“Hey,” she replied, the only coherent thing she could manage at the moment. Why did he have to look and smell so good after he’d spent the morning working?
“I really appreciate you helping Simone. She told me you’d stopped Abby’s crying.”
“I just showed her how she likes to be held.”
“Funny how we both know Abby’s likes and dislikes.” He slipped his hands in his pockets. “I’m feeling more like a parent every day.”
He acted more like one, too. So gentle and protective. “You’re really good with her.”
He gestured to the chair beside her at the end of the rectangular oak table.
She nodded. “Have a seat.”
“I have to admit, the more time that passes, the more I have the crazy urge to quit looking for Remy and adopt Abby.”
Torn, Violet didn’t know what to say. The wishful dreamer in her would love for him to do just that. But the realist thought he needed to give Remy every chance to step up.
“I can understand that. What do you think you’ll do?”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Still deciding. I’d really like to talk to Remy before I take any legal action.” He spotted her open computer. “Working at home today?”
Scrunching her brow, she said, “Yeah, my only appointment this morning canceled.” Which didn’t bode well for staying in the black this month.
He looked distressed by that fact. “I’m sure business will pick up soon.” He started to say something, then stopped. “I should let you get back to whatever you were doing. Thanks again for coming to Abby’s rescue.”
“Glad to help.”
His grateful expression dimmed, turned serious. “Actually, if you have a minute, I need to talk to you. And I hope you’ll understand that I’m only trying to help.”
A sense of foreboding made her stomach muscles tighten. “Help with what?”
“Your mother called, and I spoke with her.”
Ice cold ran through her veins. Had her mother told him anything? Did he know she’d had a baby?
“Look, I can tell you’re not happy, but—”
“You had no right. My relationship with my parents is none of your business.”
“Well, I kind of think it is sort of my business.” Irritation sparked in his eyes.
“Why on earth would you think that?”
“Because I care about you.”
Cared about her. Not cared for her. There was a huge difference. “I’m not buying that excuse.”
He plunked back in his chair, looking wounded. “I spoke with her because I knew she’d been trying to contact you. I wanted to find out why, to make sure you wouldn’t be hurt.”
How could he assure that? Her parents had hurt her over and over and weren’t likely to change. She swiped her suddenly damp palms on her shorts, then stood. “I think you should leave.”
“Your mother said they only want the chance to apologize because they regret their decision.”
A wave of dizziness swept over Violet, forcing her to grip the table edge. Now they regretted the decision?
She needed to get Jake out of her house to process what he’d told her. “Please leave.” Does he know? Surely not from the way he’s looking at me with concern. Because he’ll loathe me once he finds out the truth.
He moved toward the door. “I hope you’ll agree to meet with them, that you’ll give them a chance for reconciliation.”
If he knew what happened, he wouldn’t expect her to be so forgiving. “I request you to stay out of my personal business in the future.”
As if a wall had slid in place, the warmth in his eyes cooled. “Fine.”
She’d hurt him. Angered him, even. But he was an honorable man shouldering the responsibility of a child who wasn’t his, making sacrifices, trying his best to parent Abby and do the right thing. If he kept digging around in her past, talking to her parents, he’d find out the truth and would realize she’d been weak and selfish.
When her parents had refused to help her raise her son and pushed her to give him up for adoption, she’d let fear—and her dream of becoming a big-shot surgeon—sway her decision. Sure, Jake might admire her for helping with Abby. But what would he think of her when he discovered that she hadn’t done the same for her own child?
* * *
As soon as Simone arrived Wednesday morning to babysit, Jake put her in charge of feeding Abby, then he stepped out the back door into the drizzling rain.
They’d have a muddy day at the work site.
He sprinted toward Violet’s house, hoping to catch her before she left for work. To apologize. Last night, the more he’d thought about the situation, the more he realized he should have taken Camilla Crenshaw’s number, said he would call her back, then checked with Violet.
Knocking on the back door, he huddled under the overhang to try to stay dry. She didn’t answer, so he ran around to the front door and rang the bell.
The door opened immediately. “Oh. Jake.” She stood in her work clothes with her purse on her shoulder, keys in hand. “I was just leaving.”
“Do you have a second?”
Her eyes narrowed, and he felt sure she didn’t want to give him a moment of her time.
“I came to apologize.”
She stood, arms crossed in front of her. “I’m glad you realize the need.”
“I shouldn’t have spoken to your mother without checking with you first.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
Her certainty sparked a flash of irritation. “I still think it needed to be done, though. I was only protecting you, looking out for your best interests.”
“I don’t need your protection.”
The comment hurt. He’d thought they’d shared something...some connection. More than friendship. “So I can need you, but you can’t need me, huh?”
Surprise widened her eyes. “You need me?”
All the closeness he’d felt fizzled. Why did she have to look so shocked? Hadn’t she felt the same thing?
Apparently not.
He sure wasn’t going to open up and spill his guts if she wasn’t feeling it, too. “I’ll let you get to work.”
