Page 210 of Buried Too Deep

Cora laughed. “I used the shower in your bathroom. The nurses said I could.” She sobered. “I had to go home and shower while you were in surgery. Fastest shower ever in the history of the world. But I was covered in other people’s blood.”

Phin nodded. It had been on his hands. But it had been his own blood. No trigger. No spiral. Or maybe that was due to SodaPop.

And Cora.

“You were amazing, you know,” he said, suddenly so tired. “Fixing me up with a napkin and a wooden spoon. How did you know how to do that?”

“I’m a librarian,” she said with a grin. “I know many things.”

“Super-Librarian,” he murmured. “I’m sleepy. You’ll stay?”

“Yes. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Epilogue

Cincinnati, Ohio

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 8:30 A.M.

“BREATHE, PHIN,” CORA MURMURED AS Stone deftly maneuvered their borrowed RV along his parents’ narrow street. “It’s all going to be fine. Better than fine. It’s going to be wonderful.”

Wonderful. It would be. Phin would make sure of it.

He owed his family nothing less after all he’d put them through.

No pressure.

His fingers threaded through SodaPop’s coat, and he smiled when she delicately licked his cheek. “Good girl.”

He was better prepared to face his family than he’d been the last time he was home. Right out of the army hospital, his body still broken and his head a mess. He’d managed to keep a lid on the episodes, up until that night in the bar.

Afterward, as he’d lain in the hospital, he’d had to look into the worried eyes of his twin. He’d rather she’d have yelled at him back then, but she never had.

He hoped she wouldn’t yell at him today, but she’d certainly be entitled.

They all would.

This time, though, he had support. He had Stone and Delores, who’d supported him since the day he’d met them.

He had SodaPop, who’d more than proven her worth in the two months he’d owned her.

And he had Cora Winslow, who hadn’t left his side.

He was a lucky man.

“I know,” he said. “It will be wonderful.”

Cora’s expression said that he hadn’t been as convincing as he’d hoped.

He shrugged. “And if it’s not, we can go home.” He’d still have his New Orleans family.

“Last stop!” Stone called back cheerfully. “Everybody out.”

“I’m impressed, Stone,” Cora said. “I didn’t know you could drive an RV this big.”

Stone got out of the driver’s seat and stretched. He had to be exhausted. He’d driven nearly straight through, only taking a few short breaks.

“Me either. I never did before yesterday.”

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