Chapter 18

As soon as they got home, Ava dropped her bag in her room and came running.

"Bubba, Linnie's not home. Can I go swing?"

"Yes, you can. Be careful, though. You're my best little sister, and I don't want you hurt."

"I'll be careful!" she said, and flew out the back door with her curls bouncing.

He watched from the doorway, thinking about how she'd changed, and did not have one regret about the decision he'd made to fight for her. He was still watching her play when he heard the front door open, and Linette called out, "I'm home!"

"In the kitchen," Wiley said, and then her footsteps were behind him, coming closer, and then her arms were around his waist, and her cheek against his back, hugging him.

"I'm glad you're back," she said.

He turned in her arms and pulled her closer. "And I'm glad to be here. No cooking tonight, love. We're going out. We have much to celebrate."

She slid her hands across the front of his chest and looked up at him. Those black eyes. Hair always in need of a cut. Shoulders six ways wide to Sunday. And that stubborn jut of his jaw. Too good-looking for his own good, and he didn't care about any of it. All that mattered to Linette was that he loved her. "Ava's secure in this family now. That is something to celebrate."

"There's one more thing. I know you don't wear rings at work for obvious reasons, but I'm putting one on your finger now, because when you wear it, I want the world to know you're taken."

Linette gasped at the sight of the ring he pulled out of his pocket.

"Wiley! Oh my God! It's magnificent!"

"So are you," he said. "I proposed before you barely knew me. I have been calling you my fiancée ever since. You already know I cannot live life without you. This just makes it official," he said, and slid the ring on her finger.

"It fits! Oh, Wiley! I love you…so much," she cried, and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

At that moment, they heard the back door open. They turned. Ava was standing in the door, watching.

Linette immediately held out her hand. "Look Ava. Bubba and I are engaged!"

Ava was still staring. "Is that the same as ‘almost a wife'?"

"Yes, it is," Linette said.

Her eyes welled. Her chin quivered. "Will I still be Bubba's girl, too?"

Wiley crossed the room in three long strides and swooped her up. "You're ours forever, and I have the papers to prove it. Today, a judge told me I am forever and ever your legal guardian. Linnie and I are always going to be your family. No more worries, okay?"

Ava's eyes widened. "What did those papers say about Corina?"

"Nothing," Wiley said. "Because she doesn't count. She can't bother you. She can't come get you. She can't ever, ever hurt you again."

"Not ever?" Ava whispered.

"Nope. Not ever," Wiley said.

Ava hid her face in the curve of Wiley's neck and started to cry. He panicked.

"Ava, honey, are you sad?"

She shook her head, but wouldn't look up.

Linette walked up beside them and wrapped her arms around both of them. "I think these are tears of relief."

"Will she still be in my dreams?" Ava whispered.

Wiley frowned. "I didn't know she was. Was she scary in the dreams?"

Ava nodded.

Wiley hugged her close. "Dreams aren't real, baby girl. They're just stories in your sleep. Like movies we watch. And when the movie is over, then so is the story. When you wake up, you always know the dream wasn't real, right?"

She didn't answer, but she was listening, and then Linette leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"Next time you have a scary dream that wakes you up, you don't have to be scared alone. You come tell Wiley and me, and we'll hug it away. Okay?"

"Absolutely," Wiley said. "Now, let's go wash your face and pick out something to wear so we can go eat. I'm starved. Are you starved?"

Ava nodded. "I'm starved."

"And I need to change out of my scrubs before we can leave. I'll hurry," Linette said, gave Ava a quick kiss on the cheek, and then one to Wiley. "I want to look pretty for my two favorite people," she said, and hurried out of the room.

"I want to look pretty, too," Ava said.

Wiley nodded. "Then let's go pick out one of your new dresses to wear."

"Yes! I want to wear the one with blue and yellow flowers," she said.

"I knew you'd pick that one," Wiley said as they headed up the hall and into her room.

"How did you know that?" she asked.

"Because your eyes are blue, and your hair is blond. You'll look fabulous in that dress," he said as he took it out of the closet.

"And can I wear my B.J. necklace?" she asked.

"Absolutely." Wiley said as he was pulling her T-shirt over her head.

Ava wiggled out of her shorts, then held up her arms as he slipped the little dress down over her head. "And lipstick? Can I wear lipstick?"

