Forever Series Box Set Books 1-3

by Mona Ingram

  Jesse called Carly over. “I don’t see a cake,” he murmured. “Weren’t you able to get one in time?”

  “Oh, yes, Sir.” She glanced toward the kitchen. “If you’d like to check it out, it’s in the kitchen.”

  Lexie was loading the dishwasher when he entered the kitchen. He’d thought of her so many times over the past week he was afraid that he might be imagining her.

  “Lexie?” He looked around the kitchen. “What are you doing here?”

  She gave him a crooked grin. “Loading the dishwasher.” She closed the door and leaned back, her arms crossed. “How are you, Jesse?”

  His eyes searched hers. “Surprised... delighted... actually, I’m afraid to open my mouth in case I say the wrong thing.”

  She came toward him slowly, and just before she reached him, she chewed on her bottom lip. “Do you remember what you said to me the last time you were here?” She was so close to him now he could reach out and touch her. But he held back, assessing her mood.

  “I said quite a few things,” he murmured. “Some of them even made sense. At least to me.”

  Eyes glittering, she reached up and brushed the side of his face with her fingertips. Her touch was feather-light, and he thought he might die from wanting her.

  “I remember one thing you said,” she whispered, sliding her fingers into his already tousled hair.

  “What was that?” The words came out as a husky croak.

  “You said you loved me.” She stilled. “Did you mean that, Jesse Cooper?”

  He pulled her into his arms and gazed into her eyes. “I meant it then and I mean it now. I love you, Lexie Swinton. I think I always have, from the first moment I saw you.” He lowered his head, his lips hovering above hers. “There’s one complication, though. I come with a son. It’s a package deal.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that,” she said. “How do you think I knew to come here?” She pulled him closer. “Now please kiss me. I think I’ve waited long enough.”

  Several minutes later, they broke apart, and Larry called from the doorway. “Okay you guys, get a room.”

  Lexie ignored him and looked into Jesse’s eyes. “That sounds like an excellent idea, but this is Luc’s birthday party.” She picked up the cake.

  Jesse turned to the guests, an arm still around Lexie’s waist. “Okay. We’ll behave... at least for now.”

  Wild applause greeted them as they rejoined the party.

  Luc forked cake into his mouth. “Did you like the surprise, Dad?”

  “I did,” he said. “Very much. I think we’ll take her home with us tonight.”

  Luc grinned and ate another mouthful of cake.

  Epilogue

  JESSE’S ARM WAS STILL around her waist the next morning when she woke.

  “You’re awake. I can tell,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “Is it too early to tell you how much I love you?”

  “It’s never too early,” she said, twisting in his arms. “And never too late.”

  “God, I love you,” he said. “And to think...”

  “Shhh,” she said, pressing a finger to his lips. “Let’s not talk about the past.”

  The door burst open, startling them both. Luc ran in and jumped up on the bed. “Goodie, you’re still here,” he said. “Does this mean you’re going to be my mother?”

  “Well...”

  Jesse cringed. “Luc! You don’t just barge in and say things like that.” His eyes softened as he looked at the woman he loved. “But of course if Lexie wants the job...”

  Lexie put on her sternest expression. “I don’t know. I can be pretty strict, you know.”

  “That’s cool.”

  “And I’d expect you to knock before you come into the bedroom.”

  “Okay.”

  “In that case, I’d love to have the job.” She turned to Jesse. “What do you think, Dad?”

  “I don’t know. Can you make pancakes?”

  “It just so happens I make very good pancakes.”

  Jesse gathered up Luc and Lexie in his arms. “Then I’d say we just made a family.”

  * * * The End * * *

  Now and Forever

  Chapter One

  JENNA FOUND A PARKING spot in front of New Beginnings and fought to keep her emotions under control. From the first day she’d walked through the now familiar doors of the fitness studio, she’d been made to feel welcome. Jodi treated everyone like a friend and in spite of her busy schedule, always found a few moments for a quick chat.

  Jenna would miss coming here.

  Facing Jodi would be the last in a series of excruciating humiliations. Ever since she’d come back home to find her life in ruins, she’d been repeating the old saying about adversity making you stronger. If that was true, she should be able to take on anything by now.

  She was about to find out.

  Stepping through the door, she paused to soak up the atmosphere one last time. Regular clients could always tell what time of day it was by the type of music playing in the background. By this time in the afternoon, the playlist included a carefully chosen selection of soft rock, salsa and other upbeat tunes designed to give tired bodies a subtle lift. From the workout studio treadmills whirred, weights clanked, and the odd laugh drifted out toward the lobby. Jenna kept her eyes averted lest she spot anyone she knew.

  “Jenna!” Jodi greeted her warmly. “Good to see you!”

  Jenna blinked back tears. This was the first warm greeting she’d had in days. She approached the counter.

  Jodi’s smile turned to a frown. “What’s the matter?” She lowered her voice. “Jenna, what is it?”

  Jenna forced a smile. “Jodi, do I owe you money?”

  The look on Jodi’s face said it all. Of course she owed money... why would this be any different?

  The studio owner tapped a few keys on her computer. “Including this past month, you’re three months in arrears. I didn’t say anything because I knew you were good for it.”

