Georgia Pine (Southern Promises Book 3)

by K. G. Fletcher

Tim slowly stroked her hair back from the nape of her neck. “How are the girls? How’s Julia?”

  Jessica could have laid there all day, lost in the continuous stroking of his fingertips but sat up with purpose. “They’re fine. But first, I have something to say to you.”

  Tim touched her chin, focused on caressing her face with his fingertips, worshipping her skin with each stroke. “What?”

  She leaned into his touch, her eyes fixated on his emerald gaze. “I love you, Tim.”

  His smile beamed. “I love you too, Jessica.”

  The eruption of tears couldn’t be helped, and she lay in his arms for several minutes trying to come to grips that he was alive and well, the whole time Tim comforting her when she should have been comforting him. Breathing in his manliness, she clutched his solid body, silently thanking the powers that be.

  When she pulled herself together, the words that wouldn’t come earlier suddenly poured out like water out of a hose.

  “I can’t even believe what you went through for us during the storm—for Julia. You risked your life and almost died saving my daughter, and I will always, always be thankful for it.” She closed her eyes briefly, struggling to say everything that needed to be said.

  “When you came into our lives that first day, I knew you were special. You were so good with my children and so attentive to me. You brought me pink flowers. You cooked us dinner. I fell for you immediately, but I was stupid and worried more about what my family and neighbors would think. I was so stupid, Tim. And I’m ashamed.”

  Tears continued to stream down her face. Tim used the pad of his thumb to wipe them away as he listened. “Don’t cry…”

  “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Tim. I can’t live without you. I need you. I love you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life.” She thrust herself into his chest again, burying her face in his familiar scent.

  “Jessica, I told you everything would be okay. You know I love you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you and your girls too.” He held her tightly in his arms.

  “I was so scared. God, Tim. I was so scared. If I had lost you…”

  “But you didn’t lose me. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.” He tenderly cupped her cheek, his expression full of love and light. “I came back to you.”

  His words floored Jessica.

  “What?” She stared at him in awe, the stream of steady tears dripping from her cheeks.

  “I heard you loud and clear, baby. You asked me to come back to you, and I did.”

  Dr. Olson was right—he had heard her while he was unconscious.

  “Now, will you stop jabberin’ away like a mud-dog—”

  “Magpie,” she interrupted in a bout of emotional giggles.

  He chuckled. “What the hell is a magpie anyway?”

  Jessica’s swiped at her tears more than ready to move on from all the crying and angst she had experienced over the past week. She leaned closely near his face. “It’s a loud crow.”

  “Oh. Well, that makes more sense.” His green eyes seemed to glow. “Stop jabberin’ away like a magpie and give me those lips.”

  A smile exploded across her face. “Yes, sir,” she whispered and pressed her mouth affectionately against his.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jessica couldn’t help but feel a surge of love as she looked down at the determined face of her four-year-old. Julia gripped her hand tightly, anxious to see Tim, the little girl begging and pleading to pay him a visit at the hospital. She clutched a folded piece of paper in her other hand, not allowing anyone to see it before him. Jessica still didn’t know many of the details as to what her young daughter had gone through the night of the tornado, only that she was wrapped up safely in the arms of the man she loved, protected from the mayhem as the trees collapsed on top of them. She seemed unscathed both physically and emotionally, especially knowing that Tim was going to be okay.

  “Are you ready, baby doll?”

  Julia looked up at her with wide blue eyes and nodded confidently.

  Jessica brushed her daughter’s fair hair back from her cheek. “Remember what I told you? Tim is very tired and can’t play like he used to. Not yet, anyway. You need to be very gentle around him. He has a big boo-boo on his head, so be careful.”

  “I will, Mama.”

  The once quiet little girl had a strong confident voice which still surprised Jessica every time she opened her mouth. The chatter between her and her sisters was something she had longed for, and it was now a reality. Her pediatrician had told her Julia would snap out of it at some point in her young life. That she snapped out of it on the night of the storm was a miracle.

