Safe Haven (The Protectors Book 1) Page 19

  She sent Tank a reassuring smile before looking at the monitor. “There you go. You’re doing really well.”

  By the time the color had returned to James’s face, the nurse had taken his blood pressure and paged a doctor.

  Tank admired the calm efficiency of her actions. She moved between his dad and his monitors with an ease that only came with experience.

  His dad muttered something from behind his mask.

  The nurse moved closer and lifted the mask off his face. “I didn’t hear what you said, Mr. Warner. Could you repeat it for me?”

  “I haven’t been able to sleep,” his dad said slowly.

  “Don’t worry. That’s perfectly normal when you’ve come from the Intensive Care Unit. It’s a lot quieter in the Heart Center so you should be able to rest.” The nurse lowered the mask and spoke quietly to him, encouraging him to breathe deeply and relax.

  “Well done, Mr. Warner. You’re doing great.”

  The curtain around the bed opened again and the doctor they’d seen this morning glanced at James.

  While the nurse explained what had happened, Tank silently watched what was going on. He looked at the monitor, studied the beat of his dad’s heart as the red and green lines moved across the screen.

  The doctor asked his dad all kinds of questions. By the time he left, James’s heart rate was slower and his breathing less labored.

  The nurse straightened the blanket on his bed. “I’ll be back in five minutes, Mr. Warner. If you need me, push the red button beside your pillow.”

  After the nurse had gone, Tank sat in the chair beside his dad’s bed.

  “Call your mom,” James murmured. “Ask her to bring me a fishing magazine.”

  “Fishing?”

  “I’ll need to do something when I’m home.”

  Tank had never seen his dad fish. He’d never stayed at Safe Haven or encouraged either of his sons to spend time beside a river or on a boat. “I saw some magazines in the gift shop earlier. I’ll see if there are any fishing ones.”

  “Your mom told me you’re dating Hayley. She seems like a nice person.” His dad took another deep breath and sighed. “It’s about time you found someone special. That last girlfriend of yours…”

  “That was a long time ago.”

  “You don’t have to tell me how long it’s been. Your mom and I were beginning to think we’d never have grandbabies.”

  Tank felt a blush work its way over his face. “We’re not that serious.”

  “That’s what I told my father when I started dating your mom. Thirty-nine years later we’re still together.”

  “Can I ask you a question about granddad?”

  James nodded.

  “Why did you disagree with each other all the time?”

  Tank’s throat tightened at the deep sorrow in his dad’s eyes. “Your granddad saw life differently to me and I was too stubborn to meet him halfway. We forgot how to talk without arguing.”

  “Did you see granddad before he died?”

  “Your mom and I went straight to the hospital after his heart attack. He was too sick to talk.” His dad’s voice thickened and tears filled his eyes. “I told him I was sorry and that I loved him. I don’t know if he heard me, but I hope he did.”

  “When we were at the cabin, granddad used to tell us stories about when you were a boy.”

  “He did?”

  “He said you used to have competitions to see who could catch the biggest fish. When we asked why you didn’t come to Safe Haven he said that sometimes love is easier from a distance.”

  His dad wiped tears off his face. “We spent most of our lives arguing with each other. It wasn’t worth it.”

  “I know.”

  His dad reached for Tank’s hand. “I love you. I don’t want to make the same mistakes I made with my father.”

  Tank took a deep breath. “We’ll work on it together.”

  His dad nodded. “I need to tell you something. I’m proud of what you’ve done with your life. You haven’t upset me—it was David. I still can’t believe he was selling drugs. You were doing your job when he was shot. I’m just sorry he was there. If he’d told us what was going on…”

  Tears filled Tank’s eyes. “David didn’t want help.”

  “I don’t understand why he got involved with drugs.”

  “No one will ever know, dad.”

  The nurse came into the room pushing a cart filled with needles.

  A shiver passed through Tank’s body. “It’s time for me to leave. I’ll be back soon with your magazines.” He leaned toward his dad and gently hugged him.

  His dad’s arms tightened around Tank’s chest. “Let your mom know that I’m okay and tell her not to rush back. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Do you think she’ll listen to me?”

  “Probably not,” his dad said with a smile. “She has selective hearing—it’s why I love her so much.”

  As he left the Heart Center, Tank smiled. His mom and Hayley had a lot in common.

  And putting up with stubborn, assertive males was only the beginning.

  ***

  Hayley sipped her hot chocolate and listened to her sister talk about her wedding plans. Angel Wings Café was so busy they’d been lucky to find a table.

  “Becky O’Donaghue sent me some ideas for the flowers.” Sophie took her cell phone out of her bag and flicked through her emails. “What do you think about daisies and gerberas? We could choose bright, pretty colors that would look lovely with whatever dress you wear.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Sophie moved her chair close to Hayley and showed her the photos. “A couple of the bridal bouquets are a bit over-the-top. This one’s my favorite.”

  Hayley looked at the simple bouquet and frowned. “It’s beautiful, but shouldn’t you choose your dress first?”

  “I thought about that. Flowers are easier for me visualize. If I have the flowers organized, it will give the dress designer an idea of what I want.”

