A week later, Jake arrived at his appointment with Dr. Rankin, hopeful but realistic about his ankle. Whatever the results after they removed his cast, he knew it was going to take a lot of therapy. That was the reason he hadn’t told Ali about his doctor’s visit. If things weren’t good, he wanted to deal with it by himself first.
Once the cast had been removed, the doctor ordered an X-ray, then he examined the ankle closely, rotating it. “How does it feel?” the doctor asked.
“A little stiff,” Jake said. “But it feels good.”
The doctor slid his low stool back. “I want you to stand and put some weight on it.”
Jake used the railing along the wall to pull himself up. Tentatively he set his foot down on the floor, then shifted his weight. No shooting pain, nor did his leg give way. “Feels good.”
“Try stepping off the foot.”
Jake knew this was the problem area. He rested his foot on the floor then slowly took a step. There was a lot of resistance and stiffness. More than Jake had hoped for. “No pain, but it’s like my ankle and leg don’t want to cooperate.”
The doctor grinned. “Believe me, Jake, you’re doing well—much better than I ever expected. Just the fact that your ankle can hold your weight makes me want to shout for joy.”
Jake smiled, too. His heart raced as he waited for some pain. “So do I pass? My leg feels fine.”
The doctor raised his hand. “This is only the first step. You’re still going to need a lot of physical therapy, but yes, you passed.”
“I’ll do as much as needed. I just want to walk before my daughter does.”
Jake couldn’t wait to see Ali. After changing into a pair of jeans that hadn’t been split for a cast, he drove to the sheriff’s office. Still using his cane, he walked through the doors and down the hall to her cubicle.
Smiling, Ali stood when she saw him coming toward her. “Jake. What are you doing here?”
She was dressed in dark slacks and a white sweater. He caught the sparkle of the diamond on her finger, and his chest swelled with love. “I’ve come to see my future wife. And tell her the good news.” He raised his leg. “Look, no cast.”
“Oh, Jake. That’s wonderful.” Her eyes danced with excitement. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a doctor’s appointment today? I would have gone with you.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. He loved the feel of her body against him. Soon he began to ache with desire, remembering how long it had been since they’d made love. He placed a kiss on her forehead and stood back. “I didn’t say anything about the appointment because I wanted to do this on my own.”
She looked up. “You mean, you were worried that you might not be able to walk?”
He shrugged. “I wanted to make sure that I could carry my own weight…before I saw you.”
“Oh, Jake. I told you it wouldn’t have made any difference.”
He swallowed back the lump in his throat. Was Ali’s love truly that unconditional? “I started my therapy today. Ali, it’s going to be a long time before I’m back to normal. In fact, I may never be. More than likely, I’m going to have a limp.”
She frowned. “And you think that matters to me?”
“Well, there will be some things I can’t do. Running a race is one of them.”
“Will this stiff ankle of yours stop you from being a good father to Joanie?”
“Of course not,” he said. “But…there may be times that this leg will slow me down. How do you feel about that?”
Ali watched as Jake stumbled over his words. She never thought she could love a man more. This had to be so humbling for him. She had to make him realize what he meant to her.
“Jake Hawkins, when I was hanging around in the hospital, you were in a lot worse condition. You didn’t scare me off then, and you’re certainly not scaring me off now.”
He seemed relieved. “What did I do to deserve you?”
Jake started to reach for her when the phone rang. Ali sat down in her chair and picked up the headset, then pushed the button on the phone.
“Webster County Sheriff’s Office,” she said, then started writing down some information. Once she hung up, the phone immediately rang again.
“Sheriff’s office,” she said.
“Please, you got to help my husband,” the caller pleaded. “He’s having chest pains. I think it’s a heart attack.”
“Ma’am, give me your name and address.”
“It’s Alice Hartley at 370 Mulberry Street. It’s my husband, Ben,” the woman said. “Please help him.”
