by Lynn Lorenz
There was nothing left to do but pray.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Brian, Rush and Mitchell met Sammi in the waiting room. Sammi flew into Mitchell’s arms and buried his head in his neck. “I think it’s over. It’s so sad.”
“It’s okay, baby.” Mitchell looked over Sammi’s head at Brian. “Edward?”
“I’ll check Olivia’s room.” Brian left and went down the hall.
Leaning in the doorway, he watched Edward, head bowed, his hand clasping Olivia’s. It was very quiet. No beeps, no machines running.
Brian stepped in and went to Edward. “Edward. When did she pass?”
“I don’t know. A little while ago.” He straightened and looked up at Brian. “It’s okay. She was ready to go. I just wasn’t ready to let go.” He gave Brian a sad smile and stood, still clinging to Olivia’s hand.
Brian wrapped an arm around Edward’s shoulder. “The others are waiting outside. You need to get some rest. We can make all the arrangements later.”
Edward nodded. He let go of her hand, leaned over and kissed her forehead, then let Brian lead him away.
It was surreal. As Edward walked down the hall, he couldn’t feel his body, which was odd. Numbness radiated outward from his heart. And he was cold, so cold. Even Brian’s arm on his shoulder, Brian’s hand on his other arm, didn’t give warmth.
They entered the waiting room and three big men rushed him. Each one enfolded him in his arms in turn, each one offering support and words of comfort. Edward was stunned. They had come for him, to help him through this, even though they’d only just met and barely knew him.
What had he done to deserve such friends? Had he been any different in Atlanta? He didn’t think so. Maybe he’d just been hanging with the wrong people. A fast, wild life loaded with bad boys galore. A Metropolis Magazine sort of life. All he’d done here was show up in Spring Lake and be Edward.
New, welcome warmth spread through him. As tears filled his eyes, he smiled at his new friends. Control came easier and he blinked the tears away. “I’m okay. Really. Having y’all here right now is just…amazing. It means so much to me. Thank you.”
A small voice came from behind him. “Edward. I’m so sorry about Olivia.”
Edward turned. Kristen stood a little way from the group. “Oh, Kristen, thank you so much for coming. How did you know?”
“Brian called me. I wanted to be here for you. To let you know I cared.” She reached out a hand and he took it. She pulled him in for a quick hug, then, her hands on his shoulders, she pushed him back and looked into his eyes. “Anything you need, sugar, just let me know.”
“I will.” He nodded. He darted his gaze to the door. It would be too much to ask where Jack was and hear any answer except he’s on his way’ His control could only stand so much.
Kristen squeezed his hand, as if she could read his thoughts, but didn’t say anything.
What could she say, really? And what did he expect of Jack?
“I guess we should go.” Edward shrugged. He had no idea what anyone did in this situation. Were there papers to sign? Bills to pay? Someone would stop him at the door if they really needed him, wouldn’t they?
Mitchell tucked Sammi under his arm. “We’ll head back to the ranch with Rush, Brian. Don’t worry about us.”
Brian nodded. “I’ll take Edward wherever he wants to go. Then I’ve got to go to work.”
The logistics settled, the small crowd left the waiting room and stepped into the corridor.
Jack burst through the automatic doors and Edward dragged in a deep breath and stumbled. Just the sight of the man shook him to his core. His heart soared. He wanted to sing out, “Jack came!” at the top of his lungs. Struggling not to let anything show on his face or in his eyes, he kept walking.
Jack looked as bad as Edward felt. Demons warred in Jack’s blue eyes as he stood there devouring Edward. It must have taken so much out of Jack to be here for him right now.
“Thank you for coming. Olivia would have appreciated it, Jack.” His voice was almost normal and barely shook at all.
Jack’s gaze searched his. “I couldn’t stay away. You okay?”
Edward nodded. “Fine. Now.”
As he stared at Jack, Edward wondered if the others could see the hunger in his eyes. Unsure of what Jack had told or what he’d kept secret, Edward had no idea what to do or say next.
