Chapter 9 #2
Kai was in heaven. And the dog seemed pretty happy too, clambering over his lap, playing tug-of-war with the edge of a towel.
“Mum, look!” Kai giggled as the pup licked him. “I think she likes me.”
I laughed. “Yeah. I think she does too.” I turned to Jasper. “Does she have a name?”
“Not yet.” He leaned his hip against the bathroom counter, looking sexier than any man had any right to. “Any ideas?”
Why did he have to be so handsome? A strong jawline, high cheekbones, full lips. A wayward curl that often fell over his face.
Professional. Just be…professional.
To distract myself, I leaned over the fence and smoothed my hand down the puppy’s fur. Though she kept trying to nip or lick me. “Fiddlesticks.”
“Fiddlesticks?” Jasper asked.
I peered at him over my shoulder, only to find him staring at my ass. I quirked an eyebrow, and his eyes met mine. He didn’t even try to hide the fact that he’d been checking me out.
Oh, this is bad.
“Fiddlesticks,” Jasper said again.
“Yeah. Why not?”
“Seems like a mouthful when I need to call her.” He shifted, ever-so-subtly adjusting himself. Had that… Had I made him hard?
“Did you have any names you were considering?” I asked, still pondering that as I loved on this sweet little dog. She was too cute for words. And keeping my attention on her was safer than watching her owner.
“How about Pom-Pom?” Kai said.
“That has potential,” Jasper said, while I went over to the sink to wash my hands.
I shot him a look as if to say, “Really?”
“Why not?” he asked.
I lifted a shoulder, marveling at the way we could have an entire conversation with only a handful of words. Craig and I had never been that in sync, even after all the years we’d been a couple. In fact, it seemed like the longer we’d been together, the more disconnected we’d become.
While Kai played happily with Jasper’s new pet and suggested names for the puppy like Rosemary and Tuxedo, Jasper stood with his back against the counter, arms and legs crossed before him.
He looked so relaxed, and part of me was tempted to muss his hair.
Make him look as out of sorts as I felt every time I was in his presence.
Every time I had to pretend I felt nothing for him.
Jasper glanced at his phone then said, “Dimitri’s team is on their way up.”
His words snapped me out of my daze. “Kai. Are you good here while I help Jasper?”
“I’m great!” he practically squealed.
I laughed. “Okay. Come get us if you need us.”
As Jasper and I headed for the front door, he said, “Thanks again for doing this.”
“Are you kidding? It was a dream come true. Getting to shop for art with an unlimited budget,” I sighed.
But it was more than that. It was the fact that Jasper had given me free rein. He hadn’t micromanaged or second-guessed me. He’d trusted me.
Though, now that the delivery crew was actually here, carrying the wrapped pieces to their designated homes, my nerves were bubbling up. What if Jasper hated them? I rolled my lips between my teeth, directing the crew where each piece was supposed to go.
As each one was unveiled, I watched Jasper’s reaction closely.
When he saw the first piece, his eyes widened, and he leaned forward.
He said nothing, following me to the next piece and the next.
There were five pieces in total, and by the time he’d seen four of them, sweat was dripping down my back.
I had no idea what he was thinking. Did he love them? Hate them?
He was so detail-oriented, and he put so much care into everything he did, that part of me was still surprised he’d wanted my help.
The last piece was one of my favorites. I held my breath, anxiously awaiting his reaction.
“Is that…” He stepped back and rubbed a hand over his mouth. “A dragonfly wing?”
I nodded. “Isn’t it beautiful? So delicate and sculptural. I can’t believe the level of detail the artist captured.”
He smiled. “My gran used to wear the most beautiful dragonfly brooch.”
I watched him. “I know. It was in the image of her on the website. And her portrait in the lobby.”
“I—” He turned to me. “Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s right. She always told me that dragonflies symbolized transformation and new beginnings. But now it feels like…” He sniffed. “Like she’s saying hello.”
I smiled. “That’s lovely.”
“These are incredible. Thank you.” His expression was full of such intensity that it nearly stole my breath.
My body lit up at his praise, and the effect could’ve powered the entire building. “I’m glad you like them.”
“I love them.” But when he said the words, he was looking at me. It felt as if he was saying the words about me.
I dipped my head, unable to meet Jasper’s eyes. The moment felt both too intense and too delicate. As if one wrong word would ruin everything and send our fragile relationship over the edge.
Did I want to fall over that edge?
Sometimes.
