Page 23 of Bully's Second Chance
But, a voice sounded behind me, startling me so badly that I almost jumped out of my skin. “You must be—”
“Aah!” I spun around and clenched my heart as a plump woman in scrubs stood behind me.
“Let me try that again. You must be Lily. Mr. Levy told me you’d be showing up today.”
I panted for air. “And you are…”
She clasped her hands in front of her. “Nurse Adelaide. I take care of Mr. Levy’s father.”
I blinked. “Sorry, what?”
She turned her back to me. “Baptism by fire, you a fan of it?”
I furrowed my brow. “Uh, just—I don’t know what you’re talking—his father’s here?”
She snapped her fingers over her head. “Someone will come out and get your things. You are to put your shoes in front of the bedroom you want to occupy so they know where to put it. Alister!”
I rushed up to her side. “What’s wrong with Jax’s father? Why is he here?”
“We can talk when we get inside. Alistair!”
A middle-aged man popped out of nowhere and headed for my car. “Do we know where she’s staying yet?”
“Ah! You must be Miss Lily. Mr. Levy told us you were headed this way. My name is Chef Gusteau, but you can call me—”
I grew frustrated and raised my voice. “Will someone tell me what in the hell is going on? Because all I did was sign an NDA and come to the address specified on the paperwork!”
The entire foyer fell silent before Adelaide turned me to face her. “Follow me.”
I slumped my shoulders and nodded my apology toward the chef before we walked up the most beautiful staircase I’d ever seen. I ducked my head into a couple of the bedrooms before I picked a random door to put my shoes outside of. Then, I picked up the pace and walked behind Adelaide—who was obviously a nurse—as we slipped through the threshold of a bedroom that was only down the hallway and around the corner from my own.
And when Jax’s father turned his face toward mine, his eyes lit up. “Lily? Is that really you?”
I rushed to his side and took his hand in mine. “Jim. What in the world? Why are you in this hospital bed?”
He drew in a labored breath. “I didn’t know you and my son still—”
Adelaide dabbed his forehead with a washcloth. “Save your strength, Jim.”
But, he pushed her away. “I haven’t seen this girl since she was nothing but a teenager. I will use my energy on her if I feel up to it.”
I leaned closer to him. “She’s just looking out for you. Don’t be so hard on her.”
His eyes danced between mine. Eyes that I was just now realizing Jax had inherited from him. “Lily, I…” He laid down and closed his eyes before he squeezed my hand.
“What is it, Jim? What do you need?”
“I… I need… rest.”
I looked up at Adelaide. “What’s wrong with him? What’s going on?”
She furrowed her brow with sympathy. “My apologies. I didn’t know you two knew one another; otherwise, I would have—”
I stood to my feet. “Just tell me what I need to know. Please.”
She nodded. “Mr. Jim here was diagnosed with stage IV renal cell carcinoma that metastasized to his brain before we caught it.”
I shook my head. “I don’t—I don’t know what that—”
