Betting on Hope

Chapter 18



The next morning when Hope shuffled yawning into the kitchen, wearing her thin summer shortie pajamas and a ratty robe, she saw Amber standing on a step stool by the counter and two men in dusty overalls drinking coffee at the table. She stopped abruptly.

“Aunt Hope, can I ask you something?” Amber asked.

“Sure, honey, what is it? And who are your friends here?”

“Scuse us, ma’am,” the older one said, putting down his cup. “Your sister gave us a cup of coffee. We’re surveyors.”

“Surveyors? You’re surveying this property? For Big Julie Saladino?”

“That’s right,” the younger man said, eyeing Hope’s scanty attire. “He sold it to some big developer, is what we been told.”

“Not yet, he hasn’t,” Hope said, her voice tight. “Get out of here right now. Get out and don’t come back.”

The older man stood up.

“We gotta finish—”

“No, you don’t,” Hope said, stomping over to the back door and flinging it open. “The place isn’t sold yet, and I don’t want to see you around here again until it is.”

“Well, excu-u-u-u-se me,” the younger one drawled.

“We’re sorry if we stepped in it,” the older one said. “Your sister—”

“My sister isn’t here now. I’m here. And I’m telling you to go.”

“We’re going,” the younger one said. “But we’ll be back.”

“Over my dead body!” Hope called after them as they sauntered away.

“Hell of a body,” the younger one said, winking at her.

Hope flushed and slammed the screen door behind them, but it didn’t catch, bouncing back open again, and Squeegee dashed into the kitchen when she saw the opportunity.

Hope sighed in exasperation.

“Some watch dog you are,” she said, bending down to scratch the dog’s ears. Squeegee wriggled in ecstasy and leaped up, bashing into Hope’s nose.

“She’d be an excellent watch dog if she knew she was supposed to watch something,” Amber said defensively.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” Hope said, rubbing her bruised nose. She went to pour a cup of coffee, but the pot was empty, drained by the surveyors. Honestly! She shook her head and refilled the pot with water, added some grounds to the basket and started it again.

“Next time we’ll tell Squeegee to take a big bite out of their behinds.”

Amber giggled.

“Not my behind, I trust,” Kenji said, coming in from the pantry. “Hi, Hope. Amber, is okra too far out?”

Hope had jumped at the sound of Kenji’s voice. “Kenji! You startled me.”

“Oh, sorry.” He grinned at her and then glanced down at the list in his hand. “Amber and I are working on the cookbook. Amber—what about okra?”

I’m wearing my shortie pajamas and I don’t rate more attention than the okra, Hope thought, but she smiled as Amber giggled again. “No,” she said firmly. “Okra is way too complicated. All that goopy stuff!”

Hope grinned. “Kenji, want some coffee?”

“No thanks, Hope. Amber says no okra. I have to see what else we have.” He headed back into the pantry.

Hope filled her coffee cup and sat down at the table the surveyors had just vacated. “Amber, what did you want to ask me?”

Amber brightened. “I almost forgot!” she said. “I wondered—I don’t really understand about the uncles. Marty and everybody? Are they related to me, too?”

Squeegee got tired of waiting for Hope to scratch her ears again, and she jumped up on Hope, bumping her arm and making her spill some coffee.

“Squeegee, stop it. Lie down. The uncles. You know we’re not biologically related to them, right, Amber? Your mom and I call them the uncles because we’ve known them for a long time.”

“I’ve known lots of people for a long time—like my teachers—and they’re not my uncles. What makes somebody an uncle?”

Hope frowned. “I’m not sure. When I was about your age, they took care of me sometimes. They were special. They loved me. I loved them. So they became our honorary uncles. Like family we chose.”

“Are your uncles my uncles, too?”

“They could be, I guess. But if you wanted an honorary uncle, you could ask someone you like.”

Amber nodded. “That way there will be more uncles to go around. Like at my birthday parties. Your uncles and my uncles.”

Hope grinned. “That’s right. But you have to pick special people, Amber. People you would do something special for.”

Kenji came back into the kitchen holding a stout fennel bulb.

“Amber, what do you think about fennel?” he said.

She nodded. “Mom makes a fennel salad I like,” she said.

“Okay. We’ll put fennel on the maybe list.” He disappeared back into the pantry.

“People you’d do something special for,” Amber said, looking thoughtful. “Like Kenji.”

Hope laughed. Kenji wouldn’t know what hit him.

“You’ll have to ask him, sweetie,” she said. “And don’t be too disappointed if he says no. You might want to wait a little while, until you know each other better. I mean, what if he likes snails?”

