” I tease her.

  “Well, it is the end goal. For now, I’m happy here with you, and your friends.”

  I frown to myself. “Shit, I didn’t tell them the good news.” I say, remembering they had all reached out to me since yesterday.

  “Oh Thom. Get it together.” Perrie shakes her head and kisses me softly. I nibble on her bottom lip before she pulls away.

  “Soon.” I kiss her again before she lays against my shoulder.

  I tuck her into my side and enjoy the feel of her against me. I’m so elated, it’s hard to even place all my emotions. To be granted a second chance is special, and I know I have the best shot at it.

  “You’re so quiet.” Perrie whispers.

  “I was just thinking... I wish my mom had gotten better. I’m glad that I am, but it kind of reminds me of her. All of it did.” I say honestly, for the first time.

  She looks up at me and traces my cheekbone with her thumb. “I’m sorry, Thom. I know you miss her.” Her hand goes to my bicep and she squeezes before she rubs my arm.

  “Yeah.” I sigh. She kisses the corner of my mouth.

  “She’d be so proud of you. I’m sure of it.”

  “Thanks.” I smile sadly.

  We spend the rest of the night with idle conversation. Mostly catching up over the years and doing the usual banter we always do. It feels just like years ago, back in med school when we lived together and would just talk each other to sleep. I realize that can be our life now, that we can exist together again.

  It’s the best news, second to finding out I’m cancer free.

  There are no broken pieces of me anymore. No loose ends and no sharp parts. Just Perrie in my arms forever; the girl I fought for and lost and then got back again. Our story is wild, but it’s ours, and I don’t think it will ever be over.

  Perrie has me call my friends so I don’t forget, and it’s nice talking to each of them. I’ll see them soon enough, but it’s good just to reassure them. Brock and David made a bunch of jokes, but I knew they meant well. Having people that care about me is still somehow new, but it’s appreciated.

  When Perrie and I finally drift off to sleep I’m exhausted. Even with the thought of my mom, it doesn’t hurt as much because I know Perrie is here to keep me together. I met her when she gave more leverage to the fear of a broken heart, and now she’s fearless. I’m fearless with her, and while our relationship isn’t perfect, it’s ours.

  Perrie told me something her mentor taught her in Paris, about humans. About how we were never meant to be singular beings, why we come with two parts to one whole. I had found mine with her, the most important parts of me; the strongest, the happiest... they’re hers.

  Epilogue: Perrie

  Thom survived three more years before the cancer came back and took him.

  It was just too late to do anything because the cancer was made of him then. The pain I felt in my heart was nothing compared to anything I ever felt before. I was never the same, and I knew I could never love anyone the way I loved Thom. It was the kind of love that does nothing but consume you, hurt you, and drive you mad. It drove me mad and it ended up being all for nothing, because we hadn’t even gotten married yet.

  Nothing went according to plan, and I should have known there would be a catch.

  He was everything, and he still is.

  THAT NIGHTMARE HAS existed since we got his prognosis back. I fear falling asleep because of it and go to work every day exhausted. Then I just see Thom in bed next to me, snuggle up closer to him, and fall back into a fitful sleep. Thom is alive, he made it... he really made it.

  I walk out of the morgue and into clean air. Sometimes it gets stuffy down there, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I have grown used to the tight air surrounding me. Mark and I both go to lunch, but he goes to a different wing sometimes to eat with his buddies. I never paid much attention to him sometimes, which I felt bad for, but he does tend to ramble.

  I pass by the pedes wing and say hi to Brock when I run into him. It was surprising, that being his specialty, but it somehow fit. Once I go to the cafeteria, I picked up a salad and iced tea before I found a good place.

  Thom had gotten back to operating a few months ago, so I was never sure of his schedule. Maci has been very supportive of him; their friendly competition is fun to watch sometimes. When Staci passes by, I wave at her before she leaves, same thing when I see Steve passing by too. It’s nice to have friends here too, though I know they are all much closer to Thom. They’ve known each other since intern year, and the gossip mill of the hospital calls them the New York Residents, even though they are all attendings.

  For a long while, some people in the surgical unit were checking on Thom and congratulating him on being cancer free. At first it was hard for him, because it reminded him of how his mom didn’t share the same fate as him. But every day got easier for him. Clem kept suggesting therapy to him when she came to visit soon after. It wasn’t until his doctor suggested a ‘life after cancer’ type group to him that he decided to do it. I assume it’s helping; but he still feels guilty about other cancer patients that come his way. Apparently, it’s doctor’s guilt of some sort. He feels especially bad about me and my nightmares, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. And when I wake up next to him, after so long of being without him and thinking he is gone, it’s enough to calm me.

  When Thanksgiving passed, it was the first-time dad had been around Thom since he knew of how we broke up. I kept him updated, so there weren’t really any hard feelings. It was nice to see them bonding again, and Thom still asked him for permission to marry me. Old fashioned, but very Thom.

