Risk of a Lifetime by Claudia Shelton Read Free Book Online

right to finish up my dad’s estate, so I’ll be in town a few more days.”
    She tucked her hair behind her ears as she slid gingerly to a standing position. Effects from the medications still lingered. A few rapid blinks of her eyelids focused her vision enough that she could point at him. “Who said you could stay at my house?”
    “Our house.”
    Wincing from the fact she’d raised her arm with the stitches, she lowered it just as fast. Next time, she’d be more careful. Our house? What did he mean…our house? She lightly shook her head to clear the fog clouding her thoughts as the air between them hung heavy in the room. Was it just her that felt the weight of this so-called outcome? Because this situation had never entered her mind when she decided to keep certain things a secret.
    “I told him he could stay there. Now if you have a problem with the arrangement, then the three of us can discuss other options.” Sadie shot her daughter a warning look. “That is, once everyone is on the same page about you and JB’s relationship.”
    “What does that mean?” Marcy asked.
    “Nothing.” Her mama smiled all sweet and nice…almost sugary. Sadie was not the sugary type.
    From the corner of her eye, Marcy saw the furrowing of JB’s brow. He’d picked up on the wording. Wouldn’t take him long to start asking questions. Then all heck would break loose.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She needed to cover her mother’s insinuation there was anything out of the way going on in Marcy’s life.
    “Really?” Sadie lowered her voice and continued, “Then you don’t mind if we talk about those divorce papers and how they never…”
    Marcy took a couple steps toward her mama, weaved, and then braced against the side of the hospital bed. “You wouldn’t.”
    Sadie cocked her head and raised her eyebrows. “Wouldn’t I?”
    She could tell JB had tilted his head, trying to hear their quiet conversation.
    “There’s no other place for me to stay around here.” JB appeared as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “I hoped you’d help me out. Let me stay. For old times’ sake?”
    “There are at least five hotels in the area,” Marcy reminded him.
    She watched his expression tighten with the narrowing of his eyes, the lift of his chin, the squaring of his shoulders.
    “You don’t need to remind me of hotels.” His too calm and quiet tone emphasized the moment. “But may I remind you that my name is still on the property. And I plan to stay in my house while I’m in town.”
    She’d forgot about his one demand in the divorce decree. That his name would stay on the deed to their home. She hadn’t fought him since that was the only thing he asked for. Besides, from the moment they walked into the house years ago, she’d known how important having a place to call home meant to him. All well and good, but, she hadn’t expected him to ever be back in the house…with her…not even on a temporary basis. This could be a problem.
    “I could stay with my mama.” She looked at Dr. Crowley, hoping for agreement. None there.
    “I’m busy. My house is too small. May be going on a trip.” Sadie walked over to the window. “Might even paint the living room. Strip the woodwork. Or something.”
    “I get the idea, mama. You think I should go home.”
    Sadie turned to her daughter, grinning a genuine Sadie-smile. “I think you should go home. Let JB take care of you for a few days.”
    Marcy grabbed the release form from the doctor and signed. “Okay. I’m going home.” She pointed at JB. “You can stay. A little while.”
    He nodded. “Whatever you say, sugar.”
    The nurse entered, followed by a volunteer pushing a wheelchair.
    “No. No wheelchair.” Marcy took a step toward the door and teetered.
    JB swooped her up in his arms and deposited her in the wheelchair.
    She sighed heavy. Tired. Defeated. Ready to go home. “Thanks.”
    He flicked the foot rests down and stepped