Ada is struggling to remove her mother’s portrait from the back seat of her car when a gust of wind from an approaching cold front nearly rips it out of her hands. Coming to her rescue, Enzo takes the painting and carries it inside to the fireplace mantel, where he props it in front of his framed NBA basketball championship poster.
Ada grabs his arm. “What’re you doing? You can’t cover up your favorite basketball poster.”
He laughs. “I don’t remember ever claiming it as my favorite poster. I don’t even like basketball that much. I just bought it because it looked good in this room.” He stands back to admire the portrait. “Your mother was a striking woman.”
“She was movie star glamorous. When I was a little girl, I remember her descending the main staircase on her way out for the evening, dressed just like this in a black velvet gown with her dark chocolate hair coiled in a chignon and a choker of pearls around her neck.”
“How did you get the painting?” Enzo asks. “Did you burglarize The Nest?”
“I didn’t have to. I took it off the wall while Daniel watched.”
Enzo casts her a sidelong glance. “You actually went to see Daniel?”
“He wouldn’t stop calling me, and I had some things I needed to say to him. I figured he’d listen better if I said them in person. I’ll tell you about it over dinner.”
“About dinner . . .” Enzo pulls Ada in for a half hug. “What say we stay home tonight? We can open a bottle of red wine and build our first fire of the season. We can snuggle up while you tell me more about the famous Lila Love.”
Ada sinks into him. “I like this idea, but what will we eat? I’m getting hungry.”
“What about chicken nachos? I have a hankering for Mexican.”
“Sold. I’ll cancel the dinner reservations, pour the wine, and turn on the gas logs while you make the nachos.”
“I’m on it,” Enzo says, kissing the top of her head before disappearing into the kitchen.
Fifteen minutes later, they are cozied up on the sofa with glasses of an Argentinian Malbec wine and a platter of chicken nachos on the coffee table in front of them. “Are you sure you don’t mind having Mom’s portrait in our home?”
“Mind? I’m thrilled. She was extremely elegant.” Enzo points a tortilla chip at the painting. “People might mistake her as one of my royal ancestors.”
“Haha,” Ada says, shoving him with her shoulder. “Mom had striking features. But part of her elegance was the way she carried herself.”
“I can think of a handful of places to hang it in our new home. Above the mantel in the living room would be the obvious choice. Or we could put it above the sideboard in the dining room.”
Ada jerks her head toward him. “What sideboard?”
A smile tugs at the corner of Enzo’s lips. “The antique one I bought at an auction a couple of weeks ago. I hope you don’t mind. I couldn’t resist.”
“Why would I mind? I grew up with antiques. I like a mixture of old and new.”
“One would never know based on your ultra-contemporary apartment,” Enzo says, digging his chip into the cheesy topping.
“My tastes have changed since I met you. Speaking of which, don’t forget we’re meeting with the decorator on Monday to pick out paint colors.”
He groans. “I think I’ll sit this one out. I trust your judgement. As long as you don’t paint everything white.”
“We’ll have plenty of color in our home. Just nothing as dramatic as this,” she says about his navy walls.
Enzo looks suddenly at his phone. “Why is Sheldon calling me?” He accepts the call. “Sheldon! What’s up, man?”
Ada can’t hear Sheldon’s end of the conversation, but Enzo’s concerned expression indicates something is wrong.
“We’re on our way,” Enzo says and ends the call.
“Where are we going?” Ada asks, her heart pounding against her rib cage. “Did something happen?”
Enzo gets up, takes her wine from her, and pulls her to her feet. “Daniel was taken to the hospital by ambulance about an hour ago.”
“What for? Another phony medical condition intended to elicit sympathy from his children?”
“This sounds serious, Ada. Bruce found Daniel unconscious in the driveway at The Nest.”
Ada’s brow pinches. “In his driveway? But I was just there. He was fine when I left.” Or was he? She was so anxious to leave she didn’t bother looking in the rearview mirror. Did something happen to him after she drove away? Could she have had a psychotic episode and run him over with her car, and is now blocking what happened from her memory?
