“Oh my,” Maisie whispers, and I pat her hand.
“I’m all right.”
“Child, you have the worst luck,” Bernard says, then looks at Tanner. “You’re going to have your work cut out, keeping her safe.”
“I’m starting to figure that out,” Tanner replies with a smile in his voice, and I turn to grin at him. His face softens as he reaches out to touch my cheek with the tips of his fingers.
“I think I need to sign up for a Montana adventure,” Jade says wistfully.
“It really was the best time, even with everything that happened.” I laugh, then look at Maisie when she yawns. “Are you tired?”
“Unfortunately.” She reaches for Bernard’s hand, turning his way. “Why don’t you go home and get some sleep? I know you didn’t get much last night with the doctors and nurses in and out of my room constantly.”
“I’m all right. Plus, I wouldn’t be able to sleep without you anyway.” He kisses the top of her hand, then glances between Jade and me. “What are you two up to today?”
“I don’t have plans. I was just going to hang here with Mom.”
“You have a business to run, and all I’m going to be doing is sleeping.”
“I got Jeff to cover the store, so I have the day off. I don’t mind hanging around.”
“I do mind,” Maisie says in that motherly tone of hers. “I’m sure when I get home in a few days I’ll be able to use you girls’ help. But right now, I’m being taken care of, so go to work or do something—I don’t want you guys hanging around all day.” I want to be upset that she wants us gone, but I remember that my mom used to do the same thing when she had to stay in the hospital. She hated me seeing her lying in a bed and hooked up to machines.
“You can come help me pack up orders; then we can bring lunch back here after we drop them off at the post office,” I suggest, locking eyes with Jade.
“Okay, sure, if Tanner doesn’t mind me tagging along with you two.”
“Not at all,” he says, getting up.
That settled, I push up from my chair so I can lean over and give Maisie a hug.
“Get some rest, and we’ll be back.”
“Okay, sweetheart.” She lets me go with a kiss to my cheek, and I turn to give Bernard a hug. I take Tanner’s hand and leave the room, with Jade following behind after hugging both her parents.
“Do you want to ride with us and leave your car so you don’t have to pay for parking twice?” I ask Jade when we get into the elevator inside the parking garage.
“No, I’ll meet you two at the house. I’m going to stop by the bookstore to check on Jeff. Do you want me to bring you a coffee from Brew’s?”
“You know the way to my heart.” I smile, and she laughs as the doors open on the floor where she parked.
“What would you like, Tanner? Wait, don’t tell me.” She holds up a hand while keeping the doors open with the other one. “Hot coffee, black, no sugar.”
“Iced coffee, cream and sugar.” Tanner grins.
“Well, aren’t you just full of surprises.” She gives me a look, then backs out. “See you two in an hour, tops.”
“See you in an hour.” I wave goodbye to her as the doors close, then lean into Tanner’s side and let out a deep breath.
“You doing okay, sunshine?” he asks softly, sliding his arm around my waist while resting his lips on the top of my head.
“Yeah, the last few days have just felt like a whirlwind,” I admit as the doors open. I start to step off, but I stop when Galvin and Chris come around the corner. Like yesterday, seeing them together doesn’t make me feel hurt or angry; it just makes me feel stupid. It’s obvious to me now that they love each other and probably always have. If I hadn’t been so blind to the truth, I would have recognized that Chris’s dislike for me was actually jealousy and that Galvin’s insistence on keeping us separated was because he was trying to protect the man he loves.
“Hey, guys.” Galvin breaks the silence, looking between Tanner and me, and I catch Chris step closer to his side, as if to protect him from me. “Are you two going to see Maisie?”
“We’re just heading out,” I say, leaving out that Maisie was getting tired. Even exhausted, I know she’ll be happy to see him. Like me, she kind of adopted him while we were all growing up, so she might have been upset about what happened between us, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t still love him. And given what I know of his parents’ reaction to him marrying Chris, I’m glad he still has Maisie and Bernard.
Bernard is still angry on my behalf, but I’m sure he’ll get over it.
“Have a good visit.” I duck around Chris, pulling Tanner with me out of the elevator.
When the doors close behind us, I wonder if we’ll ever get back to a place where we can be friends, where he doesn’t feel like a complete stranger. Something tells me the answer to that question is no, not with the history between us, and that is possibly more upsetting than anything else, because I do miss him. Or I miss his friendship, even after what he did.
Sitting outside on the floating deck next to my trailer, the stars twinkling above us and the moon out in all its glory, I pick up my iced tea to take a sip. Today was another busy day. It took Jade, Tanner, and me four hours to get things sorted in my shop and the orders that had backed up while I was away packaged up to be sent out. When we were finished, I mailed everything off; then we picked up lunch and went back to the hospital. Maisie was pretty tired, so after we ate lunch with Bernard, we left and went to the grocery store to get the stuff for dinner. By the time we got home, Earl was pulling in, so while Jade and I made a salad and sautéed potatoes, Tanner and Earl started up the grill.
Now, with my feet tucked under me in my chair and my belly full, I watch Tanner smile as he talks about the lodge, Maverick, Blake, and his family. I know logically I shouldn’t feel guilty about his decision to sell because it’s his choice, but I still do. It’s obvious to anyone listening to him that he loves his job and his family in Montana, even with whatever’s gone down.
“When do you have to go back?” Jade asks him, and I hold my breath as I wait for him to answer, because he hasn’t talked to me about leaving or staying. He hasn’t talked to me about anything.
“Not sure yet.” He looks at Earl, and I wonder if he opened up to him or asked him about finding work here.
“You don’t have to get back to work?” Jade says with a frown, and I swear I want to kick my best friend when Tanner’s jaw twitches.
“I’m here as long as Cybil needs me. We’ll figure things out after that.”
“How are you two going to make this work? I mean, you live there, and Cybil lives here.”
“Jade,” I snap, and her eyes come to me. “Stop.”
“I was just wondering.”
“I know, and as soon as Tanner and I figure things out, you’ll know our plans.”
“Fine.” She pushes back from the table and stands. “I should probably go. With Mom not wanting me hanging around the hospital, I’m going to open the store tomorrow.”