Whatever she’s saying isn’t really registering with me, so Jade pulls open my jacket and removes my phone and hands it to me. I shake my head and put it back in the pocket and resume kissing her. She grins up at me as she remarks, “I like a gentlemen who has his priorities straight.”
I hear an odd message tone — one I haven’t heard in three years. I sway a bit on my feet.
Jade looks at me with alarm as she asks, “Are you going to be seasick?”
I shake my head in response as I answer hoarsely, “J, I’m sorry I have to go inside and take this. I think it’s my brother.”
Jade takes me by the hand and opens the door to the lounge near the bar area. Almost quicker than I can get my phone out of my pocket and return Finn’s phone call, she’s back with a cup of coffee, sugar, and cream. I don’t know what’s happening, but my calls aren’t going through. Jade stands behind me and pulls my hair out of my face and removes my cell phone from my shaking hands. She looks at my call history and selects the phone number and pushes redial as she hands the phone back to me and whispers, “Breathe. It’s going to be okay.”
Her quiet strength allows me to catch my breath as I hear the phone ring twice before Finn picks up.
His instructions to me are brief, “Better get home.”
I feel like somebody is twisting a knife in my side as I ask, “Dad?”
“He’s in recovery from a quadruple bypass as we speak,” he answers with a sigh. “We’re just waiting to be able to go see him.”
“I thought he had a stent,” I utter the first thing that comes to mind.
“Obviously it wasn’t enough and you would know that if you’d bothered to stick around,” my brother counters.
“I’ll be there,” I vow.
“I hope you’re not too late,” Finn replies gruffly.
His words are like physical blows to my psyche and I actually flinch. Jade has to catch my phone as it slips from my shoulder. As the blood rushes in my ears, I vaguely process the fact that she’s speaking to Finn. I can see her nodding her head. She removes the pen from the drink tray and writes on the back of the receipt. Bizarrely, she hangs my phone up and puts it back in my pocket. She removes my credit card from the table and puts it back in my other pocket. Walks over to me and shrugs my jacket off of her shoulders and places it over mine and asks, “Ready to go back to our table?”
Numbly, I stand up and mumble a reply, “Yes. No. Oh, hell, I don’t know. This is not how I thought tonight would go. I’m so sorry.”
Jade runs her hand along the sleeve of my jacket as she says, “Look, if anybody knows anything about real life interrupting the life you imagined, it’s me. Don’t worry about it. Let’s just worry about what is and we’ll worry about what we hoped for later, okay?”
“J, I don’t even know how I’m going to get to Jacksonville. My car doesn’t run well enough to make it there. I have radiator problems. It will take too long on the bus. What if I don’t make it there in time and my dad dies? We have too many things left unsaid between us. I don’t know why I let it go on so long. Pride I guess. I always thought he would be around forever. I’m such a stupid idiot. I knew that he had some issues because he has a stent, but he said that it was fine. Mom said he was fine. It was all supposed to be fine. Why isn’t it fine?” I ask, knowing that there is no good answer.
I HAVEN’T HAD A FLOOD of adrenaline this large since the day we found my brother. Honestly, it’s making me a bit nauseous. I know that I have to keep it together because Declan seems lost in himself at the moment. It seemed like it took us forever to reach land. In reality, it was only about three hours, yet it seemed like three days. A dinner cruise is not the ideal place to get an emergency phone call from your family. By the time we are unloaded from the boat, I feel like a complete basket case, so I’m actually grateful for the distraction of having to drive home. I spend the time mentally composing texts — which I send when we stop for a brief break.
Sometimes having apprentice artists is a bit of a hassle, but in this case, the timing has worked out in my favor. I was just about to set Delaney Jane and Kayden free to face the world on their own. Both are fully capable artists, they just need a little more confidence and time in the chair before they feel fully comfortable; the good news is that they are both available to cover for me indefinitely if I need them to. I’m a bit surprised by my dad’s response to the whole situation, given the showdown we had earlier. I expected him to be far more explosive and upset at me. Rather than argue that I’m indispensable, he encourages me to spend the time with Declan and his family. When I express my surprise, he reminds me that we only get one chance to say goodbye and if we miss it, we may never get it back.
