by Mimi Barbour
“That’s a bummer.”
“I know. Jesse had just graduated. The guy had worked like a dog all summer to save his money. The plan was for him to move closer to her. Then she sent him a ‘Dear John’ letter saying that she was engaged to another guy.”
“That would do it.”
“Exactly! I remember the day he got the mail. At first, his face was all covered in smiles from seeing her pink envelope. It turned hard and kinda scary in a matter of seconds.”
Kim leaned closer to the screen and Belle caught herself copying her.
“That night Jesse phoned Mari to try and talk her into seeing him one more time. He never knew, but I snuck by his open window on the patio and listened. He begged and she refused—broke his heart. I heard his grief. It was horrible. My brother never was the same carefree guy after that.”
“The bitch!”
“Yeah. That’s what I called her and still do. He’s been a recluse for far too long. I’ve tried to get him to drop the past, to move on, but so far no luck. Speaking of moving on, you look a bit better today.”
“Today I feel better than I have in quite some time.”
“I can tell. There’s more color in your face and your eyes seem clearer. What’s changed?”
“Something that Jesse said has given me hope. I researched it all morning and many of the symptoms are close and others dead on.”
“What is it? You’re making me curious.”
“Well, he told me that one of the guys who works with him has a mother who suffered in the same way. He was a bit vague on the details but it turned out that she had Celiac disease.”
“That’s where a person can’t eat any gluten, right? Like an allergy, but worse?”
“Yes. As you know, all I’ve been living on for weeks is crackers and eggs and milk. Well both the milk and crackers probably just irritated my already raw stomach.”
“Oh Belle, you poor thing. On the other hand, if it is Celiac then it’s good news. I’ve been worried that you could have had something much worse. Actually, I’d pretty well decided that if you hadn’t found any answers by the time I returned, I’d force you to go to my doctors whether you argued or not.”
“By then, I probably would’ve gone. Yesterday, I’d never have said this, but I will now. I was about as low as I could go.”
“That makes me feel sad, Belle.” The sentiment showed in Kim’s expression.
“Don’t be, Kim. Now I have hope. That makes me happy.”
Layla raced into the room and yanked at Belle’s shirt sleeves. “Mommy, mommy, Uncle Jack is here.”
As Belle took in her daughter’s words, the pit of her stomach plunged to the floor. “Don’t let him in, Yaya.”
“It’s too late, I alweady did. I thought he was Jesse.”
“Is everything all right, Belle? What’s this about Uncle Jack?”
“Sorry, Kim. I can’t explain now. I’ll e-mail you later.”
“You’d better. From the expression on your face, Uncle Jack isn’t welcome and I’ll have the heebie-jeebies all day until I hear from you.”
“Heebie-jeebies?”
“Don’t mess with me, Pal. You know what I mean.”
Chapter Eight
Belle first sent Yaya to her room with a new baby-doll coloring book and crayons she’d been saving as a Christmas present. Then she took a deep breath and went to greet her unwelcome guest.
When she entered, Jack, sitting on the edge of the chair and threading his hands through his messy hair, jumped to his feet. He appeared even more agitated than the day before and didn’t seem to know how to start the conversation. He started to speak and then stopped mid-sentence. His eyes wouldn’t focus and the day-old beard and rumpled uniform led her to believe he hadn’t slept.
Fear took hold and she had a hard time not letting it show. Putting on a brave front, she said. “Jack. Why are you here again? I told you yesterday that we have no future together. Both of us need to move on.”
“No!” His hand slashed too close to her face and had her stumbling backward. “I’m not leaving. I belong here with you. I have nowhere else to go, Belle. Please let me stay.”
Belle, not wanting to upset Yaya again since she’d had such an upheaval yesterday, tried to soothe Jack. “There’s no room here, Jack. It’s not possible. You need help. Go to the VA hospital, they’ll look after you there.”
“I don’t want a hospital. We’re family, you, me and Layla. We’ll get married and things will be better, I promise. I’ll try harder. I can do it if I have someone to look after me.”
