“Jack won’t be here for a while. It’s very early, you know. I imagine he’s still snoozing away in his bed in Uncle Brandon’s hotel. You have plenty of time to get some more rest.”
“But I’m his partner, Mom,” Joey said, his eyes filling with tears. “We do men stuff together fixing up the house. What if I’m asleep when he comes? Jack needs me to hand him nails and everything. He really does. I want to be with Jack, Mommy.”
“Shh, sweetie, don’t get upset,” Jennifer said, tucking the blankets around him. “I’ll wake you up when Jack arrives.”
“Promise?” Joey said, then sniffled.
“I promise.”
“’Kay.”
“Stay awake long enough to drink some juice, and I need to take your temperature, too. I’ll be right back.”
“’Kay.”
An hour later, Jennifer was dressed in jeans and a white fisherman’s-knit sweater. She sat on the edge of her bed, watching Joey sleep. His cheeks were flushed and his slumber was restless.
Should she call Ben? she wondered. Joey’s Uncle Ben Rizzoli was Joey’s doctor, and she knew he wouldn’t mind if she disturbed him at home on a Saturday morning.
Well, maybe Ben wouldn’t welcome the intrusion of a ringing telephone, considering that he and Megan were on their honeymoon, for all practical purposes.
The couple was planning on an official wedding trip in the spring, but they were newly married and—No, she’d see how Joey was feeling when he woke up, and bother Ben only if it was absolutely necessary.
Jennifer smoothed the blankets over Joey, brushed his moist hair from his forehead, then after one last lingering look at him, wandered out of the bedroom and down the hallway.
In the living room she opened the drapes on the front windows. As she now did every morning when she performed the ritual, her gaze zeroed in immediately on the spot on the sidewalk where she had first seen Jack MacAllister staring at her house.
The remembrance of that morning always brought a sense of joy with it, along with a flash of embarrassment as she mentally relived her performance in the dining room at Hamilton House when Jack made his “stalking” appearance that evening.
“I’m Jack MacAllister. Not Jack the Ripper,” she said in a deep voice, then laughed. “Oh, I was such an idiot. What a show I put on.”
Her glance was drawn once again to the spot on the sidewalk where Jack had stood on that life-changing morning. Her smile faded as she stared at it, suddenly acutely aware that the space was empty. Jack wasn’t there, and in a handful of weeks would never be there again.
Jack would be gone, taking with him the warmth of his smile, his compelling chocolate fudge sauce eyes, the rich timbre of his voice and chuckle, the strength and gentleness of his arms, his magnificent body that carried her away to glorious heights of ecstasy when they made love.
“He isn’t mine to keep,” Jennifer whispered. “Like Joey says, I have to give him back.”
Jennifer lifted her chin and ignored the sting of tears in her eyes.
Fine. That was how it should be. If Jack had moved to Prescott, instead of just being a temporary visitor, she never would have engaged in any kind of relationship with him at all.
That would have been too risky, far too emotionally dangerous. She might very well have fallen in love with him over time, lost her heart to him, which was something she’d vowed she’d never ever do with any man again.
And Jack might have fallen in love with her, then pushed her to make a commitment to forever—even asked her to marry him, for heaven’s sake. She would have been forced to break off her relationship with him, ending what they had in heartache and, possibly, anger.
Jennifer looked at the empty sidewalk and nodded.
So be it. This was how it should be—the only way it could be. Yes, she’d miss Jack for a while when he left, but that was to be expected. She’d have her lovely memories to hold her in good stead in the months and years ahead.
“Mommy!” Joey yelled, jerking Jennifer from her thoughts.
She turned and ran across the room and down the hall to her bedroom. “I’m here, sweetie,” she said, coming to a teetering halt by her bed.
“My tummy is jiggly,” Joey said.
“Oops.” Jennifer scooped Joey into her arms. “We know what that means. You’re going to give back that juice you drank.”
After Joey had redistributed the juice, Jennifer washed his face, then settled him once again in her bed. “Does your belly button still hurt?” she said, sitting down next to him.
