This man was capturing every last piece of her heart.
* * *
The next day, Jed drove to the county jail to visit his father. He wasn’t sure he wanted to go. What he wanted to do was pretend this whole mess hadn’t happened, that his mom wasn’t home alternating between sobbing and pacing her kitchen. That his dad would likely spend the next few years, if not more, in prison.
His law firm would go under—if he were convicted, no client in their right mind would want anything to do with him. That meant Jed’s parents could lose their place, Mom would—
“You okay?” Paige, who was sitting in the passenger’s seat, touched his arm.
He released a breath. Then he nodded. “Just letting my thoughts get away from me.”
“I can imagine.”
He looked at her. With soft ringlets framing her peach-toned face, and her delicate brows pinched above her blue eyes, she was so incredibly beautiful. Inside and out. “Thanks for being here, for coming with me.”
“Of course.” She twined her hand with his and gave a gentle squeeze. “I’m not going anywhere.”
His heart lifted. They could talk about her plans, about their relationship, later. Right now he needed to see his dad. To get answers.
“Want me to go in with you?”
He shook his head. “This is something I need to do alone.” He and his dad needed to have a serious talk.
“Can we pray?”
He studied her. Did that mean...?
She gave a soft laugh. “You act like I asked you to join me on an international mission trip or something.”
“It’s just...” He paused.
“That God and I weren’t on speaking terms with one another?”
His mouth twitched toward a smile. “Something like that.”
She shrugged. “We worked things out. Or more accurately, I decided to quit being an angry little brat.”
He laughed and pulled her close. “I’d love to pray with you.”
With their hands twined together, and her forehead pressed against his, he closed his eyes.
“Dear God, please be with Jed right now. Give him strength and surround him in Your love. Amen.”
“Amen.” His voice sounded husky. He cleared his throat. “Thanks for that.”
She nodded.
He stepped out of his truck, crossed the lot and climbed the stairs of the county jail. Inside, he signed in with the receptionist, and then waited half an hour before being taken back to see his dad. Then he was led down a long hall and into a white room filled with rectangular tables. Officers stood along the bare walls, watching everyone and everything.
Jed scanned the area and made eye contact with his dad. He sat at a long rectangular table, dressed in an orange jumpsuit.
Jed approached on stiff, heavy legs and then lowered himself into a chair across from him. Warring emotions raged within: anger that his father could do this, and disbelief that he was here at all. Shock and grief. A sorrow he didn’t quite understand, except to say he’d lost his dad—the man he’d always thought him to be.
“How’s your mom doing?” Dad’s eyes searched Jed’s, as if studying his reaction.
“How do you think she is?” She’d lost her husband. And, quite likely, her way of life, everything she’d envisioned for their future.
His father winced and dropped his gaze; his shoulders stooped. When he lifted his eyes, tears were pooling behind his lashes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt her. Didn’t mean to hurt any of you.”
“You did it, then? What they’re accusing you of?”
Dad glanced around the room and then looked at Jed again. He pulled on his earlobe. “It’s all just a big mistake. I mixed some numbers up, made some accounting errors.”
“Two million dollars’ worth?”
“Everything happened so quickly. Bills and retainers coming in, checks going out.”
“Don’t lie to me.” That was one thing Jed couldn’t stand, a liar. “Barb stopped by the house.”
Dad blanched.
“How could you?”
“I’m sorry.” He sobbed and dropped his face in his hands. “I messed up. Big-time.”
“How long? How long has this been going on?”
Dad shrugged.
“Growing up, I tried so hard to please you. To live up to the ridiculously high standard you set. Always felt I didn’t measure up...”
“I’ve always been proud of you. I’m the one who’s not good enough for you. Your brother. Your mom.” He stared at his hands for a long moment, as his shoulders were quaking. Then he swiped the back of his hand beneath his nose and raised red-rimmed eyes. “Take care of your mom for me.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t deserve her.”
Jed shoved back from the table, scraping his chair legs against the linoleum floor, and stood. “I’ve heard enough.”
He half expected, maybe hoped, his dad would call out after him. Nothing.
By the time he returned to his truck, he felt as if every ounce of energy had been sucked out of him. The little he’d eaten for breakfast churned in his gut. He still couldn’t believe this was happening. And yet it all made sense.
He slid behind the steering wheel and leaned his head back against the headrest.
Paige placed a hand on his knee. “You okay?”
“I will be.” He started to shift into Reverse, but then stopped, letting his arm drop. “Money’s always been his top priority. I can see that now. And to think, all those years I blamed myself for the distance between us.”
“It wasn’t you.”
“Guess I’m the one with daddy issues, huh?” Seemed he and Paige had more in common than he’d thought.
“We’ve all got issues.” She offered a gentle smile and linked her fingers with his. “How about we work through our issues together.”
“Promise?”
She hesitated just long enough to make him nervous.
Releasing a breath, she nodded. “I’d like that.”
He leaned toward her and cupped her chin in his hand. “I love you,” he whispered.
