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

done before she got up in the morning and leaving her free to do other things. Without him, it felt lonely — empty. She missed his arm around her as she slept and hearing his heart beat when they curled on the couch together. She missed hearing about Aiden Cox ’ s latest prank or a strange serenade from one of the transports to Brunswick.
    More than anything, however, she missed hearing him praise her. The giant tomato in her greenhouse was gone now — taken away by Jill. Chad would never hold it and tell her how amazing it was. She had yarn ready to dye , but she ’ d waited for h im to bring the Kool-Aid that her instructions called for. She needed to hear that what she was doing was appreciated.
    Just as she stood to go upstairs and try to sleep, head lights turned into the driveway from the highway. She walked slowly to the first step and wrapped an arm around the porch post straining to see into the night. The headlights were gone now. In a few seconds , they ’ d flash over the top of the hill just before they illuminated the house and yard.
    It was Chad ’ s truck. He was home. Everything would be back to normal now. Willow smiled as she skipped down the steps to greet him as he shut the truck door behind him.
     
     

Chapter 1 1 8
     
     
    As Chad climbed carefully and slowly from his truck, Willow skipped down the steps, forgetful of the camisole and shorts that , while cool and comfortable, covered little. He watched her hurry toward him and laughed as she raced to hug him. When she realized how little she wore, she ’ d be mortified.
    Unexpectedly, she flung herself into his arms kissing his cheek. “ I missed you! I can ’ t believe how much I missed you. I mope —” His sharp intake of breath and the way he clung to her stopped her mid- sentence . “ What ’s wrong ? ”
    “ Just help me inside , lass. I ’ ve got quite a story to tell you , but I need some water and my head feels fuzzy .”
    “ Chad! You ’ re really —” His wince as she wrapped her arm around his back stopped her. “ Is there anywhere I can touch you? ” The moon moved from behind a cloud , lighting Chad ’ s face. “ What happened to you ? Your mother just said that you ’ d been detained .”
    “ That ’ s all I let her say. Get me inside and ignore my pain will ya .”
    Willow brought him pillows, a glass of water, and remembering how much he liked Sprite when he was sick, she hurried out to the summer kitchen where she ’ d stashed a few cans the last time she ’ d been at the store. He laughed as she brought him a glass of icy cold Sprite , groaning at the pain that laughter caused .
    “ I knew I ’ d be better off at home. In the truck, there ’ s a plastic bag on the floorboard. I need the bottle in it please .” In Willow ’ s eyes, he looked horrible as he clenched his hand tightly around the end of a pillow as though holding on with everything he had .
    Willow found the bag and a stack of discharge papers that looked similar to the ones she ’ d brought home from the hospital the previous summer. With both in hand, she hurried in side opening the bottle of pain killers as she did. She read the instructions carefully and then handed him one tablet. “ It says take with water .”
    He swallowed his pill and dutifully drank the water she shoved at him before sinking b ack into the pillows , exhausted. “ I really didn ’ t think it ’ d be that hard to drive home. The traffic wasn ’ t anything to speak of ; the highway was reasonably empty . I don ’ t know why I ’ m so beat .”
    Willow bit her lip. She wanted to demand that he tell her what happened and why his face held several stitches, one close to the corner of his eye. However, the memory of his wince as she ’ d hugged him, the pain etched in his face, and the bandaged hand tinged with fresh blood near the thumb stopped her. She ’ d have to learn a little patience.
    “ Where are the questions, lass? I ’ ve been waiting for you