“My whole stomach hurts really bad,” Joey said, then burst into tears. “It hurts worse than anything in the whole wide world.”
“Well, it’s time for me to call Uncle Ben and ask him what we should do about that tummy, Joey.”
“Tell Uncle Ben to fix it ’cause I gotta help Jack, Mommy.”
“I will. I’ll tell him.” She kissed Joey on the forehead, then got to her feet. “I’ll be back as soon as I’ve spoken with Uncle Ben.”
“’Kay. Oh-h-h, it hurts,” Joey said, thrashing on the bed.
A cold fist of fear tightened within Jennifer, and she turned and ran from the room. As she entered the living room, a knock sounded at the front door.
“Jack,” she whispered, coming to a halt.
She hurried to the door and flung it open.
“Good morning, lovely lady,” Jack said, smiling. “I’m reporting for duty to—”
Jennifer grabbed Jack’s arm and dragged him into the house, slamming the door closed behind him. “Joey’s sick,” she said. “I have to call Ben.”
“You’re pale as a ghost,” Jack said, frowning. “How sick is Joey?” He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it onto the back of the sofa. “What’s wrong with him?”
“He has a really terrible stomachache,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ve never seen him in this kind of pain, Jack.”
“Okay,” Jack said. “Go call Ben. Where’s Joey?”
“In my bed.”
“I’ll stay with him while you call. Go.”
“Thank you. Thank you, Jack.”
As Jack headed across the room, Jennifer went into the kitchen and looked at a sheet of paper tacked to the wall above the telephone. She lifted the receiver and punched in the number.
“Be there, Ben,” she said as she heard the phone at the other end ringing. “Please be home.”
“Hello?”
“Oh, Ben, thank goodness,” Jennifer said, pressing one hand to her forehead. “This is Jennifer. Joey has a terrible pain in his stomach, and I—”
“Whoa,” Ben said. “Slow down. Take a deep breath and get a grip. I need to ask you some questions.”
“Yes. Okay. I’m calm.”
“Good. Jennifer, did Joey say where the pain was in his stomach?”
“Where? Well, at first he said his belly button hurt, but now it’s his whole stomach. He has a fever and he upchucked and—”
“Halt. This is important. Did Joey have the pain first, before he became nauseated?”
“Yes,” Jennifer said, nodding.
“Oh, boy. It’s textbook classic.”
“Textbook classic what? What’s wrong with him?”
“Didn’t you have your appendix out when we were kids? I seem to remember playing checkers with you while you were recuperating.”
“Yes, I was ten.”
“Did Joey’s father have his removed?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Ben, I—No, wait, yes, he did. He said that he was in high school and couldn’t play football for several weeks.”
“That cooks it,” Ben said. “The genetic factor plays a heavy role in appendicitis.”
“Dear heaven.”
“Look, I’ll meet you in the emergency room at the hospital, rather than at my office. That will save a lot of time.”
“Are you going to operate on Joey? Take out his appendix?” Jennifer said, nearly shrieking. “He’s just a baby, Ben.”
“No, he’s not. He’s a strong, healthy boy who has all the classic symptoms of a hot appendix. I’ll know for sure when I examine him. I’m not a surgeon, you know, Jennifer, but I’ll be with him every minute if it comes to that. Do not—do not—give Joey any more to eat or drink. Got that?”
“Yes. I hear you.”
“Wrap Joey up and bring him in. I’ll meet you at the hospital. Drive carefully, Jennifer. Keep your cool. I realize that you’re facing this alone, but—”
“No, no, Jack is here.”
“Jack? Oh, Jack MacAllister? That friend of Brandon’s? I met him the other day. Nice guy. Well, good, you’re not alone. You and Jack can do this together. See you in a few minutes. ’Bye.”
“’Bye.”
Jennifer hung up the receiver, drew a shuddering breath, then ran from the room.
Jennifer paced restlessly around the waiting room in the hospital, glancing often at her watch, then the clock on the wall.
Jack entered the small, nicely furnished area, carrying two foam cups.
“Coffee,” he said. “Come and sit down, Jennifer, and drink this. Okay?”
