Endless Love (Santa’s Secret Helpers #5) - Leeanna Morgan Page 0,44
me a message a few minutes ago. They’ve left the hospital and are having lunch in town.”
John sat beside Shelley. “Would you like me to drive you to the hospital?”
She checked her watch. “If we leave in an hour, the physical therapist should be finished. Mom’s sisters are arriving this afternoon. If they’re at the hospital when we arrive, they should see Mom first.”
“You don’t want to go to the hospital to see the exercises your mom has to do?”
“I’m not sure she’d want me there.”
He placed his finger under Shelley’s chin and gently turned her head toward him. “You’re doing everything you can to avoid seeing her.”
“No, I’m not.”
Her words might have been more convincing if she’d looked him in the eyes. But her gaze had dropped to his mouth.
He held her hand. “Tell me what’s wrong—and don’t say nothing. I know you better than that.”
Shelley bit her bottom lip.
John waited. He knew it had been a difficult night for her. With her Dad sleeping in the same room, she’d tried hard to make their time together as normal as possible. But nothing about yesterday or today was ever going to be normal.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
He squeezed her hand to let her know he was listening. “What are you scared about?”
Shelley lowered her chin to her chest. “Seeing Mom. Every time I think of her, all I see is her still body lying on the concrete steps. I thought she was dead.”
“You saved her life.”
“I didn’t know what I was doing. I could have hurt her.”
“Without helping Elena breathe, she would have died.”
Shelley looked up at him. Tears filled her eyes. “The cardiologist said Mom could have another heart attack. What if it happens while Dad’s visiting the grocery store or in his workshop? No one will be there to help her.”
“Didn’t you make a list of the companies who have medical alert systems?”
“She might not know it’s a heart attack until it’s too late.”
John brushed a lock of hair off Shelley’s face. “I’m sure your mom will be extremely careful. If there’s anything that doesn’t feel right, she’ll get help right away.”
“I think Mom and Dad should move to Sapphire Bay.”
“Is that something they want to do?”
“They’ve been talking about it for a while. After Sam and Bailey moved here, they thought it would be good to be closer to them. With Mom needing more help over the next few months, it would be easier if they were living in Sapphire Bay.”
John sat in silence, convinced he could hear the cogs in Shelley’s brain spin. She was busy making plans, organizing her parents’ life before she’d talked about it with them. Sometimes that worked. But, at other times, it was the worst thing you could do. “Promise me something.”
Shelley frowned. “What?”
“Don’t mention anything about moving to Sapphire Bay with your parents. When the time is right, they’ll say something.”
“But it’s the perfect solution…” Shelley sighed. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”
“If you mean organizing everyone else’s life, then yes, you are. That’s okay when someone wants your help.”
“But they haven’t asked for my help.” Shelley looked down at their joined hands. “I think I’ve failed my personal improvement plan.”
“It’s not a failure when you think you’re helping someone. Look at it as a learning curve.”
“I’ve had a lot of those since I moved to Montana.”
John smiled. “We all have. It’s part of what makes us human.” He pushed back his chair and pulled Shelley to her feet. “Sam told me there’s an amazing ice cream parlor down the street. Can I distract you with a triple scoop chocolate ripple sundae?”
Her answering smile lifted some of the worry off his shoulders. “That sounds like fun.”
“Good. And after that, I’ll take you to see your mom.”
Shelley’s smile disappeared. “You wouldn’t be organizing my life, would you?”
“Trust me. This is one of those times when it’s okay.”
Reluctantly, Shelley pulled on her jacket and followed him to their truck. “I might have to add whipped cream and sprinkles to my sundae.”
“You can have whatever you want,” he told her. “We might not be on our honeymoon, but we can pretend we’re in Florida. We could be wearing shorts and T-shirts, and eating ice cream.”
“And the waves could be crashing against the white sand of the beach,” Shelley said wistfully.
John laughed. “At least we’re only sharing the hotel room with your dad and not your sister and Steven as well.”
Shelley leaned toward him and hugged him close. “There’s always a silver lining.”
John wrapped