“Where is he?”
“In my car,” Jane said, pointing outside. “Right there.”
The woman nodded, then picked up the phone. Moments later two men had loaded her dad onto a gurney and wheeled him inside. Jane watched in disbelief as her father was wheeled past her, eyes shut, face drained of color.
Someone grasped her arm, and Jane turned to see that it was a lady in blue patterned scrubs. “Come sit down,” the nurse said. “I’ll get you some water. Don’t worry, they’ll take good care of your dad.”
“How do you know?” Jane blurted. She felt the tears burn in her eyes, and she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” the nurse said. “I know you’re worried. I’ll go check to see what’s going on, all right?”
“All right,” Jane echoed, sitting numbly on the edge of a waiting room chair. No one else was in the waiting room, and all she could hear were muffled hospital sounds. She wasn’t sure how long she waited—maybe five minutes, maybe twenty—before the nurse returned.
“Good news.” The nurse sat next to Jane. “Your dad’s going to be fine.”
Jane exhaled and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the nurse was waiting patiently, a smile on her face, her blue eyes friendly.
“Your dad’s awake and talking, but the doctor wants to keep him for a few hours of observation.” The nurse looked down at an iPad she carried. “What’s his regular insulin dose, and when was his last one?”
Jane answered the nurse’s questions, then said, “When can I see him?”
Another smile. “I’ll take you back now.”
Jane wanted to hug the woman. Instead, she nodded. “Great, thank you.”
They walked through the waiting room, then down a corridor. The nurse led her into an exam room, where Jane’s dad was in a hospital bed, hooked up to a monitor.
The color had returned to his face, but he looked more fragile than Jane liked.
She hurried to his side and grasped his hand.
“I’m sorry, Jane,” her dad said. “I should have paid more attention to the sugar content.”
Jane blinked back tears. “I should have hid that basket in my room.”
Her dad gave a weak smile. “That might not have stopped me.”
But Jane felt guilty anyway. She’d been good about keeping food temptations out of the house for the most part. She had a small candy stash in her bedroom, but her dad didn’t know about it. “I’m glad you woke me up and told me what you did.”
Her dad nodded, his gaze somber. “I’m going to do better, I promise.”
Jane leaned down and kissed her dad’s cheek. “A promise is a promise. I’m holding you to it.”
“Now, go see when I can get out of here,” her dad said.
“They said a few hours,” Jane said.
A nurse bustled in, a different one than the one who’d led Jane in. “I need to take your vitals again, Mr. Morris.”
Jane moved away from the bed.
“They’re serving a hot breakfast in the cafeteria, miss,” the nurse continued, looking at Jane.
“Oh, I’m not really dressed.”
The nurse chuckled. “There’s no fashion statement at this hospital.”
“Go on, Jane,” her dad said. “I’ll be fine with Debbie here.”
Jane realized the nurse’s name tag said Debbie. She gave her dad a sharp look. Debbie was a nice-looking woman, maybe in her fifties. Her dad winked.
Jane sighed. She was hungry, and she might as well eat while her dad was being taken care of. “All right. I’ll be back soon.”
She followed the signs to the cafeteria, and she was just about to open the glass doors when someone said, “Jane?”
She’d know Cameron’s voice anywhere. She slowly turned to see him crossing the lobby and coming toward her.
Cameron wasn’t sure if it was surprise or panic on Jane’s face, or maybe both, when she turned around. He’d only caught a glimpse of her as she reached for the cafeteria door, but he instinctively knew that the woman in yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt, hair pulled into what might have once been a ponytail, was Jane. It just took him a minute to reconcile why he was seeing her at the hospital.
He scanned her appearance as he approached. She didn’t look like this was a planned visit, more like she was dressed for curling up on a couch and reading a book.
“Hi, Cameron,” she said, giving him a tight smile.
His heart did a funny little twitch. He hadn’t expected to see her here, and she definitely wasn’t expecting to see him. Maybe she worked at the hospital too? “What are you doing here?”
She exhaled and looked away.
This made him worried. “Are you all right?” he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She looked up at him, and he saw tears in her eyes. “My dad almost went into a diabetic coma this morning. I drove him here.”
“Oh, wow. Is he going to be okay?”
She blinked a few times, as if to wish away her tears. “He’ll be fine. I’m hoping he’ll listen to me more after this.”
Cameron shook his head. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
She shrugged. “How could you? And what brings you here? Is everyone in your family all right?” Her green eyes deepened with concern.
“I’m meeting my mom—we’re presenting last night’s results to the director,” Cameron said. “She’s running late.”
“Oh, I hope the benefit was a success.”
“Thanks, it was,” Cameron said. “How long will your dad be here?”
“Just a few hours more,” she said. “They’re going to monitor him for a bit.” She shook her head. “I should have put the basket in my room last night.”
“The basket?” he asked.
“That food basket you bought at the auction,” Jane said. “My dad ate some of the sugar wafers when I was still asleep. That and his breakfast sent his blood sugar sky high.”
Cameron couldn’t speak for a moment.
“Don’t worry, it’s not your fault—or really mine. My dad knows better.” She wiped at her face. “I just can’t let my guard down, I guess.”