He gave her a look. "We'll do lip gloss."

"Yes, that," Ava said.

Wiley sighed. The girlie girl is strong within her. She is going to be a heartbreaker one day, but not today, Lord. Today, she's just my little sister.

***

Linette kept looking at her ring as she showered and dressed. She was officially Wiley Pope's almost wife, and that diamond he'd put on her finger proclaimed it. But she had questions, like how he had afforded chartering a helicopter for a one-day trip, and now the square-cut diamond on her ring. It was stunning. Something was going on with him, with all of them, but she wasn't sure what. What she did know was that she trusted him with her life, and the rest would be revealed.

She was checking her makeup in the mirror when Wiley walked in. She noticed he'd changed clothes, then he kissed the back of her neck, and she forgot what she was doing.

"You're gorgeous, darlin'."

The husky whisper in her ear made her shiver. "I don't know about all that, but you make me feel pretty, and that's all any girl needs. I'm ready. I just need to get my purse."

"Ava just told me the same thing. I am so outnumbered in this house," he said.

"You should never worry about that. Something tells me when we have babies, they're all going to be mini versions of you."

Wiley's eyes narrowed. The idea of making babies with her was an enticing vision of the years stretching out before them, but he was curious. "Why would you think that?"

She shrugged. "Just a hunch."

He rubbed his thumb across her ring finger, then kissed the back of her hand. "Love you, Linnie."

"Love you more," she said.

Then Ava bounced into the doorway. "I'm ready!"

Linette turned. "Oh, honey, how pretty you look, and I'm ready, too. I don't know where Bubba's taking us, but it sounds like a celebration."

"We're going fancy. Eating in the high-end restaurant at the Serenity Inn, where B.J. works. He knows we're coming, so let's get this show on the road," he said.

***

As they were walking through the lobby of the Serenity Inn, Linette pointed to the rock wall and the fountain beneath.

"Wiley, let's get someone to take our picture in front of the fountain! I want to send it to Mom and Dad."

Ava's heart skipped. More people to let into her world? It was getting crowded. But she said nothing as Wiley turned to look for someone to take their picture, just when Ray Caldwell, the hotel owner, approached.

"Wiley…Linette…good to see you outside of work." Then he looked down at the little blond between them. "This must be Ava. Brendan told me about her coming to live with you."

The moment Ava heard her name, she took a slight step closer to Bubba's leg.

"Welcome to the Serenity Inn!" Ray said. "Your brother Brendan told me you were coming. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Would you mind taking a picture of us?" Wiley asked. "We're celebrating tonight, and we'd like to mark the occasion."

"I'd be honored," Ray said, and took Wiley's phone, then waited while they moved to the fountain. "Tell me when you're ready."

They stood Ava on the rock bench surrounding the fountain, and then moved into place beside her, holding hands behind Ava's back.

"Hold that pose!" Ray said, and took several shots before stopping. "Picture perfect," he said, as he handed back the phone.

"Thanks, Ray. Much appreciated," Wiley said.

"Always. Enjoy your evening," Ray said.

Wiley immediately pulled up the pictures and thought, My first family photos.

"Send those to me," Linette said. "I'm going to pick one and send it to Mom and Dad."

"Will do," Wiley said, and quickly sent the photos to her phone, then showed them to Ava. "See how pretty you look! Which one do you like best?" he asked.

She leaned her head against him. "I like all of them. We look like a family."

"Because we are a family," Wiley said. "Now let's go find that elevator. I don't want to walk up all those steps to get to the top floor."

"Miss Mattie's apartment had an elevator. Her knees didn't like steps," Ava said.

Linette nodded. "I'm not a huge fan of steps, either. I run up and down them all day at work, and I like to ride up once in a while. Come on. You can press the Up button for us."

Ava beamed. "I can do that."

A couple of minutes later, they exited the elevator onto the floor of the restaurant and headed toward the hostess desk.

"Wiley Pope. Reservation for three," he said.

"Yes, sir! Right this way," the hostess said, and picked up their menus before leading them into the dining area.

Heads turned at the elegance of the tall dark-haired man in black and white, the little blond walking beside him, and the beautiful dark-haired woman in blue on his arm.

Men noticed the ring on the woman's finger.

Women noticed the man.

