“Okay, I’ll run in and ask Hank and your mom if they need anything from the store.” He headed for the front entrance of the lodge and then turned to say. “Remember, no guns or knives.”
She made a face at him and began winding up the hose.
Jake found Kate in the kitchen with Hank. He waited until Hank had finished one of his stories.
“Kate, how about riding with Jennifer and me down to the General Store. She wants to buy something to take to her dad tomorrow. Do you need anything, Hank?”
“Can’t think of a thing,” Hank replied.
“I’ll run upstairs and get my purse,” Kate said.
“Where did ya learn how to talk to twelve-year-old girls?” Hank was curious.
“I had a teenage niece,” Jake replied and proceeded to tell him the story he had told Kate.
Kate entered the kitchen as he finished. Telling Hank they would be back soon, Jake followed Kate out to the Jeep, where they found Jennifer waiting.
“Mom, can I sit in the front?” Jennifer asked.
“Of course, darling,” Kate agreed and let Jake help her into the back seat.
When Jennifer and Kate came down from their apartment the next morning, Jake was surprised to see Jennifer’s hair, which had been blond the previous day, was streaked with bright red.
“Wow, don’t you look gorgeous,” he said, winking at Kate.
“Do you really like it?” Jennifer asked. “I dyed it with Kool-Aid.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. I learned how to do it from a friend in Colorado.”
“You must have known red hair is one of my very favorite colors.”
“Is it really?”
“Yup. Next to blond, it is.”
“How about a little breakfast ‘fore you get on the road?” Hank interrupted.
“Sounds good to me,” Jake said. “What are you offering this morning?”
“Made some pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream,” Hank said. “Heard that was Jennifer’s favorite breakfast.”
“Thanks,” Jennifer said and plopped down into a chair at the table.
Jake pulled out a chair for Kate across from Jennifer and then sat at the end of the table. He couldn’t help but feel warm inside as he looked at Kate and Jennifer. Hopefully, they would soon be his to love and cherish. As though he didn’t do that already.
When they reached the prison a few hours later, Kate hardly recognized Walt when he was brought into the visitor’s center. He’d lost what little hair he did have and he no longer had the pot belly he had once sported.
“Daddy!” Jennifer cried, running toward him.
Before she could reach him, a guard stepped out and stopped her. “No touching,” he cautioned.
Jennifer stared up at the guard with a startled expression. “You mean I can’t give my dad a hug?”
“I’m sorry,” he replied. “But regulations don’t allow it.”
Jennifer slowly approached Walt, the small present she had brought him in her hand. When she and Kate were checked through security, it had been unwrapped and thoroughly scrutinized. When the guards were sure it was perfectly innocent, they allowed Kate to wrap it back up and give it back to Jennifer.
“Hello, Jenn.” Walt led her to a couple of chairs. “Let’s sit down. I must say I don’t like what you’ve done with your hair.”
Jennifer’s face fell. “I thought you’d like it. Jake does.”
“Jake?”
“He’s my best friend,” she said.
“You know how I feel about you having boyfriends at your age,” Walt frowned.
“I know, I know. We’re just friends,” Jennifer said, not bothering to tell Walt that Jake was a grown man and was more her mother’s friend than hers.
“Next time you come to visit, have that color washed out of your hair, or don’t bother coming. You look like you belong to some street gang.”
Jennifer’s face fell at his words. Then she brightened. “I brought you a present,” Jennifer said, handing the small package to him.
Walt unwrapped a small black frame, which the guards had taken the glass out of. Jennifer had inserted a picture of herself into it. “Great,” he said. “At least your hair is its natural color in this picture. I will put this beside my bunk and see you every night before I go to sleep and every morning when I wake up.”
“Daddy, when are you getting out?”
“Won’t be long,” he replied. “I have a very good attorney and he’s working on it.”
“Where will you live?”
“I’ll go back to Lava Cove and re-open my business. You can come and see me as often as you want. You can even come and live with me if you like.”
Walt began to tell Jennifer all the things they would do together as soon as he was released. Kate couldn’t believe what he was saying. He told her she could spend Christmas with him, how they could put up a Christmas tree, and go shopping for Christmas presents.
Knowing Christmas was only four months away, Kate could stand it no longer. “Walt,” she said angrily. “You can’t continue to let Jennifer believe you’re innocent. It’s cruel to allow her to think you will be out of prison soon. Be man enough to take responsibility for what you did.”
Jennifer glared at Kate and then turned to her father. “Dad, tell Mom she’s wrong.”
Walt was quiet for a few minutes. “Jenn, I’m afraid your mother is right. I was involved in the murder of that woman and I’m going to be in prison for a very long time. I won’t be out by Christmas.”
Jennifer’s face crumpled and she ran to the gate where a security guard stood.
Kate caught up with her and grabbing her hand, she motioned to the guard to let them out.