  “What would your dress look like if you had that bouquet?”

  “It would be simple, white, and make me look fabulous.”

  Hayley laughed at the grin on her sister’s face. “You’ll look fabulous in whatever dress you wear.”

  “You’re biased.”

  “I am, but it’s true.”

  Sophie put her phone away and closed her notebook. “Now it’s your turn.”

  “What for?”

  “Show me your sketchbook. I’ve heard a lot of good things about your fashion design school. I want to see for myself what you’re doing.”

  “I knew there was an ulterior motive for asking me here after my last class.” She reached into her bag and pulled out her sketch book. “My other books are at home. This will give you an idea of what I’m doing.”

  “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  Hayley didn’t know how to begin to tell her sister how amazing the course was. “Each time I walk into class, I’m excited. We’re learning so much. Most classes are focused on fashion design, but others are about equally important subjects. This semester we’ve been learning about starting a small business. Someone from the IRS talked to us about income tax and another person showed us a simple accounting system. After Christmas, we’re going to look at marketing and building a social media presence.”

  “Sounds like a great course.”

  “It is. Did you know that Emily Green started her company from her spare bedroom?”

  “You’re not hinting that you want me to move out, are you?”

  Hayley opened her sketchbook and smiled. “I’m not ready to start a business. But if I’m renting the house we’re in when I am ready, I’ll definitely turn your bedroom into my work area.”

  Sophie looked through the first few pages. “These are good.”

  “I sketched those dresses last year.”

  “Wow.” Sophie’s mouth dropped open.

  The designs her sister was studying were so
me of Hayley’s favorites. The dresses were whimsical, soft and feminine. “When mom and I were in Fort Wayne I decided to try something different. Up until then, I designed daytime outfits. I wanted dresses that had more drama and pizazz.”

  “That doesn’t describe these dresses.”

  “I know. After playing with different ideas, I realized that I don’t do drama very well.”

  Sophie laughed. “Considering you were in Fort Wayne hiding from some nasty people, I’d say you do drama incredibly well.”

  “Maybe that’s why my designs didn’t work. There was too much happening. Anyway, I switched to more flowing gowns and these are the designs I came up with.”

  Sophie pointed to the heading under each dress. “You’ve named each gown?”

  “It helps when I’m designing them, sort of like choosing the flowers before your wedding dress.”

  “Tell me about this one.” Sophie pointed to a full-length, chiffon-beaded gown.

  “It’s called Sunshine,” Hayley said. She touched the fabric sample on the opposite page. “This chiffon is made in a factory in Italy. The owner hand-dyes each order. Feel how soft it is.”

  Sophie touched the fabric. “It’s such a pretty shade of yellow.”

  “It’s called lemon sorbet. I layered the chiffon skirt into soft folds and added diamante stones to catch the sunlight. The bodice is more structured but still feminine. It would be a lovely dress to wear.”

  “It’s beautiful. Can you make it for me in this color?”

  “For an evening dress?”

  “No—for my wedding dress. It will be perfect.”

  Hayley looked at the design, then at her sister. “You could ask any designer in the world to make your dress.”

  “I don’t want any designer. I want you to make it.”

  Hayley wiped her hands on the legs of her jeans. “You might not like it once I’ve finished. The color of the chiffon might be wrong or there could be something you don’t like.”

  “I like the design, so that won’t be a problem. We could fly to Italy and meet the owner of the company. He could show us what the color of the fabric would look like.”

  “We can’t do that. It’s a total waste of money. Mr. Rossi will send us a sample and we can approve it from here.”

  Sophie grinned. “Ryan keeps reminding me that he’s a billionaire. He’ll be happy to send us to Italy for a week or two.”

  “No, definitely not. I don’t care how much money he has. We can do everything from Montana.”

  “Does that mean you’re making my wedding dress?”

  “I guess it does. Do you know how amazing this is? I’m making Ryan Evans’s fiancée’s wedding gown. I’ll be a nervous wreck before it’s finished.”

  “Just remember that you’re making your sister’s wedding gown. If you get stressed, I’ll take you for a walk around Emerald Lake. It’s so pretty that you’ll be back to normal in no time. And since we’re talking about stress, how’s Tank?”

  Hayley leaned her elbows on the table and sighed. “I’m not sure. He called me last night. His dad’s still in the Heart Center and doing better than he was a few days ago.”

  “That’s good news, isn’t it?”

  “It should be, but I’m worried about Tank. He seems more withdrawn than he’s ever been.”

  “His family is having a hard time.” Sophie put her hand on Hayley’s arm. “The story about his brother must have really upset them. Do you think anyone will find the missing money?”

  “I don’t know. Tank said there’s an investigation underway, but no one knows how much money is involved. The police searched his parents’ home. Their computers and any personal items of David’s were taken away.”

  “Do the police think Tank’s parents are hiding the money?”

  Hayley shrugged her shoulders. “I have no idea. They’re probably looking for any information they can find.”

  “When is Tank coming home?”

  “At the weekend. He’s going back to Denver the following week. Did you know that he has post traumatic stress disorder?”

