Updated: June 18, 2023

Clay

I don’t know how long I’d been asleep, my head on her thigh holding her hand in mine. It was the middle of the night when a nurse came in to administer an injection into her IV.

Outside her room, on post since she came out of surgery, was a Beaufort County police officer. Aubrey would remain under 24-hour guard until we were convinced no one was coming to finish the job.

“We’re fixin’ to pull her out of the coma now, Mr. Hoover. She should come round shortly.” She whispered with anticipation.

I sat up and held Aubrey’s hand to my lips, “Come back Sugar, open those fine violet eyes for me,” I murmured. The room was quiet, and I listened to the sounds of her machines humming. I touched her face, she felt cool to the touch.

And then it happened, she started to awaken. She was shifting in the bed, she was uncomfortable,

“Is she in any pain?” I asked the nurse, panicking.

“She might be, Mr. Hoover. I’m waiting for her to tell me, and I’ll give her something for it.”

“Clay?” I heard her croak. She was trying to wet her mouth, it was dry.

“Miss Aubrey, I’m your nurse, Nancy. I’m gonna hold a straw up to your mouth, for you to take a sip of water, don’t take more than a sip Ma’am.” The nurse instructed.

Aubrey took a sip of the water and began to flutter her eyes open.

“Sugar, I’m right here,” I whispered. Clutching her hand in both of mine.

Her head moved toward my voice, and she smiled. Dear Lord thank you, I thought to myself.

“Hey sexy man,” she whispered, her voice gravelly, but the greatest sound I’ve ever heard.

“Honey, you in any pain?” I asked.

She nodded, her brow furrowed. “A great deal,” she gasped, her head dropped back onto the pillow.

I looked up at Nurse Nancy, and she nodded.

“Miss Aubrey, on a scale of 1-10, how bad is it Ma’am?” she asked.

“Twenty-five,” Aubrey gasped.

“I’m fixin’ to take care of that right quick,” Nancy assured. She administered another syringe into the IV line. And I watched Aubrey’s body ease with the distribution of the narcotic.

“Thank you,” she whispered with relief.

“Miss Aubrey, you hungry? Want to try to sip on some broth?” Nancy asked, raising the head of her bed up carefully.

Aubrey nodded her head in the affirmative,

“What happened?” she asked me, “Did I dream this?” she murmured, trying to move into a comfortable position. She lifted her blankets to examine the dressings. Under the hospital gown she was wrapped from right under her breasts to the top of her pelvis.

I explained what happened to her and the results of her surgery while watching her facial expressions go through a range of horror to acceptance. I smoothed out her hospital gown and tucked the blankets back into place.

“He’s dead right?” she asked, wide-eyed.

“Deader than Cooter Brown’s pig, honey.” I grinned with pleasure.

She smiled, “Please don’t make me laugh, Clay, I’ll bust open all my stitches.” I laughed for her. Relief and joy and exhaustion coming over me.

Nurse Nancy brought me the warm mug with Aubrey’s broth, and I helped her to sip at it.

“What can you remember Bree?” I asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin. She waved me away from any more of the soup. Her expression almost funny, it was the ‘Aubrey tastes something bad face.’

“Sirens…you screaming my name, lots of jostling, the pain. I saw pretty lights and dancing fireflies, and…..Clay, I think I saw your sister. She’s grown, not a ten-year-old little girl. She’s got your smile and I knew her, who she was.” The narcotic was blooming full in Aubrey, her eyes getting glazed, but her delight was glowing from her.

“What else, Sugar? You remember anything else?”

She was staring off into the room, she spotted the vase filled with roses, “Clay, was Miss Abigail here? In the hospital?” she turned to me and tried to focus her eyes into mine.

“She was, indeed, Sugar. Sat right here where I am and held your hand. Called you her lovely daughter.” I stopped talking the tears cutting off my voice.

“I don’t know how I did it, but I could hear her, and talk to her. Clay, your mother truly walks with one foot in each world,” She sighed. She reached down to scratch at her arm and saw the stippling from the gun powder, she knew what it was, and she glanced back at me horrified.

“Point blank range, he came to our home, our sanctuary –he didn’t utter a word and shot me, at point blank range,” she gasped, her bottom lip trembling. Tears filled her eyes.

“Ssssh now honey, don’t get yourself all riled. You need to rest and heal and won’t ever have to step foot in that house again. I will build you a new one, or buy a new one, but we are not going  back.” I promised her.

