One Wish Left

CHAPTER 35: PENDULUM

Eleanor had finally gotten her suitcase unpacked, which took forever considering she could barely move without wincing. The surgery three days ago had been a smashing success for both donor and recipient, and Eleanor's incision was healing just fine, but the post-surgery soreness lingered more acutely than she wanted to admit.

Jesse had offered to unpack for her, but Eleanor wouldn't hear of it. She already felt indebted to him for opening up his guest room to her for the next few weeks as she recovered, and she didn't want to burden him anymore than she already was. But she didn't regret taking him up on the offer to stay. Looking around his impressive apartment, she felt pride for her nephew soar through her heart. How far he'd come!   

Judy had called just as Eleanor started arranging her toiletries in the guest bathroom. After assuring her sister that she was still alive and well, she put her phone on speaker and set it on the counter. She caught a look at herself in the mirror and, grimacing at the dark circles under her eyes, she decided to share the concerns that had been keeping her up for the last few nights.

"Attached? How do you mean?" Judy's voice came through the line with a little too much incredulity. Eleanor could tell her sister was acting. There was no way Judy couldn't have known.

"I mean he is infatuated with her." There. She said it. And once it was out of her mouth, she became all the more sure it was true.

After Jesse's show of determination to be Kieran's donor, Eleanor had observed him more curiously, and she couldn't deny what she saw Jesse doing. She couldn't miss the way his face brightened when Laura entered the room. The way his hand lingered on the small of her back or gave her shoulder a squeeze as they spoke. The way his eyes trailed after her wherever she went. It reminded her of...

Her throat tightened.

It reminded her of Brodie.

Her son had similarly worshiped Laura, and Eleanor was still trying to figure out what exactly was so irresistible about the girl. Woman. She had grown to like Laura well enough years ago. But she would be lying if she didn't admit to harboring bitterness toward the girl for being left out of Kieran's life for so long.

Not to mention stealing the last year of Brodie's life away from her. She'd hardly seen her son during his junior year of high school because of the infatuation he'd suffered.

Judy sighed. "And what would be so bad about him loving her?"

"Nothing," Eleanor snapped. "I'm just worried about my nephew. I'm afraid he's setting himself up for bitter disappointment. He can't expect to slide so easily into their little circle. These Gibsons are so... exclusive. She's most likely using him. And Jesse's been so good with his money. I can't believe how well he has himself situated now, what with his investments and the rentals back in Geelong. She probably got wind of his savings account and jumped on the chance to get a sugar daddy or whatever it is they call it. And he's infatuated!"

Judy clucked her tongue.

"I'm serious," Eleanor pressed. "He is like a puppy around her. And, oh, she's sweet to him, of course, but it's clearly one-sided. He took one look at her pretty figure and that beautiful boy and fell clear out of his depth."

"Eleanor." Judy sounded like a stern headmistress.

"What? Mark my words, Judy. You won't see your son again for years if she has her way with him."

"Eleanor, stop it. How on earth do you jump to the worst possible conclusions like that? You have no idea how Laura feels."

"I can guess," she muttered, feeling a tiny bit chagrined. Eleanor couldn't remember the last time Judy had spoken so sharply to her.