I’ve held her hand over the past few days, and she hasn’t pulled away or given any indication she’s uncomfortable with me doing that. Just the opposite.
I’m taking that as a good sign.
For now, I’m being her friend as I slowly navigate back to the road we were originally on together.
I also haven’t mentioned what she told Noah to tell me—about loving me and wanting to have my children. When she said that, she thought she was dying and was barely conscious. She might not have actually meant any of it.
Jess is my family. Having children with her isn’t what will make me happy. Being a major part of her life—that will bring me joy.
The argument between us the night she broke up with me was my fault too. I threw the question—the one about having children—in her face. I was angry and disappointed and hurt. I lashed out and I’m not proud of what I said.
“Are you sure you don’t want me staying with you at your house?” Emily asks Jess. “So you won’t be alone?”
“I won’t be alone. I’ll have Bailey.” Jess is practically vibrating with excitement and relief. She hasn’t seen Bailey in almost two weeks. And Bailey will be excited to finally see Jess again.
“But you also won’t be able to reach the top shelves in your kitchen while your shoulder is healing,” Emily points out.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I don’t often use the wineglasses, anyway.” Jess flashes her a quick grin, then looks toward the door, her eyes wide, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. “I just need to get those darn discharge papers and I’m out of here. Garrett’s sending me feedback today on my novel, and I can’t wait to get started on the edits.”
“I still can’t believe Iris used to be a spy in France during the Second World War,” Zara says, reclining in the armchair. “I can’t wait to read the book, Jess. Garrett hasn’t stopped talking about it.”
Emily kicks her legs up, her ass precariously parked on the edge of the windowsill. “But don’t worry—he didn’t tell us anything that happens. He said we have to wait until it’s published.”
Jess laughs a soft, sweet sound deep in her chest. She winces, pain flickering on her face—no doubt due to the gunshot wound she’s healing from. “First, I need to finish those edits and see if an agent wants to represent the book. And then I have to wait to see if a publisher is interested in it.”
“They will be.” Zara looks at me, and then back at Jess. “You sure you don’t want me to drive you home? Stick around, cook you some dinner?”
“I’ve got it,” I tell Zara, my voice stern enough for her to get the hint. Jess and I are finally going to talk, the two of us, without any interruptions. Plus, Noah will be coming over to update us on the kidnapping case.
“Are you sure there’s no media waiting outside of my home?” Jess asks me, clearly unsettled at the thought of going through all of that again—minus the protesters this time.
“None at all.”
The media has requested numerous times to interview Jess. I told them she needs to heal from her ordeal and to please respect her wish for privacy. Anything they want to know will have to come from the various police departments involved in the case and the FBI.
A nurse comes into the room and goes through the patient care information on gunshot wounds with Jess. She leaves after answering Jess’s questions.
“What about Robyn?” Jess has spoken with several social services support staff while in the hospital, but what she really needs is to see Robyn again.
“I called her earlier. I have an appointment tomorrow with her. And just so you know, I was still seeing her after…um…after what happened.” She lowers her eyes, and a light blush sweeps across her cheeks.
“Fortunately, the money Skye Backlund raised to cover your medical and therapy expenses will pay for it, so the cost won’t have to come out of your nest egg.”
Skye, the president of the high school PTA, decided her participation with the protesters outside of Jess’s house tarnished her reputation in the community. She took it upon herself to start a fundraiser to help Jess out.
And made sure the media knew about it.
The reaching out to the media was partly self-serving on Skye’s part, but I’m not complaining. Jess will need Robyn’s support and guidance even more now as she processes everything that happened. The money that was raised will help, so she doesn’t have to use the restitution money the State of California gave her. Both mean that I won’t have to offer to help Jess out, which I know is important to her. She doesn’t want to be reliant on anyone but herself.
“And your old job is still available,” I tell her. “But only if you want to come back and work for me.”
She nods, but her eyes lack enthusiasm at the suggestion. I let it slide, for now. The two of us will discuss it further once we get to her house.
There are a lot of things we need to discuss.
Jess stands from the bed. “I still can’t believe Skye raised money after trying to get me to leave Maple Ridge.”
Emily chuckles. “I’m not too surprised. Her youngest is in Olivia’s class this year. Olivia spent a week at the beginning of the term talking about bullying and being mean to people. And she made sure to assign homework for the kids’ parents to help with.”
