Speak to My Heart

by Rebecca Talley

  With trembling hands, she picked up the phone and swiped the screen. “Hello?”

  “Hailey?”

  “Kevin?” Stay cool, calm, and collected. “Why are you calling me?” She wanted to be direct and get to the point.

  “I went by your place to see you a couple of times, but you weren’t home.” He sounded the same.

  “I’m in Florida.” Hailey didn’t need to explain anything to him. He was her ex-boyfriend. Emphasis on the ex.

  “Why?”

  She didn’t want to be totally rude, even though he deserved it. “My grandfather had a stroke and I’m here helping him. I’m sorry, did you say why you were calling?”

  Kevin cleared his throat. “I want to see you.”

  She started laughing, low and deep. “You want to see me?” That was a gem. After almost three months of no contact and now he wants to see me? Priceless.

  “Yes. I’ve been doing some thinking and—”

  “Like I said, I’m in Florida.” Her tone was curt.

  “For how long?”

  “I’m not sure.” No need to elaborate.

  “Oh.” He sounded shocked.

  “Why do you want to see me?” What was the point? It was over. He’d made his choice and she’d made hers.

  “I’d rather talk about it in person.”

  “What’s done is done, Kevin.” Hailey couldn’t make it any clearer than that.

  “Things have changed. I’ve changed.” He sounded almost desperate. “If you’ll hear me out.”

  Gran poked her head into the room. “We’ve finished breakfast and we’re both ready to go when you are.”

  Hailey nodded. She pointed to the phone. Gran made an apologetic face, then shut the door.

  “Look, I have to go right now. Gramps has an appointment.” She wanted to end this call as fast as possible.

  “Can I call you later?”

  “I don’t know, Kevin. I really don’t know.” Hailey didn’t think she ever wanted to talk to him again. Not after his cheating and all his lies.

  “I miss you.”

  “I need to go.” With that, Hailey ended the call. She threw the phone on her bed. The last person she expected to call her was Kevin. Her stomach twisted and her head pounded. A mixture of feelings tumbled around her insides. She’d loved Kevin—wanted to marry him—but he’d hurt her deeply, and she’d spent the last few months healing her heart and making it forget about him.

  “Hailey?” came Gran’s voice through the door. “I can make you a quick breakfast before we go.”

  “Thank you, but I’m not hungry. I’ll be ready in a few minutes,” she said, then flopped on the bed in a heap. I finally stop thinking about him and how much he hurt me, and then he has to go and call me. Why? Her stomach felt like someone had taken a hand mixer to it.

  ***

  On the way over to the appointment, Hailey’s mind splintered in a million different directions. How did she feel about Kevin? Did she want to give him another chance knowing what he’d done? Could she ever trust him again?

  Her thoughts shifted to Peter. She didn’t know him well, but something about him made her feel safe, secure. And she wanted to spend more time with him, but should she?

  Gramps reached over and tapped her leg. When she glanced at him, he smiled and nodded. They didn’t need words, because Gramps had this knack of reading Hailey perfectly. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “About what?” Gran asked, her knitting needles making a clicking sound in the backseat.

  Hailey glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Kevin called me.”

  Gran clucked her tongue. “That louse?”

  “Yes.” Louse wasn’t a word Hailey used, but that accurately described him.

  “When?”

  “This morning. Right before we left.”

  “And what on earth did he have say for himself?” Gran’s tone didn’t leave Hailey wondering about Gran’s opinion of Kevin.

  Hailey blew some air between her lips. “He wants to see me again.”

  “Pfft,” Gran said. “He should be so lucky. He was a terrible boyfriend. You deserve much better than that. You deserve someone like this man, Peter.” Gran was never one to mince words.

  “P-p-peter,” Gramps said with some effort.

  Hailey glanced at Gramps, then at Gran. “Apparently, you’ve both married me off to Peter all ready.”

  Gramps smiled.

  “But I loved Kevin. I wanted to marry him. I planned my life around him. Maybe I need to give him another chance.”

