She arrived in the kitchen to find her mother.
“Good morning,” Claire said and kissed her daughter on the cheek. “How about some breakfast?”
No way. “Maybe some toast and juice.”
Her mother put a cup of coffee in front of her. Of course Paige couldn’t have caffeine during her pregnancy. “I think I’ll pass on the coffee. I’m trying to cut back.”
“Good. Your job is so stressful that you don’t need it.”
Paige took her place at the table and her mother brought the toast over and sat across from her. “So what are your plans for today?” Claire asked.
“Nothing until this afternoon when we go shopping for our bridesmaids’ dresses. Until then I could help you here at the Inn.”
Her mother patted her hand. “You’re not here to work. You need this vacation.”
“I don’t mind,” Paige said, needing something to fill her time.
“I have an idea,” her mother said. “I’m going out to the nursing home to see Sally. You could come along.”
Visit Reed’s mother? That wasn’t a way to stay uninvolved. “Sure.” Paige finished with her toast and cleared away the dishes.
The Shady Haven Convalescent Home was about twenty minutes outside of Destiny. It was a fairly new facility with manicured grounds and the mountains as a backdrop. With its brick trim and red cedar singles the two-story building didn’t look like a nursing home, but more like a retreat.
Paige doubted that Sally Larkin could afford this place on her own. Reed had to be paying a lot of the bill.
Claire and Paige walked though the double doors and notice the inside was just as impressive as the outside. A reception area was arranged around a fireplace, and gleaming hardwood floors. In an adjoining room, Paige could see several patients in wheelchairs, sitting at tables, playing cards and other board games.
Her mother approached the front desk. “We’re here to see Sally Larkin.”
An older woman with short gray hair smiled. “It’s good to see you, Mrs. Keenan. Sally looks forward to your visits.” She turned to Paige. “Is this one of your daughters?”
Claire nodded. “Yes, this is Paige. She’s visiting for a few weeks.”
“Hello, Paige. I’m Karen. I guess you could call me the social director around here.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Paige told her. “You have a lovely facility.”
“Thank you. Our first concern is our residents.” She stood and came around the desk, then motioned for them to follow her down a wide corridor. “Sally finished her physical therapy about an hour ago. She’s doing very well. And she doesn’t have anything scheduled until after lunch, so this is a perfect time for a visit.”
They passed several rooms on the main floor. Most doors were open, revealing accommodations that looked more like mini apartments than hospital rooms. There was nothing generic about this nursing home.
At the end of the hall, Karen knocked on a door, then opened it. “Sally, you have some visitors,” Karen said as she opened the door wider to reveal a small woman sitting in a wheelchair.
Sally Larkin wasn’t as old as Claire Keenan, but the hard years, and a debilitating stroke had taken a toll. When she saw Claire and Paige, Sally’s eyes lit up bringing back memories of the last time Paige seen Sally. Hers and Reed’s graduation day.
Paige touched her hand. “You remember me, Sally?”
“Y…yes…” Tears formed in Sally’s eyes.
“I hope you don’t mind me just showing up.”
The woman squeezed Paige’s hand. “Wel…come.” She struggled with the word. “P…Paige.”
“Thank you, Sally. It’s so good to see you.” She hugged the frail woman, then looked into those eyes that reminded her so much of her son’s. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
Claire joined the conversation. “Sally has improved a lot in the past year. She’s talking again.” Her mother smiled. “I’m glad my friend is back and we can share things. We’re hoping she’ll be able to come to Leah’s wedding.”
Due to the stroke, Sally’s smile was crooked, but she was obviously pleased. “Doc…doctor said o…okay.”
“That’s great news,” Claire said and looked at her daughter. “The facility has special vans and attendants that can take her where she wants to go.”
“Who’s taking who where?”
All three women turned to the door and found Reed. He was dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a burgundy polo shirt.
“Hi, Reed,” Claire said and went to him. “The doctor said your mother can come to Leah’s wedding. Isn’t that great?”
He grinned. “Yes, it’s great.” He crossed the room and kissed his mother’s cheek. “Maybe we should get you a new dress.”
Sally frowned and shook her head.
“Oh, Sally, you shouldn’t turn him down,” Paige said.
Her eyes locked with Reed’s, and once again, she was transported back in time to when they were sixteen. He’d driven her to Durango to look for a dress for the prom. She was going with another boy. That had been when he confessed about his feelings for her. He wanted more than friendship.
“We should go,” Claire said, breaking through her reverie. “We need to meet Leah for wedding shopping.”
Paige patted Sally’s hand. “It was good to see you again, Sally.”
“C…come back.”
“I will.” Paige smiled, then looked at Reed to see he was pleased she’d come, too. She walked out of the room and he followed her.
“Paige, thank you for coming by today. Mom loved it. I appreciated it, too.”
“It was no trouble at all.”
His gaze refused to release its hold. “How are you feeling?”
Her mother had already reached the reception area and was out of earshot. “Better. This morning was a little rough. But I’m good now,” Paige said.
He stuffed his hands into his jeans’ pockets. “You look terrific.”
A shiver went through her. She didn’t want to analyze her reaction to the compliment. “I should go.”
“Oh, I got the name of the doctor.” He pulled a card out of his pocket. “KimberlyYork. Jodi said she’s the best.”
Paige glanced down the hall again to make sure her mother was out of earshot. The business card actually belonged to Reed with his private phone number. The doctor’s number was written on the back. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ll call and make an appointment.”
“If you need someone to drive you let me know.”
His offer was so thoughtful she suddenly had the urge to cry. She had to leave. “Thank you, again. I better go.”
When she made her way to the reception area, she found her mother talking with a thin man seated in a wheelchair. He was bent over, with sparse white hair that stood out around his head. His face was weathered and lined with age. She blinked and studied the man closely. It had to be…old Billy Hutchinson.
Memories came flooding back to her. All the trouble he’d caused the Larkin family. And worse. Billy’s manipulation had change the course of her and Reed’s life. It was wrong, no matter if the cause had been a good one. But most of all, she’d always regret the lie…and losing Reed.