“I know where you live, Casey.”
Jacqueline’s expression remained stoic, so Casey tried anotheravenue. “How’s he really doing?”
“Not as well as he’s projecting. They’re giving him something forthe pain, but I think his wrist is hurting. He’s too tough to show it,especially now that Sean’s here.”
“We won’t stay long. He’ll need his rest.”
“Sean’s his grandson. He’s welcome to stay however long he wantsto.” Jacqueline gave her a sheepish look. “Sorry. I realize how that sounded.You’re welcome as well.” She rubbed her fingers across her forehead. “It’s beena long evening. And judging by the looks of that chair I’ll be sleeping in,it’s going to be a rough night, too.”
“Maybe they can get you a roll-away or something in here.”
Jacqueline shook her head. “I won’t be sleeping much anyway.” Sheclosed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them, a piece of her armorvanished and Casey glimpsed her pain. “I was so scared.”
Casey glanced across the room and caught Sean’s concerned gaze.She gave him a reassuring nod and he visibly sighed.
“Sean, can you keep Poppa company for a few minutes while I takeMama to get some coffee?”
“Yeah.”
Casey turned to Jacqueline, who she could already tell wasgearing up for a fight. “Come with me.”
“I don’t think—”
“There’s a family lounge just down the hall, and I’m sure I saw aKeurig when we passed.” Casey took Jacqueline’s hand and led her out the door.Despite her resistance, Jacqueline continued to hold her hand as they walked tothe other end of the hall, releasing her only when they’d entered the otherwiseempty room.
Casey crossed to the beverage station along the opposite wall.She positioned a foam cup under the dispenser and loaded a K-cup into themachine. “We’ve established that Teddy is a stubborn old goat. But how are you holding up?”
“I’m fine.” She shook her head as she spoke. “Or I will be. Nowthat I know he’s going to be okay.”
“Was he able to tell you what caused the fall?” Casey dumped twosingle-serving pods of creamer into Jacqueline’s coffee and motioned her to anempty table nearby.
“Thanks.” Jacqueline took a careful sip from the cup. “He doesn’tremember anything right before the fall, or even what he was doing in thekitchen. The last thing he can recall is that he was on the couch doing thecrossword out of yesterday’s paper. I don’t even know for sure how long he wasthere before I arrived, but the doctor doesn’t think it was very long.”
“Well, thank goodness you were there.”
“Yeah. I was leaving for Memphis tomorrow. When I think aboutbeing out of town and him lying there all alone—”
“Don’t do that to yourself.” Casey covered her hand. “I can checkon him more often. And maybe we can get him one of those life-alert pendants.”
Jacqueline shook her head. “No. If he’s unconscious and can’tpush the button—he can’t be left alone. I’m going to hire a nurse orsomething.”
Casey couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m not sure he’ll bereceptive—”
“He’ll have to suck it up and deal.” Jacqueline surged to herfeet. “For now, I’ll be here. I called Owen, and he got someone to cover themeetings in Memphis for me. I’ll stay with Dad this week until I can figure outwhat to do.”
Chapter Five
“Are you ready to go home?” Jacqueline followed an aidepushing a wheelchair into her father’s room. His doctor had been in withdischarge instructions over an hour ago. They’d waited another thirty minutesafter that for the paperwork, and now even she was itching to get out of there.
“As if I have any say in my life anymore.”
“Dad, we talked about this. You shouldn’t be alone right now. I’mgoing to try to adjust my schedule, but when I can’t be there, I’ll hiresomeone to stay with you.” She managed not to sigh in frustration. They’dargued half the morning about her plan. The doctors hadn’t found anything toindicate that he’d passed out prior to falling, but he didn’t remember slippingor losing his balance either. He’d recommended her father follow up with hisprimary-care doctor. And until Jacqueline got some further reassurance abouthis competence to stay alone, upright, andconscious, she didn’t want him left alone.
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Clearly.” She waved a hand at the splint on his wrist.
“I was walking through my kitchen. Since when did that become ahigh-risk activity?”
“You don’t even remember what happened. And you could have beenseriously hurt.”
“Well, I certainly don’t need that thing.” He snapped his goodhand toward the wheelchair. “There’s nothing wrong with my legs.”
“Hospital policy.” The aide didn’t seem amused.
“Get in the chair,” Jacqueline demanded.
He pouted but complied. He remained quiet during the elevatorride to the lobby. She knew he hadn’t conceded but was biding his time untilthey were alone again.
When they reached the lobby, Jacqueline gave her ticket to thevalet, and they waited only a few minutes while he pulled her car up to the front.Her father refused any help getting in the car, and the aide didn’t wait to seehim in safely before he whisked the chair away.
As she’d predicted, she had barely exited the circular drive ofthe hospital when her father started in.
“I’m not an invalid. I can make my own decisions.”
“I never said you couldn’t.”
“But you want to force a nurse on me.”
She slipped her sunglasses on and took a breath before answering,reminding herself that he was frustrated and most likely feeling emasculated.“I don’t want to. This isn’t a power trip for me, Dad.”
He didn’t respond, instead staring stubbornly out the sidewindow. She glanced at him, then back at the road.
“Can’t you just do this, for me?” Her words came out harsher thanshe intended, and he stiffened in response.
“You’ll go back to work, and then we’ll see who’s in charge.”
She shook her head. “Now I know where Sean gets that tone from.”
*
Wednesday night, Casey took her usual walk through theneighborhood to Teddy’s house. She’d spoken with Teddy on Monday evening tomake sure he’d gotten home and settled. Since then, she’d left him inJacqueline’s capable hands. Though Jacqueline’s forced vacation hadn’t happenedunder the best of circumstances, she actually hoped it would be good for themboth. She suspected
