Game Changer by Kelly Jamieson Page 0,24
I tug at my bikini bottom discreetly. “Does anyone else want something?”
“I’ll come with you,” Justin says, rising as well. He takes requests from his friends and we head to the bar. I lean against it, bopping a little to the Latin music playing while we wait for our drink orders.
“So, Chicago,” he says. “Have you always lived there?”
“Mostly. I went to college in Charleston. You’re so lucky to live in New Orleans. I love that city.”
“I love it too. If you ever come visit, look me up. I’ll give you one of my cards.”
“Sure.” I’ll never do that, but I play along, smiling at him.
Jax
Grandpa’s not having the greatest day, I learn when I arrive at his place. Chelsea tells me he’s probably tired from the family gathering. I sit with him and try to have a conversation, but it’s frustrating because he keeps repeating the same things over and over.
I meet Chelsea’s eyes at one point and hers are brimming with sadness.
I follow her into the kitchen when she goes to make coffee. “I gather he’s like this a lot now?”
She nods, busying herself with the coffeemaker and not looking at me. “There are good days and bad days, but yes. More and more like this.”
“He said he was going to go into the office today.”
“Yes. I still take him there because he loves it, but he doesn’t do much anymore.”
“You drive him.”
“Yes. I drive everywhere now. It’s safer.”
“I saw you encouraging him to eat last night.”
“Yes. He forgets if I don’t remind him. He’s lost a lot of volition. Sometimes I have to remind him to get dressed. I make sure he wears a jacket when it’s cold. He misplaces things.” A smile touches her lips. “One day I found the TV remote in the fridge.”
“Ha. I’ve done that. Well, not the remote, but I once put the milk in the cupboard.”
“We all have our moments. But his are a lot.”
I’m silent for a moment, struggling with emotion. “It fucking sucks,” I growl out.
“It does.” She bows her head as the coffee brews.
What she describes sounds like looking after a child. Not a husband. I feel like a band is wrapped around my chest, squeezing.
She’s still here.
She loves him, no matter what.
“What does he do at the office?” I finally ask.
“Not much, anymore. He can’t really make decisions. Luckily Théo is there, and I’ve been helping.”
“So I hear.”
She gives me a sharp look.
“Everly tells me you’ve been more involved,” I say. “It’s good.”
“Do you really think that?” She faces me, challenging me in a way she’s never done. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation with Chelsea alone before.
Might as well get it out in the open. “I had my doubts,” I admit quietly.
“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Honesty is best.
“And?” She arches a brow.
I study her. She’s tough, but I see the sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
She tilts her head and peers at me. “Sorry for what?”
“I’m sorry you’re going through this. I’m sorry I doubted you. And I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding Grandpa because I was pissed that he stole Dad’s money.”
Chelsea sucks on her bottom lip. “Thank you, Jax.”
“I guess I’m a little late, but it seems like the rest of the family has already realized all this.”
One corner of her mouth lifts. “I think so, yes.”
“You’ve never defended yourself to us.”
She slowly moves her head from side to side. “If I’d told you all I didn’t marry Bob for his money, would you have believed me? I don’t think so. I just wanted to live my life and love my family and I knew that one day you’d all see that. I didn’t expect…this.” She waves a hand. “But this is our story now.”
She turns to pull mugs out of a cupboard. “What do you take in your coffee?”
“Just some milk, please.”
She pours the coffee and retrieves the milk from the fridge for me, then adds some to Grandpa’s cup as well.
“What about the future?” I ask. “At some point, it’s going to be too much for you.”
“We can afford help,” she says calmly. “Bob doesn’t want to be a burden on me or anyone else, so we talked about memory care facilities and we’ve explored options. We found a nice one not far from here, when the time comes.”
“Will you make sure you take care of yourself?”
She picks up the two mugs and smiles. “You sound like Everly.” She lifts her chin. “She and the boys have