A Little Harmless Faith

by Melissa Schroeder

  “Get it done soon, son. That woman is in love with you, but she’s going to believe your stupid end date to the relationship.”

  “How the hell do you know about that?”

  “She told me. Get irritated and jealous and get over it. Right now, you have to convince the woman that you’re in love with her, and that you want forever.”

  “I have a plan.”

  Micah rolled his eyes. “Just don’t wait too long.”

  “Why?”

  “Women get stupid ideas in their heads. Nicola doesn’t usually do that, but she’s a woman who has to be busy, and she’s going to spend a lot of time recovering. Lots of thinking time.”

  “Bloody hell.”

  “Exactly. And don’t ever tell my wife I said women get stupid ideas.”

  “Well, as soon as I talk to her father, I’ll propose. Mother’s bringing my grandmother’s engagement ring that she left to me.”

  “Good lord, sometimes I forget you’re from money.”

  “That’s probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Well, the second nicest.”

  “What was the first?”

  “When I woke up after the bender that broke my year of sobriety, Nicola was sitting beside my bed in the hospital.”

  “They let sober companions hang out in rehab?”

  “No. I almost overdosed. She made sure that didn’t make the papers,” he said. “Nicola had been visiting her parents, and…no reason to go into all of that. Anyway, I woke up, and she said, ‘Do you want to die? If you do, tell me now and I will find a way to kill you.’”

  “That was nicer than what I said?” Micah asked. “You two are weird.”

  Jensen shook his head. “I, of course, told her I wanted to live. Then, she said, ‘Good, because I think you have a lot to offer the world, and I aim to make sure you’re sober enough to accomplish that.’” He took a swallow of coffee. “I thought she would walk out, but there she was by my side, ready to fight for me if I told her. I don’t know if anyone had ever done that for me before.”

  “The woman is one of a kind.” He chuckled again, then let out a booming laugh. “Still, it is just like her to tell you she’d help kill you if you wanted to die.”

  Jensen smiled. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but I think that’s when I started falling for her.”

  Micah shook his head. “God, you are made for each other.”

  He and Micah made it off the elevator when he heard his mother’s voice.

  “I don’t care. I want to know where my future daughter-in-law is.”

  “Maybe we should go back down to the cafeteria,” he said.

  “Why?” Micah asked.

  “You’re about to meet the reason why.” They turned the corner. There stood his mother, dressed as if she had just attended Queen Elizabeth’s tea party. Not one blonde hair was out of place. Her blue suit didn’t have a single wrinkle. And she was wearing hose and heels. So odd to see that in Hawaii.

  Beside her stood his brother, who wore a wrinkled suite and looked ready to fall down. None of them—including their father—had ever been able to keep up with Lillian Wulf.

  “Mother,” he said. His mother turned to him. That’s when he saw her worried expression and the dark circles beneath her eyes.

  She rushed forward, his brother trailing behind her. “Jensen.”

  She threw her arms around him, and he smelled it then. The familiar scent of Chanel No. 5. It was a scent he would always associate with his mother, and it always brought him comfort.

  “I am so glad you are safe.”

  She pulled back and then looked over at Micah.

  “Mother, this is Micah Ross. He’s a friend.”

  Micah held out his hand to her. When she put her hand in his, he brought it to his mouth and kissed it. “It is very nice to meet you, Mrs. Wulf.”

  That slow, southern accent rolled over the words, and his mother actually blushed. His almost sixty-year-old mother.

  “Stop that,” Jensen said.

  “Who are you talking to?” Micah asked.

  “Both of you. Go away, Ross.”

  “Jensen,” his mother said, irritation and embarrassment filling her tone. “I will not have you behave so badly. Really.”

  “No worries, Mrs. Wulf. I hope to see you before you leave our island.”

  Once he stepped back on the elevator and the door closed, Jensen turned to his brother and mother. “What were you doing at the desk?”

  “I couldn’t remember the hospital room number.”

  He frowned and looked at Jakob. His eyes were barely opened.

  “I sent you the room number via text.”

  She was a woman who lived for details, who needed to be in control. For a long moment, he realized that was a quality that both she and Nicola shared. Still, it wasn’t forgetful. It wasn’t a big issue, but from the mortified look on her face, it was to her.

  “I apologize.”

  “No need.”

  The only time she had gotten forgetful and scatterbrained was when their father had been sick.

  He held out his arm. “What are you wearing?” she asked, taking it.

  “These are scrubs. I didn’t have a choice because…my other clothes were ruined. Before we go in the room—”

  “Why were you out here and not in there with her?”

  “The doctor wanted to examine her, and they chased me out. Now, I want your promise you won’t make a comment about the ring, and no more of this future daughter-in-law.”

  “Why not?”

  “We aren’t engaged. I haven’t had time to ask her. So, mum’s the word. She knows you are on the island and will be thrilled to see you.”

  His brother snorted. Jensen shot him a nasty look over his shoulder.

  When he knocked on the door, then opened it, his heart almost tumbled out of his chest. She was still in the same position, but it was obvious they’d had her up out of the bed. Her hair had been combed and she had changed gowns.

  “Look who I found in the hallway,” he said, smiling.

