Updated: June 18, 2023

Clay

            I drove out toward my office, it was still early so I stopped at the drugstore to have the pictures I wanted from the phone printed out. I walked around the store like a love sick teenager, shopping for frames, I wasn’t starting my day without her images surrounding me.

            I felt hungover, heavy, and lifeless. I missed her intensely already and didn’t know how to make reentry into my life.

            I paid for the photos and frames and sat in my truck to place them together. I had three, two of her and one of us both together. It was the best one, Livvie had taken it on the boat, Aubrey and I were looking at each other and smiling, we didn’t realize we were caught. Liv had texted the photo to me yesterday and I could see it, the attraction, the chemistry and the pure something between us.

            After running a few more errands, I got into my building as the courier arrived with all the file boxes from my suite in Beaufort and I directed him to my personal office.

            I reached my desk and moved things around to place the pictures. I also logged into my computer and made Aubrey my wallpaper as I had done with my cell phone. I was smitten and besotted and didn’t give a fuck. My assistant arrived while I was in a fog in front of my laptop, trying to catch up on email.

            “Clayton Hoover, you all over the interwebs with your new sweetheart,” she chirped, dumping her bag and briefcase onto her chair outside my office.

I stared up at her like aliens had landed on my porch,

            “Whatcha you cluckin’ about Lora Jean?” I asked befuddled.

            She served as my father’s paralegal and assistant before she became mine, Lora Jean was in her late sixties, and I couldn’t sharpen a pencil without her. She was a petite, grey haired woman who had forgotten more about South Carolina law than any one of us actually retained.

            “Clay, people have been taking your picture since Saturday morning with that Yankee girl you met in the bar. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Y’all are everywhere. On the beach at Edisto, supper in Beaufort at the wharf, walking around Charleston. Hell Clayton, don’t you know how people work cell phones?”

            “Show me what you talkin’ ‘bout,” I ordered gruffly.

She brought me her cell phone and swiped through various tweets and posts all with pictures and captions of Aubrey and I together.

            “Damnation, they got this one,” I mumbled. Someone caught the moment I stood staring down into her eyes in front of the store bench, telling her I had found everything I’d ever want. It could easily have been a romantic movie poster. We were lost in each other and no one else was in the world.

            “Lora Jean, email this one to me,” I asked, “And gear up, Tess will be burnin’ up the phone lines shortly.” I knew my ex-wife was about to be heard on this matter, no doubt. 

            “Clay, it’s a great picture. “Y’all like you been in love for ages,” Lora Jean said sweetly.

            As if on cue my office line rang. Lora Jean lifted the receiver, “Clayton Hoover’s office,” she listened and nodded her head in affirmation, “Certainly Miss Tessa, I’ll see if he’s available.” She put the call on hold.

            “Good Luck with that one, Clay. Want your bagel? I’m heading down to the place.”

            I nodded dramatically, “The usual, toasted onion with jalapeno cream cheese, thank you kindly,” and I reached for the phone.

            “Tess, everything okay with Tate?”

            “Clayton, you know good and well I don’t get that information— the boy refuses to speak with me ‘cept for giving name, rank, and serial number. I’m calling about your new found celebrity.” Her voice dripping with consternation.

            “Oh the trial, yeah glad it’s over, what can I do for you Tess?” I asked impatiently. I downloaded all the pictures of Aubrey onto my hard drive and was flipping through them, including one of her sleeping in just my Clemson shirt and panties. Fucking gorgeous.

            “The trial? Oh Clay, you know that has been eclipsed by y’all cavorting around the Lowcountry with some strange woman from up North.” Her tone and shrill voice crackled through my happy slide show review.

            “Quit bein’ ugly, Tess, exactly what skin do you have in this game? We’re divorced, I’m a single man. Your monkey business have had Lowcountry chewing cud almost two years, you should be happy the tea topic has shifted to me. You wasting my time, what do you want?”

She was quiet for a moment, “Well, I guess I should say I’m happy for you. I wanted to congratulate you on the trial. You seem practically adolescent in these photos all over the internet. I am happy for you Clay, I hope you have found something for yourself at last.” She said unconvincingly.

            “If there’s nothing else Tess, I have a meeting.” I blew her off.

            “Of course you do, stay well Clayton,” she hung up quickly.

Lora Jean came into my office with my bagel and a fresh cup of coffee.

            “Thank you LJ, you’re a life saver,” I sighed. “Grab your calendar, I need scheduling changes,  flights and cars booked.” I instructed.

