Chapter Twenty-One
Mae
The one thing I certainly didn’t expect to see was Bethany hugging Tyler in the hospital where Tyler’s dad had been admitted.
Part of me wanted to step back on the elevator and head home, but my jealousy was the least of Tyler’s worries.
Bethany slowly spun around and smiled with a little wave. She didn’t look guilty, so that was a good sign.
Tyler’s gaze stayed on mine as his lips pulled into a smile. “Mae, you didn’t have to come all this way.”
Then why did Bethany?I asked myself snidely.
Nope.
I held up the bag with a thermos. “I didn’t want you to miss out on my homemade stew.”
“Aw, you’re too sweet,” Bethany said, laughing. She slapped Tyler’s back and shook her head. “See? What did I tell you? Perfection.”
I chuckled and shook my head. “Far from it, but is everything okay?”
“Depends on who you ask,” Tyler said, grimacing.
“I’ll let you two be. Please keep me posted on everything.” Bethany smiled and hugged me as I handed Tyler the bag with the thermos inside.
“I think it’s safe to say my dad won’t be coming to this week’s appointments.”
She nodded. “Already canceled them. Take care. Let me know if there’s anything else I can screw up. You can tell Mae if you want.”
Tyler’s gaze softened, and he shook his head. “You didn’t screw anything up, Bethany.”
Bethany smiled. “If you say so.”
She turned toward the bank of elevators and stepped on the first open one.
“What was that all about? Everything okay?” I asked, feeling a little out of place.
“Now that you’re here, everything is wonderful.” He smiled, touching my cheek. “Mind if I eat this in the hallway?”
I laughed softly. “That great in there, huh?”
He nodded, unscrewed the thermos, and dug out the spoon from the bag.
Tyler scooped in the first bite. “Mmm. I needed this.”
“Really? I wasn’t sure if I’d just be a bother or…”
“You’re never a bother, Mae. I just didn’t know how badly I needed someone here.”
I nodded. “Is that why Bethany came? You needed someone?”
Swallowing hard, I pushed down my worries.
He took another bite and sighed, shaking his head. “No. I didn’t invite her. I just texted her that my dad fell and was in surgery and wouldn’t be coming to the appointments.”
“Why’d Bethany think she screwed something up?” I asked as Tyler finished the stew.
“Long story. I’ll fill you in when there aren’t prying ears.”
My brows furrowed, but I nodded. “Okay. Did you want me to hang out in the waiting room, or what would be best?”
He locked his hand over mine. “No, I’d like you to come into the room me.”
“You sure?”
He nodded. “I need you.”
Tyler’s words washed over me in a way I couldn’t describe.
“I’m here.”
He squeezed my hand, and I took the bag back with the empty thermos as I followed him into his dad’s room.
A woman stood talking to Mrs. Grant. It didn’t look like his dad had come around yet, but he looked awful.
Really awful.
“I don’t like this one bit, Tyler.” His mother glared at him. “I’m being pushed out of my home.”
I glanced at Tyler as he shook his head. “You’re not. Nancy said you could stay.”
Nancy must be the woman standing with a brochure in her hands.
“But then I’d be away from your father.”
“Would you actually care?”
She gritted her teeth. “Will you go look at it?”
I had no idea what was happening, but surprise ran through Tyler’s gaze.
“Now?” his mom prompted.
Nancy glanced at Tyler and then me with an apologetic look in her eyes.
Tyler looked at me. “Would you mind coming with me?”
“It’s not too far away,” the woman explained. “I’ll let them know to expect you.”
Uncertainty threaded through me as I looked at Tyler’s mother.
“Didn’t you just have some other girlfriend here? Honestly, Tyler.” His mother eyed me. “I liked the other one better. She was prettier.”
I chuckled and shook my head. “I’m sure you do, Mrs. Grant.”
“Just be nice for once.” Tyler’s voice lowered, but I squeezed his hand lightly.
“Honestly, it’s no biggie.” I smiled at his mom. “I’m in customer service. I’ve met my fair share.”
Tyler’s mom stared at me. “Fair share of what?”
I shrugged. “You tell me.”
Nancy bit her bottom lip as my pulse rose slightly. I’d always prided myself on respecting elders, but… ugh.
Something about these people just brought it out.
Tyler glanced at his dad. “We’ll be back shortly.”
Nancy nodded. “I’ll be here for another three hours. If all is a go, I can get your mom in tonight. It would be more comfortable than the hospital chair.”