“No, thank you, Jack. I’m stressed enough without getting the jitters from too much coffee.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe this is happening. Joey was fine yesterday, and now he’s in surgery having his appendix removed. He was so frightened by the pain and by all that took place after we arrived here. I felt so helpless. I still do.”
Jack set the cups on one of the tables, then closed the distance between them. He pulled her close, and she wrapped her arms around his waist as she laid her head on his chest.
“I’m not handling this very well,” she said. “Joey has always been so healthy, has never had anything beyond an occasional cold or bout of the flu. And now? He’s being operated on, for God’s sake, and I’m falling apart.”
“Hey,” Jack said, rubbing her back gently, “don’t be so hard on yourself. This is a scary deal. I would have done anything to stop the pain Joey was in as we drove over here. I felt powerless. It didn’t matter how big and strong a man I might be—my size and strength were worthless.”
“Then you do understand how I feel.”
“Damn straight, I do,” Jack said. “Joey and I are supposed to be pounding nails together right now, having a great old time. I hate what he’s going through, Jennifer. I really hate it.”
He paused. “But, hey, everything will be fine. Ben is a top-notch doctor, and he personally chose the surgeon for Joey. Everything is under control.” He chuckled. “Except us. We’re coming unglued.”
“Ah, the joys of parenthood,” Jennifer said, smiling. “You don’t know what will happen from one minute to the next.” She lifted her head to meet Jack’s gaze. “You were wonderful with Joey during the drive over here. You were so calm, talked to him, got him to relax at least as much as he could, considering the pain he was in. I do believe that you’re a natural-born father.”
Alarm bells went off in Jack’s head and he stiffened slightly as he looked at Jennifer. What was this? he thought. A little push, a hint at what might very well be Jennifer’s hidden agenda?
Had she changed her previous mindset about never remarrying?
Was she zeroing in on him to be her next husband and a father for Joey?
Had she shifted gears on him, and he’d been too dumb to realize it?
Damn it, was Jennifer Mackane like all the other women he’d been involved with? Was she now hellbent on getting what she wanted from him?
“Yeah, well,” he said, no hint of a smile on his face. “I operate with kids under the same guidelines that Joey does with his uncles. I give them back.”
“Mmm,” Jennifer said, frowning. “Joey certainly isn’t very happy with that premise these days.”
“Well, I’m very satisfied with mine regarding children. When I move to California, there will be MacAllister kids coming out of the woodwork. I’ll borrow a few when the mood strikes, then return them when I’ve had enough and they’re driving me nuts.”
“Has Joey been a pest while you’ve been working together on the house?”
“Hey, no way,” Jack said. “Not for a second. I’ve enjoyed spending time with him.”
“Doing ‘men’ stuff,” Jennifer said, smiling again.
“Yep. However, I must admit that the man stuff I do with you when we’re alone is much more to my liking.”
“Hush,” Jennifer said, feeling a flush of heat stain her cheeks. “We’re in a busy hospital, and someone might hear you.” She sighed and eased out of Jack’s arms. “Back to reality. We’re in a hospital and my son is being operated on. What’s taking so long?”
Jennifer began to wander around the room again, her troubled gaze alternating among the clock on the wall, her watch and the doorway.
Jack slouched into a chair and studied her. He wished he could peer into Jennifer’s brain, find out what she was really thinking. Man, he hated having these sudden doubts about Jennifer, hated even entertaining the idea that she might not be who she presented herself to be.
Maybe her words had just been an idle remark, a compliment. She thought he was a natural-born father and had told him so. End of story. No big deal.
Or was it?
Jack took a deep breath and let it out slowly, puffing his cheeks. Enough of this. For now, he’d just concentrate on waiting for word of how Joey was. That was plenty on his plate at the moment.
Besides, he reasoned, so what if Jennifer had taken a fresh look at her future and decided that, yes, sir, Jack MacAllister would do a dandy job as a husband for her and a father for Joey? It didn’t mean squat if she’d changed her views on the subject of commitment because in a few weeks he’d be long gone, anyway.
