by Erica Penrod
“I thought maybe we could go out somewhere, get a bite to eat while we go over things,” he said.
“Don’t be silly. Come in. I’ll have something delivered.”
“No, that’s all right.” He put his hands in his front pockets. “I could use some air.”
“We’ll eat on the balcony.”
This wasn’t going how he wanted it to. In Miley’s world, she called the shots, and he had to convince her that going somewhere else was all her idea. “Let’s try that Thai place you always said I would love.”
Her eyes sparkled beneath the crystal sconces, and he knew he was close to victory. “Yes, I suppose that would work, although I’ve already had my calories for the day, but I’ll order for you and enjoy a drink or two.”
Great. Sober Miley was hard to handle, but a tipsy one would be almost impossible, especially in his condition. “Sounds perfect.”
“I’ll grab my purse.” She disappeared into the apartment, and he thumbed through his contacts. Pushing a button, he tapped his foot and waited for an answer.
“Hey, Tayson. It’s Jaxon. Can you meet up with Miley and me for some dinner?” His fellow star agreed, and Jaxon sent him the address.
* * *
“Court is dismissed,” the judge said as he stood up. A buzz hummed in the air as the hodgepodge of spectators discussed the verdict. Half of the room cried with excitement and the other in despair—the usual overtones of an appeal bounced between the defendant and the prosecutor.
Race folded his laptop and placed it in his briefcase. Then he took the papers and jogged them into neatness. He straightened his tie; victory was easy to swallow. The lead prosecutor shook his hand and thanked him for his job as second chair.
“You’re welcome, sir. Thank you for the opportunity,” Race said. The case was a dispute between two companies over the copyright for a computer software program. It could have gone the other way had Race’s firm not worked diligently to prove their client held the rights. He was privileged to be working for such a reputable firm at such a young age. Of course, his reputable last name was an intentional plus on his résumé.
He had once mentioned wanting to be successful on his own merit to his father. James Butler just laughed and patted his son on the shoulder. “Son, your last name may get you into places, but trust me, you’ll have to work twice as hard to prove yourself. It’ll be expected by those who like you and also for those anticipating your failure.”
He took his father’s wisdom to heart and tried to work harder than was required. Today that advice had paid off. Picking up his briefcase, he excused himself and wove through the crowd. His phone rang, and his heart pounded when he saw Janie’s name. He hated to admit how much he missed her.
“Hello?” Race said.
“Race?” Janie asked, her voice frantic.
“Yes?” he answered, but his skin chilled.
“Can you come back to Utah?” She paused. “It’s Kyle. He’s had a heart attack.”
* * *
Jaxon heard a splash and smelled the chlorine, but he didn’t see it. A white towel was draped across his face. For over a week, sleep had slept elsewhere, and Jaxon gave up trying to find it. But out in the sunshine, lying on a deck chair with a sweating glass of fresh lemonade, he felt the closest thing he’d known to rest in a long time. A week had passed since his sudden departure from Utah, and only a couple days since he’d seen Miley.
After their dinner, Miley called and texted constantly. He knew it had to do with that night at the restaurant and his invitation to Tayson. Miley had acted coy while he and Tayson ate things he couldn’t pronounce. Sipping on her drink, she batted her false eyelashes and laughed like it was scripted, but as the night wore on and the alcohol stole the show, she let her dark side come out at the table.
“Don’t be stupid, Jaxon.” Her words were laced with sarcasm. “I’m just kidding,” she had said, leaning into him. “But seriously. You wouldn’t be where you are now without the show.”
He remembered glancing at Tayson and rolling his eyes before he replied, “You can say that again.”
She laughed and patted his arm. “I know, right?”
Jaxon pulled his arm from the table and smiled with his lips only.
“And since I’m a big reason for the show’s success, you really should be nicer to me.” Her foot touched his leg beneath the table.
That was when Jaxon sprang to his feet, pushing his chair back. “Okay. Time to go.”
