Chapter 4
Henry watched the young man pace. His entire family was with them, but he only had eyes for Trevor. When he’d called him a few hours ago, he’d been calm and collected. Since arriving at the hospital, he’d been anything but. He thought for sure one of his sisters-in-law was going to smack him around. Hearing what Jade had said to him before she’d gone into surgery with Henrie, he was sure that if she was out here, he’d be sitting in a corner with his thumb in his mouth. She was scary.
“It’s taking longer than they said.” He held onto Anna’s hand and said that didn’t mean anything, that they told them it would be two hours or more. “I know, but I want to see her. We didn’t get to before they sent her off to surgery.”
“Jade told us that she just needed to remove the bullet from her ribcage, and she’d heal from that. We need to not worry if there is nothing to worry about. She’s going to be spitting mad when she finds out how many people are here for her. And to be honest with you, I’m glad for the company.” She said that she was as well. “I know. They are very good at keeping people calm, don’t you think?”
“Except for Trevor. He looks like he’s about to explode.” He had to agree with her and laughed a little. “I guess I didn’t know that things had progressed that far between the two of them. He’s worrying after her like she’s his wife or something. And if he keeps pestering the nurses, they’re going to sedate him and put him in a room alone.”
He laughed, drawing attention to them. Waving off the Strongs, he was thrilled when one of the women, Carrie, sat a little girl in his lap. Her name was Sunny, she told him before she handed off one to Anna. Her name was Bethany. They were the cutest little girls he’d ever seen, and loved that they were dressed in similar but not matching dresses. Their little shoes, too, were something that he found amusing. Black patent leather shoes with lacy socks that had him thinking of his own granddaughter.
“Mr. a thought will pop into my head about him, and I’ll get all tingly. If you tell anyone I said that, then I’ll hunt you down. He makes me want to be a better person. You don’t know this, but I’m a mean bitch when I want to be.” Henrie said that couldn’t be true. She was so nice. “Very funny. Yeah, I think you’re a great deal like me. Hurt and using meanness to hide your pain. I believe that you’re hurting because of something that was done to you—other than your ex. Could it be your parents? No, not your mom. How about your dad, is it someone that is in your life when you don’t want him around?”
“He tried to have my mom abort me because he was a Banister, and she wasn’t. Turned out that they got married for me to have a Banister last name but I’ve never really gotten into the money part of my last name. And there is plenty of that.” She told her that the Strongs were worth billions. “So am I.”
Jade didn’t say anything for which she was glad. Henrie had worked hard for herself and invested well. Then there was the trust fund that she had when her father passed away, and her mom had put her in her will so that she would get what she left behind as well. Mom was a better investor than she was.
“So it’s not the money that has you thinking that you and him aren’t suited.” She told her that she never said they weren’t suited. She just didn’t understand the falling in love part. “I don’t know how to help you with that. I mean, you do know that your grandparents are in love. I’m sure you’ve seen all of us being around our husbands. I don’t understand why you don’t just allow yourself the freedom to fall in love with Trevor.”
“Perhaps I will. I’m in no hurry to fall in love. I like him. Kinda. He’s sappy at times like he’s a teenager that has seen boobs for the first time in his life.” They both laughed, and Henrie was happy that she didn’t tell her that she knew that he’d seen lots of boobs. “My grandma had an affair once when she and Grandda were younger. I know that he’s forgiven her, but she’s never forgiven herself for it. I don’t know how I’d feel if Trevor, if we got together, were to have an affair. I’d more than likely wring his neck. That’s another thing about love. How could two people profess to be in so much love with the other person and step out? Grandma didn’t have an answer when I asked her. She said that she had no idea that things with her friend would go so far. I think it only happened the one time, and there was no sex involved. She just went out with him to be going out with him, she told me.”
“I could never do that to Jenson. He’s my world.” Henrie nodded. “What does that mean? He is my whole world.”
“It didn’t mean anything. I was just agreeing that you are in love with him.” Henrie leaned back in the bed and smiled. “You’re not like other women I’ve had this conversation with. They usually get pissed off and leave. It’s a good way to shove people out of your life is to question their love for someone.”
“Were you trying to get under my skin?” Henrie said that she didn’t start out that way, but she was sorry if she offended her. “You didn’t. I was enjoying talking to you about love. But I do think that given the time, or if you allow him into your heart, you’ll figure out that Trevor has a lot of love he can give you.”
“I thought you were going to tell me he was a good catch.” She laughed and stood up. Jade was a nice person, and she hoped they could remain friends even if there was nothing between her and Trevor. “So I can still go home tomorrow?”
“You can. But I’m to understand that you’re going to be staying with your grandparents. I’d not do that if I were you. They already say how tired they are just from visiting you. They’re going to work themselves into a heart attack if they have you around to fuss over. They’re wonderful people but it will hurt them physically for you to be there full time with them.” She asked her if she thought that she was going to move in with Trevor. “What an excellent plan. Yes, I’ll tell Trevor that you suggested it. I’m sure that he’ll be thrilled to have you there.”
“I didn’t say that. Not at all.” Jade kissed her on the cheek and told her that she’d be better than anyway because of how she was going to be getting around. “I can live anywhere that’s not Trevor’s new home. Hell, I’d stay in a hotel if that’s what you think would work for me. Jade? Jade, come back here and tell me what you’re going to tell Trevor. I never said that I’d—damn it, woman. You’re too pushy. Get back here.”
Jade was more than likely laughing all the way to her car about how she had tricked her. And it was a dirty trick, too. She didn’t want to live with him any more than he’d want her living there. It was his new home, and she was positive that he didn’t want strange women sticking around because she was hurt and couldn’t be left alone.