“That’s just plain crazy,” Maddie protested.
Jeanette merely lifted a brow.
“Well, there has to be a way,” Maddie said. “Maybe the doctor can slip him antidepressants while he’s in the hospital or at the rehab facility getting back on his feet.”
“I don’t think it’s ethical for a doctor to give pills to patients against their will,” Jeanette said. “But maybe the doctor will have better luck talking to my father than I would.”
“An objective third party is sometimes all it takes,” Maddie told her. “Especially if they’re wearing a white coat.”
Jeanette hoped it would be that easy, because she had a hunch Maddie was right in her diagnosis. She regarded Maddie with gratitude. “Thank you for being so supportive, but you really don’t have to keep driving over here,” she told her. “I’m only going to stay a couple more days—until my dad’s settled at the rehab facility—then I’ll be back at work. I really appreciate all the time off you’ve let me take. I know it’s had an impact on spa business.”
“Actually I need to talk to you about that,” Maddie said. “I wasn’t going to get into this until you came back, but since you’ve brought it up, Dana Sue, Helen and I think we need to hire another person to help with spa services.”
Jeanette regarded her with alarm. “I can come back sooner if you need me.”
“That’s not the point,” Maddie said. “It’s not just because you’ve taken a few days off. The spa business is booming. We’re turning people away. It’s time to expand. And Helen is thinking maybe we ought to open a second spa. If we go forward with that, you’ll be overseeing the expansion. Your plate will be pretty full.”
“I had no idea you were even considering a new location. Do you know where?”
“No, neither of us has thought that through and we wanted your input, anyway. We all need to sit down and discuss this thoroughly. There are a lot of pros and cons to consider. We’ll do that when you’re back. In the meantime, I wonder if you know anyone you’d like to hire. Or do you want to advertise? You don’t have to tell me now, but let’s get on this soon, okay?”
“Yes, sure.” Her head was reeling.
Maddie must have noticed her reaction. “Jeanette, are you okay? This is all good news, you know that, don’t you?”
Yes, she supposed she did. But it seemed as if the ground was once again shifting beneath her feet. She’d found the stability she wanted in Serenity. She’d found a home and friends. Maddie hadn’t said anything to her before about opening this new location and her being in charge.
She was confused. They’d been so pleased about her buying a house because it meant she planned to stay in Serenity. But now...
She looked at Maddie. “I don’t want to move,” she blurted.
Maddie seemed startled. “Sweetie, you’re not moving anywhere. I didn’t mean that. I just meant we’d be counting on you to help us plan this. You might have to do a little traveling, but we’re not letting you get away, not from the spa and not from us. I thought we made that clear when we celebrated you buying your house in Serenity.”
Relief flooded through Jeanette. “I’m sorry. I guess I jumped to conclusions. I’m not thinking too clearly these days. There’s been so much happening and I’m having a little difficulty keeping up.”
“Which is exactly why you can count on us for backup,” Maddie said. “And Tom, too, I imagine. He seems pretty committed.”
“He’s been great,” Jeanette said, thinking of all the hours he’d spent at the hospital, the kindness he’d shown toward her mother, the food he’d brought over from Sullivan’s and from some of the finest Charleston restaurants. She suspected Howard was about to have a conniption over the amount of time Tom was away from the office, but if he was pressuring Tom, Tom had never shown it when he was with her.
“Not every man is good in a crisis,” Maddie commented. “Something to think about, don’t you agree?”
Jeanette grinned at her lack of subtlety. “Yes, Maddie, he gets points for this.”
“A lot of points, I hope.”
“I haven’t kept a running tally,” Jeanette said wryly.
Maddie leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Maybe you should,” she said. “See you in a couple of days. Call if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t forget that Thanksgiving is coming up soon and you’re expected at my house,” Maddie reminded her. “Tom, too, if he’s not going to be with his family. I’ll leave that invitation up to you.”
Jeanette laughed. “Since you’re so eager to see us together, I’m surprised you’re leaving it up to me.”
“I can’t run your life for you. I can only nudge,” Maddie replied.
“And it’s killing you, isn’t it?” Jeanette teased.
“You have no idea.”
Jeanette was still chuckling as she watched her friend walk away. Then she sobered and went to spend a few minutes with her father, who’d finally been moved into a regular room. This sign that he was truly improving had been enough to persuade her mother to run back to the farm for the entire day, rather than the few hours she’d been spending there at night.
Jeanette found her dad staring blankly at the TV, which was tuned to an afternoon talk show she doubted he’d ever watched at home.
“Hi, Daddy,” she said cheerfully, pulling a chair up beside the bed.
He barely spared her a glance before turning his gaze back to the TV.
She tried hard not to be daunted by his utter lack of welcome. She noted that his color was better and he’d made an effort to comb his hair. Someone had shaved him, too, so his sunken cheeks were no longer shadowed by stubble.
“The doctor says you’re much better. You’ll probably be going to rehab in a day or two, so they can help you get back on your feet.”
That got