Tayson wiped his mouth with a napkin and set it on the table before he stood up. “Thank you for the dinner and for the advice,” he said to Miley. “I’ll see you in a week in Wyoming?” he said to Jaxon.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.” He grabbed his right side. “Hopefully, these will be healed up by then.”
“I hope so, too. I don’t want to pick you up off the ground again,” Tayson said. He had seen the whole hoof-stomping event at the Moab rodeo. Tayson fought the bulls, entertained the crowd, and carried the cowboys out of the arena when needed.
Jaxon pulled the chair out for Miley. Don’t mistake my manners for something else.
Just then, two women dressed in less material than a cloth napkin approached them. “Jaxon! Tayson!” they squealed. “Can we get a picture with you?”
“Sure,” Tayson said, grinning as he moved between them. He slipped his hands around their waists and pulled them tight against his body.
Hoping to avoid a similar pose, Jaxon squeezed in. “How about one with all of us together?” he said without moving his lips as he smiled for the camera.
Miley swayed into the group photo and grabbed Tayson and Jaxon by the hands. “Sorry, girrrllss.” She slurred her words. “But these guys are mine tonight.”
When they stepped out of the restaurant and onto the sidewalk, Jaxon saw his opportunity. “Tayson, would you mind seeing Miley home for me?”
“But Jaxon—” Miley instantly went into a pout.
“No problem,” Tayson said, but he mouthed the words you owe me.
“Thanks.” Nodding his head, Jaxon turned around and walked away before Miley could say anything else. His phone buzzed all night with text messages from her that became increasingly belligerent, and he finally shut it off.
That was a couple days ago, and here, next to the pool in an undisclosed location, Jaxon let his skin soak in the vitamin D, hoping to lighten his mood. In LA, he’d done a few more interviews and a couple coaching lessons on how to answer the press about his ex-wife expecting his child, making his resolve to curb his temper difficult to remember. He was overdue for a break before he had to ride in Cheyenne, and he finally found it when he checked into this cheap motel on the outskirts of LA. But the smartest thing he did was leave his cell phone in the motel where he knew Miley couldn’t reach him. It couldn’t hurt to take a sabbatical from his cell phone for a day … maybe two, because the only person he wanted to talk to was never going to call.
Chapter 10
Janie took in a big breath; the lingering odor of cleaning supplies calmed her nerves. “That smell helps.”
“You are so weird,” Brynna said. She sat at the edge of her seat, swinging her legs in a nervous rhythm.
“I know, and you love me.” Janie put her arm around Brynna. She could feel her sister-in-law shaking. “He’s going to be all right. He’s too mean and ornery to die.”
Brynna laughed. “You’re right.” She sniffled, and Janie handed her a tissue. Brynna leaned back into the chair, wiped her eyes, and rested her hands on her belly. “I want him to meet his grandchildren.”
Layne looked over a magazine at his wife. “He’ll pull through this, if for no other reason than to watch you and Jaxon become parents. He’s anticipating his grandkids will be just as crazy and knot-headed as you and your brother.”
“I am not!” Brynna hit Layne on the arm.
“Don’t shoot the messenger. That’s what he told me.” He rubbed his arm. “I’m just trying to comfort you.”
“Well, do me a favor and don’t be so nurturing.” She laid her head on his shoulder.
“Did you reach Jaxon?” Janie asked.
“No, it went straight to voice mail, and then I sent a couple texts saying it was urgent and he needed to call me.”
“Shouldn’t you have just texted that his dad had a heart attack?” Layne suggested.
“No,” both girls said in unison. Janie didn’t want to think about the disaster that would be.
Brynna lifted her head. “You know my brother. He’d freak out and probably have a heart attack of his own. You have to be careful telling him something like this.”
Janie nodded her head in agreement.
“All right, but for the record, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Think about his reaction when he finds out his dad is in the hospital and he’s the last to know,” Layne said. “I’d rather take my chances sending it over a text.”