When we pull up in the driveway, Declan slowly gets out of the truck and looks around as if he’s lost. By the way that he is holding his hands, I can tell he is searching for his beloved guitar. Since the mugging, he still struggles to play, but the habit is as natural to him as breathing and he clearly misses it. I walk up behind him and put my cheek on his back as I murmur, “Is there anything I can do to help? We should probably find some more comfortable clothes. We’re probably a little overdressed for the hospital.”
“I haven’t figured out anything yet,” he admits, raking his hand through his hair.
I hug him tightly as I reply, “I’m not sure that this is something that you can just figure out. I think you just cope with the news the best you can. Right now, your family needs you at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, so let’s get you there. That’s the first step. We’ll figure out what to do after that.”
Declan pivots around in my arms and looks at me as if I’m some strange alien creature he’s never seen before as he exclaims, “We? What do you mean? Don’t you have to work? I didn’t ask you to set aside your whole life for this, this is my mess.”
“You know, I always thought that was one of the nicest perks about being in a relationship. I get to do sweet things like this just because. You need me and I’m here for you — it’s cool the way that works. Score one for being the girlfriend.” I respond, kissing his cheek lightly.
“Are you sure? Jett has pretty clear ideas of how he wants things done and I’m not sure he’s going to be chill with you taking any time off right now,” Declan worries.
“Declan, trust me. I’ve got this covered. Mom and Dad are totally okay with this. They are going to come get Inkblot in about an hour so they can cat-sit for us. I am covered at work for as long as I need to take. I’ll just reschedule any complicated pieces that I have on the books. You are my most important priority right now.”
Declan hangs his head for a moment and I see him wipe away tears. I gently lift his chin with my finger and whisper, “I know it’s hard, but we have to believe that it’s going to be okay. He is in good hands at the Mayo Clinic.”
“It’s not just that,” he explains, squeezing my hands. “For years, I admired your strength, compassion and artistry and I wondered what it would be like to have somebody like you in my life. Today, on the day you openly call yourself my girlfriend, I can’t even celebrate this moment between us because my worst nightmare is coming true and I can’t do anything to stop it. It’s like the universe is laughing at me.”
I pull Declan to me as I gently kiss him on the lips and murmur, “Luckily, I don’t consider this girlfriend thing to be a short-term gig. I’ll still be around after your dad is through this crisis and everything is back to normal.”
It’s a good thing I don’t plan to tattoo for a while, because Declan is gripping my hand so tightly that my knuckles are going to be bruised for some time. The elevator ride up to the Cardiac Care Unit seems to be taking an excruciatingly long time. As we walk down the hall to the room, Declan is breathing heavily.
I stop in the middle of the hallway and back him against the wall and wrap my arms around his waist as I softly reassure him, “Everything is going to be okay. Whatever is going on with your dad, we’ll work through it.”
&n
bsp; A look of pure dread crosses Declan’s face as he confesses, “Jade, I probably should’ve said something before, but there was more to my leaving home than just creative differences with my family. At one point, I hoped to marry my brother’s wife.”
I ask the first question that pops into my head, “Recently?”
“Oh, God no!” he replies with a gust of air. “Rowan and I both dated Shannon in high school. I thought she was into me. She told me that she only dated Rowan to make me jealous when we were fighting, but after I told her that I wasn’t cut out to take on the family legacy of my own car lot, she was a lot less interested in me and a whole lot more interested in my brother. Unfortunately, my emotions were still tied up in her and I blamed my brother for her betrayal. To this day, I’ve never been able to untangle that mess.”
A thousand thoughts are spinning through my head, but finally I manage to articulate one. “Are you trying to tell me you’re still in love with this woman?”
Declan shakes his head. “No — at least not any more than any other person who fell hard and fast for their first love and then was gutted by them,” he explains with a self deprecating shrug. “I just told you because there is probably going to be some weird awkwardness that I wouldn’t be able to explain unless you knew about what happened before.”
