Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
“ T here you go,” Estelle said, setting a tray across Antony’s lap. She paused before pulling back, making sure his glass of orange juice stopped sloshing before straightening. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she smiled. “What else can I get you? Want me to open the curtains today? It’s a gorgeous morning.”
Antony shrugged, his eyes on the plate, but he made no move to eat.
“I used your favorite seasonings on the eggs,” Estelle offered. Something, surely something would eventually get through to her brother. The doctors had said to keep being upbeat, to offer him time and patience. The physical therapist who came to the house a couple times a week said the most important thing was getting Antony out of bed.
He needed to move, and hopefully, relearning life skills would lead to him gaining a new perspective. So far, however, Antony showed no signs of recovery. He went through the motions with the therapist and he ate what Estelle brought him, but otherwise, he sat in bed with a scowl tugging at his handsome brow and only the most minimal of words slipping through his lips .
One part of Estelle wanted to weep, and the other wanted to scream. How dare he waste this time! Didn’t he care that his father was downstairs wasting away? Didn’t Antony realize he wasn’t the only veteran to come home missing pieces of himself? Didn’t he understand that no matter how physically scarred he was, his family would still love him and take care of him?
Swallowing the righteous anger, Estelle turned to the window. “Hang on a moment.” Pulling on the cord of the blinds, she opened up the window, allowing the sunshine to penetrate the gloom of the room. Behind her, Antony grunted but didn’t respond. “There,” she said, still pushing her voice to be as perky as possible. “Anything else?”
When Antony didn’t bother looking up, Estelle moved toward the door. “Remember to ring the bell if you need anything. Otherwise, I’ll be up in a bit to get the tray and help you move around the room.”
She paused at the doorway but ultimately left when he still remained silent. The sound of her feet against the hardwood stairs rang through the front room. Glancing at her watch, Estelle hurried into the kitchen. Her dad still hadn’t eaten, and she needed to mix his smoothie for the morning.
The blender was so loud that Estelle didn’t hear her mother come in until she was standing beside her. Estelle jumped slightly, then grinned. “Sorry, Mom!” she said loudly over the machine. “I’ll be done in a minute.”
Her mother shook her head. “You have a visitor!”
Estelle frowned. “What?”
Her mom stopped the blender, and the sudden silence felt oddly oppressive. “You have a visitor,” Emery said with a smirk.
“A visitor?”
Estelle’s mother gave her a look. “Well? Don’t keep him waiting.”
Estelle’s confusion grew. Him? Who in the world would be coming to visit her that her mom wouldn’t just bring into the house? If Jayden or Michael were here, even Gavin or Ethan, they’d all come inside without a second thought.
Wiping her hands on a towel, Estelle walked toward the front door, her heart pounding against her ribs in worry. Was there an irate customer or someone from the shop? Some kind of emergency? Estelle wasn’t sure she could handle more right now, not with?—
“Hey,” Crew said with a soft smile. One hand was in his pocket and the other was attached to Layla.
Layla waved energetically. “Aunt Stelle!” she signed.
Estelle’s shoulders immediately lightened, though she didn’t want to examine why, and she easily accepted Layla’s hug. “What in the world are you doing here?” she asked, moving her question from Layla to Crew. Tilting her head, Estelle watched the man standing on her doorstep.
She’d texted him just yesterday, saying that she couldn’t take on Layla’ birthday cake, and although it had killed her to do it and the guilt still hung heavy in Estelle’s chest, it had been the right move.
Every time Estelle turned around, someone needed her. Her mother was looking more like a ghost every day, her dad could barely lift his head up and Estelle was worried he’d have more episodes where he struggled to breathe, and Antony wouldn’t move at all if she didn’t go in and force him to.
Crew’s smile remained, and his blue eyes flashed with humor. “We’re here to help.”
Estelle frowned. She looked down at Layla, who was beaming up with a massive smile, and turned her gaze back to Crew. “I don’t understand.”
“Layla!” Estelle’s mom called from farther in the house.
Estelle looked over her shoulder to see her mom standing in the threshold of the front entryway.
