by Mona Ingram
“Goodnight sweet boy.” Jenna stood, brushed past Brett and went out onto the deck.
He didn’t show up for several minutes, but when he did, he had the tea tray with him. “I wasn’t sure...” his voice was tentative.
“A cup of tea is just what I need.” She accepted the mug and lapsed into silence. After a few moments, she spoke. “He asked me,” she said, anticipating his question. “But I didn’t know it would be so difficult.” Across the Strait, the Coast Mountains were fading into the grey of evening. “I’ve done a lot of crying today,” she said, almost to herself.
“Jenna. She turned at the tone of his voice. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
She looked at him, willing him to continue.
“I shouldn’t have kissed you. I don’t know what came over me.”
She looked into his eyes. He was clearly embarrassed.
The way she saw it, she had two choices: she could tell him how his kiss made her feel, and how she’d really, really enjoy a replay, or she could gloss it over.
“You were just trying to make me feel better.” She softened her voice. “And it worked.”
“It’s just that –” He stopped abruptly. “Thank you for saying that.”
She drank the rest of her tea and stared into the bottom of the mug. “I will, you know. I’ll keep in contact with Danny until he doesn’t need me anymore.”
“Jenna...”
“It will happen, Brett. Eventually. We both know that. But in the meantime, I want to make this as easy for him as possible. And now if you don’t mind, I think I’ll go to bed. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Jenna.”
THE COMFORTING MURMUR of voices had drawn Brett back to Danny’s room. He lounged against the door frame and watched the interplay between the two people who meant the most to him in the world. He could still feel the imprint of her body against his, and hear her soft little moan of desire that curled around his heart. How was he going to let her go? As he pondered that, Jenna’s words firmed up his resolve. “We always knew I’d be leaving,” she said. The fact that they’d agreed she wouldn’t stay didn’t make it any easier to hear. But it was when she spoke of going back to her photography that he knew he’d made the right decision, tough as it might be. It had been a great weekend, but getting back to his regular schedule would almost be a relief.
IT WAS ALMOST A WEEK later and they were sitting outside with their tea after dinner. “I picked up your tux today. I didn’t think to ask if you need to try it on.”
Brett gave her a blank look.
“The fundraiser. It’s tomorrow.”
Brett checked his watch and groaned. “I’d forgotten.” His gaze drifted around the yard, where several of Danny’s mobiles now hung in prominent positions. “I’d completely forgotten about it. But I think the tux still fits the same.” He patted his stomach “Although the way you’ve been feeding us, I might need to have it let out next time I wear it.” He narrowed his eyes. “Do you think that new housekeeper will understand that two bachelors like to eat simple food?”
They’d been over this before but Jenna just smiled. “I think she’ll be just fine, Brett. There were teenage boys at her last job.”
He pounced on this. “And why isn’t she still there?”
“Because the family went overseas. He works for a big oil company and they provide the family with a fully staffed household.”
“Humph. No wonder gas costs so much.”
“What’s got into you tonight?” she teased. “You don’t like anything.” She cast around for something to divert him. “Tell me about these fundraisers. What do you do besides stand around looking handsome?”
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You’re trying to distract me.”
“Is it working?”
“Okay. All right. I’ll behave.” He thought for a moment. “There are drinks, of course. Music. Oh, and delicious food. Some people make a meal of it, I noticed last year.”
“So there’s dancing?”
He thought for a moment and something dark flitted across his features. “There’s a small dance floor for those who want to indulge. But mostly it’s schmoozing. You know, selling ourselves. Convincing the donors to get out their cheque books without actually asking for money.” He offered a wry smile. “It’s a fine line.”
She studied him as he spoke. “You don’t like it much, do you?”
“I don’t like it at all, but it’s part of the job and I understand that. I’m even getting good at dancing with the wives.”
“You had a look on your face just then... when you mentioned the dance floor. What was that about?”
He gave her a steady, assessing look. “You’re too perceptive for your own good.”
She remained silent.
“There’s a woman who works at the hospital. Last year she attached herself to me and I had a hard time getting rid of her. I’ve met leeches who were more easily dislodged!”
Jenna stifled a laugh. “I guess you can’t very well blow her off with everyone watching.”
“Precisely!”
“Here I was trying to cheer you up and I’ve just gone and made you all pissy again.”
“I’m not pissy.”
“Yes you are.”
He stifled a smile. “Do you talk like that in front of Danny?”
“Maybe you haven’t noticed, but Danny is an eight year old boy. He knows words a lot worse than ‘pissy’.”
Brett slumped back in his chair and closed his eyes. “I’m going to miss you, Jenna.”
“Yeah,” she said around the lump in her throat. “Me, too.”
Chapter Seventeen
“CAN I WATCH YOU GET dressed?” Danny was all eyes.
“Sure.” Brett eyed the black patent shoes with distaste. “Before long, you’ll be getting dressed in your own tuxedo. Some people call them penguin suits.”
Danny looked up at his father. “You don’t look like a penguin. You look handsome.”
Brett sent him a sharp look. “Did Jenna tell you to say that?”
