Chapter 24
24
A gentle touch landed on his shoulder, and Jake jerked upright.
“You won’t be able to move after sleeping like that.” Sydney shook her head. “Crawl onto the bed beside her.”
Jake peered at his watch through bleary eyes. “Is Tansy okay? What are you doing here?”
“They’re short staffed, so I took a shift.” Sydney glanced at Tansy’s chart then nodded firmly. “She’s doing fine. They cut back on the painkiller on the second dose, so she should be wide awake by ten. She’ll be cleared to head home then.”
“How’s my brother?”
Sydney snorted. “Stubborn.”
Jake resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Other than the usual. How’s his head?”
“He refused to come into the hospital, so I stitched him up at High Water.” Her eyes flashed with annoyance and a hint of something Jake would guess was satisfaction. “He whines a lot.”
“Declan?” What exactly had Sydney done to his stoic oldest brother? “What did you stitch him with, a staple gun?”
“Tempting idea. I’ll consider that for next time.” She shrugged. “He’s fine as well. The stitches will come out in a week. Other than a bump to the head, I think his pride was hurt more than anything.”
“Melissa wasn’t what we expected, on so many levels.” Sadness mixed with his sense of happiness, and it seemed very wrong.
Something of what he felt must have shown on his face because Sydney raised a brow. “You had better not be feeling guilty for surviving. You, Tansy, Jeffrey.”
“No guilt about that.” He measured her and decided to go for it. “Can you keep an eye on Declan for the next few days? Just to make sure he doesn’t do himself permanent damage?”
“He’s a big boy,” Sydney pointed out. “Probably not keen on a babysitter.”
“No, he’d hate it.” Jake nodded seriously.
She reacted as expected, a wide grin crossing her face. “I’ll be sure to drop by often.”
Amusement danced through him even as Jake rubbed his neck, easing closer to the bed. The idea of joining Tansy was tempting. She slept on her side, fingers meshed with his. “I don’t want to wake her.”
“An earthquake wouldn’t wake her,” Sydney assured him. “Also, if she does have any bad dreams, you’ll be that much closer if you’re already in bed with her. Go on,” she insisted, pulling the IV cord out of the way and gesturing him onto the mattress. “Doctor’s orders.”
Tansy muttered something softly before nestling back into his body. She tucked his hand against her belly and let out a contented sigh.
Sydney wiggled her fingers in farewell then closed the door behind her.
Jake was asleep before the door clicked shut.
Waking up with Tansy alive and laughing softly, her torso wiggling against him, was a sweet heaven.
“Did I miss something funny?” Jake asked quietly.
“No.” Tansy patted his hand. “Just thinking how nice it was to be here and then realizing this is a terrible place to be happy about. I’m happy to be alive but not thrilled to be in a hospital.”
“Situation normal then, all fucked up?”
“Pretty much,” she agreed.
It wasn’t until they were home that Jake felt he could take a full, easy breath.
Tansy seemed the same. They paused on the porch, and she met his gaze straight on, leaning on her crutches. “I love you.”
“Convenient, since I love you too.”
Which meant she was laughing as they stepped into the house.
A second later, Jeffrey leapt on Tansy like a feral kitten, clinging tightly as tears poured out of him.
Tansy patted his back, a slightly watery look in her own eyes as she smiled at Jake. She teetered slightly, but somehow kept her balance, one crutch held as an anchor.
“He was fine a minute ago,” Jinx insisted, joining them at the door. “We were playing a game, and he was okay.”
“He’s okay now, too,” Tansy assured her. Jake wrapped his arms around Jeffrey and Tansy, and the three of them swayed gently in the front foyer.
“I’m glad you’re safe, Tansy,” Jinx offered.
“Thanks. It’s good to be home.”
“Thanks for all you did to help,” Jake told Jinx. “It made a difference.”
The girl’s chin rose. “Good.” She dipped her chin and made eye contact with Jeffrey. “Hey, buddy. Come give Auntie Jinx a hug so Tansy can get off her feet. You can cuddle with her once she’s sitting down.”
Jeffrey unlatched himself from Tansy before clutching tightly to Jinx. “Tansy?”
“Yes, Jeffster?” Tansy asked politely.
“I live here now.” The words came out as a whisper, but most definitely a statement, not a question.
“You live here now,” Tansy affirmed, smiling at him and bopping him on the nose with a finger. “That okay with you?”
His chin dipped up and down like a bobblehead on a bumpy road. “Yup.”
