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Five days after Flora’s operation, Brody drove her home to Cliffside Bay. Despite his worries, Flora had come through her operation with no issues. The surgeons had assured him that she had done as well as anyone could hope for. They’d extracted the tumor without damaging any nerves or tissue. As long as she followed up with radiation, her prognosis was good. Looking at her as he turned into the driveway, it was hard to believe that she’d even had surgery. They’d shaved only the section of hair at the back of her skull, which Flora admitted to feeling great relief over. “I assumed they’d shave my whole head. I bet you didn’t know how vain I am, did you?”
As far as he was concerned, she could be as vain as she wanted. He just wanted her well.
A cloudless sky and temperatures in the upper sixties added to their buoyant moods as they arrived at the house. Kara must have heard their car because she was already crossing the driveway. His stomach fluttered when she opened Flora’s door and peered in at them. “It’s so good to see you two.”
“Do I look like they sliced open my head just days ago?” Flora asked.
“Not at all,” Kara said. “You look spectacular.”
They each took one of Flora’s arms and escorted her into the house. His mother was right inside the door. She started to cry the moment she saw Flora. “I’m so relieved you’re home.”
“I told you not to worry.” Flora grasped his mother’s hand. “You can’t keep someone as ornery as me down for long.”
They guided Flora to her bedroom, keeping her close to make sure she didn’t fall. Doctor’s orders were for bed rest for at least another week, other than short walks around the house. The ladies had filled Flora’s room with fresh flowers. A box of her favorite chocolates was on the bedside table, along with a stack of paperback mysteries.
“Would you care for something to eat?” Kara asked as she helped Flora get settled into the bed.
“I’m starving. The hospital food wasn’t fit for a dog, let alone an old lady with a hole in her head.”
“You do not have a hole,” Brody said. “They stitched you right up.”
“I’ve made my famous Italian wedding soup in honor of your homecoming,” Kara said.
“Famous? I haven’t heard of it.” But Flora didn’t have the same edge she once did when talking about Kara’s food. Kara had coaxed it out of her. “I’ll have a huge bowl, along with some bread, please.”
He left his mom with Flora and followed Kara to the kitchen. The aroma of Italian spices filled the room. “That smells amazing,” he said. “Do I get some or just the patient?”
“You can have a little, I suppose.” Kara took the top off a large pot on the stove and ladled some into a bowl. She pointed to a baguette on the counter. “Would you mind cutting some bread for me?”
Brody found a serrated knife in the holder and used it to cut two slices. “How’s Mom been?”
“Quite well.” Kara’s raised her eyebrows suggestively. “The good doctor’s been here every day since you left.”
Brody turned to face her, holding the knife in the air. “What do you mean by here? Like to check on her?”
“Not exactly. These visits were more of the personal variety.”
“Like a date?”
“She asked him over for dinner the night of Flora’s surgery.” Kara set a bowl of steaming soup on the tray and looked up at him with sparkling eyes. “I made dinner and lit candles then scooted out of the house, so they could have alone time. I spent hours with Honor and do you know he was still here when I got home?”
He tossed the slices of bread on the tray. “Why did you do that?” His voice had raised both in decibel and volume. A romantic dinner?
“What do you mean?” Her eyes widened. She picked up the tray but continued to look at him with an alarmed expression.
“You didn’t have to make it so easy for them.”
Her eyebrows knitted into a scowl. “Your mother’s an adult.”
“Please, don’t tell me he’s been staying over.” He clenched his teeth.
“You mean having sex?” She set the tray back on the counter.
“That’s exactly what I mean.” It was bad enough that Doctor Waller was here every night, but if his mother had allowed him in her bed—he didn’t even know how to finish that thought.
“How would I know that? I’m not here to play police over your mom.”
“Someone has to be.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” she said.
“You’re out of line.”
She flinched at the harsh sound in his voice. “Don’t you want her to be happy? Did you see how she has her spark back?”
“I don’t give a flying squirrel about her spark.”
She stared at him like he was a monster in a freak show. After a moment, she spoke quietly, but with utter conviction. “That’s very selfish of you.”
How dare she? What did she know about anything? This was his family. She was a stranger here, not part of the family. “Selfish? You’re not even a permanent part of this family. You’re temporary staff. I’m away taking care of Flora and you’re arranging dinner dates for my mother?”
She backed away from the counter with her fists clenched. “I wasn’t arranging anything. Your mother’s a grown woman enjoying the company of a grown man. And, whether I’m a permanent member of this family or not doesn’t mean you can speak so rudely. I’m here to do a job and if you don’t like the way I do things, then go ahead and fire me.”
“You can’t just make my mother your mother because you don’t have one.”
Kara let out an audible gasp. Instantly, he knew what he’d said was horrible, but he was too angry to take it back or apologize.
“I need to get this to Flora.” The silverware on the tray rattled as she headed out the kitchen door.
He hurled the baguette across the room. What was wrong with him? Kara was right. He was selfish. He had no right to speak to her the way he had. The comment about his mother—it was awful. That was all he could say. He had no defense for himself. He knew her well enough to know how deeply she missed her mother and how his comment must have stung. I am a complete and utter jerk.
Brody sank to the floor. He’d always liked and respected Doctor Waller. He was the father of his best friend, but the thought of him with his mother was incomprehensible. It hurt. It made him act like a lunatic. If his dad were here, he could talk this through with him. Ridiculous. If he were here, his mother wouldn’t be entertaining another man.
Why wasn’t he here? How could he have left them so early? After all the years of hard work and their shared dreams, how could his dad have missed the Super Bowl? It wasn’t fair. Brody had done everything right. Kept his nose clean and worked harder than everyone else. He should have gotten to share that moment with his dad.
Brody covered his face with his hands. A sob escaped, but he swallowed it. Sobbing would do no good. His dad was gone. They all had to move on. His mother was right. Why was he the only one who couldn’t seem to?
Dad, can you explain to me why the hell Kara gets under my skin?
But his dad wasn’t here and never would be again. He had to go it alone. He had to figure out how to be an adult instead of a spoiled child.
The first thing he needed to do was apologize to Kara before she left them for good.