“Well you do.” The admiration in his eyes was genuine. “Jenna says you’ll be the best looking man there, and I think she’s right.”
Brett slipped his father’s heavy gold cuff links into the French cuffs. “Did she really say that?”
“Yes, and she never lies. Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Does Jenna still love us?”
Brett’s hands stilled. “Love is a pretty strong word, but yes, I’d say she still loves us.”
“Then why does she have to go?”
Brett sat down on the bench at the foot of his bed and slipped his feet into the shoes. “It’s kind of hard to explain,” he said eventually. “You know how you love playing Minecraft, and flying kites, and making your driftwood mobiles?”
Danny nodded.
“Well, Jenna loves doing her photography. And she can’t do that while she’s living here, taking care of us.”
“But she takes pictures now.”
“It’s not the same, Danny. She needs her own space, her own studio where people can go to get their pictures taken. It’s been wonderful having her here taking care of us, but it’s time she did what’s good for her.” He looked into his son’s eyes. “Does that make sense?”
Danny nodded. “Yeah, but I’ll still miss her.”
“Me too, Son. Now let’s go downstairs and see if she approves of my penguin suit.”
JENNA HAD KNOWN THAT Brett would look good in his tuxedo, but nothing had prepared her for the actual experience.
“What do you think?”
She couldn’t speak for several moments. Standing there in the doorway with Danny proudly holding his hand, he was the most outrageously handsome man she’d even seen. She backed up against the kitchen counter, clutching it for support.
“Oh my,” she said breathlessly. “I think... I think you look fine.” She pushed away from the counter, circling him with a predatory gleam
in her eye. “Yes,” she continued, recovering most of her composure, “very fine indeed.” She paused in front of him and lifted a hand to his cheek. “You shaved,” she said, her voice little more than a whisper. “I think I like it better the other way.”
He grabbed her hand and rubbed it against his cheek. Even with a recent shave, the fine stubble sent shivers of delight racing through her body. “Then I’ll never shave again,” he murmured, turning her hand and placing an intimate kiss in her palm.
“Daddy says it’s called a penguin suit.” Danny’s voice broke the spell. “And he says I’ll have one someday.”
Jenna pulled away and turned her attention to the boy. “And I’m sure you’ll be just as handsome as your father.” Not knowing what else to say, she glanced up at the wall clock. “Should you be leaving?”
Brett ignored her comment. “Will you wait up for me? I have to warn you, it might be late.”
Her heart did a quick little two-step. “Yes,” she said simply. “See you when you get home.”
“THANK YOU FOR COMING again this year.” The administrator shook Brett’s hand. The man was generally liked by the medical staff. He took a step back to appreciate Brett’s sartorial splendor. “The ladies are going to love you.” A wry smile followed his words. “The ones who aren’t already in love with you, that is.”
Brett knew he was joking; at least he hoped he was joking. He hadn’t for a moment forgotten that Deanna, the woman who’d attached herself to him last year, worked in the administration office.
He gave the standard response. “As long as they’ve brought their cheque books, they can look all they like.” He moved away as the man greeted the next arrivals.
Brent smiled and nodded, enduring the endless speeches. He’d never quite figured out how three different men and one woman could say exactly the same thing without using the same words. He hoped they weren’t putting the donors to sleep, but they laughed politely in all the right places, nodding to each other as the speech givers pointed out the need for more equipment.
When the speeches were finally over, the people in the room noticeably relaxed. Ice clinked merrily in glasses, and now and then a peal of laughter floated over the crowd. Even at these functions, Brett limited himself to one drink, and as he placed his empty glass on a server’s tray, he found himself wondering what Jenna was doing. He’d missed their usual routine tonight, and not even the delicious bacon-wrapped dates from the buffet table could distract him when he envisioned his future without her. She wasn’t even gone yet, and he was already missing her.
“Why hello handsome.”
Deanne sidled up to him and he watched her dispassionately.
“Would you like to dance?” She said it loud enough that several people turned to look. He couldn’t very well get out of it, and offered a slight bow.
“Of course.” He led her to the dance floor.
“I see you’re alone tonight.” Her thigh accidently brushed up against him... or was that an accident?
“At the moment,” he said vaguely.
“Ah, but you’re here now.” She moistened her lips. “How’s your little boy? Danny, isn’t it?”
The mention of Danny’s name on her lips infuriated him, but he managed to control his temper. “He’s fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “Doing little boy things.”
“How sweet. And what about you? What sort of big boy things have you been doing?”
He gave her a blank look. “Flying kites, mostly. Danny and I do that a lot.”
“And that housekeeper of yours.” She fingered the hair at the back of his neck and he shrugged her off. “Whatever possessed you to bring her to the staff picnic?”
“That’s really none of your business, but since you ask, we came as a family.”
“Family?” Her poise faltered for the first time. “You consider your housekeeper part of your family?”
“Since the first day she came to us,” he said, realizing that it was true. “We’re lucky to have her.”
