followed Amber down the white-tiled corridor. “But she’s going to be okay?”
“Her leg has already been cast.” Amber pushed the elevator button. “But when she fell, she also hit her head. The doctor wants to keep her at the hospital for a few days as a precaution.”
The elevator doors opened, and they stepped inside.
“I want to talk to her doctor.”
Amber glanced at her watch. “Unfortunately, he’s probably left for the day, but if you talk to the duty nurse, she can put you in touch with him. Same info I’ve already given you, though.”
He frowned. “Why were you informed about my grandmother’s condition and not me?”
Pressing the third-floor button, she pursed her lips. “He told me because I was here.”
He stiffened at her implied rebuke.
The elevator doors closed.
“I got here as soon as I could.”
Ascending, the elevator lurched.
She crossed her arms. “When was the last time you visited Truelove? It’s been ten years, right?”
He didn’t remember Amber being this bossy or pushy. “I was deployed.”
“But you’ve been out of the Marines for four months, Ethan.”
“Not visiting Truelove isn’t the same as not seeing Grandma. She’s visited me in Wilmington several times.” He jutted his jaw. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Where were you when Miss ErmaJean got the flu? When her identity was stolen? When—”
“I get it, Amber,” he growled. “Since I returned to North Carolina, I could’ve been around more, but I’ve been looking for work.”
Elevator dinging, the doors opened onto the third floor.
She stepped out. “But not looking where you have family and friends?”
He followed on her heels. “You know how I feel about this one-stoplight town. Grandma Hicks understands. Why didn’t she call me when the other stuff happened?”
“Because your grandmother doesn’t want to infringe on your life.” Amber glared. “She doesn’t want to relinquish her independence or be a burden.”
He scowled back. “Grandma Hicks isn’t a burden. She knows I’d do anything to help her.”
“Here’s your chance to prove it. Until she’s mobile again, she is in no shape to live alone.”
He wasn’t used to Amber being ticked with him. When they were younger, she’d sort of had a crush on him. He never acted on it because she was Matt’s little sister. Kind of an unspoken guy rule. That and he enjoyed breathing. Amber’s dad was overprotective.
“The doctor says she’ll need physical therapy. The cast probably won’t come off for six weeks.” Amber’s eyes narrowed. “No doubt, you’ll be long gone by then. But Miss ErmaJean has lots of friends who will look out for her.”
Amber’s low opinion of him stung.
“I’ll take care of my grandmother.” He squared his shoulders. “This incident settles it. I’m moving her to Wilmington.”
Amber’s eyes widened. “You can’t do that, Ethan.”
He drew himself up. “I can do that, Amber. And I’ll make sure she gets the best of care.”
Amber shook her head. “She’ll hate it. She’ll miss Miss GeorgeAnne and Miss IdaLee. Her house. Her church. The mountains.”
“You and those old women should mind your own business.” He cocked his head. “I’ll take care of Grandma.”
Hurt flashed through those sky-blue eyes of hers. Her lips trembled. And he felt about two inches tall.
She was only looking out for his grandmother. But she’d hit a nerve. He wasn’t his deadbeat dad. He’d never be him. Grandma Hicks had practically raised him by herself.
Amber stopped outside the second door on the right. “Here’s her room.”
He’d been harsh. Anger had always been his fallback, rather than fear.
“I’m sorry.” He scrubbed his face with his hand. “I didn’t mean to bark at you. Thanks for showing me the way to Grandma’s room.”
There were purple shadows under Amber’s eyes. She looked tired. And, at twenty-six, older than she should. Nursing school must be exhausting.
She bit her lip. “I was headed here, anyway.”
Ethan steeled himself for what he’d discover on the other side. But what he found wasn’t anything like what he expected.
His heart in his throat, he pushed through the door to find his rosy-cheeked grandmother lying propped against the pillows. And two little ash-blonde girls—twins?—standing on either side of the bed.
The sight of his pleasantly plump grandmother in the hospital bed caused his heart to swell with unexpected gladness. Apple round, his grandma was what he liked to think of as fluffy. Her salt-and-pepper hair was no whiter than when she’d visited him over the winter.
“Ethan?” Catching sight of him, Grandma Hicks’s face lifted. “Oh, honey, it’s so good to see you.”
Behind him, Amber slipped inside the room. “Lucy. Stella.” She held out her hand.
The little girl in lavender let go of the bedrail and ducked behind Amber. The one in pink maintained her hold on the steel bar and peered at Ethan.
“Grandma, are you all right?” He took her blue-veined hand. Her skin felt warm to the touch.
She squeezed his fingers. “GeorgeAnne shouldn’t have bothered you. I’m fine.”
“You are not fine.” An uncustomary emotion clogged his throat. “And you’re not a bother.”
“I’ll be right as rain, give or take a few weeks.” She patted his arm. “Can’t keep a good woman down for long.”
The little girl in pink came around the end of the bed, bypassing Amber. “Gigi got hurt.”
Ethan raised his eyebrows. “Gigi?”
His grandmother’s cheeks dimpled. “Closest I could get to Great-Gran.”
Ethan frowned. “Who do these children belong to, Grandma?”
“Me.”
His gaze flicked to Amber and then to the child beside him. His mouth opened and closed. The adorable little girl gave him a bright smile, and his breath caught. She was the spitting image of Amber at that age.
Sky-blue
