CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Hailey woke in the morning, glorious light streaming through the slits between the blinds in her window. She was eager to get dressed and take Gramps to his appointment, so she jumped out of her bed and went to the closet. Rummaging through her clothes, she found a green-and-white striped summer dress and held it up to herself in front of the mirror. Perfect.

Her phone started vibrating on the night stand. She hoped it was Peter. With a bounce in her step, she made her way over to her phone, but when Hailey saw the caller ID, her heart seized. Should she answer it?

It vibrated again.

She stared at the phone, her heart bouncing in her chest. Why was he calling?

Again, it vibrated against the wooden top.

With trembling hands, she picked up the phone and swiped the screen. “Hello?”

“Hailey?”

“Kevin?” Stay cool, calm, and collected. “Why are you calling me?” She wanted to be direct and get to the point.

“I went by your place to see you a couple of times, but you weren’t home.” He sounded the same.

“I’m in Florida.” Hailey didn’t need to explain anything to him. He was her ex-boyfriend. Emphasis on the ex.

“Why?”

She didn’t want to be totally rude, even though he deserved it. “My grandfather had a stroke and I’m here helping him. I’m sorry, did you say why you were calling?”

Kevin cleared his throat. “I want to see you.”

She started laughing, low and deep. “You want to see me?” That was a gem. After almost three months of no contact and now he wants to see me? Priceless.

“Yes. I’ve been doing some thinking and—”

“Like I said, I’m in Florida.” Her tone was curt.

“For how long?”

“I’m not sure.” No need to elaborate.

“Oh.” He sounded shocked.

“Why do you want to see me?” What was the point? It was over. He’d made his choice and she’d made hers.

“I’d rather talk about it in person.”

“What’s done is done, Kevin.” Hailey couldn’t make it any clearer than that.

“Things have changed. I’ve changed.” He sounded almost desperate. “If you’ll hear me out.”

Gran poked her head into the room. “We’ve finished breakfast and we’re both ready to go when you are.”

Hailey nodded. She pointed to the phone. Gran made an apologetic face, then shut the door.

“Look, I have to go right now. Gramps has an appointment.” She wanted to end this call as fast as possible.

“Can I call you later?”

“I don’t know, Kevin. I really don’t know.” Hailey didn’t think she ever wanted to talk to him again. Not after his cheating and all his lies.

“I miss you.”

“I need to go.” With that, Hailey ended the call. She threw the phone on her bed. The last person she expected to call her was Kevin. Her stomach twisted and her head pounded. A mixture of feelings tumbled around her insides. She’d loved Kevin—wanted to marry him—but he’d hurt her deeply, and she’d spent the last few months healing her heart and making it forget about him.

“Hailey?” came Gran’s voice through the door. “I can make you a quick breakfast before we go.”

“Thank you, but I’m not hungry. I’ll be ready in a few minutes,” she said, then flopped on the bed in a heap. I finally stop thinking about him and how much he hurt me, and then he has to go and call me. Why? Her stomach felt like someone had taken a hand mixer to it.

***

On the way over to the appointment, Hailey’s mind splintered in a million different directions. How did she feel about Kevin? Did she want to give him another chance knowing what he’d done? Could she ever trust him again?

Her thoughts shifted to Peter. She didn’t know him well, but something about him made her feel safe, secure. And she wanted to spend more time with him, but should she?

Gramps reached over and tapped her leg. When she glanced at him, he smiled and nodded. They didn’t need words, because Gramps had this knack of reading Hailey perfectly. “I don’t know what to do.”

“About what?” Gran asked, her knitting needles making a clicking sound in the backseat.

Hailey glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Kevin called me.”

Gran clucked her tongue. “That louse?”

“Yes.” Louse wasn’t a word Hailey used, but that accurately described him.

“When?”

“This morning. Right before we left.”

“And what on earth did he have say for himself?” Gran’s tone didn’t leave Hailey wondering about Gran’s opinion of Kevin.

Hailey blew some air between her lips. “He wants to see me again.”

“Pfft,” Gran said. “He should be so lucky. He was a terrible boyfriend. You deserve much better than that. You deserve someone like this man, Peter.” Gran was never one to mince words.

“P-p-peter,” Gramps said with some effort.

Hailey glanced at Gramps, then at Gran. “Apparently, you’ve both married me off to Peter all ready.”

Gramps smiled.

“But I loved Kevin. I wanted to marry him. I planned my life around him. Maybe I need to give him another chance.”

“Why? So he can prove he’s a louse?” Gran didn’t even attempt to hide the irritation in her voice.

“Gran, this isn’t the fifties. We don’t even use that word anymore.”

“Doesn’t matter what your generation calls a man like him. He’s not worth your time.” Gran said it with such finality.

“But maybe—”

“No maybes about it, Hailey,” Gran said sternly. “He can’t waltz right back into your life after what he did.”

Hailey chewed on the inside of her cheek. Gran was right. Why was she such a doormat when it came to Kevin? She did deserve better. A lot better. But hearing his voice on the phone mixed her all up.

They pulled into the parking lot and then made their way into the rehab facility. While they waited to go back to a room, Hailey rolled her phone around and around in her hands. Why did Kevin have to call? She’d been doing fine. Make that perfectly fine. Now he had to go and call her and make her insides all twisty again.

When the nurse called them back, Hailey said to Gran, “I’ll wait out here for you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

Gran wrinkled her forehead and grabbed her knitting bag. “Why?”

“You don’t need me.” That was true, but mostly, she wasn’t prepared to see Peter. She needed some time to process what Kevin had said. “I’ll be back to get you.” With that, Hailey hurried out of the building.