            “Ahhhh Clay Hoover, you are in love. Saints preserve us, I did not think I’d live to see this day. You messing with the enemy, those Yankee girls only want information to pass onto their Union Generals.” She mocked.

            “Lora Jean, the war has been over a good long time you know,” I laughed.

            “Don’t mean we forgetting or forgiving, Clay.” She came around my desk to see the photos of Aubrey positioned around my desk.  

            “She’s a genuine beauty. I can’t say as I blame you.” She patted my shoulder. “And look how sweet y’all are staring at each other, you’re a dead man Clay,” she twittered. I gazed up at her, serious as a heart attack.

            “Lora Jean, I don’t care if I’m taking a leak in the private john, or conducting a deposition with Daniel Webster himself, if that girl calls me you pull me out of wherever I am. Promise?”

She laughed and walked back to her desk with her notes.

            “Of course I will Clay, it’s good to see you like this, boss. I’m tickled for y’all. I’m gonna start working on these itineraries right quick.  Don’t forget your ten-o clock with Judge Harper.”

            “Before you start that, find me a florist. I want two dozen roses delivered to her house before she gets there, I’ll email you her address. Make them white and mix them with blue hydrangea. I’ll write the card out for you. And Lora Jean, might as well open me up an account with them,” I flushed slightly.

            She finished scribbling on her steno pad and looked up at me proudly.

            “Just like your Daddy, I approve.” She laughed and left my space.

I had the alarm set on my phone for when her plane should be landing, it went off while I was in conference with my staff and Jimmy Lee dividing up the media interview requests.  The text came in seconds later,

            Aubrey:  “Wheels down baby, I’m home and I want to turn around and come right back to you,”

I grinned like a crushing teen and texted back,

                Me;         Right to the judge’s chambers, Sugar, till death do us part..

                Aubrey:  Big, honking diamond, beach proposal, down on one knee and I’ll never leave you again.

                Me:         And the baguettes, I got it all down. I’m all in, but we need to decide where we’re gonna live.

                Aubrey: Good point, but right now, home is where you are. So that might be the answer. I gotta run Counselor, I’ll talk to you later. I love you.

                Me: I love you more, Sugar. Have a good day.

I put the phone back on the pile of my papers, Jimmy Lee stared at me and grinned wickedly.

            “She get home alright?” he whispered.

I smiled at him and nodded my head. “I’m gonna marry that girl, just y’all wait and see,” I whispered back.

Jimmy Lee shook his head, smiling. “I’m surprised you’re not already, but you best not ask anyone else to stand for you.” He stood to leave the conference room and slapped me on the shoulder.

Aubrey

The car dropped me off at my front door when I saw the flowers sitting on my porch table.

Two dozen, gorgeous fat white cabbage roses mixed with heads of blushing blue hydrangea. All arranged in a rustic pale blue watering can. This man was going to ruin me.

The driver dropped my luggage inside my door as I opened the card,

Bree, you, and me, from now on…Madly, deeply. Love, Clay

I sighed with delight.

Once I settled into the house I texted him.

          Me:      The flowers are breathtakingly beautiful, just like your eyes and the way you kiss me. Thank you Clay. <<<Lots of heart emojis>>>

            Clay:    Not nearly as breathtakingly beautiful as my girl. You’re welcome <<<more heart emojis>>

            Me:      Your girl? Now that gave me flutters. I hope your day is going well, can’t wait till we can talk tonight. Love you, xxxxxooooo

            Clay:    My girl, now and forever. My day would be better if you came back and stayed.  Love you more, looking forward to our call tonight.

            Me: By the way, I stole your Clemson shirt, come, and get it. LOL

            Clay: Wear it tonight for me, and I’ll come and get whatever I want and that is all of you.

My heart ached, this was gonna suck just like he said. Why couldn’t this work? I could live anywhere and considering the time I would be required to spend down there until the property was resolved I could work steady from down there instead of going crazy traveling back and forth.

            Part of me wanted him to visit up here first, just to see how he adapted to my world. I don’t know if I could live in the South. My father rarely went back once he moved here. True he moved for love, but so did my mother, she left Sicily to be with him. So I come from a long line of travelling with your heart.

Jenna came into the house like a storm. She had been planning her own destination wedding coming up at the end of the year.

            “Bree, I’m so sorry, I got caught in traffic…” She stopped suddenly, she noticed the jewelry and the flowers.

