Page 52 of All Inn Thyme
“Kase is sick now, too. They must have a virus or something.”
“Hope you don’t get it.”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
“Alright, take care,” he says as he heads out.
“Appreciate it.” I shut the door and look around.
I make a mug of soup and bring it along with the ibuprofen to Mellie. She stirs when I walk in and her eyes open. “Where’s Kase?”
“He’s napping on the couch." I skip the part that he threw up because I want her to get as much rest as she can. “Pete came by and brought some soup. Also, take this,” I say, handing her a few Ibuprofens.
“Thank you,” she says, struggling to sit up. “I feel like I got hit by a truck.”
“Just get some rest. Nova’s watching over him. He’s all set. Do you want the light still on?” I ask, confused as to why she hasn’t wanted it dark.
“I have to be able to see if he comes back to hurt me,” she says drowsy, then drifts back to sleep.
Holy shit.
She’s scared of the dark because of him. I swear to God, if I ever see that motherfucker, I’m calling up my old friend Brandon down in Mississippi and we’re going to take him on a little drive to Catfish Bayou and feed him to the alligators, piece by piece. What he’s done to them is unforgivable. He needs to pay. No one should have to live in fear like this.
I go back to the couch and fall asleep again for what feels like twenty minutes. I wake up to a splitting headache, and I moan when nausea rolls over me. A cold hand lays on my forehead and I open an eye to see Mellie leaning over me.
“How are you feeling?” I mumble, trying to sit up to help her.
“No, lie back down. It’s my turn to take care of you now,” she says softly, laying a cold washcloth on my head and cheeks. It feels so good, I quickly drift back to sleep.
When I sleep, I dream about Mellie. We live here together. It’s Christmas time and we’re a family. The family I’ve always wanted and dreamed of. And the dream is nice until I wake up and realize it’s still just me and Nova. She’s not really mine, and I’m not sure that she ever truly can be. A pang of sadness passes through me.
I sit up slowly and look around, seeing the clock on the microwave reads 11:56 p.m. Somehow, I’ve slept all day, yet I’m still so exhausted.
I see the bottle of ibuprofen on the counter and take some before going to check on Kase, finding him fast asleep with Nova.
I knock softly on Mellie's door because a soft light from her lamp is still on. She opens it and she gives me a little smile. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ll be fine. How areyoufeeling?” I ask, leaning against the door frame.
“Better. Thanks for taking care of us. I’m sorry about—”
I hold my hand up. “Don’t apologize. We help each other. Okay?”
“Okay,” she says softly.
“I heard what you said about the dark. Do you always sleep with the lights on?”
She puts her head down. “Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Mel. I’m sorry that he’s done this to you. You can sleep with as many lights on as you need to. I’ll still be here to keep you safe, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispers, her pale face looking up at me with an expression of sorrow and gratitude.
“Get some sleep,” I say as I push off the frame and go to hug her. I kiss the side of her head and pull back.
“What was that for?”
“I just want you to be comfortable with me in your space, because I like being in your space. I want to kiss you, Mel," I say with a little smile.
