The Ninth Floor Page 2

  Ashley eased away like molasses, but he did get out from behind my car. “I’ll tell Mom you’re back. She’ll definitely want to know. She might even throw you a welcome home party. People were beginning to think you don’t actually exist.”

  I looked back at him, meeting his blue eyes that were so similar to my own. “This isn’t my home, Ash. I’m not here for you guys. I’m here for Bee. No parties necessary.”

  “We’ll see, Ryan.”

  I shook my head as I drove away.

  *

  The smell of honeysuckle and jasmine blanketed me as I opened the door to my aunt’s upscale boutique, Blueberry. Aunt Bee had a wonderful eye for beautiful, quality clothing and accessories. She managed to stock the best burgeoning designers year after year without fail. If Bee picked a designer to carry in her store, within two years that person would make it big.

  The store consisted of three good-sized rooms connected by beautifully crafted archways. The walls were a vibrant lime green and lined with nearly black framed shelves. A high-backed loveseat filled the center room, graced by round wooden tables on either side. A solid, hand-carved mahogany counter lined the back wall of the center room and held an ancient brass cash register.

  I toured each room, running my fingers over the fine fabrics, picking up and studying this odd knickknack, that bit of finery …I didn’t know anything about clothes. How was I going to run this store? I straightened my shoulders. I didn’t have to know about clothes to sell them—or, better yet, to hire someone to sell them. I went back into the storeroom/office and found Bee’s laptop. As I picked it up, the front door chimed. Damn, I forgot to lock it behind me.

  “Hello,” called out a chipper woman’s voice. “Yoohoo.”

  “I’m sorry. We’re not open,” I said. Then I turned and saw the familiar gray eyes and perfect bright white teeth of Vivian Golde, my boarding school roommate.

  “I heard you were back in town. I had to see for myself. Ryan Sterling, as I live and breathe.” Vivian clutched her hands together in front of her—probably to show off her perfect baby-doll-pink manicure. “You always swore you’d never come back.”

  “Hadn’t planned on it.” I shifted uncomfortably. I didn’t know what to say to Vivian. We never had much in common.

  “But you’re here now.” She held her caramel-colored arms open for a hug.

  I gave her a quick, awkward squeeze, still holding on to the laptop. “Nice to see you. We’ll have to get together sometime, but I really need to get back to the hospital.”

  “Oh,” she said as she patted my arm, “I heard, sweetie. I’m so sorry. If there’s anything I can do to help…” Vivian scanned the room. “I just adore this store. Do you plan on opening it soon?”

  “As soon as I can. I need to hire one or two people first. I don’t think I can balance the store and the hospital.”

  She strolled over to a rack next to one of the tables and picked out a navy blue and coral striped maxi skirt. “I love this.”

  I sighed and looked pointedly toward the door. There was no time for Vivian to browse.

  “I wouldn’t mind helping out. I live to shop, and I don’t have anything else to do.” She looked back at me over her shoulder. “That way you don’t even have to interview other people. I can take care of everything. I’ve been looking for a project since I came back.”

  I was tempted to ask why she’d returned. Last I heard, Vivian was living the high life, running around with Hollywood A-listers and rock stars, but I didn’t really have time to hear what would surely be a long story. “Um, yeah. Maybe. Let me look at Bee’s finances, and I’ll get back to you.” Vivian gave me her number as I all but pushed her out the door.

  The more I thought about it on my way back to the hospital, the more I liked the idea. Vivian didn’t need the money, so I probably wouldn’t have to pay her a lot, and she was trustworthy—or was when we were in school together, at least. If we could afford to hire her and another part-time salesclerk, I wouldn’t have to worry about the store and that would be one problem taken care of.

  Being close to accomplishing something to make Bee’s life easier gave me a sense of control and took away the free-falling sensation I’d had since I spoke with her on the phone after my mother called. Bee’s health was out of my hands, but I could take care of everything else.

