Lib Novel Page 53
Cora
I appreciate everything you’ve done for us, but I need a little space.
Jared slammed his hand down on the steering wheel in fury at himself. What had he done that was so awful she didn’t even want to talk about it?
His fingers itched to text back to her begging for an explanation. How was he supposed to learn from this if she wouldn’t even tell him what was wrong?
His mind played back the events at the Hometown Holiday celebration for the thousandth time since yesterday and still he couldn’t find the break. He’d been incredibly respectful, hadn’t tried to kiss her or even held her hand, though he’d badly wanted to.
He had wrapped an arm around her on the firetruck, but she was clearly feeling motion sick and needed something to anchor her. She had leaned into him, and hadn’t pulled away, even when it was clear her friend from the school was noticing them together like that.
He obviously wasn’t going to figure this out on his own. And if he cared about her, then he knew he should give her the time she needed.
With a heavy heart, he picked up the phone again.
I want you to have what you need. When you’re ready to talk to me let me know. I’ll be ready to listen.
It hurt to write those words, but he knew it was the right thing.
He slid the phone back into his pocket and grabbed the cookies, feeling grateful to his mother for giving him something positive and not too difficult to do. Hopefully, she had a few other tasks she could put him on today and the time would pass somehow.
He headed on the little path to the back of the house where a glassy addition formed Kellan’s office.
This time of day, Benny would be at school and Daisy would be in the office with baby Hope, ready to answer phones. And Kellan would be preparing for the day’s patients.
When he reached the door, Daisy spotted him and gave him a big friendly wave with the arm that wasn’t holding the baby. He headed inside, admiring the pretty potted evergreens with twinkling lights that flanked the walls of the office.
Kellan was leaned over the counter, making funny faces for little Hope, who looked like she was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
“Hey guys,” Jared said. “Special delivery.”
Daisy stood up and came around the corner to hug him with Hope in her arms.
He was always amazed at how tiny Daisy was. When he first met her, she’d been pregnant with Hope, but still seemed like she might blow away in a strong wind.
He hugged her back, gently, and turned to his brother.
“More cookies?” Kellan asked.
Kellan was kind of a health nut, which Jared supposed made sense given that he was a doctor and spent so much time trying to keep his patients healthy. But Daisy’s eyes lit up and she snatched the tin right out of Jared’s outstretched hand.
“Benny and I will make these disappear, honey, don’t you worry,” she said, pulling it close like it was a treasure.
Kellan chuckled and shook his head, and Jared smiled too. Kellan teased Daisy about her sweet tooth once in a while, but it was a fond sort of teasing, a thin veil over the naked adoration that was always in his eyes when he looked at his wife.
Jared might have found it pathetic if Daisy didn’t look at him in the exact same way, like she couldn’t believe he was real. The two of them had really been lucky to find each other. And it was clear they both knew it.
There was a light tap at the glass doors and they turned to see a lady with a young girl, both of them bundled up.
“Come on in,” Daisy said brightly, heading for the door.
“Thank you so much,” the lady said nervously. “I know you’re not open yet and we probably need an appointment, but her throat’s been keeping her up all night and she has such a fever.”
“That’s exactly what we’re here for,” Kellan said. “And you know you can call us day or night, Maureen. No need to wait like you did. Come on back, young lady. Let’s help you feel better.”
He swept them both back to the room behind reception where he saw patients as Jared and Daisy watched after him.
“Da,” Hope said emphatically.