  “Mrs. Wulf. Jakob,” Nicola said, trying to smile back, then wincing. Her bruised cheek and split lip didn’t make it easy for her. “I’m so glad to see you.”

  “Oh, Nicola,” his mother said, releasing his arm and running to her side. His mother leaned down for a hug. She straightened and tsked. “I never liked that Alfie.”

  “This is the first I’m hearing that,” he said.

  “Jakob, bring me that chair,” his mother ordered.

  “Of course,” his brother said as he picked up a chair from the other side of the room and brought it over to Nicola’s bedside.

  His mother sat down in the chair as though she were sitting in attendance with the queen, which she had a few times. Still, after the long trip over, any other person would slouch, like his brother was doing in the chair he had settled in. But Lillian Wulf did not slouch.

  “When Jensen called us, I can’t tell you how terrified we all were. Julienne wanted to come, but she had a meeting in France. I told her she could come if Jensen lied about how bad your injuries were.”

  “Oh, no worries there,” Nicola said. “I really didn’t expect you to fly all the way over here.”

  “Of course we came. You are part of our family,” his mother said, her voice wavering a little. She reached out and patted Nicola’s hand. “I will take care of you until your mother can get here. I owe her that much.”

  Nicola looked at him, confusion filled her gaze. Then she turned back to his mother. “Thank you. I know she would appreciate it.”

  His mother gave her one last pat, then she sat back and looked over at him. “You need a shower and a change of clothes. Do that, and we will stay here with Nicola until you return.”

  He frowned. “I can stay.”

  “I didn’t say you couldn’t, but you smell, and well, you look horrible. Go get freshened up.”

  And that was that. When Lillian Wulf threw out an order,
as one of her children, he was helpless but to do as she wished.

  “Of course.”

  He wanted to kiss Nicola goodbye, and he didn’t give a damn who saw them, but he knew Nicola wouldn’t be happy.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Rome Carino might come by to talk to you.”

  She nodded. “I think I’m going to nap. I’m exhausted from earlier.”

  He nodded and almost walked out of the room, but he just couldn’t do it. Not yet. He walked to the opposite side of the bed and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I’ll be back as fast as I can. Rest, please.”

  She nodded. Jensen straightened and headed out of the room to the elevator. As he was still waiting, Jakob came jogging down the hallway toward him.

  “Mom wanted me to give you this, big brother,” he said, handing Jensen the small ring case he recognized. “She thought it would be better at the house than around here. And truthfully, she’s been a little out of it since we got the call. She was really upset.”

  “I know. Still bloody furious about Alfie myself. Not sure I’ll ever get over it.”

  Jakob smiled. “Nicola is safe now, that’s all that matters. Just make sure she says yes, because Mother might disown you and adopt Nicola if you don’t.”

  He nodded. “I’ll try my best. Get back in there and make sure Mother doesn’t make a mess of it.”

  “Will do,” he said, walking back to the room.

  The door to the lift opened. Jensen stepped onto it and pushed the button to the ground floor. He just had to wait a day or two and he could set everything in motion. He also needed to make sure his mother didn’t blow his proposal.

  19

  She had been home from the hospital for less than two hours when Jensen came into her room with a smile on his face.

  “What are you up to now?”

  His smile dimmed a little. “What the bloody hell does that mean?”

  “Well, you spring your brother and your mother on me. Thank goodness they had something to do today. Do you know how many times I have heard them tell me what a great catch you are?”

  “Well, I am a great catch.”

  “No, you are not.”

  He opened his mouth to argue with her, but the doorbell rang. Then she heard voices—one robust and the other faint but unmistakable.

  She felt tears burn the backs of her eyes.

  “You brought my parents over?”

  “Of course I did. They were adamant about coming, and I couldn’t let them fly commercial,” he said with such Wulf disdain she laughed, but it ended on a sob.

  “I thought you would be happy.”

  She blinked and was, once again, horrified as tears slipped down her cheeks.

  “I am. I’m sorry.”

  The noise grew as she listened to her parents coming up the stairs with Marta.

  Jensen went to the door to greet them. “Mr. and Mrs. McCann. I trust your trip over was comfortable?”

  “Sure was,” her father boomed out. Nicola’s father had always been loud, but he had started getting worse as the years went by. She didn’t care. It was music to her ears. And he was the first one to step through the doorway.

  “Nicola,” her mother said as she followed him. Jensen stepped out of the way and her mother gasped.

  “What happened to your face?” her father asked.

  She glared at Jensen. “You told me it was getting better.”

  “It is.” He looked at her parents. “It was much worse yesterday.”

  Her mother rushed to the side of her bed and her father to the other. “Oh, my baby, what did he do to you?”

  “You should see the other guy,” Jensen said, which earned him a glare from her mother. “Sorry, but she did beat Alfie up.”

  “That’s because I taught her how to defend herself,” her father said. He smiled, but she could see tears shimmering in his eyes. It almost broke her then and there. A lump rose in her throat. She’d never witnessed her father get choked up, let alone cry.

  “I’m going to check with Marta about some coffee and snacks and leave you all alone,” Jensen said.

