'Don't forget your meds,' Rhys called out from the bedroom, and Cornell dutifully took the painkillers and sleeping aids he'd been prescribed. The smile wouldn't leave Cornell's face as he used the toilet, washed his hands, then brushed his teeth. 'You're enjoying this way too much,' he told Rhys. 'Even when I was a teen and I would stay with you when Dad was traveling and Mom was out, you still told me to do my night routine.'Ĭornell couldn't help but smile. 'Dude, that's what you always called it,' Rhys said, laughing now. 'Night routine? What am I, six?' Cornell protested. 'Night routine first,' he said with a hint of a smile. Before he could collapse on top of it, Rhys grabbed his arm.

He was tight from exertion and pain when he reached his bed. Rhys gestured at him to move it into the bedroom, and Cornell took the last few steps-with effort. 'Also because I'm sure there are some things your father would rather keep private.' So many memories were stuffed into this house, into Jonas's furniture and his clothes, his personal effects. Relief filled Cornell that all of his friend’s things were still there. I was hoping you might help me when you got better.' Mom offered to help me go through Dad's stuff, but that felt wrong to me. I left everything as it was and moved back into my old room. So they’d spent a good day setting it up, going over all the options, and then they’d stuck it in a drawer, so to speak. God, neither of them had even figured they’d need it anytime soon, but after the divorce, Jonas had wanted to make sure Rhys would be taken care of. Cornell was well aware of Jonas's will, since he'd been the one to craft it for him years ago. He'd only asked Rhys to duplicate personal pictures for those who wanted them, like Cornell. Jonas's will had been straightforward, as he'd left everything to Rhys. 'Did you go through your dad's things already?' 'Yeah,' he said when he trusted himself to speak again, when that hard chokehold on his throat had relented. I don't want to lose that last connection to him.'Ī wave of grief barreled through Cornell, and he leaned his hand against the wall for support. It feels sacrilegious, you know? That room, it smells like him, even now.

'I forgot to ask, but are you sleeping in the master bedroom now? In your dad's room, I mean?'įor the first time, Rhys looked insecure as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

Gentle hand nora phoenix