Playing For Keeps (Emerald Lake Billionaires 2) (27 page)

Hayley rolled her eyes. “Ignore him. He’s grouchy because he’s not going to have anyone to boss around.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Sophie asked.

“I’m as okay as I’m ever going to be. You don’t know how good it is to see you. When we moved from Fort Wayne, I was worried that someone would come after you. Tank took us so far into the wilderness that we couldn’t contact anyone.”

“Safe Haven isn’t exactly the wilderness,” Tank said without a smile.

“You’re right. It had a gas station and a store that doubled as a community center. I could have closed my eyes and pretended I was in Manhattan. It was a pity about the cell phone coverage. It kind of let the big city thing down.”

If Sophie didn’t know better, she would have sworn Tank blushed. “You didn’t seem that upset when we were at my cabin.”

Hayley opened her mouth, then closed it. “No. I guess I wasn’t.”

Before the room descended into an uncomfortable silence, Sophie gave Tank a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Tank. I don’t know how I can ever repay you for looking after my mom and sister.”

Tank glanced at Hayley.

A look that Sophie didn’t understand passed between them.

“It was my job to make sure they were safe,” he said.

Any lingering smile on Hayley’s face disappeared.

Sophie looked from her sister to Tank. She needed to make sure her mom was okay but later, when they were alone, she’d ask Hayley what was going on.

Her gaze settled on her mom. “Mom’s walking on her own?”

Hayley’s smile was instant. Whatever was going on with Tank was quickly forgotten. “She’s doing so well. The last two weeks have been incredible. I’ve kept notes.”

“There’s no need to talk about me as if I weren’t here.”

Sophie’s mouth dropped open. “Mom? Do you know where you are?”

Her mom looked around the room, then back at Sophie. “I’m in a police station. Tank is such a nice man.”

Sophie’s gaze connected with her sister.

Hayley nodded. “For some reason, mom remembers everything about Tank.”

Sophie watched her mom smile at her bodyguard. When her dementia had begun to get really bad, the only person she remembered was a girl she used to work with. She hadn’t seen Stephanie Williams for more than forty years, but she remembered every conversation they’d had as if it were yesterday.

The difference between Stephanie and Tank was that Tank wasn’t someone from her past. He was part of her present, and that was an aspect of her life she rarely remembered.

Sophie stepped close to her mom and rubbed her arm. “It’s good to see you. Can I give you a hug?”

“It’s about time. I thought I was going to have to wait until Christmas.”

Her eyes filled with tears as she hugged her mom. “You know who I am?”

Her mom’s arms tightened. “Of course I do. I’m your mother.”

Sophie kept hold of her mom. She knew it could be a long time before she recognized her again.

Her mom patted her back and stepped away. “Anyone would think I haven’t seen you in years. Have you finished painting your apartment?”

She tried to link what her mom had asked with what had happened in her life. When she’d moved into her own apartment, she’d taken some paint samples around to the nursing home to show her mom. In one of her more lucid moments, her mom helped her choose a soft green color for her walls.

“It’s all done. The color is really pretty.”

Her mom gave her an absent smile. It was the kind of smile that told Sophie she had no idea what color they’d chosen. Dementia had turned her mom’s brain into Swiss cheese. There were holes in the oddest places. Before her dementia left her almost bedridden, she would often remember parts of a memory, but not the whole story. Rather than push her mom to remember, it was kinder to move on and celebrate the parts of her life that she did know.

Tank pulled a chair out from the table. “Sit down, Alice. You’ve been standing for long enough.”

Without blinking an eye, Sophie’s mom sat in the plastic chair. “Thank you, Tank. And who do we have here?” She looked at John and Ryan.

John stepped forward and shook her mom’s hand. “John Fletcher, ma’am. Tank works for me.”

“Did I tell you what a lovely man he is?”

Rather than reply, John pointed to Ryan. “This is Ryan Evans. Sophie’s been working with him for the last few weeks.”

“You don’t look like a scientist. What kind of research do you do?”

“I’m not a scientist,” Ryan said. “I’m a musician.”

Sophie’s mom’s eyes widened. “A musician? My husband plays the piano. He has such a wonderful way with music. Every night before we go to bed he plays me a different song. Is Nathaniel meeting us here?”

“Dad got held up at work, mom,” Hayley replied. “He’ll be here later.”

Sophie watched her mom disappear into her own world. Their father had been dead for years, but for her mom, he was still alive.

Hayley wrapped her arm around Sophie’s waist. “She’ll be back. Sometimes it takes a day or two, but she’s getting better. Have you made more of the supplement?”

Ryan looked at Sophie and Hayley. “Before you start discussing the supplement, we need to work out where everyone’s sleeping tonight. Your mom looks tired.”

“Already sorted,” John said. “Tess has offered to have everyone at her house. We’ve got extra security guards in place to keep an eye on Sophie’s mom.”

Tank moved away from the door. “I’ll head back to my place after your mom is settled.”

A look of panic crossed Hayley’s face. “I thought you’d stay with us?”

“I have to go home some time. You’ll be fine with Sophie.” Tank moved across to their mom and held out his hand. “Come on, Alice. Let’s get you home.”

“Thank you, Tank. Have I told you what a nice man you are?”

“It’s always nice hearing it again.”

Sophie’s mom wrapped her hand around Tank’s elbow and walked slowly out of the room.

John picked up his jacket. “I’ll take Hayley and your mom to Tess and Logan’s home. Do you want to come with us, Sophie?”

“Yes, please.” Sophie watched her mom walk down the corridor with Tank. She looked so small and frail beside the big hulking mass of his body. But Tank’s size didn’t make any difference to the way he looked after her mother. His gentleness and compassion brought tears to her eyes.

