her back against the counter. Ramsey pulled out a stool and sat down at the island. A wan smile flitted over Hartley’s lips. “Well, it’s certainly been an interesting evening,” she drawled as she forced a laugh. “I’m afraid you got more than you bargained for.”
“I don’t know about that,” he said easily. “I bargained for a lot.” He was attempting to lighten the mood, but his statement fell stale as Hartley let out a breath, her shoulders drooping.
“Should we call you a cab?” She glanced at the clock on the microwave. “It’s getting late. I need to get some rest.” She rubbed her arms. Ramsey could tell she was drawing into herself and attempting to push him away. Ramsey wasn’t going to let that happen.
He motioned to the stool beside him. “Why don’t you come and sit down? We need to get some ice on that eye.” It was turning purple around the edges and the swelling was increasing. He glanced around the modern kitchen, which looked sterile, as if Hartley never cooked.
She pushed her hair from her face with a rake of her fingers. Ramsey could tell that she was trying to decide if she wanted to let him stay a little longer. “Okay,” she relented. “But first, I need to get out of these.” She bent down and slipped off her stilettos. Leaving them on the floor where they landed, she padded over to the stool.
Ramsey got up and went to the freezer. He opened the door and began rummaging through the items. He selected a bag of peas. “Here,” he said as he went back to her and pressed it gently against her eye.
“That hurts,” she winced.
“Yeah, but it’ll help.” Before his mind even realized what he was doing, his hand went up to stroke her hair. The color was so vibrant, a mix of copper and fire-engine red. “Tell me about your family,” he implored, eager to learn everything about her.
She pushed out a brittle laugh. “You saw the worst of it tonight.”
“Tell me about your mom and siblings.” He’d been super impressed to hear that Hartley had paid for her mother’s house. He was fast realizing that Hartley had many layers. She’d brought herself up from nothing, having every reason to fail. And yet, she’d made a success out of herself. But the path hadn’t been easy. Ramsey knew all about Hartley’s alcoholism, how she’d been in and out of rehab numerous times before finally getting clean. Seeing her dad tonight had made him understand more why she’d become an alcoholic.
“What do you wanna know?”
“You bought your mother a house?”
She sighed. “My mother has multiple sclerosis. In her early years, she did a pretty good job of managing the disease. She worked as a nurse at the hospital. Now, however, the symptoms are worse. She has to have continual care. The medical bills were stacking up.” She shrugged. “I figured it was the least I could do.”
“I’m so sorry,” he uttered. Ramsey didn’t know why some people seemed to have more trials than others. “Where does your mother live?”
“Stevenson, Alabama. A small town a couple of hours from here.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m familiar with Stevenson. It’s near the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.”
“Yep.”
“I went there with a school group when I was a kid.” His mind sifted through other bits of Clyde and Hartley’s conversation. “So, who are Savannah and Miles? Your dad said you gave them money.”
A ghost of a smile passed over her lips. “You don’t miss a thing, do you?”
He tapped his temple as he grinned. “I get paid to be thorough.”
“Savannah’s my sister. Miles is her husband.”
He thought she might elaborate. When she didn’t, he peddled his hand. “And?”
She chuckled. “What is this? An interrogation?”
“No, that’s not what this is. I just wanna know more about you.”
“Savannah teaches third grade. Her husband Miles worked in a machine shop. He got laid off a few months ago. I pitched in to help.”
“Who’s Beau?”
“My older brother.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s an engineer. He and his wife have two girls. They live in Chattanooga, Tennessee.”
“You paid for Beau’s college? That’s commendable.”
“Now you’re making me out to be a saint,” she said dryly.
“Actually, I’m only repeating what your dad said.”
“I suppose you are.” She sighed. “Yes, I paid for Beau’s college. I figured it was the least I could do, considering all the trauma I put everyone through during my crazy, mixed-up years.” She gave him a perceptive look. “I’m sure you already know all