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“Go tell them Charlie’s waking up!” Betty said, and then she kissed Charlie’s cheek. “You’re safe now. Rest. Heal. We’re close by. We love you so much, and you aren’t alone.”
It didn’t take long for the mountain grapevine to spread the good word.
Charlie Raines was waking up. He spoke. He knew his mother.
God was good!
Chief Warren notified Sheriff Woodley of the news.
Charlie had seen the man who shot him, but didn’t know who he was. He was still in no condition to be questioned, but he was waking up, and that was all that mattered.
Chapter 6
Later that same day, Aaron drove by the house Dani had rented just to see where it was. When he saw her car in the driveway, he pulled in behind it and then called her.
Dani was in her bedroom measuring windows. There were rods and blinds already in place, but she liked curtains, and as soon as she got measurements, she was going to order some online. She was writing down the measurements when her phone rang. Once she saw Aaron Pope’s name come up, she frowned, wondering what he wanted now as she answered.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Dani, this is Aaron Pope. I have something to ask you, but I didn’t want to scare you by just ringing your doorbell. I’m sitting out in your drive. Can we talk?”
“Yes, of course, but the front door is locked. Give me a sec,” and disconnected as she went.
By the time she opened it, he was on the porch with his hat in hand and a sheepish smile on his face.
She smiled, then stepped aside.
“Come in. I’d offer you a chair and something cold to drink, but as you can see…”
“Maybe a rain check?” Aaron asked. “If it will make you more comfortable, we can sit outside.”
“There’s a porch swing out back. It’s in the shade and it’s a place to sit,” she said.
“Works for me,” Aaron said, and followed her through the house and then out to the swing. He glanced at her then, thinking her eyes were as blue as the sky above them, then blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “This is a great little cottage. Benny and Lisa Abrams are your neighbors to the south. Benny works at the PD and Lisa works in Granny Annie’s Bakery. My Aunt Annie owns it.”
Dani’s face lit up. “Really? I love that bakery! The cinnamon rolls there are to die for!” She ducked her head a moment and then glanced back at him. “How’s Charlie?”
“Funny you should ask,” Aaron said. “Good news is he woke up this morning. It was brief, but he spoke, and he knew his parents. He did see the man who shot him, but didn’t recognize him, so that’s where we are, but his prognosis is way better than it was. We’re all really happy about that.”
Dani beamed. “That’s wonderful! I can only imagine how his parents must feel.”
Aaron hadn’t been prepared for how that smile changed everything about her. Her eyes were sparkling. Her cheeks had a slight flush, and Lord havemercy, she had dimples. It took him a few seconds to regain his equilibrium and to remember why he was here.
“So when do your movers arrive with your belongings?” he asked.
“In three days. My old landlord called last night to tell me they’d picked up my stuff, so I know they’re on the road.”
“Great, and that’s actually why I’m here. Being new to Jubilee, I know you’re on your own, and that the movers will bring everything into the house for you and set up your bed. That’s the routine, right?”
Dani nodded. “Yes. It will be heaven to sleep in my own bed again.”
Aaron let that settle a moment before he continued.
“We moved here from Arkansas back in March after my grandmother passed. Mom inherited the house and property, and we all needed a fresh start, so there was Mom and my three brothers and me. We didn’t know what we were getting into, but we knew what we were leaving behind, and this town and Pope Mountain saved us. When we drove up into the yard, the entire length of the front porch was lined with our people, three generations of relatives. They’d cleaned everything, brought us food, and helped us unpack everything we brought. By the time we were ready for bed that night, it looked like we’d been there forever.”
Dani was silent now and reading between the lines of his narrative. So she wasn’t the only one who’d beenrunning away, and knowing that also explained the empathy he kept showing her.
Aaron continued. “After what you told me, and knowing how really alone you are in this new place, I’m offering assistance.” He grinned wryly, then shrugged. “It’s why I’m a cop. But it’s also the way Mom raised us. What I’m trying to say is, that if it wouldn’t offend you, my family and I would really like to help you in the same way we were welcomed home. Mom is great. My three younger brothers are good men, but don’t tell them I said so. I have this ‘big brother’ image to maintain. If we showed up here after the moving van has come and gone, would you like some help unpacking?”
