by Sandy James
She underestimated his strength, and his punch almost knocked her over. Taking a tighter hold of the bag, she braced her legs farther apart. “Again.”
Damn if he didn’t grin and hit the thing harder.
Joslynn held her ground and grinned. “Again.”
* * *
Joslynn put her hands against the tiled wall of the shower and let the hot water spray on her shoulders. Taking deep breaths, she focused on relaxing after a tough workout.
The punching bag had gone over better than she’d expected. Russ had hit the thing until his arms trembled with fatigue and her shoulders ached. Then she’d led him on a three-mile jog that had ended up with them back at his house making love on the sofa.
Something about their incredible chemistry always ignited when they worked out together. Didn’t matter what activity they chose. Running. Lifting weights. Yoga. Whenever they finished, they reached for each other.
At least they had enough self-control to get somewhere private before the clothes came off.
Russ had popped into the shower first, and she’d joined him a few minutes later, knowing that if she got there too soon, they’d probably end up back in bed. After he dried himself with a towel, he rushed out of the bathroom, telling her that his phone was ringing.
Joslynn turned off the water and opened the glass door just wide enough to fetch a clean towel. As she dried off, he came back into the bathroom, towel draped around his slim hips. He was staring at his phone, and the startled look on his face frightened her.
“What’s up?” Something was clearly wrong, so she hurried the drying process and stared at him through the glass.
“I’m not sure.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She stepped out of the shower stall.
“It was Mom. She sounded kinda…weird.”
“What did she want?”
A frown filled his features. “You know, I’m not really sure. She just said that she’d called by accident and that they were fine. But her tone…”
“We should go over there.”
His frown deepened. “She didn’t act like she wanted me there.”
“Tell you what…If we stop by the Cottage first, we can grab the cookies I made for them. Gives us an excuse to swing by.”
Although his brow was still furrowed with worry, he nodded.
“I’ll hurry,” she promised. “If traffic is light, we can be there in thirty minutes.”
* * *
Panic sizzled inside Russ, growing in intensity with each mile that passed as he headed to his parents’ house. Although he normally drove a bit too fast, today he was pushing close to an unreasonable speed.
Josie didn’t criticize him. Instead, she chatted amiably about how Savannah’s daughter had an upcoming dance recital and how she was going to attend. Josie was astute and had figured out long ago the best way to calm him was to distract him, a tactic at which she was very skilled.
After they pulled into the driveway, she hurried to catch up with him as he practically catapulted himself from the SUV. She took his hand in one of hers, holding on to the container full of snickerdoodles with the other.
The door opened as they mounted the porch stairs, and he heard her gasp when his mother stepped outside. Russ had a flashback to Marc Guinan after he’d been nailed by the line drive. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Shit, Mom. What happened?”
Yvonne burst into tears before rushing into his arms. All he could do was hold her until she settled down.
Josie went to the door, casting a concerned glance back at him before going inside.
Russ gave her a nod, knowing she was going to check on his father. A few moments later, Baron’s angry shouts spilled from the house.
Torn between comforting his mother and protecting the woman he loved, Russ decided to stay with Yvonne. Josie was experienced in dealing with people, and she could handle herself.
This wasn’t the first time his father had flown into a rage. Before the Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Baron would go off the deep end from time to time—often for no apparent reason. It was one of the reasons they’d talked to a doctor. When he’d started his medications, he’d seemed to improve.
But today? Today Baron was shouting obscenities at the top of his lungs and had hurt his wife.
Although she was still softly weeping, Yvonne pushed away from Russ. “I need to go to your father.”
“Let Josie handle him for a minute. Tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know what happened. One minute, he was fine. Then…then…”
“He hit you?” Russ clenched his hands into fists.
She gave him a nod. “I don’t know why. Last time—”
“He’s hit you before?” His anger soared and his teeth clenched. “When?”
Russ realized that his rage had no true direction. Baron wasn’t in his right mind, and it wasn’t as though there was anyone Russ could punch in retaliation.
“Only once or twice.” Yvonne scrubbed away the remaining tears with the back of her hand.
The shouting had abated, which he hoped meant it was safe to go inside. “Let’s have Josie take a look at your face.” Thankfully, it didn’t appear as damaged as he’d first feared. Her lips were swollen, and there was some dried blood around her right nostril. The dark shadow under her right eye would be even more colorful in a day or two.
He led his mother inside, finding Josie sitting on the sofa next to a now compliant Baron. She was holding his hands and murmuring to him in a low and soothing tone.
How many troubled patients had she calmed with the same sweet voice and gentle manner?
“See?” Josie said, putting a hand on Baron’s shoulder. “Yvonne didn’t leave, and Russ is here for a visit.” Her gaze caught Russ’s. “Baron had the wrong idea that his wife had left and a stranger was running around his house in her place.” She patted his father. “Like I told you, she’s right here.”
Baron let out a snort. “That bitch thought she’d be tricky with me, pretending she lived here.”