  “It doesn’t surprise me. Anyone who’s served overseas must carry some kind of trauma around with them. They see and do things that most of us would never have to deal with in our lifetime.”

  Hayley closed her sketchbook. “I was worried about him after we saw his parents in Denver. When he went back the second time, his dad was really upset. I don’t know what to do to help.”

  “Have you asked Tank what he needs?”

  “I tried to, but he tells me he’s okay.”

  “You could wait until he’s back at the weekend. Sometimes it’s easier talking in person.”

  Hayley didn’t know if that would help. “He has trouble expressing his feelings.”

  “That’s not just a Tank thing,” her sister said with a frown. “Most men have the same problem.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel better.”

  “But it might help you understand him.”

  “Was your life ever this complicated?”

  Sophie smiled. “When you fall in love your life is always more complicated. If you really love the person you’re with, it’s worth working through the tough times. Just be sure he’s the right person.”

  “When did you become so wise?”

  “About the same time you arrived in Montana. Ryan and I haven’t always agreed with each other and sometimes he’s just plain crazy, but I love him.”

  Hayley thought about what Sophie had said. She’d talk to Tank at the weekend and try not to worry about him. In the meantime, she had an assignment to work on, a mom who wanted to join the local country music club, and a wedding dress to make.

  It was just another typical day in the Elliott household.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Tank climbed out of his Porsche and walked to the front door of John Fletcher’s home.

  He needed to talk to John about work and figure out how he was going to keep helping his mom and dad. But most importantly, he needed to talk about Hayley.

  The door opened before he had a chance to ring the bell.

  “Hi, Tank.” Bella, John’s nine-year-old daughter, grinned at him from the doorway. “Dad’s on the phone. You can come in if you want to.”

  He followed Bella through to the kitchen. Out of habit, he glanced at the monitor attached to the wall. All three external cameras were pointing where they should be.

  “What have you been doing, munchkin?”

  “Homework.” She showed him her workbook. “We have to write a story about the best thing we’ve ever done.”

  “What did you write about?”

  “The sleigh ride at Sally and Todd’s wedding. It was wonderful. Did you know that Mr. O’Grady, the man who owns the sleigh, came to our school a few days later. He brought his horses and showed everyone pictures of the wedding.”

  “Have you managed to convince your dad that he needs to buy you a horse?”

  “No, but Rachel thinks it’s a good idea.”

  Rachel was John’s fiancée. If Rachel thought it was a good idea, then Tank knew it would only be a matter of time before a horse trailer pulled up outside his home. From the grin on Bella’s face, she knew it, too.

  Bella opened the pantry and took out a glass jar. “Do you want a cookie? I made them yesterday after school.”

  He looked in the jar and took a cookie. “I’m impressed.”

  “They’re chocolate chip and cranberry.” She slid the jar onto the kitchen counter. “It’s my birthday next week. Can you come to my party? Tanner will be there, and Rachel is making my cake, but don’t tell her I know. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

  Tank bit into his cookie. “Where are you having your party?”

  “Here. Dad thought it would be easier for everyone.”

  “Good thinking.”

  “You could bring your gun,” Bella whispered. “My friends have never met a bodyguard. You could tell them what you do.”

&
nbsp; “Guns aren’t toys, Bella. I only take my gun out of its holster when I need to protect someone.”

  “I know,” she sighed. “I was just wondering, that’s all. So, will you come to my party? You could leave your gun at home.”

  John cleared his throat. “What’s this about a gun?”

  Bella smiled and took a cookie across to her dad. “I asked Tank if he could come to my birthday party. But don’t worry—he’s not bringing his gun.”

  “Glad to hear it.” John looked at Tank. “Come into my office. Rachel’s upstairs getting something ready for The Bridesmaids Club.”

  “We’ve got a fitting before dinner,” Bella said proudly. “It’s not for us, though. We’ve already got our dresses. It’s for another bride and her six bridesmaids. I can’t wait.”

  “What do you have to do before you leave?” John asked.

  “My homework,” Bella grumbled. “I’m almost finished.”

  John ruffled his daughter’s hair. “That’s great. I’ll be in my office if you need me.”

  Bella jumped onto a kitchen stool. “Okay. Remember my birthday party, Tank. It starts at four o’clock on Friday.”

  “I’ll do my best to be here.”

  She grinned, then went back to her homework.

  John led the way to his office. “What time did you arrive in Bozeman?”

  “About an hour ago. I went home and did a few things before I came here.”

  “How’s your dad?”

  Tank sat in one of John’s office chairs. “He’s doing okay. His cardiologist is happy with his progress. If everything goes well, he should be home by Tuesday.”

  “Has your dad mentioned anything about your brother?”

  “He’s still upset about the drugs. He blames himself for what happened.”

  “Must be a family trait.”

  Tank shrugged. “We’re working through a few other things. The police are working with the FBI to track down David’s money. So far, they haven’t found anything.”

  “Or nothing they want to tell you about,” John said. “The police and FBI aren’t the only ones looking for the money. The CIA is investigating David’s possible connection to another drug ring.”