“It’s not like we haven’t tried to call him—” Brynna stopped as the doctor came through the swinging doors.
They all stood up to meet him as if tied physically together by worry over their dad.
“Please, have a seat,” he said. His full head of sandy brown hair made him seem too young to be a heart surgeon. “Your father’s stable now, and we’ve moved him into the cath lab.” He took a seat across from them. “We’ll do an X-ray called a coronary angiography, where we go in through an artery and insert a dye. That way we’re able to see how much damage was done by the heart attack. I’ll let you know as soon as we get the results. Do you have any questions?”
“Is he going to be alright?” Brynna asked. “Can we see him?”
“I won’t know for sure until I get in there and see the extent of the blockage. I’ll let you know what I find as soon as I can.”
“Thank you,” Janie said. The doctor left, and she pulled her phone from her purse. Nothing from Jaxon, but he would probably respond to Brynna; she was the one who called him. After last week, she didn’t trust herself to talk to him. She forgot she was content without him when he was around to prove otherwise. Only a few days ago her heart stopped trying to claw its way through her chest, and she settled back into her routine of life without Jaxon.
It was better this way. Calm and quiet.
Until today, finding Kyle on the porch with his hands clutched to his chest. It was a miracle she happened to be there. Her one-o’clock appointment cancelled, and she’d decided to run home and toss in another load of laundry. On her way, something told her she should check on Kyle. Ever since Race came to town, he seemed … older, or maybe vulnerable would be the better word.
Kyle kept his emotions under his hat, and he very seldom took it off. His relationship with Jaxon never brought the best out in him, but with her and Brynna, he tended to soften around the edges. The ranch drained Kyle in every sense of the word. The years of financial burden, now over thanks to Jaxon, didn’t just float away. And the physical labor and the weight of keeping the Double D around for the next generation of Davises had to be exhausting. It was no wonder the stress finally took its toll on his body.
When she saw her father-in-law on the porch steps, she ran—despite the pull in her lower belly—dialing 911 before she reached him. There was an unfamiliar look on his face, something he’d never let her see before: fear. Holding him in her arms as she waited for the paramedics, she called Brynna and told her to meet them at the hospital. Brynna said she would call Jaxon.
Flipping the phone around in her hand, Janie gazed into the white hallway, hoping she’d done the right thing by asking Race to come. She shouldn’t worry. Brynna asked her about calling him only a few minutes after she arrived at the hospital. Janie told her she’d contacted him, and Brynna said she was glad. He ought to know; he was Kyle’s son, too.
But it was still strange, the way she and Race talked like old friends. Perhaps it was his resemblance to Jaxon that lowered her guard. She hadn’t wanted Race to go back to Atlanta—he fit with them, and she liked that. But a part of her wondered if that was only because he looked so much like her ex-husband. That was a terrible thought. Unfair to Race, who seemed like such a good person. Was she acting like a pregnant leech, attaching herself to Race because he shared the same blood as the man she loved?
You need to get a life. She rubbed her forehead.
The baby kicked as if it had heard her thoughts.
Oh, wait … she was getting a life, and it was right here growing inside her. She didn’t need Race to remind her of Jaxon; she had her own little reminder.
* * *
Race trapped the phone with his shoulder as he packed.
“You’re leaving again?” his mother asked.
“Yes, and I know it’s weird. I hardly know him, but I just feel like I should be there.”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t go. I just want to make sure you’re all right.” He still couldn’t believe how well she understood when he told her he went to Utah to find his biological father.
“I’m fine. Kyle’s the one that had the heart attack.”
He heard her sigh and could picture the concern wrinkles around her eyes. “That’s not what I mean. It’s a lot to process on your own. Do you want me to come with you?”
Race tossed his shaving kit in the bag and zipped it up. “What, and give him another heart attack?”