John turned to Ryan. “I’ll wait for you in the parking lot, Sophie.”

When they’d gone, Ryan touched her shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“Okay, I guess. I’m glad Hayley and mom are safe.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? From where I’m standing you don’t look it.”

Sophie sighed. “I’m tired. In a few hours I’ll be feeling a lot better. You’ve got a big day ahead of you tomorrow.”

“I have?”

“The concert. By four o’clock tomorrow afternoon you’re going to have lots of screaming fans in your backyard. Emerald Lake will never be the same.”

Ryan took half a step forward and held her hands. “It hasn’t been the same since I found a woman on the side of the road.”

Sophie bit her bottom lip. “Don’t be too nice. I might cry all over your shirt.”

“My shirt will survive. Come here.” Ryan tugged her gently forward and Sophie fell against his chest.

She sobbed so hard that she didn’t know if she’d be able to stop. When most of the tears had disappeared, she wiped her eyes and hunted for a tissue. “My mascara will have run everywhere.”

“You’re not wearing any makeup.”

Sophie pulled a handful of tissues out of her pocket and blew her nose. “I must have known something this morning.”

“I’m going to miss you.”

Her eyes locked with Ryan’s. This was harder than when she’d left his home. She felt as though she was saying goodbye all over again. “I’m going to miss you, too.”

Ryan started to say something, but Sophie spoke over the top of him. “I need to leave. John will be waiting.”

He reached down and lifted Sophie’s bag off the floor. “Be safe. I’ll call you after the concert.”

Sophie leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Good luck.” And before he could say anything, she left the room and walked out of the police station.

Now that her mom and sister were safe she could plan the next part of her life. Except none of those plans could include a musician from Bozeman.

It was wishful thinking that they could ever be happy together. The kind of wishful thinking that fairy tales were made of.

***

Sophie spent the next day finding out what had happened to her mom and sister. The police were still searching for Carrie, and Tank made an unexpected appearance.

Sophie and Hayley had talked non-stop for most of the morning, keeping their mom entertained with their stories. Sophie’s mom drifted in and out of the conversation. At times she looked as though she was with them and at others, she seemed lost and alone.

As the day wore on, Sophie paid extra attention to her sister. Hayley was more reserved and serious than she’d ever been. It could have had everything to do with what had happened over the last few weeks, but Sophie didn’t think so.

From what Hayley hadn’t said, Sophie was beginning to think that Tank had a lot to do with how unsettled her sister was feeling.

After he’d arrived, Tank made sure their mom had everything she needed. He’d sat with her while she drunk another cup of the supplement and he’d taken her for a slow walk.

Sophie watched him from the living room window. He was talking quietly to her mom, making sure that each footstep was steady. “He’s a good man.” She turned to her sister and waited for Hayley to say something.

Hayley walked across the room and stood beside her. “When I first saw him I got the fright of my life. I thought he was trying to take mom away from the dementia unit. He was, but it was for the right reasons. For such a big guy, he’s very gentle.”

“Mom likes him.”

Hayley nodded. “It made it so much easier when we were moving between locations. Mom usually hates change, but Tank made it easier for her. I still don’t know why she recognizes Tank almost every time she sees him. It doesn’t make sense.”

“When has Alzheimer’s ever made sense? I’m just glad you’re both safe.” Sophie watched her mom and Tank for a few more minutes. “When we get home I’ll retest mom to see what difference the supplement has made.”

“By home, do you mean Chicago?”

Sophie turned from the window and sat on the sofa. “Why wouldn’t I mean Chicago?”

“I thought you liked it here. You could always stay.”

“It wouldn’t work. I’ve got to be close to a lab if I want to continue my research.”

“If a pharmaceutical company bought the rights to your formula, wouldn’t they be the ones continuing the research?”

Sophie leaned against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes. “I don’t know if anyone is ever going to be interested in the supplement. I haven’t heard from my lawyer and the patent for the formula hasn’t been approved. I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall.”

“But the supplement works. All anyone has to do is look at mom.”

“We know that, but even with the progress she’s made, no researcher will accept the results we have. I didn’t follow the correct procedure. Giving mom three cups of supplement each day is hardly scientific proof that it works.”

“It must count for something,” Hayley insisted. “Anyone with half a brain will be able to see the potential for what you’ve discovered.”

“Maybe. I’ll have a better chance of attracting a manufacturer once the formula is protected. I don’t know what I’m going to do if the patent office declines my application.”

Hayley sat down beside her. “Don’t even think about it. Have you called your lawyer to see if anything has happened?”

“Not for the last couple of days. I’m surprised he hasn’t had me arrested for harassment. The poor guy keeps getting desperate phone calls from me. After this is over, I owe him lunch.”

“I’m sure he’ll bill you accordingly,” Hayley said with a grimace. “Talking about money, do you need some more to cover the cost of Tank and everyone else?”

“I’ll let you know when I get John’s bill.”

Hayley leaped off the sofa and handed Sophie her laptop. “I’ve got a good feeling about this. Check your emails. If there’s nothing from your lawyer, we’ll call him. If he thinks one Elliott sister is bad enough, wait until he’s got two harassing him.”

Sophie opened her laptop and entered the password. “It’s a waste of time. No lawyer that I know works on a Saturday.”

“You might be surprised.” Hayley leaned over Sophie’s shoulder. When her emails downloaded she pointed to one of the messages. “There! Sixth from the top. Unless Baker, Jacobs, and Miller are online retailers, your lawyer has sent you an email.”

Sophie’s hand shook as she clicked on the message. She turned her laptop toward Hayley. “I’m too scared to read it.”

Hayley laughed. “You’ve been hiding from some nasty people, your mom and sister were nearly kidnapped, and you’re too scared to read an email?”