in the chair next to her bed. I kiss her hand then turn it over and kiss her wrist and hand. I almost lost the one good thing in my life. I don’t care who sees me, my tears are flowing freely.
“Thank god you’re awake.”
“Mrs. Tanner. Do you know where you are?” She furrows her brow. I hold my breath. It takes her a full minute before a huge smile graces her lips.
“No one’s called me that yet.” Her voice is hoarse. “In the hospital?”
“Yes, very good. We’re going to ask you some questions and take vitals. The police have been waiting for to wake. They are going to want to come and ask you some questions too. She nods and looks at me. Her eyes fill with tears.
“Don’t cry. I’m okay. I’m sorry I doubted you. I love you JT.”
“I love you too, Sugar. You are everything to me. I would never hurt you the way Nick tried to portray me. I never did anything with Blanche. They set me up. Baby, you are my sunrise, my sunset, and all the seconds in between. Please, don’t ever forget that.” I lean over her and kiss her forehead.
“Never. You are my everything.”
~*~
An hour after she woke the police came. They wanted to know what she remembered. She said she got a text from me to meet her. I told them I’d lost my phone at Jack’s but found it on Lily when we found her. Turns out Nick had followed me to Jack’s. They don’t know what he planned but there was rope, duct tape, and other suspicious items in the trunk of his car. We had kept our marriage secret, solidifying my claim on the ranch. He hadn’t known that when we went after Lily. Before he could do anything to her they were interrupted by a mountain lion. We thought it might have had rabies. Fortunately, it didn’t. It was sick with who knows what. The fish and wildlife retrieved the body the same day as the accident and ran tests the next day.
Nick didn’t survive his injuries.
Lily asked about Five. I had to break the news to her. There was no easy way to tell her. She broke down in sobs. I held her, stroking her hair, kissing her head as she clung to me. She told me Five saved her that day. The weight of everything and the loss of Five was too much. Her sobs were deep. Afraid she would reinjure herself, the nurse gave her a mild sedative, calming her down so she could rest.
When she finally came to we talked about everything. She had been trying to come to me to apologize for pushing me away.
“JT, I’m so sorry. I was scared and overwhelmed.”
“I understand. I’m sorry I reacted the way I did.”
“What do you mean?”
“Uh, I kind of got angry, told of Blanche and got shit faced.” She giggled.
“I would have loved to see the look on Blanche’s face.”
“What Blanche had said? It’s not true. I would never use you. I love you. I love you more than anything in this world Lily. I don’t ever want you to forget that. Please don’t cry.” I kiss the tears from her eyes. Sighing in content she slides her arms around my neck. Her lips find mine. She winces when she tries to lean towards me. “No, baby, you need to rest. I’m not going anywhere.”
“JT, I love you. I’ve loved you all my life.
Epilogue
The smell of bacon and sugary baked goods wakes me. Mmm, coffee. I stretch my arms, smiling, remember why my muscles are so sore. Since the night of the accident I had been taking it easy. The doctors let JT take me home, as long as I stayed in bed for the following weeks. He more than happily obliged. Carrying me across the threshold like a true bride he reminded me of my strict medical orders. The silly grin on his face made it hard to take him seriously but I knew if I tried to go against him he would push back. He had my best interest at heart. I love the way he protects me, carrying for my needs, anticipating my desires.
Desires were a plenty. After a week of bed rest I was already stir crazy. I had already spent two weeks before that in a hospital bed. JT was so careful with me, he barely touched me. He wouldn’t even sleep in the same bed with me,