by Alison Stone
Her mother lifted her hand slightly, then let it drop.
Through the glass of the door, she saw the back of Nick’s head. She knew he was holding off Jimmy to give her time to hide. She ran to the bathroom and slid behind the door, pushing it almost closed, leaving a narrow view of the room through the crack. All she could see was a portion of her mother’s face and the water jug on the side table.
The door to the room swooshed open. Nick’s was the first voice she heard. “Hello, Mrs. Gardner. How are you?”
Her mother’s gaze drifted to the bathroom.
No, Mom, don’t look at me!
“I’ve had better days.”
Her mother lifted a hand to her hair, as if to fluff it up. Despite Sarah’s racing heart and dry mouth, she couldn’t help but smile. Her mother always flirted with the handsome men. And Nick was definitely handsome.
“This man claims you know his mother.” The voice of Jimmy had Sarah closing her eyes. She tried to imagine herself invisible behind the bathroom door. Pinpricks of panic raced across her scalp.
“Of course I know his mother. From church.”
Good, Mom.
“I appreciate your looking out for me, Jimmy, but I’m very tired. I could use some rest.”
“Of course. I’ll check in on you tomorrow morning. Need anything?”
Sarah gathered the courage to peek, and her mother shook her head. “Jimmy, you don’t need to fuss over me. I know you and my Sarah are no longer together. You don’t owe me anything.”
“You’re no trouble at all, Mrs. Gardner. I like to keep tabs on those I care about.” The tightness in his voice made Sarah’s blood turn cold in her veins. “Whose baseball cap is this?”
Sarah sucked in a breath and pressed her back against the wall, wishing she could melt into it. How had she been so careless as to leave her cap?
“Baseball cap?” Her mother sounded confused.
“Yeah, same college as Sarah’s.”
Her mother didn’t say anything.
“Have you seen Sarah recently, Mrs. Gardner? She’d want to know you’re in the hospital. I could contact her for you?”
Her mother made a sound Sarah couldn’t decipher. “I’m fine. I don’t need anyone to make a fuss over me.”
“I’d be happy to check in on you,” Nick said. “My mother’s already planning your menu for the week. I hope you like chicken noodle soup.”
Sarah closed her eyes. If she didn’t know Nick was lying, she would have believed every word he was saying.
“Sounds lovely.” Her mother’s voice grew weaker.
“We should be going,” Nick said, his voice full of authority.
Sarah couldn’t see Jimmy or Nick from her hiding place, but she sensed Nick was ushering Jimmy out the door. She feared Jimmy wasn’t going to take kindly to being forced out.
“Good night, Mrs. Gardner. Please know my mother sends her best.”
“Thank you.” Her mother stared straight ahead. “Good night, Jimmy.”
After a few moments, her mother turned toward the bathroom where she was hiding. “They’re gone.”
Sarah slipped out of the bathroom, keeping her eye on the door to the hallway. Pressing her hand to her chest, she heaved a heavy sigh. “That was too close.”
“I hate seeing you like this,” her mother whispered, as if afraid to make the admission.
“I hate it, too, but Jimmy’s dangerous.” Sarah touched her throat, remembering the time Jimmy held her against the wall with one hand around her neck. She pressed charges the next day.
That’s when Jimmy’s smear campaign started in earnest. When the battle seemed insurmountable, she fled town.
Her mother gestured toward her. “Let me hold your hand.”
Sarah gave her a shaky smile.
“There’s something I haven’t told you.” There was a clarity in her mother’s eyes she hadn’t noticed before.
A cold, icy knot tightened in Sarah’s belly.
“There’s nothing more the doctors can do.”
For her cancer?
All the appropriate phrases slammed into Sarah’s brain:
No, there has to be something.
Are you sure?
No, no, no!
But instead Sarah bent down and buried her nose in her mother’s hair and cried. “I’m sorry.”
