“Jane, I told you to stay in the house,” she scolded.
Jane’s expression became mulish. “I want my daddy,” she shouted.
Josie hesitated, surprised by the usually sunny-natured girl’s transformation. Obviously, she’d picked up on the stress and needed reassurance. First, she needed to get her away from the accident.
“C’mon, kiddo. Your dad is busy right now, he’ll be in soon. Let’s go make him a cold drink, okay?” She moved to turn the wheelchair around but cried out when Jane hit the forward button and the wheel ran over the end of her toes. Ow, that hurt!
“Jane, stop,” she called, limping after the runaway, desperate to reach her before she got too close.
Mischief lifted his head, hearing his mistress’s motorized chair, and tried to rise, dragging himself toward the little girl. Jake lunged after the dog at the same time Jane saw her pet’s distress and cried out, stopping her chair’s momentum. Jake caught the pup and eased it back into a prone position, murmuring soothing words while gazing at Jane, misery apparent in his eyes.
“I’m so sorry, poppet,” he started, then stopped, his eyes widening in shock when she levered herself out of the chair and took a couple of ungainly steps before Josie could reach her side and wrap an arm around her waist, holding her up. “Jane?” he croaked. “For the love of God, Jane, you’re walking.”
“I… I wanted to surprise you,” the little girl whimpered. “Daddy, what’s the matter with Mischief?” She considered the awkwardly parked car and Sally who’d moved next to Jacob and made the connection. “You hit my doggie!”
Sally actually had the grace to look dismayed. “It was an accident. Your dog came out of nowhere. I tried to stop. Tell her Jake, you know I tried. It’s your nanny’s fault. She left the damn door open.”
Jane lifted tear-drenched eyes to Josie. “How could you?” she whispered. “I thought you were my friend.”
“Jane,” her father warned.
Josie’s heart was surely shattering. She could actually feel great shards breaking off and stabbing her in the chest. She’d made the mistake of opening herself up to the hope of a second chance at love with this amazing family, but, just like with her fiancé, once again she wasn’t enough.
“Help will be here soon. Try not to worry, okay?” She lowered Jane onto the pavement near Mischief’s head and stepped back as child and dog comforted each other with hugs and cries.
“I have to go,” she murmured, meeting Jake’s probing gaze. There was so much she wanted to say, but not here, not now. “I really am sorry.”
Ignoring Sally’s inelegant snort, she turned and hurried toward the house and the safety of her room. At least for the moment. There was little doubt Jake would have her on the next plane leaving the island. She gasped on another sob. Even if he did forgive her for Mischief’s accident—please, don’t let it be serious—he’d never forgive her for withholding his daughter’s progress. She’d seen the stunned, betrayed look on his face.
It was over.
Chapter 16
Time dragged while they waited for the vet to arrive and assess the dog. Jake was ready to pull his hair out. Jane was inconsolable, positive her poor pooch was going to “die and go to Heaven with Mommy.” He did what he could to reassure her, but truthfully, he just didn’t know. It looked bad. Every time the pup tried to scramble to his feet his back legs wouldn’t hold him, and he’d fall. It was hard to watch. Harder still to keep him from moving. He sensed his mistress’s distress and wanted to comfort her.
After Josie ran into the house Sally had finally taken a hint and driven away. She’d insisted he send all the veterinary expenses to her accountant, so maybe there was hope for her yet. He knew it was an accident, but if she hadn’t taken off in a tiff it never would have happened. He’d flat out told her if she didn’t back off on her vendetta against Mona he would quit, and he didn’t give a damn if she took him to court. Thankfully, she didn’t call him on his bluff, but she sure as hell let him know he’d pay if he was late on his deadline. He’d worry about that later, right now he needed to calm his daughter down before she made herself sick.
“Jane, honey, quit that caterwauling now. You’re scaring your puppy.”