“I don’t know if the explanation is going to be helpful because now I’ll probably just hate her on principle,” I assume, wrinkling my nose.
Declan hugs me tightly as he whispers in my ear, “J, I think that’s actually the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thanks for having my back.”
Declan gives me a quick kiss, straightens his spine and grabs my hand with more purpose than I have seen since his brother called and marches into his dad’s room.
From the moment that we step through the door to the room, I can see why Declan might feel a little uncomfortable with his family. Immediately, four sets of eyes meet ours. Three sets of them clearly belong to Declan’s family. They are varying shades of blue and every person in the family, including Declan’s mom has a severe businessman’s haircut. Hers has been softened just a tiny bit, but essentially they all look like clones of each other. Declan with his sandy blond hair and hazel eyes looks like the odd man out. It isn’t until his mother smiles softly and greets Declan that I see any real family resemblance.
“A leanbh, I’m so glad you’re here,” she exclaims as she gracefully stands up and gives him a hug. “Your dad is a tough one, but he can use all the support he can get. You know he’s going to be upset that you missed all the drama. He likes a big audience if he’s going to put on a show.”
Declan chuckles as he responds, “Mom, technically I’m the middle child and I never was your baby. That honor would go to Rowan.”
I look down at the pale man lying in bed hooked up to every manner of machine. It is clear where Declan gets his height. The man, even in his frail state, looks like an unmovable mountain. His dark eyelashes are fluttering as he grimaces in his sleep.
“Oh for God’s sake, where is that nurse?” a tall gentleman with dark hair and intense blue eyes complains, as he paces at the foot of the bed.
Declan’s mom answers, “Finn, keep your voice down. Your father is trying to sleep and you are not helping. The nurse explained that she doesn’t have orders for anything stronger. She’s working on it.”
Declan’s jaw tightens and I place my hand on his arm as I whisper, “It’s okay, he’s still asleep. It’s likely just soreness from his rib cage.”
She looks at me as if she’s just noticed that I’m in the room. “Can I ask how you know this? Are you a nurse?”
“No,” I answer as I shake my head, “I’m just a tattoo artist, but I took care of my grandfather after his heart attack and he told me how sore his ribs were after his procedure.”
I hear a snicker over in the corner as Declan’s other brother quips, “I see your taste in women hasn’t improved any over the years.”
It’s a good thing that my hand wrapped around Declan’s bicep because he is seconds away from springing out of the chair. “This is about your dad, not your brother,” I mutter under my breath.
I hear Declan expel his breath as he says, “Nice to see you too, Rowan. How is Shannon?”
“Gone. She found greener pastures up the food chain,” Rowan answers bitterly.
Declan blanches for a moment before he replies, “Sorry, man.”
“Are you really? You didn’t even come to the wedding, doesn’t seem like you were a fan of us.”
“Not that it really matters now, but do you really blame me?” Declan asks with an edge of sarcasm.
“I dunno, but I don’t think you had to disown the whole family. They didn’t do anything to you,” Rowan argues. “You and I could’ve settled this like brothers. You didn’t have to drag the whole family into it.”
I feel Declan tense again but his voice remains even as he answers, “I’m sorry to disappoint you, little brother, but it really wasn’t all about you. In case you haven’t noticed, I really don’t fit here. I really never have.”
“Did you really try? Or did you just decide that the Stone lifestyle wasn’t for you? Because that’s what it looks like to us. Dad’s in that bed because he has had to shoulder more than his fair share of the family business because you’re off gallivanting around, feeling your bliss or whatever it is that you do,” Finn accuses.
“Enough!” hisses Declan’s mom. She looks at all three boys squarely in the eyes as she threatens, “It might be a challenge, but if I have to, I will find three rooms and put you in them if you keep this up. Your father almost died today. Is it too much to ask for the three of you to stop fighting for five minutes?”
Declan stands up and walks over to his mom and kisses her on the cheek as he mumbles, “Sorry, Mom. You’re right. Let me make some introductions: Mom, this is my girlfriend, Jade Petros. Jade, this is my mom, Claire Ailín.”