The air was suffocating outside—hot, sticky, and thick. Hailey struggled for breath, making her crave the dry, cool air of the Rockies. She walked to the car and sat on the cushioned seat. Sinking the key into the ignition, she turned on the radio and boosted the volume, hoping some music would drown everything out as the warm air from the air conditioner blasted her face.

Obviously, Kevin still had some power over her, which she detested. She didn’t want Kevin to have any influence over her or let him invade her thoughts, but, obviously, she was incapable of preventing it.

Hailey started driving. Memories from the night before flooded in. The moonlight, the ocean, the way she felt with Peter, the almost-kiss on the porch. Was it fair to see him again if she was having this reaction to Kevin’s call?

All she wanted was to help Gramps recover and give some support to Gran. She did not want to have a relationship with anyone or, worse, get sucked back into something with Kevin. A grinding headache began to form. Before Hailey knew it, forty-five minutes had passed and it was time to get her grandparents.

Hailey trudged into the building and found them in the waiting room. She motioned for them to come over, because she didn’t want to risk seeing Peter in the mental state she was in.

In the car, Hailey asked, “How was the session?”

“Good, I think,” Gran said with enthusiasm. “Peter was very patient, and Harry even said a three-word sentence.”

“That’s awesome, Gramps.” Hailey stroked him on the shoulder. “You’ll be telling us your silly stories in no time.”

Gramps gave her an indignant look as if his tall tales weren’t outrageous.

“I have some words to practice with him,” Gran said. “I made a list.”

Hailey nodded. “We can add those to the previous ones we’ve been doing.”

“Peter said to work on sentence structure, so Harry’s brain can remember how to form sentences.”

“Peter was happy with the progress?” Even saying his name made Hailey’s stomach quiver.

“I think so.”

Hailey wanted to know if Peter had mentioned her, but she didn’t want to come out and ask about it. She hoped Gran would say something, but she didn’t.

Hailey drove them back home.

“How about if I make some fruit salad?” Gran asked on their way into the house. “On a hot day like today, that’s about all I want to eat.”

“Sounds good to me.” Hailey could almost taste the sweet fruit.

“I think I have all I need to make it,” Gran said.

Gramps made himself comfortable in the living room and turned on the TV.

Gran bent down and kissed Gramps on the head. He looked up at her and touched her on the cheek. It made Hailey’s insides feel warm and mushy to see the obvious love between her grandparents. Maybe someday she’d find that.

Gran walked into the kitchen and Hailey followed her.

“Aren’t you curious if Mr. Stafford asked about you,” Gran said casually as she pulled out a box of strawberries.

Trying to act as though it wasn’t important, Hailey answered, “I guess.”

Gran handed Hailey a cantaloupe and a small watermelon. “He didn’t say anything.”

“Oh.” The disappointment stung.

“But I could tell he was unhappy that you weren’t there.” Gran pulled a bowl of blueberries out of the refrigerator.

Shrugging one shoulder, Hailey said softly, “I just couldn’t.”

“Why not?” Gran put her hand on her hip.

“Because hearing from Kevin made me feel all weird. Confused.”

Gran peered at Hailey with a probing look. “Do you want to get back together with him?”

“No . . . I don’t know.” Hailey rubbed her forehead. “I mean, I loved him. At least I thought I did. But he hurt me.”

Gran turned on the water at the sink and began washing the fruit. “Can you forgive him?’

That is an excellent question. “Maybe, but I don’t know if I could ever trust him again.” Hailey grabbed a knife from the drawer.

“And what about Peter?” Gran shut off the water.

Hailey’s nerves reacted to thoughts of Peter. “He’s sweet and fun and I had a really good time last night.”

“Then it sounds like the choice is easy.” Gran said it with so much confidence.

Hailey set the cantaloupe on the cutting board and sliced it open, releasing its sweet aroma. “But, realistically, it can’t really go anywhere with Peter. And if hearing from Kevin makes me act so irrational, then maybe I’m not actually ready to date anyone.”

Gran took a knife and started cutting up the strawberries. “Or maybe it is time for you to move on and you just have to decide to do so.”

Hailey stopped slicing and gazed at Gran. “So what should I do?”

“I’m not going to tell you what to do, but Peter deserves an explanation why you didn’t come to the session.” Gran found a large bowl and set it on the counter.

“It’s not like I’m required to attend the appointments, you know.” Gran was making a big case out of nothing.

“But you’ve been coming, and now, after a date with him, you didn’t come. He’s probably thinking you’re trying to avoid him,” Gran said.

She has a point. “Maybe I am.”

Gran wagged her finger at Hailey. “My lands, girl. Get it together.”

“I want to.” Hailey raked her hands through her hair in frustration. “I don’t know what to do.”

“We have another appointment next week, but I don’t think you should wait that long.” Gran motioned to Hailey to open the refrigerator. “I have some cream that we can whip up when it’s time to eat.”

“Here it is.” Hailey pointed to it. “You think I should go see him? Wouldn’t that be awkward?”

“What time does he get off?”

Hailey shrugged.

“It’s up to you.” Gran dumped a box of blueberries into the large bowl and then cut open the watermelon.

Hailey added some green grapes. “I don’t know. Maybe I should leave it alone.” That would be the easier option.

“Your call. But if it were me, I wouldn’t want him to think I didn’t like him. Unless that’s true.” Gran looked at her sideways. “But I don’t think it is.”

Hailey shut her eyes for a moment, then said, “Let’s finish the salad.”