“No, tell me what you mean by needing me.”
“I need your...friendship. Your help with Abby.”
The look of disappointment on her face gave him pause.
“You know I’m happy to help anytime,” she said, stern and efficient. “Who’s lined up to babysit today?”
He fought a frustrated sigh. They were back to business as usual. “Simone’s there now. I’m still working on finding someone to do mornings. Kelli is coming again this afternoon.”
“And you’ll manage to stay away for more than five minutes?” she said in all seriousness. Yet maybe...yes, she had a teasing glint in her eyes.
He laughed. “I have to. I’ve got a meeting late this afternoon.”
She pulled her phone out of her purse and scrolled to look at something. “I can take a little time to drop by, maybe go over some basics with Kelli—first aid, that kind of thing. It’ll give me peace of mind, as well.”
He wanted to wrap her in his arms and ask how she could care so much about Abby yet not feel anything for him.
“Thanks, Violet. I’d really appreciate you doing that.”
Locking her phone, she stuffed it back in her bag. “I’ll be there around one o’clock.”
“I should let you go,” he said. “Again, I’m sorry for upsetting you by speaking with your mother. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
A hint of a smile made her lips twitch. “So you’re not sorry for interfering, just sorry that you upset me?”
He grinned. “Pretty much.”
She poked a finger at his chest. “Isn
’t that like apologizing for getting caught?” Her sparkling eyes locked with his, humor lighting her face as she leaned toward him. Probably without realizing it.
“I guess it is.”
Rain poured outside, pounding the roof, making the entryway of her home feel isolated, intimate. Thunder sounded in the distance, mimicking how his world had just shifted.
He needed to touch Violet when she looked at him like that, almost flirty, as if she truly liked him. He stepped into her space. Though she held her purse like a defensive shield, he reached out and brushed a stray piece of hair back from her forehead. “But I do feel bad that my actions upset you—even if I’d do it all over again trying to protect you, to maybe help you heal.”
Her head tilted. “So you think my mother just wants to apologize?”
“Sounded like it to me.”
She pulled in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “Then I’ll consider calling them.”
He smirked. “You’re as good at playing with words as I am.”
“Hey, I learned from a master, my mother, a society belle with a gilded tongue.”
“She sounded genuine on the phone.”
“Don’t let her suck you in.”
Moving closer, he slid the purse off her shoulder and set it on the entry table. Then he took her warm, small hand and threaded his fingers through hers, the gesture so intimate he wasn’t sure she’d tolerate it.
Again, her big hazel eyes widened. Thankfully, she didn’t move away.
“Violet, have you ever considered that maybe your mother has changed? That maybe she and your father love you and want to reestablish a relationship?”
“I’ll consider the possibility. That’s as far as I can go at the moment.”
He nodded. “Okay, I won’t push.” He brushed his thumb over her thumb. “You haven’t said you forgive me.”
Her shoulders relaxed. Leaning closer, she gazed at him, eyes playful, vibrant. “I’ll consider it.”
With a chuckle, he lifted her chin. He wanted to kiss her. Badly. But he feared it was too soon. She didn’t even trust him enough to share more than superficial things about her parents.
Instead, he smoothed his finger across her soft cheek. Then he took hold of her other hand so that they faced each other, fingers locked. “I won’t let you go until you say you forgive me.”
“Okay, okay. I forgive you,” she said with a laugh.
“Good. Now, please don’t forget to drop by and check out Kelli’s babysitting abilities so I can rest easy.”
“You can count on me.”
“Thanks.” He begrudgingly let go of her hands. “We’ll talk later.”
Regret gnawed at him as he returned home. She was able to do him a favor because business was slow. A few unkind words here and there had hurt her practice. Venting to friends of his aunt and uncle had probably caused the spread of rumors.
If Violet wouldn’t let him help with her parents, then maybe he could help with her practice.
He’d make a few phone calls. Would quietly get word out that Violet Crenshaw was a great doctor and a much better person than he’d thought before meeting her. Violet was a good woman, generous, dedicated, fun. A woman he was growing to care deeply about.
And that was the honest truth. No wordplay needed.
* * *
“So what’s up with you and Jake?”
Startled by Hillary’s question, Violet froze with her hand on the menu. “Not a thing. I’ve just been wearing my doctor’s hat, helping him with Abby. I even trained one of his babysitters on Wednesday.”
The receptionist, wearing brightly patterned, kid-friendly scrubs that she’d worked in that day, gave a snort. “Uh-huh.”
At her doubtful tone, Violet jerked her gaze to the woman. However, Hillary focused on running her finger down the plastic-coated menu of Edna’s Diner.
Edna darted their way. “What’re y’all having, ladies? I’ve got some nice fried catfish for my Friday night special. And also smothered chicken,” she drawled, the smother sounding like smuthuh, just as Violet’s mother always said it.
The quick memory jabbed at her heart—made tender by Jake’s revelation the other day.
“I’ll have the meatloaf. My regular,” Hillary said with a smile as she handed over her menu.