Shaking her head was merely an instinctive reaction, but Jack took offense. Punishingly strong, his arms swept her into a hold and at the same time, he tried to kiss her. When she resisted, he forced her to the floor and overpowered her with his heavy body.
Struggling without making a sound, a nightmare no woman should have to suffer, Belle tried to get free—which compelled him to exert even more force.
Exhaustion took hold very quickly, but still she pushed ineffectively at his chest. “Stop it, Jack.” She turned her head away from his seeking, slobbering mouth. “You’re hurting me.” A sob broke free and then another.
Just before his body was wrenched from hers, a movement from the corner of her eye caught her attention. A furious Jesse grabbed Jack by the collar of his uniform and hauled him off her. He shook him like a dog shakes a rodent, then he frogmarched him to the door and all she heard was his threat. “Get out and don’t come back. Or next time, I’ll have to call an ambulance because you’ll be needing medical attention.”
Belle covered her eyes with her bruised arm and rolled to her side to curl up in a fetal position. Mewing like a hurt animal, a noise she couldn’t seem to stop, she thanked the good Lord for Jesse’s perfect timing.
In seconds, the gentle giant cradled her body while lifting her off the floor. Without any hesitation, her arms wound around his neck and the shudders she couldn’t stop affected every bone in her body. Shaken, frightened and sick at heart, Belle clung and wept.
Finally, cuddled on the sofa in his lap being rocked side to side, she quieted. “How did you know?”
“Kim called. She was worried. Said the look on your face when Layla told you her Uncle Jack was in the apartment scared her silly.”
“The news scared me silly also. I can’t stay here, Jesse. He’ll come back. The man is sick in his head. He used to be a wonderful brother-in-law and uncle but not anymore. Since he returned wounded, he’s gotten worse. I thought we’d escaped him when we moved here, but he found us again. I don’t know what to do—”
His hushing stopped her chatter. Shock was making her crazy. She knew it and could do nothing to control herself.
“Don’t cry anymore, Belle. You don’t have to stay here. Kim has two bedrooms at her place so you can come and stay there with me. I’m not letting that animal near you again. I don’t care how good a guy he was before this happened. He’s broken now and needs to get himself fixed.”
Belle pushed away from the warmth of his chest to look into his eyes. She searched the grey softness hunting for any signs that his offer made him uncomfortable. Nothing showed, other than caring and compassion and a very faint glow deep inside that made her tremble with delight rather than fear.
He placed a kiss on her forehead and stood up so he could gently lower her to the floor. “Let’s get Layla and go for that drive I promised you. We’ll stop for dinner at a restaurant I’ve just heard about that serves a variety of gluten-free meals. Then we’ll come home and move what you need down the hall. If you feel worried about having me stay with you, I can always sleep here.”
Her female instincts reacted negatively against this suggestion and her shaking head seemed to reassure him. “I want you to remain with us. I’d feel much safer in case Jack finds out that we’ve only moved a short distance. His army training gave him skills that we can’t underestimate.”
Obviously joking, Jesse winked and said. “
Okay then. Just as long as you promise not to jump my bones, we’ve got a deal.”
Belle hid her grin and kept quiet. No way in hell would she make a promise she had no intention of keeping.
Chapter Nine
Jesse didn’t know why it mattered to him that Belle like the property where he’d chosen to build his next house. It had never bothered him before if anyone vetted his choices. By the time he’d finish the construction, there were always people waiting in line to see his work.
Sales were fated since Jesse’s reputation as a quality builder had been enhanced by the story written in New Homes, a magazine that featured the most beautiful houses in the Seattle area.
Publishing the story hadn’t been his decision. The new owner had signed up for the interview and mentioned him by name often throughout the post.
That had happened three years ago. Now he held a bit of a celebrity status that he put up with rather than promoted.
This land, that he’d brought the girls to see today, mattered to him. It had been on his radar for quite some time and he’d been pleased as punch when his real estate buddy had called to tell him he had first dibs.
