by Tessa Gray
He’d left his phone on the counter, and when a tune played, the screen lit up.
Eyeing it, she saw the caller’s name: Kathryn.
She played over the name in her head, trying to think of a single person in their circle of friends here in Alpine named Kathryn. When she couldn’t think of anyone, she realized why Jake had pushed her away.
He’d already moved on. She’d been a complete fool to think he’d still be carrying a torch for her.
Grabbing her purse, she headed out the door.
Chapter 14
Kendall Jennings sat at the counter of Penny’s Diner and polished off the slice of apple pie he’d ordered. It was one of the best he’d ever tasted and he fought off the urge to order another piece.
“Can I pour you more coffee?” The waitress rounded the corner and strode toward him-coffeepot in hand. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her. When he held out his cup, she took it from him and poured the beverage. “You’re Doctor Jennings, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am. Please call me Kendall.”
“I’m Rachel Martin. We met several months back at the hospital. My friend, Jake Crenshaw, was one of your patients.”
The lightbulb in his head went off, and he immediately recalled the woman who had spent several days at Jake’s bedside. He remembered how devoted Rachel appeared to be and found himself curious about the progress Jake had made.
“So, how is your friend doing?”
Her mouth twisted into a smile, as though pleased by the question. “He’s doing pretty well. Thank you for asking. At first it was difficult for him, but overall, he’s doing well.”
He made a mental note to avoid getting too personal about one of his patients, so he kept things simple. “I’m pleased Jake is on the mend. He seems like a good man.”
She turned away from him and gazed out the window. It was difficult to discern what she was thinking.
When she spoke again, there was a wistfulness in her voice. “You’re right about Jake being a good man. He’s one of the finest. It takes a very special man to overcome all Jake’s had to and bounce back like he has.” She continued staring outside, and he suddenly felt awkward.
“When you see Jake, you give him my best, will you? He’s fortunate to have someone like you in his court.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your saying that.” She paused briefly, and quickly added, “Actually, I don’t see all that much of Jake. We used to date, but we-we broke things off.”
“Oh.” Where she was going with all this eluded him. He paused, waiting for her to continue.
“I guess I’d better get back to work. I’ll check on you later and see if you need a refill.”
“Thank you, Rachel. It was good seeing you again.”
“Likewise.” She strode over to a large sink and ran water on a rag. Grabbing a container, she sprayed a counter and began wiping it down.
As he continued watching her, he decided to ask her out. All she could do was say ‘no.’ And seriously, the world wouldn’t end if she turned him down.
He strolled over to the cash register to pay for his meal. Rachel rang up his order, and he handed her a twenty. “I’ll get you your change.”
“No. It’s fine.”
“But you only had a piece of pie and some coffee.”
He laughed at how conscientious she appeared to be. “Waitressing is a tough job. I’m sure you work very hard for tips.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very sure.” He winked and dipped his head. Before he lost his nerve, he asked her out. “I generally hang out at the Blue Depot after work. Would you be interested in meeting me there tomorrow night for a drink?”
“I would like that. How about I meet you there around eight?”
“Good. I’ll see you then, Rachel. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
As he strode out the door, he recalled how she had hovered at Jake’s bedside during his stay in the hospital. Just before his release, Sarah Wainwright had mentioned that he’d broken off a relationship with someone. That someone was apparently Rachel Martin.
It pleased him that Rachel had made it clear that she and Jake Crenshaw were no longer together. That had come as a relief because as women went, Rachel Martin was a very beautiful lady, one he hoped to get better acquainted with.
~ ~ ~
Early the next evening, Sarah Wainwright stopped at Jake’s bar to see how he was doing. She’d brought little Will with her-hoping her son would cheer Jake up.
She’d seen very little of Rachel since the accident-with the exception of the time they’d run into one another at Penny’s Diner. It was difficult getting used to the idea of Jake and Rachel not being together.
The instant Sarah walked through the doorway, Jake made his way over to greet her. When he slowed down suddenly, she wondered if his ankle was bothering him. Being on his feet all day probably took a toll.
“Hey, there! It’s so great seeing you, Sare Bear.”
She chuckled about him still calling her that-a pet name her older brother, Nathan had dubbed her with as a child.
He raised the pitch in his voice, scooped Will into his arms, and begun gushing over him. “Hey, my man. How’s it goin’?”
Will wrapped his arms about Jake’s neck, and the two hugged. Despite how long it had been since the two had seen one another, there was a special bond between them, one Sarah, as a single mom, was eternally grateful for.
“Little Will and I had a great time watching the train roll in from Marfa. That whistle is so loud it’s deafening, but my son appears to love it.” After she said it, Jake looked away. Curious, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
Smiling, he replied, “No, no. Everything’s fine. Have you eaten?”
“It’s nearly seven-thirty. I have a four-year-old. Of course I’ve eaten. We had a bite to eat at the diner. I should have come here to eat. You could probably use the business, huh?”
Jake punched her in the arm, his touch light, as though trying not to hurt her. She laughed as he rolled his eyes. “You just missed Rachel. She works here now.”
