Chapter Eight
Henry sat close to Jackson, his head on the man’s shoulder while his arm was around him.
On the television in front of them was Jackson’s favorite movie, and the man was quoting the dialogue word for word.
Henry found it absolutely adorable. He couldn’t wish for a more perfect moment.
Henry looked up at him and smiled. Jackson glanced his way then leaned over to gently kiss his lips before going back to the film.
Not ten minutes later, the doorbell sounded.
Henry felt a deep sense of disappointment when Jackson pulled away to answer it.
“Hi, Jackson.” Henry heard Melissa’s voice, but it wasn’t right somehow. “Is Henry with you?”
“Yeah.” Jackson led her and Piper into the living room.
“Are you okay, Melissa?” Her eyes were slightly puffy.
“Not really.” She shook her head. “I was hoping that you could watch Piper.”
“Of course,” he instantly agreed.
“What’s wrong?” Jackson asked.
“Mom.” She sniffed. “She collapsed, and I had to call an ambulance. I need you to come to the hospital with me.”
Henry watched the color drain from Jackson’s face. He took the man’s hand and squeezed. “Go,” Henry told the siblings. “I’ve got Piper.”
“Thanks, baby.” Jackson kissed his cheek then was out the door.
The little girl broke down as soon as the door closed. “Oh, honey.” Henry dropped to his knees to pull her into a hug. “It’s all going to be okay.”
“Nanny is really sick.” She cried harder, so Henry rubbed her back.
“They’re going to make her all better at the hospital.
” He pulled back to wipe her eyes. “Do you like dogs?” Piper nodded.
“I have a great dog named Angel. Would you like to go next door to meet her?” Piper sniffed then nodded again.
“Come on, sweetheart.” Henry took the girl’s hand, leading the way over to his house.
Angel was there to greet them as soon as the door opened.
Her tail was wagging a mile a minute. “Go find your bunny, baby girl,” he told the dog, who instantly raced off to her room.
“Come on, Piper,” he said gently. “We can play in the living room.” By the time he had Piper settled, Angel was back and dropping her bunny in front of the girl.
“Hi, Angel.” Piper’s eyes lit up as she stroked Angel’s head. She picked up the bunny. “Do you want to play?”
Angel’s body practically vibrated at the opportunity for a new playmate. “If you throw it, she’ll bring it back,” Henry said.
Piper threw the bunny until Angel got tired of playing and laid down. The whole time Angel occupied the girl, he had been wracking his brain for ideas of what to do next. Piper got up then walked around the living room and kitchen. “Your house is so pretty.”
“Thank you,” he said as she continued to wander around.
She smiled when she found the door leading to the backyard. “Can we go out?”
“Sure, I’ll show you.” Henry got up to walk over to her and open the door.
“No way! You have a pool!” Piper jumped up and down, clapping her hands. Her excitement made him smile. “Can I get in?”
“You don’t have extra clothes.” Her bottom lip protruded. “But I promise I’ll throw you a pool party as soon as your mom has time, okay?”
Her bubbly smile returned. “Okay.”
“Hey, I have a friend that lives down the street. She has two girls your age. Would you like to see if they can play?”
“That would be fun.”
“Come on.” Henry led her back through the house and out the front door. He locked it behind him then grabbed her hand for the short walk to the Anderson’s. They went up to the door where Henry rang the bell.
“Hey, Henry.”
“Hi, Debbie,” he returned. “How’s your day going?”
“Same old, same old.” She chuckled. “The kids are bored and bugging me. How about you?”
“I’m good. And I think I might have a solution to your problem.”
“Oh?” She looked intrigued.
Henry nodded. “This is Piper.” He nudged the girl forward. “She’s Jackson’s niece, and she’s hanging out with me today.”
“Well hello, Piper.” Debbie held her hand out to the child.
“This is Mrs. Anderson, sweetie,” Henry told her.
“Hello, Mrs. Anderson.” Piper smiled as she shook Debbie’s hand.
“Come on in. Amber and Haley are in the playroom.” She led them through her cluttered home to a door just left of the living room. “Girls,” she called out as she opened the door. They both turned to look at her. “This is Piper. She’s going to play with you today.”
“Hi, Piper,” the older of the girls, Amber, said as her sister got up to pull Piper over to the table where they were molding clay.
“What colors do you like?” Haley asked.
“Purple and red,” she answered, smiling broadly when they passed her the two tubs.
“We can sit in the living room,” Debbie told him.
Henry nodded, following the woman to the couch and sitting down. “Where are the boys?” he asked.
“Clint took Dustin fishing and Grandma has Mason.”
“So, you have a half break.” Henry chuckled. Debbie did as well.
