One Last Gift: A Small-Town Romance (Oak Grove series Book 6)

by Nancy Stopper

  “Huh, what? Oh, okay.” She fumbled beneath the layers to where she’d tucked her phone in her pocket. She didn’t recognize the number that flashed on the screen, but since Riley was at a friend’s house, she couldn’t afford to ignore the call. No matter how much she wanted to.

  “Hello?”

  “Casey, it’s Sawyer Truman.”

  “Sawyer?” Why was the sheriff calling her? Her heart skipped a beat and then started thumping heavy against her chest. She gasped and covered her mouth.

  Jack shifted her onto the cushion, his eyes searching hers.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” She couldn’t control the tremble in her voice as she dreaded Sawyer’s response.

  “It’s gonna be okay, Casey.” Sawyer’s gentle response soothed her frazzled nerves. “Riley’s just had an accident.”

  “What happened? Where is he?” As she listened to Sawyer, Jack flicked the reins and turned the sleigh around, the horses trotting faster down the hill than on the slow ride up. She longed to reach for Jack, to draw from his strength and comfort, but he sat straight and his fingers gripped the reins tight as he focused all of his attention on the snow-covered hill in front of them.

  “He’s on his way to the hospital.”

  “Hospital?! I thought you said he was going to be okay?”

  Jack cursed under his breath.

  “He was playing basketball down at the park and ran into the pole. He passed out for a second and his friends got scared, so they called 9-1-1. He was awake by the time Lucas and Stacey arrived, but they wanted him to get checked out at the hospital. Just a precaution. He’ll have a big goose egg on his head to show for it.”

  She drew in a ragged breath as the lights of the greenhouse finally came into view. “I have to get to him. But I’m not near my car. Sawyer, he’s all alone.”

  “Marie Dawson rode in the ambulance with him so he wouldn’t be scared. She’ll stay with him until you get there.”

  “Thanks, Sheriff.” She clicked off the phone before he could say anything else. She tried to slide her phone into her pocket, but her hands shook. Oh, God. Riley was hurt. She had to get to him.

  Jack’s gaze shifted to her for a second and then back to the horses. “What happened?”

  “Riley had an accident. He’s on his way to the hospital.”

  His eyes shot to her while he gathered the reins in one hand and covered her trembling ones with his other. “What did Sawyer say?”

  “He lost consciousness for a minute after running into a pole. He came to pretty quickly, he said, but Jack, they still had to take him in an ambulance.” A tear rolled down her cheek and she swept it away. She couldn’t afford to break down now. She had to be strong for Riley.

  Jack grabbed his phone out of his pocket and extended it to her. “Press redial. Tell Ned that we’re parking behind the greenhouse. He’ll unhitch the team and put everything away for us.”

  As the sleigh flew over the last few yards to the lot, Casey made the call. A couple of minutes later, they were in Jack’s car, careening out of the gravel lot and onto the road that led to the hospital. He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “He’ll be okay. You said he came to before they put him in the ambulance.”

  “Yeah, but he passed out. That’s not normal.” If she hadn’t gone out with Jack, she could have been at home. Then she’d be with Riley now, instead of racing to get to him while he was all alone in the hospital.

  Jack held her hand until they screeched into the hospital parking lot. Casey practically vibrated in her seat while she waited for Jack to park. As soon as the car slowed, she popped her seat belt. By the time they came to a stop, she had the door open and was jumping out.

  “Casey, hold up.”

  She didn’t wait for Jack as she rushed through the sliding doors.

  “Riley Patterson? Where is he?” she yelled at the first person she found behind the desk.

  “One moment please.” The man held up his finger and continued staring at something on his computer screen.

  “I’m his mother. Tell me where he is!”

  “Casey. It’s okay. We’ll find out what’s going on.” Jack spoke from beside her as his hand settled on the small of her back. His touch was calming, but she resisted the need to sink into him, to draw strength from him.

  The receptionist finally lifted his head and greeted her. “Mrs. Patterson?”

  She didn’t bother correcting the man. “Where is my son?”