“She should’ve known better,” Josie said. Then she glanced to Yvonne. “Why don’t you come sit down?”
Despite having been abused, his mother didn’t even hesitate as she hurried to her husband’s side.
Josie rose to surrender her spot next to Baron. “Why don’t Russ and I go get you two some milk and a plate full of the cookies I made for you? I imagine the cake I brought over Monday is long gone since chocolate is your favorite. Right, Baron?”
“Chocolate is my favorite,” he said flatly.
Russ had grown accustomed to his father doing what Josie called “mirroring.” Baron tended to repeat whatever he was asked, because he knew he was expected to say something. Since he couldn’t think of an answer, he’d just parrot the words back to the person.
After Yvonne sat, Josie crouched next to her and held her head, looking over her battered face. Then Josie used her thumbs to wipe the remaining tears from Yvonne’s cheeks. “I’ll get you some ice for that lip, okay?”
Josie rose to her full height and took Russ’s hand. “You two stay right there, and we’ll get your snack.” She led him into the kitchen.
* * *
Had Yvonne shown up at the hospital in that condition, the first thing Joslynn would’ve done was call social services. “Didn’t any of those home health service names I gave her work out?” she asked when they were out of earshot.
Russ leaned back against the kitchen counter, folding his arms over his chest the way he always did when he was closing her off.
“She didn’t call, did she?”
He shook his head. “I called a couple myself, but Mom wouldn’t meet with any of them.”
“Russ, your mother needs help, and she needs it yesterday. I thought she’d agreed.”
“She probably said that because it was what you wanted to hear and it got you off her case. She told me she didn’t want anyone coming in to help my dad. It took me forever to get her
just to let me hire someone to clean the house.”
“You’re going to have to insist.”
“I can’t tell my parents what they have to do, Josie.”
So many times, patients’ families needed to be persuaded to do the right thing, even if it was staring them right in the eyes. Baron’s condition had advanced beyond the point of Yvonne handling his care solo, and Russ needed a little tough love to realize that time had changed his role as child to the role of parent. It happened to everyone eventually. “You saw her face, right?”
He winced.
“Your father is more than she can handle alone now. Both of us know it. We need to convince her.”
Holding his hands out in front of him, palms up, he gave her a frown. “What do you want me to do? Lock him in a nursing home?”
“No.” Not yet, at least. There would be some more hard choices that would need to be made in the near future, and Russ would have to make them. Joslynn had no doubt Yvonne would do everything in her power to keep Baron home, but that was in no one’s best interest if his symptoms kept escalating.
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye, and she quickly swiped it away. In the months she’d been with Russ, Joslynn had developed a deep affection for his parents. They were wonderful people, the kind of people who didn’t deserve something this horrible to be happening to them. The NP in her knew what should be done, but she felt more like a daughter with the Greens, which made the advice she was giving so damned difficult.
“Then what, Josie?”
She took no exception to his exasperated tone. She was every bit as frustrated and angry over the situation. “Let’s start with getting an aide.” There was no reason to make Russ think about the evitable. For now she’d do everything she could to help Yvonne in her desire to keep Baron home. And that would require a lot of help. “You’re going to have to insist. Just like you did with the maid service.”
“Mom’s gonna pitch a fit.”
“Then let her go right ahead and pitch a fit.”
At least Russ smiled. Not a genuine smile—more one of relief that someone was stepping in and forcing him to put his foot down with his parents.
I should’ve done this earlier. That was what he needed to make the situation better—someone to give him a nudge. “We can go through the hospital social worker or you can call and interview some of the people yourself.”
“I’d rather you pick someone.” He pushed away from the counter. “I’ll go tell my mom.”
“It might not be a bad idea to have her go for an x-ray. I don’t think her nose is broken, but better safe than sorry. I’ll make her an ice pack while you talk to them.”
“I’ll see if she’ll go.” Grabbing Joslynn’s hand, he squeezed gently. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Fighting the urge to cry, she gave him a nod.
“I’m getting the DNA test.” Russ said the words in such a bland tone that it took her a moment to realize their importance.
“So you want to know?”
“I have to know.”
She brushed the back of her knuckles against his beard-roughened cheek. “Want me to go with you?”
“I’d like that.”
“Since you’re being so brave, maybe I’ll follow your lead and get those fertility tests,” Joslynn said.
“You don’t have to,” Russ said.
“Quid pro quo. Besides, we both need to have all the information. It’s the only way we can make smart choices.”
“Since you’re going with me, then I’ll go with you. I love you, Josie.”
I think I love you too…
Chapter Twenty-One
Hi, baby,” Joslynn said as she answered the phone.
“I’m gonna stay late,” Russ said. “Ethan is out of town with Chelsea, and Brad wanted to be with Savannah and Caroline. I’m gonna close.”
“Okay. I’m still working on that quality-of-care report anyway. How are things there?”
“Fine.” The word was clipped and terse.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Fine.”
