Love Me ~ Like That (19 page)

Bailey: Morning, handsome, are you working today?

My plan is in the works, she will be falling at my feet after tonight. I just have to play my cards right, I’ll go all in, and win the jackpot. Maybe it’s just a lot of little things to show her I care. There doesn’t have to be a grand romantic gesture, right? Tapping my ballpoint pen on the tablet, romantic gesture.... Damn, this is harder than it looks.

Cash: I’m hardly working, what about you?

She will be putty in the master’s hands. I will mold her to my will.

Confidence. Add that to my list.

TEXT LIZZIE TO SEE HER LIKES / DISLIKES

PICNIC, BLANKET & STARS

HOLD HER HAND

SEND HER TEXT TO LET HER KNOW I’M THINKING OF HER,

CHIVALRY...

Bailey: I was about to go to the hospital, but they aren’t letting Granny out yet.

Cash: I hope she isn’t worse. Is there anything I can do to help? Do you need anything? Are you scared to stay alone?

Bailey: You had your chance last night, big boy. You snooze, you lose.

I laugh. I love me some sassy Bailey.

Cash: Ow now, don’t be like that, Sweet Cheeks. I’ll make it all good tonight. You deserve more than splinters in your ass.

Bailey: Lol! Would you pick them out for me?

Shit.
So much for not thinking about her perfect attributes.

Cash: With my teeth! If that is what you want.

See, it’s all going to work out. She is all flirty today, but I need to move this along. What time will you be done?

Cash: Can I pick you up at seven for dinner and then we’ll go to that movie, or we can go wish on some stars?

Bailey: Wishing on stars? Is that your code word for sex because I thought you didn’t wish on stars. But I do like the sound of wishing on stars. I think I can swing 7. I’ll see you then, handsome.

Checkmate. I text Lizzie asking about Bailey’s favorite things. This woman is going to be swept off her feet before she realizes what hit her. She can’t know I’m trying so hard. It has to seem like a piece of cake.

My office phone rings. My secretary, Dawn, passes the call through to me, alerting me it’s my mom. I answer, “Hey Mom, what’s up?” She is in tears, and I can’t make out a word she is saying. “Mom, I’m on my way home. I’ll be right there.”

Mom has been through hell and back. She has even been hospitalized for depression, so whatever is happening could be a volatile situation for her. I wish there was someone who could go stay with her until I get there. I rush out, telling Dawn I won’t be back until tomorrow. I waste no time getting to my truck and flooring the gas hoping to make it to Mt. Hope in record time.

I hope this is just something minor, but I know she wouldn’t be this upset over something minor. I go eighty down Highway 24, passing everyone with my hazard lights flashing. On the bright side, if there can even be one, is there isn’t any traffic this time of the day. I pull into my driveway and slam on the brakes, sure I’ve broken a dozen traffic laws, but who the fuck cares about that. I notice a strange motorcycle parked by mom’s car. Who the hell could that be? They will have hell to pay if they’ve messed with my momma. I run inside my house, worried as to what I may find.

Mom is laying on the couch curled into herself. A guy a couple of years younger than me is kneeling beside her.

“Who the hell are you and what did you do to my momma?” I’m fighting mad, and this guy has some explaining to do. I bend down to check on mom, “Hey, are you okay? What happened, Momma?” I stroke her back. I stand up getting ready to kick some ass when he stands and turns to look at me. I feel like I should know him from somewhere, but I can’t place him.

“Hello, you must be Cash.” He extends his hand.

He looks friendly and a little worried too, given the mess my mom is in, but looks can be deceiving.

“Yes, I’m Cash, and you are?” I don’t know if I trust this guy yet or not.

“My name is Clayton, you can call me Clay.” His smile droops. He rubs the back of his neck and says, “I’m your half-brother.”

My mom sobs louder, and that’s when I punch him right in the chin. Shaking out my hand, I stand here fuming, ready for this guy to get the hell out of my house. My dad has always been good at hurting her and this must be one of his sick jokes.

“Can we talk before you start trying to kick my ass, please?” he asks, rubbing his chin.

“No, you need to get the fu— You need to leave. You’re upsetting my mom.” Pointing at the door, I grab him by the arm. He’s a skinny twig of a guy so I can easily maneuver him. I half drag him to the front door.

“I think you are going to want to talk to me.”

He is fucking wrong about that, “Get out of here, and don’t come back!” I push him through the door I left open on the way in.

“Cash, our dad died last night in an accidental shooting.”

He stands there looking at me, waiting expectantly, and I stand here looking at a younger version of myself. We share the same intense gaze. Other than our size, the only major difference is his eyes are a dark chocolate brown. I plop down on the edge of the porch and motion for him to take a seat beside me. This little runt has some explaining to do, and he better start talking.

“Why don’t you start from the beginning and I’ll decide if I want to talk to you or not.”

Again, he rubs his chin where I hit him. Good, it still hurts. He knows I mean business and I’m not someone who you want to screw over.

Journal Entry:
Granny isn’t getting better. She has developed pneumonia. Either her breathing exercises didn’t work or she didn’t do them. The doctor told us that she is still retaining fluid on her lungs. They are giving her medicine through her IV to help draw off the fluid. All of this is terrifying.

Mom said Papa is getting worse by not being with Granny. I’m worried to death about them both. I feel so helpless, I want to do something to fix it, make it better. I’ve been in Granny’s hospital room all day. I’m torn with wanting to be here for her and wanting to take Papa home so he can get back on his schedule somewhat.