  “He’s in curtain three. This nurse will take you and your husband back.”

  Of course they assumed she and Jack were married. And if things had been different, they could have been. But he wasn’t Riley’s father—she was in this alone.

  The nurse pushed a button and the doors in front of them swung open. Casey rushed through and quickly found the examination curtain.

  Jack didn’t say a word, but his quiet strength soothed her. Was he remembering another frantic trip to the ER? Another child? She shuddered. This wasn’t the same. Not at all. Sheriff Truman had said Riley was alert when they put him in the ambulance.

  Jack hovered beside her left ear. “He’s going to be fine.”

  Marie greeted them at the door. “Casey, he’s going to be fine. This was just a precaution.”

  She flung her arms around her friend. “Thank God you were with him. I’m so sorry I wasn’t home.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You couldn’t have prevented this even if you were home. Boys get hurt sometimes. He’ll be alright.”

  Maybe she couldn’t have stopped her son from getting hurt, but she could have been there for him.

  “I’m going to head out, now, as long as you don’t need anything else.”

  “Thanks for staying with him.”

  Marie nodded and stepped away.

  Casey drew in a deep breath. As she and Jack stepped into the large exam room, Riley’s high-pitched voice and a deeper one reverberated from the curtain closest to the window. Casey ripped it back to find Riley, his body so small in the big hospital bed, and a bearded man tugging up his scrub sleeve and pointing to a tattoo on his bicep. Riley was beaming, his eyes practically dancing with excitement.

  Casey’s heart wrenched at the thought of her little boy hurt, but seeing him sitting up and chatting like nothing had happened had her pulse calming from the rapid pace it had struck the minute Sawyer’s voice had rung through her phone.

  “Hey, Mom. Doctor Butch is showing me a picture of his motorcycle. Isn’t it cool?” A look of admiration shined in her son’s eyes as he chatted with the doctor.

  The doctor lowered his sleeve and extended his hand. “Dr. John Daniels. I was just checking out your son. Looks like he got quite the bump on his head.”

  “I was going for the ball to keep it in bounds and I ran into the pole.”

  She winced at his description and at the black and blue bruises forming on her son’s forehead. His right eyelid drooped from the swelling. He’d probably have at least one black eye tomorrow, too. Knowing him, though, he’d be talking up this story for days. “I’m so sorry, honey. How are you feeling?”

  As she examined her son, Jack stepped up closer to her, the heat of his hand warm on the small of her back. God, she loved it when he laid his hand there, protective but not possessive. When was the last time she felt so comforted? Probably the last time she’d been with Jack…before Travis.

  “I feel okay. I got to ride in an ambulance. Isn’t that cool? Hey, Jack!”

  “Hey, bud. Sounds like you had some excitement.”

  “Mr. Lucas turned on the lights and siren. It was so neat. I think I’ll be a paramedic when I grow up. Or a doctor.” Riley looked up to Dr. Daniels and the doctor winked.

  Casey chuckled. Riley appeared alright. Now if she could just get her own heart to calm down.

  Dr. Daniels scribbled a few notes on his clipboard and extended some papers to her. “Mrs. Patterson, I think Riley here is okay to go home. He has a mild concussion, so I have som
e instructions on how you’ll need to care for him overnight. And he probably should stay home from school, at least tomorrow.” He turned back to Riley and mussed his hair. “No video games, no television, no reading, and no texting for at least three days, buddy. Got it?”

  “Aw, man. That’s no fun.” Riley didn’t watch a lot of TV, choosing instead to read or play outside. But no video games and having him cooped up in the house would test those restrictions, surely. And no reading? It was gonna be tough.

  “I’ll make sure he stays quiet, Dr. Daniels. You can be sure of that.”

  As if on cue, the nurse wheeled a chair to the foot of Riley’s bed. “Your transportation awaits, young man.”

  After signing the final few papers and getting Riley settled into the chair, Casey reached for the handles, only to have her hand land on top of Jack’s. The feel of his skin reminded her of the way he often took her hand in his, his much larger hand to her smaller one, and wrapped it up like it was something precious.