Jack ended the uncertainty by stepping up to Edward, saying, “Come here, baby,” as he folded Edward against him. Jack’s smell, his warm, hard body pressed against Edward’s, his sweet endearment, spoken aloud, not whispered, was too much for Edward. It broke what little self-control he’d found. He was safe in Jack’s arms. Jack would catch him when he fell.
Edward fell. “Oh, Jack! She’s gone!” he wailed, buried his head in Jack’s neck, wrapped his arms around Jack’s waist and wept. Jack held and rocked him as Edward melted against Jack.
“I know, baby, I know. It’s okay. She’s happy and in a better place. This is what she wanted, remember?” Jack petted his head, stroking his hair, running his fingers through it.
Edward nodded, his face still hidden in the space between Jack’s throat and shoulder.
“I’ve got him,” Edward heard Jack say. “I’ll take him home to my house. I’ve got Winston there.” Then to Edward, “You want Winston, baby?”
Edward nodded, but this time he choked out, “Yes.”
Jack’s hands smoothed up and down his back.
“He’s all yours, Jack,” Brian said.
“Yeah.” Jack leaned back, lifted Edward’s tearstained face and kissed him. Right there in the hall of the county hospital emergency room. With a crowd of people watching. With Jack’s secretary standing there, for God’s sake. Even a passing nurse or two.
Hell and damnation, Chief of Police Jack Whittaker kissed him. In public.
Edward broke their kiss as he glanced around the hall. “Jack. People.”
Jack kissed him again, stopping any words. Only a soft moan managed to escape from Edward.
“I told you, honey. Just give it time.” Sammi chuckled.
It seemed all Edward could do was cry, nod or speak in monosyllables. How could his heart hurt so badly and rejoice so completely at the same time?
“Sure?” Edward asked Jack.
“Never been surer in my life. Let’s go home.” Jack tucked Edward under his arm and they left the hospital, followed by their friends.
Edward had no recollection of his feet touching the ground, saying goodbye to the others or even getting in Jack’s truck. All he knew was that he was with Jack. That Jack had come for him and been there when Edward had needed him. That Jack had claimed him in front of their friends and assorted members of the hospital staff.
“Jack. Everyone in town will know by lunch.”
Jack was silent.
“You did think this through, didn’t you?”
“Let me handle it.”
Edward’s stomach tightened as a gaping black sinkhole began crumbling away under his feet. “Tell me you’d made a decision to come out before you got to the hospital. That you didn’t just let your emotions get the better of you. That this wasn’t a huge mistake you’re going to regret later.”
More silence.
The sinkhole grew, huge, black, the ground beneath him disappearing.
“Jack?”
“I wanted to be here for you, Edward.”
With nothing under Edward except black air, Edward threw out a lifeline. “But you didn’t mean to let everyone know you’re gay, did you?”
There was a long sigh. “Edward. Since you’ve come into my life, I don’t know anything anymore. Not how to fish, not how to be content in my own house, not even how to sleep at night. All I know is that without you, all those things have become impossible. I tried to fight it, I did.” His voice rose, anger seeping into his words. “I lost. If I mean not to go crazy, then I have to admit it.”
“Admit what?”<
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It was now or never. Jack screwed his courage up. If he couldn’t say it to Edward, how the hell was he going to say it to anyone else? Like Brian? Or his old friend Bill Lansing, the mayor of Spring Lake?
“I’m gay, and I love you, Edward. All of you. Just like you are. No changes. No training. You’re perfect as is, and if I can’t deal with that, then I don’t deserve you.” Jack caught the rope and pulled Edward out of the abyss.
Edward slid across the seat toward Jack as far as his seat belt would let him. He placed his hand on Jack’s warm, muscular thigh. “Thank you, Jack. I know that must have been hard for you.”
Jack chuckled. “Well, you know how they say, ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’? I guess it took a little bulldog to teach this big dog that a person can be perfect just the way they are.”