A few stilted seconds ticked by, raising her radar a notch when he didn’t elaborate. It had been three weeks since the incident at his parents’ house, and she’d thought things were going better. Russ had helped Yvonne hire some help, and knowing his parents were in good hands had seemed to relax him. He’d even told her he didn’t feel as if he had to constantly worry about them any longer.
Why did he suddenly sound so stressed?
“I gotta go,” he said.
“Want me to stay up ’til you get here?” Joslynn asked.
“I’m going home tonight.”
It was a rare thing for him not to come to the Cottage and sleep at her side. “Are we still running in the morning?”
“Fine.”
“Is that the only word you know?” she said, hearing the frustration in her voice. She tried to soften it. “Russ, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Look, I need to go. Bye, Josie.”
He hung up before she could say another word.
* * *
He’s not coming.
After a night of worry, she’d hoped to find out what was up with Russ when he came to their morning run. But he was nowhere to be seen.
With a frustrated sigh, Joslynn stopped stretching. She shielded her eyes against the sun and fruitlessly scanned the parking lot again.
He’s really not coming.
Trying to control her irritation, she began her run. There had to be a good reason he hadn’t bothered to text her to let her know he wasn’t going to meet her for their morning workout. Russ was always considerate, so what bothered her most was how out of character this was.
The first mile was agony. No matter how hard she concentrated, she couldn’t find a rhythm. Her thoughts were too consumed with Russ. Irritation had yielded to worry. What if something had happened to him? What if something had happened to his parents?
Head spinning, she toughed her way through the second and third mile and then threw in the towel. Her body might crave the exercise, but her brain wasn’t cooperating. After she was able to figure out what was happening with Russ, maybe she’d try again.
Back at her car, she frowned when she checked her phone. No new calls or texts. She hit redial to try again.
“You’ve reached Russ Green, but you’ve also missed him. You know what to do.”
Not bothering to leave yet another message, she reached out to Yvonne, who answered after the first ring.
“Good morning, Joslynn.”
The friendly, relaxed qualities in Yvonne’s voice didn’t ease Jos’s mind, but she was well trained at hiding her emotions. “Good morning. Russ wouldn’t happen to be there, would he?”
“You just missed him. He came by to talk to Karlee about her schedule.”
“I’m really glad you hired her. She’s a great nurse. She’ll do a good job.”
“She’s very sweet. Reminds me of you,” Yvonne said. “She’s got that same way with Baron that you do. Want me to see if I can catch Russell?”
As if Joslynn would let his mother know how much trouble she was having getting in touch with him. “No, thank you. I’ll try his cell.”
Sliding into the driver’s seat, she debated with herself over what to do next. The relationship she and Russ shared had been sailing along so smoothly, she hadn’t anticipated the choppy waters she suddenly found herself in.
Oh, stop being so melodramatic.
Russ being busy didn’t constitute choppy waters. He’d probably had a shitty night at Words & Music and just needed some peace and quiet.
She became irritated with herself over how much she was fretting his absence last night and this morning. Since when had independent Joslynn Wright become a woman who wrung her hands when her boyfriend didn’t answer his phone? She hated women like that—weak, spineless women who were only happy when they were with a guy.
No man will define me.
Slamming her phone onto the center console, she started the car and began to back out of the parking spot.
The phone rang. Russ’s ringtone—“Didn’t See You Coming.”
She should ignore him the way he’d been ignoring her.
She didn’t. Instead of a polite greeting, she said, “You’ve reached Joslynn Wright, but you’ve also missed her. You know what to do.”
“I suppose I should apologize.”
“Ding. Ding. We have a winner.” The wounded sound of her own voice made her wince. “No big deal, Russ. You missed our run. So what?”
“Yeah, I have to say I was surprised you answered. Figured you’d be five miles in by now.”
“Then why did you call? Did you want to get my voicemail?”
Since he didn’t reply, she took that as confirmation. Instead of talking to her and apologizing for standing her up, he’d planned to be a coward and leave some pathetic excuse of a message.
Why was he playing games with her? It was so out of character, and he was well aware how much she despised that kind of dishonesty. “If you didn’t want to run, you should’ve just said so.”
Great. Now she sounded even more hurt.
“It’s not that.” Silent seconds dragged on. “Look, I gotta go. I want to meet Dad’s nurse and talk to her about the schedule.”
“You never did lie well, you know.”
“I’ve gotta go. We can talk later. Bye, Josie.”
“Bye, Josie”?
Not “I Love You.”
Just “Bye, Josie.”
Like last night, she realized.
“Bye, Russ.”
Joslynn threw herself out of the car and launched into another run. It took ten miles for her anger to abate. Only then did she reach out for help.
“Savannah? Can I buy you and Chelsea lunch?”
* * *
Joslynn spotted Savannah and Chelsea the moment she walked into the restaurant. Although only Savannah waved, both women had friendly expressions.
No wonder. Their men hadn’t suddenly turned into walking, talking jackasses.
As she took a seat, Savannah’s gaze searched hers. “What’s wrong?”