  We had no immediate plans, but I always wear the ring. The sense of belonging to him again is strong and it consumes me. I smile throughout the day like a school girl, and even Mark calls me out on it sometimes. But I don’t care. I’m that girl that’s madly in love, annoying everyone around her.

  Clem did decide to move to the city, but down in lower Manhattan. Her and Declan are still doing well, and I’m glad for it. Everything has fallen into place, and it only took until I turned thirty-two for it to happen. But there was no rush to find the ‘perfect’ life or obtain everything we think will make us happy. I thought being a double board certified, world class forensic pathologist was everything I needed but it turned out to be only a fraction of what makes me happy.

  I smile into my empty Chobani yogurt cup at the thought.

  I’m inside my own head as I finish lunch. Thinking of Thom the entire time. Even after all these years, I’m still excited to see him again. And get all giddy when I think about him. I know it’s just because I am so in love with him, but also just how right we are for each other and after what we’ve been through, there is no denying it. I look at my life now and almost laugh at how different I thought it would be.

  Thom’s voice comes booming next to me and it takes me back to ten years ago in the cafeteria of UCSF.

  From the ground up, I follow his body. His black sneakers contrast the whit
e linoleum. The light color of his scrubs wraps around his thighs, which grow stronger every day with his physical therapy, and his shirt fits him tighter too. He smiles down at me, his gray eyes twinkling underneath his deep ridged brows. His hair has grown a bit more, so it’s a little longer than a buzz cut.

  I smile up at him and, meet his sweet gray eyes before he asks me, “Mind if I sit here?”

  Bonus Epilogue

  PERRIE:

  I finish my last case report in record time, not that going fast is any better for the outcome, but it is nice to be done before dinner for once. I had to pay my dues since I started my fellowship here in New York, but two years later I am finally out of that bubble. In fact, I just filled in for the Chief Pathologist that retired, making me the youngest ever to do it. The attendings threw me a party with a cake and everything, but of course that was Thom’s idea.

  Speaking of, after I get changed into my civilian clothes, I page Thom to see where he is. An inherent smile comes to my face like always and stays until he responds. His code says he is in the oncology wing and my heart skips a few beats, before I tell myself to relax.

  It’s been doing that the past couple years because the first thing I think about is how I almost lost him. But he’s a surgeon, so of course he’s in the oncology wing from time to time. I remind myself of that as I grab my things and head toward him. On the way out I say my goodbyes to the assistant and desk clerk like I always do. My routine has been the same here since I arrived, it got rattled a bit once everyone found out about Thom’s cancer and us being together, but there is less whispering as I walk by and only staring.

  “Working late?” I peek my head over the nurse’s station where Thom is sitting, I spotted his head of dirty-blond hair as soon as I turned the counter. He drops the patient file and smiles at me with his gray eyes.

  “I hope not.” His smile lowers to a smirk and I grin back.

  “Me too. I just finished.” I sigh and come around the desk to sit on the other side. My legs hang over next to his chair, he wheels it back and crosses his arms. I do a once over of how good he looks in his gray scrubs, the way his ropey muscles have filled out over the years since he’s gotten healthier.

  Sometimes I look at him and stop to think how lucky I am to have him in my life, and how far we have come. Every time I am overcome with immeasurable joy.

  “I just have to update these files. We may actually eat dinner at an acceptable time.”

  I nod, “surprising. You want me to wait with you?” I ask him. A pair of nurses walk by and another doctor, I never remember his name, but I know that he’s in orthopedics.

  “Nah, you’re too distracting.” His hand cups my calf and I swat him away. We have to tone down the public displays of affection in the hospital. There was a little incident with other doctors last year that made HR crack down on couples in the hospital.

  “Yeah right. I guess I’ll wait for you at home then. Maybe I could cook.” I suggest.

  “Not if you’re too tired.”

  I shrug, I had a light day with only two autopsies, the rest was completing the case files.

  “Nope, you’re in luck.” I smile, but I still have to figure out what to even make.

  “That I am.” He grins and I hop off the counter, giving him a chaste kiss before I take my leave.

  The walk to the parking garage is up two elevators and across the sky walk. It’s the only exercise I get, with all the time I don’t have. Thom and I often leave at different times, so we rarely carpool, but I always miss riding in his Jeep. One of these days it will give out and I’m dreading it already.

  I shower as soon as I get back to our flat, having to shampoo my hair twice to get the formaldehyde smell out. There is a large stone bench to sit in the shower, so it’s not too bad. We only moved back in together about two years ago, apartment hunting together was fun, and it all came down to how comfortable the shower would be when we’re both in it for a long time. Our salary bumps made that easier, especially living in New York and all. I leave my deep conditioner on when I get out and throw on one of his Henleys and start marinating the chicken. The only reason there is food here is because of the meal delivery service we use, otherwise we would both starve.