  Jenna nodded. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to pay you.” She took a deep breath. “My fiancé – or at least the man I thought was my fiancé – moved out while I was gone. He wiped out the bank accounts, cancelled my credit cards, and left me with a stack of unpaid bills.” She gave a short, strangled laugh. “He even stiffed our landlord for three months’ rent. She’s a real sweetheart and I know she relies on the rent money, but for some reason she kept giving him an extension.”

  “He left you nothing?” Jodi shook her head. “I’m sorry. That was a stupid thing to say. Of course he left you with nothing.”

  Jenna shrugged and attempted a smile. “Almost nothing. I have my faithful Subaru. It’s eight years old, but at least it’s in my name, and it’s paid for.” She was too proud to tell Jodi that she’d slept in her car for the past three nights.

  “I’m so sorry, my friend.” Jodi brightened “You still have your photography, right? I’ll keep my ears open for any jobs that come up.”

  “He took everything. Cameras, studio equipment, even my dark room equipment.” She offered a wry smile. “Want to know something? Losing that equipment hurts worse than losing Phil. I do have a small digital camera, but it’s in my backpack, and that’s the other reason I’m here. Could I get my backpack from my locker? I wish I could say that the camera would cover what I owe you, but it’s a few years old and you know how fast electronics lose their value.”

  “Nonsense. You go right ahead, and don’t worry about the membership. It’s forgotten.”

  Jenna had always known that Jodi’s tough talk masked a generous spirit. “One last thing,” she said, speaking so low that Jodi had to lean over the counter. “Could I please use your shower while I’m in the locker room?” She couldn’t bring herself to look directly at the other woman. “I’d really appreciate it.”

  “Of course. You know where to find the towels.” Jodi reached under the counter and handed over what she called her emergency kit.
A soft face cloth, along with sample size of body wash, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant were contained in a small, brightly-coloured plastic bag. “Take all the time you want.”

  “Thank you.” It took all of Jenna’s strength to hold back a sob at the other woman’s kindness. She nodded her thanks and headed for the locker room, where she emptied her locker, then headed for the showers, eager to get clean for the first time in days.

  JODI WAITED UNTIL JENNA had been gone for several minutes, then walked to the front door. An older model Subaru occupied a parking spot about fifty feet away, the meter about to expire. She hastily walked outside, plugged the meter and peered inside the car. Tinted windows made snooping difficult, but she made out a jumble of suitcases, boxes and what appeared to be bedding. Just as she thought; Jenna was living out of her car.

  STANDING UNDER THE soothing hot water, it almost seemed as though the past four days had been a bad dream. Jenna lathered her hair and rinsed it, watching the foam circle the drain. If only her problems would disappear that quickly, but she’d learned the hard way that miracles didn’t happen in real life.

  She’d spent the past four days attempting to see how much of her former life could be salvaged. Not much, as it turned out. But while discovering the depth of Phil’s treachery, she was surprised to learn that with the exception of being dead broke and owing money, she would come out of this a stronger person in the end... the old adage again, but it was true. Now that she’d visited Jodi and confirmed what she suspected, she needed to take time to figure out where she’d gone wrong.

  “I’m not stupid,” she said aloud, raising her face to the shower spray. “I’m not. So how did I get myself into such a mess?”

  Thankful that she’d developed a habit of keeping a fresh set of underwear in her backpack, she dressed quickly, gathered her belongings and went to say goodbye to Jodi. She wanted to tell her that she would pay her back eventually, but the studio owner wasn’t around.

  “Sorry, she had to leave,” said Chris with a friendly wave.

  “Oh.” Jenna was disappointed. “Well, tell her thanks for everything.”

  “Will do.” Chris was already back at the computer.

  Chapter Two

  JENNA SAT IN HER CAR for several long moments, watching the traffic stream by on Wharf Street. As recently as last week, she’d never considered how being homeless changed everything. Now, for example... even something as simple as deciding where to go took serious consideration. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, considering her limited options. She had less than half a tank left, and couldn’t afford to drive around idly, wasting precious gas. For the past three nights, she’d parked on residential streets, but she wasn’t sure how long she could keep that up. The fear of someone trying to break into her car had kept her in a constant state of anxiety; her last good night’s sleep seemed like a long time ago.

  As she sat there thinking, a man shuffled down the sidewalk, checking the garbage bins as he went along. Ashamed to realize that she’d never really looked at a homeless person before, she tried to imagine what might have happened to bring him to this point in his life. Then and there she made a decision: when her present situation was straightened out – and she was confident it would be – she would do something, even if it was a small something, to help. There were soup kitchens where she could volunteer, and although she couldn’t think of anything else at this point, there would be some way she could help. The public rarely looked at street people other than to brush quickly past them. Perhaps it was more accurate to say that most people didn’t see them. Sitting here in her car with all of her possessions crammed into the back, an idea took hold. One day she would do a photo essay of homeless people. It was the first positive thought she’d had in days, and it felt good.

  Speaking of photography, she pulled her backpack onto her lap. Thank goodness she always kept her digital Nikon close at hand. She fumbled with the zipper, eager to lay her hands on something from her former life.

