by Tara Randel
“You do have a bunch of logistics to figure out.”
Mrs. M. patted Serena’s arm. “Not to worry. I’ve spoken to Jasmine on the phone. We don’t want this to turn into too much pressure.”
Serena blinked. “You’ve spoken to my stepmother? I don’t know whether to be thrilled or terrified.”
“Terrified,” Heidi blurted.
“Jasmine is a force of nature. She reminds me of someone,” Mrs. M. said with an approving smile.
Mrs. M. and Jasmine were cut from the same cloth. They both knew how to get things done by gently pushing the people they cared about. The unsuspecting person never knew they were being pushed until it was too late. Heidi silently chuckled before a thought hit her. Was Mrs. M. pulling strings? Casting a sideways glance at the woman, she couldn’t be sure. Mrs. M. was a sly one, to say the least.
“And speaking of the wedding,” Mrs. M. said, turning her sights on Heidi. “Will you be bringing a date or should we start looking for a nice eligible bachelor for you?”
Oh, no. She recognized that tone. Just a bit too casual for Heidi’s liking. What if Mrs. M. tried to fix her up?
Her stomach dropped. What did she say? Should she tell Mrs. M. that she and Reid had started a relationship? Well, hadn’t really started, more like talked about it. She didn’t want to be too premature and complicate things.
Mrs. M. waved her hand. “We have plenty of time. Between you and Reid, I’ll find the perfect dates for both of you.” She turned to Serena. “Now, about the date for the ceremony?”
“Logan is checking a few things and then we’ll announce it.”
A disgruntled expression darkened Mrs. M.’s face. “This year, I hope.”
Serena chuckled. “Definitely this year.”
“Very good. I was hoping—” A ringing came from the direction of Mrs. M.’s purse. She paused midsentence and pulled out her phone to read the screen. “It’s Bonnie. I must take the call.”
Heidi leaned over to Serena and whispered, “I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes. You’ve got a lot on your plate.”
“Tell me about it. Between the store and vetting wedding options, I’m running out of hours in the day.”
“You could ask for help. I’m—”
Mrs. M.’s gasp stopped her thought. Heidi looked over to see the woman’s face turn pale as she reached out a hand to steady herself against the display table.
“I’ll be right there.”
“Mrs. M., what’s wrong?” Heidi asked, concerned by her agitated state.
“It’s my son, Arthur. He went to a doctor’s appointment this morning and complained of chest pain. Apparently, it got worse as the visit went on so they’re taking him now to the hospital for tests.”
Serena ran over to put her arm around Mrs. M.
“What can we do?” Heidi asked as she joined the women.
“I should meet them there.” Mrs. M. started hunting for her keys with shaky hands. When she found the ring, Serena took them away.
“I’ll drive us there. And I’ll call Logan on the way.”
“Do you want me to get a hold of Reid?” Heidi asked.
“Please,” Mrs. M. said, distracted by the turn of events. “Arthur’s sons should be there.”
Heidi hurried to the counter to find her phone then hit the contact for Reid. No answer. She remembered him saying something about cutting bathroom tile in a new house this morning. Perhaps he couldn’t hear his phone ring.
Before leaving, Serena called over her shoulder, “If you want to come to the hospital, call Carrie to fill in.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
She quickly called Carrie, who promised to be downstairs in a few minutes. She called Reid again, but it went right to voice mail. She had her keys ready when Carrie opened the back door and ran into the showroom.
“Go, go,” she said, waving Heidi out the door.
Not wasting a minute, Heidi rushed to the car and was quickly on the road, headed up the turning mountain road to the house where Reid was working. She pulled up to find trucks in the driveway, so she parked at the end and ran toward the house.
She found Phil first, who was sitting on the open tailgate of a truck, immersed in his phone. He glanced up, face flushing as he was caught goofing off. He jumped down and quickly shoved his phone in his pants pocket.
“Where’s Reid?”
The kid shrugged.
She ran past him, through the garage and into the kitchen. Reid’s crew stopped working when she burst into the room.
“Reid?”
Joe pointed down a hallway. Just as she hurried in that direction, a loud buzz started up. She rounded a corner and found Reid busy cutting tile, water running over the blade, droplets flying. When he noticed her, he turned off the saw and removed his safety goggles. Sent her a wide smile.
“Heidi. Were we supposed to meet today?”
“Reid,” she said, catching her breath. “It’s your dad. He’s gone to the hospital.”
He dropped the goggles on the table supporting the saw. “What’s wrong?”
“They’re not sure. Heart, I think. He needs tests.” She explained the call his grandmother received and how she’d raced over when she couldn’t reach him. “You should go.”
He froze for a moment, like he was unsure what to do, then snapped to attention. He grabbed her hand as he passed and they hustled down the hallway. He called out a brief explanation to his crew, then they were outside, where he stopped short.
“My truck is blocked in.”
“My car isn’t. C’mon.” She squeezed his hand and they ran to her sedan. Once inside, she fired up the engine and sped off, making record time to the hospital.
