CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, a shrill sound echoed through the house and Hailey bounded out of bed, her heart beating wildly, before realizing what it was.

The smoke detector. What a way to welcome Monday.

Combined scents of coffee, bacon, and burned toast hit her nose. Yep, she was with Gran and Gramps. As sure as the sun rose, Gran burned the toast each morning. Hailey hoped her grandparents’ house would never actually catch on fire, because she could bet the neighbors were so used to the detector going off each morning, they’d never think it was the real thing.

“Good morning,” Hailey said as she sat at the table.

“That darn toaster. I need a new one. I keep telling Harry that it doesn’t work right.” Gran placed a plate in front of Hailey. “I hope you’re hungry. You’re looking a little thin.”

“I like to work out.” At least I used to. Her busy work schedule and nasty breakup with Kevin had left her with little motivation to exercise.

“Back in my day, girls wanted some curves.” Gran shook her head as if dismayed. “I don’t understand girls these days wanting to be bone thin. Makes no sense at all.”

“How’s Gramps?” Hailey slipped a bite of scrambled eggs into her mouth.

“He’s resting. He needs to do a lot of that to get better.” Gran adjusted her neon-green blouse.

Hailey laughed inwardly at Gran’s familiar vibrant wardrobe. I’m glad some things haven’t changed. “What time is the appointment?”

“At eleven o’clock.” Gran poured Hailey some orange juice. “It’s with the speech therapist at some building by the hospital. Rehab something or other.”

“So I’ll have time to do some work after breakfast and before we need to leave?”

Gran nodded, her large yellow earrings swaying.

“Have you met the therapist yet?” Hailey sipped the tangy juice.

“No. The doctor said we should go to the rehabilitation place and they’d give us someone.” Gran let out a long breath. “I don’t know.”

Hailey reached over and squeezed her grandmother’s hand, noticing the web of veins across it. “I’m here. No need to worry. I can help get Gramps ready.”

“That’d be good. He’s a little ornery for me sometimes, the ol’ coot.” Gran pursed her lips. “That man can be so aggravating at times. But I don’t know what I’d do without him.” Fear flashed in Gran’s eyes.

“Let’s not worry about that.” Hailey wanted to reassure Gran as much as herself.

“Having you here is exactly what we need. You and your grandfather have always had something special.”

Hailey smiled. She didn’t ever mention it to anyone, but she knew that she and Gramps had a unique connection. It had always been that way, even when she was a little girl. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

***

“Gramps, hang onto my arm,” Hailey said as she helped her grandfather out of their silver Chevy Impala.

“Come on, Harry, people are waiting,” Gran said, glancing around. She brushed at her yellow pants. “We’re already late. You know how much I dislike being late.”

“It’s okay, I’ve got this,” Hailey said, sensing her grandmother’s growing agitation. “Why don’t you go into the lobby and find out where we need to go?”

Gran nodded, then trotted over toward the entryway, her floral purse hanging down at her side.

Hailey helped Gramps shuffle into the facility, and they made their way down the hall to a large desk where Gran stood.

“It’s in this room.” Gran pointed ahead of them and started walking.

By the time Hailey and Gramps reached Gran, her eyes were wide and she was tapping her foot. “Maybe we should get him a wheelchair so it doesn’t take so long,” Gran said.

Gramps looked at his wife and said some unintelligible sounds, then reached out for her hand.

Gran’s face softened as she placed her hand in his. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little on edge.”

Gramps pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it, obviously trying to calm Gran.

Hailey wanted to alleviate Gran’s stress, so she said, “Why don’t you go to the cafeteria and get a soda or something. I can talk to the therapist and take care of this.”

Gran studied her.

“Really,” Hailey insisted. “You don’t need to worry about this. I can handle it.” Gramps didn’t need Gran and her anxiety making things even more stressful.

Gran gave her a swift hug, then turned and walked down the hall.

Hailey looked at Gramps and he gave her a lopsided smile. “I got your back,” she said with a wink.

