Meera nodded, then reached for her purse. She pulled out a little statue. “My father gave this to me. It’s the goddess Lakshmi. Pitaji says this little woman will bring me luck as long as I keep her close to me.” She pressed the finger-sized statue into Lily’s hands. “I hope she brings you the luck you and Joe so very much deserve.”
Lily wiped tears from her eyes and hugged Meera.
“How did Norma Jean take the news?”
“She was great about it. She even said she’ll help me with the baby. I called her after I heard from Joe. She’ll wait until he comes before telling her cousin—his mother. She said it wouldn’t be right to make an announcement without him. He needs to be the one to tell his folks. It’s been a day and then some since I told her, and not a peep.” Lily giggled. “Truth be told, I think she’s afraid of her cousin and doesn’t want to get blamed for introducing me to Joe.”
Lily looked down. “She also told me that the girl he was supposed to marry is still waitin’ on him. She gave me quite a talking-to about keeping this secret so long, and she’s right. It wasn’t fair to that girl, us carrying on and him lying to her. Joe should have broken it off the minute he and I fell in love...before we got married.”
Meera felt a stab of guilt. She hadn’t spoken to Raj in three days. He had called her when she was in New York, and she’d called him back this morning, when she knew he was on evening rounds in London, so she could leave a message.
Lily was saying something, and Meera refocused her attention on the expectant mother. They chatted about baby preparations.
“I would like you to come to the clinic tomorrow during lunch. I want to do another ultrasound, and we can talk about breastfeeding and what to expect after birth.”
Lily nodded. “You were right. It feels good now that Norma Jean knows. She said she would drive me to the hospital if need be.”
“And you must go as soon as you start feeling contractions—don’t wait for your water to break. The hospital is two hours away. It’s a long time to be sitting in the car while you’re in labor.”
Lily nodded. She leaned conspiratorially toward Meera. “Now, Dr. M., I hear quite the stir about you and the town’s number one bachelor.”
Meera groaned. When she’d stopped by the diner to eat breakfast, Gloria had scowled and Mrs. Hayes had winked at her. It did seem as though the entire town was buzzing with the news that she and Jake had gone to New York together. Almost everyone stopped by to say hello just so they could pump her for information. “Oh, Dr. M., did you share a room?” and “My, oh, my, Dr. M., must’ve been hard to keep your hands off that man, especially after the way you two rode that bull...” The entire town was feverish with rumors and innuendo.
“Not you, too, Lily.”
Lily grinned at her. “Hey, I won’t push ya—it’s written all over your face.”
“What’s written all over my face?”
“That you have it bad.”
Meera shook her head. “We’re just friends.”
“Joe and I were just friends, too.” Then she put her hand over her mouth. “That was a terrible thing to say. This is not the same situation at all. At all.”
Meera twisted the watch on her wrist, avoiding Lily’s gaze.
“For what it’s worth, Jolene was a selfish little girl—we went to high school together. She always got what she wanted, never caring who she hurt. She pursued Jake, not the other way around, and then she strung him along for years, never marryin’ him and then leaving.” She shook her head, gray eyes shining. “Jake’s a good man, Dr. M. And you’re a good woman. I know you won’t leave him like Jolene.”
Meera felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She was going to leave; Jake knew that. The whole town knew that. How could she stay? Her whole life was in London. She mumbled something about patients to Lily and escaped to her car.
She backed out of Lily’s driveway, almost knocking over the mailbox. Her phone rang just as she pulled onto the road. She needed to answer; it was probably Raj. She looked at the door that Lily had just closed and remembered what the younger woman had said about Joe’s fiancée. She pulled over and dug out her phone.
She sagged in relief.
“Priya!” It was her favorite cousin. Meera planned to fly down to Florida to see her in a few days. But now Priya told her she wanted to come visit her instead. Her house had been damaged in a storm, and she needed to vacate immediately so it could be repaired. Meera agreed. The cottage had two bedrooms, and she was sure Jake wouldn’t mind. Besides, Priya would be a good buffer between them, an excuse to stay away.
Jake! They had gotten home from New York in the wee hours of the morning. He could barely look at her when they parted. They had become so comfortable with each other that the awkwardness was unbearable. He’d shown her a vision of the kind of love that Lily talked about, the kind of love that inspired Shah Jahan to build the Taj Mahal. The kind of love that didn’t exist.
Raj’s messages were a cold reminder of the real world she lived in. Her parents would never accept a man like Jake. To be with him would be to lose her family, her life, everything she’d worked for in London. Jake’s world was a fantasy. Wasn’t it?
She went back to town and sat on the bench in the town square, content to watch people go about their business.
“Well, hello there, darlin’.”
Meera looked up at Mrs. Hayes.
“Mind if I sit down?”
Meera nodded encouragingly, ignoring the painful twisting of her stomach. This had to be about Jake. Mrs. Hayes got right to the point. “I’ve known Jake his whole life. When Jolene started dating him, I was over the moon. Jake is nothing less than a son to me, but she didn’t make him happy.” She paused and reached into her purse for a handkerchief. She blew her nose. “I saw Jake’s heartbreak coming. Jolene needed him to be a different man—she wanted to travel the world, and he’s a homebody.”