  She wasn’t that Casey anymore. And he wasn’t that Jack. But that didn’t stop her from squeezing his hand before letting go.

  “I’ll get him.” Jack threw her a smile and then leaned down. “How about a wheelie?”

  “You will do no such thing.” Her heart lurched. She’d just recovered from the panic from Sawyer’s phone call.

  “Aw, Mom,” Jack and Riley spoke in unison and both stuck out their lower lip. The two of them made it so hard for her to be mad. Is this how it would have been with Jack and Travis, the two of them conspiring against her?

  That thought brought a smile to her face, without the pain that normally accompanied her memories of Travis. She now only remembered the joy of planning a life and family with Jack. Hearing their son’s heartbeat and seeing him on the sonogram. Jack’s coming home had been good for her in that regard.

  She smiled at Jack as he pushed her son through the lobby. There was no one else she’d want beside her at a time like this.

  Chapter Thirteen

  JACK SETTLED RILEY and Casey in his car and rounded the back. He tried to open the driver door, but his hands shook. He leaned against the truck for a minute and drew in a deep breath. He sucked in another breath and let it out. That was close. Too close. From the minute he’d heard the panic in Casey’s voice, his heart had started racing and hadn’t stopped until he’d laid eyes on Riley in that hospital bed. He’d tried to comfort Casey, but she’d done more to pacify him than he had her. He hadn’t known what to say. How to support her. Just like last time.

  He finally climbed in and shut the door.

  “You can take me back to my car.” Casey acted as though nothing had happened, but the tick in her clenched jaw betrayed her true feelings.

  “Not a chance. I’m taking you home. We’ll get your car tomorrow.”

  “That’s not nec—”

  “Yes, it is.” There was no way he was leaving her now.

  Casey’s arm stayed around Riley’s shoulder, her fingers stroking his hair, the entire drive home. By the time Jack pulled up in front of Casey’s house, Riley’s head had dipped and his eyes closed. “Riley, honey, we’re home.”

  Riley’s eyes blinked and he sighed. Poor kid. All the excitement had probably worn him out. Casey would have to wake him in an hour or so because of his concussion. The least Jack could do was let Riley sleep now.

  “Don’t wake him. I’ll get him.” Jack slid off the seat and hustled around to grab Riley. He was light in Jack’s arms as he settled the boy on his shoulder. Casey rushed in front of them and held the door open. She smiled at Jack as he sidestepped into her house, careful not to bump Riley on the door jamb.

  “His room is on the left.” Casey led him down the hall and into Riley’s room. The walls were painted a sand color. Model cars and airplanes lay scattered on his dresser and the trunk in the corner overflowed with toys and balls. Exactly how Jack expected a boy’s room to look—much like how Jack’s room had been growing up.

  At that moment, Jack wished with everything in him that Riley had been his. His and Casey’s together.

  Casey pulled the covers back and Jack laid Riley gently in the bed. While Casey pulled off his shoes, Jack stared at the perfect boy with the tousled hair who clearly loved Casey with everything in him. Just like Jack did.

  Jack couldn’t deny it anymore. He loved Casey. If he were honest with himself, he’d probably never stopped loving her. It was no wonder he’d spent the past ten years trying, and failing, to find a replacement for the woman who’d stolen his heart so long ago.

  “Jack?” Casey’s gentle touch on his arm startled him.

  He took one last glance at Riley tucked under the covers. Despite the bruise on his forehead, you’d never know he’d had a serious accident tonight. “Yeah, okay. I’m leaving.”

  Jack watched Riley for one more minute and then followed Casey out of the room. She pulled the door but left it open a little. As soon as she turned back to Jack, he gathered her into his arms and settled her against his chest. Damn, he needed that. Feeling her against him soothed his raw nerves.

  Casey trembled and sniffled.

  “Aw, Casey.” He scooped her up and strode across the hall into her bedroom. He didn’t stop until he sat on her bed with her still in his arms, her face buried in his shirt. He tucked her head under his chin and ran his hand down her back.

