by Amy Vastine
“Yeah.” She felt a light pressure on her arm.
“Can you…could you please tell me about it. My recollection isn’t great.”
“Sure. First off, you should know you did all that you could—”
She grunted. If she hadn’t been so upset by the situation with Olivia, she likely could’ve avoided the whole situation and not been thrown off her bike.
“Hey, I ride, too. How you handled the bike almost certainly saved your life. You can trust me on that.”
Jax closed her eyes briefly. She was tired—agonizingly so—yet she wanted to hear what he could tell her. “Go on.”
“A twenty-one-year-old kid from Carson City, driving his mother’s car without permission, ran the stop sign. He T-boned the vehicle you were following. That other driver had no opportunity to avoid the collision, since the kid rammed directly into her car. For what it’s worth, the kid’s been charged. You managed to steer around the accident. The shoulder was soft, and that close to the intersection, it sloped into the drainage ditch. No way you could’ve maintained control under those conditions and at the speed you must’ve been travelling.”
Jax sighed heavily. “The other driver…and the kid? What’s their condition?” Although she hadn’t caused the accident, she didn’t think she could face knowing that someone had died.
“They’re both okay. The kid was unharmed. The other driver was treated for minor injuries. Nothing serious. She was fortunate that her airbags deployed. Jacqueline, you—”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Sorry. I forgot. Jax,” he corrected himself and touched her hand. “You’re lucky to be alive. You’re hurt and have a number of fractures. Your shoulder blade, ribs and ankle. Fortunately, bones heal.” He shook his head. “A woman—a witness—was trying to keep you still before we arrived. She wanted to make sure you didn’t exacerbate your injuries.” He glanced at her slender form under the covers. “You’re what, a hundred and fifteen pounds or thereabouts?”
She nodded.
“Injured as you were, and more than likely in shock, you threw off her hands. When you were brought in, the doctor said if you hadn’t rolled over when you did, you could’ve pierced your lung with the broken ribs.”
She didn’t want to hear any more about her injuries. She could feel them despite the hydromorphone drip the nurse said they were giving her to control the pain. “My bike? Do you know what happened to it? Is it a write-off?”
He smiled. “It’s in surprisingly good shape. The damage is mostly cosmetic. Nice bike, by the way. I arranged to have it stored at the fire station until you decide what you want to do with it. One of the guys from the station has a flatbed and he transported it. I didn’t think you’d want a regular tow truck taking it and risk damaging it further.”
“Thanks.” Her motorcycle was her pride and joy. She’d worked hard at her landscaping business to earn enough to afford it. Other than the bike, she reinvested almost all her profits in her business. Now, she’d have to come up with the amount of her insurance deductible.
Wanting to ease her dry throat, Jax reached for the cup of water on her tray. Ryan beat her to it. He positioned the straw for her while she drank.
She watched him refill the paper cup from a pitcher on the windowsill and put it back on her tray.
“Why are you here?” she asked, holding his gaze.
“Reasonable question.” The soft smile, juxtaposed against the strong features, transformed his face. His eyes were so appealing and kind, she was mesmerized.
“I came in with a paramedic who needed a hand on another call shortly after you were brought in. When I got here, I asked about you.” His eyes shifted to a spot above her left shoulder. “They told me you’d been admitted, and they couldn’t locate your family.” He looked back at her. “I didn’t want you to wake up alone, after what you’d been through. So…so, I told them I was a friend.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“I had to say that, otherwise, they wouldn’t have let me in to see you,” he rushed on.
His last statement unnerved her. She didn’t need anyone. She’d had only herself to rely on as far back as she could remember. At least since Kyle was born.
She closed her eyes again. “I have family,” she said, thinking of Kyle, but obviously her little brother couldn’t help her. “I have a stepmother,” she added, and gave Ryan Olivia’s name, address and telephone number. “I’ll be fine. Thanks.”
She pretended to fall asleep, hoping he’d leave. Minutes later, she heard the chair scrape back and felt a light touch on her arm.
