“You can’t tell anyone.” She lifted her dimpled chin, had that same look she’d had at fourteen when she’d told him she was going to learn “Dust in the Wind” in a week. And she had.
“What happened?”
She leaned against Betty Jean’s desk. “I couldn’t get the apartment.”
“You can’t live in a store, Jade.”
“It’s only temporary.”
He frowned at her. He didn’t like the thought of her in a deserted building at night. They pretty much rolled up the sidewalks at six, and there wasn’t a soul for blocks.
“Between the store and the coffee shop I’m hardly home anyway.”
“Do you need a loan? ’Cause I could—”
“No. I don’t want your money, Daniel.”
“Then move back home for a while. Your parents wouldn’t mind.”
“I’m not moving back home.” She gave him the stubborn chin again.
He sighed. This wasn’t Chicago, but there was an occasional disturbance. And what if the old building caught fire? Just last year the theater had burned to the ground because of old wiring.
“Don’t Beckett and Madison have a spare room?”
“I’m staying at the store, Daniel. Can I trust you to keep it to yourself?”
He met her stare, battling silently for a long moment. Who was he kidding? He was at her mercy the moment he looked into her sage-green eyes.
He released a slow sigh, reached into his desk drawer, and removed a key. “This is for the back door. Use it from now on.”
There’d be all kinds of trouble if anyone saw her coming and going. This was county property, never mind the confidential files.
Her shoulders sank. “Thank you.”
“How are you going to eat?”
“There’s a working fridge in the store. And a hot plate.”
“A hot plate.”
“It’s just for a few weeks.” She stood. “Thanks again, Daniel. I really appreciate it.” On her way out she leaned over and dropped a kiss on his cheek.
He watched her go, knowing he’d be feeling that kiss for weeks to come.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“THANKS FOR DRIVING,” JADE SAID AS DANIEL OPENED THE door of Baptist Hospital and let her pass. The antiseptic hospital smell filled her nostrils, making her stomach twist.
“No sense putting additional strain on your car.”
“You haven’t mentioned your date with Courtney.” Daniel had met up with her when she’d flown into Indy for a conference earlier in the week.
He shrugged. “We caught dinner and talked business. Her dad used to be governor of Alabama. She had some good insight on my campaign.”
“She’s from the South, huh?” Jade set her fingertips on her heart and put on her best Southern belle accent. “Oh, Daniel, I do believe you’re the most handsome man I’ve evah seen. I do declare!”
He rolled his eyes, crowding her as a couple of employees in scrubs passed.
She nudged him. “So, you like her?”
“Sure.”
“You going to see her again?”
“I don’t know. I guess so.”
When they reached her mom’s room, Madison and Beckett were there. They found some chairs, making room for Daniel and Jade.
“You look good, Mama Jo.” Daniel kissed her on the forehead.
“Madison fixed me up. I was scaring away the doctors.” Even hospitalized, Mom was still attractive, with bright blue eyes and dark blonde hair. Her color was better today, though still a bit pale against the white sheets.
“Dad’s out getting her a decent salad,” Madison said. “She’s not impressed with the fare.”
“Only a couple more days, right?” Jade said.
“That’s what they say.” Mom pulled up the sheet, smoothing it out. “I’m tired of talking about me. Catch me up on life outside the sterile walls.”
“Well, the store’s doing well,” Jade said, careful to keep things positive. “I sold the mahogany rolltop desk.”
“Who bought it?” For her mom, it was all about passing treasures from one home to another.
“A couple from Columbus. They bought it as a wedding gift for their daughter.” She told her mom the story of how the couple had met.
She smiled. “Lovely. I’m so glad they got the desk. And how are you enjoying your new digs?”
Jade’s glance collided with Daniel’s. “Great shower. You wouldn’t believe the water pressure that old thing has. Daniel went on another date with that DC girl. He met up with her in Indy when she flew in on business.”
He narrowed his eyes at being thrown under the bus while Jade sank into the chair, relieved that the redirection had worked its magic.
“See ya,” Jade told Daniel as she got out of his car. “Thanks for dinner.”
“No problem.”
Daniel waited for Jade to enter the rear storeroom door, then continued through the alley. He hated leaving her there. She couldn’t even turn on the showroom lights. He’d moved the old fridge for her and loaned her the office microwave. She was all set up. He still didn’t like it.
Something buzzed nearby. He stopped at the end of the alley and leaned over the passenger seat. Jade’s phone. Must’ve fallen from her pocket. It lit up with an incoming text.
APPOINTMENT REMINDER: DR. KLINE MON JUNE 23 9 AM, DOWNTOWN OFFICE
He set the phone aside and backed down the alley. Moments later, he knocked on the solid metal door.
“It’s me, Jade,” he called. He gave it ten seconds and knocked louder. “Jade. Open up.”
He could try the office phone, but she’d probably let it ring through to voice mail.
He knocked again. “Jade!”
He couldn’t imagine it taking this long to get to the door. Maybe she’d gone next door for a shower. But she hadn’t had time to gather her things and leave.
