“I like Dad’s face when he’s just goofing around with me on the couch or asking me how I like my oatmeal. Or when he kisses me on the head before he leaves for work. Like just comfy stuff, you know?”
“Yeah…I think I do.” My smile is tender. “Do you miss going to any of your activities?”
“Sometimes,” she answers with a shrug. “I’ll probably go back and do some of the stuff because I kind of get tired of reading all the time. And imagination tennis is fun and all, but no offense, Cozy…you’re not as good at tennis as me, and I want to play someone who’s at my level.”
My belly shakes with the chortle that catches me completely off guard. “In my mind…I’m as good as the Williams sisters.”
“In my mind, you need some practice.” Everly giggles, and it makes me want to cry again. “So yeah, I think I want to go back to doing some stuff but just not all. I want to be medium busy.”
“Medium busy,” I repeat with a nod. “Sounds like a good balance.”
I try not to take it personally that an eleven-year-old might have a stronger grip on her mental health boundaries than I do.
“Yours is done!” Everly squeals and jumps up onto her feet to walk over to me. That tongue is sticking out again as she ties the bracelet in a knot around my wrist. She holds her wrist next to mine and smiles at our matching set. “Friends forever.”
“Friends forever,” I cry and then whoosh all the air out of her lungs when I yank her to my chest for a hug.
It’s too tight, it’s much too tight, but she’s still breathing, so she can take it. This child is one of a kind, and I will never forget how special she is.
My phone rings just as Everly begins gasping for breath. “You really like friendship bracelets!” she exclaims with a laugh. “I’m going to make Dad one now.”
She goes back to her work area as I glance down at my phone to see an unknown number. This might be the guy whose house I’m trying to rent, so I better answer it.
“I’m going to take this call, Everly.”
“Okay.” She waves me off.
“Hello?” I stand and walk over to my deck on the tiny house so Everly doesn’t overhear anything about me moving.
“Cassie?” a familiar female voice echoes through the line.
“Paisley?” My throat feels tight.
“You recognized my voice,” she says with a sigh. “I’m impressed.”
My brow is furrowed as a chill shoots up my spine. “How did you get my number?” I inquire because Paisley only ever had my work cell phone number, and my cell is still boxed up in storage somewhere.
She clears her throat nervously. “Um…I got it from Max Fletcher.”
“Max?” I repeat, my pulse increasing instantly at the mention of his name. “When?”
“A few days ago. He was here at the office for a meeting.”
“Was he?” I state knowingly, my lips pursing in disappointment. Clearly, Max is still going through with the merger, and that thought sends a shiver of sadness through my body. I know I told him not to make any business decisions for me, but deep down, I wanted him to care about me enough to kill the merger. I know that makes me a hypocrite because he told me he loved me, and I pushed him away…but I guess I’m a fool in the name of love.
If I needed a sign to know that there’s no chance with Max and me, then this is it.
Paisley’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “He cornered me in my cubicle and went off on me about everything that happened.”
“Did something happen with the merger?” I ask, wondering if Max’s actions toward Jenson put the deal in jeopardy.
“No…he went off on me about you.”
Chills climb over my scalp. “What about me?”
“He mentioned your…stroke,” Paisley replies, her voice tremoring on the end as she rushes out, “Cassie, I had no idea you had a fucking stroke. My God, I was sick when Max told me. Jenson told everyone at the office that it was an anxiety attack, and we were the ones who triggered you, and we should leave you the fuck alone.”
My eyes fill with tears. “Are you kidding me?”
“No! He legit threatened our jobs if he found out about any of us contacting you. I felt like a monster over how protective Jenson was being of you. I had no idea he was lying.”
“Paisley, this can’t be real.”
“It is, Cas. Jesus…if I’d known you wanted us to reach out to you, I would have been at that hospital in a heartbeat. I can’t stop picturing them wheeling you out on a stretcher. It had to be completely terrifying for you.”