She reached out for his hand, so he gave it a squeeze. “The—” Her voice came out like a squeak, so she cleared her throat. “The neighbors brought dinner over.”
Aiden jumped onto the couch next to his mom in a sitting position, bouncing as he landed. “It was chicken soup and the best cornbread muffins ever.”
“Oh yeah?” Jack asked.
Aiden nodded.
Jack looked at his sister. “Were you able to eat?”
She nodded. “Some. Today’s just been a rough day.”
“What do you think about moving into my apartment in Golden for the next little while? Then I could respond more quickly and help more.” Maybe he should get her a live-in nurse.
“I don’t know anyone in Golden,” Rachel said, “and I’ve got a good support system here. Plus, I wouldn’t want Aiden to not be able to go to school here—it’s where all his friends are. My church here organized everyone to bring food for the next few weeks, and they come to check on me often. I feel well cared for.”
He nodded. “Do you want me to move in here for the next little while?” It would definitely require some significant adjustments, but he was willing to do whatever would help.
“I do!” Aiden said.
But Rachel chuckled softly. “No. We really don’t have the space. But do you mind helping me to my room? I’m just feeling a little weak right now.”
Jack scooped her up and carried her into her room that was just off the family room. She felt lighter than the last time he’d had to carry her, and it worried him.
It must’ve shown on his face because she said, “Stop thinking like that. I’m going to make it through this.”
He nodded.
“I’m not just saying that to make you feel better. I feel it in my bones that I’m going to make it through this just fine. I’m sure I’ll have to wade through a lot of tough days along the way, but I’ll make it to the other side of this challenge.”
He could see the truth of her words in her expression.
He set her gently on her bed. Aiden leaped onto the bed and pulled the covers over his mom, making sure to tug it over her shoulders, straightening it out like it wasn’t his first time. “You all comfy, momma?”
“Yes, because you’re so good at this.” He grinned, and she gave him a hug.
Jack turned to leave, but Rachel said, “No, stay. I’m exhausted, not sleepy. Tell me about work.”
He nodded and took a seat in the chair near her bed. “Well, December’s always super busy, of course, since that’s when everyone wants to advertise the most. Many of the companies we work with have had their ad campaigns in the works for months, and we’re just in the final stages of actually running the campaigns.
“We still have smaller companies coming to us last minute, though, looking for smaller campaigns to be thrown together quickly. But I’ve got a good team, and they handle the extra work well.”
“You’ve done great things with your company. I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you.” Jack didn’t have parents—Rachel had taken over that role when they’d both died when he was fifteen. So hearing that from her made his chest swell. He guessed it would’ve felt the same as if it had come from a parent.
Then she asked the question about work that he’d known she’d most wanted to hear about when she first asked. “And how is Noelle?”
He looked down, shaking his head, but still smiling just at the mention of her name. “She’s good. Like always.”
“When are you going to get around to asking her out already?”
He took a deep breath. She knew the answer—she’d asked the question plenty of times. “Still never. Because I’m still her boss.”
Jack had a good friend and an acquaintance who each dated employees in businesses they owned, and neither turned out well. His friend’s relationship had created a lot of office drama that really caused problems for the better part of a year. His friend had been lucky.
For his acquaintance, there had been office drama, indeed. But the bigger problem had been a bad breakup that caused cascading issues that had eventually brought his entire company down. Jack had eight employees whose livelihood depended on his company staying strong and doing well, and he felt the weight of that responsibility exquisitely.
“Such a shame.” She turned to her son. “Aiden, why don’t you get your snowflake collection to show Uncle Jack?” Aiden hopped off the bed. “Make sure you gather all the ones you made, not just the ones in the box. Get the ones on your bed and on the kitchen table and counters. Coffee table, too.”
