Page 9 of Heart of Stone
“I’m sorry that it went down that way, Ma.” He looked like he meant it too.
“Why would your sisters be called in and not me?” she asked.
Stone sighed, “Because I’ve listed Lulah as my emergency contact at work.” He winced as if he knew that his news was going to piss off his mother. Jo felt herself doing the same, waiting for the woman to explode.
“Why would you do that?” his mother asked. She seemed less angry and more hurt. Jo could tell that just about did Stone in. “I’m your mother.”
“Right, and you had a heart attack and are under doctor’s orders to avoid stress. The department demanded that I update my emergency contact forms and I didn’t want to put down your number. I’m trying to help you, Mom,” Stone insisted.
“Well, cutting me out of your life isn’t the way to cut down on my stress. I want to know what’s going on with you, even if you think that it’s going to stress me out. I’m stronger now and I can handle more than you think.”
“Fine,” he agreed, “if this happens again, I’ll have Lulah call to tell you. But that means you’ll have to answer the phone when her number pops up on your screen. Can you do that?”
“You know how I feel about your sisters, Stone,” she spat. Jolene wondered how his mother felt about Lulah and Bobbie. They seemed great, but there was obviously something that she was missing, and interrupting their conversation again wasn’t an option. She stood back, a fly on the wall, watching it all play out. It was the safest option and one that she had learned to be good at while patients were discussing private matters with their families. Hell, half the time, she was sure that they had forgotten that she was even in the same room with them.
“I get that you feel that dad betrayed you. Hell, he betrayed both of us, but he did the same to Lulah and Bobbie. They shouldn’t have to pay for their father’s sins any more than I should have to. You told me that what Dad did has nothing to do with me. If that’s true, his actions have noting to do with who Lulah and Bobbie are either. They are nice, Mom, just give them a chance. Get to know them—you’ll see.”
“I’ll think about it,” his mother said. “That’s all I can promise you for now.”
“All right,” Stone agreed, “and, I’ll have Lulah call you when something happens, but if you don’t answer the phone, that’s on you, Ma.”
“Okay,” his mother grumbled. “Are you sure that you won’t stay with me?” she asked her son.
“I’m sure,” Stone said. “I need to be on my own, and besides, I won’t be alone—Jolene will be staying with me while I recover.”
His mother looked back at Jo as if remembering that she was still in the room with them. “I promise to take good care of your son,” she assured, trying to sound as professional as possible.
“Thank you,” Stone’s mother said, turning back to her son. “You promise to call me if you need anything?” she asked.
“I promise, Mom. I’ll text you when I get home tomorrow and will keep you updated on my progress, I swear.” Stone held up his hand as if swearing an oath and Jolene giggled again. There was something endearing watching the big, bad ass cop dealing with the women in his life. They walked all over him and if she wasn’t mistaken, it was because he allowed it. Stone Granger was just a big softy and damn if that didn’t make her want him even more.
Stone
Stone spent a restless night in the hospital and when Jolene walked into his room at nine the next morning, he was dressed and sitting in the chair in the corner of the room, ready to go home.
“Well, look who’s up and ready to head home,” she said, smiling at him. God, she was beautiful. Hell, she was just his type, not that it mattered. She was hands off and his boss had called to remind him of that when he got news of Stone’s new living arrangements. Jolene would have had to file paperwork to let his department head know that she’d be staying at his place, and doing his PT at his home. The paperwork would have ended up on his boss’s desk at some point and he expected a phone call from him. He just didn’t expect to get the whole, “Keep your hands to yourself” speech that his boss gave him. He knew that his boss was right, but he also knew that getting that lecture wasn’t going to help him keep his hands to himself. In fact, it only pissed him off and made him want to touch her more.
“I’ve been up all fucking night. I couldn’t sleep,” Stone admitted. “Those beds are shit and the nurses kept coming in every five minutes to take my damn vitals.”
“They were just doing their jobs, Stone,” she reminded.
“I get that, I’m just looking forward to going home and getting some actual sleep,” he said.
“I’ll let you have a nap after we get some physical therapy in. We have work to do and you agreed to let me push you a bit since I’ll be staying at your place,” she reminded.
“I remember,” he assured. “Just go easy on me today. I’m exhausted.”
“I’ll think about it,” she teased.
“When am I getting out of here?” he asked.
“The nurse is on her way with the discharge papers. I’m assuming that you spoke with the doctor this morning?” she asked.
“I did and he’s happy with how the little infection is clearing up. He’s sending me home with some pills to finish up the regiment,” Stone said. He hated that he hadn’t noticed the infection starting. Usually, he was on top of his health and what was going on in his body. He was just pissed off at the entire situation and angry at himself for getting shot in the first place.
“That’s great,” Jolene said. She sank onto his unmade bed and he looked her over. She looked tired and he worried that she wasn’t up for taking him home or staying with him. If she backed out now, it would only mean a one-way ticket for him to one of his sister’s homes, and that was the last thing he needed.
“You sure that you’re up for this?” he asked.