Charlie walks over and places the flowers on the small table next to the bed. He comes to me and kisses me on the forehead. “Have you eaten?” he asks.
“I’m fine,” I reply as I shake my head.
“Go home,” Aunt May orders.
“What? No, I’m not leaving. I’m staying. I can’t go anywhere. I have to stay.”
There’s another knock on the door, and a young woman walks in wearing a light green polo shirt, and black pants. Her hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail, and she’s quite pretty. But I don’t know who she is, and I know nearly everyone in Hope River. “Hello, May?” She looks at Aunt May.
“Yes,” Aunt May replies, sternly.
“I’m Serena, and I’ve been asked to come over and start helping you with your rehabilitation?”
“Martha works fast,” I say as I look to her then Aunt May.
“Well, she told me exactly what you mean to this town, so I was told to come right over.”
“Already?” Aunt May asks. “I was hoping to get accustomed to the idea of needing rehabilitation before we started.”
“Well, get accustomed to it quickly, because I’m here for the next hour,” Serena says.
Bam! Talk about not letting Aunt May get away with anything. Oh, I like her, and I think Aunt May is going to like her too. “You’re pushy, aren’t you.”
“Yes, I am. And you’re likely going to swear at me at some stage. But it’s okay.” She winks at me while smirking. “I’ve got my big girl panties on. And by the way, the more you moan, the more enjoyment I get out of it.”
Aunt May rolls her eyes. “What kind of sick person are you?” she asks.
“The type who’s here to help you walk, and give you back your independence.” Aunt May doesn’t reply. “Thought you’d like that,” Serena says. Charlie and I both snicker.
“Before you start, can I see you outside for a moment please?” I ask.
“Sure thing.” Serena is already at the door, when I turn to Aunt May. “Don’t worry, we’re only talking about you.”
“Suddenly everyone’s a comedian.”
“It’s okay, Gran. I think you’re in good hands,” Charlie says as he pulls the chair next to the bed and sits beside her.
I close the door behind me so Aunt May can’t hear anything we’re saying. I run over a few things with Serena, and ask her for her number so Dad can call. We’re out in the hall for all of five minutes while she gives me her card and agrees to take a call from Dad. When we head back in, Charlie is laughing at something, and Aunt May seems to be in better spirits too.
“So, we’re going to start really easy today, May. We’re going to get you up off the bed, and walk over to the bathroom. But I’ve brought something with me that you’ll be using ‒ a walker.” She heads out to the hallway, and wheels in a bright purple walker. My eyes bulge out my head, Aunt May won’t like that. Hell, I didn’t even see it when we were out in the hallway.
“I’m not using that,” Aunt May protests.
“Yes, you are. But for now, I’m going to do some leg exercises with you, and then I’ll get you up walking, but only to the bathroom for today. Five steps. Today is going to be hard, but you’ll do it, and you’ll feel proud of yourself for doing it, too.”
“Do you want us to wait outside?” I ask.
Aunt May holds up her right hand to Serena. “Give us a moment please.”
Serena nods, and heads back out to the hallway. That poor girl, in the room, out of the room, then back, then out. “What is it, Gran?” Charlie asks.
She looks at Charlie, and holds her right hand out to him. He takes it in his, and lowers his chin, waiting for whatever she’s going to say. “Take Tabitha, and go out somewhere for dinner. I don’t care where. Take her out and get her mind off of me.”
“Aunt May!” I protest. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Aunt May keeps talking to Charlie. “I need you to look after her for tonight.”
Charlie smiles, and dips his head. “I’ll be happy to.”
“Thank you. Have a good night, kids.”
“I’m not leaving,” I say adamantly. Charlie gives Aunt May a kiss on the cheek, and waits for me to do the same thing. “I’m not going.” I cross my arms and stomp my foot.
Aunt May looks at me, shaking her head. “I’d like some privacy, please.”
I know why she’s doing this, because she thinks I need to rest. But I don’t; I’m fine. “Come on.” Charlie wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Let’s give her some privacy.”
