“Thank you, Dad,” I said.
“You’re welcome.” Then he added, “There’s more.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Our health insurance program is good, but something like this always results in bills. Whatever they are, I want you to consider them paid. Just bring them to me, and it will be taken care of.”
“That’s a substantial offer,” Jack replied, “but I couldn’t—”
Robert held up his hand once again. “I don’t normally brag, Jack, but the money isn’t a problem. The family has amassed a tad of wealth over the years. You’re with Kathleen now, and if you two are as serious as you claim to be, then I consider you and your daughter a part of this family. The bills will be taken care of.”
Jack looked to me with an anxious expression, unsure how to proceed. I nodded and smiled.
“It’s true,” I confirmed. I leaned forward and whispered, hoping to lighten Jack’s mood. “I don’t brag, either.”
“One last thing, and then we can enjoy our meal,” Robert announced.
Jack shook his head. “I’m not sure I can handle one more thing,” he semi-joked.
“From what you’ve both mentioned, you’ll need to stay in Portland longer than your reservation here. I arranged to have my apartment in the Pearl readied for you to move into. You can remain there as long as you need to. It has three bedrooms, so there should be plenty of room if you and Heide need to stay there after she leaves the hospital.”
My father turned to me once again. “You can stay up here and work remotely from the apartment. I’ll let you determine your own schedule, and we’ll work through any kinks that might come up. Do you have your laptop?”
“No,” I answered. “I wasn’t thinking that far ahead when we left town.”
“I’ll get it to you.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“I’m sure I don’t want you roaming back and forth between here and Bend for the next couple of months.”
I smiled and was overcome with relief. Despite the reason for our coming together that night, the mood between the three of us was lighter. Robert accomplished what he’d set out to do in Portland, and Jack and I were now in the clear to be there for his daughter, and each other. After dinner, Jack excused himself to step outside and call Allison, allowing Robert and I our own bit of privacy.
As I considered my own words, my father surprised me and said, “We seem to be making some headway. You and I.”
“I agree.”
“I like it.”
“Me, too.”
“I don’t want to screw things up between us. I just want you to know that I intend to keep building on this good will we’ve established.”
“I want that, too.”
“I’m glad.”
I glanced down at the table. “I’ll mess things up once in a while,” I warned him. “You need to let me know when I start down that slope.”
“The same goes for me.”
I nodded as Jack rejoined us.
“Allison ate earlier and napped after. She’s on her way to meet us in the lobby.”
I looked to my father, and he rose from his seat to shake Jack’s hand. “I hope things go well for Heide tonight. If you don’t mind I’d like to stop by and see her tomorrow before I head back home.”
“You’re welcome to stop by anytime,” Jack said. “No need to ask.”
Robert turned to me as I stood up and gathered my purse.
“Thanks for coming all the way up here,” I said. “I know you could have dealt with all this over the phone.”
“You’re both capable individuals, but I wanted to see for myself that you were both taken care of.”
I stepped forward and gave my father a brief but heartfelt hug. We were both unaccustomed to overt affection, so I pulled back before the mood became awkward for either of us.
I grinned. “We’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night.”
I turned to exit the lounge and Jack followed my lead, taking my hand in his.
“That went well.” I smiled at Jack.
“Very well. I’m still in shock,” he admitted. “I don’t know how I’ll every pay any of this back. Or forward.”
“You’re clever. You’ll think of something.”
As we made our way to the main lobby, I attempted to detach my hand from Jack’s. I was startled when he grasped my hand with more strength.
“You don’t want to hold my hand?” Jack’s expression crinkled with curiosity.
“Of course I do.” I hesitated. “I just thought maybe we shouldn’t in front of Allison. At least, not right now.”
Jack halted and we faced one another. “I appreciate your consideration of her, but I’ve been upfront with her about what’s developed between us.”
He pulled my hand up to his lips and kissed the skin there, all the while holding my gaze.
“You don’t need to be afraid of upsetting her. She told me how you helped her this morning, and I wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear about it. You’re so cautious about exposing your own vulnerabilities, but you’d move heaven and earth to help others.”
I wanted so much to trust Jack about Allison, but right then I found doing so difficult. We lowered our hands and resumed our walk, fingers still laced. I did my best to keep my hand from shaking within his grasp, so my anxiety coiled around my heart in exchange.
Allison was waiting near the entrance to Starbucks, close to the Eleventh Avenue doors. When Jack said hello to her, she swiveled in our direction.
“Hi.” She looked over each of us, greeting us both with one word. Her tone was as unreadable as her expression. If she noticed our public display of affection, her face gave nothing away.
“Feeling refreshed?” he asked as we paused to stand beside her.
“You were right. I needed the break,” she said. “Thanks for putting your foot down on that one.”
“Is your room nice?” I ventured, nervously.
Allison nodded and swallowed before answering. “Yes. Thanks for asking.”
I turned to Jack. “Do you have the valet ticket? I’ll go ask for the car so you two can talk.”