Jane glanced up from between her arms. Her eyes were red, her nose was running, and her hair a mess. Jake couldn’t love her more. She reminded him of her mother with her soft heart and stubborn personality. He’d often teased Annie about her thin skin when it came to animals. She was always bringing rescue critters home from the animal shelter where she’d worked.
“Pretty soon there won’t be any left to adopt,” he’d teased.
She’d laughed. “We have the room. I can’t stand to see them in those cages.”
And so they’d collected a menagerie; cats, dogs, parakeets and cockatiels. And then Jane came, and their world was full. After Annie’s death, he hadn’t been able to stomach the animals, they reminded him too much of his wife. He could barely stand to be around his daughter—God, forgive him—and the neighbors had stepped in and taken them away while Mona cared for Jane.
He’d figured he would spend the rest of his life alone, and probably would have to, if not for a wavy haired, green-eyed nymph who woke him up to the possibility of second chances.
“Daddy, did I make Josie cry?”
Jane’s woebegone expression lightened his heart. His baby was growing up, taking responsibility for her actions. “I’m sure she knows you didn’t mean it, poppet. You have to remember words hurt, but they can also heal. I bet a sincere apology will go a long way. As soon as the doctor fixes Mischief, we’ll come home and cook a nice dinner for Josie, so she knows we like her, okay?”
Jane leaned over and nuzzled her pup’s head. “I love her as much as I love Mischief.” She sat up and stared into his eyes. “Can Josie stay here forever? I don’t want her to leave.”
Jake met his daughter’s gaze, and a shock ran through his body. He didn’t want Josie to leave, either. Without him realizing it, she’d filled all the empty nooks in his life with her contagious laughter, sweet smiles, and generosity. He wasn’t sure what their relationship might lead to, but he damn sure knew he wanted the chance to find out.
He started to rise, then realized he couldn’t leave Jane out here on her own with an injured dog. He glanced down the driveway for the hundredth time, where was that vet? And speaking of rising…
“When were you going to tell me you could walk, young lady?” He’d gone through a crazy cocktail of emotions seeing her take those first steps like that. Joy, hurt, elation, and even injured pride because it wasn’t him who’d helped her on the path to healing. But mostly, he was grateful. So very grateful.
Jane grinned, obviously proud of her accomplishment. “Isn’t it the greatest? I made Josie promise to wait just until I could walk to you. We’ve been practicing every day. I wanted it to be a big surprise.”
“Oh, it was,” he answered wryly. “I almost fainted.”
That caused a riot of giggles, which in turn excited the puppy. Even though Jake held him down, he tried to jump up and dance around them like he normally would but fell over when his back legs refused to cooperate. The laughter died, and Jane gazed worriedly from her dog to him.
“Did Mischief lose his legs b’cause I got mine back? He can have them, I’m used to not walking. Really.”
Jake swallowed hard around the ball in his throat. “I’m pretty sure Mischief wants you to keep your legs, sweetheart. I think I hear the vet coming now. Let’s wait and see what he has to say, okay?”
Sure enough, a utility van rounded the corner at the end of the road and roared up the driveway. It slowed as it neared them, and a jovial, middle-aged man hopped out of the cab.
“Well, what have we got here?” he said, kneeling next to the pup with a smile for Jane. “Did your dog have an accident?”
Jane stared at him wide-eyed. “Uh, huh. Daddy’s boss ran over him with her car and now he can’t walk. Just like me,” sh
e added.
The man looked at Jake, recognition flashing in his faded blue gaze. “Aren’t you the Samuels kid? I went to school with your father.”
The joy with small towns, everyone knows your history.
“Yep, that’s me.” Jake watched as the doctor ran experienced hands along the dog’s flank. “Do you think it’s serious?”
The doc shook his head. “Nah, likely a pinched nerve. I don’t feel any breaks, but we better get him in for x-rays just to be certain.” He turned to Jane. “Ever ride in the back of a cube van, missy?”
Jane’s eyes widened. “No, sir.”
“Well,” he said, glancing at Jake, “if your daddy thinks it’s all right, I could use an assistant with this here patient until we get him to the hospital. You interested?”