Sarah pulled back so she could read her mother’s expression. “I know. I know. Don’t cry.”
Sarah sniffed, trying to pull it together and forgetting for once to look over her shoulder for fear the man who threatened to kill her would make good on his promise.
* * *
Nick couldn’t bear to listen to Sarah’s quiet sobs in the passenger seat as they headed back to Apple Creek after visiting Mrs. Gardner. He hardly knew this woman sitting next to him, but his heart broke for both her and her mother.
After escorting Jimmy out of Mrs. Gardner’s room, Nick had waited in the car near the ER entrance, ever vigilant that Jimmy could return at any moment. Nick didn’t let down his guard until Sarah had returned to the car after saying goodbye to her mother.
They switched back to his truck at one of his father’s offices about forty-five minutes outside of Apple Creek. Nick’s heartache for Sarah morphed into renewed anger against Jimmy. Why did some men feel the need to control women? Hot anger pulsed through his veins. Jimmy had already cost Sarah her job in Buffalo. Her home. Was Nick going to allow Jimmy to make her miss being with her mother in her time of need?
Nick glanced over to his passenger and noticed her head was dipping at an awkward angle. She was exhausted. “Sarah,” he whispered. “Sarah?”
She didn’t answer. He dug the phone out of his pocket and dialed his sister’s number. He didn’t want to use his Bluetooth connection for fear the voice booming over the speaker would wake Sarah.
His sister Christina answered after the second ring. “Hey there, sister.”
“Something wrong?” she asked, worry lacing her tone.
“Why do you think something has to be wrong for me to call my baby sister?”
Nick could imagine her “give me more credit than that” look with her fisted hand planted on her narrow waist.
“It’s late. I know. I’m sorry. Sarah’s mom needs hospice care.” Sarah told Nick the devastating news that the doctors had exhausted treatment options for her mother. He glanced over as they passed under a streetlight, and he caught a flicker of Sarah’s peaceful face, even if her neck was cricked at an awkward angle.
“You want to know if I can provide care if you bring Mrs. Gardner to Apple Creek to live with Sarah.”
“Whoever said you weren’t smart...” He felt a smile pulling at his lips. Bringing Mrs. Gardner to Apple Creek would solve a lot of his concerns. Sarah could be with her mom, and Nick could protect Sarah.
“Who said I wasn’t smart?” Christina said playfully, then she grew quiet. “That’s too bad about her mom. How’s Sarah taking it?”
“As well as can be expected.”
“Does Sarah plan to stay in Apple Creek? And is her mom willing to come here?”
Nick turned toward the driver’s side window and whispered in a low voice. “It’s yet to be determined. But I wanted to explore all options before I make any suggestions.”
A long silence stretched across the line. “Nick, this woman’s important to you, isn’t she?”
Nick didn’t dare look to see if Sarah was awake. Mostly, he was glad she couldn’t hear his sister’s end of the conversation. “Yeah.”
“She’s right there, isn’t she?”
“Yeah,” he said, ever more cryptic. “Can you meet us at the house in ten minutes? Bring stuff to stay over? I don’t think she should be alone.”
“I’ll do whatever I can to help you, Sarah and her mother. I love you, big brother.”
“I love you, too.” Nick ended the call and set the phone on the middle console.
“I’m sorry I’m not very good company,” Sarah said in a sleepy voice.
“You must be exhausted.”
“I am.”
“You’ve had a rough—”
“Couple years.”
Nick slowed and turned up the bumpy driveway to her rented cottage. He glanced up at the darkened home. Only a small light glowed from the Zooks’ home next door. “I don’t like you staying here all by yourself.”
Sarah tipped her head back on the seat and sighed heavily. She pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes. “I’m too tired to think. Who were you talking to?”
“My sister.”
“Hmm,” Sarah said, still dreamily. “You guys are close.”
“Yes, we are.”
“I was an only child.” There was a wistful quality to her tone. “Did you tell her she had to stay at the house with me?”