“I’ll let them know about your stepmother. Take care of yourself.”
Jax listened to his receding footsteps. When they finally faded, she glanced at the chair he’d vacated. She was alone—which wasn’t new for her. She also felt somehow empty and regretful, which was new.
* * *
Ryan stuffed his hands in his pants pockets as he strode to the nurses’ station. A pretty brunette in pale pink scrubs looked up at him.
“Apparently…” He caught himself before he could let on that he didn’t know Jacqueline Warren. He read her name tag. “Linda, ah, I…forgot to tell the police about Jax’s stepmother. She should be informed.” He held out the slip of paper with the contact information to the nurse.
“We don’t usually do notifications. The police department does it. I’ll take the information, though, for Ms. Warren’s file.” The nurse jotted down the particulars and handed the paper back to Ryan.
Placing it in his shirt pocket, he headed to the parking lot. He climbed into his Camaro, lowered the windows and the roof, and put his sunglasses on. With an arm resting on the door, he stared at the hazy mountain ridge in the distance.
What was he doing? Jacqueline—Jax—was the victim of a careless kid’s dumb move. Sure, he felt bad for her. He liked helping people, which was why he’d become a firefighter to begin with.
He’d done his job for Jax, and that should’ve been it. Man, he’d lied about knowing her so a nurse would let him see her. That definitely wasn’t like him. Yeah, there was the connection with the motorcycle. He’d dropped his bike once, too. He’d been lucky enough to walk away from the accident unharmed. It had taught him how exposed you were on a motorcycle. Accidents like Jax’s were rarely the motorcyclist’s fault. He recalled the saying that bikers fit into one of two groups—those who’d dropped their bikes, and those who would. He and Jax belonged to the former category, and he hoped neither of them would be in an accident again.
Jax was pretty, with that shoulder-length chestnut hair and whisky-colored eyes. He could see that, despite being as banged up as she was, but the attraction he felt for her was more than physical. She’d been smart and skilled handling her motorcycle, and she’d been courageous considering how much pain she must’ve been in.
He started his engine and thought of his younger sister, Samantha. She’d recently gotten her motorcycle permit. Did Jax’s attitude remind him of Sam? Nah. It was more than that. Regardless, it didn’t matter since she did have family and didn’t seem keen on having him around. He’d arrange to get her bike where she wanted it. Beyond that, he doubted he’d be seeing her again.
He took the slip of paper out of his pocket. He’d call Jax’s stepmother, Olivia Warren, so Jax wouldn’t be alone when she next came out of her drug-induced sleep.
He unholstered his iPhone and punched in the numbers. “Mrs. Warren?” he asked when a female voice answered.
“Yes.” Her tone was reserved.
“I’m calling about your daughter—”
“I don’t have a daughter.” Her voice turned haughty.
“Sorry, I meant your stepdaughter. Jacqueline.”
“And who are you?”
“I’m with the Golden Valley Fire Department.”
“Why are you calling me?”
He didn’t understand the woman’s reaction. “Jax was in an accident. She’s in the hospital, and will be for a couple of weeks.”<
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“She’ll recover then?”
“Yes. Eventually.”
“What do you want from me?” was the woman’s response.
“I… I assumed you’d want to visit her. Be there for her.”
“Sorry. I’m busy.”
Ryan asked her if someone else—another relative, a friend or a boyfriend—could be contacted. She said she didn’t have any knowledge of Jacqueline’s personal life and hung up.
Although Ryan surmised that Jax wouldn’t be pleased about it, he felt sorry for her. No, not sorry. Protective might be a better word. He was enraged by Mrs. Warren’s callousness, but he couldn’t do anything about it. He’d seen enough serious injuries to know that even after Jax was discharged, it would be weeks before she’d be sufficiently healed to resume her normal activities, work or otherwise. She’d be mobility-impaired for a while with the number of fractures she’d suffered.
Jax wasn’t his problem, he told himself, and pulled out of the parking lot.