            “Bree, what did you do?” she laughed. “And tell me everything –do not leave out one detail, she bent to sniff at the flowers and approached me to inspect the new jewelry I was wearing.

She made us both a cup of coffee and settled at her desk in my home office as I briefed her on the weekend. Never breaking eye contact with me as she listened and simultaneously braided her long red hair back off her face.

            “Oh Aubrey, it’s all so tragically romantic, isn’t it? Why can’t you just move there? You own a house there for shit’s sake.”

            “I think it might be more complicated than that. I’m sure there is a hidden conflict of interest in the work I do and the work he does. I’m having a meeting with Dean this afternoon and it’s my first question. Second, my whole life has been here, my family is here, my life is here.” I debated weakly. It was happening, my resistance was wearing down.

            “Bree, your family are distant cousins who barely speak to each other, your ex-husband’s family doesn’t give you the time of day, your father is gone and there is nothing tying you to New Jersey except for your love of the beach, I understand they have a few notable ones down there in South Carolina.”

I started to pace the floor. She made very good points. I loved being in Cape May, it was a sweet Victorian resort town which though sleepy in the winter was vibrant with a year-round resident population. But I was alone. There was no love here for me anymore with my father gone.

The ocean brought me peace and it never got as hot and muggy as it did in the Lowcountry. We could come close, but never as bad. The food was different, delicious but not ethnically diverse as I was used to. I would have to uproot my entire existence…but the payout, to be with Clay forever, it was tipping the scales.

            “What about you, Jenna? I’d be leaving you,” I said sadly.

Jenna stood to hug me, “Bree after I get married I have to move with Tommy, he will be stationed in San Diego. It makes sense for you to go to South Carolina, all the sense in the world.”

I had forgotten that detail. My only friend was leaving the state by the end of the year. I had no more connection to New Jersey except bad memories of my ex-husband and his awful family.

            “Bree don’t think about it now. Clear your email and let’s make the calendar room for the next month. Is the article ready for Travel Life?”

I nodded my head and sat back at my desk. It was my intention to just drown myself in work until I could FaceTime with Clay tonight.

I finished my edits to the “Beauty of Beaufort” article and sent it over to Jenna to proof read before submitting it. She left the office for me to have a private conversation with my employer, Dean Grayson.

His face appeared on the zoom screen.

            “How was South Carolina?” he asked. “Must have been quite the celebration with you there in time for the verdict.”

Dean was in his late sixties and still sported his military haircut and posture. He reminded me of the actor Dolph Lundgren. Tall, solid, a face of sharp angles and intimidating. The years he spent with military intelligence were dark and redacted. Our alliance began when he was one of my professors at the University of Michigan for my criminology degree. He recruited me to work for his private investigations firm immediately after I received my master’s.

            “Oh it was a party,” I grinned.

            “Anything you want to tell me Bree?” he asked nonchalantly. I had to assume he knew. I saw the number of pictures being taken of Clay and I when we were out in public. Before even checking for myself, I was confident they were already going viral at least in the Lowcountry.

            “Dean, I started seeing Clayton Hoover. We spent the weekend together and I plan on continuing the relationship. He knows what I do, and he knows what will happen if my identity is revealed.”

Dean sat back in his chair, contemplating the consequences.

            “I don’t foresee a problem Aubrey, the man is the Chief Prosecutor of Beaufort County, an officer of the court and I know from many sources he is a man of undeniable integrity. I would feel better if he signed a non-disclosure agreement, but I won’t force the issue. Run the possibility by him, but don’t push.”

            I sighed with relief. “Thank you Dean, I’m crazy about him,” I blushed, embarrassed by the admission.  Since my own father died, Dean had taken on the role as a surrogate.

Dean laughed and his face softened. “Well that’s good news sweetheart, about time you got back on the horse. Been a long time between drinks for you. The thing is, we have to be vigilant about the work coming in from SLED. You really shouldn’t weigh in on a trial Clayton is putting together. We have to avoid any possibility you review evidence of something he’ll litigate. It’s a massive violation of ethics no matter how insulated you would be. Things change if you marry him.”

            “I agree Dean,” my heart quickened with the idea of marrying Clay. I had sworn I’d never marry again when shit went bad with my ex. But now the idea was taking root and I was finding so much joy in the possibility.

            “SLED guys are gonna hate this news. They are nuts about you and the work you do.”

