by T. L. Haddix
Noah stepped away from the door and stretched. “Can’t sleep. I keep thinking about things.” He took a seat in one of the comfortable Adirondack chairs on the patio with a rough sigh.
“I had a bad dream,” Eli admitted as he took the chair beside Noah’s. “Erica.”
“Mm, yeah. That’d do it for me, too. Sorry.”
Eli gave a hard laugh. “I don’t think… I think if Dad had been cheating on Mom, it would have killed something inside me.”
Noah turned his head. “How so?”
Feeling utterly ridiculous but also needing to get it off his chest, Eli shrugged. “Because after everything she put me through, I still believe in happily ever afters,” he said softly. “And it’s largely because of them. If that was taken away… I don’t even want to think about it.”
“She was a pure bitch, that’s for certain. I’m sorry you had to discover that the hard way.”
Eli nodded. “Do you know, she cheated on me from the time we started dating in high school until she died? She couldn’t have kids, but she was desperate. She thought it was me. Kept trying to prove it was by fucking around. That’s why we separated that first time. I found out.” He shook his head, thinking about how naïve he’d been to take her back.
“Why’d you reconcile, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“I was stupid enough to think she’d changed. Erica played a good game when she wanted to. And she was so damned persistent about us getting back together. But she hadn’t changed. Not at all. She even…” He hesitated. Just thinking about the deviousness she’d wrought in last few weeks of her life was hard, even four years on. “She slept with Sophie’s fiancé. Punishment for Sophie telling me she’d practically moved in with one of the other guys on base.”
Noah stared at him, hardly moving. “Sophie was engaged?”
“Yeah. He was a nice enough guy. She seemed content, happy enough. And Erica couldn’t stand that. I sometimes think she would have broken them up no matter what, but when Sophie let me know what was going on, that gave her a ‘legitimate’ reason for going after him. Nobody, but nobody, stood up to Erica. So she bagged him one night while Sophie was out of town.”
“I guess that didn’t go over too well.” Noah’s voice was controlled, and he was sitting perfectly still.
Deciding it was time for the truth to come out, Eli shook his head. “No. Sophie didn’t know about it. It happened about a week before the wreck. So when she came back into town and Erica called her from the bar, needing a ride, she went. Erica told her on the way home. Sophie was going to pull over as soon as she got through the light and kick her out. They never made it through the light.”
Instead, the car had been T-boned by a drunk who ran the red light. Erica had died instantly, and Sophie had almost been killed.
Noah looked away, out into the garden. “Sophie couldn’t forgive him, I guess.”
“No. She came to in the hospital, he was there, she asked him about it. He didn’t deny it. And that was it. She’d already lost one man to Erica, and she wasn’t about to take Eddie back for something she couldn’t forgive you for doing.” Eli watched him closely.
If his brother gripped the arms of the chair any tighter, it might break. “I never slept with Erica. I thought you believed that. I never so much as kissed her.”
“I do know that. I do believe that,” Eli promised him. “But Sophie doesn’t. Yes, I’ve talked to her about it. She just… Erica crafted her lies very carefully. Sophie’s been hurt too much to trust, to believe. She feels the past should stay in the past. It’s safer that way. That’s how she’s able to cope.”
He didn’t tell Noah that Sophie had been pregnant when she and Erica had wrecked or that she’d lost the baby. There was no reason to pour more salt into what he knew was an already raw wound.
Noah let his head fall back, staring at the night sky as he blew out a breath. “I sometimes wonder if we’re ever going to be free of Erica and her machinations. I know I told you to let the past go the other day. But damn. It’s so hard sometimes.”
As that was exactly how Eli felt, all he could do was agree. “I think we do pretty well most days. Today isn’t most days.” Feeling weary to his bones, he stood. “Come on. Let’s try to get some sleep. Dawn comes earlier than it should.”
They said goodnight and went their separate ways once inside. As he closed the bedroom door behind him, Eli leaned against it. He said a prayer that Noah took his words to heart, that they did some good in breaking down the walls he’d built to keep Sophie out. And he said a little prayer for himself, too, that he’d be able to move on with his life without the specter of Erica rising up at every turn to haunt him.
“But for now, I’ll settle for a few solid hours of sleep. That’s all I can ask.”
The rest would sort itself out as it came.
Chapter Thirty-Three
By the time she returned to work Monday morning, Haley was almost viewing her job as though it were a vacation. Fred had been discharged Wednesday like they’d thought he would be, but she’d taken off the rest of the week to catch up on everything at home and stay close in case he needed her while he worked through the weakness several days in the hospital had brought.
She’d heard from Eli several times, mostly through texts though there’d been a couple of short calls, too. But the texts, something she’d always thought of as being an impersonal manner of communication, had her smiling at unexpected moments. At least once a day, he’d sent her a joke. Not corny jokes or ordinary jokes, but wicked jokes that hit her funny bone perfectly.
The video he’d sent her a link to, the one of Noah battling his cat over books, had both her and Fred in tears when she’d played it for him.
