Page 8 of The Map Home
“I’m glad someone came to visit him. He’s been quite agitated this morning,” Evan said.
“You mean a pain in the butt?” Tad said.
Evan grinned. “Yes, that.”
Tad made his way down the hallway to room 119 and tapped on the door.
“What is it now? I don’t want any more of that cra—stuff you call food around here.”
Tad pushed open the door and past the privacy curtain.
“You know, I’ve heard that a person gets more flies with honey.”
Curtis beamed at him even though it was clear to Tad he was in pain. “Tad Gillespie, you’re a sight for sore eyes. For public record, I don’t want flies. All I ask for is a decent meal.”
“I think they keep the quality down so patients don’t want stay too long,” Tad joked. “What’s the news?” He gestured to Curtis’s right leg, which was still in a temporary splint.
“Broken this, that, and everything else. Some kind of spiral fracture, they’re saying. If it’s not broken, it hurts anyway. Doc Hammond is taking me for surgery on my leg tomorrow, I think. Sounds like I’ll be put back together with titanium rods and screws.”
“You’ll be good as new.”
“One would hope better. My parts are getting old, so I guess I’m getting an upgrade.”
“So,” Tad said, “were you serious last night? About me keeping an eye on The Chronicle while you’re out?”
“Damn straight I was. Am. Sweeting can’t be left to her own devices. Who knows what she’ll get up to if no one is there to keep an eye on her? There’s a story I’m working on about water rights. Also, a guy named Peter Kline keeps popping up in my inquiries. He’s new around here, might be part of a development company, and I want to know whose pockets he’s lining. Also, can you keep on top of the fun events, like the tree lighting on Saturday? All the kitschy stuff.”
“Why do you keep Honey on anyway?” Tad asked.
“Money,” Curtis answered gruffly. “It’s always money, isn’t it? Honey married my business partner, and when he passed away, she inherited his shares. I’ve tried to buy her out, but that woman is stubborn.”
Evan poked his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, but the doc is starting her rounds.”
“Okay, thanks for letting me in to see him.” Tad turned back to Curtis. “I’ll check back in with you tomorrow.”
“Call first,” Evan said. “We can let you know if he’s awake.”
“Sure thing. Um.” He looked at the man in the hospital bed. “I’ll try to come by after your surgery, Curtis. But if you want me to take pictures and stuff, I should get to the craft fair early.”
“Thanks, kid,” Curtis said with a frown. “Honey is not sweet, regardless of her name. I don’t trust her and neither should you. Just visit when you can.”
Tad was pretty sure Curtis was covering up his fear of the upcoming surgery by obsessing over his paper. He didn’t blame him.
“It’s tradition,so you’d better be here,” Tad repeated, feeling the slightest bit grouchy. It was late but he’d held off calling Dakota all day since Tad knew he was working a double. He wished he’d gotten him to say yes to the bonfire at the pub last night.
“Or else what?” Dakota demanded, sounding suspicious.
Tad was too stuffed, full to bursting with the traditional dishes his parents had cooked for the holiday meal, to come up with a good argument. He just wanted Dakota to be at the fire. Spending time with Dakota was Tad’s number one favorite activity.
Now, if Dakota would just open his eyes andseeTad as more than the rich kid whose family took him in all those years ago, that would be awesome. Instead, Dakota had built a wall thicker and higher than the Great Wall of China around his heart. As obvious—or subtle—as Tad tried to be, Dakota remained resolute, refusing to even acknowledge that they might be good together.
“Or else what, what?” Tad repeated, officially irritated.
“Youimpliedan ‘or else.’”
“I did not. Just. Be here, okay?” Tad really was grumpy now. “Mom has been after me for days. She’s calling you too, by the way.” Tad wasn’t against bringing out the big guns when it came to Dakota Green. “Fair warning though, even Boone is supposedly showing up.”
The attendance of Big Boone, as Tad’s older brother was known, was not one of the arguments that would bring Dakota to the bonfire tomorrow. Ever since they were kids, Booneenjoyed needling Dakota, and Dakota had never been very good at ignoring his efforts.
