Chapter 8
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Jack
We walk in silence for a long time. Lily takes in everything around us. She reaches out with her left hand to touch the decorative bushes and trees along the path. If it weren’t for the solar lights and lamp posts, she wouldn’t be able to see much in the dark. My niece and nephew walk these paths at night sometimes. Mom insisted they be well-lit.
Lily doesn’t pull her right hand from mine. Knowing she trusts me stokes my pride. Her trust in me is small and delicate at the moment. For now, I’ll cherish and honor it. I’ll deepen her trust in time.
We pause several times to allow her fingertips to gently roam over leaves and petals. Since it’s fall, there aren’t as many flowers in bloom as in spring and summer. Lily kneels beside a huge planter to smell the yellow flowers. I’m not sure what this plant is, but it’s now my favorite. There are some burgundy and purplish ones just like it nearby. I can’t wait to see which flowers along the paths are her favorites in the spring.
The women in my family have decorated all the paths between our houses. My mom and grandmother love flowers. My niece has added her little flare to the flower beds. Our homes and these paths aren’t visible from the clubhouse.
My family owns two hundred acres in middle Tennessee. The clubhouse was the first thing built here. It sits on the front side of the property. It’s the only thing visible to the public. Dad locked the clubhouse behind a fence over twenty years ago after an attack from a rival club. A thick grove of trees and a second fence hide our houses. Only family members and our closest friends know where these paths are. Everyone else is stopped at the clubhouse or uses the long driveway. Lily didn’t even notice when we walked through the gate on this path. Dad will close and lock it when he walks home.
The guest house sits a little farther back between my parents’ house and mine. You can see it from our back porches. Dad built this little house here for a reason. He doesn’t tell people why, though.
“It’s beautiful, Jack.” Lily stares at the house in awe. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay here?”
I lightly laugh. “Mom said so. Trust me. It’s more than okay.” No one will argue with my mom or my grandmother.
With one hand, I pull out my keys and unlock the door. I hold onto her hand for as long as possible. I push the door open and let her enter first. Yeah, I noticed how she paused when she saw the porch swing. I can already picture her curled up on it with a warm blanket around her and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate in her hands. It’s mesmerizing, and it’s just a vision in my head.
“Oh, wow.” She walks ahead, dropping my hand. I immediately miss her touch.
I follow her into the kitchen and go straight to the fridge. It’s empty. That’s not surprising. No one has stayed here for a long time. Mom and Everly keep this house clean, too.
“Feel free to wander around and tour the place.” I motion toward the hall. She doesn’t need me crowding her.
“Thanks.” Lily disappears into one of the three bedrooms.
Mom’s getting the things Lily will need tonight. What can I offer her now? I spy the coffee maker on the counter. Women love coffee. Let’s hope Mom at least stocked the cabinets. I open the door above the coffee maker and smile. A bag of my favorite coffee is here, along with a box of little half-and-half creamers. I check the expiration before I get my hopes up, as well as Lily’s. They’re still good. The universe is moving in my favor tonight.
The coffee finishes brewing as Lily walks back into the kitchen. She’s still wearing the sunglasses Mom handed her in the office. It’s not fooling anyone. Those glasses are hiding at least one black eye.
Anger fills my chest. How could someone hurt her? A part of me wants to remove those glasses and see it. A bigger part of me wants his name so I can hunt him down and make him pay. A silent whisper in my head stops me. She’s an angel, broken and hurting . She needs something more than my anger. She needs to feel safe, loved, and supported. She’ll get all that and more from me.
“You want a cup?” I hold up a black coffee mug and a soft pink one with flowers.
“Yes, please.” She eases around the table to lean against the counter a few feet away.
I fill the two mugs and set a spoon on the counter. “You can fix it how you like.”
With shaky hands, she reaches for the spoon and sugar bowl. “Thank you.”
Surprisingly, she prepares the black mug. For someone who stopped to smell flowers earlier to choose black now is a sign of how she’s feeling on the inside. It’s okay. I don’t mind using a girlie mug if it helps her somehow.
With coffee in hand, I motion for her to follow me. “We can sit in the living room and wait for my mom. You probably want to relax after the ride from Texas.”
She freezes at the edge of the couch. “I’m not from Texas.”
Okay. That’s good to know. She’s been traveling for days, though. I didn’t see her file to know where she’s from. I’ll ask Dad if I can see that tomorrow. For now, I need to ease her tension.
Smiling, I nod. “No, but it’s where you met Shepherd.”
Man, it hurts saying that. Shepherd spent the whole day with her. The jerk laughed at me for being protective over Lily. He’s not really a jerk. Shepherd is one of the most loyal people I know. I’m just jealous of the bond he seems to have with her. That is something I will never admit out loud.
“Yeah,” she says with a sigh. She relaxes and shrinks into one of the corners of the couch.
As much as I want to join her, I don’t. Over the years, we’ve been trained on how to act around an angel. They have to be treated tenderly and with extra care. Giving them space to process trauma and emotions is very important. Even if they don’t outwardly show signs of needing space or ask for it, the battle within them screams for it in their minds. It’s why I sit in the recliner across from her.
She stares into her mug, still wearing the sunglasses. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
I settle back against the chair. “You don’t have to.”
“Are you sure?” She bravely lifts her head.
Are her eyes brown to match her long hair? Are they blue? Freaking gold, maybe? I want to know so badly.
“Yeah. I’m sure. It’s okay.”
