The tests had ruled out another heart attack, but they’d also not turned up anything definitive. They had changed a couple of his medications, thinking perhaps there had been a drug interaction with a new one he’d recently been prescribed.
It had been a scary time for Ben too, as he didn’t like the idea of losing one of his parents. He’d long accepted that he wouldn’t have his dad well into his adulthood. His dad’s age when Ben was born had been closer to a grandfather’s than a father's.
Ben was just glad that, for the time being, his dad was still with them.
When the helicopter settled gently on the helipad at the estate, Ben climbed out, then turned to hold his hand out for his mom. Once she was safely on the helipad, he offered his hand to his dad.
After a brief hesitation and a scowl, his dad took it with a few mumbles under his breath that Ben paid no attention to. Ben was well aware that his dad didn’t like to have to accept help. And he couldn’t really blame him.
He went with his parents to the main house to make sure they made it okay, then he headed on to Annie’s place.
As he walked the curving single-lane road that led to Annie’s, Ben considered calling Amelia. However, he knew that she was still at work.
It was the last day of the basketball clinic for the week, and for the clinics as a whole. He was disappointed to have missed the last week, but there had been no other option.
He’d had contact with Amelia over the past few days, but it had been mainly by text.
When he’d called her on Monday night, he’d woken her up, even though it had only been eight in the evening. After that, he’d been reluctant to call her in case he interrupted her much needed sleep.
So he was eager to see her again, and he hoped they could spend some time together that evening. Maybe go out on the boat again.
He just wanted to be with her. Not being able to see or talk to her had been hard. Communicating by text just hadn’t been the same as talking to her.
It was just after four when he reached Annie’s former house. Luca was there waiting for him, having come by with his luggage.
“Are we going into Serenity?” Luca asked.
“Yes. I want to go to the church and see Amelia.”
“I thought as much,” Luca said with a nod. “When are we going?”
“I want to be there by five, when she gets off work.”
“And after that?”
“I’d like to grab food and head out on the boat, but it will depend on what Amelia wants to do.” He hoped fervently that she’d agree, but he had no idea how her week had really been. “Actually, I might go out on the boat, regardless. It would be a nice break.”
“Sounds good.”
After Ben took his bag to his room, they took the SUV and headed into Serenity. It didn’t take too long to get to the church, and he was glad to see Amelia’s car was still in the parking lot.
Luca stayed with the vehicle as Ben made his way across the parking lot to the side entrance. It was a beautiful, warm afternoon, but they were on the back end of summer now. School would start up in a couple of weeks, and not long after that, the colors of autumn would take over Serenity and the surrounding area.
Ben hoped he was still around when that happened.
He opened the door and stepped into the hallway, turning left to head toward the church offices. He spotted Amelia sitting at her desk, once again folding papers.
Ben let out an exasperated sigh. With everything going on with his dad, he’d forgotten to order her the folding machine. He’d have to do that later that day.
Stepping into the office, he said, “Hello, beautiful. Reporting for folding duty.”
Amelia looked up, and her eyes widened when she saw him. “You’re back.”
“I am,” he said as he sat down in the chair on the other side of her desk. “How have you been?”
“Good.” She put the bulletin on the stack of already folded ones. “How is your dad?”
Though he wished she’d used numbers in her reply, Ben didn’t push. Instead, he reached out and took half the stack of papers. “He’s doing fine now.”
