Reece agreed and closed the door.
The instant he started the engine, he reversed out of the driveway, past Jenna’s stunned coworkers. He shifted gears and took off as fast as he could.
“Slow down,” he heard from the back. The same warning Tracy had given on the mountain. This time he would heed it.
“That’s it, just slow your breathing,” Jenna soothed, and Reece realized she hadn’t been talking to him. “There you go, Mrs. Porter, that’s better.”
In the rearview mirror he connected with Jenna’s eyes. Everything’s going to be fine, she seemed to tell him, her arm around his grandma’s shoulders.
He hardly knew this person. Two days ago, he’d treated her like the enemy. Yet here she was, once more, coming to his rescue.
Back and forth, back and forth. Seated in the waiting area of the emergency room, Jenna watched Reece pace the tiled floor. He’d paused solely to phone his family, right after a nurse wheeled his grandmother off for examination.
“Why don’t you sit down for a while,” Jenna encouraged, as much for her own sake as his.
He stopped and glanced up at the wall clock. Relenting, he perched on the chair beside her. There were only two other people in the room, relatives of a man who had fallen from a ladder while stringing Christmas lights.
“I should’ve listened,” Reece murmured.
He didn’t elaborate. Was that her cue to prod?
Eyes unseeing, he shook his head. “My dad said she needed someone around to watch her, but I wouldn’t listen. And here I’ve been acting like a kid. How stupid is that? It’s just a damn house.”
Jenna thought of his baseball and pennant, displayed in a room he’d probably known since birth. All those objects tied to positive memories. “It’s not stupid,” she insisted. “That house is part of who you are.”
Her words were merely meant for assurance, but once out there, to Jenna’s surprise, it dawned on her that she actually believed them.
Reece answered with a marginal nod, and began a nervous tapping on his knee. The sound turned the heads of the other couple, who already appeared to be on edge. Jenna gently touched Reece’s hand to calm the movement. Although it worked, she hadn’t planned on his fingers wrapping around hers in response. He looked at her with genuine warmth.
“Thanks for staying,” he said.
Jenna had no real ties to Estelle Porter, yet here at Reece’s side, she felt as though they were facing this crisis together.
Of course, in actuality they weren’t. They were business acquaintances, which he too seemed to recall before he drew his hand away and broke from her gaze.
For several minutes they sat in quiet, save for occasional noises from the hallway. The squeaking of shoes, the rolling of a hospital bed. In spite of her desire to stay, perhaps it was appropriate she leave.
As Jenna debated on how to slip out politely, a tall man in blue scrubs entered the room. Her chest tightened as he walked closer. Reece bristled in his seat, right before the doctor passed them to reach the people in the corner. The three spoke quietly, then left to go visit their patient.
Reece sank forward, elbows on his knees, intense with worry.
Jenna clasped her hands on her lap, resisting the urge to reach out again. “Your grandmother’s a strong person. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
He released a breath, resonant with doubt. “Ever since my grandpa died, she’s needed someone to take care of her. I should’ve seen that and been around more.”
At that moment, Jenna suspected he too had no idea of the woman’s secret. A confession rose inside, fueled by a need to alleviate Reece’s guilt. Or perhaps, more than that, to defend Estelle, a woman much too capable for pity.
“Did you know she was in the army?” Jenna blurted.
Lines formed on Reece’s forehead. He stared as though she’d spoken in gibberish. “Who?”
“Your grandma. She served in World War Two. At some kind of field hospital.” Right or wrong, Jenna’s business or not, the truth was out there now.
“A hospital? She’s never said anything—”
“I found a box, Reece. Inside it was a Bronze Star and pictures of her in uniform, from serving in the Pacific.”
“But—that can’t be right,” he said, processing. “The other day, she even told me, she’s never been to that area.”
Jenna suddenly remembered the corporal in the photos, and a slew of deep-reaching theories returned. But that’s all they were. Conjecture. And this certainly wasn’t the time to detract from the situation.
“I only brought it up so that you know she’s a fighter. I imagine she’s survived a lot worse.”
Taking this in, Reece nodded slowly, then again with more surety. His eyes gained a mark of hope.
“Mr. Porter?” Another man in scrubs entered the room, spurring Reece to stand. Jenna also rose, praying Estelle’s bravery had seen her through.
“Is my grandmother all right?”
The doctor’s expression gave away nothing. “We’ve done an EKG and a chest X-ray. We’re still waiting on test results to rule everything out.”
“What kind of tests? Are they for her heart?”
“Some standard blood work. We want to be extra sure, but she appears to have simply suffered an inflammation of the lining of her lungs. Usually brought on by the flu, or even a common cold.”
“So—not a heart attack?”
“That’s right.”
“But she was having problems breathing.”
“From what I can tell,” the doctor said, “it was just anxiety from what was happening. That’s not uncommon.” His mouth curved upward, a kind smile Jenna wished he had worn as he first approached. “At this point, she’s been monitored. All her vitals are stable. We’ve given her a little something for the pain, so she’s resting easy now.”
Reece blew out a breath, a slight sheen in his eyes. A wave of relief flooded the air and washed over Jenna.
