Page 89 of Kate & Hudson
I start laughing. “You sure are protesting a lot for someone that says nothing’s going on.”
“Trust me. There’s nothing there.” Grace says enthusiastically, but I don’t believe her. Well… I believe she believes it, but time will tell.
“Everything good in here?” Hudson peeks his head in the door. “I don’t hear any yelling.”
“Come on in.” I call to him.
“Listen, dude. She may be moving in with you, but that just means you get me, too, and if I see that she’s even one iota unhappy…” Grace gives the shooting motion towards his groin area, “… I don’t mind doing a little jail time. Get my drift?”
Hudson stands on the other side of my bed. “Message received.”
“Good. Okay, well…” Grace looks at her watch and then the clock on the wall. “It’s getting late, and you need your rest, so I’m going to skedaddle. Get some sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay, and thank you for the offer of living with you. I love you for that.”
“You’re welcome, and the offer is an open invitation if you ever need it.” Grace looks directly at Hudson.
“She won’t. I promise.”
“What are your plans for the fireworks? Or are you going to just hang out at home?” Grace asks Hudson over me as I watch them talk back and forth like I’m not even here.
“Well, there’s a thing at Hooplas, but it’ll depend on how she feels. The detective is coming by my house tomorrow to interview her and give us an update.”
“Oh, I’d like to be there. Will you let me know when he’s expected?”
“Sure. I’ll text you when I know.”
“Do either of you need me here?” I laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation.
“Always.” They say in unison.
I’m not too sure how I feel about my best friend and my soon-to-be finance making plans for and about me, but for some reason, I’m getting a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
Is that happiness and if it is, how is that possible? No job, no business, no income, no belongings, and no home. But I have love and that’s all I really need, isn’t it? It’s all any of us really need.
CHAPTER 36
HUDSON
Getting Kate out of the hospital and home was easier than I expected. It’s always taken way too long for the nurses to discharge people, but I guess that’s the benefit of having one of your best friends as your girl’s doctor… things move at his pace.
Kate asked me to drive by her shop and home and I tried to resist her, but she said she needed closure. We drove by her shop, and I parked across the street at the fire station. She was quiet for a long time and then told me she didn’t expect to see her flattened SUV still there. She shook her head, wiped away a few tears, and then asked me to drive her to her house.
We stayed in the truck there, too, as she just stared at the shell of her tiny house. There’s nothing left, just a burnt-out shell that almost resembles the frame of a house. It was a very hot fire.
“Can we just go home?” She asks around her tears.
She called it home. My heart swelled.
“Of course.”
Mom had brought Pepper over before we got home, and it was like Pepper knew to be gentle with Kate. She’s also not left her side since we walked in the door. Kate went to lie down, and that’s where Pepper has been all morning.
As Kate and Pepper slept, I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I mowed the yard. What a stupid idea that was. I’m drenched in sweat and covered in grass clippings and I mowed only half the yard because it’s just too damn hot outside. I’ve left the rest until tomorrow.
“Hello?” I answer my phone as I jump out of the pool to clean off.
“Hello. This is Detective Kowalski. I’d like to stop by to speak with Kate. Is she available in about an hour? I was told that I could reach her at this number.” A pleasant voice asks over the phone.