Ali fought to keep her composure as she recognized her elderly neighbor’s voice. “Mrs. Hartley, this is Ali Pierce,” she said, trying to stay composed herself. “I want you to stay calm.” While Ali was talking, she pressed the button for the hospital on the other phone, and dispatched an ambulance to the address.
“Mrs. Hartley, there’s help on the way. Stay on the phone with me and we’ll wait together.” Ali talked to her neighbor for what seemed like hours, but in reality it was only minutes until the paramedics arrived. Finally Ali hung up, drew a deep breath, then released it.
“I always hate those calls. This is a neighbor, too.” She quickly dialed her home number and told her grandmother about Ben Hartley. Afterward she hung up and collapsed back into her chair, offering a quiet prayer for the Hartleys.
“That’s rough,” Jake said. “But help is there now.”
Ali ran a trembling hand through her hair, suddenly remembering the day she’d been working as dispatcher when the call came in about Jake. The deputy had her dispatch an ambulance to the accident scene, where a truck had hit a tree head-on. A man near death had been trapped inside. That man was Jake Hawkins.
Tears flooded her eyes. Jake saw them.
“What’s wrong?”
She tried to swallow. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help but think about the day of your accident.”
He squatted down by the chair. “Honey, I’m sorry.” He hugged her.
“When the deputy called in the accident…he said your name over the radio, then described your injuries….” She looked at him. “Oh, Jake. I thought you were going to…die.”
Ali bit her lip to stop the trembling. “If you hadn’t made it, I don’t think I could have lived with myself. What if you never knew about Joanie? It would have been my fault.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. “Ssshh. It’s over now, Ali. And if anyone’s to blame, it’s me. After our night together, I should have stayed around to make sure you were okay.” He brushed away her tears and smiled. “But I’m going to be around for a long time. Right here in this town with you and Joanie.”
Jake walked across the street through the town circle. The snow had been cleared from the storm a week ago, leaving piles along the curbs. Having lived the past few years in North Carolina, Jake found he’d missed the snow a little. He also found he’d missed the friendliness of the people in Webster. They knew his name and called to him in greeting.
“Hey, aren’t you going to say hello?”
Jake’s head came up, and he saw Sheriff Benson. “Sorry, Ray. I guess I had my mind on other things.”
Ray placed his hands on his lean hips. “I can understand why. I saw Ali’s ring this morning. So you guys are officially going to get hitched?”
Jake nodded. “I hope it’s soon. I want my family together.”
“She’s a great gal.” He glanced down at Jake’s leg. “And you got your cast off.”
“Sure did. Just yesterday. Already had my first therapy session.”
“How did it go?”
“My therapist seems to think I’ll get a lot more out of this leg if I keep working it.”
Ray cocked an eyebrow. “Enough that you might think about running for sheriff next November?”
Jake felt the adrenaline run through his body at Ray’s suggestion. But he knew that Dave was depending on him. “I’ve already made a commitment to the job I have now.”
&nb
sp; “The elections aren’t for a while yet. Gives you plenty of time to think about it.”
“I’ve only had my cast off a few days. I’m not sure how much strength I’ll have in my leg. I’ve got a lot of physical therapy before I can tackle a job like sheriff.”
Ray nodded. “Don’t sell yourself short, Jake. You can do this job, and do it well, or I wouldn’t be endorsing you as a future candidate.”
Jake didn’t want to get too excited. He had a long way to go before he could think about running for sheriff. He had to discuss this with Ali, and what if he couldn’t pass the physical? Of course, he had nearly a year to consider it. By then he could fulfill the commitment he’d made to Dave.
“Thank you for your confidence, Ray. I’ll let you know.”
They shook hands, and Jake continued toward the diner. He greeted more people, some of them he knew from high school. When he heard his name again, it was Darcie, and his pleasant feeling evaporated.
“Buy a girl a cup of coffee?”
“Look, Darcie, I’m not in the mood for any more games.”
The wind whipped her hair against her cheek, and she pushed it away. “No games, Jake.”