Tyler nodded. “Think of it as a hotel.”
His mom ignored us as we exited the room, and I let out a deep breath.
“I am so sorry. That was so wrong of me to provoke your mom.”
“You didn’t provoke her. She threw the first dagger. It’s only natural.” He shook his head. “They just bring it out in people.”
We stood at the elevators. “I don’t get it, but I feel horrible that I let her get to me.”
“Don’t think twice.” Tyler shook his head as we stepped on the elevator. “And for the record, Bethany isn’t my girlfriend.”
“Yeah? Am I?” I asked.
He smiled. “If you’ll have me, but I don’t see things getting easy anytime soon.”
My heart twisted into uncertainty. “I never signed up for easy with you. I’ve already waited decades.”
The elevator opened, and we walked out to the lobby.
“Where are we going, anyway?”
“A senior-living apartment to make it safer for my parents to live after my dad gets out of the rehab facility.”
My brows rose. “He has to go to a nursing home this time?”
Tyler nodded. “Yeah. Seems so.”
“And your mom is okay with this?”
He shook his head as we walked outside. “Not at all, but she doesn’t really have a choice. APS is involved.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“Adult Protective Services.”
“Wow. Okay.”
“I think they’ve got a pretty weak case, but I’m certainly not going to point that out to my mom. This is like a gift in disguise.”
“I’m just… My mind is blown, really. How did this even happen?”
“The medics and a concerned citizen.” Tyler walked us to a public parking lot where he’d parked his truck. “Phew. No ticket. It said one-hour parking, and it’s been longer than that.”
I laughed. “A little different from Marigold.”
He unlocked the truck, opened the door, and helped me in.
Tyler walked around the hood of the truck and tapped it before he got to his door, and I chuckled, realizing I hadn’t seen him tap much around me.
He punched the address to his phone, and the directions started.
“So, who was Nancy?”
“The hospital’s social worker who wanted to intervene before APS truly became involved, essentially.”
“And she suggested your parents not move back home?”
“Correct.” He glanced at me.
“Wow. I’m just… That’s a lot to absorb.”
He nodded. “Nancy is actually friends with Bethany.”
“Okay.” That didn’t tell me much, but I felt there was more to the story, and Tyler would tell me as he grasped everything.
“I just hope this apartment is decent.”
“I’m sure it will be.” I nodded.
Tyler’s phone told us to turn into an underground parking garage before we even had a chance to see what the building looked like.
“Wow. This is fancy.” I chuckled. “If this is any indication, I’d totally move in.”
Tyler laughed and found a place to park near the elevators. We walked over and got on an already-waiting elevator, pushing the button for the lobby.
It was a short ride, and once the elevators opened, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
“If your mom doesn’t want to move in, I just might.”
Travertine tile stretched the entire expanse of the lobby, and a marble counter where a man stood was right near the elevators. Several seating areas with beige sectionals surrounded a stone fireplace. A couple of older folks were milling about and chatting. I could totally see myself here one day.
“Are you Tyler Grant?” the man asked from behind the counter.
“I am.”
“Wonderful. We have a unit on the third floor, fully accessible, that just became available.”
Horror dashed across my features when I realized what that probably meant, and Tyler had to look away as his lips turned up, seeing my reaction.
“Right this way.”
We followed the manager back to the elevators and to the third floor. The apartment door was right off the elevator. He typed in a code, and the door opened automatically.
It was a beautiful apartment. Not huge, but it didn’t need to be.
“When can I move in?” I teased, and the man laughed.
“When you’re sixty-five, but sixty-two with certain income qualifiers.”
I nodded, taking in the space. “Good to know.”
A small kitchen opened into an eating area that was open to the sitting room. Large windows overlooked the city street.
“It’s definitely different from Marigold.” I wandered to the bedroom and the connecting bathroom. “This seems nice. Their couch would fit.”
Tyler nodded. “It’s great. We’ll take it.”
My eyes widened, knowing the wrath he might face for this decision, but it seemed like a good fit.
“Nancy mentioned Mr. Grant was still in the hospital and would be transferred to a rehab facility. We do have a shuttle service to both locations.”
A little bit of tension lifted from Tyler’s gaze as a smile finally approached his lips. “That’s great.”
I nodded in agreement, realizing what this might mean.
Marigold Island wasn’t off-limits any longer.