  “Jensen,” she called out before he could run away. “Thank you for bringing my parents over.”

  “You are most welcome,” he said before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind him.

  “I was so surprised when he called us and said we just had to be here. We were already booking a flight over here, but it’s hard to buy at the last minute,” her mother said.

  “And very expensive,” her father commented.

  Her mother waved that away as she sat on the bed next to Nicola. “Either way, we are here, but we got here a lot faster than if we had to fly commercial. And I’m sure much more comfortably.”

  “I’m just so happy that you’re here.”

  Then, again, the tears started to flow as relief set in. No matter what had happened on the ice, Nicola had known her parents would always be there. She was over the age where she should need her parents; but having them there was a comfort. Jensen had known that. She knew he had come up with the idea on his own. Knowing him, he hadn’t even told his mother or sister that her parents were there.

  The fact that Jensen had been so sweet and thoughtful brought on a fresh wave of tears. They only had a couple more days here and she would be able to travel, and their time together would end. What the hell had she been thinking getting involved with him? Where would their relationship go afterwards? And why didn’t she kill Alfie for taking away this precious time?

  Her mother pulled her into a hug, being careful of her injured shoulder. The warmth of her arms, the familiar feeling of her mother’s unconditional love filled her with twin emotions of joy and pain. She was losing something she didn’t know she needed; but being here with her mother and father gave her some measure of comfort.

  “Aw, baby, it’s all right. We’re here to take care of you.”

  And for that she would always be thankful. These two were always there for her.

  “We would have been here faster but Denver International was closed down for twelve hours thanks to a freak blizzard,” her father said.

  She glanced at her side table. “I think it’s time for another pill.”

  “Are you sure?” Her mother asked.

  “Is Felicia here?”

  “Who is that?”

  “A nurse that Jensen hired.”

  Jensen opened the door. “Who did I hire?”

  “Felicia? Is she here?”

  “No. She’s not here right now. She’ll be back tonight. What do you need?”

  It was then she noticed the fresh glass of water he was holding.

  “I thought it was time for my pill.”

  “It is. Nadia, it’s there on the table on your side. She needs just one.”

  He handed her father the water, then she took the pill from her mother. After she swallowed the medication, Jensen said, “Brett, I want to show you around a bit.”

  Her father nodded, then he leaned down to kiss her forehead. Jensen held the door open for him, and then gave her a warning look before he left the room.

  “What was that look for?” her mother asked.

  “That’s his ‘you better get rest’ look. It’s rather annoying.”

  Her mother chuckled. “You do need rest. A lot of it from what I gather. You were shot, Nicky.”

  Her mother hadn’t used the nickname in years and it brought tears to Nicola’s eyes. Once she’d hit her teenage years, she had insisted on Nicola or Nic, but the familiar endearment warmed her from the inside out.

  “Oh, Mama. I’m so happy you are here.”

  “I am too. Your father was being stubborn and trying to insist that we take a regular flight, but everything was backed up for another two days. Jensen insisted that we come on the plane.”

  “He can be just as stubborn.”

  “Do you need me to leave you alone?”

  “No, unless you want to.”

 
“Of course not.” She sat in the chair next to the bed. “Now tell me what is going on with Serenity.”

  Happy to have the focus off her and her injuries, Nicola smiled and told her mother of all the plans for the baby and Serenity’s plans for a second book.

  Jensen was just pouring himself another cup of coffee when Nicola’s father made his way downstairs. At first look, most people would look at Brett McCann and think that he looked nothing like Nicola. That all of her features came from her mother, but that wasn’t true. Her incredible height was one thing, but also her nose. It wasn’t small and delicate like her mother’s. No, it was slender, and slightly turned up. When she spent a little too much time in the sun, she would get freckles just like her father had.

  “I think it’s time we had a talk, son.”

  He knew this was coming, and he had planned on making a stop on their trip back to England. That was before the shooting.

  “Certainly. Do you want a cup of coffee?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve already had too much of that evil brew. I need to sleep tonight.”

  “Let’s go outside. Your daughter has amazing hearing and tends to eavesdrop.”

  “Got that from her mother,” he said as he followed Jensen out the door. They continued walking until they were close to the beach. Neither of them had shoes on, so Jensen led him to the sand.

  “Damn that feels good. Nadia and I have never been over here before.”

  “This house is open to both of you for whenever you want.”

  He glanced at Jensen. “I won’t be bought off by pretty things.”

  Jensen laughed. “God, everyone thinks she’s like her mother, but I think there is a fair amount of you in her.”

  Her father smiled at that, then it faded. Jensen knew the last seventy-two hours had been hard on them.

  “I can’t believe we almost lost her.”

  “I know and I’m sorry about that.”

  “You shot her?”

  “No, but Alfie was my friend.”

  “You just never know. When I met Nadia, then married her, I lost a fair number of friends.”

  “What? Why?”

  “She was from one of those Soviet countries, which meant she had to be a spy.” Brett rolled his eyes. “Can you imagine? Like Nadia could ever hide anything from anyone. But what I’m getting at is that I thought all of those friends would accept her with open arms. Some of them I had known my whole life. So, you can’t be blamed for that asshole’s actions.”