            “I’m not the only person who does it, they will adjust to someone else in our stable.”

            “Let’s see how it goes. I’d rather you happy than stressed out over this. It’s an administrative move, I’ll handle it. The only other thing is you can’t accept a request from him to look at a case. Off the record or officially. It would have to come to me for review. He will be tempted to ask your professional opinion and you will be eager to help him. You have to keep your conversations about criminal cases hypothetical in nature. No direct review of something he’s working on.  Promise me Bree.”

            “Yes Sir, I promise,”

            “Remember that Bree, more often than not, pillow talk can undo an airtight case.”

            “No problem, I’ll keep it tight.” I vowed.

            “Good then, onto new matters. The paperwork is all in for the Triboro killings. I’m sending the folder FedEx, you should have it tomorrow. We’ll shake the Lowcountry off you for a bit with some New York homicides. Those guys are scratching their watches and winding their asses up there, they can’t put it together.”

            I laughed and saluted to him on the screen.

            “We’ll talk this week, call me with any questions. And Bree, good for you honey. It’s time.”

            I smiled warmly at him, “Thank you Dean, for everything.”

I signed off and sat back in my chair, I looked at my cell phone to see if I had anything, but it had been silent for a while now.

            “Bree, your boyfriend is being interviewed on TV. That barracuda Shaina Greene from Crime & Punishment Podcast has her hooks in him about the trial.” Jenna peeked her head though the office door and confirmed I was off the phone before delivering her news.

Clay

                The tedious run of media interviews was finally over. I spent most of the afternoon answering the same questions from major networks and Crime and Court TV reporters. I had dodged them all for the weekend and had to pay the piper.  

            The last was with local reporter, Shania Greene. I had known her a long time she was famous in the area and treated me as if I owed her inside information.

            I was tired and watching the clock, anxious to get out of the office to a place I could talk to Aubrey and assure myself the weekend wasn’t a figment of my imagination.

            I took the Zoom call with Shania and before she went live, she was flirty and forward.

            “Clayton, you were a dream in that courtroom, you should have read some of the shockingly lude comments the women of South Carolina were making on the live feeds.” She was cooing like a dove and turning my stomach.

            I laughed modestly, “Well that’s very sweet,” I adjusted my earphones and microphone to be ready for the interview.

            “I have telephone numbers Clay, if you are thinking about getting back into the pool,” she gushed.

            I glared up at her in the screen, my voice dropped an octave. “That won’t be necessary Shania, I’m currently spoken for.” I sat back and adjusted in my seat. “Y’all about ready? I have several more lined up behind you.”

            “Yes, yes of course, I’m sorry Clay, that was a bit personal.”

I shrugged her off and she went on with the interview. After several minutes of the usual questions and my typical replies, she couldn’t let it go.

            “Before we let you go Clayton, my viewers have been tagging the show with some romantic photos taken of you over the weekend. Looks like you snagged more than a winning verdict the last few days.” She dripped coyly.

            I laughed good naturedly, “Those are some great pictures, my assistant was showing me this morning. I want to thank your viewers for taking them and for personally greeting the two of us on the street to congratulate me this weekend. Y’all are very kind.”

            “Clay, that’s it? You not going to spill any of the tea about the girl?” Shania bristled.

            “No, no I’m not. This interview is about the incredible job my team did doing what we love, putting the bad guy in jail. I would think you’d never waste a minute on anything besides criminal journalism, not a man’s personal life. Thank you, Shania, for the support of our office. Your time is up,” I disconnected from the interview and threw my headphones onto the desk.

            “Cunt,” I whispered under my breath. I saw the light on my phone flash.

            “Lora Jean, if that’s Shania Greene, I’m unavailable to her, for an indeterminate amount of time.”

            “Copy that,” she shouted back.

I saw the light disappear from the phone, and my cell phone began to ring. It was Shania, she wasn’t giving up, I sent it to voicemail and almost swept everything off my desk, when the phone lit up with another incoming call, it was my son.

Aubrey

            “The balls on her, right on national TV she asked him,” Jenna whined.

            “I’ve got to look at these pictures, where are they? Tagged to his Twitter and the rest of his social media?” I went back to my laptop to start digging into this viral display.

            “But how sweet is he? He fell on the sword for your honor,” Jenna declared.

            “Poor guy, he can’t even enjoy the praises he worked so hard for, Oh yeah great job on the trial Clay, but how about that dark haired girl you been squiring around the South?” my tone mocking.