They approached a small reception area, and Hailey signed in her grandfather. They sat on a long upholstered bench and waited for several minutes before being called back to a small room with a dark wood table and four brown, padded chairs. Hailey helped seat Gramps.

After a few more minutes, Thor opened the door. Hailey’s breath caught as she did a double take and stared at the tall, blond-haired man filling the doorway. She swallowed hard. He can’t be the therapist. He wasn’t at all what she expected. His piercing pale blue eyes made her heart somersault and her stomach twist. His gray-patterned shirt fit him perfectly in all the right places, and a quick glance at his left hand showed no wedding ring. Is this room getting warmer? She resisted the urge to fan herself.

“Hi. I’m Peter Stafford.” He extended his hand.

As she took it, a jolt of energy surged up her arm, and she blinked. “I’m . . . uh . . . Hailey.” Real smooth. He’s going to think I’m an idiot. Say something intelligent.

“Nice to meet you, Hailey.” His strong hand held hers a moment longer, and then he let go.

Ignoring the musky cologne he wore, she composed herself enough to say, “And this is my grandfather.” She looked at Gramps trying to recall his name, but her mind was completely blank.

“Harry Baker?” Peter said.

Hailey let out a nervous laugh that made her sound kind of like a hyena. “Yes. Harry. That’s him. But I don’t call him Harry, of course. I call him Gramps.” Can I crawl under a rock somewhere until my brain reengages?

Mr. Stafford acknowledged Hailey, then sat in the seat next to Gramps. “I understand you had a mild stroke.”

Gramps gave a slight nod.

Peter looked over the file in his hand. “I’m here to help you restore your speech. If you promise to work with me, I think we’ll have you talking again soon. How does that sound?” He smiled, exposing flawless, bright white teeth. Like the brightest teeth Hailey had ever seen.

Gramps made a few noises.

Peter turned his attention to Hailey. “Has he been able to say anything understandable since the stroke?”

Hailey chastised herself. You are here to help Gramps, not drool over the very attractive therapist. “Not really. He tries, but only sounds come out. No words.” She stroked Gramps’s hand.

“Aphasia, the inability to communicate, is common with strokes.”

“What do we need to do?”

Mr. Stafford turned to Gramps. “First, I’ll need to evaluate your skills. We can do that with some basic exercises and simple words for recognition. How does that sound?”

Gramps nodded.

“You might also have apraxia, Mr. Baker.”

A sullen expression crossed Gramps’s face.

The therapist reached over and patted Gramps on the arm. “No need to worry. If you have apraxia, we will address it and get you all fixed up.”

“What is apraxia?” Hailey asked, noting how kind and attentive Mr. Stafford was to Gramps.

“That’s when the muscles in the mouth don’t quite work in the proper order,” he said to Hailey, then looked directly at Gramps. “We’ll need to rewire the connection between your brain and your mouth so that the sounds you make are in the right order to form words. I’ll also evaluate your ability to swallow.” He smiled, and Hailey’s heart reacted without permission.

“Sounds attractive.”

The therapist looked at her with a confused expression and Gramps chuckled.

“Wait, what?” Her face felt like it caught on fire. “Did I say attractive?” She did her hyena laugh again. “I didn’t mean that. At all. I assure you.” She cleared her throat. “I meant to say, sounds perfect. Yes, perfect is what I meant. About that plan. Your plan to, uh, help Gramps sounds perfect.” Wow. Hit me over the head. How could I have said attractive? And perfect isn’t much better. I sound like a babbling idiot.

Mr. Stafford focused back on Gramps, who wore a grin like that silly Cheshire Cat, and Hailey wished she could evaporate. “I’d also like to set a time to come to your home and evaluate your surroundings so I can create a therapy plan that will be most effective for you.”

Hailey nodded, then swallowed. Did he say he’d be coming to the house? Like as in where I’m staying? Therapists do that?

He turned to Hailey. “It will be most important that he practice the exercises at home. What we do here won’t be nearly as effective unless he’s practicing at home.” He glanced at Gramps, then inclined his head toward Hailey. “You’ll need to make her practice with you.”