Belle returned to his side. “It’s a fantastic view from up here, Jesse. One can see the ocean in the distance and the forest looks lush and healthy. Anyone lucky enough to have the chance to live here would be very fortunate.” Her eyes gleamed with enthusiasm. Her cheeks had taken on a rosy glow from the winter weather and she looked different from the pale creature he’d met yesterday or the distraught young woman he’d held in his arms earlier.
She wandered over to where a small waterfall gurgled over colorful rocks then joined a meandering stream, one of nature’s surprising gifts. Happily, she pushed her scarf aside and knelt, cupped her hand and drank the water.
Jesse couldn’t take his eyes off her. Every time he let his thoughts wander back to the sight that had greeted him when he’d rushed to her apartment after Kim’s warning, he wanted to scream in fury.
Seeing Belle forcibly held down, covered by the writhing body of a wacked out sicko, the killer instinct he never knew he possessed woke up. If he hadn’t thrown the guy out the door, who knows what he would have done. Scared him just to think of all that rage he’d forced under control. How close he’d come to really hurting the dude.
Layla drew his attention as she danced around on the grassy slope, chasing an ecstatic Sam who didn’t know whether to sniff, taste or pee. It had been a good idea to bring the small fur-ball along. His antics had kept them all amused.
Belle walked up to him, laughing at the two babies who were so obviously delighted with their world. “Thank you for bringing us here with you, Jesse. I can see by the proprietorial look in your eyes that the verdict is already made. You’re buying it, aren’t you?”
“Put the offer in while you and Layla were playing with Sam. It’s a site I’ve been looking at for some time. I might even want to build a house for myself here one day.” Now where did that come from?
“You should, Jesse. I can see you being happy here, surrounded by all this beauty and peace.”
Layla ran toward him, one arm full with a squirming puppy and the other raised so he’d pick her up. “Jesse, can Sam come to the westauwant with us when we go for supper?”
He lifted her and delight escalated when she wrapped her arm around his neck and dropped her tired head on his shoulder. Before he could say no to her question, Belle rescued Sam from her possessive daughter and answered.
“Pets aren’t allowed in restaurants, Yaya. It’s against health regulations to have animals where food is prepared.”
“No, Mama. That lady in the café aw-ways has her big dog with her.” The begging in Layla’s tone made Jesse grin and try to hide it.
“That’s true. But her pet is a seeing-eye dog and she needs him with her because she’s blind and he’s her guide.”
“I can close my eyes and Sam can be my seeming-eye doggy?”
“No, he can’t be your seeming-eye doggy. He’s a very tired puppy and will be happy to sleep in his bed in the car. I promise we won’t leave him for very long.”
Giving up the good fight, Layla sighed in disgust, snuggled her face into Jesse’s neck and fell instantly asleep.
Jesse chuckled. Who knew a child could drop off so quickly? He watched as Belle settled the sleepy puppy in almost the same position on her chest as he held Layla. “We can get take-out if you’d prefer.”
“I think that’s best. These sleepy babies would be better off at home. Anyway, I need to pack some stuff for tonight and move it over to your apartment.”
“Right! Once you’re settled in, remind me to tell you about the woman I met today. Kane’s mom, you know the younger fellow who I told you about that works with me. She filled me in on Celiac disease and sent along reams of information from a study she’s involved with. I think you might find it extremely informative.”
“I’m sure I will. Thank you for thinking of me and doing this.”
“No problem. Valerie, his mother, has also invited you to come and see her whenever you feel up to it. She has a lot of recipes she wants to share.” As he talked, they walked back toward his parked truck where he set the sleeping child on Belle’s knee and took the now passed-out puppy and tucked him into his cozy carrier.
Handling these domestic actions made Jesse feel lighthearted and happier than he’d felt in one hell of a long, long time.