Jennifer was sobbing by the time they reached the car and instead of climbing into the front passenger seat next to Jake, she jumped into the back where she collapsed and buried her face in her arms.
Kate stood beside the car, her heart breaking, uncertain what she could do or say to make it any less painful for her daughter. Jake stepped out and came around to close the door beside Jennifer and opened the front door for Kate.
Jake’s heart ached for Kate and Jennifer. “Let her cry,” he whispered to Kate. “I don’t know what happened in there, but she obviously needs a good cry.”
Not trying to explain, Kate sighed and stepped into the car. As they passed through the prison gates, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
They drove for miles with only Jennifer’s sobs breaking the stillness of the car. When Jake saw a sign for a rest stop, he took the exit. Kate frowned at him, but he only smiled.
Pulling into a parking spot, Jake turned off the engine and stepped out of the car. With a worried glance at Jennifer, Kate followed him.
“I suppose you want to know what happened,” she said as they sat together at a picnic table.
“Yes,” he replied.
Kate filled Jake in, trying not to let him see how frustrated she felt at not being able to protect her daughter from Walt’s cruelty.
A car door slammed and they saw Jennifer walking slowly toward them. Her face was red and swollen.
“I hate him,” she burst out as she reached the table.
“Come and sit by me,” Jake said, moving to make room on the bench. “I want to explain something to you.”
“What?” she asked in a grumpy voice as she sat down.
“When you’re hurt by someone you love and trust, you become angry. But when we love someone, we have to find a way to forgive them. Walt will always be your father and you need to remember all the good times you had with him in the past. If you don’t learn to forgive him and you continue to hate him, you will only hurt yourself. It’s like a poiso
n.” Jake stopped to give Jennifer a chance to respond. When she said nothing, he continued.
“Could you think about forgiving him? Your mother and I will help you in any way we can. All of us make wrong choices at some time in our lives. While forgiving your father won’t do away with the consequences he will have to suffer, it will make you feel better. Maybe you could start by coming up with some ideas to make your father want to become a better person. Maybe the next time you visit him you could take him some pictures of you riding one of the horses or performing gymnastics. You can also write him letters. Let him know you still love him. It will make a big difference in his life if he knows you forgive and love him.”
“But I don’t love him,” Jennifer said.
“When you are able to forgive him, the love will follow. Forgiving him can’t change what he did, but it will help you.”
“I wish you were my dad,” Jennifer said, and, turning, she threw her arms around Jake.
Jake smiled over the top of Jennifer’s red head at Kate. She stared at him, a bemused look on her face. He tightened his hold on Jennifer and held her until a few minutes later, she made a move and he released her.
“I know what I’ll do,” she said, excitement shining in her eyes, and he couldn’t help but think how much she looked like Kate. “I’m going to keep a journal, and when I go visit him, we can read it together and he can see what I’m doing.”
“What a great idea,” Kate said, speaking for the first time. “I know he would love that.”
Jake had to admire Kate’s willingness to help Jennifer, knowing that it would mean more visits to see Walt. She was such a great mother. He couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like to have had a mother like Kate.
“Mom, can I sit in the front by Jake?” Jennifer asked as they returned to the car.
“If you want to,” Kate answered.
Jennifer slipped her hand into Jake’s. “Is that all right with you?” she asked.
“It will be my pleasure.” He smiled, giving her hand a squeeze.
Jake walked around the SUV to open the doors for Kate and Jennifer. As he stood back to allow Kate to climb into the car, she mouthed, “Thank you.”
Jake started the motor and switched on the CD player. As music filled the car, Jennifer stared at Jake, eyes wide in disbelief.
“Katie Perry,” she said, bouncing up and down on her seat in excitement. “Is that your CD?” And when he nodded, she asked, “How did you know she is one of my very favorite singers?”
“I have a niece and she thinks Katie Perry is pretty neat. She told me you might like her, too.”
On the way home, Kate could hear Jennifer chattering away to Jake, and intermittently, she heard his deep voice in reply. She didn’t try and listen in on their conversation. After Jake’s talk about forgiveness to Jennifer, she realized she was going to have to find a way to forgive Walt. But she couldn’t think about forgiving him now.
When Jake glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Kate was sleeping, he realized how stressful this trip had been for her. He had to admire her for her willingness to put her own feelings aside and do what was right for Jennifer. He thought once again of what a good mother she was.
He was sorry the visit hadn’t gone better, but he couldn’t help but smile to himself as he listened to Jennifer’s chatter. She had made a quick recovery, but he was sure it was because of the feeling of strength and security Kate gave her.
Jennifer was a loving child and he couldn’t begin to explain to himself why her affection touched him. He could only hope, he would never do anything to change her mind about him. He hoped the day would never come when she would say she hated him. He knew it would not only break his heart, but Kate’s also.