Trying not to be overwhelmed with the daunting task ahead, she said, “Okay. I’ll do my best.”

Peter studied her. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you detailed instructions and show you exactly what you need to do. Together we’ll help him regain his verbal communication skills.”

Hailey drew in a quick breath. “I’m here to help with whatever he needs.”

The therapist looked at her, making her nerves misfire. “He’s lucky to have you.”

“Thanks.” She wanted to explain that she was actually an intelligent woman with a successful career, but worried she’d trip all over her words again and prove herself to be nothing more than a bumbling ditz.

After some questions and a few speech exercises, Mr. Stafford finished his evaluation. “I’ll work on a treatment plan for you, Mr. Baker.”

Gramps nodded and gave him a lopsided smile.

“Thank you,” Hailey said, sending him mental commands to forget what she’d said.

“I’ll see you soon.” Mr. Stafford opened the door and left, his cologne trailing behind him.

***

Peter sat in his office logging notes about his last patient, Harry Baker. He paused when thoughts of Mr. Baker’s granddaughter suddenly filled his mind. Sounds attractive. That’s what she’d said. He smiled as he replayed it in his mind. Did she think he was attractive? That seemed to be the most logical explanation. Then again, maybe she was thinking about someone else or maybe it was merely a slip of the tongue, as she’d explained. He leaned back in his chair and glanced out the window.

From the moment he shook her hand, it took an unusual amount of energy to focus on the appointment and on Mr. Baker. Sure, she was beautiful with her long brown hair, trim waist, and smooth skin. But her eyes grabbed at him. What color were they? Blue. But what kind of blue? Almost like the color of the ocean when a wave is about to break and the sun hits it just right.

“Excuse me,” a high-pitched voice jolted him out of his thoughts.

Peter turned. “Yes, Joyce?”

“You were pretty deep in thought. Care to share?” she said with a nauseating smirk.

“Thinking about my last patient, that’s all,” he said. Joyce was about ten years older and divorced—four times—and made it no secret she was interested in him. He’d used the excuse that office romances were inappropriate, but the truth was she was a little scary with her fiery red hair and matching temperament. He was more than happy to keep his distance.

“Maybe you were thinking about a moonlit cruise around the bay. With me.” She gave him a come-hither look.

He ignored her attempt to flirt and asked, “What did you need?”

Joyce handed him a file. “Here’s the info you requested on Mrs. Johnson. The hospital sent it over.”

Peter opened the folder and glanced over the paperwork. “Thanks, Joyce. I appreciate it.”

“How much?” She leaned against the wall and subtly eyed him up and down.

Peter shook his head. Joyce was nothing, if not persistent. But he still had zero interest. Ze-ro.

Joyce gave him a wink and walked away.

Peter looked down at his notes on Mr. Baker, which sent his thoughts back to the granddaughter. Hailey, she said her name was. He chuckled at the way she seemed to be so nervous. Was that because of him? And what was it about her that drew him in? On the one hand, he didn’t want her to distract him from her grandfather, but on the other, he hoped he would see her again.

His phone vibrated so he pulled it out.

Don’t forget about our lunch date tomorrow. I have the afternoon off and Benji is super excited.

Looking forward to it. He texted back.

***

As they left the therapist’s office, Hailey motioned Gran over from a waiting area.

“How was the appointment?” she asked as she approached them.

“Everything went well.” Except for when I laughed like a hyena, couldn’t say anything intelligent, and then blurted out the word attractive. Who does that?

“It did?” Gran seemed surprised.

“Yeah. The therapist seems nice.” Her cheeks were still warm. “And Gramps did great.”

Gramps elbowed Hailey, but she paid no attention to him.

Gran looked at Gramps, then at Hailey. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Hailey said, blinking a few times.

“Harry?” Gran said.

They both looked at him. He wore a wide grin.

“Gramps really liked the therapist, that’s all.” She threw him a glare. “How about we get some ice cream?”