The possibility she might have hurt Daniel festers in her mind while she takes the nacho tray to the kitchen and grabs a jacket from the bedroom. When she expresses her concern to Enzo on the way to the hospital in his truck, he laughs at her. “Don’t be ridiculous, Ada. You’re not capable of running anyone over in your car. Even if you were in a psychotic state. Anyway, the doctors think it was a stroke.”
“A stroke? That’s not good.” She turns toward the window, staring out at the passing lights. “Now that I think about it, Dad seemed a little shaky while I was there. Why did Sheldon call you and not me?”
“Because he didn’t think you’d come to the hospital unless I made you.”
“He’s probably right.”
When they arrive, they follow Sheldon’s instructions and take the elevator to the second-floor ICU waiting room where the rest of her family is huddled in one corner—Hugh, Sheldon and Ollie, Charles and Hazel, Casey and Luke, her sexy saxophone player.
“What’s the word?” Ada asks the group.
“None yet,” Sheldon says. “We’re still waiting for the doctor to give us an update.”
Hazel pulls Ada aside. “Laney is being treated in the emergency room downstairs. Hugh attacked her earlier tonight, before they got the call about Daniel. Someone needs to check on her. Charles won’t let me.”
Ada shakes her head, unsure if she heard Hazel correctly. “What do you mean, he won’t let you?”
“He says I shouldn’t get involved, that our loyalty is to Hugh, and that they probably just had a petty squabble.”
“Squabbles don’t typically land people in the emergency room, Hazel.”
“I realize that. But Charles is upset about Daniel, and I don’t want to make him mad. Will you go check on her?”
“Of course.” Ada turns toward Sheldon, who is standing with Enzo behind her. “Did you know about Laney?”
Sheldon nods grimly. “I saw her when they got here. Her injuries aren’t life threatening, but she’s pretty banged up.”
“What happened to Laney?” Enzo asks.
“Hugh beat her up.” Ada stands on her tiptoes to kiss Enzo’s cheek. “I’m going down to the emergency room to check on her. Call me if the doctor shows up.”
The attendant standing guard in the emergency room refuses to let Ada see Laney. “But I’m her sister-in-law,” Ada argues. She flashes her driver’s license at the sour-faced nurse. “See, we have the same last name. Love.”
“That means nothing. There are lots of Loves in this town.”
Ada glares at her. “Can’t you at least tell her I’m asking to see her?”
“I guess.” The disgruntled nurse disappears through the double doors and returns a minute later. “She’s in the third room on the right.”
Ada bursts through the double doors and hurries down the hall. She’s curious to see Bruce emerging from Laney’s treatment room. She remembers how Laney softened when Ada mentioned Bruce at the grand opening and wonders again if something is going on between them. Is that why Hugh attacked her? Did he discover they were having an affair?
Regardless, she’ll use this opportunity to ask about Daniel. “When you found Daniel in the driveway, did you notice any trauma to his body?”
“Only some scratches on one cheek where he scraped the steps when he fell. The paramedics seemed certain he had a stroke. Has there been any word about his condition?”
Ada shakes her head. “We’re still waiting for the doctor.”
Bruce stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I’m going to the cafeteria for some coffee. Can I get some for you?”
“I’m fine. But thanks.” Ada watches him walk down the hall before entering Laney’s examining room. She’s taken aback by the sight of her sister-in-law’s battered face. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. Does it hurt much?”
Laney touches her fingers to her temple. “I feel like an elephant is stomping on my brain.”
“Tell me about your injuries.”
“Besides what you see on my face, I have five staples in the back of my head and a mild concussion.”
Ada sits down in the chair next to the bed. “Has the abuse been going on long?”
Laney lowers her gaze. “The verbal abuse has. But tonight is the first time he hit me. I’ve been sleeping in the guest room for the past year.”
“I suspected you were having problems. I wish you’d told me.”
“I didn’t feel comfortable. He’s your brother.”
Ada’s lip curls in disgust. “He’s a monster. Will you press charges?”
Sorrow overcomes Laney’s battered face. “Not as long as he agrees to a divorce and promises to stay away from me.”
“I consider you family, Laney. I’m here for you, if you need anything at all.”
Laney winces when she tries to smile, her hand flying to her busted lip. “That means a lot. Thanks.”
Ada settles back in her chair. “I saw Bruce out in the hall. Is there something going on between you two?”