She gazed into my face, her hand encumbered with an IV needle and thick bandaging,  gently touching my cheek, tears rolling from her eyes.  

“Will you please take me back to Saint George?  I want to hide out on the farm. I…I’m so sorry Clay, all we went through for that beach house, and I can’t ever see it again.” She wept.

“Sugar, don’t cry, and don’t say you’re sorry. I’m completely on board. I don’t want to go back either and I certainly don’t want you back there. Listen to me honey, I will take you anywhere your heart desires for your recovery, Saint George, is it? That checkbook of mine gonna be full in gear, I’ll take care of everything, and ole man Higgins will be happier than frogs in a mudpuddle.” I reached up to dry her tears. “I’m gonna build you the prettiest house with the ocean view of your choice. You get your strength back at Saint George, and I’ll get your toes back into the sand within the year. I promise my sweet girl.” I kissed her forehead and she put her head into my neck.

“Thank you baby,” she sighed, nuzzling under my chin. I kissed her gently.

“Aubrey honey, tell me something. Was he in contact with you, were you getting threats from him all this time? Tell me Sugar,” I pleaded. “Law enforcement gonna want to speak to you soon as well.” I asked.

She shook her head, “No…not him….his mother.” She whispered quietly.

You know that sound in the early Rocky movies? That bell? The one that goes off every time Adrian tells him to win? That sound pealed through the hospital for me, I had someone I could blame, someone I could stalk, hunt, and punish.

I reached for my phone and texted Devon Pritchett.

“What’s her name Sugar?” I asked quietly.

She was shuffling in the bed, trying to find the right spot. I helped her adjust her pillow and raised the head of the bed up for her.

“Natalie, Natalie Vergamo,” she said quietly and closed her eyes to sleep.

Aubrey

They forced me out of bed the next morning. The pain was something else. Drains and catheters had been removed and I was down to one IV bag. But putting on those awful rubber soled socks and sitting up and standing for the first time was unbearable.

I did the shuffle lap around the ICU, holding onto Clay and my IV pole and they let me get back in bed. They removed all my dressings, and I had my first look at the terrible scarring on my abdomen. I was gutted like an animal. From the bottom of my sternum to the top of my pubis, one long ugly angry red gash held together with staples. The gunshot entry wounds dark and bruised like black eyes.

I insisted Clay stay out of the room, I didn’t want him to see me like this. But they permitted me to take a shower and he demanded to help me.

I cowered in a corner against the cold tiles and covered myself, tears pouring from my eyes, and he was the greatest comfort of my life.

“Look at me Bree, this scar is my life line. That zipper of staples kept you here, don’t you ever cover yourself up with me, I love you, all of you and I will kiss this scar every night for the rest of our lives, because you’re here with me,” he insisted and gently washed my hair.

Lora Jean brought me all my pajama pants and a stack of Clay’s clean Clemson shirts so I could finally ditch the awful hospital gown.

I sat up in a chair, cushioned and blanketed, as multiple law enforcement officers interviewed me. They returned my cell phone and presented copies of the download to Clay, all texts, and emails from my ex-mother-in-law.

They informed me the Vergamo’ s were heading to South Carolina to claim Adam’s body. And  assured me they wouldn’t come close to my hospital room.

Two days later, they moved me out of ICU and into a private suite. I would remain a guest of the hospital until the danger of peritonitis was passed. The bed was bigger and more comfortable, and the private suite was almost luxurious. Clay had a window bed he could sleep on and there were more recliners for visitors.

The bathroom in this room had a larger shower and Clay could get in to help me and have one himself. Showering and washing my hair made a big difference. I felt better than I had in days. Relief came from the touch of his strong hands washing my back and shoulders, even shaving my legs for me. He was tender and careful. Kissing me chastely under the running water. “I love you most,” he’d whisper.

He looked so tired, scared, and defeated. I was worried about him. Before we shut the water, I went into his arms. “I’m going to be fine, Clay. I promise.” I whispered.

He held me close, both of us enjoying the feel of the hot water running over us. “Don’t try to leave me ever again,” his voice was full of emotion, and he kissed the end of my nose.  

And suddenly the Lowcountry came out of my own mouth, “Y’all are stuck with me, my love.” I whispered happily.

“I’m gonna hold you to that, little country girl.” He laughed, kissing me sweetly again.  

After I was dried and dressed, Clay stood up and took my IV pole, “C’mon Sugar, let’s take a walk,” he urged, after he finished putting on my stupid rubber tracked socks.