Meera studied the cloth in Mrs. Hayes’s hands. The ranch was more than a home for Jake, she knew that.
“All the townsfolk are gonna tell you two to stop it. There’s only one way this is gonna end, and that’s in heartbreak. For both of you.” She sighed heavily. “And truth be told, that’s what I thought, too, but then I remembered my George. I’ve loved that man my whole life. I’d have followed him to Mars if he asked me.”
Meera leaned forward.
“I don’t think Jake and Jolene were the real thing. If they were, he’d have given up everything for her, and she’d have done the same. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that true love comes right up and smacks you in the face. And when it does, you gotta embrace it, ’cause it only comes but once in a lifetime.”
Meera’s heart slowed so much she was sure it had stopped.
Mrs. Hayes stood up. “I said my piece to Jake at the festival, and I’m giving you yours now. The rest is up to you.”
And with that, she was gone, leaving Meera sitting there staring after her. And more confused than ever.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MEERA FROZE. SHE felt him before she heard him. She was in the kitchen making herself tea. It was the middle of the day, and she wasn’t expecting anyone. She took a breath to calm the pounding of her heart. Time to call a truce—I don’t want things to be awkward when Priya comes.
She kept her tone light. “I told the town we’re planning on running away to Tahiti.”
She turned and saw just the hint of a smile. She let out a breath. She wanted them to get past the words said in New York.
“That would explain all the people who’ve stopped by the ranch on the flimsiest of excuses. Mr. Cregg insisted that you ordered a box of Earl Grey that he had to personally deliver.”
“Have you tallied how many are for us getting together and how many are against?”
“I th
ink it’s about three for it and everyone else against.”
“Mrs. Hayes, Lily and who else?”
“Billy John. Boy has a little crush on you.”
“That should make him against.”
“Yeah, except he’s got a wife and two kids, so he wants to live vicariously through me.”
Meera smiled and stepped toward him.
“And what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Do you still have a crush on me?”
A shadow crossed his face. He paused, as if contemplating how much to say. “I have more than a little crush on you, Meera, but we both know it’s not going anywhere.” His voice was hard. He leaned back against the table, seemingly relaxed but obviously alert.
She didn’t know what had come over her, but she needed to touch him. She was playing with fire and she knew it, but all of a sudden she hungered for the rush of emotions he brought out in her. She wanted the fantasy. She stepped closer to him. His eyes clouded with confusion. She took another step. He stood straighter. “What if we could run off someplace? Would you?”
His eyes bored into hers.
“Meera, you make me want to do things I’ve never wanted to do before.”
Her body was acting of its own volition. She inched forward until they were so close she could feel his breath. She touched his arm. He stiffened. She moved her fingers down and found his hands. He grabbed hers and held them tightly.
“Meera, what’re you doing?”
She leaned forward and rested her forehead on his chest.
“I wish I knew. I wish I knew what I wanted to do. I’m just doing what feels right in the moment.”
“Is this a holiday, Meera?”
She heard the bitterness in his voice and pulled back.
“I don’t know who Meera is anymore. Every time I turn around, I’m on a new emotional roller coaster. I just need some time to figure out what’s in my heart.”
Meera closed her eyes as she felt Jake’s arms cradle her. Standing in this kitchen, with the bright, warm afternoon sun pouring in, everything seemed just as it should be—her and Jake together, completely natural, as if they’d been doing it forever.
She sighed against him. “If we could, where would we run off to?”
“Anyplace you want.” His breath was soft against her ear, teasing her nerves. She wanted to keep her tone light, to keep this flirtation going just a little bit longer.
“Hmm, maybe we should go to Tahiti or Fiji. I’ve always wanted to go.”
He bent down and kissed the top of her head. “You in a bikini with flowers in your hair... I’m getting the tickets.”
It was a nice dream. Then she remembered he had responsibilities, too. He couldn’t just drop everything.
“Oh, and what would happen to the ranch?” Her voice was more snarky than she intended.
“How about you just burn it down?” He sounded half-serious.
She lifted her head, searching his eyes. Could it be? Was he thinking about leaving the ranch?
“I’m only kidding,” he said softly. “About burning down the ranch.” He cupped her face. “I’m not joking about running away together. Anytime you say the word, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
Her voice was thick. “Jake...”
“I missed you this morning.”
She hadn’t seen him since returning from New York. She’d gone straight to town, not wanting to stop in the kitchen. “I felt odd this morning, like everything from the festival to the weekend was some dream and I was just waking up. I didn’t know how to face you.”
He gave her a small smile. “And now?” His voice was shaky, as if he didn’t really want to know the answer.
She sighed. “Whenever I’m around you, it just feels right. I forget about my real life.”
He tipped her chin so she was looking right at him.
“And what if this was your real life?”
