Christmas in Cancun

by KaLyn Cooper

  Jillian was taken aback at her use of a swear word and knew she needed to get herself under control. She never swore. She spun and started to jog to the Jeep.

  The engine of the large blue van parked next to the Rubicon kicked over, and the side door opened. The BAC Cat logo and pictures of Jack’s boats covered nearly every inch of twelve-passenger vehicle.

  “I’ve got this, Too Tall. Thanks.” Jack slid into the driver’s seat of the Jeep and started it. Jillian swung in beside him, and they peeled out of the lot.

  Although she was sure they’d only gone a few blocks, it seemed like hours. They pulled up to the glass doors of a gleaming white three-story building, and Jack jumped out. It looked like any new hospital back in the states.

  “Is this the only hospital? Are you sure she’s here?” Jillian asked as she stepped into the broad entryway.

  “No, there are several hospitals, but this is the only one Lilly would bring her to.” Jack strode up to the desk and spoke in hurried Spanish. Jillian recognized her daughter’s name and nothing else.

  The pink-uniformed woman pointed to the left and spoke in a gentle voice. Jack grabbed Jillian’s hand and started to the door. “This way. She’s back there.”

  “Is this a special hospital for…burn patients?” Jillian could hardly say the words and hoped there was a specialist overseeing her daughter’s care.

  “Not that I know, but it’s a private hospital.” Jack approached the interior desk and spoke to the nurse, who answered and pointed down the right hallway.

  “My company pays to be able to go here. Most of the physicians are Americans who retired to sunshine from lucrative practices in the U.S. or are military vets who needed a break from working on gunshot wounds.”

  Each patient had a private treatment room, curtains drawn over picture windows, doors closed.

  Jack barged into number nine. His mother sat in an overstuffed recliner in the far corner. He marched to her and lowered his face to hers for a private conversation.

  Jillian stood frozen in the open door.

  Addi looked so tiny and fragile on the adult-sized bed. Her white eyelids contrasted with the pink of her face. Wearing only a diaper, her rosy skin glistened, reflecting the fluorescent lights overhead from some kind of salve. The outline of her one-piece bathing suit was differentiated by her alabaster skin. One little arm was stretched out on a board and wrapped in gauze, a tube linking it to the bag of liquid hanging on the pole next to her bed.

  Greyson held her other hand in his.

  Preston was speaking to Lilly, who ignored the boy, intently watching her brother berate their mother.

  Levi came up behind Jillian and practically shoved her into the room.

  “Don’t you speak to Mom that way.” In two strides Levi was next to Jack, pulling him away from their mother.

  “She’s still drunk,” Jack yelled back to Levi and grabbed a fistful of his brother’s collar. He cocked his fist as if to punch.

  Lilly screamed, “Jack, don’t do it.”

  Jillian couldn’t deal with this.

  “Get out!” Jillian vibrated with anger. “All of you. Get out of here.”

  Lilly ran to her. “Oh, Jillian. I am so sorry.” She reached out with both hands, palms up in a plea. “I had to get Greyson’s medicine—”

  Jillian didn’t want to hear her excuses. She ignored her sister-in-law and went to Addison’s side.

  Greyson looked up at her with big blue eyes rimmed red. “I’m so sorry, Aunt Jillian. We were playing. Then Addi went to sleep.” Tears flowed over his rounded cheeks, but he never let go of her baby’s hand.

  “I didn’t know.” He sniffed and wiped his nose with the back of his free hand.

  Her heart broke for small boy. Running a hand over his head, she wished she could reassure him that everything would be all right, but she wasn’t sure of that herself.

  Jack’s arm came around her shoulders, and he hugged her to him. Part of her wanted to lean into him and absorb his strength, allow him to boost her confidence and hold her up.

  But he was part of this insane family, and she didn’t need any of them. Not even him.

  She shrugged out of his embrace and leaned over the bed. No. She didn’t want Jack or his family. She and Addi would get through this together. Alone. Just as they had for the past two years. She would survive, and Addi would thrive.