“Those two boys, they’re good fellas, I think. You should invite them over again sometime,” he’d said. “I enjoyed talking to them.”
As soon as she figured out how in the world to approach the subject, she would.
Denise, her boss, was waiting when Haley arrived thirty minutes early Monday. “I wanted to go over what you missed. How’s your grandfather?”
“Better, but it’s just a stop-gap. Chances are, he won’t hold where he’s at for long. Hospice came out and met with us Friday. They’re going to start visits three days a week, starting today.”
“I’m sorry, Haley.” Denise’s words were sincere. “You know if there’s anything you need, anything at all, you just ask.”
Haley knew she’d gotten lucky in her boss, and she appreciated the woman’s concern. “Thank you. So what do we need to review? How are my patients?”
As they went through the files, Haley was pleased enough by the progress everyone had made. She had to give Neesa grudging credit for having done a good job.
“Last, but most certainly not least, we have Eli Campbell,” Denise told her, handing her Eli’s file. “I think he’s ready to be discharged this week. And I think that’s a good thing.”
Haley nodded, even though a sharp lance of regret pierced her heart. She actually rubbed her chest where it twinged. “I was thinking that. He’s made exceptional progress that I can’t take credit for. It’s almost been… I hate to use the word supernatural, but it really has.”
“Is there anything else you think we can do for him?”
“No. I’d love to see him run again, and that’s something he expressed an interest in when we first started, but I know that’s out of our purview.”
Denise sat back in her chair. “It is. But he’s a strong young man, and I imagine he won’t let it slip by him if he wants it badly enough. He strikes me as someone who goes after what he wants and doesn’t easily take ‘no’ for an answer.” A tiny smile was playing around her lips.
Haley frowned. “I didn’t know you’d spoken to Eli.”
“Mm-hmmm. A few we
eks ago, after you bought the new car. I wanted to make sure he understood our non-fraternization policy.”
Stunned, Haley stared at her. “Why didn’t you say something to me?” she asked in a whisper. “Denise, I had no idea… You know I’d never allow anything untoward to happen. If you had concerns, I’d have addressed them.”
Denise smiled at her. “I do know that. I didn’t want to add to your stress if there wasn’t a reason to, and he satisfied my concerns about your relationship more than adequately. Plus, I wanted to get a feel for the kind of person he is. Call me nosy, but I feel protective of you, Haley. If he’s not a good man, I wanted to make sure you didn’t feel pressured by him.”
Haley didn’t know what to say, not really. “He’s never been anything more than a gentleman,” she finally said. She couldn’t say there wasn’t anything personal between them, not anymore. She hoped Denise didn’t ask her that question. That said, she wondered what Eli had said to satisfy Denise’s concerns.
“Obviously, I don’t know the young man’s intentions as far as what he’s going to do after he’s discharged. But I wanted to let you know that once he’s out, if you develop an interest in him personally, that’s not something that will violate our policies. If that’s a concern, that is.”
Her cheeks grew warm, and Haley nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”
They discussed a few more items before Denise dismissed her. As Haley stood to leave, she spoke.
“I know the next little while with your grandfather is going to be difficult. I know you’ll need time off to deal with things, and you don’t have much time off left. But we’ll work with you however we can, Haley. I promise you that.”
Tears pricked her eyes. “I appreciate that very much. I really do, Denise.”
The older woman gave her a sad smile. “Honey, I’ve been in your shoes. The last thing you need to worry about is losing your job. I know you won’t abuse our relationship, and I wanted you to know that. Now, you try to have a good day, okay?”
Haley nodded. “I will. Thank you.”
When eleven o’clock rolled around and Lou told her Eli was there, she went to the door to meet him. She took a few seconds before she opened it to steady her nerves, and then pasting a smile on her face, she swung it open.
“Mr. Campbell.”
He grinned at her. “Ms. Buchanan. How’s Fred?”
“Doing worlds better,” she said as he came through the door. “He sends his regards.”
“Please return them. If you think he’s up to having company, I’d like to swing by and visit one day this week. I won’t if it’s going to be a problem, though.”
“He’d like that. He actually was asking me when you and Noah could come see him again. I think he got a kick out of you two.”
Eli grinned. “We’re a pretty entertaining duo, I have to say.”
She laughed. “That you are. So we have some things to go over,” she said as he took a seat on the therapy table. “Tell me how you feel about therapy. Do you think you’re still seeing any benefit from coming, or do you feel like you’ve plateaued?”
He stared at her for a long, long moment before asking softly, “We’re at that point, huh?”
“We are.” She couldn’t help but feel torn, and now that she was sitting here across from him, their knees almost touching, the quiet intimacy of the room feeling closer than it ever had before, part of her wanted to cry. She fought back that desire with ruthless determination. “So what do you think?”
“I guess that depends on whether or not I’m going to see you again if I’m not your patient.” His eyes were warm, and though he didn’t make any move to touch her, he seemed to surround her at that moment.
Haley finally dropped her gaze from his. “Eli… You know it isn’t that simple. My life is very complicated right now.”
