Page 62 of An Engagement for Erica

“Is he resting?” Michael asked, coming in.

“He said he wanted to take a nap. It’s for the best.”

Michael sat in a chair across from him. He wasn’t sure he liked that Michael was at the other end of the house in the guest quarters, but it was better than another floor.

Nurses would be in the living room 24/7 for a while.

“It is,” Michael said. “I’m not sure I was ready for him to be home. I didn’t think it was the right call.”

He and Michael had talked about it on Friday, then again on Saturday night.

Michael had been happy it was delayed another day.

“I know,” he said. “But you saw him in the car.”

“I did. He was excited to be coming home. He was complaining about the hospital just like he used to about your father,” Michael said.

“Good,” Tucker said, smiling. “He was very aware of where we were. I think he needed to be where he was familiar. Once he got home, it was almost like a switch was flipped in his brain. I’m not sure that is possible.”

“I saw it too,” Michael said. “So much awareness of his surroundings. He was tiring but much less confused.”

“You’ll get lots of help,” he said. “Let me know what you need and you’ll have it. You’re in charge, but I want to be kept in the loop on everything.”

“Of course,” Michael said. “You know I think of TC as family.”

“I know,” he said. “You’re now VP of the Nelay Household.”

“Sweet,” Michael said. “I never thought I’d be VP of anything.”

He laughed. “Say what is on your mind. I can see there is something.”

Michael’s head went back and forth. “Do you think the thing with Erica is smart?”

“What?” he asked.

“The fake engagement,” Michael said. “I know TC is confused about a lot of things, but he seems to be getting better already in terms of his recognition and thought processes.”

“It’s promising,” he said. “But it’s discouraging to see how little he can move on his own.”

When they were leaving the hospital, Tucker hated that his grandfather had struggled to stand up, but he moved over to help with Michael over the nurses, the two men putting their arms around his grandfather. They got him in the wheelchair and made a joke out of it enough that his grandfather was actually laughing by the time they got him in the car.

“He’s going to be a handful the stronger he gets if he doesn’t see much progress,” Michael said.

“I know,” he said. “We’ll be able to deal with it.”

“Back to you with Erica. Is that smart to have him continue to think she’s your fiancée?”

“We are dating,” he said.

“Oh,” Michael asked. “When did that change in the past few days? I’m starting to think I’m the one confused.”

He smirked. “We’ve been dancing around each other for some time,” he said. “After Saturday, we went to lunch and talked some. Let’s say we aren’t dancing anymore.”

Michael smiled. “Got it.”

“Get that smirk off your face,” he said, laughing.

Tucker only wished it was more but was happy to take what he’d gotten.

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