“Cosby—”
“I’m sorry I brought it up. It’s obviously too soon.” At least he hoped that was the reason for her reluctance.
She leaned in and kissed him silly. He responded—how could he not?—but held back a bit. His heart had switched to self-protection mode.
“Don’t be like that,” she wheedled. “I’m very flattered you feel that way about me.”
“Flattered,” he repeated, his tone flat. “Great. Just the emotion I had in mind.”
“Let me finish. I’ll give you a choice. I can say something right now that you want to hear, or I can wait until I’m sure.”
He kept quiet and stared past her at the wall. His first impulse was to bolt, but he stayed on the bed, wrapped up in her. He could smell her shampoo, plus the musky scent of sex.
She leaned in and licked his neck, then ran her fingertips down his chest, circled his belly button, and trailed lower.
“We’re both naked in bed. Isn’t there something you’d rather do instead of talk?” She wrapped her hand around him.
Cosby looked into her eyes and saw desire there, plus a hint of something else. Is there a chance she’ll fall in love with me? Do I really need to know the answer right now? He growled low in his throat and rolled her beneath him. Then he proceeded to prove to her just how good they were together.
Chapter 20
As the two women made small talk over Asian chicken salads the next day, Melanie turned to a more serious topic.
“Gavin promised me he’ll see a doctor about his anxiety attacks and mood swings.”
“I’m so glad to hear that,” Monica replied. “Have you two considered couples counseling?”
“We actually went for a handful of sessions back in Toledo, but Gavin didn’t like the therapist and didn’t think he helped us.”
“Maybe it wasn’t the right fit.”
“Maybe. You know how men are. They’d rather eat a carton of rotten eggs than talk about their feelings. So we wasted our money and the counselor’s time. I didn’t worry too much, though, because for a while Gavin morphed back into the man I fell in love with—funny, considerate, even-tempered, affectionate.”
“What changed?”
“He’s under a lot of pressure to make this business work, for one thing. He felt guilty accepting his parents’ money because he thought they should use it to travel in retirement, and it bugs him that he couldn’t invest as much as Cosby did. Gavin thinks he should be the lead dog financially because he’s the older brother.”
“That’s silly. Cosby doesn’t have a wife and kids. There’s no comparison.”
“That’s exactly what I told him. But the two of them were very competitive growing up, always trying to outdo each other. They still are to a certain extent.”
“What’s the age difference?”
“Four years. In some ways, though, Gavin’s an old man these days. He’s forgotten how to have fun, and he worries about everything, especially considering we uprooted the boys and quit decent-paying jobs to move down here.”
“Are your kids homesick?” Monica waved over their server to request refills on their iced teas, then forked salad into her mouth.
“They were at first, but they’re making new friends, at school and in the neighborhood. They love seeing Cosby more often and hanging out at Nauti-Toys with all the guys. Duncan, the head mechanic, has been teaching Adam how to work on boat motors. And he and Teddy are doing odd jobs to earn an allowance. So far, the move has been even more beneficial for them than I’d hoped.”
“How are things between you and your husband, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Melanie sighed. “Not as good as they should be. He’s usually ‘too tired’ for anything but sleep when we go to bed. And we bicker a lot. Worse, the boys have noticed something’s not right.”
“Kids always do.”
“They’re more perceptive than we give them credit for. There’s a lot of tension in the house, and Teddy’s having more stomachaches than is normal for a boy his age. When I try to talk to Gavin about it he gets defensive. Adam pretends it doesn’t bother him but it’s affected their relationship. He used to idolize his father. Last week he asked me, ‘Why is Dad always so mad? Doesn’t he like being with us anymore?’”
“Ouch. What did you say?”
“That his father loves us very much, but he’s got stuff on his mind that has nothing to do with us.”
“Did Adam buy that?”
