His Forever Love. Missy Tippens

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СКАЧАТЬ thrill at seeing her surged through him, then immediately plummeted. He hated the thought of heading home to Magnolia, Georgia, for more than a quick weekend. It would mean facing the townspeople he had escaped right after graduation.

      It would mean facing Lindsay, as well. The woman he’d been crazy about from the age of ten, with whom he’d fallen in love in high school.

      The woman he’d held hands with around The Forever Tree. And had thought he was destined to marry.

      

      Lindsay knew it was all her fault. She was doubting her abilities as a caregiver.

      Granny Bea, her eighty-three-year-old employer, had suffered a concussion and a broken wrist. All because Lindsay had tried to do one more favor for her brother. Had tried to squeeze in one last errand.

      Now Granny Bea lay in the hospital, her face contorted in pain. Probably wishing she’d never fired the previous certified caregiver.

      And worse, Lindsay’d had to call…him….

      Shame on me for thinking the call is worse. What’s worse is Granny Bea’s injury.

      Lindsay tiptoed into the room. “Granny Bea?”

      “Oh, Lindsay, dear, I hate that I went and messed up our workday. I guess I scared you to death.”

      “It’s all my fault for being late.”

      “Oh, pish-posh. I was too lazy to go down the steps and leaned too far off the porch.”

      “How do you feel?”

      “I’ve felt better.” She gave a weak laugh. “My wrist hurts worse than anything.”

      Lindsay steeled herself to tell Granny Bea the good news. “Well, I have a surprise that will perk you up. Bill’s coming to check on you.”

      Bill Wellington, a brilliant physics professor and researcher. Lindsay’s former friend.

      Granny Bea looked distressed. “Oh, Lindsay. He’ll miss his classes.”

      “I had to let him know.”

      She pressed a palm to her forehead. “You’re right, of course. It’ll be wonderful to see him. Thank you, dear.”

      “Just doing my job.” She smiled at Granny Bea as she adjusted the blanket.

      Lindsay’s best friend Donna Rae rushed into the hospital room. “Are you okay, Bea?”

      “Oh, hi, Donna Rae. How’d you get word about my silly fall so fast?”

      “Gertie down in the E.R. called Vinny’s mom. And she called me. Are you okay?”

      “I’m fine. I wish you all would quit fussing over me.”

      Lindsay caught her friend’s attention, then nodded toward the hallway. “We’ll be back in a minute, Granny Bea.”

      Once outside the room, Lindsay said, “I contacted Bill. He’ll be here ASAP.”

      Donna Rae’s face lit up. “So God’s at work.”

      “What?”

      “Oh, never mind.” With an impish grin, Donna Rae rubbed her hands together. “Maybe something good will come of the accident. Bill will come to town, and you two will finally be together.”

      “What on earth are you talking about?”

      “The Forever Tree.”

      Lindsay groaned. The Forever Tree was a huge, old pecan tree that stood proudly in the park downtown. Donna Rae believed in the town legend that a couple that held hands around the tree would be together forever. Well, just because Donna Rae and her husband were blissfully happy didn’t mean it worked. After all, Lindsay held Bill’s hands around it, and look how that turned out. “Forget the stupid legend. I’m worried about seeing Bill.”

      “When was the last time you two talked to each other?”

      “We haven’t. Not since he deserted me.”

      Donna Rae rolled her eyes. “He didn’t desert you. He went off to college.”

      “And never once called. Never answered my letter. Never visited.”

      “And you haven’t even talked since Bea hired you?”

      “There’s never been the need. Until now.”

      “Well, I’m excited. You’re destined to be together.”

      Lindsay leaned back and thunked her head against the wall. Her friend was way off base. “We were never more than friends, but the thought of seeing him again scares me.”

      Donna Rae gave a deep, throaty laugh.

      “Don’t laugh at me. I’m nervous. And just you watch. I’ll end up with a migraine before it’s all over.”

      “It’ll be fine. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you again.”

      Yeah, right. He’d missed her friendship so much that he’d ignored her for the last fifteen years. They’d been the best of friends. Or so she thought. But two days after graduation, he’d left town. Just disappeared without so much as a goodbye.

      Apparently their friendship meant nothing to him. And that still hurt. She would have to steel herself for his arrival.

      

      That evening, Lindsay watched Granny Bea try to grip a fork and scoop a bite of green beans into her mouth with her right wrist enclosed in a spanking-new cast. The cast was brilliant white except for Lindsay’s and Donna Rae’s signatures scrawled in a circular pattern around the wrist area like a pair of bracelets.

      A couple of the beans fell down the front of Granny Bea’s hospital gown.

      “Here, I’ll help you,” Lindsay said.

      “I might as well learn to do it on my own. I’ll have the thing for weeks.”

      “I can help today. You’re sore and tired.”

      Granny Bea harrumphed, but leaned back against her pillow, relenting. “I hate being laid up. What about the community center?”

      “Mr. Kennedy and the others covered for us today. You’ll be able to go back to work in a couple of days, looking like one of the kids.” She smiled at the woman she took care of who was also her friend and coworker. “I know you’ll impress Dylan.”

      “Yes. I’ll have to tell him I fell out of a tree or something a bit exciting.”

      “Mr. Kennedy will sure want to fuss over you.”

      “Oh, don’t even mention his name or you’ll get my ire up.”

      “He’s СКАЧАТЬ