Family Bonds- Emily and Crew (Amore Island Book 4)

by Natalie Ann

  He started to pack and then stopped to pick up his phone and sent a text to Emily to call him when she got a minute, he was leaving for Boulder in the morning and had to get the ferry off tonight to catch his flight in time.

  It wasn’t even two minutes before his phone rang. “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “My grandmother took a fall last night and broke her leg. The place she lives at called me to see if I knew as they expected me to be there or on my way. My uncle was called first because he’s closer and I guess he told them he’d let me know.”

  It was just burning his blood even saying that again, let alone thinking it.

  “And he didn’t?” she asked.

  “No. The place she lives isn’t stupid. They know who pays for it.”

  He’d never told her that, but it didn’t matter at this point. She probably figured it out on her own by now.

  “So have you talked to anyone to know how she is doing?”

  “No. The hospital won’t give me any information and my grandmother’s phone goes to voicemail.”

  “You don’t want to call your uncle?”

  “Nope. It’s not worth it. It’s a broken leg they said. It’s a long way from her heart, I keep telling myself. She’s healthy as a horse, but I got a flight to go see for myself. Maybe now I can convince her to come with me. That she’ll see her son didn’t even bother to call me.”

  “I’m going with you,” she said.

  He shouldn’t be surprised she’d said that but was. “You don’t need to. I’ll be fine.”

  “I don’t need to do a lot of things in life and I know you’ll be fine, but I want to be there for you.”

  “What about work?”

  “I own the damn hotel. I can do what I want when I want.”

  He laughed and decided not to argue with her. Plus, he wanted her there with him. “I’ll get another ticket.”

  “I can do it,” she said.

  “I know you can, but by the time I send you the information on the flight it’s just easier for me to click and pay for it,” he said. “Snap a picture of your driver’s license if you don’t mind so I can fill out what else I might need.”

  He hung up the phone, took care of Emily’s ticket, then texted her a shot of the flight information and finished packing.

  Several hours later, he called his grandmother’s phone again and she answered. “Grandma. What happened? How are you?”

  “I’m fine, Crew. I fell on the way to play pickleball. My shoelace was untied and I stepped on it.”

  “You need to be more careful. How bad is the break?”

  “Not bad. It was a clean one and no surgery.”

  That was good to hear. “Are you still in the hospital or back home?”

  “I’m back home. They made me stay the night so a specialist could come in and figure out if I needed surgery. Personally I think it was to just bill more insurance. Then it took a few hours to be discharged. I didn’t have my phone with me and the battery died. I asked Richard to come get it, but he said he forgot.”

  “Don’t get me going on that. He never called me. I’ve got a flight there tomorrow morning to see for myself.”

  “There is no reason for you to fly out here, Crew. I’m fine. How did you find out about it if it wasn’t from Richard? I’d planned on calling you myself tonight when I thought you’d be home from work.”

  “Joanne called. She works there. She was worried and wanted to make sure I knew.”

  “Joanne is a sweetheart. I’ll make sure she gets a big box of chocolates sent to her this week.”

  He laughed. “I’ll add a bottle of wine to it. Anyway, Emily and I will be there tomorrow so I can see for myself what is going on and make sure you get the best care. You might need rehab when it’s done. I want to talk to your doctor. When is your next appointment?”

  “You’re sounding like a parent now, Crew. I’m fine.”

  “And I’m going to see for myself,” he said one more time.

  “Stubborn just like your mother was. I’m glad you’re coming though.”

  He heard her yawn and knew she had to be tired and didn’t want to keep her. “Get some rest and you can give me hell in person tomorrow.”

  “You know I will,” she said, hanging up.

  He put his head in his hands, at least feeling better that he’d talked to her and was now relieved it wasn’t that bad. Just bad enough that his heart couldn’t take it and he had to find out why his uncle didn’t bother to let him know.

  “This is a beautiful place,” Emily said the next day when Crew pulled into the retirement community. Heck, she wanted to live here when she was older and could understand why Lucy might not want to move. This place had to cost a fortune on top of it.

  It just told her that Crew spared no expense for his grandmother. The one person that was there for him still. He was loyal to the bone and she had to remember that.

  Had she known he was worried sick when he found out? She had and she’d felt horrible for him. She wanted to hug him and tell him it would be fine, but she was in the middle of a meeting with staff and had gotten up and walked out when she’d seen the text.

  When she returned she was somewhat rattled but carried on. At the end of the meeting Penelope smiled at her and said she was doing the right thing and had come a long way.

  She didn’t need to ask what that meant. She knew.

  “Nothing but the best for my grandmother,” he said. “She was in her own place when my parents were alive and just fine, but then when I decided to leave I worried about her being alone. It took her a while to agree to this and then I gave her a few places to choose from. This one was her favorite as there is so much to do.”

  “Is she a social butterfly?” she asked. It seemed like everything imaginable was here.