But it was the tiny child with them that stole the show. Big-eyed and quiet, with a look of wonder on her face as she took in her surroundings.

The hostess paused at the wall of windows at a table set for three, with a booster seat already in place. As soon as they were seated, she put the menus at their place, then paused.

"Mr. Pope. I was at the bank that day. Thank you for saving our lives, and Miss Elgin, thank you for everything you did for us afterward." Then she glanced down at Ava and winked, before walking away.

Wiley glanced at Ava, and then Linette. "We've come a long way in a short time since that day, haven't we, darlin'?"

"The hardest journeys are the ones most worth it," Linette said. "Thank you for bringing us here. The food is amazing, and just look at the view!"

"Spectacular," he said, but he was looking at his girls.

Then they began discussing food and giving Ava suggestions of choices they knew she might like, but Ava was overwhelmed by the decor and the chandeliers and shining lights and crystal. She leaned toward him, whispering, "Bubba, is this a palace?"

"No, just a really fancy restaurant, but if it was, you would be the perfect princess," he whispered back.

"And you would be the king and Linnie would be the queen and we'd live happy ever after, wouldn't we?" she asked.

Linette brushed a stray curl away from the corner of Ava's eyes. "We're already living ‘happy ever after.' Oh look, I see someone we know coming to say hello!"

Ava turned to look, then started smiling. "It's B.J.!"

B.J. was already well-known as the head pastry chef, and the rare times he emerged from the kitchens to come greet a guest were noted as special occasions. Wiley had called him about the reservation, but said nothing about what they were celebrating. B.J. was happy to get a chance to see Ava again, and when she smiled and waved, he waved back and hastened his step.

"Hi, little sister," he said, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"B.J., I'm wearing my necklace," she said.

"I see. I'm happy that you like it. You and Linette look beautiful. I don't know how Wiley got so lucky. So, Brother…what are we celebrating?"

"I have legal custody of Ava and an official fiancée."

Linette held up her hand and wiggled her fingers.

B.J. smiled and clapped Wiley on the back. "Congrats, Brother, and an official ‘Welcome to the family,' Linnie."

Linette beamed. "Thank you, B.J."

"Have you ordered yet?" he asked.

"We're about to," Wiley said.

"Well, whatever you order, save room for dessert. I made something special for your table," B.J. said.

"What is it?" Ava cried.

B.J. winked. "It's a surprise. The waiter will tell me when you've finished your entrées. I'll come back with it then. Enjoy!" he said, and left the dining room.

The elegance of the place kept Ava subdued. Even her normal chatter had gone back to a whisper. She was awed by her surroundings and the notion of being a princess. But when food arrived at the table, she plowed through it like a starving pup, giving Wiley pause to caution her twice.

"Slow down a little, Ava. Chew before you swallow. You're gonna choke yourself," Wiley said.

"I'm a-hurryin' to get to the surprise!" she said.

Linette eyed Wiley and grinned. "Never tell a woman there's a surprise waiting, and then make her wait to get it."

He sighed. "Right. I know that now."

Then finally the moment arrived. A waiter emerged, pushing a cart with a small, but elegant two-tiered cake covered in an elaborate Swiss meringue, with tiny blue sugar flowers and a single little sparkler sticking up from the top tier. B.J. was walking behind him.

As soon as the cake was placed on the table, B.J. lit the sparkler. People at nearby tables began to applaud the cake and the display, but B.J.'s focus was all on his family, and Ava was beaming with delight.

Wiley looked up. "This is perfect, Brother. Thank you."

"Completely my pleasure," B.J. said, and personally served cake to each of them. "The waiter will box up what's left for you to take home. Love you guys." And then he was gone.

"My cake is good," Ava said. "It tastes like Miss Mattie's lemon drops."

"Thank God, for Miss Mattie," Wiley said, and took a bite.

Linette sighed. "It's delicious! I love anything citrus!"

"My Sunshine State girl! I thought you might," Wiley said.

They went home with their cake in a box and a night full of memories.

Linette sent her parents a picture of her, Wiley, and Ava taken at the fountain, then helped get Ava into bed. Once she was asleep, Wiley and Linette shut their door on the world and had a celebration of their own.

***

Angela Elgin was curled up on the sofa watching a movie. Her husband, Chuck, was snoring loudly in his recliner, with the remote held loosely in his hand, when her cell phone dinged a text.