Chapter Ten
Once he opened the door for Belle and Layla, Jesse watched both their faces. The overabundance of Christmas decorations had bugged him just one day before but now he experienced satisfaction for his sister’s fetish of all things Christmas.
Trying to see the room from their eyes made him look closely. The imitation tree itself was huge and glowed from the mass of twinkling lights and other ornaments.
The rest of the room had been similarly adorned. There were Santas and angels and Christmas flowers on every surface, including a wonderful nativity scene that drew Layla like a pond draws the rays of the sun.
“Don’t touch, Yaya. The figurines are very fragile and breakable.”
Not listening, Layla reached out with her fingers open and accidently knocked the statue of Mary onto the floor where it broke into a dozen pieces. Instantly, Layla began to wail.
“Oh Yaya! You shouldn’t have touched it, baby.” Belle rushed forward, but Jesse reached Layla first.
“Hey princess, don’t cry.” His arms gathered the heartbroken baby close.
“It’s was so pwetty, Jesse. I bwoke it. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to see it better.” In-between each sentence a wail or a hiccup stressed her uninhibited emotions.
Jesse stood up cuddled the crying cherub. “We’ll phone Kim tomorrow and ask her if she can order a new Mary for the set. Don’t fret, sweetheart. It was an accident.”
Belle, clearly not quite as forgiving, stepped toward the two and reached for Layla. When Jesse passed her over, she made her daughter look her in the eye so what she had to say couldn’t be ignored. “I told you not to touch and you ignored mommy. That was very naughty.”
Layla nodded and hiccupped. “I’m a bad girl.”
“Because you didn’t listen, you broke Kim’s valuable decoration, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Layla nodded, her face drenched in remorse.
“Tomorrow when we phone Kim, you will apologise and promise her that you will not touch any of her other ornaments unless you ask permission and either Jesse or I will help you.”
“I pwomise, Mama.”
“Okay then, let’s get you in your pajamas and ready for bed.”
Brightening somewhat, Layla asked. “Can Jesse read me a bedtime stowy?”
By this time, Jesse’s mushy heart had taken quite a beating. Watching a smart mother reprimand her child wasn’t easy on a soft-hearted soul. Observing Belle’s body language, he knew it wasn’t easy on her either.
He was smart enough to understand that one ha
d to use these moments to reinforce lessons for the sake of the child. No one wanted to let a precious little girl like Layla grow up to be a spoiled brat because her parent hadn’t utilized such opportunities.
Not wishing to step out of line, Jesse deferred to Belle by saying, “If your mama says it’s okay, I’ll read you a story. If not tonight, then tomorrow.” Thinking to give Belle an out in case she didn’t want to indulge Layla just yet, he waited.
“One short story. And no begging for more. Okay?”
“Thank you, Mama. Layla hugged her mom, her tiny arms squeezing her mother’s neck hard, sensing she was out of the doghouse.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Let’s get you settled and we’ll call Jesse when we’re ready.
After finishing the story, Jesse tucked the little girl into Kim’s queen-sized bed and leaned into the arms she held up for his hugs. Holding him in place, Layla whispered, “I’m sow-wy for being a bad girl, Jesse. Will Kimmy be mad at me?” Worry had Layla’s eyes watching his closely.
Taking her concern seriously, he answered. “You know what? Kim was the clumsiest little girl I ever saw, when she was your age. She broke so many things that she was always saying sorry. I bet she’ll remember that when you tell her what happened.”
“She won’t hate me?”
Now where had such a youngster picked up that kind of word? Jesse sighed. “No one could hate a good little girl like you, Layla. Just tell her it was an accident. I guarantee you, she’ll understand. Look, I’ll make you a deal, if you work with me and help me feed Sam and those Persian beasts for the next few days, I’ll pay for the new Mary to replace the old one. Okay?”
Happily, Layla kissed his cheek and replied. “Yes, please.”
Jesse left a now happy Layla to her mother and made his way into the spare room he’d taken for himself. His eyes automatically went to the photo he kept on his bedside table and it drew him forward.