and explained the situation to Rosalita and to her sister, who wasn’t interested in anything except being angry at Nash.
Kelly didn’t blame her. She glanced at Tess, who’d changed into a pair of navy sweatpants and an oversized hooded sweatshirt, always a sign the teenager was upset. Kelly acknowledged the silent signal, grateful it was just her lounge clothes and not her old army surplus jacket and other rebellious items she’d worn on her arrival in Serendipity.
Kelly sighed. “You might as well eat dinner.”
“Fine,” Tess muttered. “But I’m finishing it all. Every last bite. So if he does show up, there’s nothing left.”
Kelly bit the inside of her cheek. “Save me some at least. We’ll talk when I get back.” With a last glance at the set table, Kelly walked out, all the while thinking of ways to strangle Nash.
Once in the car, she paused to process where she had to go. She recalled passing hospital signs on the highway, the exit before Serendipity. She had a good sense of direction and was able to backtrack herself and find the place with little problem.
She parked out back and rushed inside the main entrance. Annie had promised to meet her by the front desk. She glanced around, but other than an older woman in a wheelchair with her nurse behind her and a couple checking in with the guard, she didn’t see Annie.
Until Kelly turned toward the gift shop and caught sight of Annie’s familiar blond curls. She stood near the window filled with balloons and stuffed animals, and she huddled close with none other than Nash. A strong prick of jealousy pierced her heart as she watched them together. She hated it, wasn’t proud of it. But it was a reminder of why she promised herself she wouldn’t get involved with the man.
Breathe, Kelly instructed herself. His ex-wife’s father was here. An ex-wife he worried about constantly. Of course he’d come here instead of showing up for dinner… but he could have called. His preoccupation with Annie had hurt his relationship with Tess and he’d been rude to Kelly, building on her hurt.
She glanced at the exit, torn between leaving and waiting. She really didn’t want to interrupt them and she couldn’t be more uncomfortable standing alone in the lobby like a lost child.
“Kelly!” Annie had caught sight of her and was heading her way in purposeful strides.
“Hey. I just got here,” Kelly said.
“Thanks for coming.” Annie pulled her into a brief hug, which Kelly returned.
She just couldn’t bring herself to dislike the woman, who she believed had been honest with her about her feelings for Nash. It was Nash’s feelings for Annie that concerned Kelly.
“Hi,” Nash said.
Speak of the devil, Kelly thought.
“I’m sorry about dinner. Annie called me when I was on my way over.” He shot her a look filled with regret.
Kelly merely treated him to a curt nod. Now wasn’t the time to argue or remind him of etiquette. “How’s your father?” Kelly asked, turning to Annie.
“The doctors performed a stress test and basically threw him off the treadmill. He can’t exert himself at all or they’re afraid he’ll have a massive coronary. They want to operate immediately. He just wants to talk to you both about his business,” Annie explained.
Richard wanted Nash here. For some reason, that eased the anxiety filling Kelly’s chest.
“Let’s go,” Annie said. “The nurses are prepping him in his room. As soon as the surgeon gets here, they’ll be ready, so I need to get you two in and out quickly.”
Kelly nodded and with Nash by her side followed Annie to the large bank of elevators and up to her father’s room.
On the elevator ride up to Richard’s room, Nash grew frustrated. Kelly wouldn’t look at him, wouldn’t let him whisper a word in her ear. And he needed to talk to her because he’d seen her walk into the hospital and knew exactly how intimate he and Annie had appeared. He’d just been comforting her and