Hope Heals

by Tymber Dalton

  I…can’t…breathe!

  At least Betty seemed to understand why she found it so funny. The older woman bore a patient look on her face while her dad stood there scratching his head.

  “Is this some woman thing I’m clueless about?” he asked.

  She’d almost gotten herself under control, but that set her off again, this time with Betty joining her.

  “Yes,” Betty managed, “but not why you think.” She stumbled her way over to Sarah and finally managed to help her get back on her feet despite her stomach aching from the laughter.

  The women leaned on each other for support. “I’m…I’m sorry,” Sarah got out. “I just…I wasn’t…”

  Nope, more laughter.

  “You sure know how to kill a guy’s ego, honey,” he said.

  Betty hooted. “Oh, shut up, you old coot. You’re making it worse.”

  “Worse? I don’t see how. My daughter and my girlfriend are standing here laughing at me.”

  Well, he finally confirmed it. Sarah managed to rein in her laughter enough to hug Betty. “You two don’t need to sneak around behind my back,” she said. Her dad walked over to join them, and she hugged him despite stray snickers trying to escape her. “I’m happy for you. But yes, a locked bedroom door would be preferable to walking in on you in the barn.”

  “I wasn’t sure when it was right to tell you.”

  Betty smacked his arm again. “And walking in on us in the barn was the right time?”

  “All right, I get it.” He coughed. “Do you think Jason will be okay with it?”

  “I’m sure he will be,” Sarah said. “He’s already calling her Grandma Betty.”

  “Why did you come out here anyway?” he asked.

  “I was going to see if you wanted lunch.”

  “Oh.” He coughed again, something he’d always done when he was nervous and trying to hide it. “Um, that’s okay.”

  “We’d love lunch,” Betty said, hooking her arm through Sarah’s and heading toward the house with her. “Thank you, honey.”

  “I really do like her, Dad,” she tossed over her shoulder at him.

  After a moment, he finally started following them back to the house.

  * * * *

  After lunch, Betty went back to her house, and while Sarah wasn’t sure exactly what her dad was doing, she guessed he’d gone with her.

  She giggled as she stared at her monitor. She felt a little guilty interrupting their mid-morning activities, but it did serve him right.

  Hopefully he’d be a little more discreet when Jason was around.

  Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She left her dad a note and headed over to the salon to talk to Dana.

  Fortunately, her cousin was just finishing up with a client and actually had time to fit her in.

  “So to what do I owe this visit?” Dana asked.

  Sarah giggled and in hushed tones told her what had happened.

  “Shut. Your. Mouth!” Dana’s jaw gaped before she burst into peals of laughter.

  “Now don’t tell him I told you, please. I just had to get that off my chest.”

  “I can see why.” She draped a cape around Sarah and pointed her back to the rinse sinks. “That’s a scream. I never walked in on my parents.”

  “Did you know he and Betty were an item?”

  Dana shrugged as she tested the water. “I suspected.”

  Sarah closed her eyes as Dana wet her hair down. “Why do you think he didn’t tell me?” she quietly asked.

  “Well, my best guess is he was worried you might get upset.”

  “Why would I get upset?”

  “Because women are crazy, and men are stupid—”

  “And the reason women are crazy is because men are stupid,” Sarah finished the old saying for her. “I get it, maybe he was just being a dumb guy.”

  “You’re okay with it, right?”

  “Of course I am. It’s not like he went out and found himself a girlfriend before Mom’s body was cold.” In all honesty, she hadn’t given the possibility of her dad going out and dating much thought at all. She knew how much he’d loved her mom. And she’d suspected, based on how much Betty was around, that they were an item. Although she really hadn’t given it a lot of conscious thought until walking in on them.

  “Uncle Walt’s been smiling more in the past year or so than I can remember seeing him smile since Aunt Becky died. That’s a good sign.”

  “Yeah.”

  Dana finished shampooing her and wrapped a towel around Sarah’s head before helping her up. “So what are we doing to your hair today, anyway?”

