“I was getting ready to send the police to check on you. I’ve been worried.”
“I apologize. I had a little car accident the other day and have been resting and buying a new vehicle. But I’m okay now. No need to worry.”
“Not worry? Chelsea, you could have been killed. Honestly, I’ll come get you as soon as I finish up with the stockholder’s meeting tomorrow. A meeting you should be at, as primary stockholder.”
Did he seriously want her there? She’d held stock since she was a child, but her father had never invited her to attend a meeting, had actually dissuaded her from attending when she’d asked once after turning eighteen.
“Thanks, Frank, for your concern. If you let me know ahead of time about the next one, maybe I will make an appearance.”
Silence greeted her on the other end of the phone. Funny. She’d never heard Frank speechless before. Perhaps she could get him talking about something else.
“Hey, Frank, do you know who usually provided my dad with my medication?”
“Um, one of the head pharmacologists on staff, I think. I don’t know for sure, but I can find out. Do you need more? I can bring some up.”
“No, not yet.” No sense letting him know she hadn’t taken any. He’d only worry. “I brought a huge bottle and still have some.”
“I still think I should plan a trip up again. To make sure you’re truly all right and bring you home.”
“You can come if you want to, but there isn’t any need for you to travel all the way here. I’m fine, and I’m not returning yet.” If it was up to her, she never would. “Let me know when you find out who usually makes my medication. I’d like to chat with him about it. Gotta go, Frank. Thanks for calling.”
Swiping the phone, she ended the call, then silenced the ringtone.
Brett peeked out of the doorway and lifted his chin at her. “Everything okay?”
She nodded. “It’s fine. My father’s friend is worried about me. He doesn’t need to be.”
“Well, if you don’t need me for anything else today, I’ll take off. I have a few other things to take care of.”
“You’ve been immensely helpful, Brett. Thanks so much.”
With a nod of his head and a wave to Jordan, he headed out the door. Her daughter rolled around on the floor, giggling wildly with the kittens scrambling all over her. The sight and sound would never get old.
Jordan got a tour of the newly painted rooms and squealed in excitement when she saw her pink room. “When do I get to stay here, Mama?”
“The house still needs lots of work, sweetheart. Not for a while.” Would they ever live here? Or in Theo’s cozy place? As long as she had her family, she didn’t care.
The day was beautiful, so Chelsea and Jordan took the pets and let them romp around the front yard.
“Keep an eye on the kittens, Jordan. We can’t let them get too close to the rocks near the ocean. Bandit’s been pretty good about staying near us.”
As they sat on the lawn, a car door slammed. Was it Mrs. Cullen next door? She had to be close to seventy. Was she still driving?
“Daddy! Uncle Rico!” Jordan raced across the grass toward the driveway.
After hugging their daughter, Theo knelt at Chelsea’s side and kissed her. “Hi.”
“Hi. This is a nice surprise.”
Tossing a bag next to her, he said, “We stopped at The Brown Bag and picked up some sandwiches. We’re working around the corner from here this afternoon, so we figured we’d get something for both of you, too.”
“Mama, they got us lunch,” Jordan shouted as Rico carried her on his shoulders back to them.
“Yes, your father told me. Why don’t we sit at the table on the patio?”
They all strolled over, and Jordan began chattering away, keeping Rico’s attention solely on her. The thought of how the little girl would be as a teenager scared her.
“Jordan,” Theo warned in his best stern father voice. “You need to eat and let Uncle Rico eat, too. We can’t snack all afternoon like you can.”