Gramps nodded and Gran said, “Can you drop me off at the grocery store? I need to get a few things.”

“Sure. Gramps and I will eat ice cream while you shop.” Sounded like a fair trade.

After they dropped off Gran, Hailey drove Gramps to the ice cream parlor that was in the same strip mall as the grocery store.

She helped Gramps inside the cheery shop that exuded the scent of thousands of delectable calories and sat him at a small white table.

“Hello, Harry. Your usual?” said an older woman with bleach-blonde hair and a diamond stud in her nose.

Gramps smiled at her, then winked.

“He’s one of my regulars. Always a flirt that Harry.” The lady gazed at Hailey. “You are?”

“His granddaughter, Hailey. I came to help because he had a stroke.”

“Nice to meet you. I heard about the stroke, but I’m sure with his spunk he’ll be fine.” She handed Hailey a sugar cone topped with pink ice cream. “Peppermint for my best customer.”

Hailey took the cone to Gramps.

“Can I get something for you?”

Hailey glanced over the menu. “I’d like a scoop of Cookies and Cream, please.”

“Coming right up.”

Hailey glanced around the room decorated in blue and white striped wallpaper and white lace curtains. “This reminds me of when I was a little girl.”

“My parents started the shop years and years ago,” the woman said. “They’ve both passed now. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love my customers, especially my regulars like Harry. Where’s June today?”

“She’s at the grocery store.”

“June was born to bake. Brought me a delicious angel food cake dripping with strawberry sauce when I had surgery on my foot.”

“Gran loves to share her strawberry cake.” Hailey laughed.

“I’m glad they have you to help them out.”

Hailey sat at the table and let the cold, creamy mixture slide across her tongue. “Nothing better than Cookies and Cream,” she said.

Gramps nodded.

Hailey pointed at him. “You and me, we need to get something straight.”

Gramps peered at her with raised eyebrows.

“I will admit that your therapist is handsome. Maybe even attractive.” Gramps let out a laugh. “Yeah, yeah. I literally can’t believe I said that. I’m so embarrassed. I hope he’ll forget it.”

Gramps gestured with his hand in a way that implied Hailey should pursue this man.

“That right there is what we need to get straight. Obviously, he’s good looking. And has kind eyes and a warm smile and he smells divine. But,” she straightened in her seat, “I’m not the least bit interested in anything romantic with him or anyone else.”

Gramps questioned her with his eyes.

“I’ll tell you why. First of all, Kevin broke my heart. I was planning to marry him while he was planning who else he could cheat on me with.” The memory of seeing him with the other women felt like an ice pick in her chest. “We’d been dating for over a year. Over a year, Gramps. I thought he was going to propose, but he was only lying.” She balled her fist while the anger and hurt bubbled up. “He’s a cheat and a liar and I’m not interested at all in repeating that experience ever again. If I can’t have what you and Gran have, I’d rather be single the rest of my life.”

Extending his hand, Gramps stroked her arm.

“And secondly, I’m only here until you recover, and then I need to go back to my life in Colorado. I don’t want any complications. Besides, Mr. Stafford is only interested in being your speech therapist.” She placed her hand on his. “And I’m here to help you. That’s all. Nothing else.”

Hailey finished her ice cream and so did Gramps. “Are we ready to go?” she said.

He held up his hand.

“Not yet?”

He pointed at the counter.

Hailey looked over. “You want to get another ice cream?”

Gramps stood and made his way over to the counter. Hailey followed him.

“June’s regular?” the lady said with a metal scoop in her hand.

Gramps nodded with a smile.

“Two scoops of Pistachio Almond coming right up.” She grabbed a cup and began filling it.

“That’s so sweet of you to get ice cream for Gran.” Hailey hoped someday she’d find a man who loved her the way Gramps loved Gran, but she was pretty convinced that was impossible.

The woman handed the cup to Gramps and he gave her some bills. She rang up the sale and said, “Here’s your change.”

Gramps pointed at her.

“My tip?”

He gave her a wave and they walked out of the ice cream shop.