  Jessica put her hand on the doorknob and paused. “He’s been waiting for you. Go on in, sweetie.”

  The summer sun streamed in through the window, highlighting Tim’s immense frame as he sat on a chair by the window, dressed in sweatpants and a loose t-shirt. A dark beanie was on his head, hiding the bandages across his wound. The smile on his face beamed as they came into the room. Before Jessica could stop her, Julia rushed toward him, catapulting her tiny body into his arms. Tim effortlessly scooped the little girl up in his arms and rocked her back and forth, cradling her blonde head in his hands.

  “It’s so good to see you,” he whispered.

  Jessica clamped her hand over her mouth as she tried to keep her emotions in check. When they finally pulled back from one another, she noticed Tim swiping tears from his face with the back of his hand. Julia immediately got comfortable on his lap and offered him the paper.

  “For me?” he asked, holding her firmly in his grip. Her daughter shyly nodded.

  As Tim unfolded the paper, Julia laid her head against his chest and pointed, explaining what was on it.

  “This is you and Mama. That’s me, and that’s Jennifer and Jilly and Jo-Jo.”

  Poignant emotion swept across his handsome features and he pursed his lips before swallowing. “Wow. This is the best present I’ve had all week,” his voice cracked. “You’re such a good artist, Julia. I’m gonna keep it right by the bed so I can see it all the time.” He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you.”

  Julia’s smile was broad and full of satisfaction, not really understanding what her small gift must have meant to Tim. “You wanna see what I made for him?” she asked, looking up at Jessica.

  Tim swiped the rogue tears from his face and held the paper out for her to take. Julia relaxed and put her thumb into her mouth, seemingly content cocooned in his massive arms.

  Jessica’s breath hitched as she opened the paper fully and stared back at the colorful drawing. The stick-figure people were holding hands with Tim and Jessica in the center. A big yellow sun was in the corner and the large scribbled words “I love you” written in red at the top. Her friend, Elizabeth or her mother must have helped with that part of the drawing because her sweet four-year-old couldn’t write yet.

  Jessica blinked back her own emotions, her gaze catching Tim’s. He offered her a slight smile and nodded before he took Julia’s chin in his hands and turned her face toward him.

  “You know I love you too, Julia.”

  Julia’s cheeks flushed as she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and embraced him tightly.

  They couldn’t stay long, Tim’s energy waning from the medication he had taken earlier. As Jessica took Julia back to the waiting area, she was shocked to see her ex-husband Stephen chatting away with her mother. He was dressed in his custom tailored suit and quickly stood when they entered the room. Julia clutched her hand and seemed to cower in his presence.

  “Hey, there darlin’. I’m so glad to see you.” Stephen was exuberant and kneeled to be on her level. “You know I stopped by your grandma’s house the day after the storm to see if you were okay, but you were sound asleep, and I didn’t want to wake you. I got you something.” He pulled a tiny angel pendant necklace out of his lapel pocket and offered it to her.r />
  “It’s okay. Go on,” Jessica encouraged.

  Julia tentatively took a few steps forward and took the necklace from her father’s hand.

  “What do you say?” Jessica was floored at Stephen’s actions, especially the gentle way he was speaking to his daughter.

  “Thank you,” Julia whispered.

  “You’re welcome. You’ll always be my little angel, darlin’. Do you have a hug for daddy?” Stephen probed.

  It was odd seeing the awkward way her ex acted around his own flesh and blood, the hug he exchanged with his daughter brief and stiff. It was a far cry from the hug Julia just shared with Tim, the obvious love the two had for each other comforting.

  “Come on, little one. Let’s go find a quick snack while your mama and daddy catch up.” Mrs. Southers held her hand out for Julia to take and the two of them exited the room.

  “Goodbye, sweetheart. It was sure good seeing you!” Stephen stood tall with his hands on his hips and watched them leave. When the door closed, he sighed.