All the while Reid was silent, staring straight ahead, his hands balled on his thighs. Heidi didn’t know what to say, so she just concentrated on getting Reid there in one piece. She pulled up to the emergency room entrance and told him, “Go. I’ll park and then find you.”
Still silent, he jumped out and strode to the door. It took a few minutes before she finally found a spot and called Alveda to fill her in and promise her updates. Then she was inside the building, searching for the Masterson family. Thankfully, she found them in no time.
In the private waiting room, Reid was embracing his mother, while Logan and Serena stood with their arms wrapped around each other, matching worried expressions on their drawn faces. Mrs. M. sat near a window, fidgeting with the clasp on her purse. Heidi hurried over to take a seat beside her.
The older woman’s smile fell flat. “Thank you for finding Reid.”
Heidi nodded, then looked over at him. His face was expressionless and she worried about his state of mind.
“Do you know anything yet?” she asked Mrs. M.
“They took him off somewhere.”
Just then a man in surgical scrubs strode into the room, and they all faced him. Bonnie moved forward for the news.
“I’m Dr. Patel. Your husband needs a heart catheterization to better diagnose the extent of his cardiovascular condition. They’re prepping him now, if you’d like to see him.”
“Yes,” Bonnie said, following the doctor.
“Do you want to go, as well?” Heidi asked Mrs. M.
“No. Bonnie can handle whatever decisions need to be made.”
Heidi’s heart broke. This was her son. Certainly Mrs. M. wanted to be in the know, but deferred to Bonnie. The rest of the group rallied around Mrs. M.
“Can I get you anything, Grandmother?” Logan asked.
“You can’t rush the doctor, so no.”
Reid sank down into the chair on the other side of his grandmother, briefly meeting Heidi’s gaze before gently taking Mrs. M.’s hand. “He’ll be okay.”
Was Reid trying to assure himself as well as his grandmother? Probably, but
Heidi knew this was a lot more complicated for Reid, especially when she noticed the guilt reflected in his eyes.
They sat quietly, voices on the overhead speakers breaking the silence from time to time. Heidi hadn’t spent much time in places like this. The stringent antiseptic smell and hurried pace of the nurses and doctors made her uneasy.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, Bonnie returned. “Arthur is undergoing the procedure now,” she reported. “After they inject the dye, and if there is a blockage in the artery as they suspect, they’ll do an angioplasty and place a stent to keep the artery open.”
“Is he okay?” Logan asked.
“You know your father. Complaining the entire time, but I think this has opened his eyes. He needs to start putting his health first.”
Reid rose and went to stand by the window, his hands shoved deep in his jeans pockets. His T-shirt was still wet from the tile work, his boots dusty and hair mussed, as if he’d run his hand through it a dozen times. He’d never looked more handsome. Or more lost.
Heidi wanted to go over and give him comfort, but the leave-me-alone vibe was strong. That she understood, since she’d given off the same warning many times in her life. She’d just have to wait him out.
An hour and a half later, the doctor came back. Everyone jumped up to hear the news.
“How is my husband?” Bonnie asked.
“He’s in recovery now. The procedure went well.” The doctor informed them, “We did have to insert a stent, but he will be fine. Once he sees a cardiologist, he might need medication and surely several lifestyle changes, but I believe we were able to keep this condition from getting worse.”
Relieved, Heidi blew out a long breath. She imagined everyone else doing the same as they heard the prognosis.
“We want to make sure the recovery process goes well, so we’re keeping him overnight and will likely release him tomorrow morning.”
Bonnie’s hand flew to her throat. “I didn’t expect... I’m not prepared.”
The doctor smiled at her. “He will be in recovery for a few hours. If you need to go home and collect some things, he’ll be fine until you return.” He nodded, then left the room.
Logan spoke first. “Serena, why don’t you drive Grandmother and Mother home. I’ll get Mother’s car and meet you there.”
“Certainly.”
He looked at his brother, but Reid remained silent.
“Um, I drove Reid here,” Heidi piped up. “We can go to the store and get Mrs. M.’s car.”
“Does that plan work for you?” Logan asked Reid.
“Yes.”
Heidi grabbed her purse and keys, waiting for Reid to move as the others filed out of the room.
She walked over to him. “Hey, are you okay?”
“I’m not sure. This is surreal.”
“I suppose no one wants to deal with their parent’s mortality.” Not that she’d ever have that problem, since she had no idea where her mother was. But Alveda? She was getting up there in years and worried Heidi when she refused to slow down.
He ran a hand over the back of his neck.
“Reid, this isn’t your fault.”
“Isn’t it? I left the family business. Mother said he was doing too much. Why did I have to be so stubborn?”
“I’m going to repeat myself—this isn’t your fault. Your mother finally got him to go to the doctor and he’ll be fine. You heard Dr. Patel.”
“It should have never gotten this far.”
“And if you were still part of Masterson Enterprises? Would that mean his heart wouldn’t have issues?”