“But I’m not tired.”
“You may not be, but May is. Give her some space,” Charlie encourages. “I’m stepping outside, give you both a moment to talk. Don’t be too long, because I think Serena wants to get things moving quickly.” Charlie walks out leaving us alone.
“Let me stay,” I plead. “Please, I’ll go home tomorrow, I promise.”
“That boy is your future, and I’m your past. Like it or not, you need him, and I’m fairly certain he needs you. I need to do this, and I don’t want an audience.”
I want to say more, argue and refuse to leave. But I know what she’s like. She’s stubborn. “Okay,” I finally relent. Leaning down I give her a kiss on the cheek. “If you need anything, you only have to call me.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” Even with her slurred voice, she’s still got the sharpest tongue I know. But she means well. She’s always got my best interest at heart.
Opening the door, Charlie is leaning against the opposite wall on his phone. “Okay. Thank you.” He hangs up, links our hands together, and we walk past Serena who’s now holding a bottle of water and heading toward my aunt’s room.
“Please take care of her,” I beg,
“Absolutely.”
Serena disappears in the room, and I look behind me, feeling guilty that I’ve left Aunt May by herself. “Don’t do that,” Charlie says. I look at him, tilting my head to the side. “You’re feeling guilty, right?” I nod. “Well don’t. May’s in good hands. And, we’re only a phone call away.”
I let out a long breath. “Jesus, it feels like I haven’t had a moment to breathe.”
“Well, I’m taking you home. You need to have a shower, and then we’re going out.”
“We are? Where? I’m not really in the mood to go anywhere.”
“We’re going to Hope and River’s.”
I swing my head around to look at him. “Hope can’t cook. And I don’t really feel like cooking, I’m sorry.”
He chuckles. “No, Hope can’t cook. She never could. So, Elle’s taking care of it. All we have to do, is show up. And if you say no, they’ll be disappointed, because they suggested it.”
“They did?” I ask. “But…”
“Yes, they did.”
My heart is beating quickly. I’ve deliberately cut myself out of everyone’s lives, and they’re doing something for me. This causes all kinds of confused emotions to swarm inside me. “Thank you.” I lean my head on Charlie’s shoulder as we walk out to his truck. “I’ll just grab a quick shower and we can go, okay?”
“Sounds good to me.”
As Charlie drives home, I close my eyes for a moment, and finally let everything sink in.
Charlie
From the moment I got to the hospital, I could see how exhausted Tabitha was. I’m fairly certain she only slept a broken hour or so through the night. I stayed with her as long as I could, but I had to get to work today. I busted my ass to get it all done as quickly as I could because I needed to get back to my girl.
Now, I can hear her in the shower, and it’s taking all my willpower not to go in there and join her. But I can’t let her use sex as a substitute for love. The water turns off, and within a few moments she’s out and dashing across the hallway to her room.
Thank God I only heard her and didn’t see her. Because if she’s only wearing a towel I’m not sure how long my reso
lve not to touch her would survive. Although I’ve promised her that we’re not going to have sex until she can kiss me. It’s been her one hard and fast rule all along. No kissing on the mouth. Once she kisses me, then I’ll know she’s broken all the barriers closing her off to me.
“I’m nearly ready,” she yells from her bedroom.
“Okay,” I reply while pacing the kitchen and hallway.
Tabitha walks out in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, with her damp hair back in a ponytail. “I’m so tired. Can we come home early, please? I could do with a good night’s sleep, and I’ll need to get back to the hospital early.”
“Of course, whatever you need.”
Tabitha locks the house, and when we’re in my truck, she leans her head back against the headrest. “I’m tired,” she says.
“It’s been challenging, but you’ve been amazing.”
She closes her eyes. “I was afraid that I was going to lose her, Charlie. I think a part of me was petrified that if I do lose her, I’ll be alone.”
Fuck. “You’re not alone, Pop Rock.”
