“You ought to call Dr. Harding. He has an emergency number on the office recording.”
“Good idea. I’ll go down and get the number.” She jumped up and started toward the door. “Can you stay here with Kate?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
“Absolutely.”
Julie turned and disappeared. In the midst of the emergency, he couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she was. Maybe that wasn’t right, but he couldn’t help it.
He turned to Kate. She lay back on her pillows with her eyes closed, but he wasn’t sure she was asleep. He touched her little hand. It felt dry and hot. He remembered when David had high fevers. It was always scary for him and Claire.
“Hey, Kate,” he said softly. “Are you asleep?”
She opened her eyes slowly and stared at him. Her blue eyes were glassy and wide, her cheeks flushed. “A little bit.”
“How do you feel?”
“Hot. And my ear hurts.” She rubbed her left ear.
“Wow, that’s not so good.” He sighed. “I knew you didn’t feel good when you didn’t even want to read about Lester tonight.”
She almost smiled. “I have a book where Lester gets sick. He gets a bad cold.”
“Well, maybe we can read that one next—when you feel a little better.”
“I don’t have it now. It’s in a box that Mommy sent to my uncle’s house.”
“Oh . . . I see.” Jack nodded. The information, stated so plainly, made Jack’s heart lurch. It was easy to forget that Julie and Kate would be leaving soon. Sometimes it hit him smack between the eyes.
“Maybe I can find that one in the library,” he suggested.
She nodded, closing her eyes again. “Good idea, Jack.”
Her adult tone almost made him laugh. He would have, if she hadn’t looked so sick.
Julie came upstairs. “I spoke to Dr. Harding. He said it sounds like an ear infection. He said to give her a bath to bring the fever down, and some children’s Motrin. I don’t have any of that with me, though,” she added, looking concerned.
Jack jumped up. “I’ll get it. There’s a convenience store near the entrance to the highway. It’s open twenty-four hours.”
Julie looked surprised. “It’s the middle of the night, and it’s a long ride to the highway.”
“It’s okay,” he insisted. “You need any help with the bath?”
“We’ll be all right.”
“Okay. See you in a little while.” Jack stopped and turned to her. She was looking up at him, her lovely face amazed and very grateful.
He knew if he stared any longer, he might just lean over and kiss her. That wouldn’t help Kate any, he reminded himself.
Or Julie.
Jack grabbed his jacket and hat then drove his old truck as fast as he dared, up Beach Road to the highway. He ran into the store, got the medicine and some other items he thought Kate might need, like juice and tissues, and practically threw his money at the clerk.
He was back in record time and ran upstairs with the bag, still wearing his hat and jacket.
“I got the stuff,” he said, breathless. “How is she?”
“Her fever went down a tiny bit after the bath. Not that much. This should help though.”
Julie opened the Motrin bottle, measured out the dosage in a tiny plastic cup, then coaxed Kate to sit up. “You need to take some medicine, honey. This will make you feel better.”
Kate took one look at the cup of orange liquid and twisted her head away. “I hate that. It sticks in my throat and makes me all choky.”
Choky? Was that even a word? Jack knew just what she meant though.
“Come on, honey. Jack drove a long way to get it for you. The doctor said you need it.”
Julie glanced over her shoulder at Jack, silently imploring him for help.
Jack smiled at Katie and stepped over to the bed. “I bet Lester doesn’t like medicine either,” he said.
Kate shook her head. “No, he doesn’t.”
Julie looked surprised at the conversation but didn’t interrupt.
“Well, you just told me he gets sick sometimes, too,” Jack improvised. “So how does his mom get him to take his medicine?”
Kate thought for a moment. “She sings a song.”
“What song?” he asked curiously. “A special song?”
Kate shrugged. “Just any old song. It doesn’t matter. Something nice.”
“If I sing, will you drink that?”
