“What did you…You love me?” she whispered, almost afraid to say the words out loud in case she’d heard him wrong.
He gave a slight nod as he gripped the steering wheel once again and kept his eyes on the road, the hint of a smile on his lips. “Yes.”
She jumped when her purse began vibrating and then the ringer started to sound. “Sorry.” She fumbled the phone with numb fingers and looked at the screen. “It’s Tristan. There are a bunch of missed calls from him. Hello, sweetie? I’m on my way.”
“Bunny, you gotta come quick!” Tristan whimpered into the phone. “Mr. Hank and Mr. Travis are here, and they said Grinnie’s really sick. I tried to call you, and call you, all night long! Where’ve you been?”
Her purse, containing her phone, had been in Joseph’s bedroom all night.
Oh no, no, no no! “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I’ll be there as soon as I can—”
Her fingers were slick with her tears, and the phone slipped from her hands. Joseph deftly caught it and set it to speakerphone as he continued the swift drive to Divine. “Tristan, this is Mr. Joseph. I’m bringing your sister to you right now. Can you tell me what happened?”
She covered her mouth as the story unfolded, tears streaming from her eyes. Grinnie and Tristan had planned a Walking Dead marathon. After, three or four episodes Grinnie had fallen asleep in her recliner, so he didn’t disturb her and had even drifted off himself. When they’d gotten through the entire season and she still hadn’t woken up, he tried to wake her, unsuccessfully. He’d called Bunny right then, but she hadn’t answered.
“I tried and tried again, but you didn’t pick up the phone, Bunny. I couldn’t wake her so I went next door.”
Joseph blanched at that news and picked up his speed a bit more on a straightway.
“Miss Louisa answered when I knocked, and I told her what was wrong, and she came next door, and then she called Mr. Hank and the hospital. The hospital people won’t let me see her, Bunny. I’m scared. Are you almost here?”
Joseph said, “Tristan, we’ll be there in about ten minutes. You stay with Hank and Travis, and we’ll come find you first thing.”
She couldn’t even see to end the call. Through sobs, she said, “He tried to call me last night, and I didn’t answer. Every minute without treatment counts with a stroke and Grinnie sat there all night like that. Oh my God!”
The dawn sky glowed pale pink as they pulled into the emergency room parking lot.
Chapter Eighteen
Joseph stood to one side of the chapel with Samson and Hank Stinson as they waited for the funeral service to begin. As it turned out, Samson and Hank had known each other since their high school days in Divine. Bunny stood with her female friends and acquaintances from Divine, chatting quietly near Grinnie’s casket. Tristan stood beside her, holding her hand. He kept looking around the room, constantly glancing at the door at the rear of the chapel.
Right after they’d gotten there, before people had started arriving, Bunny had stood in front of Grinnie’s casket with her brother at her side. Her eyes were closed and her lips had moved as if she were praying. Joseph had remained silent, wanting only to be there in whatever capacity was needed. She’d leaned against him and then had reached out for Tristan’s hand. Looking uncomfortable, he’d said, “Sis, I’m too big for you to be holding my hand. I won’t wander off or anything.”
She’d squeezed her brother’s shoulder. “That’s not it, not by a long shot, little brother. Maybe I need you to hold my hand.”
Tristan had nodded and straightened up and stayed right by Bunny’s side. He’d glanced at her. “Dad’s not coming, is he?”
“I don’t know, sweetie. Maybe not.”
Attendees were still filtering in, but it appeared the gathering would be a small one. None of Bunny and Tristan’s family had shown up, even though Bunny had made the difficult decision to contact her father.
Privately, Bunny had told Joseph that when she’d asked her father if he would come to the funeral, he’d told her that his schedule was packed and he didn’t see what good it would do, since Grinnie wasn’t relevant in life and hadn’t been for years. Rendered speechless by such heartlessness, Joseph had stuck close to her from then on, supporting her in whatever way she needed.
Unsure about what she should do first, Bunny had asked if he would help her pick a funeral home and make the accompanying decisions, and he had been happy to help her.
