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“If you think Emerson is great, there’s a vineyard farther north Ihaveto take you too. They have the most romantic weekend retreats, beautiful rooms overlooking miles of grape vines... It’s quite the aphrodisiac.”
I tucked the idea away for a weekend with Hen and said, “There are a few vineyards in Texas.”
She laughed like that was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.
Thankfully, a waiter came and saved me. I ordered the daily special, and Janessa picked something off the menu, making a million adjustments “to protect my figure,” she explained after he left.
My phone began ringing, and I thanked whoever it was on the other end.
Seeing Hen’s number, I smiled slightly, then said to Janessa, “Sorry, I have to take this.”
30
Henrietta
Confession: I made a mistake.
Tyler’s voicewas warm over the receiver. “Am I happy to hear from you.”
My lips cracked a smile before quickly falling. I’d hoped calling him would cheer me up, but now it was taking all I had not to cry. I walked farther down the hallway away from the waiting room and stood at a window overlooking the parking garage.
It was full of cars. I wondered how many of those cars belonged to hospital employees. How many belonged to family like me, their world turned upside down.
“Henrietta? I can’t hear you.”
“I’m here,” I said, barely a whisper.
“Are you okay?”
Okay? Not even close. It felt like everything was falling apart. “My grandma fell this morning.” I sniffed in a heavy breath, but the hospital smell didn’t help anything. “She fractured her hip, Tyler. They moved her to the trauma unit of the hospital.”
“Oh no, that’s awful,” he said. “Did they say what next steps were?”
My voice went on autopilot, relating the same story I had called all my siblings with this morning. Both my parents had been at the hospital almost immediately after we arrived. “Lots of physical therapy. She’ll be in a walker once she gets out of here. Mom’s already trying to figure out how to get another credit card to have the carpet replaced. I could dip into my savings to replace it, but that would set me back months...”
“I can do that.”
I turned away from the window, staring at the white cinder block wall as I attempted to process what he said. Had he really just offered to replace all of our flooring? “Tyler, that’s too much.”
“It’s the least I could do,” he said. “I can get supplies cheap, and I’ve installed hundreds of floors before. Done. What else do you need?”
I racked my mind, wondering what else there was to do. The list had seemed so insurmountable before this call. “We need a rail installed in the bathroom and another rail and a seat in the shower.”
“Easy. What else?”
Now hot tears were rolling down my cheeks. A nurse walked by, and I turned toward the window to hide my emotions. I’d felt so alone this morning before everyone arrived, and now I knew I wasn’t. “I was supposed to be going away to an overnight spa with Mara tomorrow, but someone needs to take care of Mom’s garden.”
“I can hoe with the best of them.”
The smile in his voice made me laugh for the first time all day. “You’re amazing.”
“I’mhere,” he said. “Do you want me to come to the hospital?”
The sound of clashing dishes came from the background. “Where are you? It sounds like you’re in a kitchen.”
“Almost. I’m at lunch with Janessa. She insisted.”
My stomach instantly soured. “What is she doing in town so early? I had everything prepped already. Was there an emergency at the apartments?” It would be just my luck.