Page 97 of Daybreak

“That’s what I’m here for. I’ll start the water running, then go get some plastic wrap. Do you think you can get yourself in and out of the Jacuzzi okay? Your legs are so bruised, they must be stiff, but the soak in the tub should help the soreness.”

He nodded. “I can do it.”

She went into the bathroom to start water running, then went flying past his bed. “I’m going to get plastic wrap.”

“You don’t need to hurry,” he said, but she was already gone and back with a box of plastic wrap and a roll of Scotch tape before he knew it.

She tore off one long sheet and began wrapping it gently around his forearm beginning at the wrist, and she kept wrapping and adding sheet after sheet until she had the bandage covered from his wrist to his elbow and taped to hold.

“That should work on any unintentional splashes. You get in the tub to see where the water level is and I’ll either let it run some more or turn it off.”

“Best nurse ever,” Gunner said and followed her. He stepped out of his sweatpants and into the tub, easing himself down, bracing his elbow on one side of the tub and his hand on the other until he was in. “This depth works. You can turn it off.”

Holly nodded, turned off the faucets, handed him a washcloth and a bar of soap, and laid a bath towel on the lid of the commode.

“We’re gonna need a bigger Jacuzzi when we build our house,” he said.

“Why?”

“My legs are too long. There’s nowhere for you to squeeze in. I’m gonna need one big enough for the both of us,” he said.

She walked out laughing.

* * *

Gunner had never been so glad to be clean again. It was like washing away the last remnants of Whistler from his memory. He was out, dry, and dressed in clean sweatpants when he walked into the kitchen.

“Something smells good,” he said.

“Our food arrived. Fried catfish and steak fries. I also heated up some baked beans I brought from my place. It’s all done if you want supper now.”

“Sounds good,” he said, then pulled out a chair and sat down. “I’m really grateful you are here, and there’s a bit of irony to it.”

“How so?” Holly asked as she was making their plates.

“Remember how you used to chase all the fly balls, and dart about grabbing bats for all of us? I can still see that in you… Attacking projects with laser focus and picking up after me again like the bats that I threw. I had no idea back then how much you would come to mean to me now.”

She paused, still holding his plate as her eyes lost focus. Gunner knew that she’d gone somewhere else in her mind.

“The hardest thing I’ve had to do is make peace with losing Mom. The best thing that came after was you. It was like the universe was trying to make up for what had been taken away by giving you back to me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give up for you. Loving you is as necessary to me as breathing. The fact that you love me back is a gift I will never take for granted.” She sighed, blinked, and finished making their plates and carried them to the table.

When she started to walk away, he reached for her wrist, stopping her, then tapped the side of his face. “Right here,” he said.

She giggled, then leaned over and kissed him.

“And here,” he said, tapping his lips.

She kissed him there, lingering enough to make him groan, then went back for their drinks and sat down with him. They talked as they ate, filling each other in on the progress of their day until they’d finished their food, and she’d cleared the table, but then they stayed, still planning for the day ahead.

“The hydrogeologist is going out to the house site sometime tomorrow. If he can’t find a good water source there, then we’ll have to choose another location, but I feel confident about it,” Gunner said.

“Oh… You were asleep when I first got home, and then I forgot to tell you. The appraiser for this house will be here tomorrow around eleven. I will be here to let him in and for the duration of his inspection. The inspector is coming tomorrow afternoon. The day is going to be a hassle for you, but we’ll be getting it over with at once. It’s actually part of my job as a Realtor, and I left Gene a note letting him know I’m working virtually until you’re much better. He was out of the office all day today showing houses, so it’s not an issue. I can do all the research they need from my laptop as easily as the PC on my desk… If that’s alright with you?” she added.

Gunner was listening, thinking of the days ahead when this was all behind them when he realized that the light coming through the stained-glass window behind her was bathing her in a multi-colored aura. A kind of heavenly halo. She might not be an angel from heaven, but she’s sure my angel.

Then he realized she’d just asked him a question.

“Of course it’s alright. It’s all coming together, isn’t it, Holly? Moving out of this house and building our new one. Going home to Crossroads.”