Jake wrapped an arm around Tansy’s shoulder and hugged her briefly. “Come on. Time to make some plans with the family.”
She grinned at him. “Breaking out the notebook, are you?”
“You’ll see.”
He kept quiet, his heart in his throat as every member of the family came and greeted Tansy with a hug or a kiss or some kind of outpouring of love. Tansy fussed over Declan’s head bandage. Petra squeezed Tansy so tightly he thought they’d be stuck together like a best friends forever statue.
Even Logan made his way over and offered Tansy his hand. “Glad you’re only partly broken.”
“You and I aren’t winning any races these days, are we?” she teased.
“We’ll get there,” he said, determination in his tone.
She pulled him in for a hug. “Darn tooting we will.”
By the time the gauntlet of greetings was run, Tansy looked tired. She settled at the table and offered him a grateful smile when he rearranged a chair for her to put up her foot. “Lifesaver.”
“Tough mentor,” he corrected. “There’s work to be done.”
Tansy frowned briefly as everyone joined them, settling around the table. “Work?”
Jeffrey climbed into Jake’s lap, resting his head on Jake’s chest, and a warm buzz of happiness flashed inside. “High Water changes.”
“Summer planning meeting,” Petra explained.
“Adjustments to our routine, living arrangements, that sort of thing.” Kevin placed a cup of tea in front of Tansy then settled into his chair.
A small hand slipped up to Jake’s face. Jeffrey cuddled in, patting his cheek softly. Trusting that he was safe.
Trusting that he was loved.
Trust. Beautiful and precious.
Trust…and love. They really did go hand in hand.
The gathering wasn’t what she’d expected to deal with right after getting home, but it was a good idea, Tansy decided. If she’d settled into the couch she might have gotten all tangled up again in mentally rehashing the day before, and nothing good could come from that.
She picked up her tea and took a sip, preparing for what might come next. “Changes?”
“It’s important that we keep our goals in mind,” Declan offered seriously.
“Oh, hang on. You need this.” Jinx brought Tansy a box.
Everyone stared expectantly as Tansy picked up the black case with its stream of silver stars down the middle. “It’s pretty.”
“Open it,” Jinx demanded impatiently. “Jake bought it for you.”
“Jake did?” She met his eyes then lowered her voice. “Is it safe to open in public?”
He chuckled. “Very safe.”
Eagerly, she popped off the top to reveal a hardcover black journal with a scattering of silver and gold stars over the surface. The journal part screamed Jake. The stars were definitely more her style.
“Beautiful yet practical.” Tansy smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“Open it.” Jinx again. The girl nearly bounced in her seat.
Tansy raised a brow but did as commanded. Instead of the fresh clean blank pages she expected?—
“Someone wrote in here already. I see…”
She stalled out. The first page was blank, but the second page displayed Petra’s familiar handwriting, and it started with The best friends own a piece of your heart forever.
“Pretty journals are the worst.” Petra leaned forward as she offered an explanation. “It’s like you don’t want to actually use them in case you make a mistake or mess up. So we decided we’d get things started for you.”
No way did Tansy want to rush through reading the message from Petra. Or the one on the next page from her sister Rose. Or the one after that signed by her Grandma Sonora.
Tansy flipped slowly through the pages, stealing the barest glimpse of messages of love and acceptance from all the people in her life who meant the world to her. Everyone at the table. Messages from her family.
Smile firmly in place, her lips quivered a little as emotion struck.
She flipped to a page that held a few sketches and paused. She laid the book open on the table. “What’s this?”
“Possible renovations to the main house,” Jake explained.
Tansy met his gaze. “More renos?”
“We made some good plans when we dreamed about High Water,” Aiden said. “The living quarters for each of us Skye brothers out under the art studio, for example. But we forgot that life changes, and our needs would change as well. We’re not three bachelors setting up rooms anymore.”
Tansy eyed the drawings closer, her jaw hanging open as she mentally rearranged the rooms and figured out what it meant. “Is this an addition past my bedroom?”
Jake adjusted Jeffrey slightly. The kid’s eyes were half-lidded. He’d probably had a terrible sleep after the hell of the past few weeks.
Oh. Oh .
“A room for Jeffrey,” Tansy guessed.
“Yes, and a small living space so you have privacy even when there are female ranch hands around.” Jake cleared his throat, looking slightly sheepish. “So we have privacy.”
Tansy laughed quietly, so as not to startle Jeffrey. “For a quiet, private guy, you really are doing this thing between us right out there in the open.”
