Luke and Aimee Jo spent the next few days just staying put, watching TV, swimming, barbecuing, and of course, making love every chance they got. Still, neither of them expressed their feelings toward the other. Both were waiting for the other to say it first. One afternoon, Luke’s phone was going off and he left the grilling to Hud as he ran to grab it.
“Probably your driver, calling to say he’s lost,” Luke joked.
“My drivers never get lost,” Hud yelled back.
Luke quickly recognized the number being his baby sister Jeanine’s. “Hey, brat, what’s up?” He smiled over at Aimee Jo.
Aimee Jo and Hud watched as the smile fell from Luke’s face.
“How’s Mom?” They heard him ask.
“Okay, I will get there as soon as possible,” Luke said before hanging up.
“What’s going on?” Hud asked before Aimee Jo could.
“My Dad—he had a heart attack. I have to go,” Luke said, looking over at Aimee Jo.
“Shit, of course, you do. Let me call Mary and get her to book you a flight. You want to fly into Dothan?” Hud asked as he grabbed his phone and started calling.
“Yeah, that works. He is in one of the hospitals there,” Luke said numbly.
Hud stepped inside to make the arrangements as Luke went up to Aimee Jo, taking her hand. “Damn, I really wanted to be there for the audition. I’m sorry,” he said.
“Don’t be. It’s your dad. You have to go,” she said before she hugged him.
“I’ll have Hud get you there, and if they don’t give you a place to stay, you call him and he will take care of you.” He held her tightly, wishing he had the courage to say what he really wanted to say.
“Luke it’s okay, I’ll be fine,” she said.
Hud walked back outside. “Mary got you a last-minute flight. It leaves in a few hours. You have to hustle.”
“My rig?” Luke asked as he left her embrace.
“It will be fine here until you can come back.”
“Thanks, man.” Luke said, walking toward the door. He looked over at Aimee Jo once again, before he stepped into the house to grab his things.
The ride to the airport was quiet as the three of them rode in Hud’s truck. They both joined Luke inside as he went to the counter. After checking in, he didn’t have much time left before he had to walk through security and board his plane.
Hud went first and grabbed him up and hugged him. “Your old man is a tough ole bastard. He will be okay. Say hi to your mom and Jeanine.” Hud stepped away to give them some privacy, hoping one of them would speak the hell up and quit this bullshit game. But both of them were stubborn and it was probably why they liked each other so much.
“I’ll pray for your Dad,” Aimee Jo said as she held his hand.
“Thanks. You knock em dead at that audition, okay?”
“I will.” She smiled. “Thank you for everything, Luke.” She hugged him as the tears started to fall.
“Just remember, I get credit on your first album,” he said, making her laugh. “I left you something back at Hud’s. It’s on the bed,” he said as he squeezed her hand.
“Luke, you have already done so much,” she protested.
“You just go out there and get that contract.” He quickly kissed her one last time before releasing her and stepping through security. He didn’t look back at her—he couldn’t. He didn’t want her seeing his heart break.
Hud drove Aimee Jo back to his home. She silently cried the entire way. She made her way to the bedroom that only hours ago, she and Luke had shared. There, on top of the bed, was his guitar. His beautiful guitar. She sat down and picked up the note that he’d left.
I could never play it as good as you.
Love, Luke.
She lay down beside it and cried.
The next morning, Aimee Jo made breakfast for her and Hud. Neither of them had heard from Luke, but Hud checked with Jeanine and she said he’d made it there okay.
Aimee Jo set the plate of eggs, bacon, and grits in front of Hud before sitting down next to him.
“You know, if you keep doing this, I might have to marry you,” he teased before taking a bite.
Aimee Jo smiled but she wasn’t in the mood for kidding around. She had been hoping Luke would call her, but he hadn’t.
She jumped when she heard her phone ring and ran over to the other counter to grab it. Aimee Jo looked at her phone, expecting and hoping it was Luke. Had he changed his mind? Would he ask her to join him? She was disappointed when she looked at the screen and saw that it wasn’t him, but instead it was Trooper Stephens from Mobile. What could he possibly want, she wondered.
“Hello?” she said.
“Hello, Ms. Elliot. This is Trooper Stephens from Mobile. How are you this morning?”
“I’m fine, sir. Is something wrong?” she asked as Hud looked at her as he ate his breakfast.
“Well, no. Actually, there is something right, at least for you,” he said cheerfully.
“I don’t understand.”
“The money. I found your money.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“I’m serious. It was in that box of …” he paused, a little embarrassed to mention ladies’ unmentionables. “Well, it was right where you said you hid it … in that box.”
“Oh, my God, how on earth did you find it?” she asked as Hud looked at her strangely.
“Well, I patrol that area a lot, and well, I saw a few things near the highway and decided to check it out. Lo and behold, there it was, with the money still in there. I found a few other things too, some clothes, makeup bag, and stuff.”
“I don’t believe it,” she said as this was the first good news she’d had in a few days.
“I just need to know where to send it. Are you still here in Mobile? I would rather you pick it up in person, if possible.”
“No, I’m not, but I will make arrangements to come get it. I just need a day.” She looked over at Hud, hoping he would be willing to help her out.
“That’s fine. When you get here, just call me. I can meet you at the truck stop or you can come by our station.”
“Thank you so much, Trooper Stephens. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Just doing my job, ma’am. I wish we could have found your car before they damaged it or at least caught them.”
Aimee Jo thought to tell him she already knew who the thief was, but she didn’t want any further drama with Matt. She won. She had her money and he’d gotten what he deserved—jail time. “It’s okay. I really appreciate it. I will see you tomorrow,” she said before hanging up.
“See you then,” he said.
“What’s going on?” Hud asked.
“Hud, the best news—they found my money.”
“That’s great. So, now what?”
“I need a ride to the airport. There’s someone in Alabama I need to talk to.” She smiled, knowing Hud would know exactly what she meant.