            I was scrolling through his Twitter feed and saw the photos, they were cute, catching us in very tender moments. Holding hands, swimming, strolling through Charleston. No wonder the waters were churning with the bait.  He looked smitten and adoring. Fuck, I missed him already. I downloaded all of them and saved them to my hard drive. He looked so happy and handsome, God damn I was in love with him.

            The comments were mostly positive, with the few exceptions of bitter remarks. Nothing I’d get my panties in a wad over. He was their golden boy at the moment. I fell in love with him watching him on TV, I can’t imagine I was the only one.

            The ring of my cell phone broke the silence, I picked it up idly and dropped it when I saw the name of the caller.

Shit, it was my ex-husband.

Clay

            “Tate?’ “You doing okay, son?” I asked, suddenly wondering what was on his mind.

            “Hey Pop, I’m checking on you. I wanted to reach out on Friday night to congratulate you on the verdict, but I was cramming for finals.  Great job.” He said proudly.

            I started to relax, I sat back down at my desk and thanked him.

            “You done with the finals, gonna head back home for spring break?” I asked.

            “I have two more before I’m set free, but I was planning on driving down to Hilton Head with Katrina for spring break, we’ll stop overnight in Saint George to see you for a minute,” he assured.

            “Good, sounds good, I miss you Son,” I whispered sincerely.

            “Pop?” he hesitated.  Here it comes, he knows  I took a deep breath.

            “Tate? Ask me anything, Son, you know you always can.” I encouraged him.

            “Who is she?” he asked, his tone neutral and without judgement.

            I sighed, I knew how his mind worked. I had to do this right. I ran my hands over my short hair, trying to choose the right words.

            “Son, her name is Aubrey. I met her Friday night, and we spent the weekend together. It’s a connection I’ve never had with a woman. I know this sounds irrational, but it was as if we’ve always known each other. She is smart and funny and incredibly beautiful inside and out. Tate, I was waiting for a second to breathe to call you, I’m sorry you didn’t hear it from me first.”

            He was quiet, processing.

            “Does she make you happy, Dad?” he asked gently.

            I exhaled, I loved this kid. I loved the way he always alternated from ‘Pop’ to ‘Dad’ when he was shifting from logic to emotion.

            I could even hear the smile in my voice. “Son, happier than I have ever been, with the exception of the day you were born,” I declared sincerely.

            Tate began to laugh, a sound equitable to angels singing in my quiet office.

             “Well I would hope that moment eclipsed them all.” He quipped lightly. I laughed with him.

            “Pop, do me a favor, take your time. You still a bit banged up over the divorce, don’t make this woman a rebound. You appear like a teenager in these pictures, you glowing like a June bride. I was astounded. I have never seen you like this. But it’s moving fast, and I don’t want you to be pulled down in the undertow.”

            I was looking at Aubrey’s picture on my desk. Just the photos had me flushed and aroused. She was a stunning woman.

            “Thank you for your counsel, Son. But I disagree about the back wash from the divorce. I’m well past my feelings on that matter. Then and now my only concern was the impact it would have on you. Your Momma and I had gone our fifteen rounds and came out bloody but unbowed. Which reminds me, you need to let her off the bench soon. She’s paid for her mistakes, you’re her only child. You can’t shut her out forever.” I nudged slightly.

            Tate sighed with resignation. “Yeah, I know you’re right. She’s got to be chewing glass over the new girl though, did she call you yet?” he snickered.

            I laughed with him, “Well sure enough she did, but she told me she was genuinely happy for me, she doesn’t have feelings for me anymore, Son. She made her choice long ago.  The only thing we agree on and happily at that, is our love for you, Tate.”

            “Well, I love y’all both too. I’m having a hard time with her, I’ll work it out. I’m very happy for you Dad. You deserve it and I mean that. Will I get to meet her, Miss Aubrey?” he asked so politely.

            “We’d both love that, Tate. We’re trying to work out the visitation of this long-distance relationship but next time she’s here, I’m coming up to Columbia with her to meet you and Katrina.”

            “It might not have to be up here, end of term, we’re both fixin’ to do a co-op stretch in the lab at Beaufort Hospital, so Trina and me will be down there until winter. Her kin have a place down there so no need to put us up with you, ‘specially now since y’all be needing more privacy.” He joked.

            “Enough about me, how’s your girl? It all going good, Son? Does she make you happy?” I asked.