“Ugh, again?” I whined. “I just took a shower, isn’t that enough for the day?”

He shook his head and reached for my hand.  I stopped and looked at my hands. He ceremonially placed my rings back onto my fingers several days ago, along with my bracelet and earrings, everything clean and shiny. I suddenly remembered the blood all the sticky wet blood on my hands, and I shuddered.

He watched me closely, “It’s okay honey, it’s all over now,” he whispered soothingly.

After the joy of walking around the unit, it was feeding time. Nothing is worse than hospital food accept when you are forced to consume clear liquids. My body was waking up, and all systems seemed to be getting accustomed to the impromptu gastric bypass I had endured.

I lost almost twenty pounds in four days and the clothes were hanging off me like a skeletal mannequin. I sat in one of the comfy chairs and stared sadly at my bland lunch tray.

Clay laughed sweetly, “You about done with the liquid diet, Sugar?” he smiled knowingly.

I nodded my head gloomily. I could smell his lunch, a cheeseburger and fries and my new intestinal tract was groaning with envy.

“Well, just sit tight, you have salvation coming through any minute now,” he tilted his chin toward my room door, and fed me one of his French fries. Such a good man.

Into the suite swept Miss Livvie Cobb toting a thermal lunch bag and the winning smile of a beauty queen.

“Howdy, Yankee Clipper.  Ready for some award winning She-Crab soup?” she chirped conspiratorially.

“Laverna Cobb, you must really like me, c’mon now admit it,” I purred with glee.

“Let’s not lose our minds entirely, darlin’, I can’t have that rumor getting round Miss Patti’s Salon,” she laughed happily. She set me up with her soup and a spoon and for the love of heaven a warm biscuit.

Livvie took my hair brush and started brushing my damp hair back,

“Speakin’ of Miss Patti’s, soon as you get sprung outta here, y’all need a dye job, your grays are popping Sugar,’” she teased, as she put my hair up and fixed it into a wide claw clip.

I nodded my head in agreement, but I was more interested in the soup.

“Thanks, Livvie,” I sighed. “Real food, you are a queen,”

She smiled and kissed me on the forehead. “You fading away Bree, you need to eat real food now before you disappear. You getting your color back finally, feeling better?” she asked seriously.

I nodded, putting a spoonful of heaven into my mouth. “Mmmm, Liv, this is wonderful, thank you so much,” I reached for her hand and squeezed. Tears filled her eyes.

“Bree, you scared us bad. Please don’t do that again, Y’hear?” her voice was barely a whisper.

“I promise Liv, who would you poke fun at without me around?” I teased, easing another glorious spoonful of soup into my mouth.

“Exactly Aubrey, don’t take my entertainment away, that’s plain rude,” she laughed. “Now I promise the second you get the green light for something more substantial I will fry you some chicken, on my honor,”

I sat back in my chair and smiled. “I’m holding you to that,”

She leaned over and hugged me delicately. “I’m so sorry this happened to you Bree, you know I’m crazy about you.”

“Crazy? You? “You’ll never convince me,” I teased, and we laughed together. As much as I could, laughing was extremely painful, like coughing or sneezing.

Clay sat beaming in the corner, as he finished his lunch. He was happy to see me getting better and even happier to see one of his oldest friends being just that, a friend.

The doctor came in to check my incision and I attempted to conceal the container of soup with my upper body.

He laughed at my effort to hide the contraband.

“Mrs. Hoover, you can eat whatever you can tolerate at this point. I’m not the food police. I wouldn’t dream of depriving a woman of She Crab soup, there must be some kind of law down here in the Lowcountry about that, am I right Counselor? ” he smiled over to Clay.  

Clay nodded in agreement and came to stand behind my chair. The doctor pulled the tray table away from me and said, “Let’s have a look,” he discretely pulled up my teeshirt and checked the incision.

Livvie caught sight of it and held her hand over her mouth,

“Sweet Jesus, Bree!” she gasped with horror. I made eye contact with her and nodded sadly.

“Looks good, I think. I’m fixin’ to take the staples out tomorrow, it will make you more comfortable. Don’t you worry now Miss Aubrey, I used surgical adhesive mostly, your scar will be faint and thin when it’s done healing. There is no sign of infection so far, that’s a plus. He put his stethoscope into his ears and listened to my bowel sounds. You using the bathroom? Both numbers?” He asked, and I started to chuckle.

