Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Nash
I fed Rocky, checked his water and grabbed my keys. A light fog had coasted in overnight giving everyone and all the critters in nature a break from the incessant heat. It was almost cool enough to consider running back in for my sweatshirt, but I skipped the idea.
My phone rang as I sat down behind the steering wheel. An early morning call from my sister was never good. I braced myself for bad news.
“Hey, Becky, what’s up?”
“I wanted to let you know that the specialist, Dr. Burman, had a cancellation on his surgery schedule. He can fit Mom in two weeks from today, otherwise, he’s booked four months out.”
I slumped down in exasperation. She sounded so excited and hopeful … and pushy, something she was good at. “Seems like you’re forgetting that we have no way to pay for an operation like that.”
“I spoke to the office manager, and she said we could pay it in five installments with the first installment due on the day of the surgery.”
“Beck, that’s like twelve grand. We don’t have that.”
“Are you sure we can’t take more out of the house? Mom thought there was still plenty of equity.”
“Mom’s really up for this too, eh?” I asked.
“I haven’t seen her in this good of a mood in a long time. It’s her chance to be out of pain and become active again.” Becky paused and said something away from the phone. “Mom wants to talk to you.”
“Uh, I’m just on my way to?—”
“Nash, baby, how are you?” Mom sounded weak and nothing like herself. The constant pain and disappointment of not getting better was wearing her down. Becky knew what she was doing. It would be much harder to disappoint Mom.
“I’m good, Mom. How are you after that last fall?”
“Better.” Her voice wavered. “Do you think there’s any equity left in the house? I thought there might be because the house down the street sold for four hundred thousand, and it’s not nearly as nice as ours.” Mom had pushed aside the fact that our house needed a new roof, and the driveway was just patches of cement dotted with weeds. And that was probably only the start of it.
“Mom, we already took out a second, and that was the maximum amount we could take. There’s not enough equity to borrow. It would take more than two weeks to get a loan even if we did try it.”
Her sniffles came through the phone, and they landed like stones in my gut. “I’ve let both of you down so much, and financially, we’re in ruins.”
“No, we’re not in ruins, Mom. I just don’t know how to get the money for that operation. I’m not giving up on the idea. Tell Becky to grab the spot on the doctor’s calendar. We can always cancel. I just need some time. But Mom, no promises, all right? Is there any way you can appeal it with the insurance company?”
“The financial manager in Dr. Burman’s office called them to make the case that this would help improve the quality of my life, but it was still denied. Apparently, I’m not close enough to death or in enough pain to make it anything but elective. They’re not really interested in quality of life. Enough about me, sweetie, what are you up to? How is the band?”
I had no intention of bringing up Moonstone’s demise. It would only compound her worries, and she didn’t need that. “The band is good. Bosco was asking about you.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. Give him a hug for me.”
“I’m just heading to the worksite, Mom. I’ll do some brainstorming but no promises. How is therapy going?”
“That guy is brutal, but I have to admit, I feel a little better.”
“That’s good to hear. Tell Becky I’ll talk to her later. I don’t want to be late for work.”
“All right, baby. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Mom.”
I’d considered stopping at the bakery for a pastry (and to see Layla, if I was being honest with myself), but the phone call had thrown off my time. A stop at the bakery would make me late, and while the foreman was cool about breaks and safety, he was a stickler about clocking in on time.
Twenty minutes later I pulled up to the worksite. A few of the guys were taking off hardhats and safety vests. An official-looking county truck was parked at the entrance to the site, and three electrician trucks were parked just past it. The supervisor, Brian, was wearing a frown that nearly touched his toes.
I pulled the truck up to Sam and rolled down my window. “What’s going on?’
“Electricians have the site for the day. There were some problems with the original designs that the inspector caught, so we’ve got the day off. Guess it’s not so bad since it’s Friday. Long weekend.”
“And a smaller paycheck,” I reminded him. I turned the truck around and headed back to Whisper Cove. I’d had only cereal for breakfast, so I decided to head back to town and check out the café. I could have gone to the bakery, but my morning had started out badly, and I wasn’t sure it was going to help my mood seeing Layla, beautiful and amazing, behind the counter and knowing that we were never going to be more than neighbors.
I t was far easier than I expected to pick out Layla’s sister from the three women working inside the café. She was beautiful with the same stunning copper hair and brown eyes. “Morning, welcome to Whisper Cove Café,” she said as she looked past me. “Just one?”