            He took a breath, “Yeah Pop, she does. She really does. She cooked for me all weekend while I was cramming for the finals. I can work myself up into a lather with some of these classes and she gives me a peace I can’t restore on my own.”

            I caught my breath, what a great thing to say. And I understood what he meant, clearly.

            “Tate, I can actually say I know the feeling. I’m so happy for you, boy. That’s what love should be like and so very rarely is. Protect that girl, she’s a keeper.”

            “Thanks Pop, I will. Hey great job bitch slapping Shania Greene, I laughed out loud watching the interview. She was practically dry humping your leg, nice reply.” He chuckled.

            I threw my head back with laughter, “Thank you kindly, Son. She is annoying as fuck, isn’t she, Goddamn.” I exhaled.

            “Good to talk to you Pop, you take care of yo’self now. I’ll see y’all real soon.” He started to end the call.

            “Same here Tate, I love you buddy.” I gushed.

            “Love you too Dad, later.” He hung up and I glowed with pride. My sweet boy, what a gift from God.

I glanced at my watch and sprang from my chair. Time to get the fuck out!

I wrapped up things on my desk and sprinted to my truck. Only two more hours till I could lay on my bed and see my girl.

Aubrey

            “What in the world do you want, Adam?” I whispered into the phone.

            “Wow, that’s unnecessary, Bree. What the fuck, can’t I call you? Or does divorce mean dead?”

            “Yeah Adam, it’s forever, I have signed papers confirming that.”

“Fuck Bree, we were married for five years, we still have people in common.”

            “Adam we have no one in common. Every single one of our friends sided with you, your parents, your sisters, your brothers-in-law, their children, have all cut me off at the quick. I haven’t heard from anyone in ten years. Not a phone call or even a card from any one of you when my father died,” I stared to choke up and stopped talking.

            “I am sorry about your Dad, Bree. I’m sorry we never reached out. There is no excuse for any of that.” He acquiesced

            “What do you want?” I asked again, sniffing back my emotion. The chances this was an apology call were nil.

            He took a deep breath and exhaled, “I want the Cape May house, I’m willing to pay whatever you want for it.” He asked quietly.

            The rage inside me almost blew the top of my head off. When we were divorcing he took his half of that property with an over inflated property assessment. He knew the guy who did the inspection. He raked me over the coals for that buyout and it cost me for years to pay back the loan I needed to secure ownership.

            I was seething, “If, if I would even consider selling, what makes you think it would be to you? Ever?”

            “Bree, that house has been in my family for generations. My parents are getting on in years and they want to spend their retirement there. They never forgave me for letting it go. I want to try to make it up to them. You secure any number of assessments and I’ll pay the highest one or name your price and I’ll give it you.” He pleaded.

            I took a deep breath, calm and quiet came over me. “No, I won’t sell it, not to you, ever. Goodbye Adam.” I hung up the phone and went looking for a cup of coffee.

Clay

I was in my sweatpants and tee shirt, relaxed on my recliner. I picked up the iPad and Face Timed my girl. She answered quickly and I grinned when her lovely face came into view. Her smile lit up the screen.

            “Hey Sugar,” I purred–I watched her body relax with the sound of my voice. She was wearing my Clemson shirt over a set of tight leggings. Her shoulder length hair shagged around her face in wisps.

            “What’s going on sexy man?” she whispered.  She adjusted herself on her bed–sitting up.

            “Woman, this is going to be excruciating. I can’t even look at my bed. I haven’t slept without you for three nights, I may not sleep again until I get up there.”

            “Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. I’ve slept alone for years, and in one weekend, I’m spoiled and ache for your body heat.”

            “How was your day, beautiful?” I asked. I could feel my tension subside and the words of my son, the poet, floated over me again with the vision of her, ‘peace I can’t restore on my own’.

            She sighed, “Clay what a day. I heard from my ex for the first time in a decade– the asshole wants to buy the house back from me, and I talked to my boss about us. Other than that, I toyed with my new ring, smelled my incredible flowers, stared at your pictures, and watched your interviews for the rest of the day.” She chuckled softly.

            “I had pictures printed out and framed them for my desk, also you are now my laptop and cell phone wallpaper,” I laughed humbly.

            She put her hand over her heart, “Oh Clay how sweet you are,” she gushed. “You have my picture on your desk?” she whispered with disbelief.