  With gentle fingertips, Jillian brushed sweat-stiffened hair from Addi’s face and kissed the crown of her child’s head. “I’m so sorry I left you with those awful people. I promise I’ll never do that again.” She laid her face on the pillow next to her daughter’s. Heat radiated from her baby. Jillian shook to hold in the fear, the dread, the self-disgust.

  She had been having sex with Jack while her baby was here, surrounded by virtual strangers. She hadn’t been there when her child needed her the most.

  Jack stroked her back, and she sprung up to face him. “Don’t you touch me.” Her voice welled from deep inside and sounded more like a growl than words. “Ever again.”

  Her gaze swept the room. The entire Girard family stared at her. “I told you to get out. I never want to see you people again.”

  “Babe, I know you’re upset—” Jack reached out to her, and she bolted backward.

  “Get. Out. Now.” Each word was a threat. She scowled at Jack. “All of you.”

  “Well, I have never been treated—” Mrs. Girard said.

  “Maybe if you had paid more attention to my daughter, your two-year-old granddaughter, than your corporation or what booze was in your glass, Addison wouldn’t be lying in this bed with tubes running into her little body.” Jillian took a deep breath and tamped down her anger. “If you don’t leave right now, I will get security and have you escorted from this room.”

  “Come on, Mom.” Levi took his mother’s arm and led her out the door.

  “Let’s go, boys. It’s way past your bedtime.” Lilly positioned a son on each side and headed to the door.

  Greyson twisted and ran back to Jillian, throwing both arms around her legs. “I’m so sorry, Aunt Jillian.” His tears flowed, and her heart fractured into a million pieces. There was so much blame to go around, but none of it belonged to this child.

  She pried his small arms from her thighs and knelt to his height. She brushed his bangs from his eyes and hugged him. The scent of little boy sweat filled her nostrils, masking the antiseptic hospital smells. “This wasn’t your fault, Greyson. It was mine. I shouldn’t have left her there.”

  She gave the boy one last tight hug and released him. “You need to get home and to bed.”

  “Can Addi play with me tomorrow? I promise to keep a good watch on her.”

  Jillian closed her eyes so as not to see the innocent hope in his. “I don’t think that will be possible. When they release her from the hospital, I’m taking her home.” She hadn’t thought that far ahead, but considering it now, that’s exactly what she would do. She would go to the airport and get the next flight back home. She wanted to get out of here as fast as she could.

  “Okay.” Greyson smiled ear to ear. “We’ll see her tomorrow, when you bring her back home. Then it’ll be Christmas and Santa will come and bring all of us lots of great presents and we’ll eat turkey and play with all our new toys.” He finally took a breath. “I’ll share mine with Addi.”

  “No, Greyson, I won’t bring Addi back to that house.” Of that Jillian was absolutely sure. She would never go back there again. “We’re going back to the United States.”

  The boy’s face fell.

  “What do you mean you’re going back to the U.S.?” Jack’s deep voice harmonized with Lilly’s alto as they spoke at once.

  Jack pulled her up to her full height to face him. “You are not leaving Mexico.”

  “This was an accident.” Lilly was beside her brother now. “Jillian, I am so sorry that I had to leave the kids, but I needed to get more heart medicine for Greyson. He’d spilled it down the toilet th
is morning, and all the pharmacies will be closed tomorrow since it’s Christmas Eve.”

  She glanced over at her mother, who had stepped back in, before she continued, “Mom has always been responsible in the past with the boys, and I had lathered Addi up with SPF fifty before I left. I just didn’t count on holiday traffic being so bad. It took me three times as long to get there and back as normal.”

  She knuckled her bright eyes. “I am so sorry. Addison is so much more fair skinned than the boys, but I thought they’d be fine until I returned.”

  Lilly glanced at Addi sleeping in the big bed. “She looked fine when I put her down for a nap, and she slept a long time. I thought it was just the fresh air and sunshine. And playing with the boys.” She ruffled Greyson’s unruly hair. He batted at her hand while rolling his eyes. He was such a cute kid.

  “When she woke she was cranky and felt feverish. It was the sunburn and seemed to get more red as the evening wore on.” Her gaze fixed on Addison, Lilly continued, “When she didn’t eat or drink anything at supper, I brought her here. I knew Stan would take care of her.” She pulled her boys close. “He’s seen these two almost every trip here.”