She glanced down, saw it was from Linette, and quickly opened it, then gasped when she saw the photo.

"Oh my God!"

Chuck roused. "What's wrong?"

"Linnie just sent us a picture of her new family to be. They are officially engaged, but would you look at the size of that diamond in her ring?"

Chuck got out of the recliner and moved to the sofa beside her. "Show me," he said, and then peered closer as Angela enlarged the area on Linette's hand. "That guy is really tall. Do you reckon that gem is real?" Chuck asked.

"I'd say yes, and he's seriously good-looking," Angela added.

"Is that the little sister?" Chuck asked.

"Yes, and isn't she just the cutest thing? Linnie looks so happy," she added. "I can't wait to meet them."

Chuck sighed. "Well, she's obviously not coming back to Florida. I wonder where she'd be now if we hadn't taken her to Jubilee for her birthday."

Angela frowned. "Oh, for pity's sake, Chuck. Some things are just meant to be. I'm happy for her. Now get over yourself and go make reservations at one of the hotels. We need to go meet our future son-in-law."

***

Corina's job on the cruise ship was presenting problems she hadn't planned for. She was to board the cruise ship in New Orleans, which was a nearly eight-hour drive from Conway, Arkansas. But if she drove herself there, then she had no place to park her car for the six-month contract she'd signed. So, she either sold her car and then came back to no apartment and no means of transportation, or she stored it and paid a six-month storage bill in advance.

In a knee-jerk decision, she decided to sell the car after she got there and bank the money. So, she arrived a day early, spent half a day selling her car, then went to the hotel and waited for tomorrow to happen.

She'd been given instructions about minimal packing, the option to bring her own bed linens, rules about her work and her behavior, and the need for a passport, but she hadn't read the fine print. All she knew was she was escaping from her past. She was excited about the adventure and elated beyond words that her parental responsibilities had come to an end.

That night after she went to bed, it was hard to sleep. New Orleans was a city that came to life after the sun went down, and she wanted to party. But she didn't want to show up for her new job with a hangover, so she went to bed.

She was awake before daybreak the next morning, got dressed in a hurry, and grabbed a breakfast sandwich before checking out. Then she took an Uber down to the Julia Street Cruise terminal. The driver let her out, unloaded her luggage, and drove away. Now all Corina had to do was board, and according to her instructions, there would be people waiting at the top of the first deck, directing her as to where to go.

The sun was shining, and the wind off the gulf was brisk. She felt cute and carefree as she moved with a growing crowd of people, also in the act of boarding. But when she reached the top and presented her passport and the letter stating she was staff, she was cut out of the crowd like a steer headed for market and followed a different group being led into the bowels of the ship, out of the sunlight, and down long narrow hallways with artificial lighting and not a porthole to be seen.

It wasn't quite what she'd expected, but she was busy listening to the guide calling out names and cabin numbers as they moved down the hallways of the sleeping quarters, dropping workers off as they went. Then she called out another name.

"Corina Dalton."

"I'm here," Corina said.

"This will be your cabin. Take note of the number because everything looks alike. Your bunkmate has already checked in. Staff meeting in the staff mess hall after we sail. You have a map in your paperwork to direct you there. No wandering about the ship. You are not here to sightsee. You are here to work."

Corina's mouth opened, but no words came out. Bunkmate? Belowdecks?

She opened the door and walked into a small austere room with no portholes, a set of bunk beds, a sofa, a little desk, and an empty mini fridge, and the aforementioned bunkmate stretched out in the bottom bunk.

She was a thirtysomething redhead with a face full of freckles and shy on height, which explained why she'd chosen the bottom bunk. She rolled out to greet Corina.

"Hi, I'm Patsy. I snore. That's our closet. We share. The head is through that door. It's tiny, so it's a good thing you're not fat. What's your name?"

Corina blinked. "Corina Dalton. I didn't know we'd share a room."

Patsy laughed. "You didn't read the fine print. This is my fourth trip out. Unpack before the ship weighs anchor. The thrusters make a hell of a noise when we depart, but then they level off. You get used to the noise."

Corina was on the verge of pissed. "Noise? They didn't mention noise."