Jane looked apprehensive, before leaning over to hug Mischief. “Oh yes, please!”
Jake nodded and rose to retrieve Jane’s wheelchair for the trip. He hesitated by the front door. Should he run in and let Josie know where they’d gone?
“Daddy, hurry up,” Jane called.
Sighing, he turned and pushed the wheelchair to his daughter’s side.
Chapter 17
Josie stayed hidden behind the gauzy curtains that covered the sidelight next to the door until the van carried Jacob and Jane out of sight. She’d already decided to stop cowering inside and was in the act of changing from beach sandals to sturdier shoes for the trip to the veterinary clinic when she overheard the voices. Not wanting to interrupt, she’d waited at the window while Jake spoke to the doctor examining Mischief. Then, he’d risen and strode toward the door and she’d thought he was coming to apologize. Her pulse leapfrogged in her chest. Instead, he’d taken the wheelchair and loaded Jane into the waiting van while the doctor carried Mischief, and they’d driven away.
Served her right.
Why should she assume he would forgive her that easily? She’d allowed herself to become invested in this family against her better judgement, but the time had come to leave. She knew what it felt like to be betrayed by someone. Jake would never forgive her for keeping quiet about Jane’s condition.
And he shouldn’t.
She’d messed up, end of story. Not quite the one she’d envisioned while daydreaming on the beach, but then, what were the chances he’d fall for someone like her anyway?
She hurried past the great room where the family had met in the evenings, sometimes to talk, many times to read or watch movies together. Simple times that would have to provide memories for an empty future. The pictures now sitting on the baby grand piano of Jacob and Jane, she bypassed altogether. If she looked at them she’d never have the courage to make the break. And yet, it was easier this way than waiting to be told to leave.
Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she did sabotage relationships rather than ending up like they had, living a cold war until even that was too much, and they’d divorced. All Josie remembered was needing love and support from the two people she should have been able to count on the most, and instead finding herself in the middle of a power struggle where she was the pawn. She’d vowed then to never allow her own children to go through that kind of trauma, yet here she was, thirty years old and on the brink of another disastrous romance.
Urgency attached wings to her steps. She just wanted to go home and lick her wounds. Try to decide where to go from here. She could look for other private sector jobs—though they didn’t appeal after working for Jacob—or she could go back to the hospital and act as though everything was fine, even though it was a lie. She didn’t care so much about Emmett anymore, but if she ran into Simone she might feel the urge to add Mentos to her Diet Coke.
As she packed her suitcases, Josie called the float plane company, praying they had a seat available.
“Well, hello little lady,” the pilot Troy answered on the third ring. “You’re leaving our fair island already? Summer’s only half over.”
Josie held the phone between her shoulder and her ear as she folded the shorts she’d worn to the beach, remembering Jacob’s appreciative gaze. “I… have to get back to work,” she said. It was the truth, after all. She had savings, but it wouldn’t last long without an income, and besides, she needed to stay busy, so she didn’t have time to think.
“Can you be here within the hour?” he asked, then held the phone away to shout, “Hold your horses, I’m on the way.” He came back online, “Sorry about that, dang tourists. Anyhow, I’m on a tight schedule, so if you can get down here I’ll save you a spot, otherwise it’ll have to be next week.”
Oh, no, no, no. There was no way she could stay here and act as though everything was normal for another week. “I’ll be there,” she muttered, and hung up before she changed her mind.
Jake signed the papers at the front counter of the veterinarian’s office and sighed his relief. Mischief had undergone a battery of blood tests, x-rays, and a CT scan and sailed through all with positive results. The doctor was sure he’d suffered a pinched nerve and recommended a week’s dosage of muscle relaxants and pain killers to ease the stressed area. He’d been anesthetized for the scan and would spend the night at the clinic.
He glanced down at Jane quietly waiting in her chair to go home. Poor kid, she looked wiped. They’d sat in the waiting room for what felt like hours before the doctor came out to give them his results.