  “Why? So he can prove he’s a louse?” Gran didn’t even attempt to hide the irritation in her voice.

  “Gran, this isn’t the fifties. We don’t even use that word anymore.”

  “Doesn’t matter what your generation calls a man like him. He’s not worth your time.” Gran said it with such finality.

  “But maybe—”

  “No maybes about it, Hailey,” Gran said sternly. “He can’t waltz right back into your life after what he did.”

  Hailey chewed on the inside of her cheek. Gran was right. Why was she such a doormat when it came to Kevin? She did deserve better. A lot better. But hearing his voice on the phone mixed her all up.

  They pulled into the parking lot and then made their way into the rehab facility. While they waited to go back to a room, Hailey rolled her phone around and around in her hands. Why did Kevin have to call? She’d been doing fine. Make that perfectly fine. Now he had to go and call her and make her insides all twisty again.

  When the nurse called them back, Hailey said to Gran, “I’ll wait out here for you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah.”

  Gran wrinkled her forehead and grabbed her knitting bag. “Why?”

  “You don’t need me.” That was true, but mostly, she wasn’t prepared to see Peter. She needed some time to process what Kevin had said. “I’ll be back to get you.” With that, Hailey hurried out of the building.

  The air was suffocating outside—hot, sticky, and thick. Hailey struggled for breath, making her crave the dry, cool air of the Rockies. She walked to the car and sat on the cushioned seat. Sinking the key into the ignition, she turned on the radio and boosted the volume, hoping some music would drown everything out as the warm air from the air conditioner blasted her face.

  Obviously, Kevin still had some power over her, which she detested. She didn’t want Kevin to have any influence over her or let him invade her thoughts, but, obviously, she was incapable of preventing it.

  Hailey started driving. Memories from the night before flooded in. The moonlight, the ocean, the way she felt with Peter, the almost-kiss on the porch. Was it fair to see him again if she was having this reaction to Kevin’s call?

  All she wanted was to help Gramps recover and give some support to Gran. She did not want to have a relationship with anyone or, worse, get sucked back into something with Kevin. A grinding headache began to form. Before Hailey knew it, forty-five minutes had passed and it was time to get her grandparents.

  Hailey trudged into the building and found them in the waiting room. She motioned for them to come over, because she didn’t want to risk seeing Peter in the mental state she was in.

  In the car, Hailey asked, “How was the session?”

  “Good, I think,” Gran said with enthusiasm. “Peter was very patient, and Harry even said a three-word sentence.”

  “That’s awesome, Gramps.” Hailey stroked him on the shoulder. “You’ll be telling us your silly stories in no time.”

  Gramps gave her an indignant look as if his tall tales weren’t outrageous.

  “I have some words to practice with him,” Gran said. “I made a list.”

  Hailey nodded. “We can add those to the previous ones we’ve been doing.”

  “Peter said to work on sentence structure, so Harry’s brain can remember how to form sentences.”

  “Peter was happy with the progress?” Even saying his name
made Hailey’s stomach quiver.

  “I think so.”

  Hailey wanted to know if Peter had mentioned her, but she didn’t want to come out and ask about it. She hoped Gran would say something, but she didn’t.

  Hailey drove them back home.

  “How about if I make some fruit salad?” Gran asked on their way into the house. “On a hot day like today, that’s about all I want to eat.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Hailey could almost taste the sweet fruit.

  “I think I have all I need to make it,” Gran said.

  Gramps made himself comfortable in the living room and turned on the TV.

  Gran bent down and kissed Gramps on the head. He looked up at her and touched her on the cheek. It made Hailey’s insides feel warm and mushy to see the obvious love between her grandparents. Maybe someday she’d find that.

  Gran walked into the kitchen and Hailey followed her.

  “Aren’t you curious if Mr. Stafford asked about you,” Gran said casually as she pulled out a box of strawberries.

  Trying to act as though it wasn’t important, Hailey answered, “I guess.”

  Gran handed Hailey a cantaloupe and a small watermelon. “He didn’t say anything.”

  “Oh.” The disappointment stung.

