It was Ali’s turn to look away. “You don’t understand. When Darcie discovers that Jake and I…” She felt tears threatening. “She’s going to hate me.”
“What right does she have to condemn you? She’s the one who chose not to marry Jake. How can she pass judgment on what happened after she left? You and Jake chose to be together that night. And you created this lovely child. Joanie has to be your first concern.”
“She is,” Ali assured him.
“And Jake is mine. My son needs to see his daughter. I’ve arranged for Joanie to come to the hospital tomorrow.”
Ali opened her mouth to argue. She didn’t like the fact that Cliff was taking over, especially where Joanie was concerned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Look, Ali, Jake is going to be in the hospital for at least another week, and he needs to see his daughter. It’s a small request.”
Ali thought back to this morning in recovery and Jake’s kiss. He’d stirred feelings in her that she didn’t need or want. He was just being attentive because she was his child’s mother, she told herself. But what would happen if Darcie came home?
“Don’t make problems for yourself, Ali,” Cliff warned. “Right now Jake needs your help. He’s not only discovered he’s a father, but the injuries to his leg may cost him his army career.”
Ali glanced down at her daughter contentedly drinking her bottle, and wished her own life were as simple. “All right. Tell Jake that Joanie and I will be there tomorrow.”
The next afternoon, Ali stood beside the hospital bed as Jake and his daughter got to know each another. Dressed in bright red corduroys and a white ruffled shirt, Joanie seemed to be comfortable with her daddy. She wasn’t scared of Jake, but the nine-month-old often glanced over her shoulder to make sure her mother was close by.
“Our daughter isn’t only beautiful, she’s smart.” Jake smiled at his child, drawing cheerful chatter from Joanie. He handed her a colorful block, and Joanie expertly showed her father her dexterity by placing the block on top of another one sitting on the bed tray. She grinned up at her daddy when she finished the task and clapped her tiny hands together.
Jake looked at Ali, his dark eyes identical to his daughter’s. “How can those little fingers do that?” Ali shrugged and he turned back to Joanie. “Yes, you’re such a smart little girl.” He took the child’s hands and pulled her up to stand next to him. “Pretty soon you’ll be walking. Look at how strong she is, Ali.” Joanie started bouncing up and down.
Ali grabbed her. “And she likes to bounce on beds, too.”
Jake’s eyes sparkled as he grinned. “I wonder where she learned that.”
Ali blushed. Jake was remembering her first visit to the Hawkins’s lake cottage. A group of kids was messing around, and Jake challenged Ali to see if she could bounce high enough off the bed to touch the bedroom ceiling. She’d done it. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said primly, but it was useless to try to hide her smile.
“Wait until you get a little older, Joanie, and I’ll tell you about some of your mother’s wild days. She skinny-dipped—”
“I did not,” Ali interrupted. “Unlike some others, I kept my clothes on.”
“But you were a party to it. In fact, wasn’t it your suggestion to steal the guys’ clothes?”
Ali’s blush intensified. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jake Hawkins.”
“Ali Pierce, I lay in this bed and listened to your confession just last week.”
She gasped. “You heard what I said?”
Jake could only stare at Ali. She was embarrassed. She was twenty-five, and her innocence still amazed him, as did her beauty. Such a contrast to Darcie with her flirty confidence. “Some of it. Things faded in and out. But I remember you said that it was your idea to take the guys’ clothes. Luckily there were some extra clothes in the cottage, or that could have turned out to be an embarrassing night.” He shook his head. “Who would have thought that of shy Ali Pierce?”
Joanie shook her head, too, and laughed.
Ali lowered her eyes as she pushed her soft curls behind her ears, exposing her long neck. “I wasn’t that shy. It’s just that Darcie liked to talk.”
“And you stayed in her shadow.” He thought he saw her wince, but she covered it with a noncommittal shrug. The twin sisters had been so different, Jake thought. He’d never paid attention then, because he could never see anyone but Darcie. It wasn’t until the night Ali came to him that he realized how sweet and giving she was…and how little comfort he’d ever received from Darcie.
“How is your leg?”
He looked at his elevated leg, now adorned by a cast to the knee. “I took a painkiller last night, but so far today, it’s not too bad. I just hate to think about staying here another week.”
“The time will fly by.”
In your dreams. “You’re still going to let me stay at your house, aren’t you?”
She lowered her eyes from his steady gaze. “I’m sure your dad will be disappointed that you’re not coming home.”
Jake tensed. “Cliff and I have trouble getting along when we’re together five minutes. Living under the same roof while I recover could be fatal. Besides, I already told him that I’ll be staying with you…indefinitely.”
“You aren’t staying with me,” Ali denied. “You’re renting a room from my grandmother.”
“Of course,” he agreed. “We wouldn’t want to set a bad example for our daughter. Not before we’re married anyway.”
“Jake.” Ali released an exasperated sigh. “Don’t get any ideas.”
He smiled. “Too late, Ali-cat. I’ve already had some pretty vivid ideas about you during the past eighteen months. And I don’t see that changing in the near future.” He stuck his finger out to his daughter, and she latched on to it. “I think she’s used to me already. Aren’t you, Joanie? By the time we’re together awhile, I bet you’ll be able to say Daddy.”