It’s absolutely not okay. Hurting her was a sin. Somebody needs to pay. Once again, it’s not about me. It’s about what she needs. I keep my true emotions and thoughts hidden. Trust me. It’s a struggle.
“Thank you.” She takes a sip of coffee and drops her head again.
We drink our coffee in silence. I want to talk to her so badly. I want to know everything about her, not just what happened to bring her here. Her voice seems to settle the anger inside me somehow. The counselors who work with us said to allow the silence and expect it to last longer than normal. Forcing her to talk wouldn’t go well for me. Even small talk could create a wedge between us.
Mom and Everly walk through the door with several grocery bags on their arms. They’re the reusable kind. Mom hates those flimsy little plastic ones at the store. I quickly set my mug on the end table and hurry to help them.
“Here, Mom. Let me get those.” I reach out so she can slide the handles onto my arms.
Lily stands with both hands wrapped around her mug. Mom notices.
“Oh, good. You made coffee.” She gently places a hand on Lily’s arm.
“Um.” Lily turns her head toward me. “Jack made it.”
“Really?” Mom doesn’t sound like she believes her. Her raised eyebrow has me rushing the grocery bags to the kitchen.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lily follows Mom into the room.
Everly and I get busy putting the food away. Wow. These two raided the coolers and pantry at the clubhouse. Both are always overstocked. This didn’t even put a dent in them.
“Jack, will you stay with the girls for a little bit?”
“Yeah, Mom.”
Seriously? She literally just asked me to stay here? I had no intention of leaving just yet. I’m even willing to sleep on the front porch if Lily will let me.
“Sweetie, is there anything specific you need?” Mom asks Everly.
“No, ma’am. I’m fine with anything.” Everly continues to put the food away.
Mom looks Lily over from head to toe. “You’re about a size eight.” She’s not asking a question. She knows.
“What’s happening?” Lily asks nervously. Fear finds its way into her voice. I swear she’s about to bolt out of here.
“I’m going to the house for some things. Everly and I are going to stay with you tonight. I’ll get you a few outfits.”
“That’s not necessary,” Lily says quickly.
“It’s okay, dear. I wouldn’t dream of forcing you to stay alone in a strange place tonight.” Mom looks over at the coffee maker. “I’ll make us a fresh pot when I get back.”
Mom doesn’t wait for anyone to say no. She rushes out the front door and down the path to her house.
“I don’t understand the problem.” Everly puts a carton of ice cream in the freezer. “Uncle Jack makes the best coffee. He has all the flavors and toppings you could ever want at his house. This morning, he even made chocolate shavings for me to put on the whipped cream.”
I give her a one-arm hug and kiss the top of her head. “Thanks, Evie. Love ya bunches, sweet girl.” I ruffle her hair.
Naturally, she swats my hand away. “No, Uncle Jack.”
If Shepherd had ruffled her hair, Everly would have laughed. Once again, bloody Shepherd. And once again, I remind myself he’s my friend. I’m not used to fighting jealousy off like this. I don’t like it.
Lily’s mouth falls open as she watches Everly. Yeah, she figured it out. Enough was said in Dad’s office for her to know Ariel was my sister. Everly and Logan are her children. They were three and four when we lost their mom. My parents got legal custody of them within two months. I was fifteen when it happened. It’s still hard for me to talk about. So I usually don’t.
Since Mom’s making more coffee when she returns, I get my mug and finish off this pot. We’re not letting good coffee go to waste. When I turn around, Everly takes the mug from my hands and takes a sip.
“Thanks, Uncle Jack.” She sits down at the table with my cup of coffee.
I stare at my niece like she’s grown horns. Hey, this is coffee we’re talking about. Lily giggles, and my head snaps toward her. It’s one of the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard. And one I want to hear again. Every day.
“No one has to stay with me.” Lily sits across from Everly.
“Nanny insists.” Everly continues to sip my coffee.
It’s okay. I’m still staring at the beautiful woman across from her, hoping she’ll giggle again.
“Oh. You don't leave the women you rescue here alone.” She nods like she understands. She doesn’t.
Everly shakes her head. “None of the angels have ever stayed here.”
Lily turns her head toward me. I really want to see her eyes. I shrug in reply to her unspoken questions. She’s the only angel to stay in this house.
No more questions are asked. No stories are shared. I haven’t learned much about the woman I’m destined to protect. When Mom comes through the door pulling two large suitcases, I know I’ve lost my chance tonight. Naturally, I get up and carry the suitcases to which bedroom Mom orders them to go. One holds the things she and Everly will need tonight. The one I placed in the master bedroom is for Lily. It was the heaviest. Mom definitely went a little overboard here.
“Now, go enjoy your party.” Mom kisses my cheek. It’s her way of lovingly dismissing me.
“But.” My eyes seek Lily out at the table.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Jack. We’ll take good care of her.” Everly doesn’t look up from the puzzle she’s putting together on the kitchen table.
Lily turns her head and quietly watches me. Mom doesn’t rush the moment. I really don’t want to leave. I sure don’t want to go back to the party.
She finally speaks. “Goodnight, Jack.”
That’s it. That’s all I’m getting tonight.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I don’t know why I asked it as a question. Of course, I’ll see her tomorrow.
Lily simply nods. Mom takes that as her cue to lovingly push me out the door. I stare at the closed door for several minutes. I can’t stand here all night. Mom will flog me in the morning if I sleep on the swing. Going back to the party really isn’t an option. It doesn’t feel right. Instead, I walk home. Grabbing a beer from the fridge, I drop down on a lounge chair on the back porch and stare at the lights in the guest house.