The stroke had been catastrophic and there had been nothing the doctors could do, except to offer their sympathies since they had known Grinnie personally.
Bunny and Tristan had sat with Grinnie in the hospital room as her life signs slowly faded. It’d broken Joseph’s heart to see Bunny in such pain, blaming herself for not being there when the stroke had happened. Bunny was such a vital, lively person, and to see that effervescence be replaced with heartache was hard. But she was a rock for Tristan, who felt responsible for not realizing Grinnie had had a stroke. Joseph hoped time would ease the hurt for both of them.
After he’d found out what had happened, Hector had made arrangements to put Jillian on a plane, since she had a job to get back to, and he and Juno had stayed an extra night just to make sure that Joseph was all right. He’d told Juno about his talk with Grinnie, and she’d laughed and then cried with him when he described how Grinnie had pointedly asked him what his intentions were toward her granddaughter.
His intentions. Gazing at her now in the comforting embrace of her friends, he wanted simply to take care of her. Not only because she was grieving but also because he loved her.
Just then a brunette slipped in the door at the rear of the chapel, and after signing the guestbook, she paused at the rear pew, closed her eyes, seeming to catch her breath, and then came down the aisle. Joseph thought he recognized her from visits to the Dancing Pony.
In his peripheral view, he noticed the way Samson watched her, too, his brows bunching in concentration, and then he muttered something under his breath. Joseph was about to ask if he knew her when she spotted Samson over the crowd. Her eyes popped wide, and her jaw dropped, but by then Violet Tyler and Charity Connors had pulled her into their group.
Hank excused himself when Travis and Veronica came in the door. Joseph waved at his friends before turning his attention back to Bunny’s group. Once again, he caught the brunette eyeing Samson through the crowd. She then made eye contact with Joseph and ducked back out of sight.
“You know her?” Joseph asked Samson as his friend tilted his head in an effort to see her again. “I think her name is—”
“Cassandra,” Samson said in a low tone. “Yes. I know her.”
If that was all he wanted to offer, Joseph could wait. Other pressing matters were at hand. Randall and Mona arrived soon after and joined their group. The minister nodded to let him know it was time to start and he headed over to where she stood with her friends and her brother.
“Ladies, it’s time to start.” The group parted as he held out his hand to Bunny. She was dressed primly in a black silky blouse and skirt, with black stockings and heels and her hair brushed back in smooth, vibrant waves. She put her hand in his and squeezed in a way that made his heart thump.
They took a seat in the front row, surrounded by friends. He leaned close enough to breath in the fresh scent of her shampoo. “Doing okay?”
She sniffled and took a deep breath, seeming to steel herself and nodded. “I’m gonna make it, Sir.” It was unnecessary for her to call him “Sir” in that setting, but the smile that followed showed a little bit of her spirit. “You know what Grinnie told me once?”
“No, what?”
“She used to fuss because I stayed focused on working to provide for us, and she used to tell me, ‘Bunny girl, make time for your life, leave room for love, and make room for more than just work because you only get one go-round.’”
Joseph chuckled quietly. “Sounds like Grace Warner.”
Bunny’s grin lit up the room. �
�Grinnie was good friends with Grace’s mother-in-law, Rose Marie. They grew up together. I might’ve grown up here if Mom and Dad hadn’t moved away.”
“I’m happy you’re here now.”
She squeezed his hand. “Thank you for helping me so much, Sir. You’re the best.”
The service began with the reading of the obituary and the eulogy, which was given by Thorne Grogan, followed by a message delivered by the minister, and then the closing of the casket.
Joseph stayed by her side for all of it, holding her hand and, at times, holding Tristan’s as well. Bunny had leaned upon him, fulfilling a sense of protectiveness in him, and Tristan had evidently sensed her trust in him and looked to him for direction as well. He didn’t mind in the least.
On the way back home from the burial, Bunny said, “When you talk to Hector and Juno, would you please tell them the flowers they sent were beautiful and that we appreciate them?”
