“And you made sure she could, right? That’s why she ended up in Dallas and didn’t have to worry about money.”
My grandmother nods. “But I couldn’t say the same for your mother. That woman…well, she’s an imbecile. When you came to live with me, I needed to make sure that you didn’t end up like your father and his siblings. I might have gone too far.”
“Might have?”
Her shoulders droop. “I did. I don’t think you’ll ever forgive me, and I don’t have a right to ask. Just, when Sydney called and told me what happened…”
For the first time in my life, I watch tears fill my grandmother’s eyes and a lump rises in my throat. “I don’t think I could bear to lose you, Nancy.”
The whispered confession hits me square in the chest. “Oh, Grandma, you won’t lose me.” I scoot forward and wrap my arms around her. “I promise.”
She nods and we stay like that for a few moments, but she stirs and moves away from me. She wipes at her face. “I would like you to come stay with me.” I open my mouth to argue, but she holds up her hand. “No. I know. Besides, Travis Fillmore would probably throw a fit. He was ready to lose it out in the waiting room.”
I try not to get too hopeful.
“You could both come stay with me.”
For a moment, the words don’t register. Then a rush of warm happiness hits me. I know we might still have issues, but I want this. Estella is a pain, but she is my grandmother. Other than Jon, she’s the one family member I can sometimes stand.
“I don’t think Travis would like that. We have some things to work out.”
“I still suggest you get out of the public eye. The moment this hits the tabloids, there will be no controlling the situation.”
Ugh. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“Find some place with security. The type where they shoot first.”
I smile. “I might know of a few places like that.”
She stands. “I will sign you out, but Travis will be back here in a moment, I’m sure.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” She asks.
“Everything.”
Her eyes fill up again, but in true Estella fashion, she holds them at bay. “You make me so very proud, Nancy Howard.”
Then she slips out of the room. I wipe away my tears and decide to go ahead and get dressed. I’m tugging down my shirt when Travis comes busting into my room. He rushes over to me and scoops me up off my feet and into his arms.
“God, that took forever.”
I laugh, snuggling up against him. He pulls back and looks down at me, warmth fills my tummy at his tender look.
“You’re okay? You and Estella?”
I nod as he sets me down and then urges me up onto the bed again. He picks up my shoes and helps me put them on. It isn’t that easy with the brace they have me wearing for my wrist.
“Yeah. She wanted me to come stay with her.”
“No.”
Just that. No explanation.
“Maybe I want to.”
His frown turns darker. “I will take care of you.”
“You were invited too.”
His expression clears. “Still, that doesn’t sound like fun.”
“Yeah, but she had a good point. We do need to make sure that we get away from the public. This is going to be a mess for a while.”
“Hmm, I had not thought of that. Hey, we could go stay with Grady. He has that little guest house and Syd was already asking us to go there in the first place.”
“First, she invited me, not you.”
“Well, she better just get used to the idea that where you go, I follow.”
“Is that a fact?”
He nods. “And it might take us a little while to get out of here.”
He leads me out into the waiting room where a party has sort of started. I was the only patient in the ER, so I guess they are okay with this many people being here. Everly and Becca are hanging out with Everly’s brothers, Ms. Peterson is sharing her double chocolate chip cookies with everyone, and there seems to be a game of dominos being played in the corner.
“The only thing missing is Victoria the Goat,” I murmur. It’s then that everyone notices us. Syd comes flying towards me. Jesus, she looks like day old shit. Grady and Carter follow her.
“You’re safe!”
“Ow,” I say, not joking at all. I have a few bruises on my body left over from the altercation.
“I’m sorry.” But she only loosens her hold a little. Everyone gathers around us and when she finally lets me go, I’m passed around for gentle hugs from everyone.
“This is great,” Travis says after a little bit, “but Nancy needs some rest. We need to get out of here before the press gets hold of the news.”
“Yes,” Syd says, ushering us all out of the ER waiting room. We get back to my house, Syd, Grady and Carter following us in Grady’s SUV. Travis goes to pack us up, and I look at Syd.
“You are staying with us.”
I nod. “Estella wanted us to stay with her.”
“The cranky old lady?” Carter asks. “Pass. Stay with us.”
“You don’t live with us,” Grady says.
“I could and you would never know it.”
Grady looks at Syd and she shakes her head. “He’s just messing with you.” Then she turns to look at me. “Stay as long as you like.”
I nod, but in the back of my mind, I worry about the fight and just what is going to become of our show. Just thinking about it makes my head hurt, so I push it to the back of my mind and go back to my room to pack a few things. Tomorrow I can worry about my future. Tonight, I just want to get to San Antonio and go to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Travis
“I think you should stay in the main house,” Syd says as Grady shows Nancy and me to the guest house.
“Sydney, they’re going to be right out back, and they both need some rest. As do we.” Grady’s tone tells me he’s had enough of all of us.
She frowns at him. “I want Nancy near me.”
Yeah, so, she’s more worried about her best friend than her baby brother. She’s also a walking, talking cock blocker.
“Travis and I will do better out here,” Nancy says, her voice patient but exhaustion threads every word. Grady opens the door and steps aside to let my sister and Nancy in.
“We had it aired out last week just in case. Sydney’s been worried,” he says.
I nod and go to walk by him, but he stops me. “Hey, you doing okay?”
“Yeah, just exhausted.” The sun will be up in just a few hours and we have yet to get to any sleep.
“Let us know if there is anything you need. There are essentials, but we didn’t put any perishables in the fridge. Text us when you guys are up and we’ll bring some things out.”
“Thanks, Grady.” I hesitate. “What we talked about is still on, right?”
“If she comes back, she gets what you want her to.”
“Thanks.”
“Just get her back. You two are meant to be together, on screen and off.”