  “But I could tell he was unhappy that you weren’t there.” Gran pulled a bowl of blueberries out of the refrigerator.

  Shrugging one shoulder, Hailey said softly, “I just couldn’t.”

  “Why not?” Gran put her hand on her hip.

  “Because hearing from Kevin made me feel all weird. Confused.”

  Gran peered at Hailey with a probing look. “Do you want to get back together with him?”

  “No . . . I don’t know.” Hailey rubbed her forehead. “I mean, I loved him. At least I thought I did. But he hurt me.”

  Gran turned on the water at the sink and began washing the fruit. “Can you forgive him?’

  That is an excellent question. “Maybe, but I don’t know if I could ever trust him again.” Hailey grabbed a knife from the drawer.

  “And what about Peter?” Gran shut off the water.

  Hailey’s nerves reacted to thoughts of Peter. “He’s sweet and fun and I had a really good time last night.”

  “Then it sounds like the choice is easy.” Gran said it with so much confidence.

  Hailey set the cantaloupe on the cutting board and sliced it open, releasing its sweet aroma. “But, realistically, it can’t really go anywhere with Peter. And if hearing from Kevin makes me act so irrational, then maybe I’m not actually ready to date anyone.”

  Gran took a knife and started cutting up the strawberries. “Or maybe it is time for you to move on and you just have to decide to do so.”

  Hailey stopped slicing and gazed at Gran. “So what should I do?”

  “I’m not going to tell you what to do, but Peter deserves an explanation why you didn’t come to the session.” Gran found a large bowl and set it on the counter.

  “It’s not like I’m required to attend the appointments, you know.” Gran was making a big case out of nothing.

  “But you’ve been coming, and now, after a date with him, you didn’t come. He’s probably thinking you’re trying to avoid him,” Gran said.

  She has a point. “Maybe I am.”

  Gran wagged her finger at Hailey. “My lands, girl. Get it together.”

  “I want to.” Hailey raked her hands through her hair in frustration. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “We have another appointment next week, but I don’t think you should wait that long.” Gran motioned to Hailey to open the refrigerator. “I have some cream that we can whip up when it’s time to eat.”

  “Here it is.” Hailey pointed to it. “You think I should go see him? Wouldn’t that be awkward?”

  “What time does he get off?”

  Hailey shrugged.

  “It’s up to you.” Gran dumped a box of blueberries into the large bowl and then cut open the watermelon.

  Hailey added some green grapes. “I don’t know. Maybe I should leave it alone.” That would be the easier option.

  “Your call. But if it were me, I wouldn’t want him to think I didn’t like him. Unless that’s true.” Gran looked at her sideways. “But I don’t think it is.”

  Hailey shut her eyes for a moment, then said, “Let’s finish the salad.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  After they put the bowl of fruit in the refrigerator to keep it cool for dinner, Hailey spent some time inputting receipts that one of her clients had scanned and emailed her. She added numbers to a spreadsheet, then updated a few files, including one for a new client. She wished Mr. Michaels would stop sending her new accounts. The ones she had were more than enough right now.

  “Hailey? Are you ready for supper? We’re both hungry,” Gran said down the hallway.

  Hailey saved her work, then went into the kitchen.

  “Would you please whip up the cream?” Gran asked, handing her a glass bowl.

  “Sure.” While Hailey whipped the cream, she thought back to her conversation earlier with Gran. She wasn’t convinced that going to see Peter was a good idea. What would she say anyway? Hey, Peter, I think you are amazing and I’d like to go out with you, even though I’m going back to Colorado, so it’s kind of a waste of time. And, PS, my ex called me today and made me a little nuts and that’s why I didn’t come to the therapy session. She shook her head. Yeah, that makes me sound insane.

  Good thing Gran had interrupted them before they kissed last night or this would be even more complicated. Why did things have to be so confusing anyway? Best thing to do was to put it out of her mind.

  “Door,” Gramps said from the living room.

  Hailey set the bowl of whipped cream on the table and went to the front door. She opened it to Peter standing on the porch, which sent her heart plunging into her stomach.