Ali watched as Jake took a picture of his daughter with his cell phone. Everything was changing so quickly. She knew that Jake’s living at the house was going to disrupt her life—and her sanity. Now everyone would not only know that Jake was Joanie’s father, but they’d also think that something was still going on between them.
Joanie began to fuss. Ali went to the stroller, pulled a baby bottle from the diaper bag and handed it to her daughter. “She’s tired.”
“Bring her here and lay her down next to me.” Jake patted the space beside him.
“Maybe we should go home so she can sleep in her bed.”
“Please, Ali. I want Joanie to know that I can comfort her, too. I want her to get used to coming to me.”
Ali hesitated, then put Joanie down on the bed next to Jake. The child’s eyes widened for a second, then Jake talked to her and she settled down to drink.
Ali felt her chest tighten as she watched the touching scene between father and daughter. Then Joanie’s eyes closed, and her bottle slipped from her mouth. Ali took it away. “I usually don’t let her go to sleep with a bottle. It isn’t good for her teeth.”
“You’re a good mother, Ali.”
“I try, but sometimes it just seems too much. That’s why I’m glad I have Gran June to help me.”
“And now you have me.”
If only that were true, Ali thought. But she’d never really have Jake Hawkins. His wanderlust kept him from settling in one town, especially when that town held bad memories. But for Ali, Webster, Minnesota, had been her salvation. The only home she’d ever known—and the perfect place she’d promised to raise her daughter.
Chapter Six
In early November, Jake was released from the hospital with strict instructions to spend all his time in bed or in the wheelchair with his leg elevated.
“I told you I could do it,” Jake argued as his father’s driver, Harry, helped him out of the car in the Pierces’ driveway.
“Sorry, sir, but you need assistance,” the
large man said.
Harry Reese was about forty, and he was built more like a bouncer than a caretaker and driver. Without any more argument, Jake allowed Harry to lift him into the waiting wheelchair, but vowed that when he was healed, he wasn’t going to let another person touch him. Except maybe Ali.
Jake watched as Ali raised his cast-covered leg into the chair’s brace to keep it elevated. Her hands were soft and caring as she fussed over him.
Kneeling, Ali looked up at him, her green eyes intense. Her long auburn hair lay against the soft curve of her jaw. “You have to stop being so stubborn. If you fall, you could end up back in the hospital.”
The thought of returning to Webster Memorial Hospital caused Jake to relent. “Okay, I’ll behave.”
Harry turned the wheelchair around and headed for the porch. The ramp that had been used years ago, when Ali’s grandmother had had a stroke, was back in place. Silently Jake allowed Harry to push him to the top, but he was determined that he wasn’t going to remain in this wheelchair for long.
They made it to the porch, where a smiling June Pierce opened the door. She was dressed in a print dress, an apron tied around her slim waist. “Well, I see you made it.” She backed up so Jake could come into the large entry.
Jake smiled at her. “I’d do about anything to get one of your meals.”
“You didn’t have to try so hard.” She leaned down and hugged him. “Good to see you on the mend.”
“Thanks, Gran June. I’m feeling pretty good.”
He glanced around, and a feeling of warmth engulfed him, triggering memories of the years he’d spent here. Such love and caring radiated from this old house, and he’d never forget the familiar aroma of bread baking and lemon polish.
He placed his hands on the wheels and maneuvered the chair into the huge living room, where there was a fire lit in the stone hearth. The mahogany mantel still displayed pictures of generations of Pierces, including photos of Ali and Darcie. A floral sofa was placed behind an antique Queen Anne coffee table. Lace doilies and china figurines decorated the end tables. An overstuffed chair and ottoman were positioned in front of the bay windows. Late-autumn sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, reflecting off the grand piano that had been in the Pierce family for generations.
“I want you to feel at home here, Jake,” Gran June said. “If there is anything you need…”
Jake took her hand. “I have everything I need,” he told her. “And as a bonus, a few of your great meals.”
Harry entered the room with Jake’s army duffel bag. “Where should I put these, Mr. Hawkins?”
“Follow me,” Gran said, and led the man down the hall.
Jake moved farther into the room next to the sofa. He would never admit it, but he was exhausted.
“I think you should go to your room and take a nap,” Ali suggested from behind him. “This wasn’t an easy trip.”
Jake turned to look at Ali. She was wearing a pair of dark blue leggings and a matching sweater. Soft curls danced around her face, making him itch to touch the tendrils.
“I’m tired of being helpless.”
Ali drew nearer and sat down next to his chair. “Jake, you nearly died. It’s going to take a while to recover. Besides your leg injuries, your ribs were cracked.” Her gaze moved to his face, and she touched his jaw with gentle fingers. “There are still traces of bruising. Give your body time to heal.”
He swallowed at her close examination, and realized that certain parts of his anatomy still worked perfectly. He drew in a deep breath. Her soft scent reminded him of springtime.
He backed away from her gentle caress. “I know you’re right, but so many things have changed. I feel like I’ve lost part of my life, but I’ve gained something wonderful, too. I have a daughter I want to get to know.” He looked at Ali. “Where is Joanie?”
