“The doctor?” Randy asked. “What for? Don’t you feel well, Mom?”
“She’s been lying on the sofa day in and day out,” Gordon snapped. “What do you think?”
“Whoa, dude,” Randy replied. “No need to bite my head off.”
“I’m just worried, that’s all.”
Randy nodded. “Mom probably has low blood pressure. She gets wonky when she stands up too fast.” Turning toward Providence, he said, “Did you hear about the realtor who turned up dead in the Potomac?”
Providence’s guts churned. “Yeah, it’s all over the news.”
“The primary suspect—his name is Luck—offered me a job. I’m an excellent judge of character and he seemed like a total tool. I was right. Good thing I turned him down. That could have beenmein the river.”
Providence didn’t want to discuss Dakota, so she congratulated Randy on cleaning out the garage and kissed her mom goodbye. “Feel better.”
Her mom smiled, though the sparkle in her eyes was gone.
“I’ll walk you out,” her dad said.
Once outside, he said, “Thanks for convincing Mom to go to the doctor.”
“You’re right. She’s not okay.”
“I think Randy might be stressing her out. He’s here all the time.”
“Why don’t you suggest he find an affordable apartment to rent?”
Her dad stopped at her car. “They don’t have any money.”
“Can you loan him some?”
“Years ago, we loaned him thousands and never saw one penny repaid. Mom and I don’t want to go that route, yet.”
“I understand.”
“So, how’s the job at Stryker’s club?”
Again, Dakota popped into her head. She wished she had someone she could confide in about the mess her life had become. “It’s fine.” She opened her car door. “I saw Mom’s Will on the table. What’s that all about?”
“She wants to amend it to include Randy.” Her dad shrugged. “I don’t have an issue with that, but I think she should focus on her health before she makes any legal changes.”
So did Providence, but she kept silent on that. “How are you holding up?”
“My golf league is starting but my heart isn’t in it. I want Mom to feel better.”
“You know, Mom saw right through us.”
That made her dad smile. “She always does.”
“Text me the appointment info and I’ll meet you. Hang in there.” Providence patted her dad’s shoulder before slipping into her car and driving away.
She hated that her mom wasn’t well and that her dad was so stressed over it. Though she doubted her parents would kick Randy and Lizzie out, she wondered if that would be the best thing for everyone. Randy had leeched off them before. Sounded like he was doing that all over again.
Providence arrived at the club to find the staff busy getting ready to open for the evening. She checked in with her line managers before heading upstairs to her office. When she walked in, her heart skipped a beat. Sitting in the middle of her desk was a giant bouquet of brightly colored flowers. In the center was a single, long-stemmed red rose. She read the card. It was from Dakota. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”
I haven’t, either.
His thoughtfulness bolstered her spirits. As she logged in to her computer, one of the staff tapped on her open door.