“A nurse will come see you in a few minutes. She’ll take you over to your grandmother.”
As the doctor departed, Reece looked as though he might burst from joy. Instead, he swung in Jenna’s direction and wrapped her in a snug embrace.
“Reece, I’m so relieved.”
“Me too,” he whispered against her neck. The heat of his breath traveled over her skin. Her body tingled, as if every nerve had risen to the surface. She savored the feel of his heart beating, the faint scent of his earthy cologne, and found herself hoping the moment would last.
But then his grip loosened. He drew his head back and stared into her eyes. Mere inches separated their lips.
At the sound of voices in the hall, Reece stepped away. His parents had arrived. A glimpse at Mr. Porter’s face indicated he was questioning the scene. Given the situation, Jenna imagined how terrible this had to look. She edged backward, wishing she could disappear into the tan walls.
“Honey, is there any news yet?” Sandy asked Reece. Before he could relay the update, a nurse came to lead them off. Sandy, noticing Jenna’s presence, perked with surprise, then seemed to understand what had brought her here. She gave Jenna’s arm a grateful squeeze on her way out, her husband leading the way.
Reece turned back with an awkward glance. “Thanks for your help.”
“Sure,” she replied.
Left alone in the waiting area, Jenna picked up her coat from a chair. Every movement took conscious effort as she gathered her bearings.
“Excuse me,” a woman said. Beneath the bangs of her braided black hair, her striking blue eyes shone with concern. “The receptionist told me a family was waiting in here—the Porters. Did you happen to see anyone come by?”
She had to be Reece’s sister. The resemblance was clear. “They just went to Estelle’s room. She’s doing great, by the way.”
The woma
n sighed, hand over her chest. “I’m so glad.”
In the beat that followed, her blue eyes clouded with confusion. “I hope this doesn’t sound rude, but—who are you?”
It was a reasonable question, considering the family update Jenna had supplied.
“Sorry about that, I’m Jenna Matthews.” She thought better of describing her professional role, this not being an ideal time to discuss an estate sale. “I take it you must be Lisa,” she said, flipping the spotlight.
“Me?” A small laugh. “Oh, no. I’m Tracy Graniello.”
Jenna accepted a handshake before Tracy added, “I’m Reece’s girlfriend.”
It took every bit of strength in Jenna to uphold her smile. Through the instant drought of her throat, she managed to push out, “Of course.”
They released hands and Jenna went straight to gripping her coat. She averted her eyes, feeling as transparent as glass. “I should get out of the way. I’m sure if you ask somebody, they can help you find the Porters.”
As Jenna started to leave, Tracy asked, “Would you like me to tell them anything for you?”
Jenna shook her head. What more could she possibly say?
Chapter 10
With every step, Reece grew more leery of the scene waiting in Room 303. The beeping of monitors and scent of medications revived a painfully clear vision. He could still see his grandfather, lying in a hospital bed, the family gathered around to bid farewell.
Now at his grandma’s door, Reece welcomed the contrast. She was fully awake and propped upright in an automated bed. His worries melted away as he kissed her on the cheek. On his grandma’s other side stood his mom. His dad gave a brief greeting, verging on gruff, then went to consult a doctor, not one to trust Reece’s recount. What else was new?
Reece shut out the thought and asked, “Are you feeling better?”
“Oh, I’m fine,” his grandma said. “Nothing to get riled up about.” She waved her hand dismissively, a contradiction to the IV cord attached to it. A trace of pain meds seeped into her manner. “How soon can we leave? Place is chockful of germs.”
His mom asserted, “They need to confirm everything’s okay first.”
“I already told the doc, I’m fit as a fiddle.”
After the episode in the car, Reece wasn’t about to let her think she could jet out of here without final clearance. “That’s what you say now, Grandma. But you weren’t that way an hour ago.”
“Jeez, Louise. Can’t a grown woman have a little scare without creating a fuss? When your daddy was little, someone would yell ‘boo’ and he’d wet his pants. It didn’t mean I’d hold him hostage.”
“You’re not being held hostage,” his mom argued. “You’re in a hospital.”
“Yeah, well. They both poke and prod ya, force you to eat tasteless slop, and charge you a ransom.” She turned to Reece. “You be the judge.”
He couldn’t help but laugh.
Though his mother’s mouth twitched from a near smile, she arched a brow at him: Don’t encourage her. From a plastic pitcher she poured a cup of water and handed it to his grandma.
Having people around to help the elderly woman, Reece acknowledged, could prove healthy rather than hindering. Unfortunately, the trade-off of that change would be another I told you so from his father. Reece’s mood declined at the notion. “Do you want me to take Grandma home after they discharge her?”
“Your dad and I can do that, sweetheart. Her room at our place is ready for her to move back in.” She brushed a piece of lint from the edge of the blanket and asked his grandma, “How about something to eat?”
“So long as it’s not bread pudding. No sense wasting my teeth while I still have them.”
His mom rolled her eyes, yet gave in to a smile. “Be right back.”
Once she’d left the room, Reece heard a release in his grandma’s breath. Her shoulders sank into the pillow, as though tired from keeping up a show.