Laney’s eyes well. “We’re just friends. He’s been helping me through a difficult time. That’s not to say I don’t have feelings for him. But I have no intention of acting on those feelings until I’ve sorted out my life.”
“You’re a good person, Laney. I hope you one day find happiness,” Ada says, handing Laney the box of tissues from the table beside the bed.
Snatching a tissue from the box, Laney wipes her eyes and blows her nose. “How is Daniel? Has there been any word about his condition?”
“Not yet.” As the words leave Ada’s mouth, Enzo’s picture appears on her phone’s screen. She accepts the call, but before she can say hello, he blurts, “Ada! The doctor’s here. Hurry.”
Ada jumps to her feet. “I’ve gotta run, Laney. The doctor’s updating the family now.” She kisses the tips of her fingers and presses them gently to Laney’s cheek. “Hang in there. I’ll check on you in a couple of days.”
Ada runs down the hallway, out into the waiting room, and past the line of people waiting for the elevator. Locating the stairwell, she takes the stairs two at a time on the way up to the second floor. Her family is gathered around the doctor, who is speaking technical terms in a serious tone.
Ada wedges between Enzo and Sheldon. “What’d I miss?” she whispers to Enzo.
“Nothing I understand,” Enzo says, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
The doctor, an attractive man in his fifties, rattles on in medical jargon about the different types of strokes.
Hugh finally snaps, “Get on with it, Doc. Describe our father’s condition in layman’s terms.”
The doctor glowers at Hugh. “Your father is stable, but not out of the woods yet. We won’t know what physical impairments the stroke has caused until he regains consciousness. Since the stroke affected the left side of his brain, I expect him to have some paralysis on the right side with the potential for memory loss and difficulty speaking. Without question, he’s facing a long and difficult recovery ahead. You might as well go home. There’s nothing more you can do for him tonight.”
“When can we see him?” Hugh asks.
“If you’re willing to wait, you can probably see him tonight—although he’s unconscious and won’t know you’re here.” The doctor tucks his iPad under his arm and leaves the waiting room.
Hugh drops to his chair. “Y’all can go home. I’ll stay with Dad.”
Ada leans down and whispers to Hugh, “Because you no longer have a home to go to, you wife beater.”
Ada and Enzo walk with the others out of the hospital. Charles and Hazel peel off toward their car while everyone else congregates in the middle of the dark parking lot.
“What’re we supposed to do now?” Casey asks.
Sheldon pulls his wife close. “Ollie can attest to how much of a basket case I’ve been these past few weeks when I thought Dad was dying from colon cancer. I can’t go through that again. For the sake of my pregnant wife, I have to emotionally detach for now.”
Ada shivers, chilled by the approaching cold front. “I hate seeing anyone suffer. Including Daniel. But his stroke doesn’t change how I feel about him. Not after all he’s put me through these past few months.”
Casey’s eyes shine. “I agree. I’ve been a wreck since Daniel came into my life. It’s best if I distance myself from him and focus on my work.” She looks at Luke, and he thumbs a tear off her cheek.
Ada’s heart warms. The two make a cute couple. She’s thrilled her new friend has someone to help her sort out her life post-Daniel.
Sheldon says, “Since the three of us are out of the picture, we can let Hugh deal with Dad’s recovery. He’s moving into The Nest for the time being, anyway, while they determine the conditions of the divorce. Focusing on Dad will be good for him. Not that I really care what is good for Hugh.”
“Me either. Not after what he did to Laney.” Ada offers the group a sad smile. “I don’t want to lose touch with you guys, especially now that we’re growing closer.”
Ollie’s aqua eyes brighten. “This is as good a time as any to start our Sunday suppers. Everyone is invited to dinner at Foxtail tomorrow night,” she says, and they part with hugs and words of encouragement.
On the way to the truck, Ada says to Enzo, “There was a time when I relished revenge. But I feel like the most insensitive person on the planet right now. There is no pleasure in ganging up against Daniel.”
“Don’t think of it as revenge, Ada. Think of it as self-preservation.”
Ada pauses a beat as she considers his suggestion. “You’re right, Enzo. That’s exactly what Daniel would do if the situation were reversed.”