“And I’ll try the smothered chicken.”
Edna rushed away to place their order.
Time to get to the point of their meeting. “Hillary, I need your advice.”
The woman, who’d worked for Paul and Edith for more than ten years, leaned her arms on the table and focused on Violet, all teasing gone. “Gladly.”
“I know we’ve had a good week—or at least a good end of the week—patient-wise.”
“Yeah. Felt busier than usual.”
“But I’m still concerned. I’m considering closing one day a week to help save on utilities and payroll.”
Hillary hesitated but didn’t look surprised. “That could be smart. But it could also be inconvenient for patients, so we might lose more.”
She sighed. “That’s why I wanted to run the idea by you, since you have so much experience in a medical office. And because you’d lose a day’s pay.”
“Have you done anything else to get your name out there?”
Violet brightened, glad she had good news on that front. “Actually, I have. I’ve volunteered to teach the parenting class at the hospital. I’m going to speak to the elementary school PTO. And I’ve got a call in to the director of the hospital to offer my services doing rounds in the newborn nursery.”
“Sounds like you’ll make a lot of connections. Maybe wait a little longer before you cut back. I don’t mind giving up a day a week if it would help. You can answer the phones and check patients in.”
“Seriously? You’d be willing to do that?”
“Look, I’m sure it’ll be temporary. Trust me, business will pick up once you put yourself out in the community. In fact, I overheard two women talking in line at the bank at lunchtime today.”
Violet’s stomach sank. She groaned.
Hillary put her hand on Violet’s arm. “No, it was good. One told the other she’d been hearing good things from her contractor. Said she had already made an appointment for her children for a well visit. The other said she was tired of driving so far to see their pediatrician and would do the same.”
Heaving a sigh of relief, Violet leaned back in her chair. “Maybe we’re going to make it.”
With a reassuring squeeze, Hillary gave a firm nod. “Oh, I know we will.”
Violet covered Hillary’s hand. “Thank you. You’ve been a huge help—as usual.”
“Seems you’ve been a huge help to Jake.”
At the abrupt change of subject, Violet shook her head, smiling. “I told you, Abby’s my patient.”
Hillary held her gaze, searching. Desperately afraid Hillary would see how much she already cared about Jake, Violet glanced away.
“Violet, honey, there’s nothing to be ashamed about if you’re feeling more. Jake’s a good guy.”
With her face burning, Violet fiddled with the sugar and pink sweetener packets. “I know he is.”
With a sympathetic expression, Hillary leaned closer. “He had a rough childhood, you know. But he never let losing his parents get him down. He took care of Remy like she was his own sister. Tried his best to keep her out of trouble. I’m not a bit surprised he’s stepped up to care for Abby.”
Exactly as Violet had discovered. Jake was an honorable man. A man who wanted to do the right thing. Who even wanted to help reunite her family.
But would he commit to Violet as he’d committed to Abby? More than anything, she wanted to trust him. But could she really after what Simone had said about him not wanting
to marry?
“He’s a handsome man with a thriving business,” Hillary added, a sly smile tilting one corner of her mouth. “A real catch. You’d be crazy not to be interested in dating him.”
Violet couldn’t help but laugh at Hillary’s sales pitch. “Oh, we don’t have anything romantic going on.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, just as she’d said earlier.
Hillary’s cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her purse and checked the screen. “Excuse me for a minute. I need to take this.” She slipped out of the booth and glanced back over her shoulder. “Just know that you can’t go wrong with Jake West.”
Nothing romantic going on? What about in her entry hall the other day? Jake had entwined his fingers with hers, his touch tripping her pulse. When he’d brushed his fingers across her face, her heart had soared, and she’d thought he might pull her close. Then he’d tilted her chin upward, his gaze on her lips as if he wanted to kiss her, and she’d held her breath in anticipation, wanting him to. Wanting it so badly she nearly closed the space between them herself.
Violet realized she was once again holding her breath and huffed the air out. Fanned herself with her napkin. Honestly, she needed to get hold of her vacillating emotions.
He hadn’t kissed her, though. Even though she’d looked up at him as if starving for his kiss. He’d had every opportunity to claim her lips with his. But instead, he’d simply pushed for forgiveness.
Why? He’d sure seemed to want to kiss her. Something was holding him back. Maybe a fear of commitment? The man had suffered great loss in his childhood, had struggled to please his aunt and uncle. And now, with getting attached to Abby while wondering whether or not Remy would return, he risked major heartbreak again.
Maybe he simply didn’t have room for Violet in his life.
If she knew what was good for her, she’d ignore Hillary and forget silly notions of romance.
Chapter Nine
Jake picked up Abby from where she had spent some time lying on a blanket on her stomach. He nuzzled her neck and brought her sweet hand to his mouth to kiss it.
Tiny fingernails scratched the corner of his mouth. “Ouch, baby girl. Your nails need to be cut.” And no one was around to help.
Love Inspired May 2015 #2 Page 13