He nodded and didn’t say anything as they walked to the diner. Inside, they went to a booth in the corner. Jake remembered it had been their place to sit when they were in high school.
The waitress came by the table with two mugs and a pot of coffee. She filled them up and walked away.
Darcie doctored hers with sugar, then took a sip. After putting down her mug, she said, “I wanted to talk to you…alone.”
“We have nothing to say but goodbye. I think it would be best if you head back to New York. I think that’s where you’ll be the happiest.”
She tried to smile. “Jake, do you ever wish you could turn back the clock and do some things differently?”
Jake’s mind turned to his mother and her drinking problem, then to his father. “Sure. Who doesn’t?”
“If I hadn’t gotten scared about the wedding—”
“No, Darcie.” He stopped her. “Don’t go there. I’m not sure if we had gone through with the wedding, we would have stayed together.”
“But we loved each other.”
“Did we?” he questioned her. “Then why couldn’t I give up the army, or why couldn’t you come with me?”
Darcie shrugged, her eyes suspiciously bright.
“I know all this hurts, Darcie. But you know I’m right. We don’t belong together, and we didn’t then.”
“Sometimes I just hate being alone.” She looked so sad that his own heart ached.
“There’s a guy out there who wants the same things you do, Darcie. He’ll love you enough to do whatever it takes to make you happy, and you’ll do the same for him.”
Darcie’s green eyes lifted to lock with his. Ali and Darcie might be twins, but they were so different. There was a softness about Ali that Darcie never had. An openness for caring and loving that Darcie would never understand.
“But I can’t forget you….”
He shook his head. “Look, Darcie, I don’t want to hurt you, but what we had was over a long time ago.”
Darcie still looked doubtful. “You’re just marrying Ali because of Joanie.”
Jake shook his head again. “No, I’m not. I can’t imagine life without her. I love her.”
For a long time, they sat and didn’t say a word, then Darcie checked her watch. “I guess I’d better go. Walk me to my car?”
They got up and Jake dropped some bills on the table, then followed Darcie out the door. They crossed the circle to where she’d parked her rental car at the curb.
He took her by the arm and turned her toward him. “Darcie, you know I only wish the best for you.”
She nodded. “I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry for walking out on our wedding. It was a cowardly thing to do.”
“Sometimes running seems like the only way. I know I’ve done it.” He smiled. “I wish you good luck…in New York, Darcie. I hope you’ll come home for the wedding.”
Darcie glanced away. “We’ll see.” She forced a smile.
Jake surprised them both when he drew her into his arms and hugged her. “Try, Darcie. Ali needs you.”
He released her and looked up to see Ali standing across the street, just outside the sheriff’s office. By the look on her face, Jake knew that she’d seen them. He waved to her, but Ali turned away, walked to her car and drove off. Darcie saw it, too.
Ali couldn’t see her way home through her tears. Why was it that every time Jake and Darcie got together, they ended up in each other’s arms? Why couldn’t Darcie just go away and let her and Joanie have a life, a future?
She pulled into her driveway, got out and walked into the house. Immediately she rushed upstairs into Joanie’s room to find her still napping. The child looked peaceful all curled up with her hands tucked under her chin, but when Ali’s hand touched her daughter’s cheek, a warning signal went off. Joanie was running a fever.
“It won’t do you any good running away, Ali.”
Ali wiped the tears from her face as she looked up to see Darcie.
“What are you doing here?”
“The last time I looked, this was still my home.”
“If you’re going to warn me to stay away from Jake, I think I got the message already.” Ali twisted the diamond ring on her finger. “But you’re not scaring me off. You aren’t what Jake needs anymore.”
“Oh, and you think you are?”
Joanie began to fuss, and Ali picked her up, cradling her daughter against her breasts. “Yes, Joanie and I are exactly what Jake needs.”
“Maybe you’ve confused love with obligation. After Jake’s childhood, do you honestly think he’d walk away from his daughter? You just happen to come along with her.”