“When you’re in love, you do stupid shit,” Jake drawled.
“Or so I hear,” Tansy teased.
They grinned at each other.
She was so damn tempted to do the final thing. The part she’d tried to spit out last night before getting loopy on drugs, but consent mattered. While getting a family living space tossed at her in front of all of High Water might seem a big tell, she wanted one thing to be only them.
“You good with the idea?” Declan asked.
“It’s a great idea,” Tansy returned firmly, peering closer at the pages. “Don’t bother to put a kitchen in there, though.”
“Just a space for a kettle and a snack fridge,” Jake suggested.
“Perfect.” Tansy glanced around at the family gathered at the table. Because that’s what they were. Just as much family by choice as the Fields were. “Because this is my kitchen.” She gestured to the counters and ovens behind her. “My domain. My precious ….” She offered the last in a nasally, teasing tone.
The instant smiles in reaction were perfect.
The next hour was spent with actual planning, not only for the renovations to the house. Kevin and Logan good naturedly argued over which of them should move into Jake’s former space, i.e., both insisting the other should take it. Logan won the battle, which meant Kevin rolled his eyes a lot but headed out willingly with Declan and Logan to move his things into the apartment.
Tansy fought exhaustion then snickered as Petra leaned in close and glared at her. “That’s a pretty face.”
“That’s my you will do as you’re told face. Naptime. As you’ve heard, you’re off official cooking duty for at least a week.”
“I want to cook, though.” Although not at this exact moment.
“Trust me.” Aiden slid in beside Petra. “You will be called upon a lot to help. But you’re sous chef, not executive chef.”
Now was not the time to explain that meant more work, not less. “Fine. I’ll cut and chop as ordered.”
“Right now, you’ll count zzzzs in your bed,” Petra ordered.
“Yes, Mom.” Tansy wiggled her way upright, accepting the crutches Jake handed her. “You plan to tuck me in?”
“Absolutely.” Jake hesitated. “There’s something we need to do first.”
“Sure.” Tansy eyed her leg cast. “As long as it doesn’t involve dancing.”
He held his hand to her. “No Tansy Dance Scale tonight.”
Aiden winked. Petra grinned. Even Declan looked as if he knew what was up, but Jake ignored the rest of the room and guided Tansy toward the bedrooms.
She wobbled when he led her to the right instead of the left. “Okay?”
“I want to check in on Jeffrey,” Jake offered.
Jinx had taken him away during the meeting and tucked him in for his own nap. “He’s probably asleep.” Tansy peeked in the door then hummed softly. “You’re not asleep.”
Jeffrey sat upright on the mattress they’d temporarily placed in the corner of Jinx’s room so he wouldn’t be alone.
He looked nervous, and Tansy hurried to his side the best she could. “Hey, bucko. You should be sleeping.”
He glanced past her to Jake. “I have something for you.”
It took some coordinating, but Jake helped, and in the end Tansy sat on the mattress beside a very wiggly Jeffrey.
Jake settled on the other side, an accepting smile in place. “Go ahead,” he encouraged.
Jeffrey took a big breath then slid his hand under his pillow. He pulled out a shiny silver and gold bracelet that was strangely familiar?—
“Oh. I found that before.” Tansy frowned. “Wait, I found that a long time ago and forgot about it.” She glanced at Jake, but he was smiling reassuringly at Jeffrey. “I don’t know who it belongs to.”
“I do,” Jake said quietly. “Go on, Jeffrey.”
“I didn’t steal it.” Jeffrey wrinkled his nose. “I mean, I did steal it, but I didn’t give it to her. It’s yours. I wanted to give it back.”
Tansy’s brain buzzed. “I found that— Sheesh , the day the girls discovered Logan. It was under the couch. What with one thing and another, I put it somewhere safe then forgot about it.”
“It was in your bathroom.” Jeffrey looked ready to cry. “It’s yours.”
“Oh, sweetie. Thank you. I’m glad you gave it back. Come here.” She opened her arms and Jeffrey wormed in tight. She glanced at Jake, hoping for a few more clues. “You said you know who the bracelet belongs to?”
“It was my mom’s,” Jake offered softly.
Wow. “How did it get under the couch?”
“Not sure, but that part doesn’t matter. Jeffrey made a choice to do what’s right, and that’s what’s important.” Jake leaned in and peered at Jeffrey. “Good job, buddy. It’s not easy to do what’s right, but you did it. I’m proud of you.”