He was about ready to kick the door in when it opened. “All right already. What’s the—”
Her eyes widened, and her lips pressed together. She dashed down the hall. The bathroom door swung shut behind her. The sound of her vomiting propelled his feet forward.
She was leaning over the toilet when he entered, shaking. He pulled her hair back, holding it until she finished. A slick sheen of sweat had broken out on her forehead. He wet a paper towel and set it on the back of her neck.
The text message tickled the frayed edges of his mind. His mind flashed back to the wedding two weeks earlier. Something she’d eaten, she’d said.
A few minutes later she straightened and flushed, wiping her mouth with the towel. Her pallor frightened him as he connected all the dots. The wedding episode, the doctor’s appointment, and now again.
“Better?”
She nodded.
“Come on.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her to the office, stopping at the fountain where she rinsed her mouth.
Once there, she collapsed onto the antique sofa, giving him a wobbly smile. “Better watch out—you had the brisket too.”
“Don’t even, Jade.” He set her cell on the desk. “You left this in my car. I saw a text about a doctor’s appointment, and now I find you like this, just like at the wedding. What’s going on?”
She folded her arms, hunching her shoulders. Her eyes studied the floor.
“Jade?”
She met his gaze. “You can’t tell anyone.”
His gut twisted hard at the fear in her eyes. He swallowed hard. “Are you sick?”
She breathed a laugh, tucked her bare feet under her.
“You’re scaring me.”
“I’m not sick, Daniel. I’m—I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” The word rang in his ears like an echo at Riverbend Gorge. He stood and walked away. He needed to move. Needed to hide a minute while he collected his thoughts.
He should be thinking about her health, her emotional well-being, her financial situation. But instead all he could think of was Jade with another man. Jad
e smiling at someone else. Jade in love with someone else. Jade making a baby with someone else. A fiery coal burned deep in his gut.
“Three and a half months.”
Three and a half months ago she was with another man. Did she love him still? Where was he? Why wasn’t he here, holding her hair while she vomited, helping her find a job, finding a flipping place to live?
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“You’re just full of secrets, aren’t you?” He hadn’t meant to sound so harsh.
“I keep dumping my stuff on you.”
He had to pull it together. She didn’t need this right now. Didn’t need him to be selfish and jealous. He schooled his features, then faced her. “What about the father?” he asked, careful to keep a neutral tone.
She no longer looked so pale. Blood had rushed north, blotching her cheeks. “He’s—he’s out of the picture.”
He shouldn’t feel so relieved. It was pure selfishness. She needed support, financial and emotional. Not jealousy. “You need to tell the family.”
“I can’t.”
“Jade—”
“I was going to. I was going to tell them after Madison and Beckett got back, then Mom had her heart attack and Dad said—”
“No stress.”
“You know Nana’s second heart attack killed her. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to Mom because of me. I just have to wait awhile, until she’s stronger.”
“You should tell someone. Madison or Ryan.”
“I’m telling you.” Her eyes met his and held. He felt heady with the knowledge that he was her confidant. It had been an accident, but still. She’d told him. Now she was his responsibility. He had to make sure she was taking care of herself.
“Do you have insurance? Are you seeing a doctor?”
She nodded. “Yes and yes.”
Of course. The text. He wasn’t thinking straight. She looked so little on that old sofa. Had her face thinned out? Were those hollows under her eyes?
“Have you told your doctor you’re getting sick so much? It can’t be good for you. Or the baby.”
Baby. The word made it seem so real. Jade was having someone else’s baby.
“She knows. It’s not uncommon, you know. Otherwise I feel fine, and I have an ultrasound on Monday just to make sure everything’s good.”
“I’m going with you.” Where had that come from?
“What?”
“You need support. If you’re not telling anyone else, I’m it.”
She tilted her head. “You don’t have to do that, Daniel. It’s only a couple months. Or as long as I can hide it.”
He wanted to know about the father. He wanted to know who he was, if she’d loved him. But of course she had. Jade wouldn’t have made love to him otherwise. Not Jade. The thought sliced him wide open.
“It’s a relief, actually, telling someone.” Then she met his eyes, soothing the ache in him. “I’m glad it’s you.”
His breath left his body. “Me too.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE PAPER CRINKLED UNDER JADE AS SHE SETTLED ON THE exam table. She lay back, smoothing her shirt over her stomach.
Daniel propped his hip on the table. “Excited?”
“Nervous.”
What if something was wrong? What if her body had rebelled against the way she’d conceived? Against the emotional turmoil of discovering the pregnancy? Did the baby know he or she had been unwanted? Maybe that’s why she’d been so ill.
And what if the vomiting had deprived the baby of essential nutrients? Maybe she hadn’t asked for the pregnancy, but this baby was part of her. As difficult as the last few months had been, she couldn’t stand the thought of something going wrong. She rested her hand on her slightly curved belly.
“Will we hear the heartbeat today?” he asked.
“I think so. They can tell a lot with these things, including the due date.” Not that she didn’t know hers already.
A knock sounded on the door, and the technician entered. “Hi Jade, I’m Maria, and I’ll be doing your ultrasound today.” The tech had a friendly smile and eyes that were almost black. Her coarse dark hair was pulled into a stubby ponytail.