“Yes sir, nothing solid, but it’s moving through,” I said shyly. “As you can probably tell from those awful gurgling sounds I make now,”

He replaced his stethoscope around his neck, “Miss Aubrey, gonna be at least a year before that changes for you, the small intestine will learn to do the job of your colon, you’ll see. It’s all about time now. I’ll put the order in your chart to start solid foods. I also want to start you on sublingual Vitamin B. The pieces I removed of your intestinal tract are where those vitamins get absorbed, you need to supplement them going forward. How’s your pain?” He was making notes on a small pad of paper.

“Scale of 1-10 about a 4 unless I sneeze, then it’s over 30.” I shrugged.

“You need a ‘hug me’ pillow, a rolled-up towel or small throw pillow to brace against. You can’t tear anything, Miss Aubrey, you put together tight inside. It’s a mental thing, feels like you’ll rip open. Hug the pillow to your stomach when you sneeze or cough. 

“Doctor Branson, thank you, for everything.” I whispered softly. He smiled gently at me.

“Just doin’ my job Ma’am, y’all enjoy the rest of your day. Now, don’t go hog wild tonight, no Frogmore stew or anything too spicy. Ease back in,” he grinned and patted me on the shoulder before he left. Clay shook his hand and thanked him quietly.

Livvie reached into her bag and handed me a soft stuffed Clemson tiger mascot.

“Here you go darlin’, I brought this for you as well, now it’s a hug me tiger,” she announced with glee, incredibly proud of herself.

I held the stuffed tiger to my stomach and sneezed twice. “Arghh still fucking hurts, poor little Tiger,” I said, holding it close to me. “Thanks Liv, he’s adorable.” And I reached for the tray table and finished my soup.

I was back in bed when Clay climbed in beside me, we fit perfectly but he was hesitant about touching anything the wrong way. He didn’t know where to put his arms or his hands.

I told him to lay flat and I nestled gently under his arm, my head on his chest. I was sore, but it wasn’t terrible. They had given me my evening pain meds and I was sleepy and knew I’d get more rest sleeping beside him, it had been too long.

I stretched my head up to kiss him.

“Mmmm I miss this baby,” I whispered, he tucked a blanket around me, and I felt safe and protected.

“One thing at a time, Sugar. At least we’ll both get some sleep tonight, I’m worn slap out,” he yawned. “Thank you for coming back to me, I’m not doing a day without you ever again.” He whispered dreamily.

Clay

The Vergamo family arrived at Beaufort Hospital to identify and claim the body of their son. Sheriff Devon Pritchett and Jimmy Lee Cobb were there to meet them.

I was forbidden to be present, to preserve the sanctity of any case I could bring against them.

I paced Aubrey’s hospital room, checking my watch and waiting.

“Baby, come lay with me, relax they’re not coming anywhere near here, there’s about ten armed men and women between me and the morgue,” she asked, her voice sleepy.

“And those armed men and women are mostly there to keep me away from them.” I replied, my mind racing in every direction.

She sat up in the bed and raised the head section up.

“Clay, you’re going to need to get out of here at some point. Get some fresh air and clear your mind. You haven’t left my side in all these days, and I still have more to go before they let me out.”

I froze in my tracks, turning to look her at sweet face,

“Aubrey, I’m not leaving this hospital without you. Work is progressing at the Higgins Farm on the cottage. Carl got a bee in his boxers and is having the whole place renovated for us. There is a staff at Port Royal, packing us up and moving our stuff. And the for-sale sign is already on the lawn. Your car is in Saint George by now and my truck is parked downstairs.”

I walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it, “I’m not leaving you. Once these folks have left the area, I’ll take you for a ride in a fancy wheelchair out to the hospital’s reflection garden and we can both breathe some fresh air.” I leaned close to her and kissed her gently.

She still seemed so weak to me, her color coming back, but not her weight as quick. She was eating solids but small portions as she would fill quickly and sometimes things wouldn’t sit with her. It was a trial-and-error situation.

“Hey Sugar, how you feeling about a thick and frosty? I’ll go fetch you one from the commissary, a black and white?” I cajoled.

Her face lit up. My gorgeous girl, the idea of a milkshake made her happy. I was so lucky to have her alive. I almost cried tears of joy when she thought something would agree with her new stomach.

“I’ll be right back,” I kissed her softly.

As soon as I left the room I was met by Pritchett and Jimmy Lee coming down the hallway.

“Don’t move Clay, they still here. Y’all can’t go wandering around,” Pritchett ordered.

