She didn’t see the need to stay in Mesa Point. Once Duke’s grandparents were up and around, back to their old selves—which was the only outcome she could allow herself to consider—it was time to move on.
“Hey,” Duke whispered. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”
Why did it feel so much like she did, though? They’d both grown up and moved on. She’d been in a few relationships, nothing that stuck. Then again, that had more to do with her messed-up parents than anything else, despite how much it felt like she might never be able to replace what she’d had with Duke.
Even if she found the perfect person to spend the rest of her life with, how could she trust it?
Chapter Fifteen
Duke sat still, contemplating. A nurse stopped in to give an update an hour after they arrived at the hospital. The waiting room gained visitors as the sun began to rise. A young couple came by to pour cups of coffee and wait for visiting hours to open. They were dressed like they were going to work. She had on the kind of scrubs hygienists wore at the dentist’s office. The guy wore jeans and a flannel shirt.
The female was a short brunette. She kept glancing over at Duke and Audrey, who’d drifted off to sleep after their conversation, a conversation that had taught him Audrey hadn’t disappeared without a word on purpose. He’d known on some level at least that she must have been in danger and felt guilty for resenting her disappearance. The selfish part of him that wished she’d trusted him enough to find a way to contact him should have died out years ago. He was embarrassed to admit, even to himself, that he’d carried it around for so long.
There was a small sense of satisfaction having his suspicion it had been out of her control. Call it his ego talking, but knowing she’d been just as upset about the way she’d disappeared gave him relief. The brunette must have decided she recognized him even though he drew a blank on who she was. She started tentatively walking toward him. Her lips pursed, and she held on to her coffee cup with both hands.
“Hi,” she said, keeping her voice low so as not to wake Audrey. “My boyfriend and I were just wondering if you’re related to Lorenzo and Lacy Remington?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m their grandson,” he said. “Why? Is there something I can help you with?”
“Oh, no,” she said, looking at him with admiration he didn’t deserve. “They sold us our first horse, a paint by the name of Calico. They’ve been so sweet and still check up on us to this day.” Her gaze softened. “We actually stopped by to check on them for a change. How are they?”
Duke probably shouldn’t be surprised someone would feel this way toward his grandparents, and yet the brunette had caught him off guard with her comment. “They’re together in the same room now,” he said, standing up to stretch his legs. “Nice of you to come by and check.”
“We wouldn’t miss seeing them for the world,” she said. “We wanted to bring flowers or something, but we weren’t sure if they were awake or flowers would be permitted in their rooms.”
Duke shook his head.
The brunette reached out and touched his forearm. Her contact didn’t give him the same reaction as when Audrey touched him. She was special.
“I’m real sorry for what happened to them,” the brunette said. “They are the sweetest people you could ever imagine. Bobby and I feel the same. He insisted he stop by to see them with me before he dropped me off at work.”
“I’m Duke.” He extended a hand. “And you are?”
“Jeannette Calier,” she supplied, taking the offering with a small but vigorous handshake. “As you’ve probably already figured out, I just love your grandparents.” She sniffed back a tear before bringing her hand up to wipe her eyes. “I can’t imagine two kinder people.”
“Thank you,” Duke said. “That means a lot. I’m sure they feel the same way about you and Bobby.”
Bobby, who’d been sticking close to the coffeepot, waved as the two of them looked over at him.
“I guess I better go before I’m late to work,” Jeannette said. “Will you let them know we stopped by if they wake up today?”
“Will do,” Duke reassured her. It was strange to think how many people his grandparents had touched between living in this town their entire lives and their business. They supplied horses to many a family who had children who loved to ride. They sold to farmers and business owners alike. A pair of brothers had made a solid business out of offering tourists trail rides around several area lakes. “I’m sure they’ll appreciate your kindness.”
Jeannette offered a heartfelt thank-you.
Guilt washed over Duke that he’d had no idea who these nice people were.
Him, his siblings and their cousins had moved away the minute they were old enough to graduate high school and then started careers that kept them away from Mesa Point.
The strange part about it, Duke thought as the couple left, was that he’d had a great childhood here in Mesa Point. His grandparents had been the best. Was it true that successful child-rearing meant the kids felt safe enough to move far away once they grew up? Or had he abandoned the people who’d sacrificed the most to make sure he had a roof over his head, food in his belly and love in his life?
As the couple disappeared and an elderly woman walked into the room, he realized he’d been a jerk for not thanking his grandparents every day for taking him in, loving him. They’d made his life good when it could have turned out horrible.
He glanced over at Audrey. Who had her back? No one from the sounds of it. Although she’d shut down the minute they started diving into difficult topics. On some level, he appreciated the fact she’d talked to him about the past at all, about the way she’d left.
He needed to come to terms with the fact he might never know the whole story. Audrey may not be able to go any further than what she’d already said. It wasn’t a complete explanation, but at least she’d offered something.
“Excuse me,” the older lady said, pulling his attention to her and out of his reverie.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, standing up to stretch his legs again. He’d sat back down after the couple walked out the door. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“Aren’t you one of the Remington boys?” she asked, straining to get a better look at him. The older woman’s hair was all white. She had it piled in a bun on top of her head. She wore one of those smock dresses with pockets that she stuffed her hands into.
“Yes, ma’am,” he responded, figuring it didn’t matter which one he was.
“I thought so,” she said with an aha tone. “You look just like your grandfather when he was a young boy.”
This seemed like a good time to put a name to the older woman’s face. Yet, he couldn’t. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but who are you again?”
“Right,” she began, “of course you don’t remember me. I was much younger when you last saw me.” She held out a hand. “I’m Ms. Apple.”
“My first-grade teacher?” he asked.
“That’s right,” she said. “You’ve grown into a fine young man.”
Duke wondered if anyone would notice if he ended up in the hospital or worse. His siblings and cousins were obvious choices. But who else? Without a family of his own, was there anyone who would care enough to sit by his side?
Why did the thought suddenly derail him?
