by Rachel Hanna
"Oh," Brad said, his face looking unsure of the story. "Hi, Jenna."
"Hi, guys. It's so nice to see you both. I sure wish the circumstances were better, though." She stared at the ground not knowing what to say. The last thing she wanted was to be the center of attention at a time like this.
"Are you Adele Parker's kids?" a nurse asked.
"Yes, we all are," Kyle said quickly. Jenna wasn't sure if he was trying to include her or was just so caught up in the moment that he forgot to exclude her. Either way, she was happy that she would be able to go back to the room with the men.
"You can come see her now, but please be sure to be quiet."
The nurse led them back to a room on the left. Adele was asleep, and she was hooked up to an EKG machine and what appeared to be fluids. The doctor walked in behind them and immediately ushered them into the hallway.
"I'm Dr. Clayton," he said shaking each of their hands. "Your mother is resting now."
"What happened?" Aaron asked.
"Well, a couple of things. It appears that she's had a stomach flu for a couple of days..."
"She has? She didn't tell me," Brad piped up.
"Me either," Aaron said as Kyle also shook his head.
"Well, her secretary said she worked right through it, according to the paramedics. Anyway, she was very dehydrated when she came in so we're giving her IV fluids."
"Thank God," Kyle said.
"But there's more," the doctor said in a whisper.
"More?" Aaron asked.
"Yes. Your mother's blood pressure was quite high when she got here, especially for someone who is dehydrated. We did a few tests, and it appears that she might have suffered a mild stroke very recently."
"A stroke?" Brad said putting his hand over his mouth.
"Yes, sir. Thankfully, it was mild this time, but these kinds of things often lead to bigger and more serious issues if not treated properly. I'm going to recommend that she see a neurologist once she’s feeling better, and maybe a cardiologist. It's likely that she'll need blood pressure medication as well as making some lifestyle changes to avoid a more serious stroke in the future."
Jenna eyed Kyle carefully, and she could tell he was feeling guilty about something. Amazing how someone's facial expressions can be so apparent to the person who loved them once.
"How long will she be here?" Kyle asked.
"Hopefully just a few hours until we get her hydrated again. Someone needs to tell your mother that she's not a spring chicken anymore. When she's sick, she needs to rest. This could have been much worse," the doctor said before walking off to answer a nurse's question.
The four of them quietly walked into Adele's room, and Kyle took his mother's hand. Her eyelids fluttered before she finally opened them and looked around the room.
"Is this a party?" she asked with a weak smile.
"If it is, it's a terrible one," Kyle said with a chuckle.
"I have a headache.”
"I imagine so. You fell and bumped your head on the floor, Mama," Brad said coming around and taking her other hand. "And you scared us all to death."
"Sorry, my loves," she said before realizing Jenna was standing behind Kyle. "Oh, my goodness, is that you, Jenna?" A big smile spread across her face.
"Yes, ma'am. It's me.” Jenna took a step forward.
"You're a sight for sore eyes! What are you doing here, sweetie?"
"Long story. I ran into Kyle recently. He just happened to be fixing a leak at my house when Aaron called him..." she tried to explain.
"You're a plumber now?" Brad asked with a quirk of a smile. Kyle rolled his eyes at his younger brother.
"Well, whatever the reason, I'm so glad you're here now.” Her face looked tired. Actually, she looked completely exhausted, and it took a lot to wear Adele Parker out.
“Mama, why don't you get some sleep?" Aaron suggested as he made eye contact with his siblings.
"Yes, I’m quite tired," she said barely holding her eyes open.
The four of them left the room. Brad called Jackson to update him as he made his way from Atlanta while Aaron walked off to call their only sister, Addison, who was on vacation with her husband in France.
"Want some coffee?" Kyle asked Jenna who nodded. They made their way to a small snack room off the emergency room hallway. Kyle took his coffee black, as usual, while Jenna loaded hers with cream and sugar. He'd always said her coffee tasted like syrup.