Amber shuddered. “Gross.”

Hope grinned. “I know. Your honorary uncles don’t have to be perfect, but they do have to be special. You just want to think about it.”

“Okay.” Amber picked up the knife, turned back to the counter and leaned into the carrot she was trimming. “Kenji is special, though. I’m going to ask him.”

Hope stood up to get a bowl of cereal, and Squeegee, released from her massaging fingers, bounded over to where Amber stood on the step stool and barked for a treat.

“Not now, Squeegee,” Amber said. “No begging.”

The dog sat, her tongue lolling, grinning at her. Then Amber moved to slice the carrot and Squeegee jumped up against her, smacking the arm that held the knife. The knife slashed across the girl’s other hand, and Amber staggered, cried out, pitched off the stool, and crumpled to the floor.

Hope dropped her cereal and rushed over to her niece, pushing the eager dog out of the way. She knelt down. “Amber! Let me see.”

Amber’s eyes were open but she looked scared.

Blood gushed from a deep gash across the palm of her hand and across the joint of her thumb. Even without getting closer, Hope could see something white inside—tendons? Nerves? Bone? She wasn’t sure. But Amber needed medical help, and soon.

“We’ll have to go and get that stitched up,” she said, trying to smile and sound reassuring as she stood. “It’s pretty deep. Just lie still. Can you hold your hand up? That’s the girl. Kenji!” She opened the kitchen cupboard where they kept the first aid kit and pulled out some gauze pads and bandages.

“What happened?” Kenji said, already in the kitchen.

“Amber cut herself. I think she needs stitches.”

“It hurts.” Amber’s voice trembled.

Hope knelt beside the child. “I know, sweetie. I’m sorry. When we get to the clinic the doctor will give you something.” She pressed the pads against the cut and wrapped the bandages tightly around them, hoping to stem the flow of blood. She turned to Kenji.

“Call Faith, will you? Her number’s on the pad by the fridge. Amber, I’m going to raise your hand over your head and prop it up a little bit with this towel. That will slow the bleeding. Just lie still for a minute while I get dressed.” Hope tore back into her bedroom, flinging off her pajamas while she ran, as Kenji grabbed the phone and dialed Faith.

Seconds later Hope was back, stuffing her wallet into her purse. Kenji was talking into the phone.

“Faith, it’s Kenji. Amber’s had an accident, she cut her hand.” He turned to Hope. “Does she need a hospital?”

Hope nodded. “I think so.”

He turned back to the phone. “We’re taking her to Las Vegas General. Meet us there when you can.” He hung up.

“It’s the closest, and they have a good trauma team,” he explained to Hope. “I’ve been treated there myself. You know how to get there?”

Hope nodded. “She didn’t pick up?” she asked, knowing she hadn’t.

Kenji shook his head. “Let’s get going. We can call again from the road.”

“Is mom going to be at the hospital?” Amber’s voice wavered.

Hope dropped to her knees by the girl. “Kenji left a message for her, sweetie, but she’s already in Vegas, so she’ll be able to get there fast. We have to go now. Can you walk if I help you?”

“I think so.” Amber started to sit up, but Kenji went over.

“I’ll carry you, Amber. Don’t move one bit.” And with amazing grace for a man of his size, Kenji picked up the girl and carried her out the kitchen door. Hope followed him out.

“Everything will be all right,” he told Amber as Hope opened the back door of the car for him. He lifted in the child and helped her lie down on the back seat while Hope opened the trunk and pulled out her emergency blanket. She handed it to Kenji, who covered Amber with it.

“Okay,” Kenji said as he carefully closed the door. “I’ll put the dog in the barn and follow you in my car. You get started. I’ll meet you at the hospital in a few.”

Hope nodded and put the car in gear, driving carefully out of the yard, turning left onto the highway, and picking up speed as she headed toward Las Vegas.



Two hours later, Hope stood in the family room outside the surgical unit, waiting for news about Amber. She’d been pacing most of the time, but now she just stood at the window and stared unseeing at the landscape. The ER doctors had decided that Amber needed a neurosurgeon to fix her hand. The cut was deep, and the nerves and tendons needed delicate, specialized repair. In addition, Amber had lost a lot of blood and was in shock. But she was young and healthy. They were optimistic she’d make a full recovery.

Faith still hadn’t arrived at the hospital, and she hadn’t answered any of the calls Hope had made to her cell, either. Hope wondered where her sister could be and why she wasn’t picking up. Faith would never let her daughter down. Probably her cell had lost its charge, like Hope’s often did.