“She’s napping, like her father should be doing.”
Jake started to argue when he noticed Ali cross her arms over her chest. All at once, he wanted to grin. He was living with the two most important people in his life—Ali and his daughter. What was he complaining about?
“I’ll go to my room in a little while. I just want to savor being out of the hospital.”
Ali nodded, a smile on her face. “I guess a lot of things have changed since you returned to Webster.”
He tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling. “You can say that. My leg for one.” He could feel every sore rib, and his leg throbbed like hell under the cast. He didn’t mind the pain nearly as much as not knowing what the future held for him. What if he couldn’t go back to the army? His father had already offered to help him financially. But Jake refused. He had his mother’s trust fund. That would take care of him…and a family. He looked at Ali. “I need to go to the veterans hospital in Minneapolis to be checked out.”
“When do you have to return to the army?”
He stared down at his injured leg. “I seriously doubt I ever can.”
“I’m sorry, Jake. I know how much you loved your career.”
Surprised by her sincerity, he turned to her. “Thanks, Ali. You seem to be the only person who realizes what the army meant to me.”
“That’s not true. I know your father disagreed with your choice, but he’s proud of your accomplishments. And Darcie—”
“Darcie made her statement loud and clear.” He shook his head. “You know, she did us both a favor by leaving before the wedding. I doubt our marriage would have survived military life.” Suddenly he didn’t want to talk about Darcie or his career. He was tired. “I think I’ll go lie down.”
Ali got up. “Good idea. I’ll help you.”
Jake didn’t argue as she pushed his chair down the hall, the wheels rolling easily on the hardwood floors. Ali went ahead and opened the bedroom door while Jake rolled the chair over the threshold and into the light blue room. There was a queen-size bed against the far wall, covered by a decorative quilt. A wing chair was positioned next to the slate stone fireplace. Built-in bookcases went from floor to ceiling, and were filled with reading material.
Ali watched Jake’s reaction. Gran June had fussed over the room, making everything perfect for their new tenant. Years ago, this room had been a study. Then, after Grandpa Pierce had died, Gran supplemented her income by changing it into a room to rent. There already had been an outside entrance at the end of the hall, and the big walk-in closet had been turned into a bathroom.
A few changes had to be made to accommodate Jake. The bathroom doorway had to be enlarged for wheelchair access. Without Jake’s knowledge, Cliff had new doorjambs put in. The carpenters did such a wonderful job that it was hard to tell there had been an adjustment.
Ali opened the bathroom door and flicked on the light. “Here’s the bathroom. It’s just a shower stall….” Her voice faded off.
He patted the arms on his wheelchair. “I’m going to have some trouble taking this thing in there.”
“It’ll fit through the door. I’m not sure how you can manage a shower, though.”
“Maybe you can volunteer to help.”
Their eyes locked for a second before she glanced away. “I think your dad is sending a nurse.”
“You tell him I don’t need help. I’m getting tired of strangers prodding my body. I’ll wash myself, thank you.” He grinned. “Unless you want to help.”
Ali tried to act unaffected by his comment. “I thought you were tired of being prodded.”
“By strangers,” he clarified. “You definitely aren’t a stranger.”
“And I think you’re too cocky for your own good.” Ali gripped the handles on the chair and pushed him to the bed. “You better rest. When Joanie wakes up, she’s going to want to play. You’ll need your strength.”
She locked the chair in place, and Jake pulled himself up. A sudden warmth shot through her as she put her arms around his narrow waist and helped him to sit down on the mattress. She could feel the muscles in his back tense, the warmth perm
eating his clothing. Ali looked up to discover his face was close, so close that she could feel his ragged breath against her cheek. She released him, then escaped to the end of the bed and carefully elevated his cast-covered leg.
Taking a step back, she examined her patient and noticed that Jake was grimacing in pain. “You’re hurting, aren’t you?”
Jake laid his head back against the pillow. “Yeah, the leg is throbbing a little. My football coach used to say that pain builds character.”
“Well, you’re not on the team anymore. Where are your pills?”
He remained silent.
“Jake.”
“In my shaving kit.”
Ali nodded and walked to the green duffel bag on the floor. She pulled out the shaving kit on top, then reached inside and retrieved the pills. Ali poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the bedside table and handed Jake a pill.
He took the capsule and washed it down with the water. “Thanks.”
She didn’t move. “I wish there was something more I could do.”
He touched his thigh. “The pill will take the edge off soon, and maybe I can sleep.”
Ali fought with herself. She didn’t want to leave him yet. Maybe she should wait until he went to sleep. She moved to the rocker and sat down.
Jake gave her a sideways glance. “Don’t you have to go back to work?”
She shrugged. “I’ll get there later.”
“C’mon, Ali. You’ve taken off enough work because of me. I don’t need a baby-sitter.”
“Then quit acting like a child and let the pills go to work.”
Jake glared at her, then turned away.
Ali saw more than pain in his eyes. She rose from the chair and claimed a seat on the bed. “What’s wrong, Jake? Is it your leg? Do I need to call the doctor?”
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