She opens her eyes and slowly turns her head to stare at me. She reaches over and places her hand on my thigh. This is the first time she’s initiated any affection that won’t lead to sex. “I like it when you call me Pop Rock. It’s cute. At first I didn’t like it, because it’s personal, but now, I like it. A lot.”
“Good to know.” I grin. She likes it, so I’m going to keep using it. She lets out a massive yawn, and stretches her shoulders back. This gives me the idea to give her a massage tonight when we get back home. She needs to relax.
We pull up at Hope and River’s and Tabitha looks out to the ocean. “God, I can’t remember the last time I went swimming in the ocean.” She makes no attempt to leave the truck.
“We’ll go whenever you want. I find it calming. Even when the water is angry, I still find it rejuvenates me.” My memory reminds me of the time I threw Rae’s engagement ring in the swirl of the ocean. A time when I thought I loved someone so hard, that life without her would be, at best, tolerable. Now, I sit next to the most amazing woman I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.
“I have to make sure Aunt May is okay before I can leave her for long periods.” It’s so obvious how much she adores May. And I think she’d have been devastated if we hadn’t been there when May suffered her stroke. I’m so grateful it didn’t lead to anything more serious. I honestly believe anything more serious would set Tabitha’s development back so badly, she might not have recovered.
“Of course,” I reply. “Now, let’s get inside, because I’m sure they’re waiting for us.”
“Okay.”
The moment we climb the steps, I try the door to find it unlocked. “Hello!” I call as I hold Tabitha’s hand in mine.
“On the deck!” Hope calls.
“Wow, look at that view,” Tabitha says as we head out the slider to the deck.
“Hey,” Hope says as she jumps up out of her chair, comes over and hugs Tabitha tight.
Tabitha hasn’t let go of my hand. Instead, she grips it harder. I can tell this is making her feel uncomfortable.
“Tabitha, how are you?” Elle asks as she embraces her next.
River and Jake are little more subdued as they both offer her a quick kiss on the cheek
“Um, yeah, I’m okay. Thank you for this.” Tabitha looks over to the table filled with various dishes.
“You’re welcome. Here, sit.” River points to two chairs set side by side.
I let Tabitha sit first, then I sit beside her. I can tell she’s totally uncomfortable, and judging by how Hope and Elle are staring at her, she’s going to have a meltdown. I need to do something to take the focus away from her and May. “Hey, how are the wedding arrangements?” I ask Hope desperately trying to steer the sympathetic looks, and potential conversation in another direction.
“Ugh, don’t even. I have no idea about this stuff. Flowers, table decorations, food, alcohol, photographers, freaking video people, not to mention a wedding dress, shoes, lingerie. Ugh, it’s too much. Not to mention the guest list. Man, I’m not cut out for this stuff.”
“I can help with the lingerie,” River says with a dead straight face.
Buddy, what the hell are you doing? Tabitha and I laugh. She must be thinking the same I thing I am.
“Really? That’s all you heard? You didn’t hear me say anything else?”
“I can help with the food,” Tabitha says.
“I can help with food too,” Elle offers.
“You could hire a wedding planner,” Tabitha says.
Hope rolls her eyes. “I could, but I don’t want to.”
“Then stop your whining,” Elle bites back.
Jake chuckles, and Elle shoots him a glare. “Sorry,” he says under his breath as he lifts his soda and drinks from it.
“And, we’re about to start building a family retreat behind the B&B for Joanne and her son, because she’s going to be working for us. Not to mention we’ve got the houses over on Oak Tree Parade, and the city is really impressed with what we’re doing and is trying to get us to sign on so we take on more of their houses.”
“Speaking of which, I need to modify a few things at Aunt May’s house. I know you guys are busy, so I’ll try to find contractors to come in and do the work.”
“Hey, what do you need?” I ask.
“I need to put a ramp in the front so Aunt May can come and go without trouble, because she loves her vegetable garden. And I need some new easy turn faucets installed. And a hand rail for her in the bathrooms, um, I think that’s it. Honestly, my brain is fried, so there could be more, but I’m so tired I’ve probably forgotten.”