  Chapter 3

  Bee wasn’t in her room when I got back, and her roommate was snoring loudly. I sat in the chair next to Bee’s bed and looked around her area. It was depressing. She wasn’t allowed to have flowers or plants so the only color in the drab room was the get well soon cards she had stacked beside her bed.

  I sighed and the TV in the corner of the room flipped on, blaring. I jumped and scrambled for the remote on the bedside table. The TV turned off with a click before I touched a button. My heart beat wildly in my chest. How on earth did that happen? I looked over at Mrs. Simpson, who was still snoring. Maybe she was lying on her remote. I crept close to her, searching for the telltale cord that attached the remote to the bed. As I leaned slightly over her, Mrs. Simpson’s eyes popped open.

  “Welcome home,” she gurgled and gave me putrid smile with yellow snaggleteeth.

  I backed away, holding my hands in front of me. “I think you’re on top of your TV remote.”

  Her eyes closed and a fresh snore rumbled. What the hell. My hands were shaking. I closed the curtain between the two halves of the room and went back to the window, but I never looked away from the feeble fabric separating me and Mrs. Simpson. Bee really was sharing a room with a lunatic. So Simpson was creepy, so what? She was probably dreaming. And besides, what could a frail old woman do to hurt me? Pull yourself together, Ryan.

  Her “welcome” was still echoing in my ears when the room’s door opened. I craned my neck to see. A man who looked to be in his mid-thirties with softly curling dark blond hair and dark-rimmed glasses came in. I straightened up, relieved someone else was here. If that was Dr. Sadler, I couldn’t fault Bee’s taste in men. A moment later he came around the curtain.

  He glanced at the bed before looking at me. “Is Ms. Scott not back yet?”

  I shook my head. “I just got here. I don’t know where she is.”

  “Jack Sadler.” He held out a hand. “You must be Ryan. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “And I’ve heard a lot about you.” I shook his hand.

  He smiled. “All good, I hope.”

  “So far.” My shoulders relaxed, and I smiled back at him.

  He chuckled. “How are you adjusting to being back in Goodson Hollow?”

  Just how much had Bee told him about me? “Well, I haven’t been back long, but I think it’s going to go … slow.”

  The door opened again and Bee was wheeled in. A male nurse helped her into the bed. “You were quick. I hope you haven’t been waiting long,” Bee said after the nurse left.

  “Not long. Where have you been?”

  “They were running more tests.” She looked over to Dr. Sadler. “Jack, this is my niece, Ryan Sterling. Ryan, Jack Sadler.”

  “We’ve met.” I sat back in the chair next to the bed.

  “You know, Jack. Ryan hasn’t been here in years. I bet she could use someone to show her around. Goodson Hollow has changed a lot since she left.”

  My cheeks grew warm. I pursed my lips and looked at well-meaning Bee. “If I need help, I’ll ask Ashley. He’s the mayor, after all. I’m sure Dr. Sadler has better things to do. Things like making you well again.”

  She made a sound suggesting my comment was absurd. Dr. Sadler looked up from his chart and smiled. “How are you feeling today, Bee?”

  “Oh, fine, fine.”

  He nodded and lifted the bottom of the blanket to check the swelling in her legs, asking a series of questions and making notes.

  “You should have Ryan take you on little walks periodically—and try to sit up as much as you can.” Dr. Sadler turned back to me. “It was nice to finally meet you, Ryan.”<
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  “You too.”

  When Dr. Sadler left the room, I covered my face with my hands. How embarrassing.

  “He probably would’ve asked you out had you not thrown your brother in his face,” Bee said with a yawn.

  “Who says I want that?”

  “You aren’t blind or dead, Ryan. Of course you want to go out with him.” Bee’s eyes were closing, so I didn’t keep arguing. Instead, I picked up her laptop and flipped it on.

  *

  While driving to Bee’s house after visiting hours were over, all I wanted to do was go to sleep. Bee’s finances for the shop were in perfect order, and we’d discussed hiring someone. She told me to do whatever I thought was best since she was leaving Blueberry to me anyway. I dismissed the trickle of worry that said she was giving up. She was just tired, and who could blame her? I called Vivian and asked her to meet me for breakfast the next morning. When I pulled in front of the house, my driveway was filled with cars that cost more than I made in a year. A din of voices blared from behind the door, but I couldn’t make anything out. I exhaled and pushed the door open.

