Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
BANE
I walked into the office, needing two things. A sandwich and Magnolia’s smile.
I was agitated, grumpy as hell, and hungry. Magnolia would describe it as hangry.
She wouldn’t be wrong.
But I knew in ten minutes I would feel better.
Maybe a few kisses would help as well. I was certain I could persuade her.
Except, she wasn’t at her desk. Instead, one of the temps sat there, flipping through a magazine, not particularly concerned to be caught doing so.
“Who are you?” I demanded.
“Tammy,” she replied. “I’m new.”
“Where the hell is Myers?” I snapped.
“She had to leave.”
“Why?”
“Personal reasons.”
I leaned on the desk, glaring at her. She shrank back a little. “What kind of personal reasons? Is she ill?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
“I’m her boss. And yours. What reasons?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to inquire with HR.” Then as if to gain favor, she smiled. “She left you a sandwich in the fridge. I’ll get it for you.” She hurried away, and I went to my desk, already dialing Magnolia’s phone. It went straight to voice mail, and I left her a fast message. “Are you sick? What’s happening? Why aren’t you here?”
I sat down, puzzled. She’d been okay when I left for the meeting. She’d teased me about my sliver and purposely got me riled up. If I’d had time, I would have shown her who was boss fast and hard with my door locked. But the meeting I was attending was important, and the client hated to be kept waiting.
He also loved to hear himself talk and had taken up almost three hours of my day.
And to top things off, Magnolia was missing.
I called HR as I chewed a bite of my sandwich the temp had dropped off. Laura’s line went directly to voice mail, and the same thing happened when I called Jessica. Irritated, I called Rylee, interrupting her before she even finished her greeting.
“Do you know where Magnolia went?”
“Hello, Bane,” she replied dryly. “No. Is she not at her desk?”
“No. The temp said she left for personal reasons. I thought you’d know.”
“I haven’t spoken to her?—”
I cut her off. “That’s HR on the other line.” I hung up. “Why is there some stranger outside, and where is Magnolia?” I snarled into the phone.
“Hello, Bane,” Jessica said in the same tone as Rylee had used earlier.
“Where is she? I tried calling, but it goes to voice mail.”
“Reception is never good in a hospital.”
I was on my feet in an instant. “ Hospital ? Is she okay? Which one?”
“Her father fell,” she replied. “She had to go be with him. I made sure she got there as quickly as possible.”
“Which one?” I repeated.
“St. Joe’s.”
“Thanks.” I hung up and rushed from the office, stopping by the desk out front. “I’m gone the rest of the day. Cancel my appointments and leave. Don’t touch anything.” I paused. “ Anything .”
“Okay.”
I headed downstairs, hailing a cab and giving him the address. “There’s a huge tip if you make it fast.”
“On it,” he replied with a smirk and took off like a bat out of hell.
The whole way, I worried. Why hadn’t she called me? Did she think I wouldn’t care?
Was she all right? Was she alone? How was her father? I called her again, and it went to voice mail again.
Why wasn’t she answering?
What if the fall was serious? How would she handle it?
How would I handle her?
We pulled up to the hospital, and I threw some money at the cabbie and hurried inside.
I was about to find out.
After several inquiries, I found her. She was curled in the corner of a plastic-covered sofa that had seen better days. The waiting room was empty, aside from Magnolia. Her head was down, and I called her name as I approached, shocked when she looked up, her eyes red from crying, her face inordinately pale. My heart sank at the blatant pain in her eyes, and I rushed toward her, once again surprised as she jumped up, throwing herself into my arms. She sobbed into my chest, her tears soaking my shirt, the force of her cries making something in my chest break open. I held her close, sitting down and pulling her to my lap. I made low sounds of what I hoped was comfort, rocking her. She settled quickly, her crying ceasing. I felt her entire body shudder as she melted into me.
“Your dad?” I asked quietly, dreading the news.
“He’s okay,” she replied, then explained what the doctors had said.
“So, he needs more care now,” she finished. “I have to contact the home about moving him.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“No—”
“I’ll handle it,” I repeated. “You look after your dad and yourself. Let me do this.”
Her hesitant acceptance was a small victory to me.
“Why are you so upset?” I said quietly. “I mean, I understand about your dad, but is there something else?”
“No, the shock, and I was so worried.”
“Why didn’t you call, Magnolia?”
“You were in an important meeting. This was personal, and it was business…” She trailed off.
