Page 25 of Sweet Little Thing

“She’s your employee,” Stone said, as if he’d somehow forgotten.

“Jesus, you can be an ass,” Jasper said with a chuckle. “Can you leave us to our lunch?”

It was then that my phone, which rarely rang, began ringing its shrill tone. I only had a phone so I could call Heidi. No one else ever called or texted me. My heart was already pounding when I quickly jerked it out saw the number and said “hello,” in a frantic tone.

“Beulah,” the lady on the other line said.

“Yes, this is she.”

“This is Stacy McDavid at Among the Spanish Moss, and I’m calling because Heidi isn’t well. She has the flu, and the doctorjust came to see her, but she doesn’t want to eat. She’s crying for you and won’t stop.”

Heidi getting sick was never a good thing. Illness could be harder on her. “She had her flu shot,” I said. “How did she get the flu?” I was already walking back to the room where I’d left my purse. I had to get to her quickly.

“It still happens. There are many strains of the flu. The doctor is going to monitor her, and if he feels she needs to be hospitalized, he will make that decision.”

Hospitalized? Oh, God. My stomach felt sick. I had to get there.

“I’m on my way. Tell her I’m on my way.”

“I will,” Stacy replied.

I ended the call, grabbed my purse, ran from the room back into the office, and said, “Heidi’s sick. I need to go right now.”

Jasper was standing, his food forgotten. He grabbed a set of keys off his desk: “I’ll take you. C’mon, let’s go.”

He’d take me? “Why?” I asked.

Jasper came around the table, his hand touching my elbow. “Let’s go. You don’t need to drive upset, and you need a friend right now. Think of me as support.”

“What about the meeting this afternoon?” Stone asked.

“Cancel it,” Jasper responded as he led me out of the office.

“You don’t have to do this,” I said. “It’s very kind of you, but I can get there. I’ll be fine. I promise.”

He shook his head. “No, you’re a mess. Your arm is trembling. I’m going with you. Besides, it’s time I met Heidi.”

Jasper was beautiful. He was kind. He’d helped me when I needed someone. All of that led to the dream I’d had. . . but this. . . this act. . . made my heart melt and I knew I was in trouble. As hard as I fought it, I was feeling things for him. A terrible mistake and I had no idea how to stop it.

Chapter

Nineteen

Beulah

When we walked in the door at Heidi’s home, I didn’t visit the front desk like I usually did when I arrived. I hurried down the hall with Jasper right behind me. Heidi still had a private room. However, I had put in the request for her to be moved to the less expensive suites.

Her door had a bright yellow sunflower she’d made in the activity room out of ribbons, burlap, and glue. When she showed it to me last week, Heidi was so proud she beamed. They made new door decorations each month, and she always looked forward to the next one. I wondered how she would feel about sharing door decorating with her roommate when she was placed into a new room. Right now, that was silly to worry about, but I did it anyway.

Stopping at her door, I looked up at Jasper. He’d driven here, parked, then helped calm me down by listening to what was wrong with her, although I’d repeated it over and over while wedrove from his office building. She’d be okay, this was a good facility, and they’d take excellent care of her. I’d needed to be reminded. Everything he was sharing was true. Heidi hadn’t been sick since Momma passed away. This was the first time I would have to face this without her. I’d felt terrified and alone when they called me. But then, Jasper stepped in.

“Thank you,” I said, those words insufficient for all he’d done for me. He had no idea how his just being here helped.

“You’re welcome,” he replied. The sincerity and concern on his face not helping me with this…this thing in my chest that was happening every time I looked at him.

“You shouldn’t go inside Jasper. You could get the flu.”

His smile then turned into a smirk. “I like to live dangerously. Let’s go.”

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