Hometown Star

chapter Eleven

“What?” Star took in her mother’s disheveled appearance: the bed–head, the short black robe. “John’s here? Again?”

“In the bedroom.” Destiny grabbed Star’s arm. “He needs help.”

“Wait,” Star said, remembering Cade. She turned, relieved to find him still sitting in the driveway. Star waved Cade in before following her mother to the bedroom.

“I think John’s having a heart attack,” Destiny said in a rush. “We were, well, you know, and he suddenly stopped. He’s clutching his chest.”

Star found John in the bedroom, flat on his back, the sheet twisted about his hips. The stench of booze and sweat gagged Star.

“John, what’s happening?” Star asked.

“A pain.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “My chest. Get aspirin.”

Star spun from the room, nearly running into Cade in the hall.

“What’s going on?” Cade asked.

“It’s John,” Star said. “Possible heart attack.”

“John?” Cade shook his head, heading for the bedroom.

In the medicine cabinet Star found a bottle of generic aspirin. She heard Cade asking John questions. She raced back to John with the pills. Fingers shaking, she shook out a tablet.

“Under my tongue.” John opened his mouth. Star placed the tablet inside.

“Destiny,” Cade called over his shoulder. “Take my truck. Go to the house and call 911.”

For a second Destiny didn’t move. Star said, “Go, Mom.”

Destiny ran from the room. The front door banged shut.

“How can I help?” Star asked Cade.

“Let the aspirin work,” John said.

Star wracked her brain, trying to remember the one CPR/First Aid class she’d had.

“Hang on,” Cade said, the voice of reason. “Help will be here soon.”

“We’re in the middle of nowhere,” John said, his words sounding more like a wheeze than actual words.

“It’ll be okay,” Cade told him. “Try not to worry. Relax.”

But in the back of Star’s mind she saw Patsy having her own heart attack. She hadn’t survived. Would John?

Sweat beaded John’s brow, his upper lip. Star retrieved a dry washcloth from the bathroom. She blotted the moisture from his face.

“Is the pain any better?” Cade asked.

“Some.”

“Hang on, John,” Star said. “Mom’s sure to be at Cade’s by now. Help is on the way. An aid car can make it here in minutes.”

He nodded, clearly too spent to argue with her.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” she droned on, not sure what else to say. She exchanged a concerned look with Cade. Thank God, Cade was here. Silently, Star prayed that John would live, that he’d be okay. Destiny would never recover if she thought her sexual prowess had killed a man.

After what seemed like an eternity, she heard the slam of a car door. Destiny was back.

“Help’s coming,” her mother called out.

To Star’s untrained eye, John looked better. His face wasn’t as pinched, and he didn’t seem to be sweating as much. Had the aspirin worked?

From outside the faint whine of a siren cut through the night.

“Here they come,” Star said. “I’ll go and flag them down.”

“Thanks, Star,” Cade said, a long look passing between them.

Star ran from the room. Her mother sat on the couch, Star’s blanket wrapped around her body, Destiny’s pretty face, ravaged by tears. Star barely spared a glance for her mother as she flipped on the outdoor lights and went outside. An aid vehicle came toward her, the red light spitting color everywhere. The shrill siren knotted her stomach. She met the EMTs in the driveway.

“He’s inside,” she said. “Follow me.”

The men, both clean cut and young, probably in their late twenties, grabbed their gear and followed Star inside.

“Is he still responsive?” one of the men asked.

“Yes,” she said. “He’s talking to us.”

Star and the EMTs blew by Destiny. Like Star, the men barely glanced at her mother. When they reached the bedroom, one of the men said, “Wait here.”

Star did as she was told. She hovered in the hallway. She could hear the men talking to Cade, asking more questions. Star wrapped her arms around herself. A chill invaded her body. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

A minute later, Cade joined her. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Just cold.”

“Son of a—” Cade raked his fingers through his hair, and Star realized he felt as emotionally charged as she did.

“Yeah,” Star said, totally getting it.

Cade reached for her, gathering her to his chest. The wall inside Star crumbled and she melted into him. Her arms wrapped around him. They held each other, and funny, some of her anxiety dissolved.

Minutes later, one of the EMTs stepped out into the hall.

“He’s stable,” the man said. “We’re going to transport him.”

“Okay,” Cade said. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Star turned at the sound of Ernie’s voice. “What’s going on?” he shouted at Destiny. “What did you do?”

Her mother burst into tears.

“Cade,” Ernie said when he saw them. “Is he okay?”

“Yes.” Cade walked to meet Ernie. “He’s stable. They’re getting ready to transport him to the hospital.”

Ernie turned to Destiny, but thankfully, no words came out of his mouth.

“This is my fault,” Destiny said between sobs.

“Get a grip, Mom,” Star said. “This could have happened to him anywhere, with anyone.”

“But he was so...energetic,” Destiny said.

Star groaned. “Mom, stop talking.”

“I’ll second that,” Cade said.

One of the EMTs brought a gurney into the bedroom. Soon after, John was wheeled out.

“John,” Destiny cried when she saw him. “I’m so sorry.”

John gave her a thumbs up.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Destiny asked.

“Yes,” John said.

Destiny nodded. “I’ll get dressed and follow the ambulance.” She gave Star a smile before leaving them.

In a matter of minutes, the ambulance was gone. Ernie and Destiny pulled out after it.

On shaky legs, Star followed Cade down the steps.

“Will you be all right here?” he asked.

Star glanced back at the mobile home. She had no desire to go back inside. “I’ll be fine.”

“Why don’t you stay at my place? We have the room.” He opened the door of his truck.

“No, I’m okay.”