  “That was a very nice thing to do,” Jessica admitted.

  Stephen’s mouth curled up into a smile. “Thank you, Jessie. I’m gonna try harder from now on.” He held his hand out toward a chair. “Can you sit for a minute?”

  She nodded, and the two sat next to each other, the silence becoming uncomfortable. Jessica couldn’t help but notice the wrinkles around Stephen’s eyes, as if he hadn’t slept much in the past week. The quick pat on her knee made her flinch.

  “How is he? How’s Tim?”

  “He’s… healing.”

  “That’s good. He did a very heroic thing saving our daughter. It’s all over the news.”

  Jessica swallowed and nodded again, wishing Stephen would get to the point. He always had a point to make and would often draw things out, which made her uneasy.

  “I’m not gonna beat around the bush, Jessie. I didn’t like the guy hanging out at the house with you and my daughters—”

  “Excuse me?” she interrupted, her voice peaking with annoyance. Of all the nerve. “Well, now you know how it feels, don’t you? I didn’t like you hanging out at your office or on those business trips all those months with your mistress,” Jessica ridiculed. The fighting between them was familiar, her tone escalating with each word.

  Stephen shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose for a few seconds. “That’s not what I meant,” he replied, his voice low and controlled. Turning toward her, his face sagged as if he had aged a decade. “Why didn’t you tell me who he was, Jessie?”

  “Would that have made a difference?”

  “Yes. I mean… I don’t know.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and stared at the floor. “When your mama called and told me what happened the morning after the storm, I was paralyzed with fear. I didn’t know what to do. The entire neighborhood was blocked off, and I couldn’t get to you and the girls. It was agonizing…”

  Jessica could feel her forehead furrow, the thought of her ex-husband fearful a preposterous notion. He never showed any feeling toward his family all the years they were together. To hear him say he felt fear was out of the ordinary coming from the cut-throat, tough, businessman she had once been married to.

  “I texted to let you know we were okay—”

  “I know,” he interrupted, sitting up straight. “But when I saw the big news story about our gardener, Tim Ryan and what he did for us, I felt like such a fool. I never gave the guy a chance. In the beginning, I assumed he was up to no good, trying to cash in on a beautiful divorcee. I judged him from the get-go.”

  Jessica couldn’t help it and squeezed his arm. “If it’s any consolation, nobody knew, Stephen. Tim’s been incognito, trying to live a quiet life in Atlanta. He asked me not to tell anyone who he was. I had to respect his request.”

  Stephen let out a humph. “I guess that’s all shot to hell now. Everyone in this town knows who he is and what he’s done. I can guarantee you his days as a gardener are officially over.” He paused, turned and looked her in the eye. “Can you tell him, ‘thank you’ for me? Please? I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to Julia.”

  Jessica could feel a lump in her throat. “Of course.” She patted his arm again and couldn’t believe what was about to come out of her mouth.

  “You could always thank him yourself. The doctor said they might discharge him soon, so we’re planning a little homecoming for him and a birthday party for Jo-Jo. We’ll be staying at Mama’s while he continues to recover for the next month or so. Why don’t you come?”

  Stephen raised his eyebrows significantly as if he were caught off guard by the invitation.

  “And Traci is welcome too.” Jessica wanted to clamp her hand over her mouth as those words flew off her tongue, but it was too late. Why she added that comment, she wasn’t sure. Perhaps Stu was right; it was time to let bygones be bygones and call a truce. She wanted peace in their lives after everything they’d been through.

  “God, I can’t believe she’s turning one already. Seems like yesterday you were pregnant.”

  Jessica laughed. “Stephen, I was pregnant for most of our marriage.”

  The two chuckled and stood. “Yes, you were.” He looked at the floor briefly. When he looked back up, his eyes glistened with what looked like gratitude. “I’d love to be there. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll text you when we have a date.” She watched him walk toward the door before he quickly turned around.