“Listen, Sarah,” Nick shifted in his seat to face her more fully. “I have an idea.”
Sarah yawned. “Can we get out of the car and talk about it? I need to walk. Get some blood circulating before I fall asleep again.”
“Sure.” Nick climbed out of the truck and went around and opened Sarah’s door. She squinted against the glow of the dome light. He couldn’t help but notice that her eyes were red from the combination of tears and exhaustion.
“It’s a nice night.” Nick reached for her hand and helped her. Her hand felt cool and delicate in his. What was it about this woman? Was he drawn to her or the need to protect her?
Or both.
When they reached the steps, she pulled her hand out of his, as if just now realizing they were walking hand in hand. “What is it you wanted to talk about?”
“Why don’t you bring your mother here?”
Sarah jerked her head back. “To Apple Creek?”
“Yes, my sister agreed to monitor your mother’s health while she’s here. Since...” He stopped himself, not wanting to remind her of what she’d likely never forget. Mrs. Gardner’s condition was beyond treatment. Mostly likely, she’d be given medications for pain and maintenance.
“You’ve been too kind.” She brushed a hand across his cheek. “But I don’t think my mom would leave her house.” She worked her lower lip. “I’m going to have to seriously consider leaving Apple Creek. My mom needs me back in Buffalo.”
“Please, give my suggestion some thought.” Nick wanted to be the one to protect Sarah. He couldn’t do that if she moved an hour away. And especially not if she moved back near Jimmy. “Talk to your mom about it.”
Sarah laughed. “You don’t know my mom. She’s pretty stubborn.”
“Like mother like daughter.”
Sarah rewarded him with a quiet laugh. “Then you should know better than to argue with me.” She reached for the handle on the screen door. “Good night, Nick.”
“Hold up. My sister is on the way over to stay with you.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Oh, I can’t put her out.”
“She doesn’t mind.” Nick brushed a tear from her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Besides, I’m sure she’ll ask me for a really big favor down the road.” He tried to lighten the mood. “That’s what family is for, right?”
The sound of tires on gravel had him turn toward the road. He recognized his sister’s sedan. “She’s here. You wouldn’t want her to have come all this way for nothing.”
Nick reached out and squeezed Sarah’s hand. “It’s going to be okay.”
“You really shouldn’t have asked her...” Sarah stood with a hand on her hip and the other palm flattened against the propped open screen door. When she realized this was really happening, she finally agreed.
“Glad to hear reason has won out.” Nick glanced over to his sister’s car. She was talking on her phone. “Let me check the house, then I’ll help my sister.”
Nick checked the house, then went back outside.
Christina had climbed out of her car and was standing next to her open trunk. Nick crossed the yard, kissed his sister’s cheek, then grabbed her duffel bag. “Thanks. I owe you.”
“Of course you do,” Christina said and playfully tapped him on the arm. Then she lowered her voice. “What did she think about bringing her mother here?”
“She’s not convinced. She believes her mother will be more comfortable in her own home.”
“We’ll convince her mom,” Christina said in the easy manner of someone who confidently dealt in life-and-death situations on a regular basis.
Once inside the house, Christina admired the space. “How cozy. I’ve been looking for a little place myself.” His sister had been so busy trying to save the world, she hadn’t really settled anywhere. Ever since she had returned to Apple Creek a few years ago, she had been renting one half of a duplex near Main Street. The only furnishings as far as he knew were the ones the landlord had provided.
“You could move into mother and father’s house. I don’t think they’ve been home from Europe since Christmas,” Nick said.
“Do you really see me living in mom and dad’s house? I need to be able to connect to my patients. Living there would send the wrong message.”
Sarah stepped out of the small half bath patting her face with a pink hand towel. She forced a bright smile that didn’t reach her sad eyes. “Nick shouldn’t have called you. I hate to put you out. I’m fine here.”