He took a seat on the edge of the bed and leaned toward her. “How are you really feeling, Grandma?”
Her lips tightened. The morning seemed to replay in her mind, adding a subtle hoarseness to her voice. “I’ll be all right, dear,” she said. Then she lifted her chin and tenderly pinched his cheek. A gesture of love, and thanks. She had remarkable strength at her core.
Reflecting on Jenna’s claims, Reece wanted to probe, to learn how far that strength extended. But now wasn’t the time.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” he asked.
“Besides breaking me out of here?”
“Besides that.”
She considered this. “You can give me the clicker, I suppose. If I have to sit around doing nothing, might as well watch Wheel of Fortune.”
He grabbed the remote from a nearby chair and passed it along. “I didn’t realize that show was still on.”
“Just the reruns.”
“Isn’t that cheating? To already know the answers?”
“Not if you’re too senile to remember.” She gave him a wink and started flipping through the channels. “Dear, would you go see what your mother’s scrounging up? Last thing I need is a bowl of mashed peas. Some Jell-O would be nice.”
“I think I can handle that.”
He offered a smile he managed to wear until he made it around the corner, just out of her sight line. Leaning against a wall, beneath a swoop of red and green garland, he felt the exhaustion of a roller coaster, a steep drop of what ifs. The emotional jostling of another near loss slammed against his chest.
He blew out a breath, regrouping. About to resume his mission, he heard his name being called from the side.
His father.
“Nurse said Tracy’s looking for you,” he told Reece.
Tracy was here? Then Reece remembered. He’d sent her a text message. “Where is she?”
“In the waiting area, where I found you,” he said, “with the estate gal.” Disapproval edged his voice.
“Look. Nothing happened with us.”
“If you say so.”
“Jenna was just there, at the house, and—” He stopped, threw up his palms. “You know what? Doesn’t matter. You’re gonna sit in judgment no matter what I say.” He turned for the hallway.
“Reece,” he snapped.
If Reece ignored the order and left, would it be worth it? What story would his father pass on to Tracy?
He wheeled back around to face a silent glower. It was obvious what the guy wanted to hear. After all this time, might as well get it over with. “Fine. You were right. You’ve won, okay?”
His father cocked his head. “Won?”
“About Grandma living alone, about my crazy stunts. You wanted me to play it safe, that’s what I’m doing. Anything that involves a risk, it’s gone. I’m living the way you’ve always wanted. So, yeah. You’ve won.”
“Now, you hold on,” he said. “I don’t tell you how to live your life.”
“Oh, really?” A prime example rushed into Reece’s mind. “How about after the accident?”
His dad shook his head, as if straining to reassemble the memories. Reece, on the other hand, could recall every word, every syllable his father had spewed at that hospital. With the recollection came guilt and shame and resentment from that day.
“After we crashed, I thought I’d killed Tracy. Did you know that?”
The knot on his father’s forehead tightened.
“At the hospital, her family hated me, and they had every right to. But when you got there, more than anything I needed your support. Not a lecture about how badly I’d screwed up. That’s something I was well aware of.”
His father opened his mouth but, to Reece’s surprise, stalled on any retort.
“Excuse me, gentlemen.” The nurse who had guided them from the waiting room suddenly appeared. “We have to ke
ep the volume down in here.”
Neither of them replied.
“You’re welcome to take this conversation elsewhere.” It was a command, not a suggestion.
“That’s all right,” Reece answered quietly, tearing his gaze from his father. “We’re finished.”
Chapter 11
The house was empty.
Scanning the family room, Jenna stared at the half-filled boxes, the countless items needing to be inventoried and tagged. According to Terrence’s voice mail, he’d taken the crew home, uncomfortable working today with the client’s health in jeopardy.
In the industry, he was one of the compassionate ones. Plenty of liquidators would have charged through without a thought. The longer you’re in the business, the more hardened you’re supposed to get. It’s about sales, not people. Simplifying, not complicating. Purging, not collecting. It’s about getting the job done—which clearly wasn’t happening. Two weeks from the estate sale, and thanks to the holidays, they were barely making a dent.
No question, Terrence had made the right decision. But that didn’t stop Jenna’s frustration from mounting. She snagged a dried-up potted plant she’d meant to toss earlier and dropped it into a black trash bag. From a nearby cabinet she yanked out a stack of games. Their cardboard containers were disintegrating from use. No point checking for missing pieces. Parcheesi, Hangman, Battleship, chess. One after the other, she dumped them all. A deck of Skip-Bo cards spilled over the floor.
She groaned. “Perfect.”
On her knees, she snatched them by the handful. She pitched them into the bag, faster and harder with each scoop. This was her own fault; she’d let the job get too personal. Estelle’s shoe box, which she’d brought in from her trunk, would be next on the list. She’d sell what she could and toss the rest.
Out with the clutter, she reminded herself. Life was easier without it. Her exchange today with Reece Porter had only confirmed that.
The guy had sent her emotions into a jumbled spiral, and why? Fact was, she barely knew him. He’d certainly never denied having a girlfriend. Nonetheless, a feeling of betrayal swelled inside. Worse yet, of being no better than her father’s mistress.
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