“Of course. What would you like to do now?” he asked as he turned into the driveway of her little house, noting there were a number of people standing and sitting on the porch of the house next door.
“Right now I need a nap, but I know there’s going to be a lot to sort through in the house.”
“Probably so.”
Bunny had asked her neighbor, Louisa, who had lived next door to Grinnie for many years, to mind the house during the services. Joseph hadn’t thought it wise, given the criminal appearance of several of Louisa’s family members who lived with her. Bunny had insisted and reassured him that Grinnie would want Louisa there.
They entered the house to find Louisa had indeed been busy, sweeping and mopping the entire house, cleaning the kitchen, and arranging the many foodstuffs that had been delivered to the house during the morning while they’d been gone. Everything was immaculate, and Joseph was perturbed with himself for being so judgmental.
“Mi hija, let me show you here,” Louisa said after giving Bunny and Tristan both long hugs. Through the occasional sniffle and blotted cheek, Louisa explained how she had arranged the food gifts in the refrigerator and freezer and showed her the stacks of laundry she’d washed and folded in the utility room.
Bunny thanked her and hugged her again, and their shared sobs made even his own heart hurt and tears burn in the backs of his eyes. He felt such a loss for not having known Grinnie better, that she had inspired that kind of devotion. Tristan stood by him, looking unsure of what to do, but he finally walked over to the women and patted their backs and tried to console them.
A knock sounded, and when he opened the front door, it was to find a couple of what Joseph assumed must be Louisa’s grandkids on the porch. They were dressed in wife-beaters and low-slung jeans, showing their ink, and they looked like thugs. Joseph schooled his expression as he gazed at them through the screen.
“May I help you?” He maintained eye contact with the one who appeared to be in charge, and the young man nodded at him and backed up a single step. He recognized the young man as the one who had waved to Bunny the night Joseph had picked her up for their date.
“We’re Bunny—I mean Miss Carrigan and Tristan’s neighbors, sir. Louisa is our grandmother. We grew up next door to Miss Grinnie, and we wanted to pay our respects.” The young man tried to smile. “We woulda been at the funeral home, but we figured the sheriff would be there, and we didn’t want it to be…awkward. Miss Grinnie was a nice lady, and we just…” His lip trembled a bit, and the emotion in his eyes was sincere, and Joseph nodded.
“Come in, gentlemen,” Joseph said, hoping he wasn’t making a colossal mistake, the point that Bunny lived in a dangerous area ramming home oh-so clearly. Her grandmother had lived among these neighbors for decades. Bunny and Tristan were new in the area, but they’d been accepted. That didn’t mean they were safe.
He took a deep breath, praying for patience and protection.
In the living room, he watched the painfully awkward condolences shared and accepted.
“Hey, listen, Bunny,” said the young man, whose name was Jesse, extracting a wad of bills from his pocket. “I meant to go to the flower shop to send flowers for the funeral but…” He held out the money to her. “I thought maybe you might need help with bills or groceries.”
Bunny clasped her hands around what was probably drug money in Jesse’s hands. “You have a new baby, Jesse. You know Grinnie would tell you to buy diapers with that money. I can almost hear her say it.” Jesse chuckled, and it was a broken sound. Bunny added, “If you want to get her flowers, why don’t you wait and decorate her grave with some pretty silk flowers. You know what else she would tell you, right?” She lifted her eyebrows and smiled at him.
Jesse shook his head but then chuckled and nodded. “She would tell me to go to art school like I wanted to.” He drew in a deep breath. “It’s a nice thought.”
But it’ll never happen was left unsaid.
Jesse hugged Bunny while his grandmother looked on tearfully and then bumped fists with Tristan and hugged him. The other young man with him, who seemed shy by comparison, hugged them both and then followed Jesse out the door.
Louisa wrapped her shawl around her housecoat and picked up her purse by the door. Joseph held out a hand to shake, but Louisa reached out to hug him and whispered, “You take good care of my kids, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Louisa smiled up at him and then was gone.
“Still want that nap?” Joseph asked as the two of them stood in the living room looking lost. Bunny nodded but then looked at Tristan.
