Tough as Nails

Chapter 13

    Zander, Cameron and Aspen made it back to my room.  Everyone was just sitting around enjoying the conversation when there was a knock at the door.  Sheriff  Whimbley walked in with a man that reminded me a lot of Zac.  Sheriff sat on my bed where Kade had been sitting earlier.  Him and Kade gave each other an awkward glance.

    "Everleigh, I need you to meet someone who has business with you.  Would you like privacy?"  The Sheriff asked looking at Kade.

    "No, I want them all to stay." I said looking at Kade. 

    "This is Zac's brother, Zane.  Zane, this is the beautiful Everleigh Morris."  He said winking at me while taking my hand.

    "Sheriff, are you flirting with me again?" I joked trying to fight back my tears. Zane reminded me so much of Zac. "I am so sorry for your loss.  Your brother was one of the most special people I have ever met.  He lost his life trying to save mine, and for that I owe my life to your family." I said with tears rolling down my face.

    "You owe my family nothing.  They turned their back on him when his secret came out.  You were there for him when I couldn't be.  He loved you dearly and would have gave up his life a million times for you.  That was just the type of person he was.  And for that I owe you." His words made me sob.  We hugged each other in the memory of his brother, my dear friend. After awhile we pulled ourselves together.  "I have something for you from Zac. He left you the car."

    "The car? I can't except that. It's too much." I said with eyes full of tears.  The car we are talking about was Zac's baby. He always told me I could drive it someday. Now I get what he meant.  The car is a 1972 Chevelle hardtop.  She was metallic flake blue, with a 396 big block.  She rolled around on 15 inch Crager SS wheels. She was the love of  his life that he had name Thelma.
    "You can, and you will.  He has everything in writing.  You know he always got his way, so don't fight it."

   "I promise to take such good care of Thelma, just the way he always did.  He made help him with it a few times saying it was something I needed to know."  I laughed at the memory.

    "I was a tad bit jealous that you got the car, but after meeting you, I couldn't be more happy he picked you.  After all , I did get the bar."  He said with a sad smile. "The Sheriff here got Bob." 

   "I love Bob." The Sheriff said. Bob was a huge furry mutt that ate everything, and drooled everywhere.

    "You and Zac where the only ones." I joked.

    "I'm going to walk Zane out. Holler if you need anything."  The Sheriff said squeezing my hand.

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    "Hello, Miss Everleigh.  Is there anything I can get you?"  The new nurse asked as she checked my vitals for the millionth time since I've been here.

"I'm ok. Thank you. Did Dr. Bost say when I would be getting released?" I asked ready to put this all behind me.

"I think he has put the orders in already. Let me check on that for you." The nurse said leaving the room.

Aspen, Cameron, Zander, and Kade all sat in my room filling me in on things I've missed back home. I couldn't wait to see my family. I know they would all be proud of me. I need to figure out exactly how much I was going to tell them about my incident before I got there. I knew Zander, Cameron, and Aspen would go along with what ever I wanted. There was one thing about it that I wasn't telling hardly anyone if I even told one person. I hadn't decided that part yet.

"Knock, Knock." Dr. Bost said coming into my room. "Do you feel up to leaving tonight? Or would you like to get some rest and leave in the morning? He asked.

"I feel fine to leave tonight. I think I could rest better in a normal bed." I threw in for good measure.

"I have a few rules for you to follow, and you must agree to them, before I release you. First, you will need to call your regular doctor for a follow up in 5 to 7 days to have the stitches in your lip and forehead removed. Second, you have to eat well and get plenty of rest. No work until you see your doctor and he releases you. And Third, you have to promise to talk to a professional. You went through a very traumatic event. You will go through more things emotionally than you will realize. You may not feel it now, but you will. It's not healthy to keep things bottled up, trying to deal with them on your own. I know you have a very good support system sitting right here, but I can also tell that you feel like your protecting them by keeping certain details to yourself." He said giving me a weak smile. He turned to the four of them. "She may not talk to you all about this in detail, but don't think it's because she doesn't trust you. It's her way of protecting you. Never push her to talk to you or get mad if she shuts down and doesn't. All you can do is be a listening ear. If she decides to talk to you and you can't stay calm in front of her, don't listen to her. Find someone who can be what she needs, or fall apart when she's not around."

Everyone listened to him silently shaking their heads in agreeance. I sat there feeling helpless. I hated feeling this way. He seemed like a very caring doctor, but he had no idea how strong I was. He did however peg Cameron for his save the day attitude. If I told him everything, he would find a way to kill Blaze himself. Zander wouldn't be able to keep the details from Cameron. Aspen, I could trust because she wouldn't want Cameron spending the rest of his life in prison. Then there's Kade. I think I could trust him to keep calm, but I don't want him to see me as dirty or damaged.

"I agree to everything, but I have a question. I'm a freelance photographer. I pretty much just carry my camera and take pictures when the mood strikes me. That won't hurt anything will it?"

"I don't see a problem with that. I'll get your discharge papers done. The sheriff wants to speak with you before you leave. I will send him this way. It's been my pleasure Miss Morris." He said shaking my hand.

"Thank you, Doctor." I said him giving me a nod before leaving the room. "When are you guys wanting to head back?   In the morning?"

"In the morning." Cameron said. "You need to rest before we pack your stuff."

"Pack my stuff?"

"Yeah, you're coming home with us. You were already planning on coming home soon, you're doing it now instead." Cameron said shrugging.

"I haven't even found a place to rent yet."

"You're staying with us. We have an extra room now that Aspen moved into my room." Cameron winked at his girlfriend. "You have any other arguments?"

"Fine. But I'm paying for diner and ya'lls motel rooms. Do not argue with me about it. I'm going to stay at my apartment so I can clean it and get ahold of my landlord."

"I'm staying there, too." Kade said.

"Thank you, but this is something I need to do alone." I remembered the sheriff talking about all of the blood in the kitchen. I did not want any of them to have to see that. "You guys can come in the morning and help me pack."

"We are all going to stay, or just Kade can stay. Your choice." Cameron informed me.

"Kade, would you like to stay at my apartment with me?" I said with the fakest smile I could with a split lip.

"I thought you would never ask?" Kade joked.