Starting Over in Maple Bay by Brittney Joy
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
A few hours later, Hazel and Bill walked with Grace down the hospital hallway, toward the lobby. Grace had her arm in a sling and a purple cast on her hand, wrist, and forearm. She’d fractured her wrist, but was otherwise okay. Her sweet smile was back on her face, but Hazel still felt terrible, knowing she’d started the catastrophe by carelessly waving Rose’s letter in Frankie’s face. She never would’ve done that if she’d known the rescue horses were behind her, but in that moment, she had tunnel vision. She wasn’t paying attention to what was around her. A pit had grown in her stomach as she thought about what could have happened, and she was incredibly thankful that Frankie and Jesse were there to control the situation.
“You might need to pick a sport that’s a little less dangerous,” Bill said to Grace as a nurse passed them.
Grace looked at her dad, astonished. “No way. I could get hurt in another sport too. Remember when my friend from school broke her leg in gymnastics? Or that other girl got hit in the face with a baseball?”
Hazel cringed at the visual, but agreed with Grace’s point. No matter how desperately Hazel wanted to protect Grace from even the slightest pain, she was starting to accept that she couldn’t keep her daughter in a bubble. If she did, Hazel might protect Grace from the lows of life, but she’d also deny her the highs. She didn’t want to do that. Life was bumpy. There would be bruises and falls—literally and figuratively. Hazel only hoped each bump would make her daughter stronger.
“She really loves to ride, Bill. She’s really good at it too.” Grace smiled up at Hazel, silently thanking her mom for the backup. “And I know she’ll be as safe as she can possibly be.”
“I will. I promise.” Grace glanced back and forth between her parents. “And next time, I’ll grab the saddle horn if something scary happens. That way I can hang on better.” Grace looked proud of her conclusion and Hazel grinned, knowing Grace was repeating what she’d learned from Jesse.
Bill still looked unsure. “I don’t know—”
“Let’s talk about it later. Okay?” Hazel gave Bill a look that said she wanted to talk to him about it in private. She’d explain how much the horses and riding had made their daughter bloom this summer, and Hazel was sure she could convince Bill to allow Grace to continue to ride. Hazel had a few other things to talk to Bill about as well—like the fact that she was going to keep the carriage house. Before Bill could rebut her, Hazel pushed open the double doors and stepped into the hospital lobby, finding it full of familiar faces. Her heart swelled at the sight.
Frankie and Garrett stood near the coffee pot, Styrofoam cups in their hands. Tommy, Wyatt, Noah, and Charlie were sitting in a circle on the white tile floor, playing a board game. Joyce and Gene sat behind them, watching the kids from waiting room chairs. Bill’s girlfriend, Cynthia, sat next to Joyce.
Frankie was the first to see them. Her face lit up and she strode over, leaning down to give Grace a big hug, though she was careful of her casted arm.
“There’s my tough cowgirl,” Frankie said to Grace. She also slid Hazel a sympathetic smile, as though Hazel hadn’t thrown harsh words at her just a few hours ago.
In a matter of seconds, everyone circled around, fussing over Grace.
“Doctor said I have to wear the cast for six weeks, but I can still use my fingers, so I should be able to ride,” Grace announced.
Grace would need a little time out of the saddle in order to heal, but Hazel decided to tackle that topic for another day. “You guys were waiting here the whole time?” Hazel asked.
Joyce made a strange expression. “Where else would we go? We had to make sure our girls were all right.”
“I think I drank a whole pot of coffee myself while we waited to see you guys,” Frankie added.
“And we got to pick out candy bars from the vending machine!” Noah announced. “I got one for you too.” He ran back to the plastic chairs and grabbed a pack of Skittles that was sitting by Joyce’s purse. Enthusiastically, he raced to Grace and offered it up. “I know they’re your favorite.”
Grace smiled and took the candy. “Thanks!”
