Page 50 of Reckless Love

“We were in the neighborhood,” I say. “Landon was hoping Stephen would be home.”

“No such luck,” Lorraine says. “He’s working long hours. You know how it is.”

I do, but I hate that he’s working those same hours for other people.

“Sit down,” Walter says, gesturing to the couch. “No need to hover. You’re welcome to have a visit.”

I usher Landon around the L-shaped couch, and then we both perch on the opposite side from Lorraine. “How did you know it was me at the door?”

“Stephen had this new-fangled thing installed,” Walter says, holding up a mini-iPad style of device. “Got cameras all around the outside of the house now.”

“Boy’s paranoid,’ Lorraine says. “We’ve got nothing worth stealing.”

“Maybe Stephen’s taken on a dangerous client?” I say, but the idea makes unease snake down my spine.

“Wouldn’t say.” Walter holds up the device again. “I quite like it. Even little animals set off the recording sensor. For someone who can’t get out much, it’s amazing.”

“Gave Vanessa one of those tablet devices to monitor cameras around her place, and he’s got one too,” Lorraine says. “Seems a bit much. The only people who go in and out of any of the other doors are Stephen and Vanessa. Deliveries, salespeople, friends, and relatives—they all come through our front door.”

“Vanessa and Stephen have their own entrances?” I ask.

“Round back,” Walter says. “Our apartments are connected—Vanessa over there,” he points to the left wing of the house, “and Stephen over there,” he points to the right, “and us in the middle.”

“Mom,” Landon says, tugging on my arm.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say. “Landon, these are Stephen’s parents. Lorraine and Walter, this is Landon.”

“Nice to meet you, young man,” Walter says. “I’m always giving Stephen a hard time about having kids of his own soon.”

“Do you think that’s…” The last word sticks in my throat, and I force it out, “likely?”

“He works too much to even meet anyone,” Lorraine says.

“Is that checkers?” Landon whispers, staring at a small table near Walter’s chair.

“It is checkers,” Walter says with a chuckle. “Do you play? Sometimes my kids still play with me.”

“I just learned,” Landon says. “Can we play?”

“You’ll need to bring the board around,” Walter says. “I haven’t got the mobility to do it.”

The nurse and I angle the table around, and we draw a second chair forward to face Walter for Landon to use.

I watch them for a moment, and my throat tightens at the realization that this is another thing Landon misses out on because of who his father is, who I married—attentive grandparents.

“Do your parents spend much time with him?” Lorraine asks, nodding toward Walter and Landon.

“No,” I say, my tone wistful. “As a baby, yes, but now that he’s older…”

“Shame,” Lorraine says. “I often think about how life doesn’t always give us what we want most.”

“Yours is grandchildren, I take it?”

She sighs. “Since Stephen’s come back from that overseas job, he’s different. Probably the accident, but I can’t see him having kids now. Too focused on climbing the ladder at Tucker Securities. And Vanessa’s still got big dreams, even if she pretends she doesn’t.”

“I heard Stephen’s accident was bad,” I hedge, sure I shouldn’t be prying but unable to help myself.

“Almost died,” Lorraine confirms, her voice growing thick. “I don’t know all the details. Stephen’s not allowed to talk about it, but Owen Tucker did something wrong. Felt guilty as hell about it. That’s all I know.”