Page 81 of Close to My Heart

I held my tongue because the ultimatum wasn’t the hallmark of a good family dynamic. But I didn’t think she’d appreciate my thoughts on the matter.

Evelyn approached us, and I ground my teeth together. “We need to talk about care when she comes home. I think we should hire a nurse to come in and make sure she’s not overdoing it while she recovers.”

Sutton nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.”

“Will you be moving back so you can be closer?” Evelyn pressed.

I wanted to step in and point out that Evelyn and Deacon lived in the house and could handle her care, but I wanted Sutton to stand up for herself.

Sutton nodded. “That’s probably easier. That way I can be close if she needs me.”

Why was Sutton the one that everyone depended on? Why weren’t Deacon and Evelyn stepping up?

When Evelyn walked away, I asked, “You’re moving out?”

“Don’t you think it will be easier to care for her if I’m close by?”

“Evelyn and Deacon live in the house with her, and they’re hiring nurses. I think she’ll be fine.”

Sutton frowned, her forehead wrinkling. “I need to be the one there.”

I clenched my jaw so I wouldn’t point out the obvious. When had her family ever been there for her? They’d forced her to get married before she was ready. They criticized her choice in clothes, college degree, and career. And now her plans for the estate didn’t jive with theirs. Why was she falling back into their web of control?

I’d gotten her out of there, and she was willingly going back. “If that’s what you want.”

I waited for her to ask me to join her, but she didn’t. Instead, she approached Deacon and Evelyn to go over more details about Mrs. Rosesmith’s transition from the hospital to home.

I walked my family out and thanked them for coming.

“What happens next?” Teddy asked when the rest of my family made their way to their cars in the parking lot.

“She’s moving home to be close by when Mrs. Rosesmith is discharged.”

Teddy raised a brow. “Are you moving with her?”

My chest burned. “She didn’t ask me to.”

“I thought you were going to fight for her?” Teddy asked.

My jaw tightened. “She doesn’t want to fight for us. Why should I?”

Teddy shook his head. “This sounds like the beginning of the end.”

Maybe it was. I couldn’t think straight. It was late, and I was exhausted from the stress of the party, the anxiety about telling Sutton how I felt, then the rush to the hospital. I hadn’t had a chance to process any of it.

Teddy touched my shoulder. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

I hugged him and went back into the waiting room where I felt like a fourth wheel. No one asked my opinion, but then again, this wasn’t my family, and our marriage was on thin ice.

Conversation and plans went on around me. I felt like I was invisible. Sutton didn’t reach for me or even seem to need me there.

When the results of the tests came back, and the doctor requested the Rosesmith family, I hung back. I wasn’t part of the family. Not really. Sutton never looked around for me or gestured for me to join her.

When they were done discussing the situation, her parents went through the double doors, presumably to see Mrs. Rosesmith. Then Sutton came over to me. “You’re still here?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “Where else would I be?”

Sutton touched my shoulder, urging me toward the doors. “It’s late. You can go home. Get some sleep.”

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