“Come help me make cookies,” Emery invited, holding out her hand, smiling when Layla laughed and ran across the space to grasp it.
Estelle just stared. What was her mother thinking? This house was no place for a child. The sight of her father would probably terrify Layla right now. “Uh…” Movement caught her attention, and she turned back to see Crew shifting his weight. “Looks like you should come in.” Estelle stepped back, pulling the door wider and waiting until Crew was inside to close it. “What did you mean you came to help?” She couldn’t quite look him in the eye, instead using her peripheral vision. For some reason, Estelle was anxious about his answer.
What did he know about her family? She’d been vague on purpose when they were talking, not wanting to share everything that was happening in her life, so what made him show up saying he was going to help?
Crew made a face. “I’m going to make a confession.”
Estelle forced herself to turn, her arms folded over her chest, as if she could prepare herself for whatever blow was about to come. “Okay.”
“I asked Harper a few questions about your family.”
Her stomach churned, and Estelle had to swallow several times. “Okay.”
Crew took a step forward, bending his head slightly to look directly in her eyes. “Once I understood the situation, I understood why you turned down working on Layla’s cake.”
Estelle nodded, her eyes on the ground. “I’m needed here,” she rasped.
“You are,” Crew agreed. He took another step, making his feet visible in her view. “But now we’re here too.”
Estelle’s head snapped up, her fear beginning to burn into something else. “So…what? You came over because you feel bad for me? Or out of some mistaken sense of pity?” The nausea began to boil, and a hot flush spread across her skin in an instant.
Crew, for his part, stayed remarkably calm. “Nothing like that.” His face softened. “Want me to be perfectly blunt?”
Estelle’s lungs stopped moving.
“I need your help.”
Crew could immediately see how those four words affected Estelle, and he felt a slight amount of guilt trickle down his spine. It wasn’t that they weren’t true, but there was a side to this he wasn’t going to tell her.
He wanted to help her as well.
Estelle’s breath was audibly shaky as she folded her arms over her chest and tilted her head like a curious kitten. “What help do you need?”
Crew jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I need your help with Layla’s cake.” He quickly put up a hand when she opened her mouth to argue. “I know what you said,” he interrupted. “I know you said you’re too busy and I can respect that, but what if…” He squished his lips to the side, trying to find the right words without poking at her pride. “What if I helped you here so that you can help me later?”
Estelle’s arms fell to the side. “I’m not really sure how you can help me,” she said softly. “This is…a family matter.”
Crew stuffed his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels. “Like I said, Harper told me a little about what you’re going through.” He glanced at Estelle’s reaction from under his lashes and noted that she was pale, but holding her ground. “It sounds to me like you’re overworked and understaffed.”
Estelle huffed a dark laugh. She pushed a hand through her hair, wreaking havoc on the ponytail she was currently sporting. “You could say that.”
“So I had a thought.” Stepping forward just a little so he could keep their conversation private but also so he wasn’t pressing into her personal space, Crew dropped his voice. “If I helped alleviate some of your work, it would leave you open to do other things. Things that might be less stressful than your current circumstances.”
Estelle’s perfectly shaped lips twitched. “Like making a child’s birthday cake. ”
Crew grinned and nodded slowly. “Like making a child’s birthday cake.”
Estelle pulled in a slow breath and let it out just as slowly. She looked over his shoulder then back at his face. “That doesn’t change the fact that it’s still a family matter and that I’m unsure how you can help.”
“But are you willing to let me try?” Crew hated pushing this hard, but the haunting look in her eye and the purple bags beneath them were egging him on. She couldn’t keep going like this.
Just a few years ago, she’d been full of life and laughter, leaving him breathless at her easy beauty while they danced at Harper and Mason’s reception. Now she looked like a small breeze could knock her flat. And maybe give her the chance to sleep for a week, which wouldn’t hurt anything.
Another long sigh preceded her answer. “I don’t want our family to be the talk of the town?—”
Crew shook his head adamantly and stepped forward again, this time invading her personal bubble so he knew he had her attention. Daring to reach out, he tucked a finger under her chin and brought her face up. “I’m not here to gain insider information or to put your family in any kind of public spotlight.” Crew smiled and let his thumb run along her soft skin. “I’m a pediatric dentist, Estelle. I spend my days talking about sugar monsters and how to put a tiny string between your teeth to keep said sugar monsters away.”
