Chapter 452: Tree Hill Hall

Tuesday, February 14th, Morning

The kitchen of Tree Hill Hall was a mess. Chastity "Chase" Burke nodded but that was expected when four kids were fed breakfast. She shrugged and decided to clean it when she got back. Right now, she herded her four younger kids to her waiting SUV, which was warming up in the driveway.

The oldest two, Paige or PJ, and Keelan or Key, were eleven and ten but were in the same grade. That always drove PJ crazy. Bridget or BB was eight and followed Colin or Col, six, towards the SUV. Chase smiled as they headed up to the SUV, and their cousins, Phelan, nine, and Alivia or Liv, seven, were also waiting. The McMichael cousins had walked up from Murphy House since it was Chase's day to bring them to school.

Chase smiled as she saw her husband's crew cab pickup truck pull into its parking spot. Chase got six kids into her SUV and waited for her husband to get out of his truck without hesitation. J.L. "Huck" Burke stood upright and looked at his wife of eleven years. Chase walked over and hugged him; she kissed his cheek and placed her lips by his ear.

"Take a shower and take a nap; I'll be back after I drop off the horde," Chase whispered.

"Okay," Huck said.

Chase walked over to the SUV and slipped the wheel. She looked over to see PJ in the passenger seat. Nodding in approval upon noticing PJ was buckled up.

"Everyone buckled up?" Chase asked.

A chorus of "Yes, Aunt Chase" and "Yes, Momma" followed. Chase got the SUV into gear and drove out of the drive of Tree Hill Hall. Chase watched Huck walk into the house. She kept one eye on Huck until she reached the main drive.

Once on the main road, Chase opened up the throttle. The trees were becoming a fence as she reached the first stop. She pulled into the parking lot and to the curb in front of the school. The younger children climbed out with Key holding the door.

After the children were out and Key back in the SUV, Chase was off again. The older children were the only ones with her now. On the road, Chase drove fast. That was how she drove since her first car was a yellow Ford Mustang.

Finally, she reached the next school and let the older kids out. Once the doors were closed, Chase was off. Learning to drive the SUV was different than her Mustang. The Mustang was low, the SUV was tall, and she felt the vehicle roll if she took a turn too fast. So, Chase learned not to drive as fast as she would like to, but she still got her share of speeding tickets.

Within the hour of leaving Tree Hill Hall, Chase pulled back into the main drive. Slowly, she worked through the interior roads up to Tree Hill Hall. Parking next to Huck's truck, she shut down the engine and got out of the SUV.

Slowly, she walked over to one of the outbuildings. Unlocking the door, she stepped inside the barn and walked over to the car-shaped object. Chase pulled back the car cover and looked at her old yellow Mustang. Chase ran a finger over the line of the car and nodded.

After a few minutes, Chase nodded and pulled the car cover back over the car. Leaving the outbuilding, she locked the door. She walked across the space between the outbuilding and the main house.

Once inside, Chase took off her coat and hung it up. Chase rubbed her hands together to make them warm again. Slowly, she went around the kitchen and collected the kid's dishes.

After the dishes were washed off and placed in the dishwasher, she washed off the table once the dishwasher was started. After that, Chase went upstairs, checking her smartphone for messages; she found none. Once everything was set, Chase walked to her bedroom door. Chase sighed, held her breath, and opened the door.

Chase found Huck already in bed. He lay on his side with his back facing the door. Chase saw a scar on his upright shoulder. Hucks closely cropped ginger red hair was clearly visible.

Huck suddenly shuddered, and Chase took in a deep breath. What Chase observed wasn't a good thing. Taking another deep breath, she nodded and pulled her t-shirt off, kicked off her shoes, and unbuckled her jeans. Slowly, she shredded those clothes, leaving her just in her underwear and socks. After a moment or two, she slipped into her marriage bed and wrapped her arms around Huck.

He slowly settled down, and his semi-ragged breathing calmed. Chase gently rubbed his left arm and shoulder. Finally, Huck gently opened his eyes, his brown eyes locked with Chase's hazel eyes.

"Morning," he said in a weary voice.

"How was the shift?" Chase asked.

"It was a shift," Huck said.

"I was thinking…." Chase started to say.

"Why did you take a nap with me?" Huck asked.

"I'm not," Chase said.

"Then why are you in bed with me, nearly naked?" Huck asked.

"Umm!" Chase said.

Huck's face drooped. "How bad was it?" he asked.

"I saw you start, so not that bad," Chase said and looked at the surgical scar on his shoulder.

Huck nodded, "Thanks," he said.

"You're welcome," Chase said.

"There is a but coming," Huck said.

Chase sighed, "I think you need to set up an appointment with Doctor Wash," she said.

"The department head doctor? Chase, I'm fine," Huck said.

"Huck, I sleep next to you, and you wake me up when you have your…." Chase said.

Huck put a finger over her lips. "I'm sorry, I'll call Doctor Wash," he said.

Chase removed Huck's big hand from her mouth. "Please, don't do that," she said.

"Sorry, I wanted to let you know I agree," Huck said.

Chase nodded, "I just don't like it," she said.

"My finger, or my condition?" Huck asked.

"Finger, condition, both, well not always your finger," Chase said.

Huck nodded, "Okay," he said.

Chase pressed her forehead against Hucks. The husband and wife looked deeply into each other's eyes. Chase sighed, and Huck's lower lip quivered.

"Hey," Chase said.

Huck averted his eyes.

"Hey, you big lug," Chase said.

Huck looked at Chase. She locked eyes with him. "Yes," he said.

"I still love you," Chase said.

Huck nodded, "I love you," he said.

Chase gently kissed him on his lips. Huck returned it. Once they broke off, they kept eye contact.

"Your gears are turning," Chase said.

"They are?" Huck asked.

"Huck, I've been married to you for ten years; I should know," Chase said.

Huck nodded, "I am thinking about something," he said.

"What are you thinking about?" Chase asked.

"You started to say you were thinking something before I cut you off," Huck said.

"Which time?" Chase asked.

"There was more than once?" Huck asked.

"When you asked me why I took a nap with you and when you put my finger on my lips," Chase said.

"Oh," Huck said.

"So, which time?" Chase asked.

"The first," Huck said.

"What about it?" Chase asked.

"What were you saying before I cut you off?" Huck asked.

"Oh, I arranged to have a babysitter tonight," Chase said.

"Yeah?" Huck asked.

"Yeah," Chase said.

"So, that means?" Huck said.

Chase smiled, "We could do something tonight," she said.

Huck smiled and nodded.

Chase kissed Huck again, "Sleep a bit, you big lug," she said. Huck nodded and closed his eyes. Chase laid there watching him.