Page 96 of Refuge for Flora

Flora clung to him and cried. “I didn’t think you were coming. I was so scared.”

He kissed the crown of her head as he heard his fellow searchers moving toward him. “I’ve been looking for you. I wasn’t going to just let you go. I’ll never let you go, precious. You’re my girl, and I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, but I’m here now.” Someone tapped him on the shoulder and handed him a bottle of water. “Here. You need to drink, but drink slowly. Don’t get sick.” He barely got the cap off when she grasped it and chugged it. “Slow down, babe.”

She wiped her mouth with the back of a filthy hand and panted from the effort. “There was this man, and he came to the house and beat on the door, and?”

“We know, babe. We found Mrs.Murphy, and I found your phone.”

Flora began to sob. “Mrs.Murphy was always so kind to me, and now she’s dead because of me.”

Barrett chuckled. “Babe, she’s not dead. That old bag is too ornery to die. She’s in the hospital, and they think she’s going to be fine.”

Two bright green eyes peered into his. “She’s okay?”

“Yeah! She’s fine. And she’s very worried about you. She did her best to protect you. If she hadn’t been able to tell us what happened, we would’ve assumed Darryl got you and you were… Let’s not talk about that now. Let’s just get you out of here, okay?” Before he hoisted her up into his arms, he texted the entire group.

I’ve got her.

* * *

“So I wantyou to use this to shower for a few days and put this lotion on. Luckily, these are all superficial. I want you to see your regular doctor in ten days, but these are going to heal up very quickly and you’ll be fine. Questions?”

Flora smiled at the doctor there in the emergency department. He’d been extremely kind to her. “No. I can’t think of anything. I’ll get rehydrated and take care of all these cuts. Thank you so much.” Her head turned and she looked straight into Barrett’s eyes. “I just want to go home.”

“Want to go up and see Mrs.Murphy before we go?” She nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”

The door to the room was only open a crack, and a voice drifted into the hallway. “You have to eat this, Mama. You haven’t?”

“This ain’t food. It’s slop. I need a cheeseburger, Misty. One simple cheeseburger.” Flora knocked lightly. “Come on in, and I hope you got food.”

She grinned. “I don’t.”

“Flora! Oh my jaysus, I thought you was dead! Hallelujah!”

“I thought you were dead too. Thank you for trying to protect me.”

“I done my best. Got off a good shot at that asshole. What happened to him?”

Flora turned toward Barrett. She had no idea what had become of the man. “You remember what happened to Velma?” Flora nodded. “Well, that’s what he did to that guy. Ajax.” Flora shuddered.

“Aww, hell, I remember Flora tellin’ me ‘bout that. Damn. That’s awful, even for him.”

The woman Flora had forgotten was there chirped, “What? What happened?”

Flora shook her head as she took in the woman, her expensive clothes and perfect hair. “Nothing. Trust me, you don’t want to know. I guess you’re Misty?”

“Yes! Good to finally meet you.”

“You’re not mad at me for what happened to your mama?”

Misty laughed. “Lord, no! You kept her alive until she could get her pacemaker and, god help her, I always figured she’d fall and kill herself. This would definitely have been a far more interesting, exciting way to go, and that would suit her perfectly.”

“Yeah, she knows how I am. Life is too fuckin’ borin’ most-a the time. I need some ‘citement!” Mrs.Murphy barked as they all laughed.

Barrett rolled his eyes and shook his head as he laughed. “I think this was a little too much excitement!”

“Maybe. It weren’t fun at the time, but sure makes a damn good story, don’tcha think?” the old woman asked him and winked.

“You’re gonna corrupt my girl here. I need to get her home anyway. Mrs.Murphy, I’m glad you’re doing okay. Misty, if you need anything…”

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