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Stephen had gone on and on about how people like them weren’t meant to be parents.
Please, God, don’t let him be right.
“DON’T YOU EVER LEAVE?”
Garret looked up from his desk to see Tobias Richardson standing in the doorway. Turning so that Toby could see the phone he held pressed to his ear, Garret reluctantly waved his friend in and tried to push through his distraction to concentrate on the hospital president’s words.
But every time he closed his eyes he remembered the look on Darcy’s face, the feel of her fingers holding on to his. It had only been a moment, several minutes at most, but something about it had gotten to him.
“I want something done and I want it donenow.”
Harold Pierson growled the words into Garret’s ear and jerked him from his thoughts. His boss wasn’t a patient man, and the fact it was midnight on a Friday only seemed to increase Harry’s insistence that his demands be met.
Garret rubbed his forehead, pen in hand. “I spoke with maintenance before I called. The problem’s been taken care of.”
“You’re sure?”
If Harry would leave well enough alone, then yeah, Garret was sure. “Yes. I also had the men double-check the generators and the salt supplies. Everything’s taken care of. Trust me on this and try to enjoy your weekend.”So I can enjoy mine.
“What about the meeting Monday morning? Are those idiots still driving down from Nashville?”
As of January first, Beauty Medical Center had become a branch location for a much larger university hospital based in Nashville. According to Harry, the merger was the death knell of all they held dear. Garret knew enough to keep his mouth shut about his belief that the change was the best thing to happen to the town and the hospital. “I’ll contact you once I know the meeting’s status.”
“Are you spending the night to keep an eye on things?”
He didn’t doubt Harry would like for him to do just that. But having put in nearly eighty hours this week, the last thing Garret wanted to do was sleep here. Bad enough he hadn’t gotten any work done until after Harry had left. Once he knew Darcy was okay and the roads had another layer of salt on them, he was out of here. “If there’s a problem, I’ll handle it over the phone or drive back in.”
Toby grunted at his statement, and Garret shot him a warning glare. Garret didnotneed Harry to overhear Toby’s mutters. Harry didn’t like Toby for the sole reason that he thought Toby had overstepped his humble upbringing by becoming an attorney.
Well, that and the lawn incident. Twenty years ago Toby’s mom—Harry’s housekeeper for a very brief period of time—had arranged for her son to mow Harry’s lawn. He had watched Toby the entire six hours required to mow and weed the yard. When Toby had finished, Harry had refused to pay because he claimed Toby had done it wrong. In retaliation, Toby had dumped the day’s accumulation of grass clippings in the pool.
“If that SOB in maintenance spouts his nonsense again—”
“I’ve taken care of everything.” Garret opened the desk drawer and searched through the Tums, Alka-Seltzer and peppermints for something to ease his pounding head.
“Fine, then. You take care of things but keep me posted. I’m counting on you, Garret.”
“I know, sir. I won’t let you down.”
Toby grunted again. “Suck up.”
“You’re a good man,” Harry said. “Jocelyn complained the other day that I’m working you too hard, but I assured her you were only doing your job.”
Garret concentrated on Harry’s first comment and ignored the second. He was doing his job plus the majority of Harry’s. Over the years Harry had piled more and more on Garret’s shoulders. Now Harry had a damn good golf swing and Garret practically ran this place without receiving any credit.
Don’t get too big for your britches. You do that and you’ll end up going naked cause nothin’ fits your ego.
Garret pinched the bridge of his nose, a smile pulling at one side of his mouth. Man, he missed Grandpa. “I’ll be sure to call Joss tomorrow.”
“You do that. She’s been working quite a bit herself lately. Her mother thinks it’s because she’s lonely and missing you with all the hours you’re putting in on the merger. But I’m thinking it’s something else entirely.”
“Something else, sir?” He ignored Toby’s impatient glance at his watch. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing you can’t fix. Did you know I proposed to my Charlotte on Valentine’s Day? This year will be twenty-nine years. The date’s creeping up, you know.”
The hint wasn’t subtle. Neither were any of the others Harold had dropped over the past year. “I believe you’ve mentioned that.”
Harry’s booming voice had to be carrying to Toby’s ears. Garret swung sideways in the office chair in a poor attempt to gain some privacy.