Hot tears sprang to Hazel’s eyes, and she finally let herself accept what everyone here was trying to give her. She’d discovered a second family here in Maple Bay. A group of wonderful people that wanted to love her and Grace. “Thank you,” she repeated, blinking away tears.
“It’s just Skittles,” Noah said, concerned. “You don’t have to cry.”
Hazel laughed and wiped at her eyes. She ruffled Noah’s hair. “Thanks, buddy. That was really sweet of you.” She found herself looking for the only other face she yearned to see. “Where’s Jesse?”
Frankie stood from her crouched position in front of Grace. “We weren’t sure when you guys would be done, so Jesse ran out to get lunch for everyone.”
“Oh.” Hazel tried to keep her disappointment from showing. She also knew she had some unresolved issues to talk with Frankie about. “Can I talk to you? Alone?”
“Sure,” Frankie replied, looking uncertain.
Hazel and Frankie walked to the other side of the waiting room, closer to the entrance.
Hazel started the conversation. “Look, I’ve had some time to think about the letter, and what I said to you.”
Frankie didn’t let her finish. “I’m sorry for keeping that secret for so long, but I’m not sorry I did it,” Frankie blurted. “I wanted to get to know you. You’re my sister. And I thought the clause was the only way I could be sure you’d stick around. After I got to know you, I should’ve told you the truth, but the more time I spent with you, the more I didn’t want you to leave.”
Hazel found herself crying again. “I know,” she choked out. While Grace was being doctored, Hazel had plenty of time to think, and she wished she hadn’t reacted so rashly after reading Rose’s letter. “Honestly, if the will hadn’t required that I stay for the summer, I’m not sure that I would’ve.”
Hazel might’ve sold the property immediately and scampered back to Haven Hills, to a life that wasn’t fulfilling her. It’s possible she would’ve taken the time to get to know Frankie later, but Hazel was certain nothing could’ve forced her and Frankie closer than living together and sharing all the experiences of the summer. “I’m glad you lied.”
Frankie huffed a laugh like she’d been holding her breath. “I won’t lie to you ever again.”
“You don’t need to lie to keep me here. I want to be here, Frankie. I want to be your big sister.” Hazel opened her arms, and they grabbed each other into a hug. “I’m sorry too. I wasn’t thinking straight. And I’m really sorry I caused both of our kids to get hurt. Is Tommy okay?”
Hazel and Frankie stayed clasped in their hug as Frankie replied, “Oh, goodness. He’s fine. He thinks the scrapes on his arms are cool, and now Noah’s trying to figure out how to get matching injuries.”
Hazel laughed, thankful Tommy was okay.
Frankie pulled back from their hug and looked Hazel in the face. “Did we just have our first sister-fight?”
“I think so.” Hazel grinned and brushed a strand of hair from Frankie’s face. “And our first sister-reconciliation.”
“I really like this sister thing.”
“Me too,” Hazel replied, and squeezed Frankie’s shoulders. As she did, Hazel caught a glimpse of Jesse’s red truck pulling into a parking spot just outside the glass doors. “Hold that thought. I’ve got one more person I need to makeup with.”
Frankie glanced outside and her smile widened. “Go get ‘em, Sis.”
Hazel started toward the automatic glass doors and they whooshed open. By the time she moved through them, she was running. Jesse walked toward the ER. He was carrying two brown bags. When he saw her, he faltered, looking alarmed. Hazel hoped her big smile would reassure him that nothing was wrong. She just needed to get to him. She needed to be in his arms and tell him everything she’d been thinking of.
As Hazel neared, Jesse dropped the bags to the pavement. Hazel jumped into his arms. She linked her hands around his neck and clamped her cowboy-booted legs around his waist. Jesse pulled her to his chest, and they stared at each other in stunned silence for a few breathes—until Hazel kissed him. She planted a kiss on him like he’d just come home from war, not from McDonald’s.