Julie looked up at him, shocked, but struggling not to smile. Okay, so he had lost his mind. Officially. He had lost his mind for this little girl and her beautiful mom.
“I guess I’d drink it then,” Katie said thoughtfully.
“Okay . . . well . . . here goes.”
He saw Katie smile in anticipation but didn’t dare look at Julie. He stood up straight and took his hat off. Then he looked down at Kate, holding his knit cap to his chest.
He didn’t know what song to sing. The only one that came to mind was the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Which he occasionally sang at ball-games. But he didn’t think Kate would consider that one “nice.”
The only other song he knew all the lyrics to was “You Are My Sunshine.” He decided that one would have to do.
He cleared his throat and began to sing the familiar song. To his surprise, he didn’t feel the least bit corny telling Kate she was his sunshine.
By the time he reached the last verse, his voice was thin and strained. Somehow he kept his face fixed in a serious expression, as if singing a silly song in the middle of the night at a child’s bedside was nothing unusual.
When he was finally done, Kate clapped her hands. “Nice song, Jack.”
“Glad you liked it. Now down the hatch, miss,” he reminded her.
Julie held out the cup again. This time, Kate took it and drank it to the bottom. “Good job,” Julie said.
“Jack did a good job, too,” Kate pointed out.
“He sure did.” Julie glanced at him. The look in her eyes would keep him happy for a week, he thought.
He watched Julie tuck Kate in and kiss her cheek. He wanted to do the same but didn’t feel he had the right.
He smiled at her before she closed her eyes. “Sleep well, Kate. See you tomorrow.”
Julie gathered the medicine and the water glass and turned off the light. “I’ve got to put these things in the kitchen,” she said. “I think I’ll have some tea. I’m too awake now to sleep.”
“Me, too,” Jack agreed. Racing out in the frigid cold and driving like a maniac had given him a rush of adrenaline.
“I think I’ll make some coffee and just head out to the tree lot,” he said when they reached the kitchen.
The suggestion made her laugh. “It’s half past three. It will just be you and the raccoons.”
“I guess you’re right. I’m better off in here with you.”
“So, my company is preferable to a pack of raccoons. What a compliment.”
He smiled at her. He knew she was teasing him. “I could do better than that, believe me.”
He caught her eye and realized he had slipped. Julie’s eyes flashed but she quickly busied herself, filling the kettle with water.
She sat down at the table near him and hugged her pale blue robe around her body. “It frightens me when Kate gets sick. I know kids are always catching things, but I hate to see her with such a high fever and . . . you never know. If anything happened to her, I don’t know what I’d do. She’s all I’ve got,” she added wistfully.
Jack reached out and took her hand. “Don’t worry. She’s going to be fine. You can take her to Harding tomorrow. I’ll drive you.”
Julie smiled at him. She hadn’t pulled away from his touch, he noticed. Her hand seemed relaxed, holding his. As if it were always this way. . . .
“You helped me a lot tonight, Jack. I’m really grateful. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise.”
“Oh, you would have been all right. But the M
otrin will help her,” he agreed.
“I don’t mean just that. Though it was a heroic gesture,” she said with a grin. “But just being there. And your singing. Whatever gave you that idea?”
Jack smiled. “Didn’t you ever notice that your daughter is willing to do anything Lester does? That didn’t take much brainpower to figure out.”
Julie nodded. “I guess I was too worried to think creatively. Well, thanks for that, too. You have a nice voice, Jack. The performance was very memorable.”
He felt himself blushing and didn’t know what to say. He liked just sitting here, holding her hand, looking into her beautiful face.
If he could freeze a moment in his recent life, a moment to return to any time he felt blue or lonely, this would be it.
“What are you thinking about, Jack? You look so . . . thoughtful.”
He sighed. “I’m thinking . . . I’d like to kiss you.”
