Page 65 of Apple of My Eye

“You know what would make me feel better?” He didn’t wait to tell me the answer, but pointed his right forefinger at his lips.

I could have been smart and toyed with him, like food? Water? But I knew he wanted a kiss or two. And I needed them, too.

I bent over his bed, cupped his cheek and gently brushed his lips, careful not to hurt him.

“I’m not that fragile, sweetheart. Next time I want tongue.”

I laughed and pulled a chair beside the bed and took his right hand in both of mine.

“I contacted your family. They’re driving up this afternoon for a visit,” I informed him.

“Thank you for doing that. Means the world to me. I’ll bet they were worried.”

“I’m the one who should thank you. As usual.”

“No need to thank me. Although, if you’d like to breakout spontaneous acts of appreciation, I would never turn those down.” He winked with a sly grin.

I shook my head, chuckling, still coming to terms with all that had happened. If I’d have lost him…

A year ago, losing friends who had come to feel more like family would have saddened me. Given the depth of my feelings for him now, these emotions that have hit me so fast, I’d have mourned the loss of love and what could have been.

Thankfully, after last night, I didn’t lose him. He was alive and well, and laced our fingers together.

“I told you before. I take good care of the most precious things to me on earth.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “Turns out precious cargo requires a little more security than a seatbelt or a deadbolt sometimes.”

I laughed despite myself, and the release of it relaxed me, like the first full breath I had taken in twelve hours.

“Good to see you still have your humor, Knox.”

“So, how are you?” He settled carefully against the pillows, concern in his eyes.

“We’ll be fine. My sisters and I are coming to grips with Trevor’s arrest and the part he played in our parent’s accident.”

“Good. But I asked about you. It must have been scary for you, what happened in the cottage.”

“Yeah. The Trevor part is. But mostly I think about you. I watched you go down on that cottage floor and I—” I stopped and pressed my lips together hard.

“Hey. I’m a tough guy. I made it through.” He squeezed my hand.

“If you hadn’t been there, if you hadn’t somehow figured out where I was, this would be an entirely different conversation. Still, I want to be furious with you about OperationDaisy for a considerable length of time, because you had put yourself in harm’s way for me. But one look at you and I can’t bring myself to be mad.”

“Fair enough. But I watched over you, like I said I would. I’ll always keep you safe. If it happens again, I’d do it all over again.”

I snorted. “I think I’ve met my quota for one deranged man in my life. So you’re cleared of any more obligation.”

We talked more about how much had changed in the past twelve hours. The TV news had plastered home video footage of Trevor being hauled out of the cottage in handcuffs. I’d turned over my diary as evidence to the Sheriff, who no longer had competition in the November election. The congressman was shown entering the jailhouse, stating no comment when a reporter asked how he felt with two sons locked up.

It should scare me that he might seek revenge on me and Ivy for the parts we played in his sons’ lives. But I’d given it heavy consideration while waiting for Knox’s operation to conclude. I didn’t see what benefit the congressman would gain by getting back at us. Besides, with the sheriff opening up the cold case files, I had a feeling the walls would soon close in on Bruce Brewster and any dirty-handed thing he was involved in.

I sighed. Knox noticed and asked, “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“I’m wondering how I can step into the orchard cottage again, what was once my peaceful, happy place.”

“Give it time. Or, we could tear it down and build a new one.”

“It’ll be closed up for the winter; I’ll see how it feels this spring.”

“That’s a good plan. I’ve been doing some thinking, too,” he nodded.