  Sarah sat back down in Dana’s chair in front of her station and looked in the mirror. “Just trim the dead ends for me, please,” she grumbled. She kept it just below her shoulders so she could easily pull it back out of her way. She’d been getting highlights in her naturally dark blonde hair for several years.

  Not anymore. It wasn’t in her budget, even with Dana giving her a family discount. Besides, she didn’t want to mooch off her cousin.

  “You sure?” Dana fingered a few locks. “Looks like you’re due for color. Sure you don’t want me to?”

  “No.” She met her cousin’s gaze in the mirror. “I need to let it grow out.”

  Dana shrugged. “Will do.” She started combing Sarah’s hair out. “So how are things with Sam and Pete?”

  Sarah was glad for the cape covering her from the neck down. She knew her whole chest and shoulders had to be blushing from as hot as she suddenly felt at the thought of the two hunks. “Good. It’s working out well with them. They’re nice guys and good businessmen. It’s easy work.”

  “They’re single,” she sing-songed. “And they look at you like they’d jump at a chance to be with you. Don’t think I don’t see it. And they genuinely seem to like Jason.”

  “I work for them. And they’re just friends.” She looked down at her lap. “Besides, I don’t want a man in my life anytime soon. Not like that. Not after what I just went through.”

  “True. Michael really was a nutless wonder.”

  “If Sam and Pete are so great, why don’t you chase them down?”

  She let out a snort. “Honey, I don’t have any time for a love life with those two Dementors of mine in the house.” She grinned. “Besides, I’m taking online classes to get me a degree in medical transcription.” She held up her scissors. “I don’t expect to be able to do this for thirty years without it killing my hands. And I can do it part-time in addition to this, work up to doing it full-time at home and still see clients on the weekends if I need to.”

  “How are your parents doing?”

  She shrugged as she snipped more off the ends of Sarah’s hair. “They’re in Michigan, visiting my mom’s sister. They’re coming back in two weeks for a month.” She groaned. “Just when I get the kids back to school and have a few minutes to myself in the bathroom without them disturbing me.” She let out a snort. “Figures.”

  “You miss them and you know it.”

  Dana’s sly smile belied her words. “Yeah, I do. And they told me to tell you they’re really looking forward to seeing you again, and finally meeting Jason.”

  She raised her gaze to look at Dana in the mirror. “You and me, we are a couple, aren’t we?” Sarah softly noted. “I never thought when I headed for New York that I would end up back here. Especially not like this.”

  Dana gently squeezed her shoulder. “You didn’t know.”

  “I should have known. How could I have been so blind?”

  “You trusted him.” She went back to snipping. “I had the benefit of knowing my sperm donor was an asshole nearly from the get-go. As hard as I had it at times, I wouldn’t trade what I went through for what you went through.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I meant for Jason’s sake. My kids know their bio father is a schmuck. They don’t even ask about him anymore.”

  “What did you tell the
m about him?”

  She shrugged. “The truth. That he’s an addict, and that he’s immature and irresponsible. They glommed onto Uncle Walt and my dad, and it became moot. You’d be proud of me. I didn’t swear or call him a nutless bastard once during the process of talking to them, either.”

  “That’s one of the nicest things I could say about Michael at this point.”

  “Has Jason asked you more about it?”

  “No. I almost wish he would. I don’t want to force him to talk about it, but it bothers me that he hasn’t really wanted to talk about it.”

  “Well, he will when he’s ready. It’s only been, what, six, seven weeks now since it happened?” She placed both her hands on Sarah’s shoulders and knelt down so they were cheek to cheek and looking at each other in the mirror.

  “You’re a good mom. A great mom. You’re doing the best you can under the circumstances. Jason’s a smart kid, and you and your dad have given him a fantastic support system.” She kissed Sarah on the cheek before she straightened and got back to work.

  “Thanks.”