Then he leaned over, cupped her cheek with his hand and did just that. When his lips met hers, he paused. The sensation was almost shocking. Her mouth was so soft and sweet. He kissed her slowly, amazed for a moment that she didn’t pull away but instead kissed him back. He felt her hand on his face and in his hair. His hand slipped around her waist and pulled her closer, though the table was definitely a barrier to their closeness.
When he finally pulled away, he took a long, shaky breath. He leaned his face against her hair. It felt like silk on his cheek and smelled like flowers.
She seemed moved, too. He heard a long sigh as she slipped her hand from around his neck.
He stared into her eyes a long moment, wanting to tell her how he felt about her. How he really felt and everything she had come to mean to him. She and Katie.
The shrill whistle of the kettle filled the silence. It sounded to Jack like an emergency alarm going off, warning that he was heading in a dangerous direction.
Julie pushed her hair back from her face. “I’d better get that.”
She rose and walked to the stove. She poured some tea into a mug and was about to pour a second cup.
Jack came to his feet, too. “That’s okay. I guess I’ll skip the tea and just turn in.”
“Right.” Had disappointment just flashed through her eyes? “I’d better get upstairs anyway. I need to check on Kate, make sure the medicine is working. Good night, Jack.”
“Good night.” He nodded his head as she walked past him.
He headed back to bed, knowing he wouldn’t sleep a wink.
EVERYONE WOKE UP LATE THE NEXT MORNING.
Jack was the first one in the kitchen and made coffee. Julie walked in, dressed in a sweater and jeans, her hair still wet from the shower.
“Coffee, great. I can also use some toothpicks with that to keep my eyes open.”
“Don’t worry. I make it strong.” She made good coffee, too, he had noticed. Just the way he liked it.
He handed her a cup and then the milk. She didn’t take sugar. He knew that now. He stood by the counter and drank his own. All he could think about was how he had kissed her last night. He wondered what she was thinking now. If she would say anything. He wondered if he should say something.
“How is Katie doing? Is she awake yet?”
“She woke up at about six and I gave her something to drink. Then she went back to sleep again. Her temperature is down, but she’s still running a fever.”
So Julie didn’t get much sleep last night either, he realized. He felt bad for her. She looked worn out, too. Just as lovely, of course, but tired.
“I can drive you in to town to see Dr. Harding. Kate probably needs a visit.”
“Yes, he said to come in this morning. But I can take care of it by myself. You don’t have to go, too.”
“I have a few things to do in town. The bank and stuff.” He shrugged. There was no urgent need to go to the bank. He wasn’t very good about money and would sometimes keep checks and piles of cash around the house for weeks. But Julie didn’t know that.
“If you’re going in anyway, I guess it would be helpful.” She glanced at him over the edge of her coffee cup. “Are you getting another secret haircut?”
Her dark eyes sparkled. He thought she was joking with him, but wasn’t sure.
He ran his hand self-consciously over his hair. “Do I need one?”
She took him in with an appraising look, and he felt himself melting like a pat of butter on a slice of warm toast.
She suddenly shook her head and looked away. “Not at all. You look fine just the way you are, Jack. You’re a very handsome man.”
Very handsome? Had she really said that?
Jack stared at her. He swallowed. He thought he should say thank you. But he couldn’t speak.
“Mommy, can I come down now?” Kate called from the top of the stairway.
Julie ran into the living room to meet her. “If you feel up to it, honey. We’re going to the doctor soon, so you might as well come eat something, if you can.”
Jack turned and stared out the window over the sink, still reeling. Was she just trying to flatter him? She was always so honest—even blunt at times—he didn’t think she was the type to offer false flattery.
He thought she was beautiful. But he doubted he would ever have the courage to tell her.
As he drove the three of them into town, Jack was glad he had offered to take Julie and Kate to the doctor. He could see that Julie was tired after her long night, and the usually easygoing little girl was a bit cranky and in need of attention.
