“Little Miss Mischief, do I need to remind you to behave?”
“Never, Nana.” Hads breaks our embrace to bundle Nana into her arms. “I’m always on my best behavior.”
“That’s questionable.” Nana pats her arm. “But we love you all the same.”
“Back to Ivy,” Mom says, redirecting the conversation. “How do you know her, Beck?”
“My family mixes in a lot of the same social and political circles as Ivy. She’s often at the same charity events and galas. I got stuck sitting beside her at one event, and I nearly stabbed myself with my dinner knife just to escape her. Since then, any time our paths cross, she makes a point of seeking me out.”
“Oh god, please don’t tell me she hit on you?” Hadley groans.
Beck turns pale as he shakes his head. “Jeez, don’t put that kind of visual in my head. I’m likely to throw up. No, it’s not me she wants.”
“It’s your father,” I surmise. His bank balance is more to Ivy’s liking though I’m sure she wouldn’t be above hitting on the younger, hotter Colbert heir.
Beck nods. “She’s wasting her time though. He only likes them young.”
“Are your parents divorced?” Hadley is being as nosy as ever.
Beck’s Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. “No. My mom died when I was ten.”
He hasn’t confirmed it to me, or mentioned the circumstances, but I suspected as much from the few things he has said about her.
“Oh, Beck.” Mom rushes around the island unit to hug him. “I’m so sorry.”
Beck is rigidly still in her arms, and I can tell he’s uncomfortable.
“Mom. Not everyone is a hugger.”
“Sorry, Beck,” she says, instantly breaking the embrace. “Occupational hazard if you’re involved in this family.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” Beck rubs the back of his neck in a clear tell. “There weren’t many hugs to go around in our house after Mom died.” He shrugs, like it’s no biggie, but it makes my heart hurt harder for him. “My youngest sister, Esther, would love you. She’s the only hugger in our family, and she’s constantly criticizing Sarah and me for not being more affectionate.”
“We’ll adopt her,” Mom says. “Everyone needs good hugs in their life.”
“We’ll adopt all three of you,” Nana adds as the doorbell chimes, announcing our food has arrived. “Let me know when you’re all free to come over for dinner.”
ChapterForty-Five
Stevie
“Beck is a wonderful man,” Mom says over the phone the following afternoon. “He’s very thoughtful and extremely generous. It’s a beautiful gift. My hips won’t thank him, but the rest of me does.” Beck sent Mom and Nana, and Hadley and me, a hamper of handmade chocolates from a local French chocolate shop to thank us for last night. He even included a handwritten thank-you card, and it was incredibly sweet.
“I’ll be sure to pass that along.”
“He cares about you.”
“Mom.” My tone holds considerable caution.
“I’m not implying anything other than he’s a very good friend. I’m glad you found one another, and I’m glad I met him now. It has helped to put my mind at ease.”
“He’s a good guy, and it’s awesome to have him in my corner.”
We hang up shortly afterward, and I meander into the kitchen to see if Hadley is home from her morning stint at the library. I want to ask if she’ll come for a walk with me in the park. Saturdays are busy where we live, but I welcome the hustle and bustle. Sometimes, being left alone with my thoughts is too much, and I welcome noisy distractions.
Normally, I spend Saturday mornings at the hospital, and today is the first Saturday in months I didn’t go. To be honest, I’m scared of what I might find when I arrive. Will Ivy have gotten my name removed from the visitor’s list? Will the staff look at me differently? Will the other patients’ families?
Those fears, combined with a slight hangover, meant I stayed in bed this morning instead of getting up to visit Garrick. Guilt perches on my shoulder, and that negative voice in my ear whispers I’m a coward and I’ve let him down. I promise myself I’ll visit him tonight. That I won’t let Ivy scare me away from her son. Garrick needs me, and I will be there for him.