  Her cousin brightly smiled. “I mean it. It’s good to have you home. I really missed you.”

  Sarah didn’t have to force the smile. “I missed you, too.”

  Sarah made it home an hour before Jason’s bus was due to arrive. As she settled behind her desk again and woke up her computer, her dad opened the door and stuck his head in.

  “We good?”

  “Dad, I’m not upset.” She struggled against another bout of giggles threatening to break through and managed to hold them at bay to a smile. “I’m happy for you both. I really like Betty. I just wish you’d told me sooner.”

  He stepped all the way in and pulled the door shut behind him. “Do you mind if I invite her to dinner tonight?”

  “Dad, I don’t mind. Besides, it’s your house. Have her over for dinner every night. I mean it. Heck, have her spend the night. It’s fine. I like her, I know Jason loves her. She’s family, right?”

  He finally smiled. “Thanks, sweetheart. I’m glad you’re not upset.” He paused. “Your hair looks good.”

  “Thank you. Now I’m not trying to be rude, but I really need to get back to work before Jason gets home.” She made a shooing gesture at him.

  “Betty and I will walk down and meet the bus for you.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “She, ah, wanted to know if she could take him out shopping this weekend.”

  “For what?”

  “Well, a new swimsuit, for starters, since he gets his cast off next week. She, ah, went ahead and signed him up for the Y’s swim team this morning. And before you say anything, she asked me and I told her yes.”

  She sat back in her chair, trying to decide if she was supposed to be upset that they’d done this without asking, or thankful it was money she wouldn’t have to spend, or both.

  “She also enrolled the Dastardly Duo, so they’re on the same team,” he said. “She hasn’t told Dana yet, but I know she won’t mind. And she said she wants to play chauffeur and take them all to practice.”

  Okay, that completely tipped the scales over to gratitude. She smiled. “Thank you. Please tell her I really appreciate it. I’m sure Dana will, too.”

  “Well, might as well get him back in the water sooner rather than later, right?”

  “Right.”

  She stood and walked over to him and gave him a hug. “She really does want grandkids to spoil, doesn’t she?”

  “Yep.” He stepped away. “I’ll leave you alone, kiddo. We’ll let you know when dinner’s ready.”

  “You don’t want me to help you?”

  “No.” Now he looked a little uncomfortable again. “Betty said she’d come over and cook.”

  Sarah couldn’t ever imagine a time when Isabella d’Antonio would ever volunteer to go over to one of her children’s houses and cook. Or volunteer to take grandkids to swim practice, or anywhere else, unless it was an event that would bolster her own standing.

  Isabella’s MO was bestowing expensive gifts on the kids for their birthdays and holidays, gifts that were usually completely inappropriate for kids.

  Like expensive collectible china dolls for the girls, and model cars you weren’t supposed to take out of the box for boys.

  “Did I tell you how great it is to be home, Dad?”

  Back to a smile. “You might have mentioned it a time or two.” He left her office, shutting the door behind him.

  Sarah couldn’t wipe the happy smile off her face as she settled at her desk once more. No, had she divorced Michael instead of being widowed, she would have had to stay in New York, struggling to make ends meet and likely embroiled in a long, nasty, and expensive custody case. No way Michael or Isabella would have ever allowed her to go to Florida with Jason.

  This sucked big hairy donkey balls for Jason, to lose his father the way he had. For that, she would always feel badly.

  But she wouldn’t deny that, for once, it seemed the karma bus finally ran over the right person and tipped the tally in her favor.

  Chapter Fourteen

  By Friday, with Jason back in school, Sarah had been putting in more hours with her graphic design work than she had in months, even before Michael’s death. Which was a good thing, because she was able to take on more jobs than she ever had before.

  She left her bookkeeping chores for in the evening, when she could sit on the couch in the living room with Jason and her dad and even Betty, and do that while they watched TV or played with the Wii.

  She also wouldn’t complain about any of the work. The bookkeeping was easy and repetitive.