  As the chicken cooks I chop veggies and wait impatiently for Thom to get home. I’m used to waiting, and then finding out he has to stay longer, or that I do. The doctor life isn’t easy and we both know that, but we luck out sometimes. Considering the holiday season has ended and it’s the middle of summer the ER hasn’t been very calm and neither has my morgue. An hour and a half later, the key fob jiggles and my heart still patters in my chest at Thom being nearby.

  “You actually cooked,” he calls through the entryway. The foyer is wide and opens up to the study first, before the kitchen comes into view and then I see him. He changed back into his jeans and black hoodie that I saw him in two days ago. That’s how long we’ve been at work before now.

  “Yeah I did. What’s that look for?” I get off the stool to check said food, it’s almost ready and I leave it to simmer.

  “Nothing,” he crosses the space and wraps his arms around my waist. I sink against him and his comfort. His body is warm on its own again and I smile more at knowing that he has really gotten better.

  “You finish your files?” I link my arms around his neck. His hips press into mine and my bare legs rub against the denim of his jeans, feeling his warmth underneath.

  “Yes, I did, it was a long day. Or two days I guess.”

  I smile before he leans in to kiss me. His lips rub against mine before the kiss deepens and I disappear into how good he feels. He presses his body against mine, so close I feel his pulse, amongst other things. When I feel the outline of his cock against my hip I moan into the kiss and he groans deep in his chest before breaking the kiss.

  “I can’t decide if I’m hungry or horny,” he laughs once, his forehead rests on mine and I smile.

  “Hungry. Because I am too.” I reluctantly separate from him to turn the stove off. I get greens out of the fridge to make a salad to go with the stir fry.

  “Yeah, you’re right. You make dessert too?” he reaches around me to grab bottled water from the fridge.

  “I am the dessert.” I giggle at my own joke but all he does is look at me mid sip of his water like he wishes I hadn’t said that. I just smile and shrug at him.

  “You know what Perrie, I think you do this shit on purpose.” He finishes his water and I laugh as he disappears into the room, moments later I hear the shower come on. I keep the food heated until he comes back and turn on the tv for some background noise, one of those trashy reality shows is on and it reminds me of Melinda. We haven’t talked since she had a conference here last month.

  I start to really feel the exhaustion coming on, I’m avoiding drinking coffee so I can just fall asleep soon.

  “The Chief and I had words today.” Thom saunters into the kitchen in gray sweats and a white tee shirt.

  “About what?”

  We get our food and sit back in the living room to eat. The dining area is really for decoration unless we have company. A lot of this penthouse is, really. The two extra bedrooms might have been wishful thinking...

  “The crappy interns he keeps sticking me with.” He says with his mouth full. I giggle at him and keep eating, I get hungrier as I go, and I realize I don’t even remember when I last ate.

  “You were once a crappy intern, babe. Stay humble.’ I nudge his knee with my foot, and he swats it away playfully.

  “Yeah but... jeez they get stupider every year.” He drops his empty plate on the table and then sips his iced tea. I learned how to make it from scratch, it was a necessity since all the brands suck here in the city, nothing like the south.

  “Okay, Thom, whatever you say.” I laugh because my profession has a shortage and I only get a new fellow like every other year.

  “Maybe I am being over dramatic. But Maci agrees.”

  I roll my ey
es at him but take it in stride, I know he’s a good teacher. He might be the most down to earth surgeon there is, there isn’t a trace of natural asshole in him. His dad is a different story though.

  I finish my plate too and wash it down with water, then lean back into the couch and against Thom. I inhale his warm piney scent and take deep breaths of him as many times as I can.

  “I have the day off tomorrow. I can go shopping for groceries, and we can’t use the toilet paper from the lobby anymore, they’ll figure us out.” I laugh once. He chuckles against me and I look up at him.

  “We can order that online, you should relax. Plus I have the day off too.”

  I move into his lap. “We both have the day off? That’s like...finding a unicorn on fifth avenue.” I smile.

  He laughs and rubs his hands up my bare thighs and suddenly there isn’t a lick of exhaustion in my eyes.

  “Shit, it is.” He kisses the corner of my mouth and drags me closer to him. The simple act has my body thrumming, it’s been so long I can’t even remember when I last had him.

  “What should we do? Well, we will probably end up sleeping all day.” I sigh.

  He licks his lips as his gray eyes glint with mischief and I give him a funny look.

  “Maybe we will... or,” his hands slide up my back and hold me closer to him. I still see the brightness in his eyes as he smiles at me.

  “Or what?” I laugh uneasily at his secrecy. He grabs my left hand and traces my ring finger. I feel my heart in my throat as I figure him out.

  “We could finally get married.”

  Thom:

  Perrie stares at me like she doesn’t understand English anymore. Which I expected. Even after all these years some things just don’t grow old. Clearly, she has gotten over her commitment hurdles, and we have been engaged for a long time it’s just hard to fit a wedding into our busy lives.

  But I have thought about it all day, all week, for the past few months. I just want her to be my wife and be her husband. A big wedding doesn’t matter, not even a honeymoon, I just want her and one day is all I need.