  “I got stitches from Doctor Stan for fall break.” Greyson proudly held out his elbow for Jillian to see the fine pink line about an inch long.

  “That’s right.” The new male voice came from the doorway. “And it was a concussion a few months earlier when you came to visit me during your summer vacation.” He knelt in front of Greyson. “Your brain doing okay in there now?”

  “Yep. I’m in preschool, and my teacher says I’m really smart.”

  Smiling, the man unfolded his slender runner’s body to his full height of around six feet. His brown eyes went to Lilly and filled with male appreciation. She was gorgeous, even with lines of concern marring her aristocratic face.

  It sounded as if she’d done everything right—except leave the children with her mother. Heart medicine? Jillian glanced down at the vivacious little boy. She’d ask about that later. She was just beginning to get to know her sister-in-law and had liked what she’d learned. Up until tonight.

  Lilly and Doctor Stan were still gazing at each other when Levi announced, “I’m taking Mother home. Lilly, do you want me to take the boys?”

  Snapping her head to look at her brother, and out of her doctor hottie trance, Lilly said, “No, we’re headed home now, too.” She smiled up at the handsome man in the white coat and held out her hand. “Thank you, Stan. I appreciate you coming in to take care of Addi.”

  He held her hand too long for a normal exchange of gratitude. “It’s always a pleasure to see you, Lilly.” He released her fingers slowly. Jillian watched Lilly’s eyes heat.

  Lilly gathered her boys. “It’s off to bed for these two.” She blushed, and the three of them headed to the door.

  She turned around and rushed back to Jillian. “Please don’t leave because of this. The boys and I think the world of Addi. She’s such a good little girl. You’ve done a wonderful job raising her all by yourself. And we’re just getting to know you. I think we could be friends as well as family.”

  Lilly pulled Jillian into a tight hug and whispered in her ear, “Please stay. If you won’t do it for the boys, do it for Addi. She’s having such a great time with them and getting to know her cousins.” She pulled back. “And her Uncle Jack.” Lilly looked over to her younger brother and smiled.

  Getting to know Jack. The words bounced in the recesses of Jillian’s brain before she batted them away. She couldn’t think about that now.

  “Please stay.” Lilly squeezed Jillian’s shoulders and stared at her, waiting for an answer.

  “I’ll think about it.” Jillian couldn’t stand the repentant look in Lilly’s eyes, so she forced her gaze to the doctor who was examining Addi. “Let’s see what the doctor has to say.”

  Lilly shook Jillian’s shoulders slightly. “Stan is the best physician around, and he told me that Addi is going to be fine.” She dropped her hands. “Now, I’ll see you back at the house.” There was no question in her sister-in-law’s voice. She had made a statement and expected Jillian to carry it out.

  “Sure.” Jillian had no idea where the soft-spoken word had come from and wasn’t at all sure she’d return to the Girard compound.

  Satisfied, Lilly left with only a backward glance at Jack. The unspoken, “Take care of her,” was confirmed with his nod.

  Once the door was closed, the doctor strode up to her. “You must be Jillian.” He held out his hand. “I’m Stan Snyderman, but call me Doctor Stan. Seems to be what everyone in your family calls me.” They shook briefly. He held out his hand to Jack. “How’s the boat business?”

  He didn’t answer the question but instead asked, “How’s Addi?”

  “A little uncomfortable.” He turned his full attention to Jillian. “I’ve given her something to help with the pain and make her sleep. It looks like a first-degree burn, which means she probably won’t blister. Even if she gets a few, it’s the body’s way of sloughing off old dried cells.”

  Jillian went to her daughter’s side and picked up the hand Greyson had held. Her gaze traveled to the bag connected to her arm.

  “When Lilly brought Addi in, she said your daughter was little lethargic and hadn’t eaten or drank much. The IV liquid was a precaution only.” He explained, “With sunburn, the body pushes fluids to the skin trying to rehydrate it. Be on the lookout for darker or less frequent urination. She needs extra water the next few days.”

