Chapter 7

Samantha Gladstone paced the ER’s waiting area. Henry and Emily Gladstone sat on a sofa with stoic faces. Harry Gladstone sat across from his aunt and uncle. The Emergency Room receptionist slid a glass window open. “Mystery Stonestar Family?”

All four leapt toward the window. “Yes?”

Alicia Babcock smiled. “She’s fine. Emily, don’t worry! The doctor has wrapped her ankle and we are waiting on the pharmacy to fill her prescription. Then she’ll be released.”

“Thank goodness.” Sammy choked. Tears finally broke free and trailed down her face. Harry pulled Sammy into his arms and held her tight, resting his chin on top of her head.

Emily reached through the tiny window and squeezed Alicia’s hands. The two friends continued to talk.

Sammy’s dad wrapped an arm around his wife. “When can we see her?”

“She’ll be out soon.” Alicia’s kind eyes met Henry’s. He nodded.

Just then the heavy wooden doors opened and Mysti emerged in a wheelchair. A large frozen pack draped over her ankle. A scrubs-clad man pushed the chair. His ID tag read, “Jeremy Stanton, RN.” Pastor Lex Cayden walked behind, carrying a sack and many papers. Lex looked relieved when he saw Sam and Henry. Lex handed the papers to Emily as if he suddenly realized he was out of line being in the back with Mysti.

The four Gladstones anxiously stared at Lex, while Jeremy continued to steadily roll Mystery’s wheelchair across the waiting room.

“She’s all right,” Lex spoke quickly. “It’s just a bad bruise. But she needs to stay off it for a few days.” His eyes met the younger male Gladstone. This man had been holding Mystery in his lap when Lex returned to her shop last Monday. She said he was her cousin but he acted more like an old boyfriend? Or a current boyfriend? Lex had seen him occasionally in church. He sat among the Gladstones. He had the look of a Gladstone. But Lex wasn’t sure who he was—Or what he was—to Mystery. “I’m Lex Cayden.” He extended a hand and shook the man’s.

“I’m Harry Gladstone. Mysti and Sammy’s cousin.” They nodded.

Henry glared at Pastor Cayden. “Am I right in assuming you will be taking our daughter to her home?”

Lex paused. He had never considered her family’s feelings about him dating Mystery. Of course, Henry would still feel protective toward his daughter. He’d made that perfectly clear in church last Sunday. “Deacon Gladstone, my apologies.” He stepped up and shook Henry’s hand. “I should have spoken to you, first. I have very strong feelings for your daughter and I would like your blessings to date her.”

Harry turned his back on his uncle and glared at Sammy, then mouthed, What? Sammy just smiled and shoved him back into the procession.

Henry cocked his head to one side. “Is that a fact? What about all that crap Begley said about her?”

“Sir, I am not Begley. In fact, I think I may have resigned my post in his church today.” Lex drew his brow together, recollecting the exchange with Begley.

“Really?”

“Well, I told him I didn’t see how I could continue to serve under his leadership. So, yeah, I expect him to interpret that as a resignation. Don’t you?”

Henry chuckled. “Well, son. I reckon he will.”

Jeremy propelled Mystery’s wheelchair toward the exit doors. The family walked along behind and beside her. Henry continued drilling Lex. “So, what are you going to do now?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re an ordained pastor, right?”

“Yes sir.”

“Well, then what are your plans? What do you have in mind with my daughter and your ministry? You gonna open a New Age church with our Mysti? Or what?”

The automatic doors slid open. Jeremy tipped the wheelchair back slightly, to maneuver over the threshold. He turned slightly toward Lex. “This your black Ridgeline?”

“Yes.” Lex nodded at Jeremy and tried to step ahead of Mystery’s chair. He turned back to Henry. “No sir. I was just explaining to Mystery, her gifts are from God. It’s directly out of the Bible. She exhibits multiple gifts, actually.” Lex had to speak up, the wind blew hard and his words were lost on the breeze. “And I-I am falling in love with her, sir.”

“Well. How about that?” Henry shouted over the gale. He turned to Emily and hooked her arm into his elbow. “Sweetheart, I believe our daughter is in good hands. Let’s go home and check on her a little later. You can make her a casserole and we’ll bring it over this evening.” He winked at Lex, who nodded. “Give yourself some time, Pastor. And then let’s discuss your future.” Mystery’s parents strode down the sidewalk to the parking lot.

Confusion wrinkled Lex’s forehead. “Yes sir—”

“What about me?” Sam whined.

Lex glanced at Mystery whose head lolled over to her shoulder. The pain meds had finally saturated her ability to resist them. She needed to be in bed. That thought sent a sensation through him he hoped didn’t show. “Sam, why don’t you ride with us and help me get Mystery settled.”

Sammy darted a look at her mom and dad. They had reached their red and white truck and Henry was helping Emily in on the passenger side. Sammy turned back to Lex. “Okay. P-Pastor.”

“Call me Lex, please.”

“Okay, Lex. But I’ve got my car. I can follow you.” She widened her eyes at Harry and giggled. “Harry, what are you going to do?”

He lifted his wrist to look at his watch. “I’ve got business to tend to at the B&B, if you’ve got this, I’ll come by later.”

The cousins nodded and ran to their respective cars.

Lex secured Mystery in the passenger seat, leaned her seat back, and closed her door. He jogged to his side and climbed in. For a moment he stared straight ahead. What was he going to do? He glanced at Mystery’s slumped-over frame. Had he really confessed he loved her to Henry Gladstone? He jammed the keys into the ignition and headed for Mystery’s place.

“No turning back now!”

Mysti had two entrances to her apartment. One from the alley and one from her storefront. Her family members texted when they were at the alley entrance which Lex figured out when Mystery’s phone chimed repeatedly. He made the bold move to glance at her messages and realized Leanne and Harry Gladstone stood in the alley.

Mystery slept deeply with the shot of Demerol she had been given over an hour ago. So Lex dashed down the back stairs to open the door for her cousins.

“Oh!” Leanne exclaimed. She held a turquoise and black polka dot warmer pouch. “Pastor Cayden? What are you doing here? I thought Sammy was taking care of Mysti.”

“I’m helping. She—Sammy’s here, too.”

Harry jabbed his sister’s arm with an elbow. “See. I told ya.” Harry carried a foil casserole container with an aluminum paper lid crimped at the edges.

“Okay.” Leanne tilted her head and squinted her eyes. “May I go up?”

“Oh, of course.” He stepped aside while still holding the industrial metal door.

Leanne nodded and sprinted up the stairs. She called over her shoulder. “There’s a remote lock for that door. Just so you know.”

“Um. Thank you.” He trotted two steps at a time behind her. Their foods’ aroma wafted after them. Lex inhaled deeply. A mixture of shrimp, cajun spices, bacon, and a sweet smell—pancakes or something.