“She did?” Abbey asked, his last comment of more interest to her than arguing with his approach. She had noticed how Caroline hadn’t seemed very upset, although she had mentioned in conversation before how she’d never want to live there. “She never wanted to live at your house before, but now she’s okay with it?”
“She didn’t want to live there when the house was empty and I was always at work, but now the house is amazing. She will have you and Max, and Robin should be coming. She’s fine with it.”
“The house is amazing?” Abbey asked with a smile.
“Yes.” She could feel his smile in that word. “Now, tell me what’s going on with her.”
“Caroline has an arrhythmia,” she answered. “I suspected it, but was waiting for a diagnosis before I said anything.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s an irregular heartbeat. It can escalate with age. By itself, it’s just something to monitor, but I worry about it with her arthritis and the hip problems she’s been having. If she needs surgery, the arrhythmia might make it impossible.”
“She can’t fall. She can’t walk around too much,” he worried aloud. “I’m glad she’ll have your care.”
“I enjoy taking care of her. I’ll miss her when she’s gone,” she said.
“I’m sure you will.”
She hated the idea of Caroline leaving.
“I have to go,” he said. “Thank you for keeping me informed.”
“I have some questions about the house,” she said quickly, before he ended the call.
“Ask Richard. I’ve told him he can make decisions this week while I’m gone. And, as always, I trust you to do what you think is right.” There was a small pause, and she could feel that he was going to say something else. “You’re great at what you do, Abbey,” he said, his voice soft. “You’re a wonderful nurse, but you’re an even better decorator.” That was the best compliment she could’ve received. And she could tell by his honest voice that he was serious.
“Thank you,” she said.
“I’m not kidding at all. You are great.”
Where was this coming from? He’d never cared one way or the other about what she did. It was clear, after seeing his bedroom, that he had an eye for that sort of thing, but he’d never bothered to offer his opinions before.
“Well,” he said, his voice sounding unsure all of a sudden. “I should go.”
“Don’t.” She worried that he was holding back. She was desperate to keep him on the line. If she could just talk to him, maybe she could make him see that he needed to stay; maybe they could find some sort of middle ground. His change in tone had been enough to give her the strength to try to stop him.
“Abbey, I have to go,” he said gently.
“Why?”
“I just do. Richard is there if you need him. Have a good week.”
The phone line went dead. She thought about calling him back, but decided against it. She’d surprised herself tonight. She’d never needed anyone before, she’d been fine on her own, but tonight, she felt, for the first time in her life, what it was like to yearn for someone, to wish with everything she had that he’d stay on the line. With a heavy heart, she went to bed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Abbey let Max run through Nick’s house as she placed their clothes in drawers and set the suitcases in the closet. Nick wasn’t there anyway, so it was just the two of them and the staff. She’d texted him this morning to remind him that Max’s “Bring Your Daddy to School Day” was next Wednesday, and she hadn’t heard back. She was so worried that he wouldn’t show up, especially with him being as busy as he was at the moment. Max needed a positive male role model in his life and that was one thing that she couldn’t give him. But Nick could give him that.
Her phone lit up with a text just as she was thinking of him, and Abbey almost fell over the bed to get it. She could see Nick’s number; her heart slammed around in her chest. She opened it and read, Just a quick note to say Robin is actually flying in tonight. Feel free to decorate around her. Just wanted to give you the heads up.
Abbey felt a mixture of exhilaration at seeing his text and complete despair that he hadn’t even bothered to say hello first. She didn’t know what to think. She just stared at the words until her phone’s screen went dark. What about Max’s day at school? He’d gotten the text, surely. He hadn’t even responded.
* * *
Abbey had spent a whole lot of time at Caroline’s today, helping her get what she needed moved into the mansion, and now she was scrambling to get as much of the house done as she could before Robin arrived. She got Caroline all settled into one of the chairs in the living room with a book, her cell phone, and a cup of coffee, and told her that she was a text away. She’d be outside.