Page 16 of Heart of Stone
I shook my head, my lips twitching as I did. “Trust me, Cole, I don’t need that kind of trouble here. I’m already dealing with enough.”
Laughter came through the line. “Alright. Well, I’ll see what I can do about making a trip out there soon. Maybe around the Christmas holiday, since I’ll have some time off.”
I could think of nothing better than having a friend come out to visit. If the next several weeks were anything like the first had been, there was no question I’d need someone to help inject some sanity and normalcy back into my life. “That’d be a welcome visit, man. No doubt I’ll need a break from the retreat andeverythingthat comes along with it.”
Another vision of Natalia flashed in my mind.
I was going to have to make it clear to her that I didn’t appreciate her putting that stupid wreath on the door to my cabin. If I let it slide, there was no telling what would happen come Christmas. Cole might arrive to find that lights had been strung up outside along with a maze of inflatables simply leading to the front door.
“It sounds like you need a break already.”
I pulled onto my parents’ street. “You have no idea. But I’ll have to fill you in on it later, because I’m going to be at my parents’ place in a minute.”
“Alright, Reid. I’ll talk to you later. If you do make another trip out here before I come to visit you there, let me know ahead of time. I’ll try to catch up with you, even if it’s only for an hour or two.”
“Sounds good, Cole. Catch you later.”
“Later, man.”
I ended the call with my friend, pulled into the driveway, and parked. After the way this weekend had started—I still thought about that encounter with Natalia outside the cabin—all the driving, and the work and packing I’d done back in Pittsburgh, I was honestly ready to crash for the rest of the night. As I’d mentioned to Cole, the likelihood was that I was going to need a break by the time the holiday rolled around, and it wasn’t because I expected I’d be expending so much physical effort in this temporary position. I was exhausted just thinking about where the next week was going to lead. If it was anything like the first week had been, it was safe to say I was in for a challenge.
At the very least, I could be grateful for the knowledge that things were being handled back in Pittsburgh by my team of skilled employees. Sure, I’d have to stay on top of paperwork and a few additional things from a distance, but from what I saw when I was back there this weekend, my guys were getting things accomplished.
I’d debated heading straight for the cabin, but as I’d admitted to Cole, it had been a few days since I’d visited with my mom. I wanted to check in on her, because I didn’t know what I’d run into once the new work week got started. I figured it was best to make the effort now.
I walked inside, immediately making my way toward the family room, since that was where I expected I’d find my mom. Even though part of the recovery for her hip involved being up and moving, I suspected she’d already made that effort earlier in the day.
Plus, overdoing it too soon with her heart…
Sure enough, I stepped into the family room and found her resting there.
“Reid,” she said the moment she saw me.
I offered a sheepish grin. It had been too many days since I’d visited her. “Hi, Mom. How are you feeling?”
She lifted a hand in the air, palm up. “I’d say I’m quite a bit better than I was the last time I saw you, but I’m only marginally better since yesterday.”
Sitting down on the couch beside her, I took her hand in mine. “So, we’re headed in the right direction, then?”
Smiling, she confirmed, “We are.”
“Oh, Reid. It’s you. I thought I heard the front door.”
At the sound of my father’s voice, I tore my attention from my mom and looked in his direction. Why didn’t it surprise me that she was here in this room alone? “Yeah, I just got back into town and thought I’d stop by to visit with Mom.”
He parted his lips to say something, but my mom beat him to it. “Did you go to Pittsburgh this weekend?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I had some things I needed to take care of there. Plus, when I initially got here, I didn’t expect the long stay, so I rounded up some extra clothes while I was there.”
“Have you had anything to eat?”
My lips curved into a smile. It seemed that no matter how old I got—I was thirty-three now—or how sick she might be, my mom was always concerned with me being fed. “I haven’t. I thought about stopping, but I just wanted to get back. I’ll grab something after I leave.”
“We have food already prepared. It’s the most delicious garlic butter chicken with parmesan pasta and a side salad.”
My mouth watered. “That sounds incredible.”
Without hesitation, Mom asked, “Barrett, would you mind grabbing Reid a plate?”