If Mom could take care of him in his own home, he would be so much more comfortable, and he wouldn’t be irate with her. But having him at her house makes things easier on her because she can take him to work with her. If I could just split myself in half, I could help them both, but the truth is, I can’t help Granny. And Papa would still be going to be upset in his own home without Granny. I’m scared at the hard road ahead that lies ahead of them.

I put my journal back in my purse, and I pace around the room. The air is suffocating, and smells of Clorox and the medicine burns my nostrils. Granny has been sleeping for a while now. Her snores remind me of a freight train. At home, the sound drives me crazy but here it is almost reassuring.

I’ve been trying to keep myself busy, but there is only so much you can do at the hospital. Cash sent Granny a dozen roses. He might just be a keeper. I guess time will tell. As Granny says, you’ve got to let the crazy out a little at a time. So, I’m waiting for his crazy, but how long are you supposed to wait for that shoe to fall? When do you know they aren’t going to turn bat shit crazy on you?

Lizzie and I have been texting on and off all day. She has class and will be here later, but I feel the need to cancel my date with Cash. My heart is telling me to stay with her. I hope he will understand, but if he doesn’t, at least I’ll find out what kind of person he is early on.

Bailey: Hey, I have bad news. I need to reschedule our date.

Cash: That’s fine, Bailey, I have things to take care of anyway. Can I talk with you later?

Bailey: Sure, that will be alright. I hope you have a good night.

Cash: Yeah, you too.

He was so short with me so maybe he isn’t Prince Charming after all. I don’t have time for all of that anyway, so why are tears rolling down my face? I’m freaking stressed out, and I guess I was hoping he could take my mind off of this mess.

“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep up that pacing.” says Cindy, the nurse who comes into the room to check on Granny’s stats.

She has been the friendliest one so far, and Granny has enjoyed getting to know her.

“Doctor Thomas is moving her back up to ICU. With pneumonia and now low potassium, she is in a more serious condition.”

My heart falls to the pit of my stomach. I need to call my family and let them know. “What should I do?” I ask Cindy.

She walks over and puts her arm around my shoulder. “All you can do is pray for her, honey.”

The tears are flowing freely down my face now, I wipe them away, but I can’t stop them. “I do know you won’t be able to see her again today after they get her set up. Doctor Thomas wants her to rest.”

I nod.

Granny is waking up with the orderly who’s preparing to move her.

I walk over and kiss the side of her forehead. “I love you, Granny, and I will be back for visiting hours tomorrow.”

She takes my hand and squeezes it. “Baby, you need to get some rest too. Why don’t you go home early and get you some dreamtime for me? Dry those tears up, I’m fine, I’m too mean for anything bad to happen.” She gives a weak smile.

“Yes, ma’am, that’s exactly what I will do.” I reach down and give her one last kiss before Cindy and an orderly whisk her off to the ICU. I take the flowers with me since she can’t have flowers in the ICU. I text my family to let them all know about Granny’s deteriorating condition on my way to the parking lot.

I make it to my Jeep and my phone dings with an incoming text.

Hendrix: I’m sorry, Babe. I came back from the beach early. I couldn’t be away from you. I made a mistake, please come talk to me.

Me: I told you it was over. Besides, I’m kind of seeing someone, Hendrix.

Hendrix: We need to talk this out. I have something for you and something to help your grandparents too.

He has something to help my grandparents out? Well, he has my interest piqued. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to hear what he has to say.

Me: Okay, I’ll come over, but only to talk.

Hendrix: Good, Sweetheart, I’ll see you soon.

I give Lizzie a call while I drive over to his house. She isn’t impressed with me going to see him. She instructs me to call her as soon as I leave. I want to see what he has up his sleeve this time, although it won’t change my mind. I pull into the driveway of his apartment and set my emergency brake.

He meets me at the door and envelops me in a hug. “I missed you, Baby. I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

Who is this guy? Where is the real Hendrix?

“I’m so sorry about your grandmother. I just heard how sick she is, Bailey. Come in.” He releases me.

I go inside and have a seat on his sofa. “Sorry to rush you, Hendrix, but what do you have to help Granny and Papa?”

He walks in to his bedroom then returns. “Here, I bought you a couple of dresses and shoes for the next time we go to the club.”

He hands over two beautiful dresses. The labels say Valentino. They must have cost a fortune. He hands me two boxes and two handbags, and I stare at them. One purse is Louis Vuitton and the other is Prada. I feel like I could catch flies in my mouth. He has bought me things in the past. Hell, he paid for my breast implants, but he can’t buy me now. “I told you we are over, I don’t want to see you anymore. I’m done with you.”

He smirks. “I’ve also hired around the clock care for your grandparents and I have set up to get their driveway paved. I see the error of my ways, and I want to make it up to you. The team of health care providers I’ve hired, Bailey, are the best money can buy.” He sits beside me and wraps his arms around me.

I don’t return the hug.
He did that for me?
Helping take care of my Granny and Papa is more than I could ask for. From anyone. “I don’t know what to say. You wanted to see other people and you took Hilary to Destin, but now you are giving me gifts and taking care of my Granny and Papa.” I’m in shock. Anyone who wants to help me with them has to be an angel. This has to be a dream. “Who told you about Granny? That she’s worse?”

“My family has always been a major benefactor of the hospital. We can find out anything that goes on in the hospital. I want to help you, Bailey. I know how much you love them.” He gets up and paces.