  She was sitting there that evening after dinner when Sam knocked on the back sliders before opening them and sticking his head in. Coming and going without notice had pretty much become the norm in all three households over the past few weeks.

  He pointed at her. “You’re being abducted for the evening. Come on.”

  She looked over at her dad, who was suddenly the paragon of innocence. “But I’ve got work to do. I’m not finished entering the expenses yet.”

  Sam stepped in and crossed the living room, where he took the laptop from her and closed it. “Bring them.”

  “Go,” her dad said. “Me and Jase are going to finish his homework so he can beat my butt at bowling again.” Betty had left after dinner to go do a Skype video chat with her grandkids and would return later.

  “It’s okay, Mommy,” Jason said. “Grandpa’s here. Go have fun.”

  Realizing she was overruled, she gathered the receipts into the large manila envelope and slipped her Crocs on. “Why do I feel like I’m being plotted against?”

  Sam pointed at her dad. “Because he ratted you out, kiddo. He said you’ve been working your ass off this week and won’t take time for yourself.” He grabbed her free hand and led her toward the sliders. “We’ll have her back by morning, Walt,” he joked.

  Her face reddened. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

  “No, she won’t,” Sam said.

  “Make her relax,” Walt called out after them.

  “Have fun, Mommy,” Jason said.

  She closed the sliders once they were on the lanai. “I need to be back in time to tuck Jason into bed.”

  He turned to her. “You need an evening of relaxation.” He hefted the laptop. “If Pete and I have to hold you down to get you to relax, you will relax.”

  She swallowed. The thought of the two men holding her down was anything but relaxing. It was…

  Sexy as hell.

  She didn’t say anything else as he led her next door and through their front door.

  “Got her,” he called out as he pushed the front door closed behind them.

  “Good,” Pete called out from what sounded like the living room. Sure enough, Pete sat on a huge, fluffy comforter spread out on the floor in front of the sofa. Several pillows were propped up against the sofa, and two large bowls of popcorn sat next to him. He’d pulled the coffee table off t
o the side.

  Pete patted the floor next to her. “Come on. Right here.”

  “What is this?”

  Sam took the envelope from her and carried it and the laptop over to the counter, where he set both down before returning to her. “This is your forced relaxation evening. We have a full Netflix queue or On Demand to choose from. Lady’s choice.”

  Pete reached up, snagged her hand, and dragged her down next to him. He slung an arm around her shoulders. “Now, what would you prefer? Mindless humor, action-adventure, mystery, rom-com, or horror?”

  She looked up into his brown eyes. An evening off sounded really good. Especially if it meant spending it with the two cousins. “I don’t care. Surprise me.”

  “Do you want anything to drink?” Sam asked. “And you’re not driving, so if you want an adult beverage, we can provide that, too. We’ll walk you home safely. I promise.”

  They were both so cute. “Okay, I’ll take a beer if you have one.” What could it hurt?

  “One beer, coming up.”

  He actually returned with three, the caps removed, one for each of them. Then he settled onto the comforter on her other side while Pete used the remote to scroll through their options.

  He settled on a mindless R-rated comedy she never would have chosen, but suspected it would be perfect for tonight. All she wanted to do was laugh and quit feeling sorry for herself.

  And the company wasn’t bad, either.

  Pete looked down at her. “Tonight we’re just three good friends. You’re not working for us. Got it?” He took a sip of his beer.

  Her smile wasn’t forced. “Got it.” She held up her bottle. “To fun.”

  The men gently clinked with her. “To fun,” they said.

  Ten minutes into the movie, she realized the best part of her evening was the company and the booze. When she finished her first beer, Sam got up.

  “You want another one?”

  “Sure. Why not. I’m not driving.”

  He grinned. “Definitely not.”

  She rested her head on Pete’s shoulder. “Thank you, guys. For tonight. Really. I appreciate it.” She let her right hand rest on Sam’s left thigh.