A flash of fear filled her eyes, but she didn’t pull away. He closed the distance between them and kissed her gently.
All the while praying, trusting, this wouldn’t be their last. That she’d stay with him for good.
Chapter Twenty-One
A cool breeze swept over Paige, carrying with it the scent of lilacs. The thick branches of the oak tree and the clouds interspersed above them provided a wonderful reprieve from the sun’s intense rays. With the cooler temperatures, she didn’t feel rushed to get Ava back inside, which meant she could spend more time with Jed.
With all he and his family had experienced this week, she sensed he needed every moment of support she could offer.
Jed’s chest rose and fell with his breath. “This is nice. Relaxing. I could stay here forever.”
“Seems like old times, doesn’t it? You and I sitting here, leaning against this gnarled tree trunk.” She kissed the top of Ava’s head and then nestled deeper into Jed’s arms. “Although, back then our conversations centered on our dreams for the future. Boy, were we naive, huh?”
“I’d prefer to think of us as more hopeful. Things sure seemed so much simpler back then, didn’t they? As if the future was ours for the taking. All we needed to do was reach for it.”
She nodded. “We had it all planned out. Graduated by eighteen, married by nineteen, living in a cute little two-bedroom apartment with lace curtains and wood floors. Me pursuing a successful journalism career, while you...” She twisted to peer up at him. “You know, I can’t remember you ever talking about what you wanted to do when you grew up.”
He chuckled. “I was too busy obsessing over what I didn’t want to do, whic
h primarily centered on my refusal to follow in my old man’s footsteps. Turns out that was a good thing. But I got to admit, never in my wildest dreams would I have considered my dad would one day be facing five to twenty years in prison, or that my mom could one day lose her home.”
“And I never thought I’d be divorced, back in Sage Creek and unemployed—”
“Hey, now.” He gave her a playful squeeze. “From what I’ve heard, you’ve got an amazing boss.”
She grinned. “I do, though the position is temporary.”
He shifted to a more upright position, jostling Ava, who’d started to doze off. “Doesn’t have to be. You know that.”
She studied him; his dark eyes were so earnest, pleading.
So filled with love and hope.
For her.
“Turn down the offer from Ardell.” He cupped her face in his hand. “Say you’ll stay. With me. I can’t promise you fancy shopping malls and high-rise office buildings and paychecks to match, but I can promise to love you forever. To give my every breath to making you happy. I can promise you’ll always have a safe place to land, to explore, to dream and grow.”
His gaze dropped to Ava, who’d drifted back into a gentle sleep. “And I promise the same to this precious little one. Your home’s here, Paige. It may not seem like much, but you have to know I’ll give you all I got. I’ll give that to both of you.”
Her heart squeezed, and tears pricked her eyes. “It’s more than enough. I can see that now.”
This might not be the life she’d always dreamed of, but it was the one she wanted. The one her heart needed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Paige chased a giggling Ava around her mother’s living room. Each time she caught her, she snatched her up, swung her in the air and then placed her back onto her feet. They continued this game, with Mom watching and laughing from her recliner, until Paige’s back and arms indicated she’d had enough.
“All right, munchkin. Time for your bath.” Hopefully the active play, followed by warm, soothing water, would make bedtime easier. Ava hadn’t been sleeping well lately, in part due to a recurring stubborn streak that seemed to emerge shortly after dinner. Apparently whatever she’d missed of the terrible twos was trying to catch up with her now, at almost three.
The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.” Paige positioned Ava on her hip and crossed the room. She answered the door to find Mrs. Gilbertson standing on the stoop, wearing a floral blouse and lavender capris. With deep frown lines framing her mouth, and red lines etching the whites of her eyes, she looked about ten years older and ten times as frail.
“Is something wrong? Is Jed—”
Mrs. Gilbertson raised a hand. “No, nothing like that.” She glanced past her, at Paige’s mom. “Mrs. Cordell. Paige, can we talk? Is now a good time?”
“Um... Sure.” She stepped back to allow her in, but Mrs. Gilbertson remained fixed where she was.
“Actually, I was wondering...” She fiddled with her bracelet. “Perhaps we could go for a walk.”
“Okay.” Was she planning to tell Paige to stay away from her son? Except, the normal edge in her voice and hard glint in her eyes were gone, replaced by something much more...vulnerable.
Paige turned to her mom. “Would you mind—?”
Mom sprang to her feet. “Spend some snuggle time with my precious granddaughter?” She grinned and approached with arms opened wide. “I’d love to.”
Paige gave Ava a hug, handed her off and then followed Jed’s mom outside. She quietly closed the door behind them.
They walked in silence at first, and though Paige’s jumbled nerves—and the countless questions running through her mind—challenged her patience, she chose not to push.
The woman had been through a lot, and regardless of how she’d treated Paige in the past, she wanted to be sensitive to that. During times like this, one needed to proceed carefully and with a heavy dose of compassion.