Sometimes I didn’t want to restrain myself. Sometimes I wanted to give in. To let go.
Sometimes I wanted to go back to how we were last summer. Easy and carefree and fun.
It was tempting. He was tempting.
There was a long, silent pause, and then my phone started vibrating in my back pocket. I startled then peeked at the screen. It was my mom, so I figured I’d call her back later.
I pocketed my phone, but as soon as it had stopped buzzing, it started again. Mom, again.
“Everything okay?” Jasper asked.
“I just—” I hooked my thumb over my shoulder. “I should take this call.”
“Sure.” He furrowed his brow, scanning my face for clues. “You can use my office. I’ll keep an eye on Kai.”
“Thanks.” I pressed the button to connect the call and dashed down the hall to his office, closing the door softly behind me. “Hi, Mom. Is—”
I barely got the words out before my mom cut in. “I can’t find your dad.” She sounded frantic, and my pulse instantly shot up.
“What do you mean, can’t find him?”
“I-I don’t know. I went to shower, and when I came out, he was gone. I’m sorry to bother you with this, but I’m just so worried. He usually comes back by now.”
“Usually?” My pitch rose. “How many times has this happened? How long has he been gone?”
I was practically shouting at this point. I couldn’t believe she’d kept this from me, and I was upset that it was happening, period.
“Oh. He just went to see Ms. Foster last time. It was no big deal.”
“No big deal?” I scoffed. “Mom, he has a progressive disease that affects his brain. He could’ve been hurt or…
” I swallowed hard, not willing to go there.
Right now, the only thing that mattered was finding my dad.
We’d deal with next steps once he was safe.
“Look. Let’s focus on finding Dad. Did you call his phone? ”
“It keeps going straight to voice mail.”
“I thought you installed the app to track his phone.”
“I did, but that only works if he has the phone on him and the battery is charged. Last time, we got lucky.”
I wasn’t even going to touch that statement. Not yet.
“Neighbors?”
“I texted them, and they’re keeping an eye out for him. I drove the main road several times but didn’t see him.”
“Do you think he’s in the woods?”
She started crying when I mentioned that possibility.
That was it. I’d had enough. He was missing. He could be confused or hurt. “We need to call the police and have them issue a Silver Alert.”
“He’ll come back.” She sniffled. “He always comes back.”
If I’d been in denial, it was nothing compared to my mom. And I worried that there was even more that she hadn’t been telling me about my dad’s condition. About the true state of things.
“I’m going to call the police, and then I’ll call you right back.”
“No. Wait.”
Why was she fighting me on this? “Mom, it’s getting dark. The longer we wait, the greater risk of harm. Once I alert the police, I can try to book a plane ticket to come help.”
“No. It’s Dad. He’s…he’s here. He’s in the backyard.”
It was too much to process too quickly. Relief. Concern. Despair. My hands were shaking so badly, I almost dropped the phone.
“Is he okay?” I asked, trying to focus on what mattered. He was home.
I could hear the hinges of the back door as it creaked open. “Oh, thank god, Daniel,” Mom said to him in a rush of relief.
“Minnie?” Dad asked. Concern mingled with confusion in his tone, and it was heartbreaking.
“Why don’t you sit down at the table, sweetheart, and I’ll get you some water?” I could hear my mom bustling around the kitchen, could picture it in my mind.
“Mom?” I called, then louder still, “Mom!”
“Yes. Sorry. He’s back.” She exhaled, keeping her voice low. “Just a small cut on his hand, but he’s okay. Thank god.”
“Go take care of Dad, but I want you to call me later.”
I held it together long enough to tell my parents I loved them and end the call. And then I covered my face with my hands, my heart fracturing into a million pieces.
“Halle?” Jasper called through the door.
“Yeah? Yep.”
I sniffled and straightened, frantically wiping away my tears. Get it together.
“The delivery team is gone, and Kai fell asleep.”
Oh my god. I’d been so immersed in my call that I’d neglected to help Jasper with the delivery. With my own son. I didn’t know if that meant I was negligent or just that I trusted Jasper. When I thought about it, I was surprised to realize the latter was true.
“Okay.” My voice warbled, and I clapped a hand over my mouth.
Jasper opened the office door before I could add that I’d be right out. He took one look at me and frowned. And then, without another word, he crossed the room and pulled me into his arms.
I considered backing away, but I was too weak to protest. Especially not when Jasper was offering me comfort that felt like home.