Her tendency to play matchmaker forced her to ask the question. “Does that mean what I think it does?” He moved slowly about the room, holding Will in his arms. She continued pressing him about Rachel. “You haven’t answered my question yet.”
Glancing over at her, he smirked. “All it means is that Rachel needed some extra cash, and since Adam isn’t working here anymore, I needed the help. Don’t read anymore into this, Sarah.”
“Can’t blame a girl for asking.”
Clearing his throat, he spoke. “Since you’re in the medical profession, I need to talk to you about something. It’s kind of personal.” As he led her to a table, she followed him and they both sat down.
“What is it?”
He stared at her— a long hard stare. When he finally spoke, his speech came out haltingly. “I-I had a flashback about the accident. I’ve had several, but this one was different.”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. Tell me about it.”
She held out one of Will’s favorite toys and her son began playing with it.
Jake looked down at the floor. Raking a hand through his hair, he spoke—his tone almost melancholic. “I’ve been having nightmares about the accident. At first I thought they’d go away as time passed. But they haven’t.”
“This must be so difficult for you.”
“The dream is always the same. I hear a train whistle. It gets louder and louder. Sometimes the dream wakes me up and I have to cover my ears. The noise is deafening. And then I hear brakes squealing and metal clanking—just like it did when that truck hit my motorcycle. When the bike careens through the air, I wake up—in a cold sweat. I wish I could put this whole thing behind m
e, Sarah. But I can’t. And maybe I never will.”
“I’m sure in time—”
“It’s been three months since the accident. But instead of getting better, I think I’m getting worse. Rachel and I were working the bar when the train from Marfa rolled by. The sound of the whistle triggered something inside me, and the next thing I know, I was experiencing the dream again. Only this time it wasn’t really a dream. It was real. I got dizzy and I started sweating. I nearly blacked out. By the time Rachel walked me to the back room, I was shaking like a leaf. She covered me up and brought me a glass of water.” His tone was robotic as he recalled the incident, as though he was remembering every single detail in small increments.
“Thank God Rachel was there.” She stared at Jake after she said it, wondering how he’d react.
His eyes lit up, just as they generally did at the mention of her name. The two shared a long history. It was difficult to imagine them not being a couple. “To be honest, I don’t know what would have happened had Rachel not been there. I know we’re not together anymore, but I still rely on her.”
He rose from the chair and began moving about the bar. “I’m about to close down the place. How about we both head over to the Blue Depot and grab a beer?”
“Since I have a four-year-old to drive home, I’ll stick to a diet soft drink. But yes, I’d be happy to go with you.”
He grinned. “I value our friendship, Sarah, more than I can tell you. To be honest, you’re all the family I have, except for Nathan, of course.” He scrunched up his face and placed his arm on Will’s shoulder. “Hey, ‘lil buckaroo? When we head over to the Blue Depot, how about we talk your mom into letting me buy you some fries?”
As the two walked over to the door, she placed her arm about Jake. Leaning over, he gave her a big hug. “I’ll lock up here, Sarah. I doubt anyone else will stop by. Why don’t you head over there? I’ll join you in a bit.”
She sighed, remembering a time when Jake’s place was hopping on a Friday night. But slowly, it appeared keeping the business going was next to impossible. The man was fighting a losing battle.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you there.”
She headed outside to her car, little Will in tow. As she stared at the flashing lights surrounding the doorframe of Jake’s business, she hoped things would pick up. Without the bar, she didn’t know what he’d do with himself.
~ ~ ~
Kendall Jennings traced the rim of his beer mug with an index finger. Rachel looked stunning in the short jean skirt and white blouse she wore. But as drop-dead gorgeous as she was, the two had already run out of things to talk about thirty minutes into their date.
The place was bursting with activity, and when several couples made their way to the dance floor, he looked at Rachel. As she sat regally in her chair, it occurred to him she might be as bored as he was. It seemed they had little in common.
“Would you care to dance?” He barely got the words out when Rachel jumped to her feet, as though eager to break the monotony.
The two wandered onto the dance floor and when a familiar tune played, one he could actually dance to, he smiled, pulling Rachel into his arms. Within seconds, she leaned against him and he decided things might pick up.
But when he moved his arm down the small of her back, she lifted her head, as though warning him to slow things down.
They continued dancing when he saw two familiar figures enter the bar. He watched Sarah Wainwright and her son walk over to a table.
Minutes later, Jake Crenshaw wandered into the place, and Sarah flagged him down.
When the song ended, Kendall decided to go over and talk to Sarah. He knew the two women were close friends and might want to talk. While it was probably pretty weird being on a date and encouraging that date to go talk to someone else, it wasn’t as though Rachel was all that enamored with him. At least, she wasn’t acting like she was.
“Sarah’s over there with her boy. I see your friend, Jake is with them. Should we head over and say hello?”
Rachel scanned the crowd and nodded. “Absolutely. I haven’t seen little Will in ages.” She began making her way over to them.