“I’m fixin’ to get my wife a milkshake.” I said innocently.

“We’ll send someone down for it, stay here.” He ordered. One of the charge nurses called down to the commissary for me and requested it.

“So?” I asked them both, I stood there with my arms folded across my chest.

Pritchett took a deep breath.

            “Clay, I don’t know what all we can do when it comes to his kin. It don’t amount to a hill of beans with these folks. Yes, we have threats in writing on Miss Aubrey’s email and text messages, but nothing specific to what actually happened. We have Adam’s cell phone, and they won’t give us his passcode, so I’m waiting on a warrant to unlock it. Right now there are two distraught parents down there in the morgue signing the papers to have his body shipped back to New Jersey. They both act as if they had no idea your wife’s life was in danger, even after I informed them of the record of threats.  The mother acted like it was all bluster, anger, and loyalty for her son.”

I was frustrated, why the law was so stringent regarding crimes your own loved ones suffered? It enraged me, they should all be in jail for endangering the life of my wife. But I knew this is precisely why the family of victims don’t get to write the laws.

            “Clayton, y’all got yourself grounds for a civil action against them, pain and suffering, mental anguish, harassment. But the gun was in Adam’s hands, not his folks. I’d get in front of this too, as they look like the type to come after both of y’all for wrongful death.”

            “Pfffft, come after us? These folks slicker than pig snot on a radiator. Their son tried to kill my wife and blew his own head off. What grounds do they think they can file wrongful death? He took his own life. He is a convicted felon and shouldn’t even have a firearm in his possession.” I leaned back against the wall of the hallway and ran my hands over my face. Someone was going to pay, I wouldn’t rest until I got some justice for all of this.

            Jimmy Lee interjected, “Interestingly enough, the gun was purchased by and registered to the mother, so there’s something,”

            I looked up quickly, “Conspiracy, can we try to hang that on her? How long ago?” I asked my partner.

            Jimmy Lee grinned like a fox. “Thirty days ago, ‘round the time the gag order was lifted.”

            The charge nurse approached me with the milkshake, “Here you go Mr. Hoover, want me to bring it in to her?” she asked sweetly.

            “No Ma’am, thank you kindly. I’ll take care of it, I’m always looking to score some points with the lady,” I smiled gratefully.

            I waited for her to leave our vicinity and I glanced over the men. “Get someone in the New Jersey Troopers to interview the FFL where the gun was purchased. Let’s get the records and his statement. Judge Harper told me he’d sign any warrant I put in front of him for this.  We might be reaching but it’s something. I’m not letting these people rest. Someone is going to answer for the actions of this man, and all he has put my wife through.”

I walked back into the room and presented my bride with her milkshake, and she was more excited to see it than any of us.

            “Thank you Baby,” she purred with delight.

Pritchett and Jimmy Lee came into the room behind me to visit with Aubrey.

            “Devon, let me know when they leave. I’m fixin’ to take Aubrey out for some air in the reflection garden.”

            “Will do, Son.  How y’all feelin’ Miss Aubrey? You lookin’ better every day. You a real miracle, Ma’am, good to see you,” Pritchett smiled and touched her hand.

            “Thank you Sherriff,” she mumbled, straw in her mouth.

Jimmy Lee sat on the edge of her bed and touched her foot affectionately.

            “Little girl, you should be eatin’, not suckin’ through a straw, you no bigger than a minnow in a fish pond. Y’all about ready to get sprung from this here prison?”

            “I’m counting the days, Jimmy Lee. Three more and if there is no infection I get discharged.” She said happily. “I want to go home, back to Saint George.” She sighed wistfully.

Jimmy Lee got all animated for her amusement,

            “Y’all be livin’ in high cotton over yonder. Carl and his boys been making it real charming for y’all. He put new hardwood floors down, they built an addition to make the master bedroom larger and expand your office space. Brand new kitchen with lovely cabinets, new appliances. The porch is all screened in, so y’all can sit out there at night ‘skeeter free. Planted all new flowers around the front and rebricked the walkway. Clay had all your wicker furniture from the beach placed on the porch and the whole place is painted. We got Miss Savannah down there doing her thing with décor–curtains and general fluffing and poofing. Y’all gonna be so happy when you see it. Bree. It will be perfect to help you get better. It’s peaceful there.”

Aubrey reached out to hold his hand,

            “Thank you Jimmy Lee, for everything you’ve been doing to help us. I…I don’t know how to thank you, and Livvie.” She whispered gratefully.