  When they’d lost Travis, he’d tried to comfort her. To grieve with her. But he hadn’t been able to ease the heartache that both of them felt. She’d eventually stopped turning to him, choosing to mourn alone. So to have her turn to him now, to find comfort in his arms, was overwhelming. He soothed her, words of comfort slipping from his lips until her shaking subsided and her tears slowed.

  He kissed her on the forehead and she lifted her eyes until her gaze met his. “Oh, Jack, I was so scared. What if something had happened to Riley?”

  “He’s all right. You heard the doctor. He just needs rest and he’ll be good as new.”

  “When I rushed into that emergency room, my first thought was—”

  “Yeah. Mine, too.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

  He hugged her to him. “I remember feeling so helpless that day. All I could do was sit by and watch you suffer so much pain, physically and emotionally, and know that I couldn’t do anything to help you.”

  “Your being there helped. Then…and today. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been with me.”

  “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than by your side.” He lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers. A single kiss didn’t even begin to convey the depth of what he felt for her. But now was not the time. He was content to just hold her in his arms.

  They remained snuggled together for a while longer. He didn’t want to move—didn’t want to break the cocoon that had wrapped itself around the two of them. Eventually, she straightened, slid off his lap, and swiped under her eyes. “Thanks for being here.”

  She was dismissing him and he didn’t like that. Not one bit. He clutched her hand. “Ask me to stay.”

  She eyed Riley’s door. “I don’t want Riley to get the wrong idea.”

  “Not like that. I need to be near you. To hold you. I’ll move to the couch before he wakes up.” Jack ran his thumb over her knuckles, tracing the hills and valleys. He found the rapid pulse in her wrist. “Please.”

  She nodded her head in reluctant agreement. Maybe she needed him as much as he needed her. He could hope.

  Jack scooted up the bed, pulling Casey with him, until he settled against the headboard. Casey stretched out beside him, her head on his chest and her hand over his heart, bunching his shirt in her fist like she had when they were younger. As though holding onto him that way would keep everything bad away from them.

  She closed her eyes. Eventually her breathing slowed and her head grew heavy on top of him. But while she slept, he couldn’t. His mind raced with everything that had happened today and the e
motional revelation that had rocked him. He couldn’t lose Casey again. Not after they’d found their way back to each other at last.

  CASEY MUST HAVE fallen asleep. She didn’t think she’d be able to, after the emotional upheaval Riley’s injury had caused. And then there was Jack. She probably shouldn’t have allowed him to stay, but the thought of being alone when presented with a better option wasn’t appealing after the evening she’d had. She’d had such high hopes for their date only to have it interrupted by Riley’s accident. Maybe that was for the best. Their time together was coming to an end before long, and she needed to protect her heart from the inevitable heartbreak.

  A warm body pressed up against her back. She turned to snuggle into Jack only to find Riley behind her, his arm around Jack and his little eight-year-old body pressed against her. Her heart jumped at the sight of her son wrapped in Jack’s arms, safe and secure. She lifted her eyes to find Jack looking at her, an easy smile on his face and twinkle in his eye as he placed his finger to his lips. “Shhh.”

  “When did he come in?” she whispered.

  “Couple of hours ago. I went in to check on him and he wanted you.”

  She slid her lips over her son’s head. She couldn’t count the number of times he’d crawled into bed with her since he’d been born. But he appeared to have no problem with Jack, who seemed equally pleased to have her son snuggled up against him.

  Jack reached out his hand and Casey took it, tucking their clasped hands to her breast. She laid her head down and just enjoyed the comfort of the man she loved cuddling with her and her son.

  When she woke again, the other side of the bed was empty. No Jack and no Riley. The bright sun was shining through the window. How long had she been sleeping?

  She heard Riley giggling outside the door and then it swung open. Her son stood in the doorway, looking no worse for the wear except for the bruise on his forehead. He fumbled with their “breakfast in bed” tray, as they called it, with Jack behind him, holding a cup of coffee. Both of the boys had tousled hair, and her heart broke open wide. Could she really have this with Jack?