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The Last Hard Boy (The Hard Boys 3)

Page 27

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“I’m fine.”

Jane put the last shirt away in the bag, zipping it up. “He has everything now, doesn’t he?”

“I believe so,” Andy said. “There’s nothing left in this room.”

“Right, right. You’re completely stocked on groceries? You don’t need me to stop by with a few dishes I know he likes?”

“You can stop by any time you want to, Mrs. Hard.”

“No, don’t call me that. It is way too formal. Please, keep calling me Jane.”

“I … I hope you’re not angry with me,” she said.

“For wanting to take care of my son? No, I’m not angry. I’m nervous. This is the first time since he’s been a boy that he’s been close to sick.”

“I’m not sick,” Rome said.

“Injured and needing help. It’s the mother hen in me. I want to take care of all my babies. That is never going to change.”

Andy smiled.

Jane moved toward her and cupped her face. “I know you will take care of him. I see it in your eyes, the way you feel about him.”

She felt her cheeks start to heat and not just because his mother was holding him.

“I’m glad he has finally found someone he can love,” Jane said. “You’re going to be a wonderful addition to this family.”

Tears filled her eyes.

Andy glanced toward the door. “I do love him.” She whispered the words so only Jane could hear.

“I know,” Jane said. “But the person you need to tell is in there. Life is too short to keep waiting. You never know how fast it can change.”

She knew that. Rome could have been taken from her during the crash.

It was why she’d gone to the principal to ask for her vacation days to help Rome Hard. There had been no complications. The days were hers, and she’d helped the support teacher to continue with her teaching schedule.

The only place she wanted to be was with Rome.

The door opened and Jane stepped back, giving her space as Rome came out of the room.

With his leg, he had no choice but to walk on crutches. The first day he’d been in the hospital, it had been a wheelchair as he hadn’t had the strength to carry himself around. It was why the additional days were required.

“Are we ready to get this show on the road?” he asked.

Andy grabbed a bag, along with Theodore. Jane stepped forward to be near her son, and they left the bedroom. Cleaning staff were already on hand to get the room ready for the next person.

They walked to the elevator, waiting.

“So close,” Rome said.

His mother and father laughed.

Andy didn’t quite understand the joke.

They traveled to the ground floor and were outside within minutes. A fresh layer of snow had fallen, and it crunched beneath their feet.

“Are you sure you’re okay with me driving?” Andy asked. “I won’t be offended if you want to have your parents drop you off at my place.”

“Andy, I trust you.”

Theodore and Jane put his bags in the trunk of her car. They each hugged Rome, helping him into the passenger side of her car before embracing her.

“We’re a phone call away,” Jane said.

“Thank you.”

After climbing behind the wheel, she pulled out of the parking spot and slowly drove home. She took her time.

“So, what’s the deal with you and hospitals?” she asked.

“I don’t like them.”

“Not even a little bit?”

“Nope. I know they’re good places and do good things, but I know they’re a sad place.” He shook his head. “I haven’t liked them since I was a kid.”

“Did something happen when you were a kid?” she asked.

“Nothing really. I guess I realized that’s where people go to get better, and if they don’t get well, they die.”

“Oh,” she said.

“Since then, I don’t want to go to hospitals. I can visit people, but I have to be able to leave.”

“I understand.” She reached over and placed a hand on top of his.

“You’re going slow. I could walk faster than this,” he said.

She was going slow, so slowly that even she could walk faster, but she didn’t care. His safety was most important to her.

“I know.”

“Andy, you can go a little quicker.”

“I know.”

“Why won’t you?” he asked.

“I don’t want to.” She smiled. “You’re the one who wanted me to take care of you. This is how I do it.”

“It’s going to be lunchtime by the time we get to your place.”

“Have you ever considered that that might be the idea?” she asked.

He chuckled. “Fine. I will leave myself in your very capable hands. Did you have much trouble at work?”

“Nope. I haven’t taken a single sick day in ten years, nor have I used any of my vacation days. I’m a boring person. I happen to like working and seeing as I’ll be taking care of you, they were more than happy to let me have the time off. I don’t know if it is because I’m such a hard worker, or they’re afraid of your mother.” She shrugged. “I didn’t question it.”



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