  “Oh, hi,” she said, trying to be calm and casual, but her racing pulse and moist palms wouldn’t listen.

  “June left this today.” He handed her Gran’s knitting bag.

  “That’s so nice of you, but you didn’t have to bring it over here,” Hailey said. He’s so thoughtful and kind to go out of his way.

  “I was worried she’d wonder where it was.” He gave a slight smile.

  “She probably was wondering.” Except Hailey was certain her well-meaning, but quite devious, grandmother had planted that bag there in the hopes he’d bring it over. The image of the binder overflowing with photos and bios flashed through her mind. Gran and her little band of matchmaking minions are such schemers.

  “Hello,” Gran said innocently as she walked over to the door. “Won’t you come in?”

  “He brought your knitting.” Hailey held up the bag, then gave Gran an I-can-see-right-through-you look, but Gran ignored it.

  “Oh, that’s where it was. I’d leave my head if it wasn’t attached.” She laughed. “Sorry to be such a scatterbrain.”

  Hailey didn’t buy her act. Not. One. Bit.

  “No problem,” Peter said.

  “Thank you for bringing it over. That was mighty kind of you.” Gran slipped a quick glance at Hailey. “We’re about to sit down and eat some fruit salad. Would you like to join us?”

  Peter looked at Hailey. “I don’t want to impose,” he said.

  “Don’t be silly. You brought my knitting all the way over here. The least I can do is feed you.” Gran guided Peter over to the table. “You can sit by Hailey,” Gran said in her best bossy tone. “Harry, it’s time for dinner.”

  “This looks delicious.” Peter sat.

  “It’s been so hot and humid today it seemed like the best option,” Gran said as she helped Gramps take his seat.

  Gran dished some salad on Gramps’s plate and then on her own. She handed the large orange bowl to Hailey, who spooned some onto her plate. She, in turn, passed the bowl to Peter.

  After Peter filled his plate, he picked up hi
s fork.

  “We need to say grace,” Gran said. “Everyone holds hands while we say it.”

  Gran is so transparent. Hailey noted the upturn of Gran’s mouth, then reached out her hand. Peter slipped his hand in hers. The same warmth from the night before radiated up her arm, enveloping her in quiet contentment as if this were as natural as breathing.

  Gran said grace, but Hailey was too distracted by the gentle strength of Peter’s hand in hers to hear any of the words.

  When Gran finished, Gramps said a loud and enthusiastic amen, which made Hailey giggle.

  “Why don’t you tell us about yourself, Peter?” Gran plopped a dollop of whipped cream on her plate.

  “Not a lot to tell. I grew up in Orlando. My mom still lives there. I have a sister and a nephew that live here in Daytona Beach. I spend most of my time working, but I really enjoy my job.”

  “He also sings,” Hailey said.

  “Like an angel,” Peter said under his breath, but Hailey caught it.

  “Hailey mentioned you took her to one of those singing bars,” Gran said. “What kind of songs do you like to sing?”

  “Ballads mostly. But I enjoy country music, too.”

  “He also owns the entire collection of Beatles albums.” Hailey bit into a grape and it exploded inside her mouth.

  Gran sipped her lemonade. “I remember when they first appeared on TV on the Ed Sullivan Show. Harry has always been a big fan.”

  Gramps started to sing something that sort of resembled “Here Comes the Sun.”

  Peter joined in. Watching the two of them singing together made Hailey’s heart feel happy and squishy. When the impromptu song was finished, she clapped.

  “I told you he could sing,” Hailey said to Gran.

  They continued to chat as they finished eating.

  After dinner, Gran said, “It’s a little warm, but still a nice evening for a walk. Don’t you think?”

  “A walk would be nice. Thanks, Gran,” Hailey said. Gran was completely entrenched in matchmaking mode.

  Hailey followed Peter out the door. “Sorry,” she said.

  “About what?” He peered at her with his magnetic eyes.

  “My grandma. She’s so obvious.”

  Peter laughed. “I think she’s funny.”