Page 56 of The Magic of Sea Glass
Cutting through the conversation, Mary returned to the porch. “Joe didn’t answer, so I’m guessing he’s on his way.” She reached for the glass of lemonade she’d left and took a long drink.
“He’ll be here soon, then,” Melinda said with a smile. “Let me get you a chair.”
An hour or so later, the film crew broke for a late dinner, leaving them all a bit more relaxed. Stephanie and Mitchell had settled on the rockers next to Brody, Mary, and Melinda, while Lauren leaned against the railing, the summer wind blowing warmly over her shoulders. Brody looked at his watch. “Anyone heard from Joe yet? What’s he up to?”
“Maybe he’s off running errands,” Mary replied. “It takes him longer to get around these days. Should I try to call him again?”
Brody stood up. “The motor in his car’s been idling funny too. I’ll just run down the route to his house and make sure he hasn’t had car trouble or anything. You know how he never carries a phone.”
“I’ll go,” Melinda offered. “You stay here and enjoy your birthday.”
Brody shook his head. “Let me go. If his car needs work, I’ll be the one who can help him with it.”
Melinda leaned back in her chair. “You’ve got a point.”
Brody went over and gave his mom a kiss on the cheek. “Be right back.”
After he left, Melinda addressed Lauren and Mary brightly, resuming the conversation. “How are the renovations coming along?”
“I can’t believe how quickly we’re getting it done,” Lauren replied. “The painting’s almost finished in the main room; then we’re starting on the empty suites. And I’ve got a designer coming in soon to help with the décor.”
“Can we see what you’re planning?” Stephanie asked, her eyes glistening with interest.
“Oh yes,” Mary agreed, rubbing her hands together in excitement.
“Sure. Let me get my laptop and I’ll show you some of my mockups.”
Lauren went down the porch, entering her suite by the bedroom doors, passing the little grouping of sea glass on the dresser. She stopped for a tick, glad she’d gotten those little pieces back. They seemed more vibrant today. Then she peered down at the ring she’d bought with Stephanie, the glass glistening in the evening sunlight as if it were moving with the jovial atmosphere outside. She grabbed her laptop and headed back to Mary and the others once more.
Just as she returned, Melinda’s phone went off. “Oh, it’s Brody.” She held it to her ear and answered. Her eyes moved back and forth across the boards of the porch as she listened. Then her face turned white.
Lauren gripped her laptop, her gaze fixed on Melinda’s worried expression.
“All right. I’ll let them know.”
“What is it?” Mary asked.
“He’s at the hospital. With Joe.”
FIFTEEN
“They think it’s his heart,” Brody said after everyone had arrived at the hospital to check on how Joe was doing.
Lauren was so glad they’d been able to slip out before the film crew had returned. This was no place for the show, and she was certain that Dave would eat it up, since Joe was walking Stephanie down the aisle. Sometimes, he had no boundaries. Her phone pinged with messages from him, but she ignored them.
“His truck was in the drive, but no one answered when I knocked, so I used the spare key that he hides under the old cowbell on the porch,” Brody continued. “He was unresponsive when I found him in his living room, so I called an ambulance.”
“I hope he’s all right.” Mary wrung her hands.
Lauren focused on the white in the woman’s knuckles, suddenly feeling sick and shaky, her vision blurry. Melinda put her arm around Mary to comfort her, worry etched on both their faces while Lauren took it all in as if she were under water.
“They’ve just admitted him. The nurse said the doctor would be out to update us once they have him stabilized.” Brody pulled a few of the blocky hospital chairs into a circle, and they all sat together. Lauren lowered herself into one of them, trying to keep her balance.
“I’m so worried about him,” Stephanie said.
Brody nodded, his face grave. “I know.”
“He’s done a lot of good.” Melinda took a chair next to Lauren. “He even called Chuck and tried to convince him to come home. He’s always helping me, fixing things at the house while I’m at work and Brody’s out on the boat, cooking the two of us special dinners on the weekends just because…”