“Brett, you bad boy. There you are.” Brenda tapped him on the shoulder. “You promised me this dance and I’ve been looking all over for you.” She glanced dismissively at Deanna. “We’ll have that dance now, and then Ryan wants to talk to you about something.” She led him away without a backward glance.
“Thank you,” he murmured when they were well out of earshot. “I can honestly say that I despise that woman. Can you believe she actually asked me about Jenna? Where does she get off?” His voice was rising and he struggled to control it.
Brenda laughed up at him. “You’re a great catch, Brett. You must know that.” She tilted her head toward Stella and her husband, sitting at a table on the sidelines. “We’ve been keeping an eye on her and I was elected to rescue you.”
“Well thank you.”
“Besides,” she continued. “We like Jenna.” A smile played around her lips. “Perhaps not as much as you, but we do like her.”
Brett exhaled. “Is it so obvious?”
Brenda rolled her eyes. “Honey, you two light up a room when you’re together.” She paused. “Not that I’ve ever seen you together in a room, but you know what I mean.”
“She’s leaving next week.”
Brenda raised an eyebrow.
“She promised to stay for a month, but she really wants to get back to her photography.”
“I can understand that. I was at one of her exhibitions, and she’s good.” They danced silently for a few moments. “So are you two going to get together or what?”
“I hope so.” The song came to an end. “Come to think of it, she’s waiting up for me. Do you mind if I run off?” He looked around for Ryan. “Can Ryan wait?”
“I just made that up.” Brenda waved a hand in the air. “Go on, and tell her we all send our love.”
“Thanks, Brenda.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and strode out of the room.
Ryan appeared as Brenda returned to their table. “What was that all about?” he asked, as Brett disappeared.
“Unless I’m badly mistaken” she said, “that’s a man in love.”
BRETT SLIPPED OUT OF his dress shoes at the back door and tossed his jacket on the kitchen counter. He’d half expected Jenna to meet him; he’d spent the entire ride home remembering the way she’d touched his face, and he wanted more.
He’d have to be careful not to reveal the surprise he had for her. Tempting as it had been to tell Danny, he couldn’t trust the youngster not to blurt it out, so he’d kept it to himself. In the meantime, just the few hours apart had been too many and he was eager to see her again.
“Jenna?” he called. There was no response but soft light from the living room drew him in that direction. Curled up on the couch, wrapped in one of his mother’s old quilts, she was sound asleep. She’d brought down the pillow and quilt from her quarters, but the wait had evidently proved too long.
He stood looking down at her; this gentle, determined woman who had changed his life around. “That’s okay,” he said, tucking in the quilt and depositing a kiss on her lips. “I can wait.”
“I GUESS I FELL ASLEEP, huh?” Jenna handed Brett his cup of coffee the next morning. “You should have woken me.”
He eyed her over the rim of his coffee mug. Dark smudges underlined her eyes. The thought of her leaving was taking a toll on all of them. “I couldn’t. You looked so sweet all curled up in that quilt.”
She glanced at the wall clock. “I didn’t expect to see you up this early. Do you have somewhere to go?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Danny and I are taking you out for breakfast.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Pancakes!” Danny came sliding into the room and dove for his shoes.
“I can make pancakes here,” she said with a frown. “Why do we need to go out?”
“Humor me, okay? It’s my day off.”
She looked to Danny, who was ignoring the by-play. Gone were the days when he hung on every
word, darting anxious looks back and forth. Jenna hoped that he would feel half as comfortable with the new housekeeper.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “It’s your show.”
Chapter Eighteen
“WHERE ARE WE GOING again?” Jenna turned to Brett. “I thought we were going to that place in Cook Street Village.” She glanced at Danny in the back seat. “I don’t understand this sudden need to go out to breakfast anyway.”
“Come on, Jenna.” Brett reached over and touched her briefly on the arm. “We don’t have that much time left together.”
“I know,” she said sulkily.
Brett drove past the busy harbour and before she was aware, they were on her old street.
“Hey, this is where I used to live.”
“I know. I thought we’d take a detour.”
Jenna hadn’t driven past the charming little Victorian house since she left. In spite of the unhappy memories, she was curious to see if it looked any different.
Brett slowed. “It’s up ahead here somewhere, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s...” Jenna froze. “There’s a sign out front.”
Brett inched the car forward. A new sign had been installed since she left. Firmly planted in the ground, it supported an arm on one side. A classic white sign with black lettering noted that the building was the home of Luna Vista Photography.
“They stole my name!” Outraged, Jenna commanded Brett to stop. “They can’t do that, can they?” She looked to him for support, but he merely smiled. “And what’s that hanging on the other side of the sign? A mobile that looked remarkably like one of Danny’s creations hung from a smaller arm on the other side of the sign.
“What’s going on here?” she asked.
Brett pulled into the driveway.
“I don’t know. Maybe we should find out.”
Jenna stepped out of the car and walked slowly to the foot of the front stairs. The classic half-moon of stained glass in the front door sparkled in the morning sun. A fresh coat of paint on the front porch and the door changed the appearance dramatically. What appeared to be a brand new brass door handle gleamed in welcome. She turned.