“Sweetie, I’m sorry that Chloe isn’t supporting you and Kyle in this,” Andrea said.
“Me, too,” Shannon said, her face pale.
“I’ll bet Stuart has already been in the principal’s office with his version of what happened in the parking lot,” Kyle muttered.
“Stuart seems to be the ringleader. Maybe we could arrange to talk with Eric. If he sees how Stuart behaved, he might be willing to admit to what they were doing,” Jake offered.
“Was he anywhere in sight on that Wednesday night?” Andrea asked.
“I didn’t see him,” Shannon said. “And Eric never comes near me at school.”
“So, it’s possible we can get him to testify for us, should it come to that?” Jake asked.
Andrea turned to say something to Shannon, but the look on her daughter’s face stopped her. “Shannon what is it?”
Shannon closed her eyes, her jaw set. “Nothing.”
“That wasn’t a ‘nothing’ look.”
“Mom, leave it. I have something I need to do.” With that, Shannon left.
“What was that all about?” Andrea asked no one in particular.
“I should get to school,” Kyle said. “Thanks for helping us with this,” he offered halfheartedly as he headed for the door.
“I guess I need to find a lawyer,” Andrea said. Where did she begin? Maybe she could find one through her real estate lawyer contacts.
“Maybe... Let me work on this.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, if there’s any chance that we can get Eric to talk to us, we might be able to stop Stuart.”
“How do we do that?”
“I’ve joined the local chamber of commerce to make our practice more visible in the community. Eric Sanford’s father was the one who approached me with the idea.” Jake rubbed his jaw again. “I wonder if Michael knows that his son is involved in bullying.”
Andrea didn’t respond. She was simply too tired to think about it any longer.
Jake glanced at his watch. “I have to get back to the office. I have an appointment at one.”
“I’m letting Shannon stay home for the rest of the day. We have to visit my mother,” Andrea said, wishing she could simply run away from home.
“Nothing serious, I hope,” Jake offered.
“Just family stuff.”
“I’ll talk to Michael Sanford,” Jake said. “The school has probably contacted him by now.” Jake’s gaze met hers, soothing her anxiety. “Call me later.”
“I will.” She watched him drive away. He’d left without hugging her, or kissing her. She felt the pang of longing, the need for his touch in that tiny, guarded place near her heart.
Later, after lunch, Andrea drove over to her mother’s with Shannon. It would seem that Stuart and Eric had gotten away with what they’d done as far as the police were concerned. The school hadn’t called to update Andrea on what steps they’d taken to reprimand Stuart and Eric.
“I’m going to visit with Butch, take him for a walk,” Shannon said when they arrived at Carrie’s. “This will give you some time with Gram.” She jumped out of the car and headed for the back door, her long blond hair flowing around her shoulders.
Andrea took her time going in.
“There you are. Come in,” Carrie said, meeting Andrea near the door.
“Mom, what’s going on? Why did you need to talk to me so urgently?”
“I had a doctor’s appointment a few weeks ago.”
“But you said the tests were okay.”
“Yes, I did, but they found something that I’ve never heard of before.”
Andrea stared at her mother. “What do you mean? Do you have cancer?” Panic rose. Her mother couldn’t be ill. Not now when they could spend more time together. There were so many things she wanted to do with her mother—Shannon’s volleyball games, school plays, shopping trips to Chicago.
“I don’t have cancer. I have an aortic aneurysm.”
“A what? I’ve never heard of it. What does it mean?” Andrea asked, her mind whirling over the implication of her mother’s words.
“It means that there is a weak spot in the big blood vessel leading from the heart to the rest of my body. They told me it’s like a tiny ballooned area along the blood vessel. I will have to go to a specialist regularly to determine if the area is getting bigger. If it does enlarge, I will have to have surgery.”
“Have you had symptoms?”
“No. I’ve been tired, and sometimes have a little ache around my neck and back, but I put it down to how busy I’ve been. I’m fine, honey, really.” Her mother took her hand in hers. “I don’t want you to worry about this. I have good doctors to care for me. And I won’t be traveling the way I was, so I’ll be able to rest and pay more attention to my health.”
Andrea stared at her mother, trying to understand what she’d just heard. “Is that why you decided to stop traveling?”
“Partly.” Carrie sighed. “But it’s more like I said—I’d like to concentrate on you and Shannon and me for now. I’d like you to come to my next appointment so that you can understand what is going on. To be honest, I was so shocked that I’m not sure I understood everything the doctor said.” She squeezed Andrea’s fingers. “I need you, darling, to help me get through this. And I want to help you and Shannon... It’s a lot to absorb.”
Andrea tried to comfort her mother and talk about other things. But she was numbed by the news. This illness combined with Shannon’s problems threatened to take her down. She couldn’t take it all in right now. She needed a little time to absorb what was going on.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I know I should stay longer, but I need time to think about this. I wish I could stay with you, I really do.”
“I understand. Truly. Do you want me to tell Shannon?”
