Chapter TWENTY-ONE
The chiming of her phone pulled Melissa from sleep. She groaned and reached for her cell phone on the bedside table, wondering who would be calling at such an early hour. She checked caller ID and sat up—her mother.
“Hello, Mom? What’s up?”
she said, startled.
“It’s your father. He’s had a heart attack and is in the hospital in Portsmouth. It’s serious. I think you should come home.”
Melissa heard the fear in her mother’s voice and said, “We’re in Charleston, but I’ll see what flights I can get and be there as soon as I can.”
She paused. “Daddy is going to be all right, isn’t he?”
“I certainly hope so, but I’d be lying if I told you I’m not worried about him. He’s in surgery now to clear some arteries.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know what flight I’ll be on,”
said Melissa, brushing tears from her cheeks. After seeing Ross’s pain over his father dying and the support he had from his family, she realized that as an only child, she was her mother’s sole family support.
“What is it?”
Ross asked, sitting up beside her.
Melissa explained the situation to him, and he immediately started researching airports and flights.
A short while later, Ross said, “I’ve found a flight that leaves from Columbia late morning to Boston. It’ll take us approximately two hours to get to the airport. Why don’t you let me call to see if we can get on that flight? If we can, I’ll arrange for a driver in Boston.”
“We? You’d do that for me?”
asked Melissa, still shaken by the call.
“Sure. You’ve been here for me, dealing with my father,”
said Ross. “It’s my turn to help you.”
Melissa threw herself into his arms. “Oh, Ross. Thank you! I’m so worried. I don’t think I could get through this without you.”
###
A few hours later, Melissa and Ross boarded a plane for Boston. Ross left his car in long-term parking, hoping they could continue their trip at some point.
Sitting together, Melissa was grateful for Ross’s solid presence beside her. She’d always prided herself on being self-contained, but now she could hardly keep her emotions in check. The thought of losing her father was devastating. They were more than father and daughter; they were a working team. She prayed he’d survive.
Ross reached over and clasped her hand. Against her cold fingers, his own felt hot.
She stared out the plane window and gazed down at the scene below. Rolling hills and houses seemed miniature. She couldn’t help wondering if her father’s heart attack meant the end of Fins or any restaurant that might follow. She still hadn’t made up her mind about returning to the life of owning a restaurant.
“Are you okay?”
Ross asked gently, and Melissa realized her cheeks were wet with tears.
She took a tissue from her purse and wiped her face. It was best to get the tears over with now so she could be strong for her mother.
###
When they arrived in Boston, they went to the limousine Ross had waiting for them.
Less than two hours later, they were taking the elevator to the cardiology unit at the Portsmouth Hospital. The Heart & Vascular Institute was known for providing excellent care and a reputation for meeting national standards for speedy handling of heart attack patients.
When Melissa’s mother saw them enter the waiting area, she burst into tears.
Melissa hurried to her. “Is Dad … okay?”
“Yes, but he’s lucky we got him here in time. He’s resting now. They found two blocked arteries. As part of the recovery, he will have to participate in a heart-healthy program through the Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness. After cooking delicious meals for all those years, it will be hard for him to change his lifestyle.”
“May I go to him?”
Melissa asked. She needed to see for herself that he was okay.
Her mother walked her to her father’s room and left.
Melissa stood at the doorway, stunned to see her father lying in bed, hooked up to a monitor. He looked … well … old … and smaller than she’d always thought of him. Her breath catching, she went over to him and said, “Dad? It’s me. Melissa. I’m here.”
He opened his eyes and smiled at her, bringing a sob from her throat. “Oh, Daddy! I thought we might lose you.”
“Not me,”
he said with some of his old spark. “I’ve got a lot more living to do.”
“I’m so relieved,”
she said, hugging him.
He looked up at her. “I think I scared your mother.”
“You scared both of us,”
Melissa said. “Luckily, Ross helped me get back home to you.”
“He’s a good man,”
said her father as his eyes drooped.
Melissa kissed him and left the room, clasping her hands with thanks.
###
When Melissa returned to the waiting area, she found her mother and Ross in a deep discussion. Her mother looked up at her and smiled.
“I was just thanking Ross for all he did to make sure you got here as quickly as you did. Your presence is such a comfort.”
Melissa glanced at Ross, wondering what he might have told her.
He stood and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Your mother asked about us, and I said we were seeing where our relationship might take us.”
“Good,”
said Melissa. She didn’t want to hide her feelings for Ross. She’d never felt a connection like this before and wanted to enjoy it in front of everyone.
“Tonight, let’s talk about some logistics going forward, and then you and Ross can continue your trip,”
said her mother. “At this point, there’s nothing you can do physically for either your father or me. The emotional support is important, and you both have shown us that.”
Melissa wasn’t surprised by her mother’s matter-of-fact way of speaking. She’d been as much a business partner in the restaurant as her father. She was the one who kept it going to allow her husband to cook.
“Thanks, Mom. Our trip thus far has been difficult. Ross’s father is dying of cancer.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that, Ross,”
said her mother. “What can I do to help?”