Patsy sighed. She had a feeling this was going to be a long six months, and she was right. By the end of the first day, although they were working side by side, they hadn't spoken six words to each other.

Corina was angry and sullen and slept with the pillow over her head, trying to drown out the sound of engines. They had fourteen-hour shifts, their own mess hall, and their own store to buy toiletries and cleaning products for their own cabins. By the end of the week, her hands were cracked and bleeding. A trip to the ship's doctor confirmed her allergy to the industrial-strength cleaning solutions, and she was sent to laundry instead.

After that, the only time she saw Patsy was in their cabin at night. Corina wasn't mad at Patsy. She was mad at herself, but everyone who came within range of her was sucked into her misery by her attitude alone. Finally, her boss called her into the office and read her the riot act about her behavior, what was acceptable and what was not.

Corina stood there, listening.

"Do we understand each other now?" her boss asked.

"I heard you. If we were anywhere but at sea, I would have already quit."

"You signed a contract!" he said.

"Yes, I did, to work on a ship. Not scrub shit off floors or try to sleep with that god-awful thumping noise! I wake up tired and mad because I can't get a decent night's sleep. So, what's next? Throw me overboard? Make me walk the plank?"

He stared her down. "What's next is you're fired. You can either continue to do your work until we dock again in New Orleans, at which time you will be escorted off the ship with your pay docked for reneging on the contract you signed, or you can quit now and you will be confined to your cabin."

Corina frowned. "Like jail?"

"Basically, it's you not getting to roam around while waiting for a free ride home," he said.

The stark reality of the choices was, once again, a reminder of her life. Every fucking choice she'd made had resulted in worsening her situation. She thought getting rid of Ava would end her troubles, but they'd just become worse, and so had her attitude. She leaned forward in the chair, staring at her boss with all the hate in her heart.

"Then laundry it is. Not too much starch in your shorts, right?" she said, and walked out.

***

Detective Gardner was smiling as he hung up the phone, then looked around the room at the collection of detectives who'd helped them solve this case.

"Heads up!" he said.

They all stopped what they were doing and looked up.

"Good news! Carl Henley and his son have both been indicted on multiple charges, and the evidence against them is insurmountable. Junior is testifying against his father for a lighter sentence. Lonny Pryor has agreed to plead out. Doesn't want a trial. And the associates we pulled in who were connected to Henley are facing charges ranging from the distribution of drugs, to fencing stolen property, to prostitution, and more."

The collective let out a whoop, then began to clap.

Gardner leaned back in his chair, smiling. They'd done it! They'd finally taken down a major player who'd blithely thumbed his nose in their faces for years. So much for being untouchable.

***

On the day that Johnny Knight ditched his last walking cast and cane, he and Carey went to the courthouse to get a marriage license. After all they'd endured, all they wanted was to belong to each other. They didn't belong to any church. They didn't have family left to invite. They chose to get married by a justice of the peace, with Tom Wheaton as their witness.

Probate was nearing closure.

Neither of them wanted to live in the house where Billy was murdered, so they'd decided to sell the property when Carey was able to claim full ownership and then buy their own house somewhere else in the city. Something small and cozy. Something they could call their own.

She still had nightmares of running through the woods in the rainstorm, and Johnny's dreams were all about falling, but they had each other to wake up to, and thanks to a brother who'd loved her to the end, they had enough.

***

Linette's parents arrived at the end of the first week of August. Ava was already amped up about her new school, and now she was faced with meeting more new adults when she just wanted someone to play with.

But they had not come unannounced. Wiley and Linette knew they were coming and had them over to the house for supper on the evening of their arrival.

Ava was playing in her room when the doorbell rang, but she knew it meant company was here, and she left the room running. Bubba was her rock, and she was in uncertain waters again.

All of a sudden, Ava had wrapped herself around Wiley's leg, and Linette was looking nervous. He burst out laughing. "You two are something else. Linnie. It's your parents, for God's sake. Let them in."

Linette sighed and headed for the door, while Wiley peeled Ava off his leg and picked her up. "Is that better?" he whispered.

Ava nodded.

"Mom! Dad! Come in! Come in!" Linette said.

Chuck and Angela Elgin entered smiling, greeting their daughter with hugs and kisses, then eyed the big man and the tiny girl at the end of the hall. Before Linette could introduce them, Wiley approached.