Ah, hell, who was he kidding? It did matter. He wanted, needed Jennifer to be as real and honest as he believed her to be.
Just once in his life, he would like to be able to savor memories of time shared with a woman, not look back with anger and self-disgust at his own gullibility.
No, it was even more than that. He wanted and needed to be able to cherish his memories of Jennifer Mackane.
“I should have asked Ben how long this would take,” Jennifer said, interrupting Jack’s racing thoughts. “Oh, darn, why didn’t I? Maybe a nurse would know. Yes. I’ll go ask a nurse.”
“You’re going to be very upset if you’re not in this room when Ben comes,” Jack said quietly.
Jennifer sighed and sat down on a sofa. “Yes, you’re right.”
“Always.”
Jennifer laughed. “Is that a fact?”
“Guaranteed.”
“Oh, Jack, thank you,” she said, smiling at him warmly. “You’ve been fantastic through all of this. I’d be out of my mind if I was caged up in this room alone.”
“You have a lot of friends in Prescott,” he said. “You could have called someone to come over here and wait with you.”
“I suppose. But I probably wouldn’t have. I’m set on automatic independence.” She paused. “When I was speaking with Ben on the telephone at the house, he said something to me that keeps popping into my head.”
“Oh? What?”
“I told Ben that you were there with me, and he said it was good that I wasn’t alone. ‘You and Jack can do this together,’ he said.”
Jack straightened in the chair and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Jennifer. “What point are you trying to make here?” he said, a slight edge to his voice.
Jennifer shrugged. “Only that I might have fallen into a pattern of behavior of being too independent, of not allowing myself to ask for help, to lean a little, to seek comfort from time to time from those who care about me. I’ll have to give that some very serious thought when things calm down again.”
“You do that,” Jack said, lunging to his feet and glaring down at her. “Who knows, Jennifer? You might decide to swoop up that bridal bouquet you caught and go find yourself a groom guy, a daddy bear. How does that strike you, Ms.
Mackane?”
“For heaven’s sake, Jack,” she said, frowning in confusion. “Where did all that nonsense come from? And why do you seem so angry all of a sudden?”
“I…” Jack stopped speaking, closed his eyes for a moment, and shook his head before looking at Jennifer again. “I’m sorry. Forget I said that. This waiting is hard on the nerves, and I’m stressed. Just erase that last bit I barked at you. Okay? Can you do that?”
“I…I guess so,” Jennifer said, getting to her feet. “But you made me sound like a woman on a husband hunt, or some such thing. My goodness, Jack, don’t you know me better than that by now? How could you even imply that I—Oh!”
Jennifer gasped as Jack closed the short distance between then, gripped her upper arms…and kissed her.
But…she thought hazily. She needed to understand why Jack had said such nasty things to her with a strange and bitter edge to his voice that she’d never heard from him before. She…really needed…to understand because…Oh, never mind.
Don’t think, Jennifer, Jack mentally pleaded. Don’t dwell on the rotten junk I said to you. Just feel. Just feel. Don’t think.
“I hate to interrupt, but…” Ben said with a chuckle as he entered the room.
Jennifer and Jack jumped apart, then spun around to face Ben.
“Joey?” Jennifer said, clasping her hands tightly beneath her chin.
Ben looked at Jennifer, then Jack, then back at Jennifer, then chuckled again. “I’ll be damned,” he said, grinning.
“Ben!” Jennifer yelled. “Joey?”
“He’s fine, fine, fine,” Ben said. “Came through like a champ. His appendix definitely needed to get out of there, but we got it in plenty of time. We’ll keep him here for two, maybe three, days, depending on how he does. He’ll have to take it easy for a couple of weeks. I’d keep him home from kindergarten, if I were you, to be assured he doesn’t run, jump—well, be an active little boy. Okay?”
“Yes, I understand. May I see him now, Ben?” Jennifer said.
“Mosey on over to the pediatric wing,” Ben said. “Joey will be in his room in about half an hour.”
Jennifer kissed Ben on the cheek, then Jack shook the doctor’s hand. “Thank you,” Jennifer and Jack said in unison.
To a Macallister Born Page 11
