Chapter 9
Jax held the ice pack to Jessa’s temple where she’d hit the corner molding when she fell, and tried to rouse her. He’d picked her up and brought her to the bed, and she hadn’t even blinked.
That wasn’t good.
Minutes passed before Jessa groaned and opened her eyes, immediately trying to sit up.
“Lie down,” Jax said. “You took quite a fall.”
She shook him off. “I don’t want to lie down.” Her eyes went around the bedroom and her face crumpled.
“What is it, Jessa?”
She raised her hand to point at the floor. “Those things were in my nightstand when I left for the beach this morning.”
He looked at the collection of books, glasses, medicine, and tissues spread over the floor. “Just now? You mean someone was in here?”
She nodded. “It’s the third time this week.
The first was the worst. Drawers lying on the floor.
Boxes emptied onto beds and tables. The first time, I thought it was just a burglary.
Then I figured someone must have a key, so yesterday I changed the locks.
Now I don’t know what to think. Maybe they’re looking for the person who used to live here. ”
Jax surveyed the room and was struck more by the lack of certain things than the inclusion of others.
There was no crib. There were no toys. This was the home of a woman who lived alone.
“There is no baby, is there?”
She swung her legs off the side of the bed. “You should go now.”
“What happened?”
She turned on him. “What do you think happened, Jax? You’re not stupid, so put two and two together and figure this one out.”
She’d miscarried the baby.
All this time he’d told himself at least she had the child, some piece of Ralph to keep near her, when in fact she’d had nothing.
He remembered how happy she’d been about the baby, she and Ralph both. They were so clearly in love, their newly created family the perfect icing on the cake.
He’d been jealous at the time, his own marriage going up in flames just before they announced they were expecting. Not that he missed Linda. More that he missed the woman he wanted Linda to be.
He wanted her to be more like Jessa.
Seeing her now, with her pain so clearly etched on her features, he recognized her loneliness like he reluctantly acknowledged his own. Difference being, he deserved to be unhappy. Jessa did not.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, wishing he could wrap her in his arms and comfort her. Had she even had anyone there to do that at the time?
Her bottom lip trembled, then her mouth formed a hard line. “Please, Jax. Just leave.”
“I can’t do that.”
“This is my house. It’s my life. You don’t get to stay here just because you want to.”
“Because I want to? Someone broke into your house, not once but three times, most recently not an hour ago. What if they come back while you’re sleeping, while you’re alone?” He shook his head. “I’m staying.”
“Where will you sleep? There’s only one bed and you can’t sleep with me.” She lowered her brow.
Was that why she didn’t want him here? “I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“There is no sofa.”
“Then I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“This is ridiculous. I can take care of myself.”
“You passed out when you saw they’d been here, Jessa. I’m not leaving you alone like this.”
Not this time.
I won’t let you suffer alone again.
She closed her eyes. “Fine. Just for tonight, but after that you need to leave.”
He nodded. “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”