“Tired, kiddo?”
She looked up at him with teary eyes. “Do we have to leave Mischief here, Daddy? He’s going to be so scared when he wakes up without us.”
His heart flopped. He crouched beside her and took her hand. “You want Mischief to get better, right?”
She nodded and squeezed his fingers. “I’m scared.”
Oh, man. He brushed her bangs off her forehead and touched the end of her nose with his forefinger. “None of that now. We have to think positive. When we get home, you can send a prayer up to Heaven for him to get better, okay?”
She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re the best daddy ever.”
He breathed in her sweet-little-girl scent and counted his blessings. He was the lucky one. “We’re a good team, you and I.”
The receptionist cleared her throat and Jake glanced over to see her dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
“You and your daughter are an inspiration,” she gushed. “If you only knew how many times we’ve had to deal with impatient parents and bratty children…”
Jake smiled over Jane’s head. “This one has her moments,” he teased.
She jerked her head up and almost clipped his chin. “Daddy, that’s not what you say. You always tell me I must have floated down from Heaven, b’cause I’m an angel.”
He chuckled and rose to accept the paperwork. “When will we be able to pick the dog up?”
The receptionist clicked a few keys on the computer and jotted the date and time on a card. “Doctor Roy would like to keep an eye on him for a day or two, make sure the anesthetic wears off and there are no other complications. I’m sure you can take him home Monday or Tuesday afternoon. If there are any changes we’ll give you a call, and of course you’re welcome to visit during business hours. Though I have to warn you, it usually upsets the animals more than if you wait until they can go home.”
Not ideal, but if it gave Jane back her dog the wait would be worth the worry.
“Thank you… Annette.” He read her nametag and nodded toward Jane. “It’s going to be a long weekend for someone I know.”
Annette blushed, her cheeks turning a becoming pink. “I wish there was more I could do.” She smiled at Jane. “Don’t worry, Dr. Roy will make sure your pup has the very best of care.”
Jane nodded and played with the laces on the bottom of her shirt.
Jake thanked the lady again and wheeled them out into the late afternoon sunshine. “Who’d like an ice cream cone?” he asked. He was anxious to get back home, so he could talk to Josie, but Jane needed some cheering up after this ordeal. Plus,
he could ask Mona to give them a lift, rather than calling a cab. Win-win.
Jane’s expressive eyes lit up. “Me, me!” She bounced up and down. “Can I have chocolate dipped, Daddy? Are we going to Aunty Mona’s? Is Sam there today?”
Jane adored her older cousin, Samantha, with good cause. For a young teenager, Sam had a surprisingly good head on her shoulders and always had time for Jane’s incessant questions.
He started to push his daughter down the sidewalk, enjoying the light breeze and tree-covered street. “Yes, you can have chocolate-dipped, that sounds good. I thought we’d ask Aunty for a ride home after, and no, I don’t know if Samantha is there. She should be getting rid of her cast soon, shouldn’t she?”
Jane nodded knowledgably. “She had it removed last week. She says her leg looks gross now, all white and scaly.” She giggled.
Wow, Jake couldn’t believe how fast the time had flown. He missed so much with the heavy hours he kept. He looked down at his daughter’s curly hair. Time to make some changes. If he kept going this way, his girl would be a woman before he knew it.
His phone jangled in his pocket. He dug it out, surprised to see Troy’s name on the screen. “Jake here,” he answered. “How’s it going, bud? Did I have a shipment come in that I forgot about?”
“You need to get down here, quick. She’s… I can’t hold her here for long,” Troy whispered, his voice cutting in and out in Jake’s ear.
Jake held the phone away and stared at the screen. What was the old coot talking about? He couldn’t hold who…?
Shit, Josie.
“Troy, Troy please. Do what you have to do, just don’t move. I’m on the way.” He snapped the phone closed and cursed. Why was she leaving without a good-bye? What the hell was going on?
Sweetheart Cove (Blue Haven Book 1) Page 7