Ali stared at her sister, almost afraid to take her next breath. “That’s not true.”
“Jake and I talked today. Right now he’s crazy about marriage and babies, but you’ve got to ask yourself something, sis. Can a man who’s had an exciting career in army intelligence be happy living in a small town like Webster? Do you think you can keep him happy?”
With her best confident look, she answered, “I know Jake is happy.”
Darcie laughed and she walked toward the door, then paused. “There is one more thing, Ali. You’re kidding yourself if you think he’ll stay forever.”
Ali felt the blood drain from her face as her sister left the room and disappeared around the corner. Oh, God. What was she going to do? Jake couldn’t live here and she couldn’t live anywhere else.
Ali sank into the rocking chair, feeling her hands shake. She couldn’t leave this town…her grandmother. All those years her mother hauled her and Darcie around the country, they had never had a home. Not like here in Webster. This town was her security.
And she’d promised Joanie.
Chapter Thirteen
Jake made it back to the house, but not before Darcie. He didn’t want to leave the explanation of what had happened between them up to his future sister-in-law. She could be telling Ali anything. Lies.
When he walked in the back door, he found June seated at the table peeling potatoes for dinner, but no Ali or Joanie.
“Hi,” he said, but his attention was on the door to the dining room, hoping that Ali would walk in any minute and welcome him home.
June drew his attention back to her. “Did Darcie catch you?”
“Yes, we had coffee earlier.”
June nodded. “Good. She was worried she wouldn’t get a chance to talk with you. I know sometimes Darcie acts self-assured, but she isn’t always. Finding out about you and Ali has been hard on her.”
It had been hard on all of them, especially since Darcie wasn’t accepting any of it. “I know,” Jake said, but he didn’t want to talk about Darcie. He was more concerned about Ali. “Is Ali upstairs?”
“Yeah. Joanie hasn’t been feeling good. She’s been
runnin’ a fever again.”
He stopped. His chest tightened as he remembered that his daughter had been feeling warm this morning. “Her fever hasn’t gone down?”
“No. Joanie was better for a while, then when she woke up from her nap, she was hot again.”
Jake needed to reassure himself the baby was all right. He took off upstairs, then hurried into the nursery and found Ali sitting in the rocker. She was holding Joanie in her arms, wrapped in a blanket. Ali looked up as he walked toward them.
He immediately saw the worry on her face, and he was alarmed. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she said.
Jake knew whatever he and Ali had to work out, this was not the time. Joanie needed them.
He squatted down to get a closer look at his daughter. “Hey there, sweetie. Grandma said you’re not feeling well.”
Joanie’s rosy mouth puckered up, and she gave a weak whimper, then nestled quietly against her mother’s breast. This was not like her. Whenever Joanie didn’t feel good, she let the whole world know about it.
He touched her forehead and felt the heat. “What’s her temperature?”
“It’s 104 and rising.” Ali’s eyes looked bleak. “Jake, I’m scared.”
“Have you given her some Tylenol?”
Ali nodded. “I called the doctor, and he said to give her a cool bath to help bring down her temperature. But neither the Tylenol or the bath worked. It’s still high.”
Jake kissed Ali’s forehead. “I’ll go and call the doctor again.” Fear knotted inside him as he hurried downstairs and into the kitchen. With shaking hands, he got Ali’s phone book with the doctor’s number.
“What’s wrong?” June asked.
“It’s Joanie. Her fever’s gone up to 104 degrees. I’m calling the doctor back.”
June got up and walked to Jake, concern lining her face. “Think it’s her ears again?”
He shook his head and punched out the numbers. It rang several times, then was answered by a doctor’s service.
“It’s important that I get a hold of Dr. Hall,” Jake said. “It’s concerning my daughter, Joanie Pierce. Please tell the doctor that the Tylenol and the cool baths didn’t work. She’s still running a high fever of 104. She’s listless, too.”
Baby, Our Baby! Page 19
