My Way Back to You (Harlequin Large Print Super Romance) (9 page)

“Yeah.”

“How about I extend my vacation a few more days, and I’ll go down to Kentucky and take your place?”

“You’d do that?” Russ sounded pleased, but Maggie leaned away from Jeff, shaking her head in protest and giving him a look that said he’d taken leave of his senses.

“It’s the least I can do. I wasn’t there when you needed me after Zeke’s death, but I can be there for you now. I’ll be like your representative, keep you abreast of everything.”

“That would be so cool, Dad.” Relief gave Russ’s voice a boyish tinge once again—the way it should be. “You should totally call Mom. I’ll bet she’d let you stay with her. I mean, the house is huge.”

Jeff could barely keep from holding back the chuckle. “Yeah, well, I’ll talk to her, and we’ll see if she offers.”

Maggie must have known what he was referring to. She rolled her eyes and gave her head a shake of resignation.

“Okay. Well, I feel better, knowing you’re gonna be there. Guess I’ll stay here, after all.”

“Good decision.”

“Want me to call Mom and warn her you’re gonna call her?”

“No. A warning might give her too much time to think about it.” He reached over and took Maggie’s hand, giving her a smile. “I think it’d be better if I just talk to her myself.”

“’Kay. Good luck. Call me.”

“I will. Love you.”

“You, too. Bye, Dad.”

Jeff ended the call, then pinned Maggie with a direct look. “So...how would you feel about having a houseguest for a few days?”

He wasn’t sure if the heavy sigh that pressed through her lips was pleasure or frustration.

Maybe a mixture of the two.

CHAPTER NINE

O
NE
MINUTE
M
AGGIE
was having fun on the golf course with her ex-husband, and the next minute her world was careening out of control.

Actually, it wasn’t
completely
out of control. It was simply out of
her
control and in the hands of Jeff Wells. How had he managed that? With hardly even a nod in her direction, he’d promised Russ he would be there for her dad’s surgery, invited himself into her home, changed his flight to Wednesday and called and arranged with his dad to have a few more days off.

“You’re not mad at me, are you, Mags?” He pulled back onto the road.

Oh, so now he was concerned about her feelings on the matter?

“I’m not really mad. I’m stunned. I’m confused. I’m upset about Dad. I...I really don’t know how I feel.” She massaged her temples, which felt good but did nothing to help sort out her feelings. Jeff in Taylor’s Grove. Staying at her house. This would be the biggest news to hit the town since Ollie Perkins came out of the closet last year.

“I can stay at a hotel if you’d prefer.”

Was he a freaking mind reader? “It’s not that I mind you staying at the house, Jeff.”

“I need to make up for not being there for Russ—and for you—when Zeke died.”

Her heart stuttered. “You think my dad is going to die?”

“No, of course not.” He stole a quick glance her way. “Open-heart surgery is an everyday occurrence now. But it’s going to be an emotional time. You’ve acknowledged you’re upset. And your mom won’t be in any shape for you to lean on her. You need somebody.”

“And I appreciate that. But, can you imagine all the talk it’ll stir up? Mom and Dad are already upset. Dad’s heart will blow, for sure, when he hears you’re staying with me. He’s liable to drag out his shotgun.”

“Like he did the first time?”

Maggie snorted at the old joke. “This time, he’ll be running you
out
of town.”

“Just listen to me.” He brushed the back of his finger down her cheek. “Take away all the stuff that stems from other people. Do
you
want me to stay with you?”

She considered that. “Well, yeah, maybe. I mean, you’re right that it’s not going to be an easy time to be alone.”

He shrugged. “Then where I stay is nobody’s business. But I told Russ I’d be at the hospital for Eli’s surgery. That doesn’t broker discussion.”

“Don’t use that tone with me, Jeff,” she snapped. “It’s
my
family we’re talking about.
Everything
about this situation is open for discussion, and you do not seem to be hearing me. So listen now. Mom and Dad won’t want you at the hospital. It’ll upset them further. You don’t even have a name to them when Russ isn’t around. You are the son of a bitch to Dad...and that’s when he’s being nice.”

Jeff seemed unfazed by her revelation. “He just thinks Russ doesn’t hear it. It’s been a running joke between Russ and me since somebody at school told him what the term meant, but that’s beside the point. Your dad’s going to be knocked out, so there’s no way he’ll know who was there and who wasn’t, unless somebody tells him. If he finds out after his heart is fixed, it shouldn’t make any difference. I mean, I don’t plan on going into his room and visiting him. I’m simply Russ’s stand-in during the longest hours.” He reached over and squeezed the hand lying in her lap. “And I want to be there for you, too.”

“But tomorrow and Sunday...” She was thinking aloud. “I’ll have to go to Mom and Dad’s. And to church. People will come by.”

