“He’s still not answering?” Evan asked, nervously swirling her spoon in the soup Andre had insisted she eat when she’d woken up from her nap.
Andre tossed the cell phone onto the dining room table and leaned against the wall. “No. I called his sister, and she said he left the hospital over an hour ago after he had some blowout with their dad. Apparently the two have vowed to never speak to each other again.”r: Roni Loren
His mom cracked open her eyes, cutting short his runaway thoughts, and gave him a soft smile when she saw him standing there. “Jason.”
“Hey, Mom.” His mother had always called him by his given name, insisting that she hadn’t gone through the trouble of picking out a name, only for it to be shortened.
“Your father told me you weren’t coming.”
He rolled his eyes. “Like I would miss the chance to drink free coffee and stare at hot nurses.”
She gave a little laugh. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He sat down next to her and captured her small hand in his.
“For not coming in here with the doom and gloom face. Your brother and sister are looking at me like I’m going to be playing cards with St. Peter next week. And don’t even get me started on how your father is acting.”
He gave her hand a squeeze. “They just don’t realize how tough you are. I know you’re not going anywhere. Anyone who can live with Dad this long can handle way worse than some lame heart attack.”
“You realize I’m never going to be allowed back in this hospital after your father is finished with them, right?”
“Guess that means you better stay healthy from now on, then.”
“Ugh, I’ll probably have to give up bacon. Not sure if that’s a life worth living.” She adjusted herself to sit up a bit more. “But enough about all this. I’m tired of talking about it. Tell me what’s going on with you. You haven’t been by in a long time.”
He frowned, guilt tugging at him. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been busy with the store. I landed a big contract and have been working on that.”
“Oh? Is that what’s got that light back in your eyes?” She nodded in his direction. “You look happier than you have in a while.”
He shrugged. “I guess so. It could mean a lot of money for the store.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes narrowed, giving him that look that mothers had the patent on. “If money made you that happy, you never would’ve left your father’s business. What aren’t you telling me?”
He sighed, not sure if he should bring up Evan when his mom was in a fragile state. It was good news but he didn’t want it to stir up any of the negative memories of when Evan left.
“Spill it, Jason.”
He leaned back in his chair. “You missed your calling as a police interrogator.”
Her perfectly manicured brow arched.
“I saw Evangeline.”
He didn’t think it was possible for his mom to pale any further, but she did. She pulled her hand from his and brought it to her chest. “You found her? Is she—”
“She’s great, Mom. Beautiful, successful, engaged.” He almost choked on that last descriptor, but managed to get it out. “You wouldn’t even recognize her. I didn’t at first.”
She blinked hard, tears lining her bottom lids. Her voice was barely a whisper. “Thank you, Lord. I thought—”
“I know. Me, too.” He grabbed one of the paper cups from the side table and poured her a glass of water, worried that he’d stressed her too much with the news. “Here.”
She took the cup from him, her hand shaking a bit, and sipped. “How did you find her?”
Jace explained how he’d stumbled upon Evan in South Padre, but his mom seemed to only be listening with half an ear. He finished the story, and the room filled with the quiet beeping of the machines. He shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. “Maybe after you’re back on your feet I can bring her by so you can see how well she’s doing for yourself.”
She stared down at her water for a while longer, then finally spoke. “I doubt she’d want to see me.”
He frowned and leaned forward, bracing his forearms on his knees. “Why not? You two always got along.”