Free Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 16 by Chautona Havig

“ Not you too… ”
    “ I had to ask! Your mom wouldn ’ t give me these clothes until I promised to follow you home. I won ’ t come up to the house or anything , but I will follow you as far as the drive .”
    “ Thanks. I thought about asking but decided I was being paranoid. Everyone around here seems to be operating under the delusion that I want to leave .” Chad ’ s voice sounded weary.
    “ Did you take some acetaminophen at four? ”
    “ Four-thirty. I ’ ll pull over at the rest stop for a refill or just take them a bit early .”
    Todd nodded and pulled out the latest Patterson novel. “ I ’ ll read. You sleep .”
    “ What, no Hartfield? I ’ m crushed .”
    “ I ’ ve read ‘ em all .”
    Chad grinned and tried to roll onto his side. “ Seven-thirty. No later .”
    Todd acted as a guard for the next two and a half hours. The nurses came in now and then to check on him, offer him medication, and bring him dinner , but Todd shooed them back out, insisting that they would be responsible for Chad ’ s relapse if they didn ’ t let him sleep. The doctor arrived just as Todd shook Chad awake.
    “ It ’ s time to get up, man. Gotta get on the road .”
    He tried to respond , but the doctor interrupted. “ Still determined to leave? ”
    “ Have to. I ’ m sorry .”
    “ Let ’ s check your temperature .” Ignoring the nurse who stood ready to do her job, the doctor checked all vital signs, inspected Chad ’ s wounds, and helped Chad out of bed , watching him walk around the room. “ Well, I ’ d be more comfortable with another night or three , but as long as you keep a close eye on the wounds and your temperature, unofficially speaking, you should be good. I can ’ t release you though. Liability and all .”
    “ I understand. Give me the forms or whatever , and let ’ s get this show on the road .”
    It took Chad longer to dress to leave the hospital than he ’ d ever spent getting ready for anything. As much as he despised flip-flops, he was grateful that his mother had considered the easiest thing to put on his feet and sent them. Todd drove Chad to his truck and drove from the city, each keeping an eye out for anyone who might be foll owing .
    The temptation to speed had rarely been stronger. By the time he was out of the city and onto the highway, Chad was ready to lie back down and go to sleep. As he passed the rest stop, Chad struggled to open the packet of Tylenol and failed. He pulled over, wrenched it open wincing at the sharp pain it send through his chest, coughed, and downed the pills before Todd could reach his side.
    “ You ok, man? ” Todd had his door open before he could nod.
    “ I ’ m fine! I just couldn ’ t get the packet open without pulling over .”
    “ Well, if you hadn ’ t had your phone shot into you, you could have called .”
    Chad groaned. “ Oh man, I ’ m going to need a new phone .”
    “ I ’ ll take care of it. Just get me your info and I ’ ll go in. I ’ ll come out on Monday with it. You can ’ t leave the house again before then anyway .”
    By the time th e y entered Fairbury, Chad shook with exhaustion. Each mile from Fairbury to home seemed like ten. He flashed his lights at Todd just before he turned into the driveway and then let the truck coast down the first part of the drive until it reached the climb up into the yard.
     

     
     
    Late Sunday night, Willow once more sat on her porch swing wearing another camisole set and feeling cool and refreshed. Her hair was wet as she brushed the tangles from it and braided it into her familiar braid. One bare foot pushed the swing back and forth , as she swayed in the night air. Portia lay with her head resting on Willow ’ s belly , and W illow scratched behind her ears, singing her favorite Argosy Junction songs softly.
    The past few days had been strange. Despite years of living alone, she had become accustomed to having Chad stop by, calling, having half the small chores