These are all things I can do. I sneak a look over to Hope and River, and both give me a small, knowing nod. Yeah, we’ll get it done. We’ll get it done tomorrow, so it’s all ready for when May comes home. “I’ll make a few phone calls,” I say.
“Oh no, please. I know how busy you are, and it’s too much to ask you to do anything.”
That’s her, I refuse to let anyone close so I’m elevating all my walls again. She can think whatever she likes, we’ll take care of this for her and for May.
“If you and Elle can help with the food, would you mind if sometime next week or the week after, the three of us get together and go over a few things for the wedding?” Hope asks.
“Sure,” Elle says.
“Yeah, I can do that,” Tabitha adds. “As long as Aunt May is okay, then I’m good.”
“Hey, how’s um Joanne doing?” I ask Hope.
“She wasn’t supposed to start yet, but she heard what happened with May, so she called me and asked if I needed the help, so I put her to work. Thomas, her son, has been helping out too. They’re staying at the B&B for now, which means we need to get the family retreat done ASAP.” Hope pointedly looks to me, then River.
“You’re a slave driver,” I say.
“You’re only her brother, I’m marrying her,” River mumbles under his breath.
“I swear to God, River, if you keep going like this, our wedding night will consist of you sleeping in a separate bed from me.”
“Sorry, love,” he mutters as he lowers his head.
Tabitha laughs, and Jake shakes his head. “Keep your woman under control, River.”
Hope’s eyes widen as she slowly turns her head to look at Jake. We all know he’s only kidding, but things like this fire Hope up. Elle’s trying to hide her laughter by lifting her hand and covering her mouth. River has suddenly become invested in anything but what’s happening, and Tabitha and I are trying to contain our laughter. “All I can say, buddy, is I hope the castration is quick,” I say.
Jake starts laughing too. Hope brings her finger to her mouth, tapping on her bottom lip. “Don’t think I’m not gonna get you back for that comment.”
“I’ll make sure to wear a protector for the rest of my life,” Jake jokes.
Even Tabitha has relaxed. Her
shoulders aren’t as tense, and she’s smiling. I like it when she’s free like this. In the few months I’ve known her, she’s always been so damn intense, and high-strung, but tonight she’s different.
The night goes by with lots of laughs, and the perfect company. But by nine, Tabitha’s yawns are becoming more frequent while she struggles to keep her eyes open. “Okay guys, thanks for having us, but I need to get this one home.” I push my chair back, and hold out my hand for Tabitha.
Her eyes grow large as she looks at my hand, then peeks over to the others. All her walls are sneaking up again, and I know this is an internal struggle for her. She slowly reaches for it, and I think she expects everyone to say or do something. But nothing happens.
I push her limits once more by snaking my hand around her waist, and drawing her closer to me. “Good night, everyone,” I say.
“Night,” everyone responds in unison.
“Hey, Tabitha, if you need anything, let me know, yeah?” Hope offers.
“Thank you. Good night. Oh, and thank you for dinner.”
We leave the four of them talking, and still nibbling away at what food’s left. As we walk out to the car, I can see Tabitha is restless. “You okay?”
She shrugs. When we get in the car, Tabitha sighs. “I’m somewhere between overwhelmed, and confused, and trying to find fault in everyone so I have an excuse to push you all away.”
“Wow, that’s brutally honest.”
“I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No. You need to tell me these things, Tabitha, because it tells me how you’re feeling, and it shows me that you’re trying. And even if you did push us away, I can tell you with certainty, we’re not going anywhere. I’m not going anywhere.”
She nods. “I’m starting to see this.” She turns her head to look out the window. The rest of the drive back to May’s house is quiet. I’m thinking about what I can do tomorrow to get the house ready for May, and I suspect Tabitha is over-analyzing everything that happened tonight.
I park in my normal spot, and walk with Tabitha up to the front door. She opens it, and turns to me. “What are you doing?” she asks as I hold the door open so she can enter.
Healing Hearts: A friends with benefits, small town romance (Hope River Book 3) Page 15