Jennifer paused after telling him a story about one of the girls at her school in Lava Cove. “She’s one of my best friends. Do you think Mom would let her come up for a visit?”
“I’m sure she would, but maybe you can ask her later. I think I hear her snoring back there.”
“Mom doesn’t snore.” Jennifer giggled.
“Are you sure? I could have sworn I heard her snoring.”
“I know you’re making that up just to tease me.”
He laughed. “You’re too smart for me.”
They drove in silence for a few minutes and as Jake began to see signs advertising businesses in Lava Cove, he glanced at his watch.
“How about we stop at a restaurant in Lava Cove and have some dinner? Do you have a favorite one?”
“There’s a Thai one I like, but Mom might like the Mexican one better.”
“I think she might be a little tired of Mexican food,” Jake said, remembering the day he had seen her in town after her lunch with Stephanie. “Why don’t we do Thai? I haven’t had any for a long time and it sounds good to me.”
“Okay, do you know where it is?”
“No, but I’ll bet you do. I wouldn’t mind a few directions when we get into town.”
They entered the city limits of Lava Cove and Jennifer told him the exit to take off the freeway. They drove a few blocks before she instructed him to turn right, then a few more blocks, and a left. When Jake stopped in the parking lot of the restaurant Kate woke up.
“What are we doing?” she asked, glancing around her.
“Jake’s taking us to the Thai Restaurant,” Jennifer said. “We’re both hungry and didn’t want to wait to eat until we got home.”
“Sounds good to me,” Kate said as Jake opened the back door and held out a hand.
As they entered the restaurant, Jake glanced around and spotted a familiar face. Greg Sheridan from the bank. He hoped he wouldn’t say anything about him asking questions about the Mountain Springs Health Spa account.
The hostess came forward with menus and led them to a table across the room from the banker. Jake could tell Greg and his family were through eating and he couldn’t help but hold his breath as he saw him sign for the check and stand to leave. Sure enough, Greg was headed right for their table. Jake stood and held out his hand.
“Greg Sheridan, good to see you. I was going to stop in the bank in a couple of days and see if you had received the papers from D.C. I’m anxious to get that bank account opened.”
Greg look startled for a moment and then quickly recovered.
“We did get those. Just today, as a matter of fact. But there’s something I need to go over with you. I’m sure you’ll have no difficulty clarifying it for me. Could you make it in tomorrow?”
“No problem,” Jake said as he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t want Kate to know he was USCIS. Not just yet. “What would be a good time for you?”
“I’ll be free around ten. Why don’t you stop by then? This will only take a couple of minutes.”
“Thanks, Greg, I’ll see you at ten.”
He was sure the banker had come up with some information for him on the ownership of the spa. He wished he could follow him out and get it from him now, but that would look strange both to the banker’s family and to Kate.
He sat down and studied the menu, aware of Kate and Jennifer’s conversation, but not really letting the words register. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. Maybe Sheridan had information that would blow this case wide open.
Chapter 10
Jake walked into the kitchen early the next morning, anxious to have breakfast and get on the road to Lava Cove. He was surprised to see Kate and her daughter already at the table, their breakfast in front of them.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “Why are you two up at this hour?”
“Don’t you remember?” Jennifer asked. “You said we could go to Lava Cove in your Jeep the next time you went and you would take us to lunch. Yesterday you told that man in the Thai Restaurant that you would go into
the bank this morning and see him.”
“You’re right, I did,” Jake said, realizing he couldn’t break his promise to Jennifer. “You don’t miss a thing, do you?”
Maybe he could drop them off at a store for shopping. Otherwise they would have to wait in the Jeep for him while he talked to the banker. He wouldn’t dare take them in with him.
“Mom said we had to wear our old jeans if we are going to ride in your Jeep. Mom has already cleaned the cabins, except for yours, Sleepy Head,” Jennifer said, her eyes shining in anticipation.
“What’s this about ‘old jeans’? I was planning on wearing my suit,” he teased.
“Mom doesn’t want us to get our good clothes dirty.”
He shrugged. “You’re going to look a little underdressed when I take you for lunch.”
Jennifer turned in consternation to Kate. “Do you think we should change?”
“No, Sweetie,” Kate smiled. “If Jake doesn’t want to be seen with us, I guess we’ll have to skip the lunch part.”
“But, Mom . . .”
“Hey,” Jake said, deciding he had teased enough, “no need to worry. I’m wearing jeans myself.”
He almost laughed when he saw the look of relief on Jennifer’s face.
“Furthermore,” he added, patting her hand where it lay on the table, “I would be proud to be seen with you no matter what you wore.”
She gave him a look of pure adoration, which almost choked him up. How he loved her. He couldn’t wait for Kate to acknowledge she was ready for him to be a part of their family.
“Let me eat some breakfast and then we can get going.”
“What’s it to be?” Hank asked.
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