Barb was shaking, but her daddy’s hand was at her back.

“Miss Melissa, I’m Jake Austin, Barb’s daddy. We are so sorry you were hurt, but thank the Lord Mr. Raines was there to save you. Sir, you have our sincere gratitude for that.”

“Yes, sir,” Sully said.

Barb sighed. “This must have been hard for you to come tonight, but the blessing you have given me is more than I could have ever expected. Thank you, Melissa. Thank you for this.”

“Of course, and we waited on purpose, hoping most of your visitors would be gone. We want you to know we will purposefully not be at the service tomorrow. Tomorrow is to honor Niles. Not call attention to how he died, which is what would happen once we showed up. I just wanted you to know that my memories of Niles will always be good ones.”

Then one by one, Barb’s family stepped up to shake her hand and to thank both of them for coming.

Melissa was on the verge of tears as she and Sully left, and as soon as they exited the funeral home, she started crying.

“Oh, honey,” Sully said, and took her in his arms.

“I didn’t expect it would hit me like this. I just want to go home.”

The moment they walked out the door, Barb’s family began talking about the guts it must have taken for Melissa Dean to come, and the genuine kindness she’d shown the whole family.

When the visitation was finally over, Barb was numb. She didn’t say a word all the way back to her house, or even argue when Belle and Wy took her up to bed. They were concerned. If the visitation had taken this much out of her, the funeral tomorrow could easily break her. She needed to rest, but all she could do was sit there and cry.

* * *

As soon as Sully and Melissa got home, they went upstairs to change. Melissa paused in the hallway and hugged Sully once again.

“That was hard. Thank you again for going with me.”

“We go together like bread and jam,” he said, then gave her hair a gentle tug. “How about a pajama party? Movies, popcorn?”

She sighed. “I think that sounds perfect.”

“Your bed or mine?” he asked.

“Mine. That way if I fall asleep in the middle of the movie, which I have been known to do, I’ll already be in bed, and you can turn out the lights when you leave.”

He grinned. “You have a practical side, too. I don’t remember that.”

She poked him on the arm. “As soon as I get in my pj’s, I’ll make popcorn.”

“And I’ll get the drinks. What floats your boat tonight? Coke or Mountain Dew?”

“Coke,” Melissa said. They parted in the hall to go change, then came out into the hall almost at the same time.

Sully admired her pink pajamas with little white sheep on them. And she wore socks, not house shoes. Something new to note about her.