CHAPTER THREE
The next day was a busy one for Ryan at work. Nothing major—rescuing a cat from a tree, doing a fire safety talk at the local high school and a medical-emergency response—but his day flew by. With Thanksgiving around the corner, he wanted to do some shopping at the end of his shift. His family—mom and dad, sister, Sam, and younger brother, Nathan—had a long-standing tradition of exchanging gifts at Thanksgiving. Small, token gifts, with a cap of twenty dollars each. The idea was to choose things that showed the recipients what the giver was most thankful to them for over the course of the year.
Ryan grinned as he thought about Sam. She was in her last year at Western Nevada College in Carson City with a heavy course load, yet she always helped out with Bongo, his Rhodesian Ridgeback, when his shift required it. She’d wanted a pet of her own for a while, but they weren’t allowed in her college dorm. He planned to adopt a kitten for her from the local shelter as a graduation present. For now, he’d get her a little stuffed dog to let her know how much he appreciated her assistance with Bongo.
Finding a perfect replica of Bongo at the mall, he drove home. The route to his house took him by the Golden Valley Hospital. Approaching it, his eyes were drawn to the third floor, roughly where Jax’s room was located.
He couldn’t imagine not having a close and loving family. His own family meant so much to him. He relied on them without question, as they did on him. He still couldn’t believe the reaction he’d had from Jax’s stepmother.
Barely past the hospital, he slowed and checked his rearview mirror. Seeing no vehicles, he made a fast U-turn. He drove into the hospital’s lot and parked his car. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, he stared up at the window that he was sure was Jax’s.
Why couldn’t he let her be? Her wellbeing wasn’t his responsibility.
He shut off the ignition. He was here, so he might as well go see her. As he was about to close his door, he spotted the stuffed dog on the passenger seat. He reached in and grabbed it. Easy enough to pick up another one for Sam.
The little dog tucked under his arm, he walked to the front doors of the hospital.
The same nurse as the day before was at the station when Ryan entered the trauma and orthopedics ward. He leaned on the counter. “Hi, Linda. Has anyone called or visited Jacqueline Warren?” Before she could answer, he realized his question might have sounded intrusive. “I don’t mean to pry. I just don’t like to think of her being alone,” he clarified. “Has her stepmother been in touch?”
“Not that I’m aware of.” Linda gestured toward Jax’s room. “You can ask her yourself. The doctor is finishing with her now. You should be okay to go in.”
Ryan straightened. “Thanks.”
He peered inside the room. A doctor was tugging back the curtain around Jax’s bed. Ryan presumed that meant he was done with the examination. Jax perched stiffly on the edge of her bed. Her hospital gown slipped off her left shoulder and Ryan noticed a big, angry bruise high on her back before the doctor repositioned the gown. Based on what he knew about the injuries she’d sustained in the accident, he didn’t think that bruise had anything to do with it. He wondered what could’ve caused it.
After the doctor had helped her settle in the bed, he noticed Ryan in the doorway and motioned for him to enter.
“See you tomorrow, Jax,” the doctor said and nodded to Ryan as he walked by.
“How’re you feeling?” Ryan asked her.
“Like a ton of bricks was dropped on me.” Her expression showed that she hadn’t expected to see him again. “How about you?”
“Fine, thanks.” He couldn’t resist a smile. “I brought you a gift,” he said and offered her the stuffed toy.
She smiled briefly and reached for it. “I like dogs,” she said, as she examined it. “What breed is this?”
“Ridgeback. A toy version of my dog.”
Her smile returned fleetingly. “Thank you.” She nestled the plush dog against her broken right side. “Why’d you come back?”
“To give you that.” Another small lie, he thought. Then he remembered her motorcycle. “And to ask about your bike. What would you like me to do with it?” A dark shadow crossed her face. He could guess what she was thinking—whether she’d stop riding or not. He’d grappled with the same question after his accident, and he hadn’t been injured. He figured it would be a tougher choice for her. “You don’t have to decide anything now. How about if I take it to the Harley shop for you and have them store it until you’re ready to deal with it?”