Edward leaned over and pecked Jack on the cheek. “I have a confession to make. Without you, I never could have helped Meemaw. Before you, I would have rushed in, done my thing, taken on the cancer and probably gotten myself killed, or worse, hurt her in some way. Maybe spread it instead of taken it away.” Edward shrugged. “But you taught me a little control goes a long way and I used it, learned how to take just her pain. You saved me, Jack. In more ways than one.” He squeezed Jack’s leg. “So, maybe an old dog can teach a young dog a few new tricks.”
Jack growled. “You saying I’m old?”
“Well, older than any of the men I’ve ever been with. Older than me.”
Jack slung his arm over the back of the seat, playing his fingers in Edward’s hair. “Age has its privileges, you know.”
“Like age before beauty?” Edward quipped.
“Edward.” Jack gave another warning growl.
“With age comes experience?”
“That’s better.”
“How about age will win out over youth and beauty every time?”
“More along those lines—that’s what I was thinking.”
Edward leaned back, happy but exhausted. “I need some rest, Jack. I just want to curl up in a warm bed and get some sleep. Then I need to tackle the arrangements for Olivia’s funeral.”
“Did you call your mother?”
“Oh shit!” Edward sat up, dug out his cell phone and punched in the number.
“Mother?”
“Edward. I’m at the airport in Houston getting a rental car. I should be there in two hours.”
“Don’t hurry, Mother. Meemaw passed early this morning. I’m so sorry.”
There was a long silence then her voice came back. “I see.” He could hear her breathing. “Where are you staying?”
“I have a room at a motel off the I-10, but I have the key to Meemaw’s house in town. Do you want to stay there?”
“Yes. That would be fine.”
“Call me when you get to town and I’ll meet you there and let you in.”
“All right.” She hung up without another word.
“That doesn’t give you much time for some rest. Let me take the key to her, baby,” Jack offered.
“I’ll see. While the idea of not dealing with my mother is tempting, I wouldn’t want to inflict her on you.”
“We’ll have to meet at some point. After all, I’m her son’s lover.” Jack grinned and heat shot right through Edward’s body.
“I like the way that sounds. However, I think I like ‘partner’ better. It’s much more permanent.” Edward raised an eyebrow as he waited for Jack’s response.
“Partner it is.” He winked. “How’s this? Good morning, Mrs. Beauregard. I’m Jack Whittaker, your son’s partner.”
“That should throw her for a loop.” Edward laughed. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the corner of the door and the seat. The weight of Jack’s hand on his thigh eased him and he relaxed.
Jack woke him up with a gentle shake. “We’re home.”
Edward, blinked, and looked around. Jack’s house.
He got out and Jack led him to the house, and inside.
Winston met them at the door, dancing around Edward’s legs, but with Jack’s help, he made it to the bed. Jack’s bed.
Jack lifted Winston up on it and the little dog circled, then curled up at the foot. Jack managed to undress Edward, then turned back the covers. Edward crawled under the quilt, inhaled Jack’s wonderful scent rising from the sheets and promptly passed out.
Chapter Thirty
Jack sat in his truck outside Olivia’s house, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. Edward’s mother should arrive at any time. Jack had left Edward sleeping when she’d called and Jack had told her that he’d meet her and driven right over.
A white Cadillac Escalade pulled into the driveway and parked. Jack gave a whistle.
Why would he expect anything else? The Beauregards had money, he knew that—he just never expected such a display of wealth. The door opened and a woman slid out of the driver’s side. She was petite, dressed in stylish pants and jacket, with perfectly styled dark hair.
Jack got out of his pickup truck and walked over to her, his hand extended.
“Mrs. Beauregard? I’m Jack Whittaker. I spoke to you on the phone.”
“Hello, Mr. Whittaker.” She took his hand in her graceful, well-manicured hand. “Where’s my son?” Deep brown eyes took him in. Jack could see where Edward’s looks came from, except his nose. Edward’s nose wasn’t turned up like hers.
“Edward is resting. He’s been through a lot.”
“Well, yes. I suppose so.” It didn’t sound as if she believed Jack.