            “Three of them, my girl, three pictures of you.” I swelled proudly. “I heard from my ex this morning as well. All those pictures taken of us over the weekend caused some kind of stir, but it will die down.  I had my fifteen minutes of fame today, so everyone will settle their asses shortly.”

            She perked up, “You heard from your ex about me? Oh shit, baby, what about your son?” She looked panicked.       

            “As a matter of fact, Tate did call, and we had the conversation. That boy, I did something right with him, he asked me if I was happy and essentially gave us his blessing. So we good there, Sugar. He wants to meet you,” I assured her.

            “That’s fantastic news, baby. I’m so glad.” She sighed with relief.

            We chatted more about the media interviews, and I apologized for the Shania situation, to which she shrugged it off as no big deal.  I wanted to know more about the call and potential sale of her house with her ex.  I gently worked her back around to the conversation, she had been mostly close to the chest with details about her former husband.

            “Sugar, we need to have a talk about Adam, tell me what you comfortable sharing, but tell me something.” I nudged gently.

            She was walking around her house fidgeting, I could hear her opening and closing cabinets and the sound of her Keurig brewing.

            “Clay, I don’t want to waste time on the phone talking about him. When we are together next, I’ll spill all the tea. For now, just know if he were the last man on the face of the planet I wouldn’t sell this house back to him. Not that asshole.” She grunted.

            I got up from the chair and fixed myself a whiskey neat. I sat back on the sofa, and I watched her facial expressions go through a fast loop of internal dialogue regarding her former husband.

            “Bree, try to get past the mad. Think about it with a clearer head. You can get whatever you ask for now, much more than what the property is worth, and you can completely sever your ties to him. You wind up with a nice nest egg in your pocket and you can spend the next year living wherever you want on a temporary basis. Might work better for us both in the long run.” I said, mostly thinking out loud.

            She was silent. Maybe my ideas were taking root in her mind. She was fired up with rage over the audacity of his offer. She needed to work through it to get to the sensible conclusion and I didn’t want to push her.

            “You shopping for a roommate, Clayton?” she asked, raising one eyebrow.

            “Shopping? No Ma’am. I’m aiming to live with and love only you for the rest of my days, Sugar. I don’t care how it happens, but it’s goin’ to happen.” I responded confidently.

            “Clay, we’re not crazy right? We have known each other for three days and we’re talking about marriage and living together forever. This isn’t madness?” she asked sincerely.

            “It may well be, but Sugar think about it, how long did you know or date Adam before you married him? Me, I had known Tessa for a year before I even thought to ask her and at the time it was the natural progression, get married, start a family. Everyone I knew was doing that.  There were none of the sparks I had with you from the first seconds I laid eyes on you. Not in the twenty years of being married did I ever have these feelings.  I’m asking you to jump off a cliff with me, the edge of everything you have ever known and have faith we will find something solid to stand on or we’ll fly together,”  I continued, “Sleep on the offer for the house, think about it.” I urged again.

            “You might have something here. I love this house, I love this town, but his ugly shadow remains all over it. Would be nice to break free of all of them.” She wondered aloud.

            Somehow the idea came to me, I must be losing my mind.

            “Bree, hear me out.  I’m going to look for a house, I rent this one and it was never meant to be permanent. I’m fixin’ to find you a prettier beach house in the Lowcountry or maybe right over the border in Georgia. I will tempt you so completely to move here with me,–or better yet, you start looking. Check the websites for sales in Beaufort and work your way out. If you find something you fall in love with, Honey, I will buy it for us. I promise.” Tears stung my eyes, I wanted a life with this woman, like nothing I’ve ever known.

            She stared at me in disbelief. “Have you lost your mind?” she asked flustered.

            “I’m sure enough I have but think about it Sugar. I’m just asking you to consider it. I want to make you happy. If there is nothing to bring you here permanently, nothing that makes it feel like home, I will move up there with you. On my honor.” I held my hand up in a boy scout gesture. She was shaking her head before I finished.

            “Absolutely not!, Clay, your career is skyrocketing, you’ll be elected state attorney general in less than two years. I could never take you away from there. All your roots, all your people. You would resent me for that in less time than you take the state seat. I can’t…I won’t take you away from South Carolina. Besides, there is still the Saint Helena property. Depending on what it will take to restore it, it might be an option.  I’m just not sure I want to live there with all its sordid history.”

            “Forget that place, unload it as well, your Daddy ran away from it. Let’s find something together. A home for us. A life for us.” I pleaded quietly.