I slid a finger under her chin and forced her to meet my eyes. “I told you before, I am always Alex. No matter what I’m doing, if you need me, I’m yours. Never doubt that.”
Her eyes were filled with turmoil, and I had a feeling there was something she wasn’t telling me.
“You could have left a message,” I admonished her gently. “Even a text.”
She slipped her phone from her pocket. “The battery died. My charger is on my desk. No one had one that worked.”
“I’m getting you a new phone tomorrow.” My tone brooked no argument, and I was glad she didn’t offer one.
A woman I assumed was a doctor stepped into the waiting room, carrying a small bag. She walked toward us, and Magnolia stood, wiping her eyes.
“Dr. Wilson.”
I stood, placing my hand on Magnolia’s shoulder. The doctor looked at me, her gaze encompassing, then she nodded. “You must be Alex.”
I offered my hand. “I am.”
Her grip was firm. “I’m Dr. Wilson.”
“Dan’s doctor?”
“No, Magnolia’s. I ran into her earlier while she was waiting for news of her father.”
She handed Magnolia the small bag, a look passing between them. “Remember what I said. Eat. Rest. Take the vitamins. Come see me next week.”
Then, with another nod to me, she left. I turned to Magnolia, anxiety making me tense. “What is it? What did she give you? Are you all right?”
She heaved a sigh and sat on the sofa. I sat beside her, wanting to grab the bag and find out, but I knew that would anger her.
“I had a bad bout of anemia once. I have to be careful with my iron levels. When she saw me earlier, she noticed I was pale, and she insisted on doing some blood work. She was right, and my levels are low.” She shook the bag. “I need some vitamins and to add more iron to my diet.”
“Iron. Meat, right?” I asked.
“Yes. And seafood, spinach, nuts, among other things. I’ve been neglectful.”
“I won’t let you forget. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Alex,” she said gently. “We’re just getting to know each other.”
“I want to know everything. We’re getting married. I need to know how to take care of you.”
A strange look passed over her face. But she stood. “I need to go and check on Dad.”
I followed her, standing at the bottom of Dan’s bed as she straightened his covers and smoothed the wisps of gray hair from his forehead. He had a nasty bruise on the side of his face, and his arm was trussed up in a sling. He looked older and frailer than the last time I saw him.
His eyes fluttered open, and he watched Magnolia for a moment, then covered her hand with his. “Stop fussing, Maggie Mae.”
“Hi, Dad,” she whispered, her voice thick.
“Hi yourself.” He glanced at me. “You again. Alex, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What’s all the fuss about?”
“You fell,” Magnolia told him. “Scared me.”
“At my age, hardly surprising,” he mused, his mind surprisingly clear. He looked back at me, his eyes narrowed. “From the rock on her hand, I’d say you got up the balls and asked?”
“Dad!” Magnolia scolded, making me chuckle as Dan attempted a wink.
“I did. She said yes.” I winked back. “Once I convinced her. You were right. Stubborn as can be.”
He nodded, then winced. “What does a man have to do to get something to eat?”
Magnolia patted the blanket. “I’ll go check.”
She left, and Dan indicated for me to come closer. I approached his side, and he looked up at me, his eyes as clear as I’d ever seen them. “You’ll look after her, right?”
“Always.”
“You’ll make her happy?”
“She’ll be my priority.”
I wasn’t lying to him. She was going to be the focus of my world, and I would do everything I could to make her happy.
He sighed and nodded. “Good. That’s all I need to know.”
Magnolia came in, carrying a tray. “I got you a sandwich, some soup, and tea, Dad.”
“Sounds good.”
I sat to the side and let Magnolia and Dan talk. Well, she talked and he grunted, not really eating the sandwich, but staring at her, letting her spoon soup into his mouth. She helped him sip the tea, and she fed him bites of chocolate from a bar she had in her purse. He was in and out, his mind slowly tiring and the fog creeping back in. But as she stood to take away the tray, he gripped her hand. “I love you, Maggie Mae. You’re the best daughter a man could ask for.”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Love you too, Daddy.”
He closed his eyes and slipped into sleep. Not long after, a nurse bustled in, checking his vitals and smiling at us. “His vitals are steady. He’ll be in and out all night,” she said. “We’ll wake him every few hours. You should go home and come back in the morning.”