“We’ll deal with that when and if it happens.”

“Of course, we’ll have
some
warning.” She grasped for a positive. “I have an alarm system on the driveway.”

“Why?” He chuckled. “You hide men often?” She could tell he was trying to lighten her mood, and, darn, if it wasn’t working.

“Well, you never know when it might come in handy.”

“Like this weekend.” He pointed to the empty stretch of highway in front of them. “Looks like all’s clear to me.”

She leaned her head against the window, out of excuses. “You do have to admit, this is all pretty bizarre. I drop my son off at college, hook up with my ex, go with him on a one-day vacation, take him home with me during a family crisis and stow him away in my house like a wanted man.”

“So I’m
wanted
now. Interesting.” He patted her leg. “Would you quit worrying? Things like this happen all the time in California.”

“Pfft. Hollywood, maybe.” She shook her head.

“Hollywood’s part of California.”

She rolled her head in his direction. “You always make everything sound so simple.”

“Nothing about life is simple.” He grinned and gave her a wink. “Life’s like eating an elephant, Mags. The only way to tackle it is one bite at a time.”

“Got any steak sauce?” she asked.

* * *

“Y
OU
DON
’
T
SEEM
YOURSELF
, Rosemary.” Sue squinted and peered at her, chin buckled in question. “Is everything okay?”

Rosemary wasn’t surprised Sue Marsden picked up on the discomforting vibes coursing through her. The woman could sniff out gossip faster than a bird dog on a covey of quail.

Rosemary hadn’t wanted to come out tonight for this very reason, but Eli had insisted on life as usual. Soon enough, his condition would be the talk on everybody’s lips. Such was the way of life in Taylor’s Grove, where your business was your neighbor’s business. There was comfort in that, she supposed. For the most part, people discussed others with an attitude of love and concern. Yet, if malice could be interjected, it was usually Sue who saw that it happened.

The park at the center of town was hopping—typical of summer nights in the village, but especially Friday nights when everybody came to greet their neighbors and start the weekend. Eli and his group of closest friends had gathered in the shade of the giant elm tree out by the curb. Unsure of how to answer Sue, Rosemary glanced in Eli’s direction just in time to see Tank Wallis pull her husband into a hug.

So the word was out.

Rosemary shook her head. “We found out this morning that Eli has three blockages in his heart. He’s scheduled for bypass surgery Monday in Paducah.”

“Oh, dear Lord!” Sue’s embrace loosened the angst Rosemary had been holding in. Between her emotional state and the men hugging on the other side of the park, it didn’t take long for everyone else to begin gravitating toward one of the two groups, asking questions. The news spread like wildfire through dry brush, and within minutes Sawyer O’Malley, pastor of Taylor’s Grove’s only church, had convened a spur-of-the-moment prayer service on Eli’s behalf right there at the park.

Rosemary no longer held back her tears. She let them flow freely in welcomed release, mingling with those of friends who genuinely cared for her and her family. Afterward, she graciously accepted the hugs and pats and general outpouring of love with a heart full of thanks.

“It’s miraculous what surgeons can accomplish these days, Rosemary.” Bree Barlow sidled as close as her swollen, eight-months-pregnant belly would allow. “Just look at my mom. She’s a walking miracle.”

Bree’s mom, Stella, who’d suffered a traumatic brain injury a year ago, had recently married and moved to Paducah. “Yes, she is,” Rosemary agreed. “I sure do miss her, though.” Her own Maggie’s absence stung fiercely right at that moment, and she gave Bree’s hand a motherly pat. “But I love that you and Kale moved into the house. You’re infusing new life into Taylor’s Grove, and we sure can use that.”

“It’s a little bit of a drive for Kale.” The young woman’s eyes scanned the crowd, and Rosemary could tell by the way her face beamed when she’d located her husband. “But the apartment at the marina was just too small to raise a family there. We’ve hired a young man to help run the place, and he’s thrilled with his new ‘bachelor pad.’” She scrunched her fingers in the air to form imaginary quotation marks and shrugged. “Everybody’s happy.”

IvaDawn Carroll moved in on Rosemary’s other side with Nell Bradley behind her. As soon as Bree stepped away, Faith O’Malley stepped in to take her place. And so it went. The remainder of Rosemary’s time on the square was like a dance jam session with her in the center, changing partners constantly. By the time ten o’clock rolled around and Taylor’s Grove started closing down for the night, she was mentally drained and physically exhausted. She headed straight for bed as soon as they got home.

Eli wasn’t too far behind, but far enough that he caught her naked as she changed from her clothes into her nightgown. He pressed against her from behind, kissing her ear and fondling her breasts.

“You can’t be thinking about sex tonight.”

“Not exactly.” He turned her around to face him, keeping her encircled in his arms, and gave her a wolfish grin. “I’m thinking about making love. By my recollection it’s Friday night.”