“Not really. He said, ‘Well, tell Dad he shouldn’t be so grouchy because we love him, too, and we need him to be in a good mood.’ I’ve told both boys repeatedly that it’s not their fault and that sometimes even adults have difficulty controlling their emotions. But it’s hard for them to remember, especially when Gavin gets irritated with them for reasons they can’t understand.”
“Has he been drinking a lot?”
Melanie sipped her tea and didn’t answer for several moments, and Monica wondered if her friend planned to reply. Then she took a fortifying breath.
“He’s never been a big drinker, and compared to some people he still isn’t. But he’s been drinking more than usual. Before, he might have a beer after work, two at the most, a few times a week. And he’d have a glass of wine when we ate out. Lately, though, he drinks just about every night. Not enough to get falling down drunk, but he’d be at risk of a DUI if he got behind the wheel. I don’t think he has a drinking problem—yet. It does concern me that the first thing he does when he walks in the door now is grab a beer.”
“Have you thought about going back to work? Maybe with two incomes again Gavin won’t feel so stressed.”
“I wanted to start sending out résumés before we moved but he talked me out of it. He knew he’d be spending the bulk of his time getting the business going and figured at least one parent should be home with the boys as much as possible. I thought he made a good point. But Nauti-Toys had its grand reopening and we’ve all settled in, so I’ll start looking for a job. Whether he wants me to or not.”
“What do you do?”
“Marketing and promotions.”
“Really? It just so happens there’s an opening here in our marketing department. If you’re interested, the job is posted on our Web site.”
Melanie’s eyes lit up for the first time during lunch.
“I’m definitely interested. And I’m more eager now to take that tour you promised me. If I’m applying for a job I need a better handle on the operation.”
“Whatever we don’t have time to see before you have to leave I can show you another day,” Monica offered.
“Thanks. I’ll take you up on that.”
* * * *
On Dani’s third day in Jefferson City, the hospital transferred her grandmother from intensive care to a regular room. Elena Bingham still couldn’t speak or move her right side, yet Dani found blessings to count. Being left-handed put her grandmother a step ahead in her rehab. It would make it easier but certainly not easy.
Elena’s gaze locked onto her granddaughter the minute she walked into the room. The old woman’s expression brightened, and she held out a hand that Dani grasped with both of hers. She kissed her grandmother’s cheek and struggled to keep a cheerful expression on her face.
No amount of imagining had prepared her for Elena’s appearance. Illness and discontent had aged her considerably, and the stroke took an even greater toll. Always slight in stature, she looked frail and diminished now.
“You really scared us, Grandma. We went crazy while you were in the ICU because we couldn’t visit you.”
Elena’s mouth moved, but no words came out. Tears pooled in her eyes.
“It must be killing her not to be able to bitch about anything,” Sam mumbled too low for his mother-in-law to hear. Even so, Rita shot him a scathing look. He shrugged and slumped into a chair in the corner of the room.
“Is there anything you need, Mother?” Rita sat on the side of the bed and smoothed back Elen
a’s hair. “Are you warm enough? Would you like a sip of water? I could turn on the TV.”
The old woman just stared, lying motionless.
“Show her the stuff you brought,” Dani suggested.
“Oh, right. Sam, where’d you put it?” He pointed to a table on wheels near the door, and Rita rolled it closer to the bed. She indicated a zippered bag with Elena’s name written on it with black marker. “Inside are several housecoats, your hairbrush, slippers, heavy socks, underwear, and a few other things. I wasn’t sure exactly what you’d need, but if there’s anything else you want I’ll bring it later.”
Elena closed her eyes and didn’t open them for the rest of the visit. Dani and Rita kept talking to her, but she gave no indication she heard a word. Finally, Rita mouthed, “Let’s go,” and Dani nodded.
“We’re heading out now so you can get some rest,” she told her grandmother. “We’ll be back tomorrow.” Both women kissed her, but Elena never stirred except to clench and unclench her left hand.