"I'm glad Adele is going to be okay."
"I'm not sure she is," Kyle said sitting down with a sigh.
"What do you mean? The doctor said..."
"I know what the doctor said, but I know my mother better than most anyone. I've never seen her look so fragile, so..."
"Human?" Jenna asked with a knowing smile on her face. Kyle looked down at his shoes. "Kyle, she's getting older. We all are. It happens."
"You know, I never got the chance to ask you where your parents are these days?”
"My mother passed away three years ago. Cancer," she said.
"I'm sorry."
"It was tough. She was only sick for a few months, but they just caught it too late. The chemo did nothing but make her sick."
"Cancer sucks," Kyle said shaking his head.
"Yeah, it sucks," Jenna said. "My father is still alive, but he developed early onset Alzheimer's around the time that Mom got ill. He couldn't care for her really, so we had to put him into a nursing home. He doesn't know me at all now, and he wasn't able to attend my mother's funeral."
"My God, Jenna. I'm so sorry. You've had the weight of the world on your shoulders these last few years," Kyle said with his eyes wide. For the first time, she felt like the old Kyle was in her presence.
"Yes, it's been tough. And then to lose my marriage and devastate my daughter and lose my home... Enough's enough. I'm looking forward to something good for a change."
Kyle nodded but she knew in the end that she was alone. All she had was her daughter, and that would have to be enough no matter how she longed for what she'd had with Kyle Parker all those years ago.
* * *
"How’s your mother?" Jenna asked when Kyle arrived at her door the next morning. They'd stayed at the hospital for a few hours, but the doctor assured them there was nothing else they could do so Kyle had taken Jenna home.
"She's much better, thanks. We were able to take her home late last night, and she was feisty as ever, so I think she's on the mend. Listen, thanks for being there with me yesterday.”
"You're welcome," Jenna said. "Come in."
"Where's Kaitlyn?"
"School."
"Right. I forgot it was Friday.”
"Being at the hospital always messes up your week," she said. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?"
"No thanks. I just came by to check in on your progress with the moving," he said. He hated to push her, but the interest payments would kill him if he didn't get the house sold sooner rather than later.
"No luck yet. I don't know what we're going to do really. I did find out there is a shelter over in Crossville..."
"A homeless shelter?" he asked with his mouth gaping open.
"Yes..."
"Absolutely not!"
"Kyle, I have limited options here..."
"Not that limited."
"Yes. They are that limited. I'm not like you. I don't have a big extended family that will take us in. We don't have anyone."
Kyle stared at her for a moment, his steely eyes cutting right through her.
"You have me," he whispered.
"Do I?" she whispered back. "Because the last time I checked, I was your least favorite person on Earth."
"Jenna..." he started but was interrupted by her phone ringing.
"Hello?" she said as she took it off the coffee table. "But, I don't understand. Why? You can't do this to me... I have a daughter to support..."
Kyle wondered whom she was talking to, but he could definitely see that the conversation was not going
well. Jenna's eyes were quickly filling with tears. She hung up and dropped her phone on the floor with her mouth hanging open. Sobs started to overtake her body, and Kyle helped her to the sofa.
"What's wrong?"
"I just got fired."
"What? Why?"
"She didn't really say, but I've been hearing rumors that they didn't like it when my home foreclosed. I guess they think I can't be trusted with money or something," she said, trying to take breaths in between her sobs.
"I'm sorry, Jenna," he said sitting down beside her.
"God, why is this happening to me?" she screamed as she stood up and turned her back to him. "Why? I don't understand! First, I lose my mother, my father forgets me, my husband leaves me, and I lose my house... Why? What is this for? Am I being punished?" she sobbed.
"Of course not, Jenna. You've just had some bad luck..."
"It’s not bad luck!" she yelled turning around. "It's you!"
"Me? What did I do?" he asked standing up.
