by V. M. Burns
I was still unable to move. Red pushed his way into the vehicle. “Thank God.” He hugged me, but I was frozen. I couldn’t let go of the steering wheel. I sat there crying and gripping that wheel like a life preserver.
Red crouched down. “Lilly, let go of the wheel.”
I tried, but my brain couldn’t get my fingers to move.
Red tried to pry my fingers off the wheel, but they were locked. He stepped out of the vehicle to get help. That’s when Aggie walked up to my seat. She jumped up into my lap, stood on her hind legs, and licked my face.
After a few moments, I felt myself start to unfreeze, and I was able to release the steering wheel. I have no idea how long I sat there crying and hugging my dog, but it felt like years. Red returned and carried me out of the RV, though I was still clinging to Aggie.
He held me tight, and I could feel his body shake and the warm tears that flowed down his face.
He kissed my hair. “When this is over, I have a question I want to ask.”
“My answer is yes.”
He gazed into my eyes. “Are you sure?”
“When I was coming down that mountain and I thought of everything I’d miss if I . . . failed, I thought of my children and my future grandchildren, but mostly, I thought of you.”
He pulled me close and kissed me.
Aggie wiggled her body between us, and Rex climbed on my lap. I looked around and saw Chyna, Leia, and Lucky sniffing the ground nearby. I thought of how these animals had protected me, and for the first time in my life, I knew what true, unconditional love felt like. I turned to Red. “Can you help me up?”
He looked surprised, but he stood and reached down and helped me to my feet. “The EMTs need to check you out, and then I’ll follow you to the hospital.”
I shook my head. “I don’t need to go to the hospital.”
“You’re probably suffering from shock. You need to let the doctor decide if you’re okay or not.”
I sighed. “Okay, but you know what it will mean if I go to the hospital?”
He frowned. “What will it mean?”
“You’ll have to explain to your family why I’m canceling the housewarming.”
Epilogue
We moved the housewarming back one week, but no one seemed to mind. Despite being drugged, Dixie recovered quickly and was back to normal—apart from the fact that Beau, Chyna, and Leia weren’t willing to leave her side for more than five minutes. However, with the new business to prepare for, she was happy for the extra support.
Monica Jill hadn’t completely wrapped her mind around the fact that she was going to be having a baby. However, between B.J. and her husband, Zach, she was getting there. She swore she didn’t know which one of the two of them was more excited. B.J. was enjoying buying baby clothes and had already bought more diapers and onesies than any infant could possibly use. Zach’s frugal nature couldn’t accept the high price of nursery furniture, so he was planning to build the round crib that Monica Jill wanted. All in all, she was adjusting to her new reality.
Stephanie missed her conference, but she and Joe decided to stay an extra week, which worked out perfectly. She and Theodore Jordan hit it off so well that he offered her a job at his firm. He had a small practice where he handled mostly civil rights complaints, which was right up her alley. Of course, Red promised to put in a good word for Joe at the TBI. Considering the Bureau was understaffed and Joe had an excellent record with the Lighthouse Dunes Police Department, it was an easy sell.
David’s apartment was taking longer than originally planned to repair. Once the floors and walls were removed, other problems came to light, including electrical and plumbing issues. The project snowballed, and his unit wouldn’t be habitable for months. He and Madison got to spend a lot more time together, which gave me hope for their future.
Red’s family was wonderful. His mother and all of his sisters were loving and welcomed me with open arms. As an only child, I was a bit overwhelmed at times when everyone came together. However, it was also comforting to see the love the family had for each other. Even Aggie and Rex were getting more love, belly rubs, and treats, and were loving it.
During a moment when everyone was busy, I slipped inside and gazed out the kitchen window. Everyone was laughing, talking, and enjoying themselves. Linda Kay and Jacob from my work family were laughing with my friends from the dog club. Red, Stephanie, Joe, and David were joking with Red’s family. Even the dogs were happily romping together and enjoying themselves.
Unlike my barren life in Indiana, my yard and my heart were full, and I was at peace. This was my happy place, and I was thankful, more than ever, for Miss Florrie for helping me to realize that happiness was possible. I wiped away a tear of joy and whispered, “Thank you.”