Page 9 of His to Love
Chapter Five
Patton
Hailey came to my office, just as I’d asked her to do if Alexa called in sick again. It would be the third day in a row, and I’d decided I’d make a visit to her if she still wasn’t feeling well. “She called?”
Nodding, she leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “She said she’s still experiencing nausea and won’t be coming in today. I told her that you want to speak to her and that you’ve called her a couple of times. She said to tell you she’s been sleeping a lot and that’s why she’s missed your calls.”
Picking up my cell, I called her again. “You just spoke to her, right?”
“I did. I’ve got a client coming in. If you need anything just shoot me a text.” She left as I sat there, waiting to see if Alexa would answer my call this time.
Three rings in, it went to voicemail. I hadn’t wanted to bring her brother into things, but she left me no choice. If she was sick this long, she needed to see a doctor. I wouldn’t take no for an answer.
So, I made the call I hadn’t wanted to make. “Morning, Patton. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
His tone was chipper, and I hated that I was probably about to take all that happiness away. “When’s the last time you talked to your sister?”
“I don’t like that question at all.”
I knew he wouldn’t. “I don’t like asking it either, if that makes you feel any better. Alexa went home early three days ago with a stomachache and she’s called in the last two days, saying she’s still not feeling well. I’ve called and texted her quite a few times in the last two days but she hasn’t answered my calls or responded to my texts. So, I’d like to know if she’s talked to you or your parents about anything. Is she unhappy with the job? Is that it? Because I won’t be angry with her if she doesn’t love the job and wants to quit. Or maybe she’s really sick and needs to see a doctor, which I’d be more than happy to arrange for her if that’s the case.”
“Let me call my mother then I’ll call you back. I’m not aware of her missing work and I haven’t spoken to her. But I will get to the bottom of this, I assure you.”
He ended the call before I could even say goodbye. I’d clearly upset him, which was why I’d avoided it. But I couldn’t let Alexa sit over there, sick as a dog, and not worry about her.
Or if she wasn’t physically sick at all, and just sick of her job, I wanted to talk to her about that too. Maybe she was homesick and hadn’t thought about asking for some time off to go to Houston to see her family. Whatever it was, I wanted her to know that I was in her corner.
My cell rang and I saw that it was Luciano. “Well, has she spoken to your mother?”
“Three days ago,” he let me know. “She told her that she felt sick to her stomach. Mom said it was from eating leftover pizza. She did say that Alexa has texted her each day, telling her that work is keeping her too busy to call and that she’ll catch up with her later in the week and not to worry.”
Well, that made me worry even more. “She said she’s too busy at work?” I didn’t think Alexa was the type to lie—especially not about a thing like that. “Do you suppose she told her that so she wouldn’t stress her out?”
“Probably,” he agreed. “I was discreet with my mother as well, so she wouldn’t suspect anything was off. The last thing we need is for her to get upset. It seems even being too happy can affect her heart. She was at her sister’s birthday party the other night and actually passed out when her heart sped up. Dad took her to the hospital, and they said she’ll have to go see her cardiologist. She’s scheduled to see him sometime next week.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Luci, I really am.” I had no idea things were getting that bad with his mother. “Look, I’ll go over and see Alexa in person. I don’t have the address though.”
“I’ll text it to you,” he said. “I tried calling her but it went to voicemail. Tell her to call me when you see her.”
“Will do. Talk to you later.” I ended the call then headed to the parking garage. I wasn’t going to wait around to see if Alexa would decide to contact me first.
Luciano sent me the address before I even got to my truck, so I put it into the GPS and headed that way. It was only eight in the morning, so I knew I might be waking her up, but I had to see her. I couldn’t help but be worried that something just wasn’t right with her.
I’d always thought Luci and his parents were over-the-top where Alexa was concerned, but here I was going over-the-top too. Something about her just made me feel as if she needed to be watched over for some reason.
Pulling up to the house, I noticed that her car wasn’t there, but two others were parked in the driveway. There was a two-car garage, so her car could’ve been parked inside of it.
Parking at the curb, I got out and went to the door, ringing the doorbell. A man came to it, opening it as he asked, “How can I help you this morning, sir?”
“You must be Deacon Soliz.” I extended my hand and he shook it. “I’m Patton Nash, Alexa’s boss and friend.”
I didn’t like the way he looked at me, with confusion glazing his eyes. “If you’re her boss and friend, then you must know that she’s not here any longer.”
Holy hell!
“I’m sorry—you said she’s not here?” I had to have heard him wrong.
“She left three days ago.” He turned around and walked to a desk on the far side of the foyer. “Please, come in. I’ll show you the note she left for us.”