“He was at the hospital all night with Olivia. I’m very sorry for your loss.” Jack gave her his best diplomatic tone of voice, the one he used to soothe the ruffled feathers of important people.
“I got here as soon as I could. Edward didn’t give me much warning.” She patted her hair, as if a strand of it were out of place.
“He didn’t have much warning. He found Olivia collapsed, called the EMS and they took her to the hospital.” Jack shrugged.
“Did you know my mother, Mr. Whittaker?” She eyed him.
“Sure did. Everyone knew Olivia.” Jack smiled.
“I was just wondering what connection you have to my son and Olivia.”
“Well.” Jack took a deep breath, then let it out. Here it was, the first hurdle. “I’m seeing your son, ma’am.”
“What?” She blinked and took a small step back. “Seeing Edward? What are you taking about?”
“You do know your son is gay?” Jack chuckled.
“You’re gay?” Her eyebrows almost hit her hairline as her sharp gaze raked over him.
He hadn’t meant to shock her, but if he intended on telling people, he supposed he’d have to get used to it. Starting with people like Brian and Edward’s mother was like riding a bike with training wheels. He’d have to work damn hard at falling off.
“Yes, I am, ma’am,” he drawled, laying the accent on thick.
“My word.” She stared at him. “You’re older than Edward’s usual fling.”
“Yes. But I’m not a fling.” Jack tried to keep the growl out of his voice.
“Nonsense.” She waved her hand, dismissing him. “Flings are all Edward does. All he’s capable of.”
“Not anymore, ma’am.” He shook his head, trying to stay civil. He was not going to argue with her about it.
She gave a very unladylike snort. “Edward changes lovers the way I change shoes. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
A flicker of fear ran through Jack. Edward had mentioned he’d had lovers. What if his mother was right? What if he’d outed himself over a fling? Jack’s stomach did a slow barrel roll but he pushed the seeds of doubt she’d planted away.
She held out her hand. “The key, please.”
Jack put it in her hand. “Edward says it opens the front and back doors.”
“Thank you.” She turned and went up the steps. “Oh. Tell Edward I want to see him as soon as possible. We have plans to make.”
Christ, no wonder Edward hadn’t wanted him to meet her. She was a dragon and Jack just bet she could breathe fire when she was riled up. He’d have to wear asbestos underwear to deal with her again.
Shaking his head, Jack got into his truck and watched as she opened the door and went inside. He pulled away from the house, unable to help the smile on his face. Edward waited for him at home. Asleep in Jack’s bed.
His house was now a home.
* * * *
“If my mother thinks she’s going to run the funeral the way she wants it and not the way Olivia wanted it, she’s mistaken.” Edward, shirt in hand, paced back and forth across Jack’s bedroom with Winston at his heels. He’d been hanging up the clothes Jack retrieved from the hotel after checking out.
The fact that Edward wore only a pair of black boxer briefs completely distracted Jack from the conversation. The way they hugged Edward’s thighs, the material cupping Edward’s package and showing off his tight ass, just made Jack’s mouth water.
And his bare chest? Christ, Jack wanted to suck on those pink nipples, run his tongue over Edward’s abs, delve into his navel. Jack sighed. Now was not the time for such thoughts.
“Baby, you don’t know what she’s got planned. Why don’t you wait and hear what she has to say, then go ballistic?” Jack tried to be the voice of reason, but Edward was not having it.
“I don’t have to wait, I know.” He stopped and faced Jack, who had sat on the edge of the bed to wake Edward up with a kiss. After telling Edward his mother’s message, Edward had leaped out of bed and begun pacing and ranting.
Winston sat too.
“Well, you know her better than I do, of course. I just met the woman.” Jack shrugged. “But she is Olivia’s daughter and she should have some say in the plans.”
Edward couldn’t argue with that, but he wanted to. He just rolled his eyes.
Woof.
“See?” Jack pointed at the dog. “Even Winston thinks you should cut her some slack. Both of you are upset over this. Her mother and your grandmother just died. Emotions are going to be high.”
