Page 41 of Healing Kiss

“Zoey isn’t your nurse, Mom. She’s my friend.”

Brenda’s glare intensified, and she raised her voice, becoming agitated. “Why would you bring a stranger here,” she said to Tristan. “You know I’m not feeling well. What were you thinking?”

Tristan gentled his voice and clasped his mom’s hands in both of his. “Zoey has become an important friend in a short space of time. I wanted you to meet her before she has to leave.”

Lillian couldn’t seem to catch her breath—his mother hated her, but Tristan had just admitted Lillian was important to him. Was he exaggerating? She bit her lip. What difference did it make what he confessed. Lillian couldn’t let their friendship interfere with her plans to leave Cleveland tomorrow.

“You shouldn’t have brought her here. I don’t like her.”

“Mom.” Tristan sighed and motioned Lillian to follow him. “I’ll be back, Mom.”

He lowered his voice an octave when they stepped out of the room. “I’m sorry, Lillian. She doesn’t know what she’s saying. This is not a good day for her.”

“It’s okay. I’ll leave you two alone.”

“Thanks for understanding. Wait for me outside. I’ll be just a minute, and then I’ll drive you back to the house.”

ChapterFourteen

Lillian found a seat in a nearby lounge empty of other visitors and tapped her foot on the floor while she waited. It shouldn’t matter if Tristan’s mom disliked her, she’d be out of his life after tomorrow anyway. The reminder didn’t offer much relief.

She pulled out her cell phone and checked her flight, which appeared to be on time. A shadow fell across her lap, and she half-rose from her seat before she realized it was Tristan. He hadn’t exaggerated when he said he’d be just a minute.

A knowing awareness flickered in his gaze. “Thank you for meeting my mom.”

She shouldered her purse and stood. “It was nothing. Do you need to stay with her? I can take an Uber to your house if there’s someone who could leave my suitcase on the porch and the keys to the rental.”

His gaze sought hers out, stubbornness carved in the hard lines of his face. “She was only here for a treatment. My mom’s caretaker is with her and will take her home and get her settled, so I can drive you. We’re still on for the fundraiser tonight, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good.” He gestured for her to go in front of him.

They walked side by side until they reached the elevator and then rode in tense silence to the lobby. She shoved her hands in her pockets, doing her best to ignore her thundering heartbeat. She wished he’d speak and tell her what he was thinking, but they were halfway to the exit before he obliged.

“I’m sorry I put you through that.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’m glad I got to meet your mom. I know how important she is to you.”

“She’s not always that difficult. I wish…”

She waited for him to finish, but he didn’t, and after a minute of silence, she couldn’t resist prompting. “What do you wish, Tristan?”

He shook his head and sighed, gravel in his voice. “I wish you could have met my mom in normal times, before Huntington’s. She was warm and funny and good with people. All my friends loved her. I loved her. The woman I introduced you to isn’t anything like the woman who raised me. Huntington’s has stripped her personality until I hardly recognize her. This is all I have left.”

His voice hitched on the last word, and she automatically reached for his hand. Their fingers entwined, his palm warm and sturdy and right in hers. She never wanted to let go. But she must.

The exit doors slid open, and they stepped outside together.

Even with his solid strength, she paid attention to their surroundings, alert to danger. The March sky was overcast, and it was breezy, but the late-afternoon sun managed to peek out from behind the clouds, casting flickering shadows on the pavement.

They paused as if they’d made an agreement.

“The crazy thing is, I thought she would be in a good mood. She usually is after she’s finished a treatment and knows she’ll be going home,” he murmured, his thumb sliding against hers. “Zoey, I want you to know I’m here for you…at any time…if you need me.”

Never had she been more tempted to tell all, to bring him into her world and lean on his considerable strength. But if she did that, she’d be risking his life without giving him a choice. And she cared too much to put him in danger. She moved forward, and he came with her.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine. You have enough to worry about with your mom.”

---