They kissed like the world might end and Hazel lost herself in Jesse’s lips, in his strong embrace and the way he made her feel. Then she eased back and looked at Jesse. His blue eyes were hazy.
After a few beats, he said, “Wow, you must really like chicken nuggets.”
Hazel giggled and kissed him one more time, just because he was so cute.
“I want to tell you something.” Hazel was done fighting with herself. She was done pushing away this wonderful man because she was scared.
He stopped her. “I’d love to be a gentleman and listen to what you have to say, but I need to tell you something too.”
Hazel searched his baby blue eyes. The determination in them made her hold her tongue. “You go first.”
“Life is short,” he said, holding her against him with his strong arms. “I know that firsthand, and I don’t want to waste one more day wondering what our life could be like together. I understand what you’ve been trying to tell me, and I don’t expect you to change your entire life to be with me. I want you to know I’m willing to change too. I’ll do whatever it takes to make us work. We can share our time between Haven Hills and Maple Bay. I’ll move to the city. Charlie could even enroll in kindergarten in Haven Hills next year, if that’s what we decide.”
It took Hazel a few seconds to find words. “You’d move to the suburbs?”
“For you, I would.”
“What about your horses? The business you’ve built?” If Hazel knew one thing, it was that horses and city life didn’t mix. Hazel wasn’t about to ask Jesse to give up his passion in life. She knew all too well what that did to a person.
“I could pick up some clients closer to Minneapolis. I already called an old friend that has a show barn in the area. He said he’d have plenty of work for me if I wanted it. I also talked to Evan, Mom, and Dad about possibly taking some time off from training colts for the family business. They understand and can hire extra help if needed. It also helps that my entire family is crazy about you.” He clasped his hands tighter around her waist. “All I want is you. I want to keep you, me, Grace, and Charlie together. I want us to have a life together. Whatever that takes, I’ll make it happen.”
Hazel didn’t even have her feet on the ground, but her pulse picked up like she’d just run a country mile. With her own plans and what Jesse had just offered, they could make it work, even if they had to bounce back and forth between two towns. “You know what you told Grace after she fell off today?”
Jesse quirked an eyebrow, not quite sure where she was going with their conversation. “About holding onto the saddle horn?”
She shook her head. “About hitting the ground. You told her that everyone falls off at some point and it’s what you learn after the fall that matters.”
“I did say that, didn’t I?”
“You give good advice.” Hazel ran her fingers up his neck and into his hair. “I realized that all this time I’ve been scared of the fall. I’ve been scared of hitting the ground and getting hurt. But being scared has never done anything good for me.” She ran her knuckles across his dark stubble. “If I never take a chance, I’ll never get what I want. And I want you, Jesse. I want to fight to make us work.” She placed a hand over his heart. “I love you, Jesse. I can’t promise I’ll be perfect, but I’ll—.”
“I don’t want perfect.” The conviction in his voice was like an exclamation point. “I want to be together through the good times and the bad times, no matter what. I love you too, Hazel.”
They shared a smile that spread and surged through their whole beings. Then Jesse leaned in and kissed her again—until there was a faint shouting noise that caught their attention. Following the noise, Jesse spun and gave Hazel a view of the hospital.
Pressed up against the waiting room window was an audience of their family. Joyce had her hands clasped together at her heart like she might burst of happiness. Gene bounced Charlie in his arms, and she flailed with glee. Frankie was clapping, her arms above her head, and Garrett gave a few fist pumps and some hoots. Grace, Tommy, Wyatt, and Noah were at the open automatic glass doors, looking like they were having a little dance party. Bill was behind them, scowling. His girlfriend was excitedly clapping.
Hazel placed her head in the crook of Jesse’s neck and laughed, knowing exactly how lucky she was. “Doesn’t look like we were fooling anyone.”
She picked her head up and Jesse touched his forehead to hers. “I just want to make sure everyone knows how I feel about you.” Then Jesse kissed Hazel one more time, for everyone to see.