Magnolia hesitated, staring down at her fingers entwined with her dad’s. Recalling what Dr. Wilson had said, I crouched beside her. “Your dad needs you strong, Maggie darling. And you need to look after yourself. We can go home, eat, and sleep. I’ll have you back first thing.”
She paused then nodded in agreement. “Okay.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Let’s go.”
Magnolia was asleep when my phone vibrated on my bedside table. Hedgy looked at me, blinking and sleepy, then padded to her pillow, curling back up as if he knew he needed to move. I slipped from bed, already knowing what I would be told when I answered. I had given my number to the head nurse, asking to be contacted in the night if need be.
A few moments later, I stared down at Magnolia, finally asleep, although not resting well. Her brow was furrowed, and her hand clutched the pillow tightly, as if warding off bad dreams. The worst of which was about to come true when I woke her up and told her that her father had passed a short while ago. Peacefully and in his sleep, the nurse assured me. I doubted that would be much comfort to the woman in my bed. I’d had the strangest feeling while we were at the hospital and he was so clear. It was as if he knew it and was saying a final goodbye to the girl he loved so deeply. I crouched beside the bed, reaching out to stroke Magnolia’s hair, surprised to see her dark eyes open and staring at me.
“Hey,” I whispered, pushing her hair from her face.
Tears filled her eyes. “He’s gone, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, Maggie darling. He is.”
She sat up, and I wrapped her in my arms.
“I knew it. He was saying goodbye earlier.”
“I think so.”
“He needed to be sure I was being looked after.” She shuddered. “He was tired.”
“I know, baby,” I murmured, having no idea how to comfort her or what to say. I had little experience with death and grieving. I had been a child when my dad died and had lost my grandmother much earlier. I recall missing them, but not the feeling of adult grief. The understanding that came with the knowledge of losing someone you loved.
“I have to make arrangements.”
“I’ll help you.”
She turned her head to my chest and began to cry. Quiet, subdued tears, unlike the ones earlier.
Somehow, these tears hurt me more.
I held her tight. “I have you, Magnolia. I won’t let go.”
And I meant it.
The following Monday, I faced her in the bedroom. “It’s too soon.”
Magnolia shook her head. “I want to come back to work. I’m going crazy sitting around.”
“Maggie darling?—”
She cut me off. “You need me at the office. I need to be busy. I’m coming with you today.”
I stared at her in wonder. She’d been so strong. I’d helped her arrange a small celebration of life for her dad. There had been a good turnout. Many from the office came and paid their respects. Sam came, as did Rylee, and I noticed the friction between them, even though they were polite and stayed away from each other. I met her small group of friends. Many of Dan’s friends, who were still alive and able to, had come and shared stories. She laughed as much as she cried. Smiled and shared her own stories. It was touching to watch.
I had all his things boxed up and sent to the condo, ready for when she wanted to sort through them. And then she grieved. Privately, quietly.
Now, she wanted to start living again.
And if I was being honest, I wanted that as well. I missed her desperately in the office. Her smile and teasing. The way she had of keeping me in line. I missed hearing her laughter. I knew she went to her apartment at times, no doubt reliving memories.
“If you’re sure,” I agreed. “But if it’s too much, you can come home.”
She smiled. “Really, Bane. I’m sure the people in the temp office will rejoice. I heard you’re driving them crazy. You’ve gone through the lot of them. Twice.”
“I have been on my best behavior.”
She smiled. A real smile that showed her amusement. “Not what I’ve been told, but whatever lets you sleep at night.”
I held out my hand. “Let’s go, then.”
In the car, I studied her, noticing the way she played with her ring. It was looser now. She had lost some weight, and although I tried, it was hard to get her to eat.
“Are you taking your vitamins?”
She looked startled then nodded. “Yes.”
“You need to eat more.”
“I’m trying.”
“Maybe some protein shakes if your appetite doesn’t pick up.”
She slept a great deal, which I put down to grief. Given how often she napped, she still looked tired.
“Have you made an appointment to see Dr. Wilson?”
She nodded, looking out the window. “Next week.”
“Okay. Add it to my calendar, and I’ll come.”
A look of panic flitted over her face. “I don’t need you to escort me to the doctor. I’m quite capable of going on my own.”
“I’m well aware of that. I have a couple of questions I’d like to ask.”
She nodded but didn’t say anything. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be adding it to my calendar. I also had the feeling she was hiding something. And I didn’t like it.
I would have to find out what it was. I needed to help with whatever was bothering her.
No matter what.