Unfinished Business

it’s bad timing.” With Lara on her hip, she hurried off to find her mother.
    “What’s all this about a limo?” Ham demanded as Joanie began unrolling his pushed-up sleeves. “Did somebody die?”
    “Nope.” Joanie fastened the button on his cuff. “You and your new wife are going on a little trip.”
    “A trip?” Loretta repeated, as Vanessa handed her her purse.
    “When newlyweds take a trip,” Brady explained, “it’s called a honeymoon.”
    “But I’ve got patients all next week.”
    “No, you don’t.” With Brady and Jack on either side of Ham, and Vanessa and Joanie flanking Loretta, they led the baffled bride and groom to the front of the house.
    “Oh, my” was all Loretta could say as she spotted the gleaming white stretch limo.
    “Your plane leaves at six.” Brady took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to his father. “Vaya con Dios.”
    “What is all this?” Ham demanded. Vanessa noted with a chuckle that old shoes and cans were already being tied to the bumper. “My schedule—”

    “Is cleared.” Brady gave Ham a slap on the back. “See you in a couple weeks.”
    “A couple weeks?” His eyebrows shot up. “Where the hell are we going?”
    “South of the border,” Joanie chimed in, and gave her father a hard, smacking kiss. “Don’t drink the water.”
    “Mexico?” Loretta’s eyes widened. “Are we going to Mexico? But how can we— The shop. We haven’t any luggage.”
    “The shop’s closed,” Vanessa told her. “And your luggage is in the trunk.” She kissed Loretta on each cheek. “Have a good time.”
    “In the trunk?” Her baffled smile widened. “My blue silk blouse?”
    “Among other things.”
    “You all did this.” Despite the persistent photographer, Loretta began to cry. “All of you.”
    “Guilty.” Brady gave her a huge hug. “Bye, Mom.”
    “You’re a sneaky bunch.” Ham had to take out his handkerchief. “Well, Loretta, I guess we’ve got ourselves a honeymoon.”
    “Not if you miss your plane.” Joanie, always ready to worry, began to push them toward the limo. “Don’t sit in the sun too long. It’s much more intense down there. Oh, and whatever you buy, make sure you shop around and bargain first. You can change your money at the hotel—there’s a phrase book in the carry-on. And if you need—”
    “Say goodbye, Joanie,” Jack told her.
    “Oh, shoot.” She rubbed her knuckles under her damp eyes. “Bye. Wave bye-bye, Lara.”
    “Oh, Ham. Gardenias.” Loretta began to weep again.
    With shouts and waves from the entire town, the limo began to cruise sedately down Main Street, followed by the clang and thump of cans and shoes, and an escort of running children.

    “There they go,” Joanie managed, burying her face in Jack’s shoulder. He patted her hair.
    “It’s okay, honey. Kids have to leave home sometime. Come on, I’ll get you some potato salad.” He grinned at Brady as he led her away.
    Vanessa cleared the lump in her throat. “That was quite a send-off.”
    “I want to talk to you. We can go to your house or mine.”
    “I think we should wait until—”
    “We’ve already waited too long.”
    Panicked, she looked around. How was it that they were alone again so quickly? “The party— You have guests.”
    “Nobody’ll miss us.” With a hand on her arm, he turned toward his car.
    “Dr. Tucker, Dr. Tucker!” Annie Crampton was racing around the corner of the house. “Come quick! Something’s wrong with my grandpa!”
    He moved quickly. By the time Vanessa reached the backyard, he was already kneeling beside the old man, loosening his collar.
    “Pain,” the old man said. “In my chest…can’t breathe.”
    “I got Dad’s bag,” Joanie said as she passed it to Brady. “Ambulance is coming.”
    Brady just nodded. “Take it easy, Mr. Benson.” He took a small bottle and a syringe out of the bag. “I want you to stay calm.” He continued to talk as he worked, calming and soothing with his voice. “Joanie, get his file,” he murmured.
    Feeling helpless, Vanessa put an arm around Annie’s shoulders and drew her back. “Come on, Annie.”
    “Is Grandpa going to die?”
    “Dr. Tucker’s taking care of him. He’s a very good doctor.”
    “He takes care of my mom.” She sniffled and wiped at her eyes. “He’s going to deliver the baby and all, but Grandpa, he’s real old. He fell down. He just got all funny-looking and fell down.”
    “Dr. Tucker was right