"No, it's what I did to you. I'm being punished for leaving a good man behind without thinking. God is punishing me for hurting you..." she said, crying as she hung her head. "God, Kyle, you have to know I've regretted it every single day since I drove out of sight. I deserve all of this..."
"No, Jenna. You don't deserve any of this," he said softly as he walked forward and pulled her into his arms. Her face was pressed into his chest, which was wet from her tears within seconds. He could smell the strawberry scent emanating from her hair.
"Do you really hate me?"
"I never said I hated you."
"You said I was your least favorite person..."
"Jeez, what are you, a tape recorder? Stop repeating that. I was angry at the time," he said. He continued holding her close to his chest. "The truth is, you were and will always be my favorite person on Earth, and that scares the crap out of me." The words had fallen out of his mouth before he could stop them.
Jenna's breath caught and she pulled back to look up at him. Kyle's eyes diverted to the side of the room. Making eye contact with Jenna was dangerous territory for him.
"I am?" she whispered, and he couldn't avoid looking into her deep green eyes.
"You are," he said softly. Jenna started to lean in to kiss him, but he let go and backed away.
"No, Jenna. We can't do this."
"I don't understand..."
"It took me years to get over you. Truth is, I never did fully get over you. I just learned to live without you. I can't ever do that again. It almost killed me. And as much as I would love to kiss you right now, I have to protect myself. It can't happen. I'm sorry."
"But, Kyle..."
"No. I'm sorry. I really am. But you're just an emotional wreck right now, Jenna. This isn't about loving me, as much as you might believe it is. Because if you'd really loved me, you would’ve stayed with me that day all those years ago. You loved Nick, and I am not in the business of being a replacement for another man.”
"You don't understand, Kyle…”
"Jenna, I'm not trying to hurt you, but that part of my life is over. We can be friends, but nothing more. Ever. You understand?" She went silent, staring at him for a moment before she sat down.
"I understand," she whispered.
"Good. Now, let's figure out what to do next.”
* * *
Never had Jenna felt more embarrassed than right now. He'd pushed her away this time and she supposed she deserved it. How could she expect him to ever love her again anyway? This was just part of her life sentence of being cast aside and unloved by everyone around her. Except Kaitlyn, the one shining light in her life.
"Are you listening to me?" Kyle asked as he waved his hand in front of Jenna's face.
"Oh, yes, sorry. I'm just a little tired today.”
"I have a proposition for you."
"A proposition?"
"Yes. You and I both know that my mother needs to slow down for awhile, get her health under control."
"Of course."
"What if I hired you to be her assistant?"
"Her assistant? At home? She'd never go for that. She'd think you were hiring a nursemaid for her."
"No, not at home. I mean at the real estate office. You could be my eyes and ears, tell me when she's overdoing it. You see, I feel like some of this is my fault. I was there helping her run the place and then I left."
"Kyle, this isn't your fault. You're a grown man with dreams of his own. You had a right to pursue your dreams."
"Dreams don't always work out," he said softly, reminding her that she was once a dream of his.
"That's true. So what would I be doing?"
"Helping her with her schedule, paperwork, stuff like that."
"But doesn't she have a secretary?"
"Yes, but her secretary helps the agents and answers phones. You would be her personal assistant. She's never had one, but she needs one now. What do you think?"
"I would love to work with Adele, you know that. But I have some concerns."
"Such as?"
"Well, first I still don't have anywhere to live."
"I've been thinking about that, too. What do you think about you and Kaitlyn coming to live with me?"
Jenna's lungs seemed to go empty as she let out a cough to restart her breathing. Did he just ask her to move in?
"What?"
"Well, I figure we've already had the talk about never getting back together, so what harm is there in letting you live with me during the busy season? Once August rolls around and the tourists start leaving, you’ll have saved plenty of money to find a new place. Of course, you'd have to move Kaitlyn's school and all, but I don't see how that can be helped really."