  “There she is,” Ashley called out.

  I scanned the small group of cousins until I found him. “What’s going on, Ashley?”

  “I wanted to make sure you got off on the right foot. And everyone wanted to see you.”

  I glared at him as the group migrated my way.

  Annabelle made it to me first. She kissed the air on either side of my cheeks, engulfing me in a sea of perfume. “I just love how natural your hair looks,” she said, tugging one of my loose ash blond curls. “I was beginning to think you’d gone into witness protection. How long has it been?”

  Ashley shot her a disapproving look and I forced a smile. Jackson, Katherine, and Max all gave me quick hugs. I couldn’t even remember the last time I spoke with any of my cousins. They were family from my father’s side. We all stared at each other.

  “Well—” I clapped my hands together, about to tell them I was going to bed when Katherine interrupted me.

  “Is it true you’re dating Briggs Burke?” She said his name like he was famous.

  I gave her a bewildered look. “You know Briggs?”

  “No, but we were at a summer camp together once. So dreamy and über rich.”

  “Yeah.” I rolled my neck. “I hate to cut this visit short, but I’ve had a really long day. We’ll have to catch up some other time. Thanks for coming to see me.” I opened the door and smiled at them. They trickled out and Ashley pulled up the rear.

  “That was rude.” His breath smelled of whiskey.

  “I was rude? You’re the one who brought people over here without even asking me.”

  “Not people, Ryan. Family.”

  “I don’t know them. Hell, I hardly know you.”

  Sadness flashed in his eyes. “I know. You didn’t even come to my wedding.”

  “I wasn’t invited.” I jerked my head to the side. “Have a good night.”

  He left without saying another word. A package sitting to the side of the door caught my eye. I picked it up before locking the door, feeling slightly guilty for thwarting my brother’s effort at a truce. The rift wasn’t Ashley’s fault, I did know that, but we didn’t have anything in common—not anymore. Maybe we never did.

  I took the box to the kitchen. It was addressed to me. I got a knife out of the drawer and slid it around the seams. Inside, a note lay on top of a wad of tissue paper.

  Welcome home. I pulled out the tissue and revealed an old baby doll with a pink dress and a wonky eye. I put the doll back in the box and set it to the side. Ashley was weird.

  I climbed the stairs with my duffle bag and headed for a guest bedroom. As I fell into the bed, my cell phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Fine, you can have the dogs,” Briggs said.

  I sighed. I didn’t want to tell him that he should keep them until I came home because Bee couldn’t have dogs in her house when she got out of the hospital. And I wasn’t sure when, if ever, I would come back. “I’m in Goodson Hollow.”

  “Why?” he snapped.

  “Aunt Bee’s in the hospital. I don’t know when or if I’ll be able to return. You can have anything in the apartment. I took everything I wanted.” Silence rang from the other end. “Briggs?”

  “I’m sorry, Ryan.” His voice was gentle and tender, making my heart squeeze in my chest. “Will she be okay?”

  I cleared my throat. “Please send Sid and Nancy here, and I’ll mail you the keys to the apartment.”

  “They can’t fly by themselves. You need to come and get them.”

  “I can’t come there. Send them. They’re mine.” I hung up the phone and turned off the lights.

  It was a restless night filled with dreams of Mrs. Simpson ranting and raving about how I was going to die. When I couldn’t bear to try to sleep anymore, I got up and threw on clothes. I drove to Blueberry, returned Bee’s laptop to the back room, and looked around the store. From the outside the building was two stories, but I couldn’t find a staircase inside. I went back outside and walked down a narrow alley. There was a metal door on the side of the building that my key fit into. I flipped a light on in the brick stairwell. I could see where the door into the shop had been closed off. The top opened up into a large room with a kitchen on the back wall and a small hallway across the room. It was an apartment, but judging from all the boxes stored up here, I doubted Bee gave renting it much thought.