Hope had called Tanner to cancel their casino appointment. They’d been scheduled to start play with the uncles at eleven o’clock that morning, as always, but that game was off until Faith arrived at the hospital. Suzanne would come in the late afternoon after her shift at the diner. So until Faith came, Hope would stay with Amber. When Amber came out of surgery and woke up, at least she wouldn’t be alone.

Hope suddenly became aware of a tantalizing aroma of onions, hot grease, and cooked meat. She realized that she hadn’t eaten her breakfast cereal and it was way past time for lunch. Her stomach growled. She turned around to see Tanner walk into the waiting room holding a bag from a fast-food restaurant.

“How’s Amber?” he asked. He put the bag on the low table by the window and then wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. He felt strong and warm and powerful, and for a moment—two moments—she relaxed against him, feeling intense relief.

“I don’t know yet,” she said, breathing him in.

He kissed her hair. “How are you?”

Scared. Lonely. Upset. Better now that you’re here. Hope wanted to hand him all her problems. Right now they just seemed overwhelming.

But she couldn’t. Why should Tanner help her? He barely knew her. And she couldn’t afford men who lived for risk. Having Amber in the hospital reminded her that she wanted no risk at all. She took a deep breath and stepped back.

“I’m okay,” she said, trying to recover her equilibrium. “Amber’s in surgery. It was a little complicated. I don’t know where Faith is. She’s not picking up.”

Tanner let her go. “Amber’s young. That’s in her favor. Faith’s phone probably isn’t charged and she hasn’t noticed. She’ll call you eventually, right?”

Hope nodded, eyeing the paper sack.

Tanner sat down on the couch. “I brought some food,” he said, opening the bag. “I thought you might be hungry. A couple of burgers and some of those egg sandwich deals. You want something?”

Hope sat down next to him. “It’s weird to be thinking about food, but I could really use an egg sandwich,” she said, digging into the bag. “Do you want one? Or do you have to go?” She unwrapped a sandwich and took out a paper cup of coffee, prying off the plastic lid to take a long swallow of the rapidly cooling drink before she tackled the food.

“Mmm, this is delicious,” she said around the egg. “Thank you for bringing it. I was starving. Here, help yourself.” She pushed the bag closer to him.

Tanner grinned briefly. “Don’t tell Kenji. He’ll lose all respect for your eating habits.”

Hope swallowed some of her egg sandwich, smiling back. “He’ll never know,” she said conspiratorially. “He went out to make a call, and I’ll be finished long before he gets back.”

Tanner took the bag from her and helped himself to a burger. “Anyway, I don’t have to leave. I was going to play cards with you, remember? So I don’t have other plans. I’ll wait with you. I like Amber. She made brownies for me.”

Hope looked at him. His eyes were dark and serious. Now that he was here, she realized she felt frightened for Amber. What if her niece lost some use of her hand? Hope would never forgive herself. Tears sprang to her eyes.

“I should have realized that Squeegee was too boisterous,” she said, putting her sandwich down, her voice suddenly a little shaky. “I should have shut her outside.”

Tanner chewed and swallowed a mouthful of burger before replying. “You can’t plan for everything,” he said, his voice prosaic. “Kenji probably feels just as guilty because he gave her the knives.” He handed her a napkin. “Here. Blow.”

His calmness was a reality check. Her smile wavered a little, but she took the paper napkin and wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “Better,” she said. “Sorry.”

He shrugged. “You’re upset. You’ll feel better if you finish your sandwich and drink your coffee.”

Hope nodded and took another bite. “It’s just that—” she started, her voice muffled around the egg.

“No,” Tanner said, shaking his head. “Really.” He took another bit of burger. “Trust me. Eat up. You have a long day ahead of you.”

Hope nodded and took another bite of her sandwich.

Just then a doctor, wearing surgical scrubs and a mask, came through the swinging double doors. Hope gulped when she saw him glance around the waiting room, looking for someone.

“Ms. McNaughton?” he asked, walking over to them. “Are you Amber’s family?”

Hope stood to meet the doctor and get the news. Tanner stood, too. He was all wrong for her. But he was worried about Amber, and he’d brought her an egg sandwich. That counted for something.

“Yes,” Tanner said to the doctor. “We’re Amber’s family.”

Hope felt surprise and maybe shock ripple through her. Tanner thought Amber was family? She swayed a little, but Tanner reached out to steady her.

“Tell us, doctor,” he said. “How is Amber doing?”