“Don’t look at me, sis. I’m not tired. You go nap.”
“Don’t worry about us, Bunny. Go lie down and get comfortable. Tristan and I can watch a movie.”
“You sure?” she asked, slipping out of her high heels and coming to him to hug him, not even waiting for a reply. She was exhausted, and it would take more than a nap to get her caught up.
Tristan nudged him and handed him the remote with a smile. “Movie or video games?”
* * * *
“Boom! Yeah!”
Bunny came awake with a start and a head rush, sitting up in bed too fast. Her head felt clogged with tears, but she smiled as she listened to the sound of laughter coming from the den. A quick glance at the clock confirmed she’d slept until sunset.
“Take that! Watch out for the zombie!” Tristan shouted and then cackled as the zombie undoubtedly met a brutal end.
Assuming Joseph had departed at some point, she rose from the rumpled bed, feeling sweaty and gross after falling asleep in her funeral clothes. “Leaving him alone with the remote. I can’t believe it,” she growled but then hesitated and her crankiness abated. He’d been there for her, but he had a business to take care of and he didn’t deserve her judgment.
“Hey, hey,” Joseph’s voice rumbled from the kitchen. “Turn it back down, Tristan. Your sister is still sleeping.”
“Sorry.”
She breathed in deeply, sitting on the edge of the bed, and the tension drained right back out of her. He’d stayed.
The last four days were a blur to her, but the one constant had been Joseph. He’d helped her deal with the insurance company, the funeral home, the cemetery. Everything. He’d been by her side, even to the point of picking her and Tristan up that morning for the funeral.
Guilt swept through her as she realized it was a club night and Joseph was watching a zombie movie with her brother. And he was in the kitchen. Judging by the sounds, he was fixing supper.
Stealing another glance at the clock, she grabbed a fresh change of clothing from the laundry basket full of clean and folded clothes Louisa had thoughtfully placed by her closet. The mingled scents of food made her mouth water as she slipped down the hallway to the bathroom and took a quick shower. When she came out, her stomach was growling, and she felt a little less like a zombie, although the dull ache that had persisted in her chest for the last several days was still there and probably would for many more.
“Hey,” she
murmured through a throat made raspy from crying as she padded on bare feet into the kitchen. Joseph was preparing three dinner plates from the casserole dishes on the stove. It looked as though more food had arrived while she’d been asleep, and there was a vase of wildflowers on the kitchen counter. “Smells good in here.”
“Hey there.” The gentle timbre of his voice made her throat clog with new tears. “Come here,” he said softly, holding his arms open. “I hope we didn’t wake you with the noise.”
The circle of his arms was comforting. She breathed in the mix of his scents, the light fresh scent of his aftershave mingled with soap. She pressed her nose against his breastbone and caught the scent that was uniquely his through his dress shirt and undershirt. She breathed deeply and held on tight, closing her eyes. His presence helped more than the nap did.
The old Bunny would’ve laughed at that, finding comfort in a man, having been let down by the man most central in her life. She’d accepted letdown after letdown from her father, and then from other men she’d dated. She’d built a wall up, figuring protecting herself from disappointment and heartache was better than risking vulnerability. With Joseph, none of that was necessary.
“I thought you might be hungry soon,” he murmured, squeezing her a little more tightly, as if he knew exactly what she needed. “Your kitchen is comfort food central right now, fiammetta.”
“You’re tellin’ me,” she murmured as tears escaped from her clenched eyelids. “Grinnie’s kitchen was like that. She always hummed when she cooked, and I could tell how happy she was by the rise and fall and cadence of her tune. I wish we’d had a little more time with her.”
The sense of loss and ache in her heart swelled, and Joseph murmured to her as she got his shirtfront all wet with her tears…again.
“Did…anybody call while I was asleep?”
“Mr. Grogan called to see if either of you needed anything.”
She smiled, and more tears leaked against his shirt, reminded that not all men ghosted when things got uncomfortable. “That was sweet.”
Bunny and the Beast [Divine Creek Ranch 22] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 23
