as always. Just, well, bigger. We’re here because I need to visit my folks and Lori wanted to see you.”
“You look like you’re trying to sneak a beach ball into a rock concert, only you didn’t get the memo to bring the inflatable kind,” Lori said, her lips twitching. “A really big beach ball.”
“Brat.” Nic pulled Lori into her arms for a hug, then gave one to Chase for good measure. Stepping away, she rested her hands on the small of her back. “I am much more sympathetic now to animals who deliver litters. Carrying two is challenge enough. Can you imagine having five?”
Lori shuddered. “I can’t imagine having one. I think when I decide to have kids, I’ll adopt.”
Nic laughed as she cleared the quilt square she’d been working on for the Patchwork Angels Quilting Bee’s second project from the couch, then gestured for her visitors to have a seat. “Make yourselves at home.”
“If it’s okay with you, Dr. Callahan, we thought Lori could visit while I go do my errand at home. I can pick her up in about an hour?”
“That’s fine.”
After Chase departed, Nic sent Lori to the kitchen to pour glasses of lemonade for the two of them, then lowered herself into her chair, propped her feet up on the ottoman, and took note of the time. She needed to stay off her feet for at least half an hour.
Lori returned to the living room a few moments later, handed Nic her drink, then took a seat on the sofa. Nic studied the young woman. Ah, she knew that look. This was obviously not a simple pleasure trip. How many times had she played the role of arbitrator between mother and daughter? Ah, sweetheart, growing up is hard, isn’t it? “So, child of my heart, what is wrong? Are you having boy trouble with Chase?”
“No. He’s a good guy. I’m a little sad that he’ll be leaving Eternity soon. He’s been the best summer romance.”
“Nothing more?”
The girl shrugged. “We’re too young.”
Nic nodded. “How’s your mom doing?”
“Okay. She’s still weird about me being a senior this year, but the summer has been so busy that she’s not acting as crazy as she did there for a little while. She’s not the person I’m worried about now, though. Nic, you have to do something about Gabe.”
“I don’t want to discuss Gabe.”
“Okay, we don’t have to talk about it. You just need to read this letter from Celeste.” Lori pulled an envelope from her bag and handed it to Nic. “She said to tell you she thought it best you read the letter first, then you should call her if you have any questions.”
Nic set the envelope down without opening it.
“She said it’s important,” Lori added. “A matter of life and death.”
Nic pursed her lips and frowned. She didn’t want to read the letter. She didn’t care what defense her women friends mounted in his behalf; it wouldn’t change the way she felt.
“Please, Nic?”
Nic scowled. How downright sneaky of Celeste. She knew that Nic had no will against Lori’s puppy dog eyes. She’d never been able to tell that girl no about anything. Releasing a long, heavy sigh, she picked up the envelope, removed the letter, and began reading.
Pam had called Celeste because she was worried about Gabe. She’d told Celeste that when Gabe was keeping vigil with her at her husband’s hospital bed, he had confessed a frightful tale about a near suicide attempt last fall. As Nic read the details, her blood ran cold.
That had been right before she’d met Gabe. Oh, my. The information landed a solid blow against her anger at her husband.
“Now he’s holed up at Eagle’s Way again all alone,” Lori said. “You know how you said that Tiger had claimed Gabe as his person? Well, now the dog’s cut him loose. Tiger won’t stay with him. That’s why we brought him down to you.”
Nic worriedly eyed the dog. “Gabe didn’t mistreat Tiger. I can’t believe he’d do that.”
“No, that’s not it at all. I think Tiger is as fed up with Gabe as you are. Now, though, Gabe doesn’t have anybody. As far as I can tell, he just sits around brooding. Sage went up to Eagle’s Way on an errand for Celeste. She said he wouldn’t talk to her, he looked like he’d been drinking, and he hadn’t shaved in a while. You have to talk to him.”
Nic stood up and started to pace the room until she remembered she was