I dozed off in a few minutes with Joy breathing softly in my ear.I awoke the next morning with Joy sound asleep next to me. I got up and after my ablu...ions, fixed us some breakfast of "grits" and leftover rabbit.About the time the food was finished, Joy came walking into the kitchen. "Fred, it is work to try to get you regenerating. I am not sure that I am finished. It might take a few more days."That's okay Joy, you aren't a noisy sleeper," I answered.She smiled.After two more nights of Joy. He would still call and say mean things to her to make her feel terrible for wanting to leave him. One night while I was talking on the phone with her, he kept calling; on the other line, and making terrible threats. He said if he had his way she would be dead. He was drunk yet again and Marlena shrugged it off."Val, you have nothing to worry about. This is just something Bud does, that further proves what an ass he is. It is his way of trying to control me even though we aren't married. Can I have a hug?”“Absolutely!” I said, standing up.She melted into my arms and I held her for several minutes. She gave me a quick kiss and stepped back.“Thanks. I’m going to call Red and tell him.”“Good for you, Peaches. I’ll miss you a lot.”“I’ll miss you too, Yankee.”I hugged her again, and this time, we exchanged a soft kiss. She smiled and left the room. I gave up on the book and went to find Jackie. She was sitting with Cindi, Julia, and Elyse, and I said I was going upstairs. The girls. They were both good swimmers, but she swam every day, year round, and she beat them easily."I win!" she cried, laughing as the two brothers finally reached the end and popped up on either side of her."You had a head start," Steve told her. "Let's try it again, with all of us starting even." Okay, Mister Smarty Pants," she said, climbing out of the pool and standing on the edge. "All of us start from here and race down and back."The two brothers quickly climbed out and stood on either side of.