  I looked around. It needed some work, but it could be perfect. It would give me some much needed distance from my family and a place to live where I could have dogs. There were three bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen, all filled with forgotten boxes. Mentally calculating how long it would take to make this place livable was depressing. I didn’t need it to be pretty, just clear enough that I could sleep here. I pushed as many boxes as I could back into the bedrooms and the rest I stacked against a wall in the living room.

  I went back to the store and retrieved the broom, a mop, and a bucket of warm soapy water. The sun was barely showing on the horizon and there was only one car on the street. I watched the sunrise for a moment before I went back inside and began to clean the small area I had cleared. I quit in time to go back to Bee’s house and shower and change before heading back to the hospital. My stomach growled as I drove and I regretted setting up a breakfast meeting with Vivian. I didn’t know if I could wait another hour.

  Chapter 4

  The hospital was a large gothic-style building. It towered over most other buildings in the town, always a looming presence in the background, but I had never really noticed it until now. When I pulled into the parking lot, two fire trucks and several police cars were out front with their lights flashing. I walked slowly toward the building, trying to figure out what happened. There was a blocked-off section of the sidewalk about fifty feet from the door. A crowd of emergency workers and hospital employees had gathered around one of those window-washing scaffoldings.

  “I heard he was working on the ninth floor windows,” a nurse said in a hushed voice. The woman standing next to her walked away from her without a comment.

  Had someone fallen? Part of me wanted to stop and ask, but I kept moving. The lobby was eerily quiet given all of the commotion outside. I stood in front of the elevator and watched the brass pointer as it moved between floors. I loved the way it traveled slowly as if it didn’t have a care in the world, a throwback to a bygone era. I was so caught up in its descent that I didn’t notice someone was standing next to me until he cleared his throat. I glanced over.

  “Dr. Sadler.” I nodded, not really sure what else to do.

  “Do you know what happened out there?” He gestured toward the door.

  “Not really. I think something happened to the window washer.”

  Dr. Sadler’s eyebrows pulled together and he shook his head. “I hope everyone is okay.”

  The elevator door opened and we walked on. Dr
. Sadler pressed the button for Bee’s floor and I stared at my feet, no longer enjoying the meandering pace of the elevator.

  “Are you getting settled in?”

  “Yeah, I guess. I plan on spending most of my time here, so…”

  “So you wouldn’t be interested in having dinner with me?”

  The elevator opened and I started out. “You don’t have to ask me out. I know Bee is putting pressure on you, but—” Dr. Sadler caught my arm.

  “This has nothing to do with your aunt, I assure you.”

  “Oh.” I bit my lip. “Ummm.”

  He laughed. “I’ll meet you in the lobby after visiting hours.” He opened the door to Bee’s room, and I walked through, a bit numb. I wasn’t ready to start dating. Briggs and I had just broken up. Then I spotted my aunt and all thoughts of Briggs fled.

  Bee was pushed back against her headboard, her face pale and her mouth opened in a silent cry. I ran to her and took her trembling hands in mine. “What happened? It’s okay. It’s okay,” I soothed.

  She shook her head furiously. “They’re calling me. They’re calling me.”

  “Who’s calling, Aunt Bee?”

  Bee squeezed my hands painfully. “Can’t you hear them?”

  I shot a concerned look at Dr. Sadler.

  “Who? Do you hear it now?” Dr. Sadler asked.

  “No. It stopped when you came in.”

  “What did you hear?” I asked.

  “My name being whispered over there.” She pointed at the closet door.

  Dr. Sadler opened the door wide, revealing nothing inside but a few pieces of clothes. “Were you asleep, perhaps?”

  “No—”

  I stroked Bee’s hand and looked at the closet, my mind struggling with what to believe. I looked at Mrs. Simpson’s bed, but she wasn’t there.

  “Waking up in a strange place with strange noises—it could happen to anyone.” Dr. Sadler tilted his head slightly and gave a small, encouraging smile. His kind blue eyes crinkled at the edges. He was much too cute for his own good.