Twenty minutes later, he dropped them off at the doctor then went to do his alleged errands. He bought a cup of coffee and walked down Main Street. Every shop was decorated for Christmas, of course. The toy shop window was particularly interesting to him this year. Since David had grown up, Jack had hardly been aware of children’s toys. So many different varieties had sprung up recently; some looked very high-tech and intimidating.
But he knew that Kate still yearned for the classics, a baby doll and stuffed animals. A miniature tea set.
Suddenly, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Right up front, with his head and paws poking out of a Christmas stocking, Jack spotted his new, lopeared friend Lester. Holding a carrot, and wearing his signature baseball hat and backpack, the dear little guy was ready to go home with the first customer to claim him.
Jack dumped his coffee in a trash bin and ran inside the store. He could hardly believe his good luck today.
DR. HARDING HAD DETERMINED KATE HAD AN EAR INFECTION AND prescribed antibiotics, which Julie needed to pick up at the drugstore on their way home. Jack walked into the store with her and stood by Kate while Julie talked to the pharmacist.
Kate felt tired, so he lifted her up and held her in his arms. She dropped her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He could tell from the sound of her deep breathing that she had fallen asleep in his arms. It was a very sweet feeling, he thought.
He was standing there a few moments, waiting for Julie and trying to keep perfectly still so Kate could sleep, when he heard someone call to him.
“Mr. Sawyer?” A girl in her early twenties walked toward him. She was a pretty girl with blond hair and bright blue eyes, a powder-blue knit cap pulled low over her brow. “Remember me?”
“Christine . . . how are you?” Jack spoke softly trying not to wake Kate.
“I’m good. How are you?”
She looked at Kate with curiosity and then at Julie, who had just returned from the pharmacy counter holding a small white bag.
“I’m fine. I’m doing okay,” he said evenly. He glanced at Julie. “This is my . . . my friend, Julie Newton, and her daughter, Kate. Kate isn’t feeling well. We’ve just come from the doctor.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Christine peered at Kate’s sleeping face. “She’s so cute.”
“Yes, she is. Very smart, too.” Jack caught himself, bragging like a proud father. “How are you? What are you doing now?”
“I’m in school. I’m working on a degree
in education. And I just got engaged,” she added with a grin. “But we’re not getting married for a while, at least not until we both finish school.”
Jack nodded. “That makes good sense.” Christine always was a levelheaded girl.
“So . . . how’s David? Do you ever hear from him?”
Jack shook his head. “No, I don’t. Nothing’s changed on that score.”
Christine’s question meant she had not heard from him either, Jack realized.
When David had first disappeared, Jack thought if there was one person in the world he would get in touch with, it would be Christine. She had been his steady girlfriend for two years during high school. David had been crazy about her. But the few times Jack had inquired, Christine always said she hadn’t heard a word. Finally, about a year after David had left, she admitted they had been in touch a few times, after David first left town. But he had made her promise not to tell and was moving around a lot. The last place he had called her from was Florida. But she claimed she hadn’t heard from him in several months and had no idea where he had gone.
At the time, Jack didn’t believe her. Now he did.
“I’m sorry . . . I just thought I’d ask.” She shrugged.
“That’s okay. If I ever do hear, I’ll let you know.”
She might be married with children by then. Would she even care? She had already found someone else. She was engaged. But David still seemed to matter to her. Jack could just tell by the expression in her eyes when she said his name, the tone of her voice. Funny how those things are, the loose ends of relationships that never get tied up. This one might always remain a question mark, Jack thought. His son had not treated this sweet girl very well. David had hurt her, and Jack was sorry about that.
Jack smiled wistfully. “Well, we’d better get going. Nice to see you. Say hello to your folks for me.”
“Nice to see you, too. And have a merry Christmas,” she added, glancing at Julie and Kate.
“Same to you,” he replied.
As they walked to the car, Jack turned to Julie. “That was my son’s girlfriend. Well, former girlfriend. She told me she’s engaged to be married. So she must have gotten over him.”
A Christmas Star Page 17