            “Clay,” she exhaled. “This is really insanity, but I’m on board. I can’t believe I’m saying this or thinking about it. You’re right, I have known Adam a long time and got the choice terribly wrong. It makes perfect sense to me that in the short time we know each other, it seems always meant to be somehow…’ she was running her hand through her hair, I was holding my breath.

            There was a quiet pause, I don’t know if either one of us was breathing.

            “Aubrey, what are you saying, honey?” I whispered, afraid to believe. She smiled into the camera at me, her face so soft and lovely.

            “Clay, let’s find a place to live.” She said bravely.  The tears snuck down my cheeks, did she really agree?

            “Say it again, Aubrey. Please say it again so I can believe it.” I whispered.

            “Counselor, you won the argument. Let’s find a house in South Carolina to live together. Be careful what you ask for, you’ll be stuck with me forever.” She smiled.

            “Till death do us part, my beautiful girl.” I blew her a kiss. “Thank you Bree, you’ve made me so very happy, honey.” I was beside myself.

            “I’m glad to hear that, I intend on spending the rest of my life making you happy Clayton Hoover. You have changed my entire life in three days and I’m sure the next few months are going to prove to be upending in ways I cannot imagine at this time.” She sighed.

            “Aubrey, if you change your mind or if tomorrow you wake up and have regrets, we can slow it down, I don’t want you to second guess a step along this way. I’m in love with you and if it means waiting,  I’m willing to do it at your comfort level. Please keep the lines of communication open with me, at all times.” I said, concerned.

            “Speaking of lines of communication, I spoke to my boss today. He would like to know if you would consider signing a non-disclosure agreement. He won’t push, but he’d feel better.” She inched gently into the conversation.

            “Of course I will, no question about it. Once we get married, it won’t be necessary. But until then have him send it over to my office.  Did he have other concerns? You can’t work on anything I’m involved with litigating right? You shouldn’t even look at one of my cases, and keep our work-related conversations to hypotheticals?”

            She laughed happily, “Almost verbatim, how did you know?”

            “I’m a lawyer, Sugar. I know what ethics must be observed. I’d love to ask for your help, but it can’t be any other way than in the abstract. We can manage that, SLED’s gonna blow a blood vessel. Us together will limit their use of you.” I laughed at the thought of those guys losing their inside Ace.

            “Clay, you really want me to move down there with you? You’re sure baby?” she asked, her lag in self-confidence was showing.

            “Aubrey, I want nothing more. You and me, from now on.” I assured.

            She smiled and began to yawn.

            “Honey, you getting sleepy? I don’t want to end the call, but I don’t want to keep you.”

            “You better want to keep me, I’m looking around this room and thinking about the massive job of packing I’m gonna have to do.” She laughed.

            “I’ll pay for the movers and the packers. I still have my checkbook.” I winked. “And when you’re ready, I’ll fly up and drive your car down, we’ll take the trip together.” I suggested.

            “This is crazy,” she murmured. She was looking at me intently.

            “Aubrey, I want to marry you” I stated seriously.

            “Clay, on one knee, in the sand, obnoxious diamond ring. Then you can ask me, and I will give you my answer without reservation or purpose of evasion.” She grinned.

            “You keep forgetting about the baguettes. I’m about to spend a great deal of money soon. Diamonds, a beach house, movers, and packers. Woman, you better be worth all this. I mean you can cook right?” I teased mercilessly. She threw her head back laughing,

             “Hmmm I don’t know, I think you’re backing a dark horse. A loose Jezebel from above the Mason Dixon line.”

            “Right, but you guys won the war, so there is that.” I smiled.

            “Oh and baby, I can cook,” she smiled with that look, that sexy as fuck glance she had that lit my furnace quick.

            “Same time tomorrow, Clay?” She yawned quietly.  

            “Anytime you want Bree, you call me anytime, Lora Jean will pull me out of anything I’m in to talk to you. Text me during the day, tell me how things are going. If you start looking at houses, send me the links if you’re serious about any one of them. Keep in touch with me during the day when you can. And I’ll be up there next weekend. I’m hoping the time goes quickly till we get there. I’m withering without you.”

            “Same to you Clay, call me anytime. I’m so crazy in love with you. I’m ready to jump off a cliff.” She whispered.

            “Wait for me Sugar, we jump together. Goodnight my love, try to sleep.” I whispered.

            “Goodnight baby, you too. It won’t be long now,” she whispered back, puckering her lips, and blowing me a kiss.