  “She never used to be. I think that is what worried her. But she warmed up and has enjoyed it. She can get all her meals in the restaurant. I pay for that, but she doesn’t often. She says she likes to cook. I know it’s going to be hard to convince her to move to the island, but I’m still trying. I know there are places in Massachusetts like this. Maybe not as nice, but I’d be happy with that too.”

  “I’ll help you try to convince her if you want,” she said.

  He turned and looked at her, picked her hand up and held it. “Thanks. I might need your help to sell her on the idea.”

  When they got to Lucy’s room, he knocked and then walked in. Lucy was on the couch with her foot on a pillow, the TV on, and some food on the coffee table.

  “Looks like someone has been taking care of you,” Crew said, moving toward his grandmother and giving her a kiss. “That’s homemade mac and cheese.”

  “Sally brought it over for me at lunch. Last night Miranda brought me some roast beef and mashed potatoes. Everyone has been great. You’d think I was dying rather than trying to get around on crutches.”

  Crew laughed. “Speaking of that. I talked to Joanne last night and you’ll have a scooter delivered here tomorrow.”

  “I don’t need an old lady scooter,” Lucy said, moving her leg to try to stand up. “I can get around just fine.”

  “Stop,” Crew said. “It’s not an old lady one. It’s like a skateboard on steroids with handlebars and brakes. You don’t have to sit and drive around like an old lady. Think of it as a toy you can zip around the grounds on. Once your cast is off you can still use it. Hell, I might buy one myself. It’s cool.”

  Lucy narrowed her eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

  “Maybe just try it,” Emily said. “Crew showed me it and I thought it was pretty sweet myself.”

  “Let me see it,” Lucy said to Crew.

  He grinned and pulled his phone out, found the picture and showed her. “I wanted to get one with skulls on it for you, but it wasn’t in stock. I just got a silver one and it’s being shipped overnight.”

  “That is pretty nice,” Lucy said. “Okay, you’re off the hook because these crutche
s really do suck, but I refuse to go in a wheelchair. How long are you staying?”

  “As long as you need me to,” Crew said.

  “Then you can leave tomorrow.”

  Emily laughed. “That’s not very nice.”

  “Nope, it’s not. But the longer he stays the more he will try to talk me into moving to that island of yours. I’m so pissed off at Richard right now I might take you up on it.”

  She looked over at Crew and saw that he was going to jump on the opportunity. “I want you there. I can make it happen fast. You can stay in my house now with me.”

  “And then what will you do when the two of you want to get down and dirty?”

  Emily should be used to this but really wasn’t. “Then he can stay at my house,” she said. “He’s there more often than not anyway.”

  “What do you say, Grandma? I’ve got that second house now I’ll start work on. You can have the one I’m in all for yourself.”

  “There’s not as much to do there though,” Lucy said.

  “There is plenty to do on the island,” Emily said. “But there is going to be a small scale retirement community being built and ready to go in a year. Maybe you’d like that better? I told you about that, right? My family is building it.”

  “Will they have activities there?” Lucy asked.

  “I’m sure. I can find out. Maybe you can put a good word in with the people building it. Give suggestions?” Crew said. “I don’t think Emily’s family would mind.”

  Emily laughed. “They might not.” Though she could just imagine Bode and Lucy in the same room. Then she laughed and realized they’d probably hit it off.

  “I’ll think about it,” Lucy said just as a man walked in the door.

  “What are you doing here, Crew? And who are you?” the man asked Emily.

  “Richard,” Lucy said. “How many times have I told you to not just walk in the door. What if I was entertaining?”

  Crew took a step toward his uncle. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me what happened?”

  “Because she’s my mother. You don’t need to be told everything.”

  “Like hell I don’t. I support her. More than you ever did or ever will,” Crew said.

  “Because you’re Mr. Moneybags. You don’t spend it on anyone but her.”

  “Bullshit,” Crew said. “And you know it. You weren’t around much before my parents won the money. You’re never anywhere unless you can get something out of it.”

  “If you want to know what is going on then you can put me in charge of her money, and my mother can make me her power of attorney,” Richard said.

  Emily couldn’t believe that was said just now. “How is that letting Crew know more of what is going on? It seems to me you’d just withhold more.”

  “So you’ve got some bimbo to fight your battles?” Richard said. “It sounds like she wants to control your money more than you think I do.”

  Emily gasped and Crew moved toward his uncle and lifted him in the air against the wall. “Watch your fucking mouth speaking to the woman I love. She has more class in her fingernail than you’ve ever had.”

  “Crew,” Lucy said. “Put your uncle down. Richard, that is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever suggested and just plain stupid. If Crew put money in your hands it’d be gone and you know it and I’d get evicted from here because they weren’t paid.”

  “There is no reason he should have it all,” Richard said. “He should be taking care of his whole family and not just you.”

  Emily could understand even more now witnessing this. Though she was sure there were some in her family over the years who felt the same way, most of them worked for what they had.

  Yes, there had been rumors of those from William’s family who wanted money from others, but the current generations were nothing like it.

  “You can take care of yourself,” Lucy told Richard. “There is nothing wrong with you. Your sister gave you more money than she should have and you blew it on women and casinos. I won’t let Crew give you anything so if you want to blame someone, then blame me.”

