When Bill took Trevor and Drew into another room to go find old photo albums, Gray took Ginger by the arm.
“How bad is it, Miss Ginger?”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “It’s bad, Grayson. It’s in his liver. Doctors say there isn’t much they can do.”
Gray took a deep breath. “Is there anything I can do to help? If you need money, if he needs to go somewhere else for treatment . . .”
She squeezed his arms. “Darlin’, if I thought throwin’ money at this would help him, I’d have been on the phone callin’ in favors from every kid who’d ever passed through our doors.” She shook her head. “Money can’t help him now. It’s in God’s hands.”
He bent his head and closed his eyes. Ginger put her arms around him and he hugged her close. When he opened his eyes and looked across the kitchen, Evelyn had tears streaming down her face.
*
EVELYN’S HEART ACHED FOR GRAY. IT WAS CLEAR HE loved Bill and Ginger Briscoe, that the four years he’d spent at the school and in the dorms were some of the best of his life, and that Bill had helped shape the man he’d become. The Briscoes were kind people with good senses of humor and a belief system that would help Ginger get through the rough times ahead.
She also had a strong support system, an entire school apparently, because it was clear a lot of people loved them both. Gray, Trevor, and Drew all worshipped Bill.
She listened to story after story about what a hero he was to them, how he’d saved their butts when they’d almost gotten into trouble, or how he’d disciplined them when they’d crossed the line. But it was all said with such respect that it left Evelyn with a sense of awe about the man.
He’d be leaving an amazing legacy behind. It was a shame he’d be leaving at all.
Ginger was preparing roasted chicken and said there was plenty for everyone.
Evelyn had convinced her she could be useful in the kitchen, despite Ginger’s protests that company didn’t help out. So she’d sliced carrots and peeled potatoes and had made a huge salad, not used to feeding a bunch of hungry men. But it was nice to stand side by side with Ginger and do something quietly for a while.
“You dating that boy?” Ginger asked.
Evelyn didn’t quite know how to answer that, so she started with the truth.
“Actually, I work for his father.”
“The senator?” Ginger took a side step back. “What do you do for him?”
Evelyn explained her job and what she was doing with Gray.
“Now that’s interesting work. You must be very smart.”
Evelyn laughed. “I think I do okay.”
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s important to always hold your own, Evelyn. Never rely on a man to be your everything in life.”
“Oh, I never intend for that to happen.”
“Good. Haven—that’s our daughter—she’s the same way. Maybe to a fault. That girl has an independent streak as wide as the Rio Grande. Always thinking of her career first, no time for a man in her life. I’m beginning to fear she’s never going to give me grandchildren.”
Evelyn laughed. “Does your daughter live here?”
“Oh, no. She couldn’t wait to get off this campus. As soon as she graduated college, she moved to Dallas. But she comes home regularly to visit, more so now that Bill has been sick. She’s here today—that’s her car in the driveway. She wandered off to visit some friends, so she should be back soon.”
“That’s nice that she has her independence but she’s not so far away that she doesn’t come home to see you.”
“What the hell are all these cars doing here? Is there some party I didn’t know about?”
“Oh, that’ll be Haven now,” Ginger said, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
The screen door banged open.
“Hi, honey,” Ginger said, hugging her daughter.
“Hey, Mom.”
A gorgeous girl with short raven hair and big blue eyes entered the room. She wore tattered capris and a double tank top that hugged her slender body, but nothing could hide those spectacular breasts. Wow, was she ever stunning.
Haven smiled when she saw Evelyn. “Oh, hi. I’m Haven Briscoe.”
“Evelyn Hill. Nice to meet you.”
“Same here. Did you go to school here, Evelyn?”
“No. I’m here with Gray Preston.”
“Ohhh.” She turned to her mother. “Gray’s here?”
“He’s out back with your dad. Drew Hogan and Trevor Shay are here, too.”
“Oh. Well. Trevor’s here, huh?” Haven sucked in her lower lip. “I’ll be upstairs for a minute.”
“Don’t you want to go outside and greet the guys first?” Ginger asked.
But Haven was already halfway down the hall. “In a minute, Mom.”
Evelyn arched a brow. That was interesting. Her entire demeanor changed when Trevor’s name was mentioned.
The guys all came back inside.
“Did I hear Haven come back?” Bill asked.
“Yes,” Ginger said. “She ran upstairs. She’ll be back in a minute.”
“Haven’s here, huh,” Trevor asked as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink.