Joe’s parents arrived the next day. Just as Ellie was pulling up to pick Joe up from the hospital doors, his mom and dad walked up to her. Peter and Alexandria enveloped Ellie in a hard hug, Ellie hugging them back just as hard. They waited for Joe to make his appearance, his mom almost collapsing when she first seen Joe. Peter walked to Joe, bent down and gave him a hug. “We will follow you home.”

“Actually, I need to stop at the store for a couple of things. Do you mind if you wait with him while I run into the store?” Ellie asked, not wanting a repeat of the day before.

“Make me a list and we will stop and get what you need. We also need to check into our hotel while we are at it.” Alexandria said.

“Nonsense, you are staying with us. We have two extra rooms and one is already made up for guests.” Ellie told them, grateful when they accepted the invitation to stay with them.

Joe needed help with everything for the first few days and Ellie was so thankful that his parents were there to help her with him. She had taken an emergency leave from work but knew that they didn’t have the kind of money for her to stay home with him all the time. Alexandria and Peter knew that things were tight for Ellie and Joe. They offered to help them with the bills, at least groceries but Ellie wouldn’t let them.

Joe was sitting on the couch when Ellie came in from work a week later. He had papers laying around him, his dad was reading over a few of them. When Ellie walked over to the couch, Joe held his hand up to her for her to stop. “Dad, can you put these away for me? I don’t want my Ellie seeing what I am up to.” He said as he gave her a smile.

“What are you up to Mister? You should be resting, not doing whatever it is that you are doing.” Ellie told him as she waited until she was given the thumbs up to approach the couch. She sat next to Joe, laying her head on his chest, his arm resting on her shoulders. She had missed this. Joe had been very weak, bruises covering most of his body from his fall out of the truck. Ellie had been afraid to touch him, she didn’t want to cause him any more pain than he was already in.

“What’s my girl been up to? Did you miss me today while you were at work?” Joe asked as he rubbed her shoulders.

“Of course, I missed you, and just work. Ms. Jones asked about you today. She said to tell her boyfriend to hurry and get better. You still owe her a dance.” Ellie replied, giggling.

Joe smiled, Ms. Jones was about eighty, looked fifty and had taught him to dance when he was a kid. He had asked Ellie to their junior prom even though he didn’t know how to dance. He had asked Ms. Jones for lessons, she had taught him for free, as long as he saved her a dance. Joe had danced every dance with Ellie that night. He guessed he owed her a dance, while he could still stand.

Ellie stood, “I’m going to get a shower and start some dinner.”

Alexandria walked into the living room wiping her hands on the apron around her waist. “Dinner will be read when you finish your shower. I made meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, a side salad and for dessert, apple pie.”

Ellie’s mouth began to water just thinking about dinner. She rushed off as Peter walked back into the living room. He sat across from his son who was looking out the window. “Have you given any more thought to what your mom and I talked to you about earlier?”

“I am still weighing my options. I really appreciate everything you two are doing for me and Ellie. Did you hide those papers? I don’t want Ellie to know what I am doing. I have to make sure that she is taken care of once I am gone. I don’t want her to have to worry about medical bills, my final expenses, nothing. It is going to be hard enough on her. Promise me that you won’t leave her alone until she is ready.” Joe asked his dad, who had to wipe away the tears forming in his eyes. He knew his son loved Ellie more than his own life.

“Don’t worry about a thing. Your mother and I will take care of her. We won’t leave her side until she tells us to.” Peter said.

“Tomorrow, will you help me plan for our fifth wedding anniversary? I want it to be perfect. It is probably the last one we will have. Actually, I want to do a date with Ellie every week until I am gone. Can you help me plan them?” Joe asked, ideas already forming in his mind.

“You tell me what you want to do and where, I will make it happen, son.” Peter said as Ellie walked into the room. She glanced from Joe to her father-in-law, both having guilty looks on their faces, neither owning up to anything.

“What are you two planning?” she asked.

They both shot her a smile as Alexandria called for them to sit at the table, dinner was ready. As they ate, they talked about Florida and what Joe’s parents had been up to.

Joe waited until Ellie was asleep before he had his dad bring him the papers. He had been thinking since dinner about the plans he was making. He just hoped that he would be able to carry them out. Ellie deserved the world, and while he may not be able to give her that, he would give her more memories for her to look back on when he was gone.