  She reached inside but stopped before finding the camera. A piece of paper had been pinned to the inside pouch, but she didn’t recognize it. Looking around as though someone might be watching, she unclipped it and two fifty dollar bills fell out. She hastily tucked the bills into the pouch and opened the paper with trembling hands.

  “A quick note to let you know you’re in my thoughts. Have a good meal tonight. Love, Jodi.”

  Tears sprang to Jenna’s eyes but she brushed them away angrily. She would not be seen crying in her car in the middle of downtown... not that she was likely to see anyone she knew, but still! She pulled out without a final destination in mind, knowing only that she craved a good cup of coffee. Hesitating at the drive-thru window, she added a small hamburger to her order. Unsettled by Jodi’s generosity, she wasn’t sure if she could eat it, but common sense told her she needed something in her stomach.

  When she finally became aware of her surroundings, she was at a small park in the University area. It was vaguely familiar, and she realized that she’d spent the first night in her car right here. One of the older areas in Victoria, the streets were wide enough to accommodate a parked car so that it didn’t stand out, and the neighbourhood gave off a comfortable, settled vibe. Maybe that’s why she returned to it now... if only for a few hours, she needed to feel safe. That, and the fact that there was a public restroom about fifty feet away, adjacent to a children’s play area.

  Climbing out of her car, she looked around at what could be seen of the residences surrounding the park. An affluent area, she suspected that when the city had dedicated this land for a park, their actions had been more hopeful than practical. There were very few children in sight, but then it was just past dinner time. Perhaps children these days didn’t go outside to play after dinner; she had no idea.

  She wandered slowly to the restroom, used the facilities and stood looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was clean, thanks to the shower at New Beginnings, but it was dull and lifeless, echoing the way she felt inside. She leaned closer to the mirror. When had those dark smudges appeared below her eyes? And her smile... once so freely given. Where had it gone?

  She pushed away from the sink, returned quickly to the safety of her car, and let her head fall back against the headrest. Confronted with the full weight of her situation, fat, silent tears ran down her face unchecked. Tears that had been building ever since the moment she discovered that her life had changed. It was time to let them out, because deep down she knew that only then could she face the future.

  Exhausted, she fumbled for a tissue, dabbed at her eyes and blew out a breath of air. Feeling lighter, she reached for her coffee. It was lukewarm by this point, but she sipped it thoughtfully, wondering how soon she could repay Jodi for her kindness.

  When the reality of her situation had sunk in four days ago, the first thing she’d done was count her cash. She hadn’t gone to the bank while visiting her friend in Nanaimo, as they had stayed home with Andrea’s new baby, so she still had the cash that had been in her purse when she left. Fifty eight dollars, and it hadn’t lasted long. Jodi’s generous gesture would allow her to eat for a few more days, and perhaps put something in the gas tank.

  She picked up the hamburger, but she was still too upset to eat. Disappointed at herself for wasting even a few dollars, she set it down with a sigh and picked up the coffee.

  “Are you going to eat that hamburger?”

  The small voice startled her. Some coffee spilled down her hand but she ignored it, turning instead to look into the back seat. A pair of bright, dark eyes smiled at her.

  “What the... who are you?”

  “I’m Danny.”

  Jenna assessed him quickly. She’d seen a lot of kids since she started taking portraits, and this one was seriously cute. Almond-shaped eyes regarded her curiously.

  “Well are you?” he said, glancing at the hamburger. “’Cause if you’re not, I’m hungry.”

  She wasn’t sure what to mak
e of the request. The child was clean and well-dressed, obviously from a good family. What in the world was he doing in the back seat of her car?

  “You’re not supposed to take food from strangers,” she said, handing him the hamburger. “You know that, don’t you?”

  “I know.” Danny took a bite and hummed appreciatively. “But you didn’t offer it to me. I asked for it.”

  Jenna tried to hide her smile. “Yes, I suppose you did.” She handed him the napkin. “Here, you’ve got some sauce on your cheek. My name is Jenna, by the way.”

  The child finished the hamburger and wiped his face and hands. Digging into a brightly coloured backpack, he brought out a bottle of water, took a drink and erupted in a loud burp.

  “Oops,” he said, eyes sparkling. “My dad says it’s rude to burp, but it feels good.” He put the water bottle back in his backpack. “Why were you crying?”

  Jenna studied the cheery little face for a moment, then turned away. “Trust me Danny, you don’t want to hear my story.”

  “Why not?” He moved forward, placed one arm on either headrest and poked his face between the seats. “It sure must be sad to make you cry like that.”

  “It was sad,” she said, “at least to me, but it’s over now. That’s the last time I’m going to cry about it.” She turned to the young boy and was about to ask him to get out, but something about the hopeful look in his eyes made her stop. “Don’t you have somewhere you should be?” The moment the words were out, she realized it was a foolish question.

  “Nope.”

  She gave him what she hoped was a no-nonsense look. “Then I guess you’d better tell me what you’re doing here.” She put her backpack on the floor and gestured to the other seat. “Come up here so I can see you properly while we talk.”