  “What’s a good gift for a one-year-old, anyway?” The expression on his face conveyed resolve. For Stephen Kaufman to finally give a damn about Joanne was an answered prayer.

  “Picture books, Stephen. She loves picture books, especially ones with animals.”

  A huge grin blossomed across his face. “Then I’ll find her the best goddamned picture books money can buy!”

  ***

  Tim never got rattled or angry about his situation. His humor and positive attitude, along with the support of his sister, friends, and Jessica seemed to help speed up his recovery. His motor skills, including his balance and coordination, prevented him from being self-sufficient in those first two weeks after the accident. A physical therapist worked with him daily to help him get stronger; blown away by his strength and agility. The rigorous sessions paired with the ongoing medications he took while his brain healed left him in a daze and some days he was too exhausted from the morning therapy sessions to do much of anything else. The tiredness, headaches, and problems concentrating were after-effects of his delicate surgery, and he often had trouble sleeping because he was getting a steroid to reduce the swelling in his brain. On most nights, Trudy gave him a sleeping pill so he could get at least a few hours of sleep.

  Two weeks to the day after his surgery, the staples were finally removed from his head, and he was released to a regular room for observation. If all went well, he’d be out of there just in time to celebrate baby Jo-Jo’s birthday.

  “Didn’t you say Stuart called?” Tim asked, lying upright against a bank of pillows on the bed.

  A large bouquet of pink roses sat on the bedside table, a bi-weekly gift from Mrs. McDonald. Hers were the only flowers he allowed in the room. A steady stream of flowers, balloons and San Francisco 49ers paraphernalia was delivered to the hospital daily, Tim insisting the excessive number of gifts be shared with all the patients. It was overwhelming to be back in the spotlight, the media begging for an exclusive interview. Thank god Stuart Harding was still handling things from California while he recovered.

  “Yes. He wants to talk to you again about retiring your jersey during a home game this fall. I think by then you’d be more than healed and able to travel. And maybe you won’t have that GI Joe look going on either,” Tabitha giggled, slurping on a smoothie while sitting cross-legged in a chair next to his bed.

  Tim smiled, rubbing the back of his shaved head. The deep wound in his head was healing, the places where the staples kept hi
s flesh together leaving a jagged scar on his scalp.

  “Battle scars,” Jessica had gently reminded him, her angelic face full of love. She was right. It was, perhaps, the most significant battle he had ever fought, and he could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

  They had agreed he would recover at the Southers home with Jessica and the girls, her parents insisting they not worry about a thing. Jessica’s house was devastated in the storm; the only items salvageable coming from the basement. Even her car that had been sitting safely in the garage was totaled, the force of the large trees coming down on top, catastrophic. The loss of his expensive sports car was minor compared to what the Kaufman girls had lost. It would take time to rebuild, talk of moving in together a no-brainer.

  Tim was more than ready to get out of the hospital. But Dr. Olson remained cautious, warning him of the complications that could result if he took on too much too soon. As a pro-athlete in the NFL, Tim had suffered more than one concussion during his career, which further complicated his recovery. Dr. Olson was optimistic but wanted to keep an eye on him during this critical time. He wasn’t supposed to lie flat to rest or sleep and was told to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise. This was going to be hard for an athlete used to conditioning his body on a daily basis.

  “I don’t know, Tabitha. Seems like I should fade away with the Georgia sunset and everyone in California would be just fine.”

  His sister scowled. “Don’t you get it? Everyone wants to see you fully recovered, Tim. Everyone wants to see you win.”

  Tim shook his head. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to go back.”

  Tabitha unfolded her legs and sat erect in the chair. “Please, think about it. This would be closure for you, and the fans. Everyone loves a hero. So what, you weren’t the Super Bowl hero. You’re a real-life hero, and that’s what makes this more meaningful! Let the fans love you again, Tim. Have that moment with them you’ve been pining for since you left, on your home turf with your home team. Let them see for themselves the incredible hero you were always meant to be.”