At the end of the sidewalk, Mrs. Gilbertson stopped. “I’m sure the irony of our situation doesn’t escape you.” She motioned toward an empty bench, which was flanked by flowers, and they both sat.
“Ma’am?”
“After all the ruckus I’ve made over the years regarding your family, turns out mine is an even bigger mess than yours. And yet, despite the news and all the gossip circulating about my husband’s—” she closed her eyes, as if fighting tears “—behavior, you’ve demonstrated integrity and...love. A faithful, committed love my son’s needed.”
“I do love him. Very much.”
“I know. And I’m glad.”
Paige blinked. “You are?”
She nodded. “Like I said, he’s needed you, and you’ve been there for him. You’ve demonstrated that you’ll continue to be there, even when life becomes hard and it feels as if the world is trying to pull you both in opposite directions. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for him.” She gave a harsh laugh. “I was so convinced your family was so dysfunctional, and that ours was so much better. I’ve come to realize we’re all a mess in our own way.” She gave a wry laugh. “Making a relationship work isn’t about avoiding conflict or difficulties, but learning to work through them.”
“I’ve come to realize the same thing.” Funny how similar she and Mrs. Gilbertson were. She’d been protecting her son out of fear, and Paige had been protecting herself for the same reason.
Mrs. Gilbertson straightened, and the intensity of her gaze increased. “Something I have no doubt you and Jed will do.”
“What are you saying?” Was this seriously happening? Had Mrs. Gilbertson truly had a change of heart? Was she actually giving Paige her blessing to pursue a life with her son?
“What I’m saying, dear, is that I am grateful my son has you. And I’m very sorry for misjudging you.”
Paige wrapped her arms around Mrs. Gilbertson before she could stop herself.
Jed’s mom stiffened beneath Paige’s embrace for half a breath, but then relaxed, gave Paige’s shoulder a quick pat and pulled away. She composed herself, replacing the insecure and remorseful woman she’d momentarily been with the familiar matriarch. “Any other questions or concerns you feel we should discuss?”
Paige smiled. “None that I can think of.”
Mrs. Gilbertson gave a curt nod and stood. She motioned toward Paige’s house. “Shall we?”
* * *
On Friday evening, Jed tapped his blazer pocket, assuring himself that the tiny box remained where he’d placed it. He cast Paige a furtive glance, while feeling his stomach somersaulting worse than before his first bull ride. Even worse than the first time he’d asked Paige out on a date.
Man, were the hours dragging on. And to think, he still had to make it through an entire production at the theater.
He had it all planned. They would put on an amazing show. Everyone would congratulate her—all of them—on their hard work. Then they’d leave them alone, just him and Paige, in the business they’d resurrected, to celebrate their equally resurrected love and solidify it forever. Till death do they part.
Hopefully Paige wouldn’t be tired and want to go home once the show ended. He had no doubt he could convince her to stay, but he wanted her to enjoy every moment.
He wanted the evening to be perfect. To sweep her off her feet and make her feel like the most beautiful and cherished woman in all of Texas.
Because she was.
Maybe he should wait until tomorrow. Or Sunday. Take her on a picnic or something.
Except, this felt right—to propose at the place responsible for bringing them back together. The place she’d helped save.
He checked the time on his phone. His mom wouldn’t be here for at least another twenty minutes, but she was coming. She’d said so herself. And she was stopping by Grandma’s to pick her up on the way.
He was still processing how
much things had changed since his dad’s arrest. It sure explained a lot—why his parents never helped with the theater, why his dad was always so tight-lipped about things. As though he were hiding something.
Because he had been.
To think, Paige and his mom were actually getting along. They weren’t exactly chummy—at least not yet. But they seemed to hold genuine respect for one another. And he was proud of his mom. It’d taken a lot of courage for her to approach Paige, to apologize and take steps toward friendship.
Paige came over to him. “I still can’t believe how wonderful everything looks.” She spun in a circle, and her blue eyes were shining. “Tonight’s going to be amazing.”
“Thanks to you.” He closed the distance between them, pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her slender body. He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face, to see her shy yet beautiful smile emerge, when he asked for her hand. “This is it, huh?”
“Everything’s going to turn out great.” She smiled at him.
Man, did he love this girl. What would it be like to spend every day with her for the rest of his life? To one day hear the pitter-patter of additional pudgy feet running through the house—their house.
Just then he heard someone approach, and he turned to shake hands with Drake, the man who’d helped bring life to his vision, one two-by-four at a time. “Thanks for coming, man.”
“Had to see my best work in action—when the lights are dimmed and the tables are filled.” He shot Paige a wink. “Thanks for the tickets.”
“My pleasure.” Jed glanced around. “Want something to drink?” He motioned one of his waiters over. “Hey, Rodney, show my friend here to his seat and get him a Billy the Kid.” Their house special, it was iced sweet tea with blackberry syrup and fresh, plump berries. Jed felt certain it’d be a hit.
“Will do, boss.”
Hopefully their guests would enjoy the other menu changes, as well.
Hometown Healing Page 17