“If you and Dad are comfy, we’ll go ahead and get started.”
Warmth rushed to Jade’s face. She met Daniel’s eyes, then opened her mouth, the correction on her tongue.
He squeezed her hand. “All set.”
“Okay then. I’ll be taking some measurements, and that’ll help with an accurate due date.” Maria pulled up Jade’s shirt and tugged down the elastic waistband of her skirt. “If I get a good view, would you like to know the sex?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
The jelly was warm, and Jade was soon transfixed by the image on the monitor as Maria moved the wand. Jade stared at the blurry gray image, trying to find her baby. She should be able to see a three-inch-long baby with developing hands and feet, shouldn’t she?
Maria continued moving the wand, watching the monitor, stopping every few seconds. Sometimes she pressed against Jade’s full bladder, making her fear she’d drunk too much water in the waiting room.
When Maria stopped the wand, Jade looked hard at the image. There was a big black shadow. Was that her baby?
Maria moved on, adjusting the screen, tapping some buttons. Why was she so quiet?
“Is everything okay?” Jade asked when she couldn’t take it anymore.
“Looking good.” She moved the wand a bit. “Give me a few more minutes.”
Time passed with unbearable slowness. Jade wished she’d at least help her recognize her baby so she didn’t feel like a bad mother before her child even left the womb.
A few long minutes later the tech tilted the monitor toward them. “Okay, here we go. Let’s call this one Twin A and this one Twin B.”
Jade froze as the words registered. She traded glances with Daniel, then stared hard at Maria. “What?”
The tech only smiled at the monitor. “Looks like you’re doubly blessed, my dear.”
“But—but Dr. Kline only heard one heartbeat.”
“That’s not unusual.” Maria pointed out the body parts of both babies.
Both. Babies. How had this happened? How was she going to take care of two babies on her own? How was she going to support them on coffee-shop wages? God, this can’t be happening! I’m already overwhelmed at the thought of one baby.
“Shock is normal.” Maria was still smiling like she’d delivered wonderful news. “Give it time to sink in. Did you have fertility treatments?”
“No . . .”
“Twins run in your family?”
“My siblings are twins.” Or had been. Michael had died at seventeen.
“Well, there you go.”
There you go? There you go?
Daniel squeezed her hand tightly as if sensing she was about to come unhinged.
“But the babies are healthy?” Daniel asked. “You don’t foresee any problems?”
“They look perfect. There are extra precautions with twin pregnancies. You’ll have more appointments and need extra folic acid, but Dr. Kline will talk to you about all that. Sometimes you can tell if they’re fraternal or identical, but I’m not seeing the markers, so that’ll remain a mystery for now.”
Maria kept talking and pointing at the monitor, but Jade couldn’t focus. She was having twins. She. Was. Having. Twins.
When Maria left, Jade got off the table in a fog and left with Daniel. The exit doors slid open, and they entered the cool confines of the parking garage. She felt numb.
When he opened the car door for her, she stopped. She couldn’t remember what she was supposed to do next. She clutched her purse to her stomach, staring at the vacant car seat. The numbness was leaving, and something else was creeping in.
She was living in a store, had almost nothing in savings. There was no father, no child support, just her, a minimum wage job and . . . two babies.
Her b
reath felt stuffed in her lungs. Her vision blurred.
“Breathe.” Daniel’s voice, deep and reassuring, broke the dam. “It’s going to be okay.”
Tears overflowed, tumbling down her cheeks.
“Hey.” He turned her around and pulled her into his arms.
He was warm and solid. A safe place for her. She clutched his shirt in her hands.
“I’ll help you. Your family will help too once they know. You’ll have all the support in the world. It’s going to be fine.”
She could hardly hear him through her tears. “How am I going to manage? I’m never going to earn enough to support them. And a partner—ha! Who’d want to marry me, pregnant with somebody else’s babies? Two of them! Nobody’s going to want me.”
“Jade. That’s not true.”
Twins. Two of everything. Two cribs, two sets of clothing, double the toys and food and diapers. Two babies. Twins.
Her eyes snapped to Daniel’s. “What if I can’t tell them apart? What if I’m the only mom in the world who can’t tell my babies apart?”
“You will.” Daniel framed her face and tilted it upward. “Hey.”
She locked onto his blue eyes, drawing strength from his hands.
“It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
She could almost believe it when he said it that way. When he looked at her with such conviction, his eyes homed in on her like she was the only woman in the world. How lucky would she be if that were the case?
She blinked away the errant thought.
This was Daniel. Practically her brother. Her hormones must be making her crazy. She probably had a double dose.
“Okay?” he asked, holding her captive with his eyes.
Her tears had stopped. She exhaled and nodded. When he released her, she got into the car. He found a Burger Barn napkin in the glove box and handed it to her.
They exited the garage in silence. The sunlight seemed too bright after the darkness of the garage. A few minutes later, he ramped onto 65 and crossed the Ohio River. The sun glinted off the water, blinding her with its white glare. A commercial plane soared across the sky on its way into the Louisville airport.
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