The next couple of envelopes had checks, and the next five had more cash. The stack was growing, and she was crying now.
“Oh, Arnie, would you just look. I never knew people could be so kind and giving. I’m just so sad you had to die for this to happen.”
Finally, there were seven envelopes left, and Donna was so blinded by tears that she kept wiping her eyes just to be able to see what was inside.
More cash. A hundred dollars in tens and twenties. Fifty dollars in ones. Two $20 bills.
She was down to two envelopes. One was long. One was small. She opened the long one first and pulled out another $100 bill.
“Lordy be,” Donna sighed, and added it to the pile. Then she opened the last envelope and pulled out a check. She stared at it for a moment, telling herself that she wasn’t reading it right, and then read aloud.
“Pay to the order of Donna Hollis. Ten thousand dollars and no cents.”
It was written on a joint account owned by Duke and Cathy Talbot, and signed by Cathy Talbot. Donna frowned, trying to remember why she knew that name, and then it hit her. This was the woman who rebuilt the Bottoms! And she’d just given Donna the last push she needed to rebuild her life.
She turned around, laid it on the stack with the checks, and then began counting the cash. There was a total of $6,720 in cash. Then she picked up the checks and started counting those amounts. Thirteen thousand one hundred dollars.
“Oh my God. That’s almost twenty thousand dollars right here, and Ruby said she’d already deposited six thousand, and there’s still the silent auction. This will get me home, with money left over.”
Donna’s heart was pounding as she gathered up the cash and divided it between two envelopes. Then she put the checks in another envelope, put all three inside her purse, and stuffed it under her pillow. She was sleeping with this tonight and taking it straight to the bank in the morning.
* * *
Ava’s parents came over late Sunday afternoon and had more stories to share about the potluck in the park. Without even asking, Karen told the both of them that she’d be over in the morning to stay with Ava so Hunt could finish up with Marjorie’s house.
“I appreciate that,” Hunt said.
“She’s my baby, too,” Karen said, and patted Ava’s hand.
Hunt grinned. “Point taken.”
Ava leaned against Hunt’s shoulder. She was listening to them talk and thinking about the time when her parents would be too far away to drop in, and closed her eyes.
She didn’t know when they left, or when Hunt carried her back to bed. And when she woke up later, she showered, put on a nightgown, and crawled back into bed.
“Do you want anything to eat or drink?” Hunt asked.
“No. All I want to do right now is sleep.”
Hunt sat down on the side of the bed. “I think that’s understandable, honey, considering how far away you were when you decided to come home.”
Ava frowned. “I never thought of it that way.”
“I probably took a few trips when I was healing from the chopper crash, too.”
“Do you remember all that?” Ava asked.
“Only parts of it. They kept me knocked out for quite a while because of the pain. But I slept a lot then, too. So being tired from what happened to you is your body telling you to slow down because it’s trying to heal.” Then he leaned over and kissed the side of her cheek. “And by the way, since you’re a nurse, I shouldn’t have to remind you of that.”
Ava sighed. “Duly noted, Dr. Knox. If you need me, I’ll be right here.”
Hunt waited until she closed her eyes, then went back into the living room. But instead of turning on the television, he sat down within the silence.
It took a few moments for him to realize how he was feeling. His knuckles were sore and skinned from the fight. He was shaken to the core by how close he’d come to losing her, and all it had done was shift him back into a kind of PTSD.
He took a few cleansing breaths, and then he closed his eyes and began focusing on one small sound at a time until he had identified each one. It was something he’d done often after they’d finally released him from the hospital and mustered him out. When he’d been alone and still gaining strength. Before he’d found the job he had now. Then, the fear within him was so strong. Everything had made him jumpy. He was convinced he would never be the same.
So he had created this game. Each time he heard a sound, he had to sit and listen to it over and over until he had it identified, and once he knew what it was, it was no longer an unknown, so he was no longer afraid—like he had defeated an enemy.
It was his subconscious reminding him that if he knew what it was, it no longer held any power over him. And so he began it again now, listening, identifying, defeating the unknown—until he could feel the calm settling within him.
And it was good.
* * *
Karen was at the house early the next morning. She was carrying a plate of hot cinnamon rolls when Hunt opened the door.
“Morning, Karen. Ava is just now getting into the shower. She’s moving a little slow.”
“These will perk her up,” Karen said. “They’re her favorite. I don’t suppose you’d want any before you leave?”
Hunt grinned. “If you’re willing to share, I’m not going to refuse.”
Karen took them to the kitchen, wrapped up a couple in tinfoil and then handed them to him as he picked up his coffee.
“Call if you need me…for any reason,” Hunt said. “My number is on the counter and in Ava’s phone.”
“I will, honey. Don’t worry. I’ve got this,” Karen said.
“I’ll swing by here at noon to check on you two. Let me know if there’s anything you need me to bring.”
“Thank you for loving our girl, and for taking such good care of her,” Karen said, and then hugged him.
“It’s totally my pleasure,” Hunt said. “Thank you for her, and the cinnamon rolls.”
And then he was gone.
Karen could still hear the shower running and went back to Ava’s bedroom to let her know she had arrived.
* * *
Birdie had never really looked forward to going to work before today. She went because it was her job and she liked her job. But today Wade Montgomery would be there.
She didn’t know if he’d just come to help Dub get set back up after the fire or if he was here to stay. And she was curious.
She showed up for work at 8:00 a.m., although the Feed and Seed always opened by seven. It felt strange to drive up and see one whole end of the building missing. But there were now two small portable buildings on-site, and she was guessing they were where the sacks of feed and seed would be stored until Dub could rebuild.