Jimmy Lee blushed and shook his head,

            “Now enough of that darlin’, you family now. And this is what we do for family.” He patted her hand gently.

The door opened to more visitors, Tate and Katrina dressed in their Beaufort hospital lab scrubs came bearing balloons and flowers.

            “Howdy Bonus Momma, how you feelin’?” Tate laughed. He leaned down to kiss her cheek and Katrina hugged her and they arranged her gifts along the window sill.

            “Better,” she replied, still sipping at her milkshake.

            “How’s the eating going? You managing?” Tate asked seriously.

Aubrey smiled,

             “Milkshakes are going down fine,”

            “They spiked with protein powder, I hope,” Tate asked, his arms folded.

Aubrey scrunched up her nose in reply.

Tate laughed happily,

            “Got that aftertaste just now, didn’t ya’? Be a good patient, that all will help a great deal.” He said assuredly.  

We all chuckled when Aubrey stuck her tongue out at him.

             “Thank you kindly, Nathaniel James,”

Tate snickered with joy,

            “Sounds like you getting your gumption back, Miss Aubrey, here, I got somethin’ to help you out a spell.” He handed her a bag of individually wrapped Ginger chews. “These will settle the nausea for you, and they are all natural.” He reassured her.

I beamed proudly at my son. Aubrey’s face softened and tears came to her eyes.

            “Tate, thank you,” she whispered humbly.

He blushed modestly.

            “Remember, you got to be the turtle, not the hare. Slow and steady gonna win this race,” he smiled and leaned down again and kissed her forehead. She touched his cheek gently and I was warm inside watching the two of them interact. They had a bond of their own, and I couldn’t be happier.

Katrina got into the action by presenting Aubrey with an oversized University of South Carolina tee shirt. Aubrey’s face lit up.

            “Miss Aubrey, it’s way past time you advertise where we’ all going to school, not fair to just root for Clemson,” she teased.

Aubrey hugged Trina again and thanked her.

            “You’re right Trina, besides, my husband is a Game Cock, even though he won’t admit it under duress.” She glanced up at me and we both grinned, knowing the inside joke. Damn I loved this woman.

            Pritchett answered his phone and nodded toward me, they were gone. He and Jimmy Lee said their goodbyes and went back to work. I asked Aubrey if she was ready for a trip to the gardens.

            She nodded and sat up gingerly, Tate offered his arm for her to hold onto, we brought a wheelchair in, and the kids and I took her downstairs to the back entrance gardens. Two uniforms came with us.

            The reflection gardens in the rear of the hospital were serene and pristinely landscaped. Soft fountains and ponds filled with swimming carp. Pathways and flowers insulated between the walls of the hospital complex. We sat beside her on a bench and took in the sweet cool air.

            “Pop, you and Miss Aubrey, y’all fixin’ to go back to Saint George, right?” asked Tate.

Aubrey answered first,

            “We are Tate, I can’t go back to Port Royal. I’m having terrible nightmares and I’d never feel safe in that house again. The Saint George cottage is special to us. Your Daddy asked me to marry him in that house and I met you and Trina for the first time there. It’s, I know it’s crazy, but it feels safest to me there and I need to go into hiding for a while to get my strength back.” She explained sadly.

He nodded his head.

            “Makes perfect sense, you cook better there too,” he teased.

Aubrey laughed gently, holding her stuffed Clemson Tiger to her abdomen while she did it.

            “Well that was back with the Easy Bake oven, no telling how the cooking will be from the new stove.”

Tate smiled over at her,

            “I have faith in you Miss Aubrey, when you ready to make lunch for us we’ll be there in a flash. You take your time and get good and strong. We need you.” He said sincerely.

Katrina spoke softly,

            “We do love you Miss Aubrey, you scared the bee Jesus outta us,” her voice thick with emotion. Aubrey smiled at them both and held her hand over her heart.

The kids said their goodbyes and headed back to work. Aubrey and I sat outside for a stretch, enjoying the fresh air and quiet sounds of the water fountains.

            “I’m ready Sugar, ready to go home. I’ve had enough of this hospital. I want to tuck you into that cottage and keep you safe.” I mumbled.

            “Baby, you need some sleep. You haven’t had a good night’s rest for days. You’re starting to look like me, all gaunt and dark circles.”

I reached over to kiss her,

            “If the creek don’t rise, three days we’ll be done here.” I exhaled.