“Is your dad...” Cameron didn’t know exactly how to put it. “Mentally healthy?”
Jane lifted a brow, and then a smile crept on her face. “He is. He’s perfectly capable of managing his diabetes. He’s just stubborn.”
Cameron nodded. “Do you want me to talk to him for you?”
Jane looked like she was trying to hold back a laugh. “Uh, that would not go over well. He already has quite a few opinions about me going to the gala last night.”
“Oh really? Like what?”
Her face pinked, and Cameron wanted to backtrack. He was being too pushy.
“I’m sure you can guess,” Jane said, motioning toward him. “You’re you, and I’m me. The same issue Crystal would have. Did she ever text you?”
“Wait, you just changed the subject like three times.”
Jane grinned and folded her arms.
“Crystal did text me, and she’s furious, but I don’t care,” he said. “Now, tell me what your dad’s problem is with me.”
She sighed. “He’s just protective of me, that’s all.”
Cameron wanted to question her more, but just then someone came out of the cafeteria doors, and Jane moved to let them pass. Before Cameron could respond to her previous statement, she said, “Well, I’m going to grab something to eat, then go and sit with my dad.”
“Wait,” Cameron said, not ready for her to disappear on him. “My mom sent me some pictures from last night. Can I text them over to you?”
Jane blinked. “Pictures of us?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t know there were pictures.”
“Well, there was an unofficial photographer who took a few of the event for a write-up in the local paper.” Cameron shrugged. “But if you don’t want them, that’s cool.”
Jane seemed to hesit
ate. “Okay, send them to me.”
Cameron tried not to show that he was gloating over his victory. He didn’t know why. It wasn’t like he was going to contact Jane later or anything. She rattled off her number as Cameron created the contact. Then, before he could ask her more about her dad’s strong opinions, she’d opened the door to the cafeteria, said goodbye, and gone inside.
Cameron stared after her for a moment, fighting the urge to go in after her, maybe sit with her and eat. What was wrong with him? Jane was clearly not interested, and it seemed her dad wasn’t a big fan of Cameron’s either. Besides, what was he thinking? He was swamped with work and personal fallout from the canceled engagement. He didn’t have the time, or desire, to date anyone.
“Cameron?” his mom’s voice cut through his thoughts.
He hadn’t realized he was still standing by the cafeteria doors. He turned. “Great, you’re here.”
“Sorry I’m late,” she said. “Did you let the director know?”
“Uh, not yet,” Cameron said. “I was actually just talking to Jane Morris. Her dad is here, dealing with some diabetes stuff.”
“Oh, really?” she said. “Is he going to be all right?”
“Jane says he is,” Cameron said, walking with his mom away from the cafeteria.
“So she’s here alone?” his mom pressed.
“Yeah, I guess so,” he said. “Her parents are divorced, and her mom lives in another city.” At least, he guessed that. He wasn’t entirely sure where her mom was.
“We’ll have to check in on her after our meeting,” his mom said. “Make sure she’s all right.”
Cameron nodded. They’d reached the director’s office, and he opened the door for his mom. He didn’t know what he’d do if one of his parents had to go to the hospital. He didn’t know if Jane had any other relatives in Pine Valley. Frankly, he didn’t know much about her. It was hard to focus on the meeting, and he found himself more than once wanting to excuse himself to go find Jane.
When things finally concluded and handshakes were extended all around, Cameron couldn’t leave the director’s office fast enough.
“Do you want to go golfing with your dad this afternoon?” his mom asked Cameron. “I think I’m too worn out.”
“Maybe,” Cameron said. It might be good to get out in the sun and forget everything for a while.
She scanned his face, then said, “Let’s go check on Jane. Then you should call your dad. He’d love you as a replacement. I tend to give up after about five holes.”
“All right,” Cameron said. But Jane was nowhere to be found. They looked in several waiting rooms, and short of asking the hospital staff if they could page her, Cameron gave up. He didn’t want to bother her if she was in her dad’s hospital room.
“I’ll call her later,” Cameron told his mom.
“You have her number?” She raised her brows as if this was significant.
“Sure,” Cameron said, trying to brush off the look his mom was giving him. He leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I’ll call Dad and see you later.”
“Thanks, son,” his mom said, then turned to walk out of the main entrance.
Cameron stood looking at the waiting room for a moment, then left the hospital himself. There was no use stalking the hallways. Jane was probably perfectly fine. Probably.
But to be sure, he sent her a text before he started up his car. Just leaving the hospital. How’s your dad doing? Do you need anything? This is Cameron, by the way. He waited ten minutes, but there was no reply. So he started his car and slowly drove away.
By the time he pulled up to his cabin, she still hadn’t replied. Cameron walked into the cabin and went out to the back deck. There, he sat in one of the outdoor chairs and pulled up the pictures his mom had sent over from the gala. Two had him and Jane in them. In one, they were in the background, and another person was the focus. In the second picture, the shot was closer. They were sitting at the table, looking at each other, and Jane was smiling at something Cameron must have said.
He gazed at the picture for a few moments, then attached both to a text and sent them to Jane. After a few more minutes waiting for Jane to reply, he went into the house and called his dad.