“At this point, there’s nothing we can do but keep in touch. I plan to go back and pick up my car in Columbia and continue to Florida with assurances that people will call me when it’s time to return to New Jersey to say goodbye.”
“And I’m going with him,”
said Melissa, taking hold of his arm.
Ross smiled at her. “Thanks.”
He turned to Melissa’s mother. “My family loved meeting Melissa. My father, especially.”
Her mother studied them. “I see.”
Observing her mother’s inspection, Melissa was grateful when Ross pulled her to him. She’d felt unattractive for so long that it was thrilling to have Ross’s attention. He’d even told her she was beautiful.
“Ross has been wonderful to me,”
said Melissa.
“I’m happy to see you together,”
her mother said, beaming at them. No doubt everyone in town would soon know Melissa was dating Ross, but she didn’t care.
###
Later, Ross and Melissa left the hospital to get checked into a hotel.
Melissa was happy to have some time alone with him. She knew it was only a matter of time before he got a call from a family member to come home.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay with your father?”
“I feel comfortable Dad is on the road to recovery, and I don’t want you to be alone.”
“For selfish reasons, I’m glad you’ll be with me.”
“Me, too,”
she said. “But, Ross, I’m pretty sure my mother will decide no more restaurant business for either of them.”
“How do you feel about that?”
he asked her.
“I know this might sound crazy, but I wondered if there was a spot for a small restaurant at the sports center you’re building with Mike. I’m not sure I’d want to do more than that.”
“That might be terrific. We left some space on our drawings for something like that. We can talk it over with Mike in Florida,”
Ross said. “Crystal has offered to supervise a snack bar with high school students running it, but I think it makes more sense to have you in charge of a bigger operation than that.
“It’s just something to think about. I’m not sure what I want,”
said Melissa. Maybe her new life was finally coming together.
Later, when a discussion of the future came up at dinner with her mother, Melissa wasn’t surprised when her mother announced that they definitely wouldn’t be rebuilding the restaurant.
“Those 24/7 days of working are over,”
her mother said. “Your father and I have agreed his heart attack was a wake-up call. With the insurance money from the fire and the sale of the land, we should be comfortable enough to retire.”
She kept a steady gaze on Melissa. “Does that ruin your plans? We always thought you’d take over the restaurant one day.”
Melissa was quiet, thinking about how best to put it without hurting her mother’s feelings. “In many ways, it’s a relief for me. Now, I’m free to make plans of my own.”
“Yes, that’s true. I’m grateful we agree on this.”
Her mother reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “You’ve been a wonderful daughter and a terrific help to us with the restaurant. I want you to know that.”
Melissa blinked hard, too emotional to speak. Compliments from her mother were rare.
Ross waved a waiter over to them. “I think we’re ready to order now.”
Melissa felt as content as a cream-fed cat after a main course of baked scrod and fresh vegetables. Tomorrow, after seeing her father again, she and Ross would head to the airport for a flight south on what was sure to continue to be an emotional journey.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
That night, as Melissa lay with Ross in bed, she turned to him. “At least now, I know I won’t be working at a family restaurant in Lilac Lake.”
“How do you feel about that?”
asked Ross.
Melissa had been thinking a lot about all the recent changes and answered truthfully, “I feel free. It’s going to take me a while to get used to it, but I want to be able to move forward in life in my own way.”
“We’re both at a crossroads,”
Ross said. “My business is expanding. I like the idea that I can get away from the cold in a New Hampshire winter to go to my business in Florida and, vice versa, leave Florida in summer.”
“That’s ideal,”
said Melissa. She said nothing more because she didn’t know if this conversation would lead to thoughts of a future together. She waited, but Ross didn’t mention it. He cupped her face in his broad hands and kissed her.
Melissa melted against him.
###
The next morning, after a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs at a nearby restaurant, Melissa and Ross returned to the hospital.
He was sitting in a chair when they got to her father’s room.
“How are you doing, Dad?”
Melissa asked and went to him. “It’s great to see you out of bed.”
Her mother stood by. “He’s going to take it easy and then get to work on his rehab program.”
Melissa saw the look of resignation on her father’s face and held in a chuckle. Her mother was determined to see that her father had the best care. That made it much easier to leave them.
“Nice of you to come, Ross,”
said her father.
“Of course. I want to support Melissa just as she’s supported me,”
Ross said.
She smiled at him, and he put an arm around her shoulder.
“Ah,”
said her father, and Melissa was relieved when he didn’t say anything more. The smile of approval he gave them spoke volumes.
Melissa and Ross chatted with her parents, and after giving them an itinerary for their trip, Melissa announced it was time to head to the airport.
Ross shook her father’s hand and said goodbye to her mother.
Melissa gave them each a lingering hug. “I’ll check in regularly.”
“Thank you, darling,”
said her mother. “The worst is behind us.”
Melissa left her father’s hospital room feeling more settled than she had in years. She still had decisions to make about her future. The longer she stayed away from the kitchen and her family’s business, the more intrigued she became with new possibilities.
