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“Speaking of food, I actually have an appetite. I bet there’s nothing in the refrigerator that isn’t rotten.”
“I understand you hate the thought of people going through your things, and that includes your fridge, but your mom and Aunt Elizabeth cleaned it out and shopped for you. And Gus has been here every day after seeing you in the hospital, doing errands, overseeing Gloria and Bubba picking up horse poop.”
“Poor Gus, I need to find a way to make it up to him. Now all I have to do is get the rescue back on track. Kelly has to have the rest of the animals relocated in a week. I might have to bring them to the cottage.”
“Don’t worry about that now, okay? Ted can take them to his place. Kelly’s his problem now. She’s not yours.”
“Justin, she’s my friend. We’re in the rescue together now. I feel responsible.”
“I know, I’m just kidding. But truthfully, don’t worry about it, or you won’t recover. Tomorrow is Christmas, and the day after that, work can resume on everything. You just need to take it slow.”
He saw her eyeing her computer bag. The day after the accident, she’d asked Gus to bring her computer, and she’d started working again for a short period each day. When Justin went back to work the second week, she begged the doctors to release her, but they weren’t satisfied that her scans had showed enough recovery, and asked her to just be patient.
“Go ahead and work,” they’d said. “But do it while we’re monitoring you.”
“I’m determined to make you relax tonight,” Justin said. “I can see you over there, dying to get your hands on your laptop.”
Frowning, she hated it that he could read her mind.
“If you won’t let me, I’ll get into my own shower and put my PJs on.”
“Okay. Climbing these stairs might be a bit much, but I’ll stand behind you in case you need to fall backwards.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said, finally laughing.
He flirted with her going up the stairs, making comments about her buns.
“My buns of steel are now buns of cotton,” she said, laughing.
“When can we do it again? I’m about ready to explode back here.”
“I think I can manage a gentle one,” she said, turning around on the steps.
Falling against him, they kissed like they hadn’t kissed in weeks.
“Gentle I can do,” he said, swooping her up in his arms while she squealed. “Don’t hit your head!”
The sound of their laughter ringing out put Brulee to sleep, but not before she jumped up on the couch.
Magically, on Christmas morning the grass and Spanish moss hanging from the trees had a thin layer of dew that looked like frost.
“Maggie, quick, before the sun hits. Look.”
Justin stood at the window in the back of the cottage, holding out his hand for her.
“Wow, look at that! It’s so beautiful. And it’s so cold!”
Justin had a fire in the fireplace, and it gave off just enough heat to keep them from freezing. The temperature rarely went below forty, but that was cold enough for Maggie, who wore flannel PJs, a hoodie and furry slippers. Brulee was in front of the fire, hogging the heat.
“How do you feel this morning?” he asked, concerned.
“I’m just glad to be home. I want to see the skiff.”
“Honey, Gus said there wasn’t much to look at. It might be upsetting.”
“Well, okay, but I still might want to. I can’t believe I missed the boat parade!”
“You can do that next year. And we’ll have a boat parade for Mardi Gras. It’s better than the one in the city because we don’t have as many people. Also, more families, less alcohol.”
