Page 12 of Home Team Advantage
Willow Haven. The facility run by the woman with a stone heart and face to match.
“It’s an old folks’ home.”
“Assisted living facility,” he corrected. “And the wait list is over three years long.”
“That’s good news for the next person on the list then.”
Edward sighed. “Grandmother, we’ve been over this. You know what the doctor said. You need round-the-clock care.”
“And I have it.”
Edward’s eyes swung to Anna briefly, his gaze far more assessing than it had been earlier. “Where did she come from? I didn’t hire her.”
“No, you didn’t. I did.”
“From what agency?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“Of course it’s my concern. Who else is going to look out for your best interests?” He waved a hand in Anna’s direction. “A perfect stranger? Or your own flesh and blood?”
Based on what Anna had seen, the answer to that seemed pretty clear.
“I am perfectly able to look out for myself, thank you. It is my legs that have weakened, not my mind.”
“You’re ninety-seven years old.”
Mrs. Campbell narrowed her eyes and pointed an arthritic finger in Edward’s direction. “Don’t take that tone with me, boy. As long as I am in command of my faculties, I am in command of my life, not you.”
Anna wanted to cheer, but this wasn’t her battle, and Elsa seemed to be doing just fine. She did, however, move closer to Elsa in a silent show of support.
“Now, Grandmother—” Edward said with exaggerated patience.
“Don’t talk to me like I’m a witless child. Focus on getting your own affairs in order and stop worrying about mine. Anna, dear, get the door, please, and make sure it doesn’t hit him on the backside on the way out.”
Edward’s face turned red. “Keep pushing me, Grandmother, and one of these days, I might not be there when you need me.”
When Edward stomped out, Mrs. Campbell murmured, “That’ll be the day.”
After Anna closed and locked the door behind him, Mrs. Campbell said, “I’m sorry about that. Eddie is, well, he’s …”
“Disrespectful? Insolent? Contemptuous?” Anna offered.
Mrs. Campbell smiled. “I do so enjoy your proficiency with adjectives, dear. I was going to say, he’s always been something of a disappointment. He gets that from his mother. Odious woman. I never understood what my son saw in her, but there it is.”
* * *
Later that afternoon, there was a knock at the door. Anna saw two people—a man and a woman—through the side panels. Her heart started to beat faster when she saw the flash of coppery bronze.
She opened the door and tried not to gasp. The man she’d seen at a distance was breathtaking up close. Silky-looking hair that kissed broad shoulders. Gold hoops and diamond studs in his ears. Bronzed skin and piercing gray eyes. And so much taller than he’d appeared at a distance.
“Hi,” the woman beside him said in a velvety voice, breaking the spell. “I’m Faith Callaghan, and this is my son Matt. We live next door. We came to see Mrs. Campbell. Is this a good time?”
Anna forced her eyes away from the example of masculine perfection and turned to the woman. She had the same radiant hair and unusual eyes and didn’t look anywhere near old enough to be the gorgeous man’s mother. Older sister was a stretch.
“Yes, of course,” Anna said, stepping back. “Please come in.”
“We brought stew and homemade bread,” the woman said.