"Welcome! I'm Wiley, and this is my little sister, Ava. It's great to finally put faces to the names. You raised a most exceptional woman, and she talks about you often."

Angela was smitten.

Chuck was overwhelmed by Wiley Pope's size. He wasn't just tall. He was built like a linebacker with a pretty face.

"We're happy to be here," Angela said, and immediately dug a small package from her purse. "Ava, I'm Linnie's mother, so when she and Wiley get married, that will make you my granddaughter. I've been waiting a long time for my first grandchild, and now here you are! I brought you a little gift."

Ava took the little package, then looked at Wiley. "I can have two grammies?"

"Yes, you can. Might want to call this one Grandma, or Nana, so we'll know which one you're talking about."

"Nana would be perfect!" Angela said. "And this is Linnie's daddy. You can call him Papa if you like."

Ava gasped. Her eyes welled. "Bubba…I will have a Papa, too?"

Wiley sighed. "Wanting to call me Daddy was her deepest wish, and we couldn't make that happen. But having a man in her life who she can call Papa is going to ice this cake. Welcome to the family, Chuck."

Chuck Elgin had been hesitant about the man, but Ava sealed the deal.

"I'd love to be called Papa," he said.

Linette sighed with relief. She'd known her dad was going to pull the "Daddy's-girl routine, and Ava had just saved her from that.

"Ava, honey, let's go to the living room and sit down so you can open your gift, okay?"

Ava led the way, chattering, but the moment she sat down, she noticed the shades were up and the curtains still open.

"Bubba, the curtains," she whispered.

"Ah…right!" Wiley said, He began lowering shades and pulling curtains shut, then went through the house doing the same to all the windows, while Ava began tearing into her present.

"What's happening?" Angela whispered.

"It has to do with where Ava lived before. She doesn't feel safe until all the windows are covered. Drive-by shootings and gang-related neighborhood, I think."

Chuck frowned. "Bless her heart."

"And bless Wiley's, too," Linette said. "He's the one who rescued her from it."

And then Ava squealed just as Wiley came back into the room. "Bubba! Jewelry! Now I have two necklaces! Thank you, Nana. Thank you, Papa." She jumped up and ran to Linette. "Linnie, look! It has a pink jewel! Can I wear it for a while?"

"Absolutely," Linette said. She put it around Ava's neck and fastened the clasp.

The moment she did, Ava shot out of the room.

"Where's she going?" Angela asked.

"To look at herself in the mirror," Wiley said. "I keep telling her she's pretty, but she has a hard time seeing that in herself."

"Why?" Angela asked.

"Because the woman who gave birth to her told her daily that she was a mistake. Because she was ignored and abused for the entirety of her seven years, and it breaks my heart. We didn't know she existed until just a couple of months ago," he said.

Linette walked up behind Wiley and put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm going to tell you now," she said to her parents. "Ava and Wiley may not look alike, and the age difference is obvious, but they are two peas in a pod when it comes to honesty. They didn't come with filters. We laugh daily at Ava's view of the world."

"And other times say to ourselves it's a damn good thing Corina Dalton lives a long way away," he muttered. "Oh. FYI…if she mentions Miss Mattie tonight, just know that's the old neighbor who used to look after her for days on end when Corina would disappear."

"My God," Chuck muttered. "Where's Miss Mattie now?"

"Ava just says, ‘Miss Mattie dropped dead.' We don't really know what prompted it, but from Ava's standpoint, Miss Mattie was good. Corina was mean."

"Ava also says Corina was an ass, which I am certain came straight out of her brother's mouth first, but one cannot deny a truth," Linette said.

Chuck burst out laughing. His estimation of Wiley Pope was rising.

"Supper is ready. Wiley, will you please tell Ava it's time to eat?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said, and was out of the room in three long strides.

"Lord, but he's big," Chuck said.

"All the Popes are big, Daddy. He's one of four, and the youngest brother is taller than all of them. There is also a whole mountain of giants just like them. If they are related to the Popes, they grow tall. Come to the kitchen. I made your favorite entrée and Mom's favorite dessert."

"Meat loaf and mashed potatoes?" Chuck asked.

"Poppyseed cake with pineapple filling and cream cheese frosting?" Angela asked.

Linette smiled. "Yes, to both of you. Follow me."