“Too complicated for friendship?”
Taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, she lifted her chin. “Would it only be friendship?” She could barely breathe as she waited for his answer, terrified she’d just embarrassed herself in front of him by presuming too much.
“Not unless that’s all you wanted it to be.”
Her breath shuddered out, and she crossed her arms over her middle. “That’s part of the complication. I don’t know what I want.”
Eli sat forward, resting his arms on his thighs, and held his hand out. After a second’s hesitation, she lightly placed her hand in his.
“Then why don’t we start with friendship and not worry about the rest?” he asked softly. “Remember what I told you about the help with the car? No strings?”
“That’s hardly fair to you,” she whispered.
His smile was soft, winsome, and made him entirely too attractive. “Let me worry about what’s fair. I don’t want to say good-bye, Haley.”
That did it. Despite her best efforts not to cry, she teared up. “Damn it.”
Eli grabbed a couple of tissues from the box on the desk. “I’m taking that as an encouraging sign,” he teased.
“I don’t know what my life is going to look like next month,” she said once she’d regained her composure. “Not then, not six months from now, not a year. It might be just as it is now, and it might be completely upside down.”
“Then you’ll need a friend more than ever. We don’t have to decide today what we are to each other, right? Can we agree that we’re parting from our professional relationship, and we’re not saying good-bye? Let the rest work itself out? I have some life choices that have to be addressed, too. Not the same kind of decisions you’re up against, but important ones nonetheless. Like a job, permanent housing, that sort of thing.”
She nodded. “Okay. So back to my original question—how do you feel about your therapy?”
His smile took on a sad quality. “I’ve plateaued. I was hoping to drag things out a little longer, but honestly, I don’t think I can.”
Haley tilted her head. “No, I don’t think so, either. And on the one hand, I’m overjoyed for you because I know this means you can at least put this behind you and figure things out. But at the same time, I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll be around. Never doubt it.” He straightened up. “So what now?”
She shrugged. “Now, I send you on your merry way. I’ll fill out the paperwork for your doctor to look over, and unless they see something in that they don’t like, we’re officially finished.”
“So I don’t get the torture treatment today?”
“Nope. I know that disappoints you.”
“It does, actually. I was counting on at least having you for a few more minutes.” Then he sighed and stood. “But this is for the best. I think we both know that. Things couldn’t go on the way they were.”
Haley got to her feet, the move bringing her to within a foot of him. It was too close, and she quickly moved to the door for fear that she’d give in and touch him. “No, they couldn’t. I’ll walk you out. Want to say good-bye to everyone?”
“Sure.”
As he went through the department, teasing the patients he’d gotten to know, hugging Jeanne, Haley watched. She felt as though part of her heart had broken off and floated away, and she was watching it get further and further out of reach with every passing second.
Time would tell if he meant what he’d said or not. She couldn’t pretend anymore that she didn’t hope he’d keep his word. She was dangerously close to falling for Eli Campbell. Whether that was a good thing or bad remained to be seen.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Over the next few weeks, Eli got in the habit of dropping by and spending time with Fred. He liked to go on the days Hospice wasn’t going to be there, Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that the time Fred was by himself was at a minimum. The bout with pneumonia had taken a lot out of h
im, and it was stunning how much he’d gone downhill.
Most days, Eli would stay until Haley got in. He even cooked dinner for the three of them on numerous occasions. He wanted to make sure he didn’t overstep, but he also felt compelled to try to lighten her load as much as possible.
If Fred felt up to it, they’d play poker or rummy. Even checkers sometimes. If he didn’t, they’d sit and talk or just sit and not be alone. When he did feel like talking, one of his favorite subjects was Haley. That was fine with Eli—his fascination with her was growing by the day.
“What was she like as a little girl?” he asked one Tuesday after Fred had whipped his butt at rummy. It was just past noon, and Eli’d been there not quite half an hour.
Fred chuckled and sat back as Eli dealt the next hand. “Oh, she was something else. So smart and funny and sweet. Stubborn as all get out. She still is. You may have noticed that.”
Eli smiled. “She does tend to get her way, but she’s nice about it.”
“Always makes you feel like whatever it is that she wants you to do, it was your decision to begin with,” Fred said with a nod. “She takes that straight after her grandmother, even though she never met Alice. She reminds me so much of her sometimes, it hurts to look at her.” He grew quiet as he stared down the road. They were on the porch, as the mid-October weather was still pleasantly warm.
“I worry about what’s going to happen to her once I’m gone. I’ve done my best to set things up so that she’d be protected, but there were other people who had to be considered, damn it all. Promises made long ago that I couldn’t back out of. I’m afraid she’s in for a rough time ahead.”
“How do you mean, sir?” Eli asked quietly.
Fred’s mouth tightened and he shook his head. “I don’t know what’s going to happen between you and my Haley-girl. I don’t want you to try to tell me, either. Not a one of us knows this early in the game. But I do think you’re a good man, Eli Campbell. And I’d like your word on something.”