He glanced at her and for a long moment he was silent. “You’re right,” he eventually conceded.
“Of course, I am.”
“And annoying.”
“That too.”
She took his hand, laced her fingers with his. To her relief, he didn’t pull away. Once they were at her car, he stopped her.
“What do I say to him?”
Heidi heard the uncertainty in his voice and ached for him. “Tell him that you love him, no matter what’s gone on between you two.”
“That simple?”
“Reid, I may not come from a big, messy family, but I’ve observed enough of them to know that the only thing that matters in the end is loving each other. I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but it’s the right thing.”
“Right.” Except he didn’t look convinced.
She drove him to Mrs. M.’s car, wishing he’d open up more, but knew he wouldn’t say a word until he was ready. Before he got out, he met her gaze. “You’re coming to the house, right?”
“I don’t know. This seems like a family thing, Reid.”
He took her hand. “You are family. And I’d really like you to be there.”
She paused, the fear on his face making her decision. “Okay.”
He leaned over the console and lightly brushed his lips over hers. “Thanks for being here for me.”
He got out of the car and strode away, shoulders straight. Heidi could tell something had shifted in Reid, something deep inside. Would he draw her in or push her aside?
She couldn’t help but speculate what would happen going forward.
* * *
AS SOON AS Reid stepped inside Masterson House, the scent of fresh coffee reached him. Alveda had clearly started getting ready for those who would gather soon. It felt strange to be here, knowing his dad was in the hospital rather than busy in his office, but his family needed him.
They needed you before this and where had you been?
He cast off the silent question as he stood in the foyer. It was quiet, eerie almost, except for low voices coming from the direction of the kitchen. Not wanting to see anyone yet, he detoured down the hallway to his father’s study.
The scent of wood polish, and the mints his dad always kept handy in a crystal bowl, greeted him. His father’s sanctuary. How many times had Reid played in here as a child while his father conducted business? Countless. What he wouldn’t give to relive those times now.
The dark mahogany desk was cluttered with papers, the matching dark shelves held books that had been read and reread over the years. Off to the side was a credenza with various framed pictures. Reid had always thought it strange that his father kept family photos within reach, especially since he’d had a troubled relationship with both Reid and Logan in years past.
In the silence he walked over and stared at each frame.
His parents’ wedding photo. Logan in full military uniform from his time in the service. Reid’s high school graduation picture. Behind it, a snapshot from one of his baseball games. With a start, he picked it up. He recalled that game. The entire family had shown up to cheer him on. After, they’d gathered for a family pose, smiling because Reid had steered the team to victory. On the outskirts of the group was Heidi, Reid’s baseball hat perched on her head. He remembered dropping it on her after his team had won.
As he took in her features, his chest grew tight. She’d always been there when it was important. Why had he never noticed her steady presence until recently? How her sunny smile always gave him hope? But what of the future? They’d just agreed to see where their feelings would take them, but now this.
“Your father always did like shutting himself up in here.”
He jerked, setting the frame down, and turned to find his grandmother hovering in the open doorway.
“He probably wouldn’t like me trespassing now.”
“I don’t think he’d mind.”
She came inside, ran her hand over the sturdy bookshelves. So much like the well-built house itself. Taking a circuit of the room, she stopped in front of Reid.
“Your father can’t be at work for a while. He needs rest after this procedure. Your mother has already decided that they are going away for a
few weeks.”
He nodded, his heart pounding. He thought he was ready, but... Please don’t say it.
“I know this is difficult for all of us, but out of everyone in the family, you have the knowledge to keep the company running during his longer absence.”
He closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable.
“I wouldn’t ask, but we’re in a bind here, Reid. We need you to go back to Masterson Enterprises.”
She’d said it.
“We need you to fill in for your father. I suppose he’ll have to make some personal decisions while they’re away.” She reached up to lay a hand on his cheek. “I’d say this is your destiny, but I don’t want you to think I’m being melodramatic.”
He puffed out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
“I can certainly support you, but you will have to make the big decisions going forward.”
“And if Father doesn’t like them?”
“It can’t be helped.”
He had a hard time pulling air into his lungs.
“Besides, I have faith in you.”
If only his father did.
“You know, Reid, you and Arthur are a lot alike. That’s why you two bang heads all the time.”
Yes, Reid was aware. The more time he’d spent with the man, he could see how much he was starting to act like his father. He hadn’t wanted to admit it, but could his leaving the firm have been a subconscious move? When Reid looked in the mirror, he even saw his father and realized he didn’t want to walk down that same path. Bitterness and disappointment were things he could live without.
It was quite an eye-opener. He thought he’d have more time to figure out his next moves, but that didn’t seem possible any longer.
Grandmother broke into his thoughts. “Can you get your house renovation projects covered?”
He inhaled. “Yes. My crew is the best and they know what to do.”
“Then it’s settled.”
He raised one eyebrow. “I haven’t said yes.”
She stared at him.
He wasn’t ready to give in just yet. “Can you give me a couple minutes?”