“Yeah, I’d appreciate that.”
“Have you heard from your stepmother?” he asked, wanting to change the subject. Clearly not a good choice, either, if the forlorn expression on her face was any indication. As he looked at her, his heart ached.
She shook her head. “I’m sure I will at some point.”
If he’d hoped to cheer her, he was failing miserably. “Do you mind if I stay for a while?” he asked. He expected she’d tell him to go; he hoped she wouldn’t.
She shrugged her shoulder and immediately grimaced, no doubt from the pain caused by her broken scapula.
“I’ll go if I’m disturbing you,” he was quick to add. He had no intention of bothering her or causing her pain.
“It’s okay” She motioned toward the magazine lying next to her on the bed. “Fashion isn’t a big interest of mine.” She repositioned the little stuffed dog and smiled again. “You can stay if you want.”
* * *
It surprised Jax that Ryan fell into the habit of visiting her every day. He usually left only after she’d fallen asleep. He almost always brought her a present. A book or a game. Things to occupy her when she was by herself. She introduced him to a couple of her friends who’d come to visit while he was there, and one of the team members from her landscaping business. Once he answered the phone for her when Kyle called, and she explained to him that he was her half-brother.
As the days passed, Jax started to look forward to Ryan’s visits and their conversations. She’d discovered that Ryan was intelligent and had a terrific sense of humor.
With the demands of her growing landscaping business, she seldom had free time and wasn’t accustomed to inactivity. In addition to enjoying Ryan’s company, his visits were an effective distraction from boredom during her long days at the hospital.
She was astonished by how much she was willing to open up to him and talk about matters she’d never discussed with anyone. She rationalized that it was because the accident was traumatic and she needed an outlet. Also, he was essentially a stranger and he didn’t seem judgmental, regardless of what she said.
Few people were aware that Jax’s mother had died from complications of childbirth when she was born, and even fewer knew about the guilt she carried as a consequence. Jax supposed her father had loved her in his own way. The loss of his wife had changed him, she’d been told. He’d never recovered from the grief and he’d become emotionally inaccessible. He’d given her
the necessities but not the love she craved so desperately. When he’d met and then married Olivia, Jax had been elated. She’d hoped Olivia would make her father happy and that she would have the mother she’d secretly longed for.
Her hopes were swiftly dashed. Despite being barely seventeen, she’d realized that her father didn’t love Olivia, at least not in the same way he still seemed to love Jax’s mother. Jax told Ryan that she didn’t think her father had married Olivia for love. She hadn’t seen any demonstration of what she’d call love or true affection between them. He must have been lonely after her mother had passed away, she theorized, and had found having a daughter to parent on his own challenging. She suspected the main reason he’d married Olivia was to have someone to care of her.
The tentative bond that had started to form between Jax and her new stepmother unraveled as Olivia realized it, too. She resented Jax’s mother, convinced that she was the reason she was denied her husband’s love. Since Jax resembled her more and more as she matured, that resentment extended to Jax.
After her father’s marriage to Olivia, he’d become physically absent from her life, too, travelling on business more often than he was at home, leaving his young wife and daughter on their own. It was a purposeful distancing, Jax was certain.
Three years later her father and Olivia announced that they were having a baby. Jax was attending college and was away from home by then, yet she hoped again that this would bring them together as a family. She was disappointed once more. With Kyle’s birth, all of Olivia’s attention became focused on the baby, to the exclusion of Jax and her father. The one bright spot in Jax’s life was Kyle. For Jax, Kyle epitomized love—both giving and receiving it, and she tried to see him as often as she could.
Jax confided to Ryan that after her father had died of a heart attack a couple of years earlier, her stepmother had dropped even the pretense of caring about her. While her father had been alive, Jax had tried to get along with her stepmother for the sake of her father and Kyle. Their relationship became intolerable after his death. And that led Jax to divulge why she hated being called by her full name, Jacqueline, since Olivia was the sole person who used it.