“No, Mom, I can do that.” Andrea hugged her mother close. “I need to go home. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
Carrie held Andrea at arm’s length and looked into her eyes. “I know how you feel. I could barely get out of the doctor’s office the day she told me. So don’t worry that you’ve hurt my feelings.”
Hurriedly Andrea explained to Shannon that they had to go home. “Butch is coming with us, right?” Shannon asked, a worried frown on her forehead.
“Yes.”
Shannon got the dog into the back of the vehicle before kissing her grandmother’s cheek and climbing into the front seat. “What’s going on, Mom?” she asked as she fastened her seat belt.
“Shannon, I need to get home safely and then I will tell you.” She put the car in gear and drove slowly down the narrow driveway, wishing with all her heart that Jake was with her.
She needed him in a way she’d never needed anyone. She needed his calmness, his solid, reasonable response to problems. And this was a problem so unexpected that Andrea could hardly get her head around it. She had never imagined anything being wrong with her mother, the woman whose strength and determination had been her guide all her life.
Andrea would be at the next appointment to find out everything she could. In the meantime, she needed to talk to Shannon, a thought that saddened her. Shannon had enough to deal with at the moment.
When they arrived home, she told Shannon everything, the words spilling out so fast that several times Shannon asked her to repeat what she’d said. Butch never left Shannon’s side, pushing his snout under her hand, whining plaintively whenever Shannon reached for a tissue to wipe her tears.
Shannon scooted across the sofa and cuddled next to Andrea. “We’ll be there for Gram no matter what, won’t we?”
Andrea pulled her daughter into her arms. “We will be there for her no matter what,” she repeated.
“Is there anything I can do for you? I’ve given you so m
uch to worry about, and I’m truly sorry.”
She held her daughter tight, feeling such an overwhelming love for her that the air seemed trapped in her lungs. “That’s all in the past or will be very soon.” Andrea wondered if her words would prove to be true, but she knew Shannon needed reassurance. “Maybe it’s time you took Butch for his evening walk.” While she didn’t care for how it had come about, Andrea did appreciate feeling their old closeness. “Everything will work out. You’ll see.”
Andrea watched Shannon walk down the street with Butch straining against his leash. Feeling lost and alone, she began to cry so hard that she didn’t hear the phone ringing at first. When she made it to the kitchen and picked up, Jake’s voice filled her head. “Andrea, I called to see if you’d heard anything more from the police.”
The sobs burst out at the sound of his voice.
“Andrea, what’s wrong?” Jake asked.
“It’s my mother. She’s ill.”
“I’ll be right there,” he said.
Shannon wasn’t yet back from walking Butch when Jake pulled into the driveway. Needing to feel Jake’s arms around her, Andrea ran from the house straight into his embrace. He kissed her and stroked her face. “Let’s go into the house and you can tell me all about it,” he said, pulling her close to his side as he walked with her to the door.
Inside she explained what had happened. Jake’s eyes never left her face. He kept his arm around her as they sat on the sofa talking, their heads together. With each word she spoke, she felt closer to Jake.
Shannon and Butch burst through the door and stopped so suddenly the dog gave a yelp. “Mom, did something else happen? Did the police—” Shannon sat across from them, a knowing look on her face. “You called Jake.”
“No,” Jake said. “I called your mother. I was worried about her.”
“I’m glad you’re here. Mom’s had a rough day,” Shannon said, simply. “Butch and I are headed to my room. I have homework to do, and then I’m going to bed.” She smiled as she kissed her mother’s cheek. “You and Jake have a good evening.”
“Do you want something to eat? You haven’t eaten since lunchtime.”
“I’ll make a sandwich and take it with me. Butch can have one, too—he loves cheese.” From the kitchen came sounds of the fridge opening, the utensil drawer opening and closing, all blended with the sound of Shannon talking to Butch and the enthusiastic slap of the dog’s tail on the cupboard doors.
After Shannon went to her room, Jake asked, “Why don’t I make you dinner? An omelet, maybe?”
She looked into his eyes, her heart pounding at the expression on his face. His attention was completely on her, warm and caring, creating an intimate space between them. It felt so good. So natural. So much like how it should be. “I would love that.”
“Then come talk to me while I make you dinner.”
She watched him gather the ingredients, not quite believing that her life was going in a new direction. She settled in at the table, her chin resting on her hand, and smiled to herself. Life was full of possibilities.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
WHEN ANDREA AWOKE the next morning, her first thought was of Jake.
As she watched the light peek through the slatted blinds, she realized that she’d let all the loneliness of the past hold her back from pursuing a romantic relationship. Yet in the end everything was perfect. She’d found a man who filled all the caring needs she had. Wrapped in the cozy memory of their dinner last evening, she put on the coffee, then went out to bring in the newspapers, being careful not to wake Shannon.
The air was fresh and clean, boding well for another beautiful day. Across the street a mourning dove sang its plaintive song, and farther down the block a dog barked. She gazed around, taking in the tranquil street scene. Everything seemed so perfect this morning, so in sync with the universe. When was the last time she’d settled in the wicker chair on her front porch and simply listened to the sounds of the morning?