"Kyle, are you sure you've thought this through? I don't want to be a burden on you. I don't want to make things uncomfortable.”
"It'll be like we're roommates, Jenna. That's all."
Jenna stood and walked to the window. "So many dreams we had for this place, and they're all as good as washed away in that ocean out there. Now I have to take the kindness of people who used to love me just to survive. It's humbling."
"I'm sorry your dreams got washed away, but sometimes we just have to start over whether we like it or not. We don't always get a choice in the matter.” She knew what he meant.
"Do you think Adele will be okay with this?"
"Of course she will. She loves you."
"You think so?" she asked turning and looking at him.
"You have to ask?" he responded with a smile. "She always seemed to love you more than she loved me."
"Not possible.” Jenna laughed. "But, I really would think she hated me for breaking your heart."
"She was disappointed, no doubt, but she never hates anyone." Jenna nodded in agreement. Adele Parker was a strong, good, loyal woman, and she wouldn't be able to find a better boss.
"Okay. I accept. As long as Adele is okay with it, so am I." Jenna smiled a grateful smile, and Kyle quickly looked away.
"Good. I'll go talk to her now. Maybe I can stop back by this evening and take you and Kaitlyn to dinner?" Jenna was shocked by the sudden invitation.
"Dinner?"
"Yes, it's the meal that one eats in the evening."
"Ha, ha very funny. I just didn't think..."
"Jenna, Kaitlyn needs to get to know me a bit before you guys move in with me, don't you think?"
"Oh, right, sure. Good thinking." For a moment, she’d thought he was asking her on a date.
"I'll be back around five," he said smiling as he walked out the front door.
Jenna slid into a chair and watched his car drive away. What on Earth had she just agreed to? And more importantly, what had Kyle agreed to?
Chapter 7
"Well, Mother, I am shocked that you are giving me grief over this," Kyle said shaking his head.
"Not grief, darling. Just a warning. I hope you know what you're doing."
"What do you mean?" he asked, sitting down acros
s from her.
"Kyle, this woman tore your heart out all those years ago. I watched you claw your way back to a normal life, and it took a long time. Surely you remember all of this," she said in her Southern drawl.
"Yes, I do, Mother."
"Why would you want to put yourself through that all over again?"
"It's just a job. We're not getting back together. I've explained that to Jenna."
"She and her child are going to be living with you, Kyle."
"And?"
"You don't think that's going to be very tempting?"
"I thought you liked Jenna."
"I adore Jenna! I fully expected her to be my daughter in law. But she broke your heart, Kyle, and I love you more. I just don't want to see you get your hopes up and something happens to tear you apart yet again."
"Mom, I promise that I am going into this arrangement with my eyes wide open this time. It's just about finding her a job to support her daughter and giving them shelter for a few weeks. That's it. Now, are you in agreement about giving her a job?"
"Of course. Whatever I need to do."
"Good. So, how are you feeling today?"
"Still pretty tired and worn down. Glad to be home, though."
"You gave us all quite a scare. Where's Jackson?"
"He had to head out early this morning for a closing in Atlanta."
"Wow. That was a short stay."
"Yes. You know how Jackson loves the big city. January Cove has become too small for your older brother, I suppose." She smiled wearily, and Kyle knew it was time to go.
"Get some rest, Mama. I'll check in on you later."
"Kyle?"
"Yes?" he asked turning around at the door to her bedroom.
"Be careful."
"Careful of what?"
"Hold your heart close, son. Protect it, okay?"
"Don't worry, Mama, I will."
* * *
Kaitlyn sat on her bed, eyes full of tears, with her arms crossed in defiance.
"I will not, Mommy! I will not pack up my toys!" she said pursing her lips.
"Sweetie, I know this is hard for you," Jenna said trying to soothe her upset daughter.
"I can't leave Lila! We just started our own club and we were going to build a tree fort!"