Thirty-Seven
Steve had set his alarm to wake him early the next morning...but he didn't need it. He was wide awake in time to see the sun rise – and to smell the aroma of cinnamon wafting through the house. Sure enough, there was a plate of fresh cinnamon rolls on the kitchen table...along with a note.
Good morning! Thought I'd take Dancer for a little ride before breakfast Be back soon. Jaime.
Steve flew out the back door, hoping to find Jaime cantering the horse around the corral. No Jaime, no Dancer. Dammit! he cursed silently. She wouldn't...would she? She still hadn't been told where the former grave actually was, but she was definitely smart (and determined) enough to ask someone. Very likely, anyone she met would be able to tell her. He thought about leaving a note for Rudy, but there was no time. The sun was barely coming up, but with his eye he was still able to scan the meadow, the long driveway and the trail into town, with no luck. He turned toward the hillside above the park – and there she was. Steve's heart flooded with relief and finally began to beat normally again.
Jaime was sitting at the highest point on the hill (the horse beside her), watching the sunrise. Steve took a few calming breaths before heading up the hill to join her. She really hadn't done anything wrong and he didn't want her to see that he'd been worried or upset.
Of course, Jaime heard him coming and turned around to greet him with a radiant smile. "It's so beautiful up here!" she exulted. "I can see the sun coming up over the lake...and the reflection of the colors in the water...I just love it!"
"You'll be able to come up here every day, if you want to" Steve told her as he sat down beside her. Her house was just down the hill to the left. "But right now, I'll bet you're getting hungry..."
"IS that a subtle hint, Austin?" she giggled. "I can hear your stomach growling, ya know."
"I'll even cook something for you. What would you like: Eggs Benedict, Country-Fried Steak, maybe a little -"
"How 'bout if I cook instead?" Jaime offered.
"Well...since you're insisting..." He leaned over for a good morning kiss – one that lasted until the sun was fully above the water line. "We'd better head back," he sighed, hating to end the moment.
"And after breakfast..." Jaime reminded him.
"I know," he answered. He couldn't tell her she'd be seeing Rudy after breakfast because it was 'supposed' to be as much of a surprise to him as it was to her. "But sustenance comes first, right?"
"You got a deal."
* * *
"You really know how to cook Eggs Benedict?" Jaime asked as she stirred cheese into their scrambled eggs.
"Well...I know it has eggs in it," Steve offered.
"Then why -?" Jaime laughed.
Steve shrugged. "It sounded good. I do know how to make Country-Fried Steak, though."
"Only 'cause I taught you."
"Yeah...you're right," Steve acknowledged.
"I usually am."
Steve couldn't argue with that. His eyes were on Jaime as he buttered the toast and poured the juice. She was smiling and to all outward appearances seemed serene...but he could read her eyes. She was troubled – and who wouldn't be, thinking about visiting their own grave?
"How'd you sleep?" he asked as they sat down at the table. Hurry up, Rudy!
"Okay..." Jaime was feigning a sudden and burning interest in her plate of eggs.
"Really? You're gonna try and make me believe that...how?"
"Well...I...guess I was overtired. Or not tired enough, or...something."
They spent breakfast talking about the sunrise, the horses, the weather – everything except what was most on both of their minds. Right on cue, as they were placing their dishes in the sink, the doorbell rang. Jaime looked up questioningly.
Steve shrugged. "Maybe Mom needs to borrow some milk." Since his back was to the kitchen (and to Jaime) when he opened the door, he winked at the doctor. "Rudy! What are you doing here? C'mon in and have some coffee; it's great to see you!"
"I thought I'd check on Jaime, now that she's been out and about for a couple of days," Rudy announced. "Is she up yet?"
"We just had breakfast. There's cinnamon rolls left if you want some," Steve told him. "Sweetheart!" Steve called into the kitchen. It wasn't necessary. Jaime was already right behind him and grinning as she reached out to give Rudy a hug.
"You didn't have to come all this way -"
"It was less than an hour – and a beautiful drive," Rudy insisted.
"Want me to get lost for awhile?" Steve offered.
Rudy looked to Jaime, who shook her head. "I don't think that's necessary," he answered for both of them. "I will take you up on the coffee, though." The doctor led his patient into the den. Jaime sat down on the sofa, curling her legs beneath herself, and Rudy chose the easy chair next to her.
"So," he began, "tell me how it's been going."
"You just saw me two days ago!" Jaime chuckled.
"A lot can happen in two days." Like Steve, Rudy noticed the darkness in her eyes that her smile couldn't hide. "How are you feeling?"
"Are you taking my physical temperature," Jaime queried. "or my emotional one?"
"Maybe a little of both," Rudy admitted. "What's on your agenda for today?"
Steve handed Rudy a mug of coffee and sank down beside Jaime, who seemed to automatically lean toward him. "I'm taking her appliance shopping, Doc," he said lightly. "We thought we'd start with the big stuff and work our way down. Furniture next, if there's time."
"Something else we have to do first," Jaime reminded him.
"Oh?" Rudy asked.
"Steve promised to show me my grave."
"Uh-huh..." the doctor said, pretending to mull this over. "I don't really think there's anything left there to look at, Honey. Why would you want to -"
"I just wanna see it. I need to see it!"
Steve felt her shudder a bit, the way she always seemed to when talking about this subject. Instinctively, he pulled her closer. "She didn't sleep much last night, Doc."
"Oh?" Rudy questioned.
"I was...thinking," Jaime explained.
"About this?"
"Yeah," she admitted.
Rudy frowned with concern. "Can you tell me why this is so important to you, when it clearly troubles you so deeply?"
"I guess...I need closure," Jaime told him. "Sort of like I'm saying goodbye to my old life – burying it – and starting all over again, fresh."
"And you can't do that without a trip to the cemetery?" Steve asked.
"Not really. Not for good, Steve. I mean yeah, it creeps me out. I might even get sick; I don't know. But the only way to really deal with everything that's happened to me is to face it – all of it. I can't move forward until I do that," Jaime pleaded, looking from one man to the other, hoping for understanding. Surprisingly, she found it.
"You're right," Rudy acknowledged, shocking himself as well as Steve. "Steve, she makes a good point. If that's what Jaime feels she needs in order to heal, then we both need to support her. I'll go with you."
* * * * *