“Chief Jones wouldn’t pay much mind to a new paramedic, not when you’ve built up so much trust around here. You’ve got a great reputation.”
Ty glanced back toward the bay. “Yeah, but Geena doesn’t know me very well.” The new EMS director had been here less than a year. “And a bunch of the guys just heard Marissa pretty much accuse me of harassment.”
“Just because she said it doesn’t make it true.” Luke shook his head. “If I were you, I’d stay away from her. I knowIwill.”
Chapter 35
When Jenna returned from work on Monday she was on cloud nine. Who was she kidding? She’d been on cloud nine all weekend. Even Miss Molly had known something was up when Jenna walked into work this morning with a giddy smile.
On Sunday Jenna had had coffee with Sofia and relayed the good news. Her friend was thrilled for the couple and didn’t hold back on the teasing or I-told-you-sos. Jenna was too blissful to mind either.
Even though Ty had been busy with the B and B over the weekend, he’d made time to talk on the phone. They texted each other throughout the day. This slide from friendship to more might have happened quickly, but it felt so right.
With Jason—and the others before him—she’d had anxiety about growing closer. A feeling that as the relationship progressed, she was getting backed into a corner. A stifling, suffocating feeling that had her putting up walls.
She hadn’t been able to put words to the feeling until now. Until she felt only excitement about a future with Tyson. Being with him was worlds different from being with anyone else. No one understood her the way he did. No one made her feel the way he did.
Sure, it wouldn’t be easy if she moved back to Alexandria. But she might not even get that job. And maybe she could find something here on the island. She hadn’t really poured herself into that yet.
And Ty had been right about his position as an active firefighter. He’d never even been injured beyond a minor burn. If her anxiety over his volunteer spot became a problem, she could always seek counseling. Their relationship was worth fighting for.
A welcome waft of cool air brushed her skin as she entered the house. She needed a shower after being in the sun all day. She and Ty had plans to meet up later for supper at Captain Zack’s. The casual restaurant had been a favorite for years.
The house was quiet—but then again, Mom’s car hadn’t been in the drive. She and Gordon were probably out enjoying the summer evening.
But as Jenna started to head upstairs, she heard the floor squeak in Mom’s room and turned that direction. She found her mom standing in her bedroom, staring at her phone. “Mom?”
Her mother startled. “Jenna. I didn’t hear you come in.”
That wasn’t like her at all. Jenna paused in the doorway, noting Mom’s blanched face. “You okay? You seem a little upset.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m fine, I guess.”
Jenna entered the tidy bedroom, the familiar scent of Chanel No. 5 washing over her. “You don’t seem fine. Did something happen?”
Mom stood frozen for a few seconds, then dropped onto the edge of the bed, pressing her hand to her chest. “My heart’s beating a million miles an hour.”
Alarm shot through Jenna. “Are you having chest pains?”
“No, no, it’s not that. Not a medical event. Something else entirely.”
Jenna lowered herself beside her mom. “What is it then?”
Mom’s brows squished together, and a bewildered look shadowed her eyes. “I just—I was taking some clean towels up to Gordon’s room, and it was just sitting right there on the bathroom vanity. It didn’t even register at first—I just started to hang the towels...”
“What didn’t register?”
She turned and met Jenna’s gaze. “It was a credit card statement. It didn’t dawn on me until I was putting the stack of towels in the closet: He had a credit card bill, and he told me he didn’t have a credit card.”
A pit opened in the bottom of Jenna’s stomach. “Oh, Mom. Maybe there’s some other explanation.”
“I looked at the statement. The card’s in his name. And Jenna... the balance is almostthirty thousand dollars.”
Thirty thousand dollars? She couldn’t imagine being so deeply in debt. No wonder Gordon had wanted Mom to pay for everything.
“See for yourself.” She shoved her phone at Jenna.
Mom had taken a picture of each page. The bill was addressed to him, and the total amount owed...Yikes.