He frowned. “You’re not fine, Star. Go to my place. Ron is up. Tell him I said to put you in the copper room. I’ll let your mother know where you are.”

Star eyed the mobile home. She really did not want to go back inside. Not tonight. The thought of being near other people: Trudy, Ron, and even the kids, sounded comforting.

“Okay, I’ll go.”

He smiled. “Good. I’ll see you there later.”

Star didn’t wait for him to drive away. Instead, she went inside and packed a small bag. She needed people. Cade’s people.

* * *

Star focused on the bright morning light streaming through the window of Cade’s guest room. A manly room, with a copper colored bedspread done in a fish print. One wall held a large metal fish, the other a painting of the Kenai River.

She checked her watch. It was after eight. Breakfast was probably already over and done with. She needed to get up and get down there, but the events of last night reeled through Star’s head, her mother meeting her at the door, the paramedics, Cade. Star burrowed deeper under the covers.

She closed her eyes against the morning glare, against the harsh reality of her life. How would she ever face Cade or any of the O’Briens this morning? It had been bad enough answering Ron’s questions last night. Her mother’s sexual prowess had almost killed one of their guests.

Death couldn’t be good for business.

The bedroom door creaked. “Star?” Finn’s head poked into the room.

“Hey, Finn.” She smiled at the little boy, who had a serious case of bed–head.

“Dad says to come down. Breakfast is ready.”

“Thanks. I’ll be right down.”

He disappeared from view.

With the opening of the bedroom door came the scent of pancakes and bacon. Star ignored her embarrassment and got out of bed. She took the robe provided for guests from a hook on the back of the door and slipped it on, belting it around her waist.

On bare feet, she walked down the stairs to the kitchen.

Finn, Emma, and Brad sat at the table eating. Cade stood at the counter, flipping pancakes.

“Morning,” he said when he saw her. For a second he searched her face, and when she smiled at him, he smiled back.

“Good morning,” she said. “How’s John?”

“Resting comfortably,” Cade said. “He’s stable. They’re calling it a cardiac episode, not an actual heart attack. That’s good news. He’ll be having some additional tests today. I know this might come as a shock, but your mother is a pretty good nurse. She’s been a real advocate for John.”

“Is Ernie still there, too?” Star asked.

“Yes. He wanted to stay.”

“Of course.”

“Grab a plate,” Cade said, “then come here.”

Star snagged an empty plate from the table and walked to Cade. This was normal, breakfast with your family. So why did it feel so foreign?

He loaded her plate with three pancakes, two pieces of bacon, and a fried egg.

“Wait,” she said. “My life doesn’t revolve around meals in Seattle. I can’t eat all of this.”

He winked at her. “Sure you can. Meals are a time when families come together. Get used to it, Star.”

Star gave up and took her plate to the table, taking the seat opposite Brad. She did feel like part of the family here, but how much would she miss these people when she left?

“Here.” Finn passed her the syrup.

Cade set his own plate on the table and sat.

For a few minutes they all ate in silence—like they were a real family. What would that be like? She looked around the table. The kids. Cade. Whoa, wait a minute. She wasn’t anybody’s mother, and she didn’t want to be. Being Cade’s potential lover, okay, but not a mother. No way. She wasn’t about to get stuck in this town. The thought killed her appetite and she pushed her plate away.

“You okay?” Cade wiped his mouth on his napkin.

“No.” Star finished her coffee. “I’m so sorry about what happened last night.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Cade frowned. “Don’t apologize for her.”

“I’m not.”

“You are,” Cade said. “Destiny and John made their own choice. Just like you and I make our own choices. Just like my father made his own choices.”

“Wait, what happened exactly?” Brad asked, his mouth full of pancakes.

“You know what happened.” Cade stood and began clearing the plates.

Thankfully, Brad let his question drop.

Star got up to help, Cade’s words rattling around in her head. What choice did she want to make with regard to Cade? Could she have her summer fling and move on? Any good Cosmo girl would.

Together they cleaned the kitchen. Finn and Emma wandered in with Snowbell.

“It’s a rare day off for us,” Cade said. “No guests.”

Star winced. “Sorry.”

“What I mean is,” Cade said, “we should do something fun.”

“Like what?” Emma asked with interest.

“What about a hike? Or a bike ride?” Cade suggested.

“Okay.” Finn jumped up and down.

“Star has to come,” Emma said. “You’ll come, won’t you, Star?”

“I don’t think so,” Star said. “I have some work to finish up.”

“Take the day off,” Cade said softly. “Spend it with me, with us. It’s one day out of your life, Star.”

“But Mom,” Star began.

“Can take care of herself. I don’t see her leaving John’s side anytime soon.”

Star’s teeth grazed her lower lip. “I don’t know.” It wasn’t her work that kept her from saying yes; it was the O’Briens. In her heart she knew that the more time she spent with them, the more time she’d have to become attached.

“Please, Star,” Emma begged. “Please, please, please.”

“Oh, all right.” Deep down, she wanted to go, wanted to be included. “Can we hike up to the top of Eagle Ridge?”

Cade traded glances with the twins. “I don’t see why not.”

Star grinned. “I’ll go and get dressed.”

“Hurry, Star,” Emma said, her eyes bright with excitement.

Star touched the little girl’s hair. “I will.”

“Come on.” Finn tugged on her hand. The little boy pulled her to the stairs, leading her to her room. “Now hurry.”

He left Star at her door.

Star had no choice but to go inside and dress. She grabbed the change of clothes she’d brought and headed for the bathroom.

She had to admit, she loved the idea of the hike. Since coming back to Alaska she’d had very little time for sightseeing. She’d earned this day out.

Humming, Star stepped into the shower.