Jack nodded and handed it to me, although he leveled me with a somber stare. I clutched the ticket and retreated outside before he could think of a reason to stop me. My respite was brief, but long enough for me to figure out how to survive the next few minutes. The two of them joined me right when the car pulled up to the curb. As the valet emerged from the vehicle, I announced my intention.
“I’ll drive us there.”
I ducked into the driver’s seat, sheepish. I’d chosen to sit behind the wheel because I didn’t want Jack to. If he’d opted to do so, it would have forced Allison and me to decide who would sit next to him and who would take the back seat.
Allison chose to sit behind me. Jack walked around the back of the car and settled into the front passenger seat. From her place in the back, Allison could see Jack perfectly. I pulled out into traffic and began navigating through the streets of downtown, making our way toward the West Hills along Broadway.
“Kathleen? I want to thank you for your help this morning when I arrived. My condition took us both by surprise, but I appreciate you not letting me fall on the floor in front of Heide.”
I believed Allison was sincere, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d chosen to say this in the car so she didn’t have to make eye contact with me.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re feeling better now.”
Jack turned in his seat, and even with my periphery vision, I saw him offer Allison a grin. There wasn’t much conversation between the three of us during our short drive. As we made our way up the steep hill to OHSU, we all prepared ourselves for the evening ahead. My day in particular had been long with several unanticipated twists and turns. I had left Heide’s side that morning and was eager to sit with her again.
As we approached her room, Terry intercepted
us in the corridor with a smile on her face. “I was just heading back to the desk to call you both.”
“What is it?” Jack asked, attempting to restrain his growing excitement, but Terry’s optimism was palpable.
“Heide is showing signs of waking up. I’m glad you’re all here now. It will be good for her family to be with her when she does.”
Allison dashed into Heide’s room without another word, and Jack reached behind him to take my hand as we followed her. Terry was right behind us.
“It may take a little bit,” she added, preparing us, “but if you can stay in the room until Heide comes around, it should help her remain calm.”
Jack took his usual place on the right side of the bed, while Allison stood across from him on the left. I watched with quiet anticipation as Heide stretched her legs. The movement was small and slow, but compared to her complete inactivity since the accident it was significant to us. Jack and Allison reached out to their daughter, offering soft words of encouragement while I retreated to take a seat on the window bench. I wanted to respect the Evans family unit during this critical point in time.
As predicted, Heide woke up within the hour. She was unable to speak because of the ventilator, and Terry and her parents explained this to her several times, offering her guidance and advice on how to relax in spite of the confusing situation.
After a few minutes, Jack looked at me. “She’s groggy and mouthing words. It took me a few tries before I realized she’s asking for you.”
At this, I stood up and made my way over to Jack’s side. Heide’s blue eyes were partially open and languidly looking between her parents.
“Hello, Heide,” I greeted her as I placed a hand on her knee. “It’s Kathleen.”
She tried to open her eyes wider but was having difficulty. Between the pain medication and the fluorescent lighting above her head, I sympathized with her inability to focus. After several more attempts, she made eye contact with me before groggily pointing toward her mother. Jack and Allison didn’t understand what Heide was communicating, but I did. I peered over at Allison, who was smiling but also perplexed.
“Heide and I were talking in her room a few weeks ago,” I explained. “She asked me if you and I would be friends.”
Allison looked down at her daughter and bit her lip in an effort to hold back tears.
I turned back to Heide in order to offer Allison time to process this. “Yes, your mom and I met this morning, and now the four of us are all together.”
Jack’s hand slid back into mine, and this time I offered no resistance.
“GOOD EVENING, everyone,” Dr. Avery announced with a smile as he walked into the room. Terry followed close behind. “I decided not to wait until the morning to examine your daughter.”
“By all means,” Jack replied.
We all stepped away from Heide’s bed to give the medical team an opportunity to assess her current condition. It was close to eleven o’clock, and the doctor’s impromptu late hour visit gave the three of us an opportunity to discuss our plans for the rest of the night.
“I’m going to stay here with Heide,” Allison announced. “I don’t want her awake and alone.”
Jack nodded and added, “I’m staying, too.”
I was compelled to give the family their space and pointed in the direction of the cushioned window seat and the reclining rocker that had been added to the room after my previous departure. “You’ll both have comfortable places to rest, so I’ll call a cab in a few minutes and go back to the hotel.”
“It’s almost midnight,” Allison remarked. “I don’t like the idea of you taking a cab alone so late at night.”
I was surprised by her insistence and addressed her with a gentle voice, “I’ll be fine. I know this city well. I’m not concerned.”
Allison directed her attention to Jack. “You should drive Kathleen back to the hotel, and then you can come back.”
He looked at me. “I’d prefer to drive you,” he coaxed. “It will give me a chance to grab a few things for the night.”
Jack glanced back at Allison. “If you give me your room key, I can bring you some things, too.”