She laughed softly, and Crew’s chest puffed up ever so slightly.
“Let me help,” he whispered, his thumb continuing his gentle pattern. He couldn’t seem to stop himself, she was simply too tempting. “I need your help, and there’s no reason why you should have to do this alone.” Crew lowered his head just a touch and couldn’t help but hear how Estelle’s breath caught, giving him hope that she was just as moved by his proximity as he was by hers. “I promise to be discreet, and don’t forget, I’ve got a totally selfish reason for helping you.” She didn’t need to know that he would have jumped in to help whether or not Layla was having a birthday, it just gave him a good excuse to corner her and break down the walls she was putting up between them.
He’d let go too easily last time, not thinking there was any chance for them. But now he knew better. Now he had more time. Now…he had more hope.
Estelle watched him, still looking wary, but if Crew wasn’t mistaken, he could also see longing in her golden brown eyes. “Okay.”
A slow smile crept across his face. “Okay?”
She nodded, smiling back at him. “Okay.”
Crew nodded slowly, then a little quicker and leaned forward in his enthusiasm, wrapping his arms around her. It only took him a moment to realize it was a mistake, and not because she didn’t belong there. The fact was…she felt a little too perfect there. So perfect that Crew didn’t let go right away, and he must have held on just long enough because after a moment of hesitation, her arms wound around him.
As she clenched the back of his shirt, Crew felt her shudder beneath his hold, and it made him want to tighten his arms and never let her go. It was so clear that she needed someone on her side, and he was bound and determined to be the one to help her.
Whether a relationship worked out between them or not, he couldn’t walk away. Not again. Not when she was the only person who seemed to fill that restless hole in his chest.
“Thank you,” she murmured, just before pulling back.
Crew clenched his fists and stuffed them back in his pockets to keep from grabbing her again. “Thank you ,” he emphasized. “I really appreciate you being willing to help me with Layla.”
She laughed. “You might regret it by the time I use you as a workhorse.”
“Use away,” Crew joked.
“Estelle?”
Crew spun as Mrs. Harrison poked her head around the corner. “Your father’s breakfast is ready.”
Estelle nodded and started to walk away, but Crew gently grasped her forearm. He waited until she looked up. “How can I help?” Estelle began to shake her head, but Crew raised his eyebrows. “Workhorse. Remember?” He pointed to his chest.
Her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly, giving Crew permission to do the same. “It’s a little…gross to feed him,” she said as if embarrassed.
“I clean teeth,” he said with a chuckle. “I think I can handle it.”
“Once you see, you can’t unsee it.”
Crew shook his head and turned with her. “You’re not getting rid of me that easy. I like birthday cake.”
She smiled again and Crew kept his hands in his pockets to keep from holding onto her hand. “Come on, workhorse. You can help put my dad in a sitting position.”
“On it.” Crew followed Estelle to the kitchen where Mrs. Harrison was waiting with a tube filled with green liquid.
“Umm…” Estelle tucked hair behind her ear and looked up at him awkwardly. “Crew is going to help me?”
Mrs. Harrison’s smile was so wide it nearly split her face, and she looked at Crew as if he hung all the stars in the sky. “Perfect.” She handed him the bottle. “Estelle can teach you how to hook up the tube,” Mrs. Harrison said quickly. “Thank you so much for lending me Layla.” She looked over her shoulder where Layla was standing at the mixer waiting. “We’re having so much fun. Right, Layla?”
Layla’s hands were moving faster than her words. “Yes! I love cookies!”
Crew gave his niece a thumb’s up and put his hand on Estelle’s elbow. “I’m sure your dad’s hungry. Let’s get him fed.”
Estelle nodded, but she still seemed worried as they walked across the house. “Afterwards, we probably need to bring Antony downstairs.”
Crew put his hand on the lower part of Estelle’s back. “Sounds like the perfect job for a workhorse.”