“I will,” she said, and when Ray got out and ran inside, she locked the doors. The whole atmosphere of the place gave her the creeps.
Ray was just hoping Junior hadn’t pissed himself as he walked into the bar. When he saw Junior passed out on the floor and the wet spot beneath his pants, he groaned. Too late.
“Dammit. I’m sorry, May.”
May just shook her head. “This is par for the course here, and it’s not your fault. Thanks for coming to get him.”
“Thanks for calling. I wouldn’t want him trying to drive home like this,” Ray said, and then dug in Junior’s pockets until he found the car keys.
May pointed at two men at the end of the bar.
“You boys help Ray get Junior to the car.”
They got up without argument and hefted Junior up between them and headed out the door. Junior was still out—his chin on his chest—head lolling from one side to the other—feet dragging on the floor as they went, with Ray in the lead.
When Susie saw Ray had help, she stayed in the car, and as soon as Junior was loaded up, Ray waved at her, and then took off. She put the car in gear and followed.
The upside of living in a town the size of Blessings was that it didn’t take long to get from one side of town to the other.
Susie turned on the heater as she drove, and then when they got to Junior’s place, she parked behind the car and got out to help.
Ray handed her the keys.
“Open the door for me, sugar. It’s that red key by the fob. I’ll get him in the house.”
She ran ahead, unlocked the door and pushed it inward, and then ran back to help. By now, Junior was coming to and staggering enough to walk himself inside with them holding him up.
“Jus’ put me on a bed,” he mumbled.
Ray sighed and walked Junior to the bedroom, where he promptly collapsed on the bed. Ray pulled off Junior’s shoes and covered him with a blanket, pissy pants and all. He walked out without looking back, used the remote to lock Junior’s car, and then tossed the keys on the coffee table.
“Let’s go home,” Ray said, then locked the door behind them as they left.
* * *
Ava was in a house she’d never seen before, running through the rooms calling out Hunt’s name. She could hear him answering from somewhere far away, but no matter how many rooms she ran through, she couldn’t find him. She was out of breath and crying when she began hearing a siren. She turned around.
The alarm was going off. Ava sat straight up in bed, recognized where she was, and groaned as she shut it off.
“Lord have mercy, what a horrible dream,” she muttered, and headed for the shower.
A few minutes later she was out, her long hair wound up in a bun at the top of her head. She made a run for the dresser to get underwear and then turned up the thermostat in the hall before getting dressed. Within minutes she was in a fresh set of scrubs and headed for the kitchen.
Coffee was first on the agenda, and after she popped a K-cup in the coffee maker to brew, she got out peanut butter and jelly, popped some bread in the toaster, and went out to get the paper.
It was still dark, but the streetlights were bright enough for her to see the newspaper at the edge of the steps. That paper carrier needed to practice with his pitching arm. He hadn’t hit the porch once in the last two months. She glanced up at the sky. It looked cloudy, and it smelled like rain.
She hurried back in to the kitchen. Her coffee and toast were ready, so she sat down to eat as she read. Her cell phone was in her pocket, and she thought about texting Hunt but was afraid it was too early.
After breakfast, she grabbed an all-weather coat and headed out the door. It was fifteen minutes to seven.
She liked early mornings in Blessings. Lights were on in the houses as she passed, and she imagined sleepy-headed children being coaxed out of bed to get ready for school, or people like her who were getting ready for work.
She drove past the Knox house even though it was out of her way, but it made her happy to know Hunt Knox was in the vicinity again—just like he’d been when she was growing up. Even though he’d had no romantic interest in her whatsoever then, the fact that she had been able to see him when she wanted had been enough. And now, fate had brought him back…and with interest to spare.
God was good.
It was beginning to sprinkle when she got to work, and after she clocked in at the ER, her day began.
* * *
The loud clap of thunder woke Hunt out of a deep, dreamless sleep. As he rolled over onto his back and glanced toward the window, he could already hear rain blowing against the panes and was glad he’d finished caulking. At least they weren’t loose anymore.
When he saw it was after 7:00 a.m., he thought of Ava. She was already at work. He closed his eyes, remembering the way she’d felt in his arms, and the film of tears in her eyes when she’d warned him not to break her heart.
He got the message.
She had waited a long time for the man she wanted, but the warning was clear. If he wasn’t on board, he should say so now.
The thing was he was so on board he couldn’t think straight. He didn’t know how bad he’d wanted somebody to love until the offer came, and now she was all he thought about.
Thunder rumbled again.
Hunt sighed. This was prime sleeping weather, but there was too much to do to sleep in, so he threw back the covers and went to turn up the thermostat, then headed to the bathroom to shower and shave. He’d planned to remove a few boards in the kitchen floor today and see what was up with the sagging middle, but not while it was raining. Today would be a good day to tackle the attic—removing trash, sorting things that his siblings might want to go keep, and setting the rest of it aside to sell.
* * *
It was a little after nine before Ava had a chance to text Hunt.
Thank you for dinner and your company last night. I loved it.
Hunt was going through a box of old Christmas decorations, throwing away everything the mice had chewed on and setting aside the little ornaments they used to put on the tree. When his phone signaled a text and he saw it was from Ava, he dusted off his hands and read it, then texted back.
I loved it, too. How about a repeat tonight…but at your place around 5:00 p.m. I bring the food. You set the table. I promise not to stay too long. I just want to see your face and steal another kiss…or two.
He hit Send, then rocked back on his heels, waiting for the reply. It came quickly.
I would love it. Five o’clock works for me. I’ll be all puckered up and waiting.
Hunt grinned. One of the best things about Ava was her lack of self-consciousness. And all the rest of her was pretty damn awesome, too.