Out in the hall, Sam scowled at his wife and daughter. “If you ask me, she’s being stubborn. She doesn’t want to deal with the situation, so she shuts her eyes and blocks everything and everybody out.”
“Dad, that’s a little harsh, don’t you think?”
“Honey, I’ve seen all your grandmother’s tricks, like pretending she can’t hear or understand what’s being said to her. And that fake sleeping thing? That’s what she kept doing to us at the assisted living place, to punish us for putting her there. I finally got tired of it and quit going. That’s another point of contention between me and your mother.”
“Sam, do we have to get into this now? Why don’t you two go down to the car while I have a word with those ladies?” Rita inclined her head toward several women in scrubs at the nurses’ station. Dani wanted to hear their take on her grandmother’s condition, but she also needed to speak with her father alone.
After they stepped into the elevator, she asked him, “Did Mom talk to you about taking a vacation? Because I’d love for you both to come stay with me and Evan.”
“She mentioned something about it, yes. But it would be better if your mother went by herself. Maybe instead of flying home you can drive back to Florida with her.”
Dani challenged him with a look. “It sounds like you’re trying to get rid of her.”
“I think some time apart would be best.”
“Don’t you want to meet Evan and see where I live and work?” She couldn’t help whining. She felt like a little girl whose daddy wasn’t interested in attending her dance recital or soccer game.
“Sweetie, don’t get your feelings hurt. This isn’t anything against you or Evan. In fact, I’m doing you both a favor by not dumping our problems on your doorstep.”
She bit her lower lip and shook her head. Sam didn’t appear to care too much right now how much this rift bothered his daughter. Maybe, like Rita, he’d finally tired of hiding the truth.
“Dad, I can’t stay beyond the end of the week. I have to get back to work. And Mom won’t go anywhere while Grandma’s in the condition she’s in.”
He sighed. “Yeah, I know. I guess that was just wishful thinking.”
That irritated Dani so much she stalked off without another word as soon as the elevator door opened. To his credit, he didn’t follow her. She needed to walk off her irritation. With no particular destination in mind, Dani stopped at a small enclosed garden with a fountain in the middle and benches all around. She sat surrounded by mums, asters, and pansies, pulled out her cell phone, and punched in Evan’s number. It rang five times before going to voice mail. She didn’t leave a message.
Staring at the gurgling water in the fountain, she wondered what he was doing. After about five minutes, her phone rang.
“Sorry I missed your call, babe, but Wesley was in my office yammering about films we could make to show in a 4-D theater. He’s been driving everybody crazy since Flipper proposed the idea. How’s your grandmother? Was she glad to see you?”
Dani filled Evan in, then explained the real reason she’d called.
“I needed to hear a friendly voice and get away from my parents for a bit before I said something I’d regret. I don’t know what to do about them.”
“You’re the daughter, remember? It’s not up to you to fix their marriage, no matter how badly you want to.”
“I know, but there must be something I can do. I feel so helpless. And I’m not sure Dad’s motivated to make things right. All he wants is to be alone for a while.”
“Maybe that’s the best thing that could happen right now. They wouldn’t be the first long-married couple who needed a break from each other.”
“If I thought that’s all they needed, I wouldn’t be so worried. It’s like they can’t stand to be in the same room together. Their house isn’t home anymore. I know part of that’s because my heart’s with you in Gulf Shore now. But I’ve never felt so uncomfortable in the house I grew up in. If it wasn’t for Grandma, I’d be on the next return flight.”
“I’m sorry things are so bad, baby. I wish I could give you a big hug.”
“So do I.” She rubbed her throbbing temple. “But I’m a big girl. I need to suck it up and get through it. I’ll be home by the end of the week. I’ll text Toni. I’m sure she’s antsy to know when I’ll be back at work.”
“At least it’s been fairly slow this week. I saw her earlier today, and she said that big school group rescheduled because there’s a bug going around and a lot of the students are sick.”