  “Bitch,” Richard said. “I should have figured it was you all along.”

  Crew picked his uncle up again, but Emily moved closer and put her hand on his shoulder. “He’s not worth it, Crew.”

  Crew threw his uncle to the side. “Get out of here. I can take care of her just fine even if I’m not in the same state.”

  Richard left the room, slamming the door. “Make the arrangements,” Lucy said. “I’ll come to the island once this cast is off my leg and I can move around some more.”

  “Damn,” Crew said. “All I had to do was get Uncle Richard to lose his temper in front of you?”

  “I think it’s more like you lost your temper,” Emily said.

  “He’d never admit it,” Lucy said to her. “But either way, it’s time. Besides, maybe I want to be close by for the next generation of Ackleys.”

  “I’m not pregnant,” Emily said.

  “Not now you’re not. But you must love my grandson a whole hell of a lot to fly here to see me when you only met me once.”

  “I do,” she said. “I came here to see how you were doing, but I came for Crew.”

  “You came to help convince me to move back to your island. Admit it,” Lucy said.

  “My lips are sealed!”

  36

  Take Charge

  “I’m ready to scream,” Emily said, marching into Penelope’s office a few weeks later.

  “What now?” Penelope said. “It’s been all drama with you lately for someone that hardly showed any emotions in her life before.”

  “Ha ha,” she said. “Very funny. You’re the one who told me I needed a life and now that I’ve got one you’re busting my butt.”

  “I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t do that. But I should say the drama is man drama more than anything. That seems to follow you around like ants at a picnic with honey on your shoe.”

  She rolled her eyes at her sister. “You know what is going on and that Crew can’t help what has happened to him. I’m just glad that Lucy will be moving closer at some point. Crew is trying to figure things out.”

  “That is very sweet. I thought she was staying at his house?”

  “I think that is the short term plan, but he’s looking into rehab for her once she’s back on her feet and things for her to do here. I’m trying to help too. I asked Mom to give me some ideas.”

  “Mom isn’t that old,” Penelope said, laughing. “She probably wanted to smack you.”

  “You know what I meant. And I did tell Mitchell that Crew would be interested in purchasing one of the new homes they are getting ready to break ground on.”

  “Which meant you had to tell them about Crew’s wealth?”

  “I did. Crew was fine with it. Anyway, I’m getting off topic here. You’ve got a way of calming down my anger. I want to be worked up. Remember those two bad reviews we got a while back on the hotel?”

  “Yeah. Were you able to figure out who they were?”

  “After a little bit more research I think I did. I’m positive it was Simon and his new lady love.”

  “What? They were different names.”

  “Not so different when I thought of it. Remember Simon is his middle name. The review was left by Anthony P. His name is Anthony Simon Pagan.”

  “Oh,” Penelope said. “I’m surprised we didn’t catch that right away. But you had your mind on another man.”

  “Stop making jokes. But it was true,” she said, agreeing. “Anyway. The other review was left a day later and very similar, both complaining about staff being rude and stupid petty things. That was Melissa B. I had Beth running guests with those first names and nothing came up for Melissa, but her name was Missy. And Simon had his under Simon Pagan which is why I didn’t realize it at first.”

  “What an asshole,” Penelope said. “I can’t believe even he’d stoop that low.”

  “I wouldn’t put anything p
ast him.”

  “So, what are you going to do?” Penelope asked.

  “Nothing. I’d like to bar him from coming back here again but that would be stupid. We just have to realize this is going to happen at times.”

  “You can have the review removed from the site,” Penelope said.

  “I can but then that isn’t being transparent. I’ll think about it. At least we know it really wasn’t anything bad but just my ex being a jerk.”

  “Yep. Now sit down and let’s go over the plans for our anniversary.”

  “I can’t believe we are going to do this every year,” she said.

  “Nothing major. It’s only been three years. For the five-year mark we’ll do more. But I think having the grand opening Memorial Day weekend when the island officially starts to pick up was brilliant. Every year it’s like a kickoff.”

  “And you’ve been marketing specials and we are almost booked up solid for that entire weekend.”

  “Which is what we wanted,” Penelope said. “This year will be better than last and so on.”

  “It’s everything we hoped for. Including the headaches,” she said.

  “It comes with the territory. So pull up a chair and let’s finalize it all. It’s only a few days away.”

  By the time they were done going over that, Emily was back in her office, her phone going off with a text. She picked it up to see Crew just checking in with her to see how her day was going.

  Yeah, there was drama there before, but it was gone now. This was where she wanted her life to be.

  And though she’d been somewhat stunned when Lucy made the comment about the next generation of Ackleys, she’d realized that she could completely see herself with Crew many years from now. Even having kids at some point.

  She wasn’t getting any younger, that was for sure. Neither was he. They both had time though.

  But two days later when she and Penelope were overseeing the setup on the front lobby for drinks and snacks, balloons, banners and giveaways, she heard her name called and turned.