I glanced around the room. Most of the tables were filled, and the room buzzed with conversation. “Yes, I can sit at the counter.”
She had a great smile like Layla, but that seemed to be where the similarities ended. Layla had a much more carefree way about her. Her name tag said Aria. I decided to introduce myself.
“You’re one of the Lovely sisters,” I said.
She handed me a menu. “That’s right. Are you in town for the weekend?”
“Actually, I’m here for a few months. I’m Nash Ledger, and I’m renting the cottage next to your grandmother’s house, Audrey’s cottage.”
Her brown eyes rounded. “Our new neighbor. I heard there was a long-term renter at Audrey’s. Have you met my sisters yet?”
“I’ve met Layla. She’s been walking my dog while I’m at work, and Rocky is smitten.” I was, too, I thought wryly.
Aria laughed. “My baby sister has wanted a dog for most of her life.”
Right then, a very big, very tough looking man wrapped in a cook’s apron came out from the kitchen area. “We’re going to need more spinach. The bunches in the refrigerator are wilted.”
“Dex, this is Nash Ledger. He’s renting the cottage next to Nonna’s.”
I received a rather scrutinizing gaze from the man and then he nodded. “Nice to meet you. You’re the one with the dog.”
“That’s right. Rocky.”
Aria turned to him in surprise. “How did you know that?”
Dex shrugged. “Sometimes I’m included in group texts, and Isla, Layla and Ella were talking about Layla’s new furry friend.”
Aria put her hands on her hips. “So, my sisters were having a group chat, and I wasn’t included?”
Dex shrugged again. “Sometimes you’re too bossy. Don’t forget to put spinach on the grocery list.”
Aria turned back to me looking a little flustered and miffed, but there was a slight smile trying to break free. “I’m not that bossy,” she insisted as she filled a glass of water behind the counter. “I mean, if you had four little sisters, you’d be bossy, too.”
“Hey, my sister is three minutes older than me, and she’s been bossing me around since she was able to talk.”
Aria picked up a pot of coffee and pointed at the empty cup in front of me.
“Please.” I pushed the cup toward her, and she filled it.
“So, Layla is walking your dog? She always wanted her own dog, but we were so crowded in the cottage, and there wasn’t much time for a pet. I’ll bet she’s thrilled.”
“Rocky is even more excited.” The topic struck me with a jolt of worry. Yesterday’s walk sounded as if it had been anything but thrilling. I was home today, so I could go with them … just in case.
“I’ll let you decide.” She patted a menu and walked out to the dining room with the pot of coffee. The incredible aromas floating from the kitchen were making the decision hard, so hard that I went with a boring favorite, scrambled eggs and biscuits. Aria came back and took my order. She paused before walking away. She tapped her chin with the eraser end of her pencil.
“Is there more to your friendship with Layla? Forgive my forwardness, but I’m the bossy big sister, remember? And, frankly, looking at you—well—is there?”
I chuckled. “You’ve definitely got the big sister thing down, and no, unfortunately, Layla is mostly interested in the dog.”
Aria tilted her head in question, and I realized my mistake. “Unfortunately?” she asked.
“Let’s just say I’m jealous of my dog right now. He’s supposed to be my wingman, but this time it’s been the other way around.”
She tapped the pencil on her chin once more then stuck it behind her ear. “Interesting. I’ll go put your order in.”
I pulled out my phone. There was a text from Becky saying Mom was on the doctor’s schedule, and she added a fingers-crossed emoji. But I was going to need a lot more than an emoji for this one. I had a few ideas, but none of them very promising. I decided to set one of the ideas in motion.
I sent a text off to Ronnie. “Since we’re breaking up, what about your friend Maxwell, the guy who offered to buy some of our songs? Maybe we should consider his offer. We’re all going to need the money.” I sent the text off. It would be a four-way split and not that much money to start with, but every little bit would help.
My guitar was worth some money, but I wasn’t sure how much. That one would hurt a lot more than the songs though. I’d had the guitar for ten years, and it was like an old friend. I put my phone in my pocket. So far, all my ideas would only scratch the surface of the cost of the surgery. On top of that, the band was breaking up, the jobsite was shut down for the day and for the first time in years, I’d met a woman who I could see myself falling in love with, and she had no interest in me. I wasn’t sure how much further south my luck could go.