  “Stan…she’s so…pink.” Jack’s voice broke. “What can we do for her?”

  “She’s not half as bad as most of the sunburns I see here. Tourists can be idiots in the Caribbean sun.” The doctor shook his head slowly, his lengthy brown bangs brushing just below his eyebrows. He raked them back to one side with long fingers. “It was a good thing Lilly knows this area well and had covered her in a high SPF lotion. Addi has a very mild case of sunburn.”

  He pulled his stethoscope into place and leaned over to listen to the baby’s heart. The room was quiet for a moment before he stood with a dazzling smile. He was beyond handsome; he was dashing. “Nice and strong.” Stan ran a finger down her arm then reached for a tube on the counter. “We’ve put a water-based cream on her that contains lots of aloe. I’ll give you plenty to take home. Don’t rub it in. Just coat her in it. Never use medicated or alcohol-based creams. They are actually painful and dry the skin. No petroleum-based either. It smothers the skin, which needs to breathe.”

  Jillian absorbed every word the man said.

  “The color and pain peaks between twelve and twenty-four hours, but we’ll only keep her here till she’s finished that bag.” Doctor Stan grinned. “We want to make her comfortable. I don’t know about you, but I’m much more comfortable in my own bed than I am in a hospital.”

  He went to the sink and rinsed out several washcloths, then handed one to Jillian. “Cool cloths,” he quickly added, “not cold, cool, should be applied every four hours for ten minutes only. Be sure she doesn’t get chilled. You can also give her a cool bath once she awakens. Be sure to reapply fresh cream.”

  Jillian repeated the instructions in her head. She could do this. It was like a fever but only on the skin.

  Stan stood in front of her, his eyes concerned. “Jillian, children are amazingly resilient. Your daughter will be fine, and she’ll want to play with Lilly’s boys by tomorrow afternoon. Try to keep her quiet for twenty-four hours. If she’s anything like Greyson, that’s impossible.”

  He took both her hands in his. “She won’t remember any of this, but you’ll remember every terrifying minute. Your daughter will be fine.”

  He dropped her hands and pulled a business card from his pocket. “All my numbers are on there. Don’t hesitate to call me. I actually make house calls.” He glanced at Jack. “As long as Mateo is still cooking at your place and there’s good Kentucky bourbon in your bar.”

  “You know you’re welcome
anytime, Stan.”

  “I’ll take that as an invitation. Speaking of invitations, I’ll see you tomorrow evening and check on Addi while I’m there.” He looked to Jillian for approval.

  “That would be wonderful.” Jillian sighed with relief.

  “I need to see to another patient before I leave. The nurse will be in shortly to remove the IV and give you discharge instructions and medications.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jack’s internal alarm went off. His brain rose to consciousness with that feeling he was being hunted, watched. The hairs on the back of his neck tingled like crazy.

  His SEAL training kicked in, and he came to full awake. He controlled his breathing as if he were still asleep.

  Through slitted eyes he glanced around the room, establishing his bearings.

  He was in Jillian’s room. In Jillian’s bed.

  It was exactly where his morning hard-on was telling him he wanted to be. He’d had mind-blowing sex with the woman the night before. But not there. Oh God. He’d done her on his desk on the Fritz like a sex-crazed teenager. Shit. That wasn’t the way he’d wanted their first time to be. It had been fast and hard, certainly not tender and gentle the way Jillian deserved. He’d make up for their first experience together. He was in her bed, all ready.

  Although Jack was most often a fuck-and-run guy, he liked the idea of waking up next to Jillian. She was so different from the women he’d dated in the past two years. Hell, since his college days. He hadn’t had what anyone would call a relationship last longer than a weekend since Rebecca St. John dumped him his senior year. They had been on again, off again for nearly a year and more like fuck buddies than in love. Looking back, Jack had never been in love. It simply wasn’t for him.

  He enjoyed women, as often as possible. That was just sex. Oh, yes. He liked sex and lots of it in many positions. The thoughts of the strawberry blonde hair that sprawled across the pillow next to his and the warm, sleeping woman who had been so wet and tight last night made his cock jump.

  He was ready for another round with her.