They’d barely gotten to Jake’s table when Will stood up and grabbed Jake’s hand. “Will you and Mommy dance with me.”
Kendall watched Jake frown, and he suspected the boy’s request had embarrassed Jake. Given the fact Jake still used crutches, it might be a while before he put himself out there in front of everyone.
Instinct took over and Kendall made the decision to do what was probably best for Jake.
“Will, how about if your mom and I dance with you? Would that be okay?”
Jake sank down into a chair and smiled at Kendall-a clear indication he was grateful for not being put on the spot.
Will grabbed his mother’s hand and led her onto the dance floor as Kendall followed.
~ ~ ~
Rachel studied Jake as the two sat alone at the table. He looked ill at ease, and she hoped he wasn’t getting the wrong idea about her and the doctor.
“Kendall Jennings seems like a nice guy.” Jake stared intently at her, as though waiting for a response. Her eyes traveled down to his mouth-at the way his jaw squared off.
“Yes, he’s very nice. Although I think Sarah’s more his type.”
“I seriously doubt that.” He was frowning now, his dark eyes penetrating her. “Most women would consider him a great catch, his being a doctor and all.”
As tempted as she was to scold him for judging her, for insinuating the only man she’d be interested in was one climbing the social ladder—a man most in the community deeply admired—she realized there was a great deal of truth to his comment.
But she’d changed. Of course, Jake didn’t know that. And he probably didn’t care.
She stared out at the dance floor, watching the couples sway to the music. If she’d thought her date with Kendall was awkward, sitting here with Jake was worse.
He stared at her and then his look suddenly softened. Leaning across the table, he touched her arm. “I’m sorry that I implied you’re the type to go after a guy just because of his social standing, Rachel. I was out of line.”
She gazed at him as he cocked his head to one side, waiting for her to say something.
“There’s actually some truth to what you said, Jake. I-I’d like to think I’ve changed, though.”
Swallowing, she looked at him, waiting for him to say something. But he didn’t.
Climbing to his feet, he headed back toward the bar. Turning back around, he spoke. “I’m getting myself a drink. You need anything?”
She kept her eyes on him, trying to get a handle on whether or not he cared even a little for her.
Shaking her head, she replied, “No, Jake. I’m good.”
As he strode over to the bar, a young blonde woman raced up to him and began engaging him in a conversation.
He still had it. The ankle injury and aftermath might keep Jake down for a while. But not forever. As men went, he was handsome and incredibly desirable-even with the slight limp.
She bowed her head, thanking the Almighty that the man she’d hurt so deeply was definitely back in the market. Not only did he have women here fawning all over him, but he had Kathryn.
~ ~ ~
Jake stood up when Sarah and little Will came back to the table. Kendall Jennings grabbed Rachel’s hand, and the two headed onto the dance floor.
He watched the two of them dance-watched the way Kendall touched the small of Rachel’s back, guiding her about the dance floor. The guy was smooth, but of course, types like him from the East coast probably went to those Cotillion schools. As the couple glided across the dance floor, Jake realized he was jealous.
Sarah poured more ketchup on the fries Will was eatin
g and glanced over at Jake. “Doctor Jennings is a confirmed bachelor. I doubt anything will come of this.”
“Actually, her dating a doctor is probably a good thing. He seems like a decent guy.”
“They’re really not all that well suited—”
“Sarah-don’t.”
“I’m just saying—”
Grabbing his beer, he took several gulps and slammed it back down on the table. “Let’s get something straight. The only reason Rachel would consider getting back together with me is because she feels guilty about the accident. She blames herself because we had a horrible fight just before I stormed out of the house. If we got back together, it would be out of guilt, on her part. And that’s the last thing I want.”
Sarah frowned and leaned forward. “You’re acting as though Rachel’s a weakling who would be sucked into dating you out of pity. Has it ever occurred to you that she might need you, instead of the other way around?”
“I doubt that.” He lowered his voice when little Will leaned against his mother and began nodding off.
Annoyed with himself for getting all worked up, he looked back over at the dance floor. Kendall Jennings had wrapped his arms about Rachel and was leaning over, whispering something in her ear. She threw back her head and laughed, just as she’d done during their courtship.
He sat mesmerized as one of Rachel’s all-time favorites played . . . something about a guy watching his girl dance with someone else-aware he’s lost her for good.
As Kendall Jennings and Rachel walked back to the table, Jake excused himself. “I need to get some shuteye, Sarah. Tell everyone goodnight for me, will you?”
He left before she could reply.
Chapter 15
Izzy Monroe stood hunched over, rubbing the small of her back. Bending over to stock shelves in the bakery was daunting enough, but standing back up nearly did her in. Of course, when you were sixty-seven, you had no business stooping down constantly and then straightening your poor decrepit body. With age, the job wasn’t getting any easier. She prayed she’d get a few nibbles on the For Sale sign she’d just put up. Mid-September probably wasn’t the best time to list a property, but it’d taken her more time to get things ready than she’d anticipated.