“That’d be perfect.” Allison rattled off a small list of items that Jack had no trouble committing to memory.
Dr. Avery finished his examination of Heide and regarded us all with a smile. “She’s making good progress. Setbacks can and do occur in trauma cases like hers, but I’m hopeful she’s through the worst of it now.”
“That’s wonderful to hear. Thank you so much,” Allison answered. She walked back over to her daughter and grasped her small hand. I watched their fingers with rapt attention and was pleased when I saw Heide squeeze her mother’s hand back. Every little movement Heide made was a true delight to behold.
“Are you ready now?” Jack asked.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
As the elevator doors closed shut on the Sentinel’s main lobby, Jack pressed the buttons for two different floors.
“I’m going to stop by Allison’s room first. I’ll meet you back at the suite.”
“Sure.” The plan made sense, but I couldn’t stop the nagging thought that Jack didn’t want me in Allison’s hotel room. I attempted to shake the negativity away as though it were a nagging insect.
We waved to each other when he exited a few moments later, and I continued the journey to our room in tortured silence. My back and shoulders ached, a combination of both stress and fatigue. My usual refuge for pain management was a steaming hot shower, but instead I found myself drawn out onto the terrace and its rectangular, stone tiled fire pit.
I turned on the flames and went back inside to change into the one nightgown I’d brought with me. It was a satin, mint-green ankle-length garment. Something I’d picked up on a previous business trip. I seldom wore it, opting to keep it packed in a suitcase at all times. The gown’s lace was minimal and what little there was clung to my bustline. It was also the perfect choice for the summer with its thin spaghetti straps. Once changed, I brushed out my hair and returned to the balcony.
The city air was warm and buzzed with late night weekend activity. I stretched out along the wicker sofa on the terrace and rolled onto my side, exposing my full back to the welcome heat of the fire. I relaxed, considered the possibility of sleeping in this spot for the next little while, and I drifted into a meditative state.
Jack returned to our room several minutes later. I listened as he gathered things for his night at OHSU, but I made no effort to rouse from my spot outside. The terrace door was open and wasn’t surprised when he stepped out to join me. He didn’t speak at first, probably wondering if I was asleep.
“I’m awake,” I murmured without budging.
Jack’s gentle footsteps approached me and a few seconds later the delicate touch of his fingers rested on my shoulder. He proceeded to trace the outline of the satin covering my body. His touch glided down the side that was available to his examination, next to my breast, down and back up the curve of my waistline before coming to rest at the top of my hip.
“I’ll miss you tonight,” he whispered, “but I’m glad you understand why I have to go.”
I opened my eyes and rolled over to face him. I smiled when our gazes met and pulled myself up to a sitting position.
“Sit with me for a minute.”
As soon as he was settled on the sofa, I faced him and reclined once again with my head on his lap. “I won’t keep you. I know you’re anxious to get back to Heide.”
Jack ran his hand through my hair with soft deliberation. “I love your hair like this. It was the first thing I noticed about you. You should always keep it long.”
“For you, I will.”
He smiled broadly at this. Between this simple moment of happiness and his impending departure, I was overtaken by impulse
“I want to touch you,” I confessed. “May I?”
His hand continued to sweep through my hair, massaging my scalp undeterred.
/> “What did you have in mind?” His voice was husky. Excited.
“We can stay right here. Like this.” I skimmed the waistband of the athletic pants he’d changed into with my finger.
Easy access.
Jack broke eye contact with me and turned his head to examine the cityscape beyond our balcony.
I watched his handsome profile with interest as I tried to read his thoughts. “No one is watching us,” I offered, hoping to convince him.
I rose up and waited until his eyes met mine. “Only if you’re sure.”
I placed my hands on his waist and tucked my fingers underneath the hem of his pants. I pulled them down as he briefly raised his hips and backside away from the cushions of the sofa. By the time we repositioned ourselves, he was fully aroused.
I ran my hand along the length of him, delighting in my close proximity. His breaths grew shallow as the anticipation blossomed between us.
“I’ve only had one taste of you,” I said. “And I want so much more.”
I leaned forward and ran my tongue around the tip of him. Jack’s fingers dug into the wicker as his head fell back. I smiled with pride before closing my lips around the area I had just licked. I sucked gently and enjoyed the slow introduction to a new experience for us. I pulled back, withdrawing all but the tip before pushing back down on him. I did this several times, taking a little more of his skin into my mouth with each descent.
Jack’s hands found my hair once more and swept it all away from my face. I opened my eyes and was delighted to see he was watching me with unblinking intensity. Assured of his undivided attention, I went back to pleasing him. I savored the opportunity to explore Jack intimately and took my time. Whenever he moaned with desire, I did the same. Listening to Jack as he grew closer and closer to his climax was ecstasy.
After a short while, Jack dropped his hands on my shoulders. “Let me take you to our bed. You need something, too.”
I pulled back just enough to say, “If I let you, it will take me longer to let you go.”
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