Christina touched Sarah’s arm. “I’m sorry about your mom.”
Sarah pressed her lips together and nodded. “Thanks.” Her lips parted, as if she wanted to say more, but didn’t.
“Well, it’s been a long day,” Nick said, “I’ll let you get settled.”
Sarah looked up and they locked gazes. “Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been there for my mom today.” Her voice broke over the word today.
Nick hooked his thumbs in his jeans pockets, not knowing how to comfort her. Not knowing what was appropriate. Christina pulled Sarah into an embrace. Something he wanted to do, but felt it wasn’t his place.
His sister pulled away and held Sarah at arm’s length. Sarah met his gaze and her cheeks turned pink. “I’m a mess. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize.” Nick shifted his stance.
“I suggest you take Nick and me up on our offer to help care for your mother here in Apple Creek,” Christina said. “You’ll both feel better being around one another.”
“I’m afraid Jimmy already knows where I am.”
“What if he doesn’t? We should be careful anyway,” Christina said. “I can work with you and the hospital to have your mom released to a sister in Florida.”
Sarah’s eyebrows arched. “My aunt does live in Florida.”
“Well, we’ll contact her to make sure she’s in on the ruse in case your ex tries to verify this. He’ll run into a dead end.”
“Assuming Jimmy hasn’t already found me.” Sarah kept coming back to this point. She pushed her bangs off her forehead. A beige bandage still covered her stitches. She looked like she wanted to argue, but she settled on a simple, “I don’t think my mom will go for it.”
“You won’t know until you ask.” Christina glanced around the room. “I’m sorry to hear the doctors no longer feel they can treat your mother’s cancer. But I can help make the time she has left comfortable. You have enough room here if you need to bring a hospital bed in.”
Sarah pressed a hand to her cheek and wrapped the other arm around her thin waist. She nodded in agreement.
Sarah pressed her trembling lips together as a silent tear slipped down her cheek. “Can we really do this?”
>
“There’s no reason we can’t.”
Hope blossomed in Nick’s heart. He felt a little selfish because this also meant Sarah wouldn’t be going anywhere.
“Between the two of us, we can make sure your mom is well cared for.”
Sarah bowed her head and dragged her wet cheek across her shoulder. “I... I...”
“Ask your mom. You owe her and yourself that much,” Nick said.
“She can’t be alone and I’m her only daughter.” Her voice shook.
An unreadable expression flashed across Sarah’s face. “But what about Jimmy or whoever is harassing me? I don’t want my mom harassed during her...final days.” She closed her eyes briefly. “Oh, but he’d harass us for sure in Buffalo.” Her words dripped with the agony of her impossible situation.
“If your mom decides to move in here, I’ll set up a cot in the back room near the door.” The idea struck Nick two seconds before he suggested it. Was he crazy? “Just until we catch whoever is harassing you,” he quickly added.
“Do you think it’s Jimmy? Your friend said he was working Sunday night.”
“Doesn’t mean he didn’t sneak down to Apple Creek. But, I don’t know...seems a little too juvenile for a mean guy like Jimmy. I’ve known guys like him. Controlling. Just plain mean. I think if it were him, he wouldn’t have stopped with a threat. He would have...” he let his words trail off, realizing he was frightening her. Sarah appeared to be trembling. Christina must have sensed it at the same time. She took Sarah’s elbow and guided her to the couch.
“I’ll get you some water.” Christina hustled into the kitchen.
“Jimmy liked to toy with me. Going in for the kill right away wasn’t sporting of him,” Sarah said in a mocking voice.
“I’ll keep you safe.”
“How? You can’t be with me all the time.”
Nick’s stomach dropped. She was right.
“I can try.”
“Oh, I don’t know...” Sarah had a wary look in her eyes. “What would that look like? You staying here?”
“Your mom can be your chaperone,” Christina said cheerily as she returned with Sarah’s water. “Until then, I’ll stay with you.”