She met his eyes. What if it were? She shook her head. “How can it be? This is not my world. What would I do?”
“You’d love me.”
She felt light-headed. Her heart screamed, Yes, yes, sign me up! Her head resisted. Be sensible, Meera. What would you do here? Be a rancher? Raise animals so you can kill them?
As if reading her mind, he said, “You could take over Dr. Harper’s practice. He’s gonna retire soon.”
“And Rose will kill me in my sleep.”
He wrapped his arms around her again and pulled her close. “I’ll protect you from her.”
“And what else, Jake?” She hadn’t meant to sound hostile. He wasn’t responsible for the promises she was unwilling to break.
He frowned and loosened his arms. “I can’t protect you from your inner demons, Meera, but I’ll help you face them. If you let me.”
She shook her head. She had obligations, not demons, and she didn’t have to deal with them; she had to fulfill them.
“It’s not that simple, Jake. What would you say if I asked you to come to London with me?”
His face closed. “It’s not the same. I’m a rancher—what would I do in your hoity-toity society?”
“It’s exactly the same.” She hadn’t meant to say it that loudly. “You’re suggesting I give up my entire life and move here, but you’re not willing to do the same for me.”
“Ranching isn’t a profession for me—it’s who I am, Meera. I know that might not be palatable to a vegetarian, but...but...that’s the man I am. I’m not asking you to change who you are.”
“Yes, you are. By suggesting I live here, you’re minimizing the importance of my beliefs. Being a vegetarian is not just about what I eat—it’s how I choose to live. I’m a doctor, and I believe in the sanctity of life—all life. I can’t just switch these beliefs off and live with you on a ranch where you raise animals just to be killed.”
“You’re a scientist. Why can’t you understand that the animals wouldn’t even exist—they’d never be born—if they weren’t raised for meat.”
She stared at him. How many times could they have this conversation?
“But that’s not the only reason why you can’t live here with me. How ’bout we talk about your blind obedience to your parents.”
She turned around, unable to look at him. How dare he?
“I am done talking, Jake. It’s clear that you will never understand where I come from. We have different cultural values when it comes to our parents.”
She heard him walking away. By the time she turned around, he was on the other side of the room.
“My cousin Priya is coming into town tomorrow to see me. I’d like her to stay with me in the cottage if you would allow it.”
He stopped. “Yeah, sure.”
Meera looked at the table. She couldn’t meet his eyes. “Priya is the daughter of my mother’s sister... She...she can’t know about... It’s just that she wouldn’t understand this thing. Not that I’m... It’s just we’re so...”
“Don’t worry, she won’t catch on.”
She wasn’t doing a good job explaining things. She started to try again, but when she looked up, he was gone.
She braced herself against the counter and hung her head over the sink. She didn’t realize tears were falling down her cheeks until she tasted the wet salt.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“JAKE, WHAT A rustic little ranch you have.”
Jake immediately disliked Priya. She said rustic in a nasally voice that made it plain she meant dingy. She appeared to be in her late twenties, a head taller than Meera, although that might be the high heels she was wearing. She was slim like Meera with the same milk-chocolate skin. He knew he wouldn’t get along with Priya. Her complaining had started the moment she stepped out of the car. �
�It’s so hot here!” The woman is from Florida! “Why is everything so dusty?” It’s called the outdoors.
Meera looked at him pleadingly. He took a breath. It’s just the next two days. I can avoid her.
“Thank you, Priya,” he said with exaggerated politeness. “I’m sure Meera will show you around. In the meantime, help yourself to anything you like.” He waved toward the fridge and pantry.
Priya scrunched her nose. It was just after lunch, and the smell of hot dogs clung to the air. “I’m sure we’ll be eating out.”
“Actually, Jake makes a really good grilled cheese.” Meera stepped between them. Her eyes met his. He hadn’t seen her since yesterday afternoon in the kitchen. Was there a silent apology in her expression? An apology for what? For pushing him away? Or for having to suffer Priya’s presence?
He longed to reach out and touch her, to see if what they had was real or a figment of his imagination. As if sensing that, she stepped back.
“Cheese. Ugh! Calories!”
Meera rolled her eyes. “Priya, you’re on holiday, let loose a little. We can exercise.”
“Exercise? No, dear. First thing, I’m taking you shopping. You seem to have lost all sense of fashion. Where did you get that hideous dress?”
Meera was wearing a beautiful dress with tiny straps and a light, flowery fabric that hugged the right curves and flowed around her when she moved.
“One of my patients made it for me as payment for treating her. It was rather sweet.”
Jake smiled. It was Lily. He knew Meera had been treating her because she’d come to Jake to thank him. She had been very anxious when she’d first approached him about the new doctor, but Lily seemed to have found happiness recently. Must be the Meera effect.
“What? They don’t have money in this town?”
Jake clenched his jaw; Priya was going to grate on his nerves.
“Sometimes, people can offer things more valuable than money, like their time and effort.”
Jake suppressed a smile at the irritation in Meera’s voice.
First Comes Marriage Page 13
