Her mother looked pale, fragile, but she smiled at Henry as he leapt into action. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t take time for small talk. He nearly ran across the room to grab one of the lounge chairs stacked at the back.
“He’s a good man, your Henry.” Her mom put an arm around her shoulder, resting their heads together. “I like him a lot.”
Tears immediately sprang to her eyes. She wanted more time. It was going too fast, like time was speeding up and she wanted so desperately to stay, to hold the moment. So sweet. So fleeting. This was life. It had to be savored because it was over so quickly. “I think I might love him, Mom.”
Her mother’s smile was soft as she looked at her. “Of course you do. He’s your soul mate, Nell. I can see it very plainly.”
“Moira, where do you want this?” Henry was holding the heavy chaise like it weighed nothing.
“Oh, I want to be close to the action. We’re waxing Sasquatch, after all. You know we call them trolls where I come from. Such an odd place, the Earth plane.” Her mother pointed to a place close to the massage table where Callie was starting to heat a pot for the wax and Pam was setting up a pedicure station. Henry moved to do her bidding, and Moira squeezed Nell. “I think I would like my toes to be purple this time. One thing I love about this plane is the technology. The vampires have it, too, but it’s so much more personal here.”
Henry didn’t seem to notice the crazy talk. He was busy placing the chaise and talking to Bill. A tendril of guilt sparked through her system. Henry should love her mom, too. There was nothing wrong with her mother. A little insanity never hurt anyone. Moira Finn had been a wonderful mother.
“I think purple would be great,” Nell leaned over, pressing her lips to her mom’s cheek. Time was short. She wouldn’t hold back on her affection. Love was never wrong. Love was never wasted. Her eyes strayed to Henry. Even if he couldn’t love her back, she was better for loving him. Her mom had taught her that. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, baby. You’re the best thing I ever did. I wish you could have known my brother. The good one, not the asswipe. Seamus was a good man. He had his flaws, but I loved him. Torin was a little shit. I don’t know how he came from the same womb as the rest of us.”
“Here you go, Moira.” Henry held a hand out, guiding her to the chaise. “Maybe you can put the robe down so you’re more comfortable. It’s nice and warm in here.”
He patted the chaise as though it really wouldn’t bother him if her mother dropped her robe and made herself comfortable. He’d come so far. He could go farther. Henry Flanders could be such a great man if he only allowed himself to be. He was capable of such deep love and acceptance. He was on the cusp of being a great man, and she couldn’t help but wonder at it.
Her mother didn’t have a problem with shedding her robe, either. She shrugged out of it and handed it to Henry, who kept his eyes squarely on her face before laying the robe out on the chaise for her.
“Here you go,” Henry said gallantly. “Nell, honey, I’m going to head into town for a couple of hours. I’ll be back before it’s time for bed, okay?”
She nodded. He was very likely going into town so he could work on her case. She wished he wouldn’t take it so seriously, but that was just the way Henry thought. Her mom squeezed Henry’s hand as she took her place and then Nell wrapped her arms around him.
She loved the feel of him. His hands found her waist and she felt surrounded, beloved. He hadn’t said it, likely never would, but she felt adored when he held her like that. “Have a nice time. Call me if you need anything.”
He looked down at her. “Go to my room. I want you in my bed. If you aren’t there, I’ll hunt you down, Nell.”
He would, too. He was ridiculously possessive, and it occurred to her to talk to him about it, but the truth was, she kind of liked it and she really liked having a key to his room. She got the idea he wouldn’t give it out to just anyone. “I’ll be there. I don’t have any plans, Henry. I’ll stay here with Mom and then have dinner and head to bed. I know it’s a nudist resort, but it’s actually quite staid.”
“See that it stays that way.” He brushed his lips against hers. “Is it wrong that I feel weird grabbing my pants?”
She shook her head. “Nope. You should always be naked.”
He frowned. “Yeah, we’re going to have to negotiate that, baby. Be good.”
He walked out, picking up his bag as he left and grabbing his clothes. She couldn’t help but watch as he walked away, his backside on perfect display.
“That is a very attractive man.”
“Mom!”
Her mother shrugged. “I’m old, honey, not dead. He’s got a very lovely physique. It’s obvious that your Henry believes in working out.”
The door closed behind him, and Nell sat down on the edge of the lounger. It was as good a time as any to have this discussion with her mother. The last thing she wanted was for her mom to get the idea that this thing with Henry was going to last. “I really like him.”
Her mom frowned. “I think it’s more than like, Nell. You’re sleeping with him.”
Was there no privacy anywhere? “How does everyone know that?”
“Callie saw him whisking you away last night. She said it was very romantic. Did he really carry you down the hall like you weighed less than a feather, dear?”
“Callie!”
Callie turned, wincing. “Gossip is my only flaw. And it really was quite lovely, though I just thought you would make out with him. I wouldn’t have told your mom if I actually thought you were sleeping with him. Please don’t protest me.”
And it had probably made Callie think about everything she’d lost. “I think I can forgive you. Besides, I hear you’re going to be the one to wax Roy Ferguson.”
Callie nodded. “He’s really tired of the Squatchers hunting him. They send out mating calls and everything. How do they know the mating call of a Sasquatch if they’ve never actually seen one? It makes a person think.” Callie shook her head. “I’m going to need more wax. We’ll be back in a minute.”
Callie left with her mom, and Bill nodded as he followed them.
“I wish I could help more, but I’m so tired these days.” Her mother lay back. She looked weary, but there was a secretive smile on her face.
“It’s the chemotherapy.” Nell held her mom’s hand. “When this round is over, you’ll feel better.”
“No, love. I stopped the chemo about a month ago.”
Nell stopped. She’d thought Pam was driving her into Alamosa for treatments all this time. “Mom! How could you do that?”
“Because it’s time.” There was a weak squeeze to her hand as her mom gripped her fingers. “Don’t be angry with me, sweetheart. There’s a time to fight and there’s a time to go out with grace. If we hadn’t found this place, if I wasn’t sure you would be all right, I would still be fighting. But I can rest now, Nell. I can go and see your father again. I’ve been so far from home.”
Nell’s heart threatened to break. The thought of losing her mother was almost unimaginable, but she’d been in pain for so long, and not just a physical pain. “Do you honestly believe you’ll see him again?”
Clear brown eyes held her own. “Oh, yes. I know everyone thinks I’m crazy. It’s been nice being here in Bliss, but they put me in the same category as Mel with his aliens. They think there’s something wrong with my brain or that I had a loss that I just couldn’t accept, but I know my truth. Honey, there are more worlds out there than you can imagine. This world is just one. This time is just one. My husband is waiting for me. He’s my soul mate. We didn’t get our chance in this life, but there will be another. I have faith.”