###
Back in Columbia at the airport, Ross retrieved his car. Before taking off, he called his father’s house to check on his status.
After he ended the conversation, Ross turned to her. “Mrs. Barnard said Dad’s sleeping, but things are pretty much the same. She’ll tell him I called.”
Melissa squeezed his hand. “I know how hard this is for you. What do you want to do?”
“I think we’d better keep going. We’ll stop at some of the places you want to see on our way back. Is that all right?”
“It’s fine. I know your meeting with Mike is important.”
“We’ll meet him in Jacksonville, look at some baseball camps there, and then join him at a year-round training center outside of town. If things go well, we might be able to squeeze in a trip to St. Augustine. I know you wanted to see it.”
“Whatever works. I know you have a lot on your mind,”
she said. Neither of them could forget what the future held for his father.
Melissa sat quietly in the car while Ross drove them out of the Columbia area. He’d said it wouldn’t be a long drive to their meeting, perhaps three hours or so, depending on traffic. They’d switch off driving and meet Mike in the late afternoon.
She glanced at Ross. He seemed to be lost in thought as he drove with ease. So many emotional things had happened to them in the last few days that she understood his pensiveness. She decided to open her Kindle to pass the time.
Melissa was deeply engrossed in her book when Ross spoke. “You mentioned you might want to do something simple with food at the tennis and baseball sports center Mike and I are working on. Do you mean that?”
She set down her reader and thought for a moment. Is that how she wanted her life to be in the future? Doing something right, even for a small food venue, wasn’t simple. And because she was known as an excellent chef, she couldn’t ever do anything halfway.
“I’m not sure what I want to do going forward,”
said Melissa. “But I do know I want to continue my professional life in some capacity.”
“Okay, we’ll tell Mike we might locate a small food operation there,”
said Ross. “It could be something as simple as having mothers of the players selling hot dogs or something like that. But we’ll leave room for something bigger if you want it.”
“Just leave it open-ended until more thought has gone into it,”
she suggested.
“Mike has a new idea about expanding our center to include a year-round baseball practice area. The tennis center will, of course, be open year-round regardless.”
“Do you have the land to expand?”
she asked.
Ross smiled at her. “Yes, we do. We can even build a separate building for the baseball camp idea Mike has in mind.”
“Speaking of land, I’m wondering what my parents are going to do with the land on which the restaurant stood,” she said.
“I’m betting another restaurant will want to buy it and rebuild something. It’s the perfect spot, and Fins will be truly missed. There’s already a built-up demand for one there. Is that something you want to do?”
“No. That’s one thing I do know. I want a life outside of the restaurant business, which is 24/7, no matter what you plan.”
Ross glanced at her. “There’s a lot to think about for each of us.”
She smiled at him.
###
They arrived at the Bob Williams Baseball Camp at 4 PM. It was a hot, muggy afternoon, and the Florida humidity attacked Melissa like a grumpy, fluffy cat. She stood with Ross outside a caged area and watched several high school boys go through batting practice with machines that kept baseballs coming at them.
Mike came up to them. “Hi, Ross, Melissa. Glad to see you finally made it.”
He turned to her. “Thanks for helping Ross get here.”
She smiled. “This has been a rough week, but we’ve helped each other.”
Ross placed an arm around her and pulled her close. “Melissa has been great.”
At Mike’s questioning look, Ross continued, “My father is hanging on, but Melissa’s father had a heart attack. We went back to New Hampshire to see him, and then we came here.”
“I’m sorry. Is your dad going to be okay?”
Mike asked her.
“Yes, but any thought of reviving Fins is gone forever,”
said Melissa. “That’s fine with me.”
“And me,”
said Ross, turning to Mike. “Melissa is staying in Lilac Lake regardless of what happens. She might even help us out at the sports center.”
“Whoa! I’ve not committed to doing that,”
said Melissa, chuckling.
“Right. It’s just an option, and we’re keeping our options open,”
said Ross, grinning at her.
“I wanted to meet you here,”
said Mike, “because Bob Williams has a unique building with enough room for indoor training for batting, pitching, and even a small track for running sprints. Because of the weather in New Hampshire, let's add that to our sports center. We’ve got the room.”
He gave Ross an impish grin. “It means we might have to raise more money, but I think it’ll pay off. And quickly. I’ve got a contact with the Boston Red Sox, and you have one with the Yankees.”
Melissa could see the excitement on Ross’s face as Mike continued to speak. “Lilac Lake makes a fantastic retreat in the winter. Signed players might not be allowed to ski, but they and their families can enjoy a winter wonderland. We might be able to work something out with the inn.”
“I’m liking that idea,”
said Ross. “Let’s you and I meet with Bob, go over his construction plans, and do some cost analyses before we make any decisions.”
“I’ve set up a meeting with Bob tomorrow morning. And I’ve made hotel reservations for the two of you right on the beach,”
said Mike.
“We only need one room,”
said Ross.
Mike’s eyes widened. “Oh, no problem.”
Melissa was happy she was standing in the hot sun so no one would notice how her cheeks got even redder.