Claire unfolds herself and stands up to greet me. She is so graceful that I almost feel compelled to curtsy. Even with a tear-stained face and red eyes, she is beautiful.
As I shake her hand, I say, “I’m sorry for the circumstances, but it’s nice to meet you.”
I cringe as the words fly out of my mouth, they seem so inane and stupid but I’m not really sure what else to say. Declan hasn’t really talked a whole lot about his family. I don’t really have much else to go on, but I really hate to talk in worn-out clichés.
“I’m sorry, but you have me at a disadvantage, I wasn’t even aware that Declan was dating anyone.”
Something about the honesty in her words strikes me as funny and I start to giggle. You know, those giggles you get at church when you’re supposed to be praying silently? I know I’m inappropriate because we’re in a hospital. Everyone is looking at me like I’m a little nuts, but I can’t seem to help myself. The harder I try to be circumspect, the more I feel compelled to laugh out loud. When I can finally contain myself, I try to explain, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Ailín, it’s just that you weren’t the only one taken by surprise by this relationship. I was too. Declan and I have been friends for many years. We didn’t become more than friends until recently. Your son is a wonderful man, I’m sorry it took me so long to pay attention to that fact.”
Much to my shock, a tear leaks out of the corner of Claire’s eye and trickles down her cheek.
Finn shoots daggers in my general direction as he accuses, “Look what you did with your craziness, you made Mom cry again! I think you should leave. You’re not part of this family.” He narrows his gaze as he turns to Declan. “Why is she even here? We’ve never even met her. Why did you feel like she should be a part of such a private time for us?”
“Finnigan Shamus Ailín, I warned you once before. Keep your piece!” Claire warns. “You never even bothered to ask me why I was emotional.”
“Mom, she was clearly making you upset,” argues Rowan, as he defends Finn.
Claire throws up her hands as s
he responds, “Only in the best of ways! Jade here reminded me of what it was like in the earliest days with your father. Connor and I had no intentions of falling in love. He was the big, pushy kid next door — the one who always lost his basketball over the fence and drove obnoxious cars. I was interested in horses and books and much too shy for his polished good looks.”
“What made you change your mind, Mom?” Declan asks, curiosity written all over his face. It’s clear he’s never heard this story before.
“Are you sure you want to hear this? It is the silliest story ever,” Claire recalls, her smile indicating that she’s already lost in her memories. “Your Dad and I are from a tiny town in Vermont and went to a small Catholic school. Our school was something like you would see on one of those old-fashioned TV shows like Little House on the Prairie. All the grades were crammed together in one school. We had the lower grades in one building in the upper grades in another, and we all interacted for lunch and during our breaks. One spring when I was in the eighth grade and oh so sophisticated — or so I thought — a wave of chickenpox went through our school. When I say went through our school, I am not exaggerating, nearly everyone was affected, teachers included. They tried to contain it by making us stay home, but there were so many of us and it kept cycling through the school because it would pass from sibling to sibling. Finally, they just made everyone stay home for a month and they sent a teacher around to each neighborhood and would teach groups of kids who had been exposed.”
Finn looks at Rowan and asks, “Can you imagine something like that happening these days?”
Rowan shakes his head and Claire continues, “My mom sent me over to your dad’s house because there were more kids over there and it was easier on her. Your poor dad had the worst case of chickenpox I’d ever seen. His hands and face were so swollen that it was impossible for him to hold a pencil or even see a book. I began reading the class material to him to help him out. Your dad was a slick one — even as a teenager — and soon he had me reading his detective novels and his comic books too. Before I met him, I hadn’t ever read those kind of books, but I found some of them to be interesting and exciting. It didn’t take us very long before we were talking about writing our own stories and plotting our own endings to the books that we’d already read. It turned out that the guy who I thought was shallow and vapid, loved books as much as I did and was incredibly fascinating to talk to. We stayed friends throughout the eighth and ninth grade. In the tenth grade he started dating Carly Sue Tarlington—”
Hearts of Jade (A Hidden Hearts Novel Book 3) Page 11
