Carry Me Home (The Home Series: Book Three) by Megan Nugen Isbell Page B

skin was pale and her mouth was dry, with white flakes around her lips.  She didn’t look a thing like my grandmother. I felt a hand slide into mine and I turned my head to see Jesse beside me and when I looked down, our fingers were curled together.  His touch was so familiar and I felt myself calm knowing he was at my side.  When my eyes traveled back up to his, I was taken back to the last time we’d been together in a hospital…the day after his father died.  Jesse had been so lost and I’d just wanted to be there to support him.  I tried imagining what he’d been feeling that day, and even now as I waited on news about my grandma, I knew I could never understand what he’d been dealing with.
    My uncle was sitting in a chair beside my grandma and I looked around, wondering where my mother was.
    “Where’s Mom?” I knew she had to be here.  She worked here after all.
    “She’s just talking with the doctor,” my uncle said and he stood up, walking over to us.  He gave Jesse the same look Aunt Debbie had. “Jesse,” my uncle’s deep voice said as he extended a hand.  Jesse let go of mine and shook it.
    “Good to see you, Mr. Smollett.” Jesse’s voice sounded surprisingly strong, even though I knew he had to be nervous seeing my Uncle Mike for the first time in almost four years. 
    “ Don’t look so sullen, kid.” Uncle Mike turned to me and he was smiling under his thick mustache. “Your grandma’s gonna be fine.” He gave me a side hug that seemed a little awkward.  I hadn’t grown up knowing my aunt and uncle.  I’d only met them a handful of times before I moved to Carver.  Over the years though, we’d developed the best relationship we could, but it was still a little forced at times.  My uncle didn’t quite know how to deal with girls, having only sons, my cousins Danny and David. 
    “Are you sure?” I asked, stepping back to my place beside Jesse.
    “Nothing’s for sure, honey,” Aunt Debbie said, walking over and running a hand through my grandmother’s hair.
    The door opened then and my mom walked inside.  She was in a pair of blue scrubs and I focused on her face.  My aunt and uncle could tell me whatever they want ed, but I only trusted my mom.  She looked tired, but she didn’t look nearly as frantic as I felt. 
    “Hey, baby,” she said, giving me a quick hug. “I’m glad your aunt got a hold of you.”
    “How’s grandma?”
    “She’ll be okay.”
    “Really?” She could sense my doubt and she hugged me again.
    “Yes.  It was a mild heart attack.  She’ll stay here for a few days, but she’ll be okay.”
    I let out a noticeable sigh and I felt Jesse’s hand on the small of my back.  He looked relieved when our eyes met and as suddenly as his hand had appeared, it was gone. 
    “Hello, Jesse.” I’m not sure if my mom was just noticing the fact he was with me, but she was looking at him with an expression I couldn’t explain.  She didn’t look angry.  She looked relieved actually and then she smiled, walking over to him and wrapping her arms around him.  The way she held him reminded me of the way she’d been there for him the night his dad died.  My mom was a petite woman and Jesse towered over her, but just like that night, he seemed so vulnerable in her arms.
    “Hi, Mrs. Regas,” he said when they pulled back.  His voice wasn’t nearly as strong as it’d been with my uncle.  It was timid, as if he was preparing for my mom to start berating him over the way he’d left things. “Riley and I…we were just talking.  I…I hope you don’t mind that I’m here.”
    “Not at all,” she said and then looked over to me and I cou ld tell she had questions, but they would obviously have to wait. “It’s really good to see you.” She reached out her hand and rested it on his arm, causing the anxious look on his face to recede a bit and he seemed to relax. 
    He hung back while I walked over to my grandma.  I took her hand in