“Okay, I’m dying to know. How did you end up with Major Hottie’s niece?” She leaned closer to him.
“His mom is in the hospital.” Henry shrugged.
“You know what I mean. Are you friends, or are you friends?” she asked with a giggle and a raised eyebrow.
“We’re seeing one another,” he confirmed.
“Oh my goodness.” She squealed. “How did that happen? Tell me everything.”
Her grilling turned into a few hours of lighthearted conversation, then Henry’s phone rang. It was Jackson. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said to Debbie before answering. “Hi, Jackson.”
“Hey, Henry. How are you and Piper?”
“Great. We’re having a playdate with the Andersons.”
“Smart.” Henry heard Jackson let out a heavy breath. “I’m not sure how long we’re going to be here.”
“Don’t worry. I have Piper taken care of. How’s your mom?”
“It was a heart attack. They’re running all kinds of tests on her. Then hopefully we’ll get to talk to her doctor. It could be a long night.”
“I’ll get Piper some dinner and maybe some games to keep her occupied. Take as long as you need.”
“You don’t know how much I appreciate this, baby. I’ll really have to think of some special way to thank you.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.” Henry’s tone was flirty but not overly so.
“Trust me, I will. Talk to you soon.” Jackson hung up.
Piper came over to him. “Henry, I’m hungry.”
“I’ll take you to get something, sweetheart. Help Amber and Haley clean up the playroom, then we can go.” After she scampered off, Henry turned to Debbie. “Thank you so much for letting us come over today.”
“No problem, Henry.” Debbie laughed. “Besides, you occupied the girls for two whole hours. You are welcome any time.”
All three girls came out of the room. “Do you really have to leave?” Amber asked. She was holding Piper’s hand.
“Yeah,” Haley added. “We love Piper.”
Henry regarded them for a moment then walked over to Debbie so he could softly whisper in her ear. “Would you and the girls join us for dinner? My treat,” he added.
“Yeah, that sounds great,” Debbie replied before turning to her children. “Girls, get your shoes on. We’re having dinner with Piper and Henry.”
Dinner had been fun but chaotic. Three rambunctious little girls were a lot to handle.
He chose a chain burger place that had a large playset.
As soon as they walked in, the girls’ eyes lit up and they begged to check it out.
By some miracle, he and Debbie got them to eat, and agree to leave without a fuss if they could play for fifteen more minutes after they finished their food.
When dinner concluded, Henry and Piper said goodbye to the Andersons then drove to the local supercenter. He let Piper pick a few games that they could play. He also bought her a squishy plush turtle that made her eyes light up. Jackson called again as they entered the house.
“Hey, baby,” Jackson said when he answered. “Everything still okay?”
“Of course.” Damn, he loved it when Jackson called him baby.
“I knew it would be.” Jackson’s and Melissa’s trust and faith in him was overwhelming. “Can you put Piper on? Melissa wants to talk to her.”
“Of course.” He handed the girl his phone.
“Hi, Mommy. I’m having so much fun with Henry.
” Melissa must have asked about her day because Piper rattled off the details.
“I played with Angel. Then I met new friends. Now we’re going to play games.
” The girl paused. “Yes, Mommy.” Another pause.
“I love you too.” Piper handed him the phone. “Mommy wants to talk to you.”
“Hello,” he said.
“Thank you so much for this Henry,” she told him.
“You guys don’t have to keep thanking me. I’m happy to hang out with Piper. You have nothing to worry about.”
“You’re the best. Talk to you soon.”
Then Jackson was back on the line. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I’ve got this. Just focus on your mom.”
“I’ll see you as soon as I can. Bye, baby.”
“Bye, Jackson.” Henry hung up then turned to Piper. “Ready to play?” He chuckled. “I guess you are.” The girl sat cross-legged next to his square coffee table with the Yahtzee Junior game set up in front of her. He walked over, sitting opposite of her.
“Can I go first?” she asked, holding the dice in her hand.
“Of course.” He smiled. Piper took her turn, rolling the dice then putting them in order to make a full house. “Wow. That was a great roll.” Piper smiled broadly as she handed him the dice. Henry rolled, putting two threes to the side.
“This is my grandma’s favorite game,” she said softly. “We play all the time.” Piper sniffed. “Is she going to be okay?” She looked at him with glassy eyes.
“Oh, honey, don’t cry.” He got up to sit next to her. “Your mom and Uncle Jackson are making sure she’s getting taken care of.” He handed her a tissue from a box sitting on the end table.
Piper wiped her eyes. “Thanks, Henry.” She leaned over and hugged him. Angel came over to lick the girl’s face. She laughed as she moved to hug his dog.
“Would you like to keep playing?” he asked her. “Or we could choose a different one.”