“Well, yes, but...” She leaned back to see him better. It was true Friday night was—had always been—
their
night. “Surely, you’re not serious.”

“As a heart attack.” His grin twitched. “Sorry. Bad choice of words.”

“No, Eli.” She pushed free of his embrace and stepped away, snatching up her gown and moving to her side of the bed. “Not in your condition.”

“Dadgummit, Rosie.” He glared at her, gripping his hips. “My condition’s no different than it was two nights ago.”

His words fueled the frustration that was taking the place of her fatigue. “Maybe not, but in my head it’s different. I know now that you’ve got blockages, and they might cause you to have a heart attack.”

“Got my nitro right here.” He shook the small bottle he’d removed from his pocket and placed it on his nightstand.

She was incredulous. “Right in the middle of your coming, you grab your chest and I’m supposed to have the wherewithal to pop a pill in your mouth?”

He laughed and sat down on the bed, thwarting her effort to pull back his side of the covers. “I expect you’ll be coming, too.”

“Don’t be an ass, Eli. No.” She tugged the covers loose enough to slip under them. “I’m too upset.”

Sullenly, he trudged into the bathroom to brush his teeth, and she lay there trying to sort out all the emotions coiled in her stomach. What if something went wrong during the surgery and her precious Eli died? Tonight could be their last chance to be together. On the other hand, what if she gave in, and he had a massive heart attack? She’d never forgive herself. Scenario after scenario played in her mind—none of them good.

By the time Eli emerged from the bathroom and turned out the light, she was a quivering mess. As he crawled into bed, she scooted over to meet him.

“I’m so scared for you,” she whispered, snuggling into the warm side he presented as he raised his arm in invitation.

“Don’t be scared, Rosie.” He rubbed his hand down her arm. “I’m not gonna leave you.”

“I know.” She nodded, feeling sure he meant what he said. “Just hold me.”

“I will.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ve no intentions of letting go.”

* * *

T
HE
OLD
,
YELLOW
farmhouse at the end of the drive was pretty and quaint with flowering window boxes, white trim and a couple of red rockers on the porch.
Homey
was the word that came to mind as soon as Jeff got his first glimpse. It was also lit up like Times Square.

“Looks like somebody’s home,” he said, rolling down his window to get a good look at the giant oak trees that were older than the century-old house.

“I have the lights on a timer,” Mags explained. “I don’t like to come home to a dark house way out here.”

That was understandable. The city boy in Jeff was half-appalled she would even consider living here by herself, with no close neighbors. Somebody could be lurking in the barn or one of those other outbuildings. He bit back his comments, not wanting to scare her. But he didn’t like the arrangement, just the same.

Even the garage was a separate building. They exited it through a side door that led to a beautiful garden area with a stone path running through it. Their rolling luggage clattered against the uneven pavement. The path split off to a stone patio with a hot tub, a fire pit and plenty of seating. “You entertain a lot?” he asked.

“Russ and his friends were here all the time.” He heard the wistful timbre in her voice. This homecoming had to be tough for her, made even more difficult by her dad’s situation.

“Our house has always been a favorite hangout, winter or summer.” She nodded to the huge swimming pool in the side yard and then pointed beyond it into the darkness. “You can’t see it tonight, but over there Russ has started mowing a large area and marked it off himself to use as a driving range.”

Jeff chuckled. “He told me about that. Said you weren’t thrilled with the setup.”

She motioned for him to follow her onto the screened-in back porch, another outdoor living space. “I wasn’t thrilled with the balls he would shank over into the yard and forget to look for when he was finished.” She punched a code into a panel by the back door and he heard the
snick
of the door as it unlocked. “Run over one of those things with the lawn mower, and it can smash out a window.” She pointed at a window at the back corner. “I have firsthand knowledge of that.”

The back door led into a giant room that was kitchen, dining room and great room combined. Much more modern than he had expected. “Wow! Did you renovate, or did you buy it like this?”

“I had it done.” She pointed to a couple of weight-bearing pillars. “This space used to be chopped up into small rooms. I wanted it open, so I had walls knocked out.”

He did a three-sixty to take it all in. “It looks great.”

“Thanks. Sitting at the hospital with Zeke all those weeks, I had a lot of time to look at magazines. That’s when I started getting ideas about what my own home might look like.”

She led him into the front part of the house through a wide hallway that graced the area around the front door. A stairway climbed the left-hand wall with open doorways flanking it front and back. The one in back opened to a large library that also contained a pool table. The one in front was a small sitting room. To the right of the hall was only one door. Maggie opened it to reveal a bedroom suite that took up the entire front quarter of the house. “My room.” She turned and gave him a questioning look. “And your room while you’re here...if you’d like.”