“Believe it or not, things didn’t end on a bad note for us. We both knew what we wanted, and we loved each other enough to see we weren’t going to get it together.” She paused, and her voice got quiet. “I hope he’s okay.”
“He is. Janie texted and said they did an angiography and found the problem. They’re prepping him now for an angioplasty.”
“Oh, good. Did you remember that your grandfather had one of those several years ago?”
“Yeah, I did. That’s how I knew what she was talking about.”
“Okay, then. Just text me when you get there so I know you’re safe, and let me know how he’s doing.”
“I will. I’ve got go, Mom. I don’t want to miss my flight.”
“All right. Remember we love you.”
“I know. Bye, Mom.”
“Bye.”
An hour later, he got to the airport with little time to check in. Race didn’t like to fly, except on the back of a horse. When he entered the plane, he wiped his hands on his jeans, hoping to calm down. The flight attendant offered him a soda, which he accepted, but he passed on the pretzels. Other passengers moved freely about the aircraft, but he kept his seatbelt on. His family were airline junkies, and he wondered what was wrong with him. Hmm … I wonder if I get this from Kyle. Maybe there wasn’t anything wrong with him because it was in his genetic makeup to hate enclosed spaces high above the ground. The plane jolted, and he jerked in his seat. He clenched his teeth and began thinking about other questions to take his mind off the turbulence. Getting to know his biological father could possibly make sense of a few mysteries in his life.
Thirty seconds passed and he was only thirty seconds closer to Utah. This was going to be a long flight. Once they touched ground, he knew he would feel better, and he could resume his identity as successful attorney by day and confident bachelor at night. But right now, his kryptonite, a large steel plane, drained him, and he prayed he’d arrive in one piece.
His mother would tell him to quit overreacting.
He was anxious to see Kyle … and despite his usual rationality, he couldn’t wait to see Janie again. Spending time with her was the happiest he’d felt in a while.
Chapter 11
Sunlight crept into the room through tiny gaps between the blinds. Janie hesitated to open them even though she craved the warmth of the sun. Kyle slept while his heartbeat kept a steady rhythm on the monitor. Her brain appreciated the hospital room’s frigid temperature, frozen germs and all, but her body argued, and she rubbed her arms.
Janie heard the door creak and turned her head to see Jaxon peek around the door. He stared at K
yle and she watched as his face, normally camouflaged in cowboy attitude, revealed a scared son worried about his father. She wanted to take him in her arms and comfort him. Jaxon’s dark eyes, black in the shadow of his cowboy hat, were wide open.
She kept still and let him have his moment of quiet introspection as he stared at the still frame of the man who had given him life and so much pain. He eventually resumed the present and noticed Janie in the corner. The tie between them was as strong as a metal coil. “Hi. Sorry, I didn’t realize you were here.” He took his cowboy hat off and set it on a chair.
“Brynna ran home for a couple hours. She was here all night. I told her I’d stay with him while she had a shower and took care of a few things.” Her voice felt shaky with nervousness.
“Oh, okay,” he replied. She wasn’t sure he’d heard anything she said. He kept looking over at Kyle with a “lost little boy” gaze. If her heart wasn’t already broken by their divorce, it would have broken again.
Ignoring the bright warning lights flashing regret, regret, regret in her head, she moved towards Jaxon and slipped her arms around his middle. His body trembled, and she heard him let out a muffled cry. He leaned his head into her neck, and she stood still, being the something solid that held him up physically and emotionally. Her fingers stroked his hair as she whispered in her heart, I love you.
Jaxon lifted his head and dried his eyes on his shirt sleeve. Their eyes met, and her lips trembled at the thought of kissing him. She pulled away and put her hands in her pocket, afraid of what they might do next.
“He’s going to be okay,” she said. “Everything went fine, and the doctor says he’ll have to take medication and change his lifestyle, but he should make a full recovery.”
Jaxon smiled, but his eyes were still wet. “That’s funny. I wish I could’ve been here when they told him that. Dad’s never been one to change his ways.”
