Stanton cleared his throat. “Say that in five years and I might believe you. But thanks all the same. I do appreciate you taking one for the team.”
Landry slapped me on the back. “Congrats, bro. I’m happy if you’re happy.”
“So far I am. Her daughter is—”
Stanton pointed his finger at me. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. She has a daughter?” They both stared again, Stanton with brows up.
“Yes, and she’s incredible.”
“Hmm. Now I’m suspicious. Did they drug you or something? You always swore off kids.”
“That was before Easton.”
“Easton is the kid?” Landry asked.
“Yeah, and she’s hilarious. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
Stanton’s eye roll and tight expression clued me in to what was coming. “Uh, about that. No offense, Tris, but kids aren’t my thing and frankly I’m shocked. How exactly did she wrangle you into this marriage?”
I ground my teeth at this. “That’s enough. I got married to save your asses, but I happen to like, really like the woman, and respect the hell out of her. She didn’t wrangle me into anything. It was my idea, if you recall. You’re the one who put the idea into my head. Now what’s gotten into you?”
Stanton shrugged. “I’m worried, I guess. I didn’t expect the woman you chose to have a kid.”
“Yeah, well, she does. This one’s different. Just give Easton a chance. And English, for that matter, before you jump to conclusions about her.”
Landry was more open-minded. “I will. I’ll teach the kid some computer games. She’ll like that. How old is she anyway?”
“Six. And we’ll need to run that by English.”
“What about riding? Does she like horses?” Landry loved to ride and was an expert at it. It might be something Easton would be interested in doing.
“I don’t know but we can ask. How’s Mother doing?”
Stanton huffed. “The same. She comes up here every afternoon to complain about money. It’s a good thing you aren’t around much. Then Ravina comes in and laments how she can’t find a job.”
“If she stopped thinking everyone was beneath her, maybe she could.”
“Tris, she hasn’t even looked,” Landry told me.
“Not a surprise. I’m going to have to kickstart her search.”
Stanton scratched his chin. “How?”
“I’ll look myself and send some things to her. Maybe she can work in one of the attorneys’ offices.”
The two of them chuckled. “The other women would strangle her,” Stanton said.
“Maybe it’s what she needs.” Something had to give. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life locked up in this mansion doing nothing.
“What she needs is a swift kick in the ass,” Stanton said.
He was exactly right about that.
Chapter Thirty-Five
English
After going through the security protocol at the hospital, we rode the elevator up to the floor Geepa was on. When we entered his room, I ran to his side and hugged him. “Geepa, I’m so sorry this happened. It’s my fault you’re here.”
“English, that’s nonsense and I’m fine. You are not to blame for the terrible actions of that man and his son. Now dry those eyes of yours and stop thinking like that.”
“I love you. Are you sure you’re okay?” My heart ached and soared at the same time. I was ecstatic to see him acting like his normal self, but I still bore the burden of responsibility on my shoulders for bringing this down on my family.
“Other than a slight headache from the concussion, I’m fine. I tried to get them to allow me to go home last night, but they took extra precautions.”
Banana patted his cheek. “I’m glad they did too.”
“Of course you are. You got to boss me around,” he said, winking at her.
Mom asked, “Has the doctor been in yet?”
“No, but they took me down for the MRI on my shoulder. I guess he was waiting to get those results.”
“Geepa, how does it feel?”
“Sore, but I think it’ll be fine. This has taught me to respect my age.” Geepa was in his sixties, but didn’t look it at all. He was handsome, like my dad, with dark hair that was beginning to turn gray around his hairline. His tall frame still showed signs of him being physically fit as he worked out all the time.
“Geepa, you’re still young. What are you talking about?”
“That’s what I thought until that jerk nailed me. I hadn’t been expecting it.”
“Why would you? Only crazy people go around doing things like that,” I said. And the McLures were definitely that.
We made small talk until the doctor arrived. He explained that Geepa had sustained a small tear in his rotator cuff when he fell, which was causing the soreness. “You can wear a sling for the next few days, but these tears don’t heal, so I’m afraid you’ll have to have surgery to have it repaired.”
I slumped in the chair. “Is it a bad surgery?” I asked.
“Not at all. This tear is small so they can do it by arthroscopy.”
While it relieved me some, guilt still cocooned me for it happening in the first place.
Geepa aimed a finger at me. “Young lady, wipe that look off your face. This is not your fault. If you had been home alone with Easton, I shudder to think what that man would’ve done to you or your daughter. I’m glad it turned out this way.”
He always had a way of making lemonade out of lemons. “Thanks, Geepa. I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“And speaking of, where’s that new husband of yours?” he asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
“He’s probably catching up on things at work. I left him at home when Mom picked me up.”
“You need to get back to him. You’re supposed to be celebrating your wedding.”
The doctor glanced at me and wished me a congratulations, then continued with the paperwork. He finished and told Geepa they would be bringing everything in for him to sign in a few minutes and then we could leave.
After the doctor was gone, Geepa said, “Now that I have you feeling guilty, English, for God’s sake will you let me get Easton a puppy?”
“Geepa! I can’t believe you!”
“What? I’m only taking advantage of the perfect opportunity.”
“I never realized you were such an opportunist. I’m too busy for a puppy.”
“You have a husband now and I’ll pay to have it trained.”
“Yeah, like you did Boonior? Do you have any idea how many ballet slippers of mine that dog ate?”
“I do, because he chewed up even more of my house slippers. But he was the best friend you ever had, wasn’t he?”
There was no denying it.
Geepa knew I was caving when I didn’t answer. “Then how can you deprive your daughter of the same?”
“Because I don’t want her heart to get broken when he dies, like mine did when we lost Boonior.”
Geepa held out his arms. “Oh, sweetie, come here.” I ran into his arms again. “That’s a part of growing up. Learning to love and learning to let go. We’re all going to lose those we love and you can’t protect Easton from everything. But you can give her joy and teach her to love and take care of things. A dog is an excellent way to do that.”