She decided this morning was the ideal time to do it. Perhaps she should take today off work, as well. Indulgent, yes, but she hardly ever took vacation days and she didn’t have any bookings today. Plus, this would give her the chance to spend some time with her mom.
At some point later, Shannon sailed past the porch, Butch’s leash clasped securely in her hand. “Mom, what are you doing out here?”
“I’m enjoying the morning.”
“I’m going to walk Butch and then get ready for school. Will you take Butch to Gram’s for me? I have volleyball practice tonight.”
“Not a problem. I’m going there anyway,” she said.
Jake should be calling soon, but first, she had to let Gina know her plans. She dialed Gina’s cell phone.
“How are you?” Gina’s cheerful voice answered.
“I’m okay, but I’m not coming in to work today.”
“That’s two days in a row. Are you ill?”
Andrea explained what had happened yesterday concerning her mother.
“I’m here whenever you need me,” Gina offered.
“I will go see Mom after lunch, but right now I need a little time to myself.”
“Listen, Andrea, I’ve known you for a long time, and I’ve watched you go through a divorce, put your life back together, all these issues with Shannon and now your mother’s health. Taking a day or two off is the least you can do for yourself.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not. We’ll catch up this evening. Maybe I’ll drop over on my way home from work,” Gina said.
“You do that,” Andrea said, smiling to herself.
When Shannon came up the driveway, Andrea got out of the rocking chair. “Why don’t I make you breakfast?”
“I got a better idea. I can skip my first class this morning. Why don’t I go to Gram’s with you? I want to see her, and she needs us. Both of us.”
“Absolutely.” Andrea followed Shannon and Butch into the house. “I feel so much better about everything today.”
“Would Jake have anything to do with that?” Shannon asked, giving her mother a knowing look.
Her first impulse was to deny it. But she had asked Shannon to be honest with her about what was going on in her life. She owed Shannon the same. “I really like Jake. I enjoy his company. He’s fun. He’s caring. More than that... I don’t know.”
“That’s good enough for me,” Shannon said, heading to her room, the dog trailing behind her. “I’ll get my knapsack and you can drop me at school after we go to Gram’s.”
They phoned on the way over to tell Carrie that they were bringing breakfast. When they pulled into the driveway, she was waiting on the back step. Andrea climbed out of the car. Wordlessly, she reached for Carrie, holding her gently, feeling the tremors ripple through her mother’s body as she cried. “I’m sorry for leaving the way I did yesterday,” Andrea said. “I should have stayed longer with you.”
Her mother patted her arm. “I’ve had a little more time to get used to the whole idea than you have, and still it was hard,” she said. She turned to Shannon, then pulled her into an embrace. “Where’s breakfast?”
“Right here, Gram.” Shannon eased away to hold up a bag from the coffee shop. “We brought croissants.”
“Then let’s go eat.”
“Let me take Butch for a quick walk while you old folks organize breakfast,” Shannon said.
“We’re not old!” both Andrea and Carrie responded.
Andrea and her mother walked arm in arm to the house. Andrea settled on a kitchen stool while Carrie pulled out a frying pan, eggs and butter. “We need more than croissants. I’m going to make your favorite breakfast—French toast with maple syrup and scrambled eggs.”
As Andrea watched her mother, she thought about how lucky she an
d Shannon were to have her. They were a family—maybe not the typical mom, dad and child, but a family all the same. What the future held, no one could predict. But she couldn’t help but hope that Jake would become a part of it. He hadn’t called her yet and she needed to hear his voice.
Later that morning after a lovely breakfast, Andrea and Carrie sat on the deck while Shannon played with Butch nearby. “You must be tired, Mom.”
“It’s been a difficult time.” Carrie lifted a strand of hair off her face.
“Gram, you do that just like Mom does,” Shannon said as she came up onto the deck.
“Do what?” Carrie asked.
“That thing where you tuck your hair behind your ears and smooth your neck with your fingers,” Shannon said. “Mom has always done this strange thing with her hair...and now you do, too, Gram. This is so weird.”
Andrea had never noticed the common gesture but loved that she shared something so unique with her mom. She glanced at her watch. “Shannon, you’re going to be late for school.”
“Then let’s get going,” Shannon said, turning to Andrea. “Let’s cook a nice meal for Gram tonight. We could do roast chicken with potatoes and peas. And strawberry shortcake for dessert. What do you say?”
“Your mom’s tired, Shannon,” Carrie said.
“Sure, why not? But if we’re going to make dinner, we have to get you to school and I have to go to the grocery store.”
They exchanged hugs and agreed to dinner at six thirty. On the way to school, Shannon chatted about Butch and his antics, but mostly about the dinner they’d prepare this evening. “Do you have a pen in your purse, Mom? I want to start a grocery list.”
“In the outside pocket,” she said, taking the off-ramp toward the high school.
Shannon got the pen and a notepad then wrote the list. “This is going to be so great.”
Once she’d dropped Shannon off at school, Andrea went home and decided she didn’t want to sit around with nothing to do. If she did, she’d obsess and worry about why Jake hadn’t called. Should she call him? She glanced at her phone lying on the kitchen counter.
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