The tear factory turned up to high. Tansy felt a little weepy herself.
“Hey, I don’t mind a little tears, but I do need your help. So if you can, let’s do the next thing, okay, Jeffrey?” Jake clapped his hands softly.
Jeffrey wiggled free, wiping at his face with the backs of his hands. “‘Kay.”
“Like we practiced,” Jake prompted.
The little guy nodded vigorously then turned to Tansy. “Jake says he’s my daddy now.”
Oh God. Tansy held it together by a thread. “Yes, he is. And he loves you very much.”
Because being loved had made all the difference to her, and it would to Jeffrey as well.
The little guy waved the fist that held the bracelet. “This is a mommy bracelet.”
Her heart leapt, pounding against her ribcage.
Jeffrey opened his palm, offering the trinket like a sacrifice. “It’s for you.”
“Perfect.” With zero hesitation, Tansy picked it up and held it to her chest. She swallowed around the knot in her throat. “Because I love you and want to be your mommy.”
The three way hug that followed was perfectly awkward and very tear-filled. Tansy wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
When Jeffrey finally settled down, eyelids reluctantly closing in sleep, Jake picked Tansy up and they stole into her— their —bedroom.
Jake paused by the door. “I’m sorry for throwing that at you unannounced. When he showed me the bracelet, he was worried Melissa did what she did because he’d hidden it from her. I had to tell him about being his dad, and then he begged to know if you were his mom and?—”
“Marry me.” Tansy tossed it out, interrupting Jake’s monologue, leaning on her crutches as she grinned at this man who was now impulsive in all the right ways.
Jake’s jaw dropped.
“Marry me,” she repeated. “I’d get down on one knee, but I might not get back up again very quickly.”
His grin bloomed. “I’d say you should have wined and dined me first, but you pretty much do that every night.”
“I have a ring for you,” Tansy informed him.
He gaped at her. “Get out.”
It felt amazing to be able to say it. “I. Planned. Ahead.”
“You’re beyond amazing.” Jake curled himself around her. “Where’s my ring?”
“Where’s my answer first?”
A moment later, Tansy was resting in Jake’s lap on the edge of the bed. He stroked his knuckles over her cheek, love in his eyes as he examined her face. “I wanted to learn how to be more like you. So in love with life and the people around you. So full of joy and passion. I never dreamed how contagious it would be—exposure to full-on life at maximum is addictive. But it’s not only your spontaneity, it’s your heart. You give so much. You love with every fiber of your being.”
Tansy kissed him gently. “Marry me,” she said again.
“I would be honoured to be yours in every way possible. But you’ve already got me, heart and soul.” Jake pulled away when she would have kissed him again. “My ring?”
She laughed. “Side table. It’s in the candle tin with the pink mandala.”
He wiggled far enough away to lean over and pull the drawer open and nab the tin. His arms around her, she helped open it, then pulled out the worn silver ring she’d been saving for the right moment.
Jake swallowed hard. “That’s a family ring.”
“It was my original grandfather’s. I never met him, but Grandma Sonora said Greg was the best of men. She fell head over heels in love with him at eighteen, and even though she’s in love with Ashton now, she said love doesn’t die when a person leaves us. It’s precious and forever, and when I told her I loved you, she said she wanted us to have it.”
Jake closed his fingers around hers. “I’m honoured,” he repeated. “And I’m thrilled to be welcomed into the Fields family. A family made by choice.”
“And love.” Tansy slid the ring onto his finger. “So much love.”
“Definitely that.”
He twisted them to the mattress and slipped off her sweater. She pulled his shirt over his head, and eventually they finished getting naked, although the kissing and touching and laughing made it take a long time.
Also the cast, but they had no trouble getting creative to deal with that issue.
When he’d already brought her up once and Tansy was breathless from keeping quiet, Jake rolled over her and slid them together intimately.
He paused. “We’re readjusting the renovation. Our bedroom is going to be on an outside wall where you can make all the noise you want.”
“Deal,” Tansy agreed instantly. She caught him around the shoulders and kissed him until they were both seeing stars.
“I love you,” he whispered as they tipped over into pleasure.
“I love you too.”
As they lay cuddling on the bed later, Tansy sighed happily. “You know, you were right. Spontaneity is fun, but so is planning ahead.”
“You can plan right now?” Jake asked. “I need to up my game.”
She laughed. “Trust me, your game is great.”
He hummed. “Trust me, I love you. Spontaneous or preplanned, we got this.”