“Sorry to hear that, but I’m glad they cancelled. You haven’t lived until you’ve spent the better part of a day in close proximity to several dozen little germ factories.”
“No, but I remember when you caught something a few months ago and gave it to me.”
Dani laughed. “Isn’t that what couples do? Share?”
“There are some things you should keep to yourself.”
She looked at her watch. “I’d better head out to the parking lot. Mom’s probably in the car with Dad by now. God forbid they have to sit there alone and talk to each other.”
“Call me tonight after I get off work, okay? It’s pretty lonely at the condo without you.”
“I will. And I miss you, too. I love you.”
“And I love you. I can’t wait to have you home.”
Chapter 21
Dani saw her grandmother at the hospital several more times before she flew back to Florida. On each occasion, Elena tried to speak but gave up when the words wouldn’t come. Dani carried on a one-sided conversation anyway, talking about her fiancé, friends, Ozzie the parrot, work, animals at the aquarium, and the condo, although she left out the part about living there with Evan. No sense getting her grandmother stirred up.
And while Dani talked in general terms about her wedding plans, she never admitted she’d decided to have the ceremony and reception in Gulf Shore. Instead, she spoke of “kicking around ideas,” including a beach wedding and a party afterward beneath an event pavilion she could rent at a discount. If Elena read between the lines, she gave no indication.
“I’m not sure when I’ll get back up here to see you,” Dani told her during a last, brief visit on the way to the airport. “But I’ll definitely keep in touch. And you’re always in my thoughts and prayers. I know you’re frustrated you can’t do the things you used to, but please work hard so you can get better.”
Her paralysis had left Elena’s smile lopsided, and she patted her granddaughter’s cheek. Dani hugged and kissed her and wiped away tears as she walked out the door with her mother’s arm around her shoulders.
They were subdued on the drive to Columbia Regional.
“Call us when you land so we’ll know you made it home safely,” Rita told her when they pulled up to the drop-off point for departing passengers. “I’m very glad you came, and I’m sorry things were so difficult for you. I love you, honey, and so does your father. Don’t you ever forget that.”
>
Sam appeared as stoic as always, but his fierce hug spoke volumes. As her parents drove away from the terminal, Dani watched her mother wipe away her free-falling tears.
By the time she landed in Tampa, Dani felt emotionally spent. Evan stood waiting for her when she stepped off the shuttle that brought her from the airside terminal back to the main building. As soon as he took her in his arms, the tears she’d held back for hours began to flow.
“Aw, baby, it’s going to be okay. Don’t cry.” He held her as she wept all over the front of his shirt. When she finally quieted, he pulled back to kiss her and look into her sorrowful eyes.
“I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.”
“You’ve already done it just by being here,” she replied. “I’ll be fine. I’m just worn out. Let me go in the ladies’ room and wash my face, and then you can take me home and take me to bed.”
* * * *
During the ride back to Gulf Shore, Dani told him more about the situation in Jefferson City. There wasn’t much new since the last time they’d spoken, but she obviously needed to talk about it again, so he listened patiently and gave her all the right responses. About a half hour from home she fell asleep, and when they parked in front of the condo Evan thought about carrying her inside. But Dani jerked awake when he opened the door and the inside lights of his vehicle came on. She sat there for a minute and blinked her eyes as he took her rolling suitcase out of the back.
Wearily, she stepped out of the car and, once inside the condo, took a minute to rub her parrot’s beak, then headed to the bed and flopped on it. Evan removed her sneakers, socks, and jeans, covered her with a throw, and started to leave the room.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“I figured you needed to rest.”
“Please come back and lie down. I need you with me right now.”
Evan stripped off his own shoes and pants, crawled into bed, and gathered her in his arms. She sighed as her head settled against his chest and burrowed her hand up the front of his shirt. His body reacted to her touch but he told himself she needed comfort, not sex. Still, it stayed on his mind as he stroked her hair and closed his eyes.
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