“Mom’s passing up on the golfing today,” he told his dad when he answered. “Want me for a partner?”
“Love it,” his dad said. “Two o’clock at the club?”
“Sure,” Cameron said, then hung up. He settled on his kitchen counter with his laptop and pulled up his emails. He responded to a few but kept checking his phone. Jane still hadn’t replied.
He read through Crystal’s texts from the night before where she called him a few choice names. Again relief washed over him at the fact that he wouldn’t be marrying the woman. He screenshotted the texts, then deleted the strand. He didn’t need it staring at him when he opened his text app.
Then a new text buzzed his phone, and he saw Jane’s name pop up. He opened the text to read it: Thanks for the pictures. I was in the billing office so sorry I didn’t respond earlier. My dad will be fine. We just got home, and although he’s grumpy about me getting rid of more treats around the house, he’ll survive.
Cameron smiled and wondered if it would seem too eager of him to text back right away? Or should he wait an hour or so? He started typing: I’m glad your dad’s okay. I have a pantry full of treats if you ever need to splurge.
He hit SEND before he could overthink his response. It was completely casual, right?
If you have Oreos, I might be tempted.
I have regular and double-stuffed, he wrote back.
She sent back a smiley face with heart eyes.
Cameron re-read the text strand twice. Then he took a deep breath, and typed: Let me know if your dad needs that talking-to.
LOL. I will.
Cameron scrubbed a hand through his hair. Okay, so he would admit to himself that he liked Jane. More than a little. But now wasn’t the time or the place to be thinking about another woman. His emotions were a mess, and Jane didn’t deserve to be in the middle of whatever rebound he was apparently going through.
He refocused on going through his emails, then got ready to go golfing with his dad. Maybe some father-son time would clear his head.
Jane laughed at the picture of Oreos that Cameron had texted over. They’d been texting on and off for the past week. It had all been friendly banter, and Cameron had asked about her dad a few times. She’d assured him that her dad was fine now, although she was pretty much a nervous wreck over playing the vigilante to her dad’s diet and medication.
She made him start a food journal, and it was the first thing she checked when she came home from work. Tonight, Jane had curled up in bed with her Kindle, while her dad watched TV at full volume in the living room. Who cared that it was Friday night, and she was sitting home, again. She didn’t mind. Not really. Tomorrow night, she’d take her dad to the assisted living center and get in plenty of social interaction.
Reading through the recent text strand from Cameron, Jane wondered what he was doing tonight. He’d sent the picture a couple hours ago—probably before he left to go do whatever wealthy single men did on Friday nights.
Jane groaned. She had to stop thinking of him as a “wealthy man”—it wasn’t really fair to him. Besides, she was starting to feel that he was more than just a courteous guy. He was becoming her friend.
Her phone rang, and Jane flinched at the unexpected sound.
“Hi, Mom,” she answered.
“Jane, where have you been?”
“I’m at home,” Jane said, then backtracked. “Dad’s house. Why?”
“Did you get my message?”
Jane pulled her phone from her ear. There were no missed calls or messages. “No, Mom. When did you call?”
Her mom sighed. Jane tried not to get worked up when her mom did this. She often made a big deal out of small things.
“Gina invited me to a weekend getaway, and I can’t find anyone to
watch Sparks.”
Jane hid a groan. Sparks was her mom’s fifteen-year-old dog that was mostly blind and had a permanent limp. “What about Mrs. Felt? Hasn’t she fed him before?”
“We’re not exactly on speaking terms,” her mom said, breezing past any explanation. “Please, Jane. I’ve called everyone, and they all have excuses. You’re my last resort. Can you please come get him before Sunday? We’re flying out early in the morning.”
“Did you call the Doggie Barn?”
“Ugh. You know Sparks got sick last time he went to that kennel.”
“When did he ever go?” Jane asked.
Her mom didn’t answer, which told Jane that the dog hadn’t been to the Doggie Barn. “I’ll give you gas money.”
“It’s not the money, Mom,” she said. “I have to work tomorrow afternoon, then take Dad to his game night after that. I’d have to leave at 6:00 a.m., drive two hours to your house, then back here. Plus, are you going to pick up Sparks at the end of the trip?”
“Yes, I’ll pick him up,” her mom said. “I appreciate this so much, sweetie. Thanks a million. Just text me when you’re on your way so that I can get his medicine put together.”
Jane opened her mouth to give her mom more suggestions just as her mom hung up. Jane stared at her phone. Then she closed her eyes and leaned back on her pillows with a groan. Her mom was the master manipulator. Whatever she wanted, she got. No matter how it might inconvenience someone else. Her mom was overbearing where her dad was nonconfrontational. Two people couldn’t be more opposite.
Jane rolled over onto her side, plugged in her phone, and stared at the opposite wall. What would she do with an arthritic dog for a whole week? She didn’t know how her dad would react, and Jane would have to make sure she stayed on top of the dog’s medicine. Now Jane would have two things to worry about all week.
She sighed and climbed off her bed, then went to tell her dad she’d be leaving early in the morning to pick up Sparks. He just shook his head; they both knew how hard it was to argue with her mom.
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