Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Tuesday
The noise in the kitchen reached a crescendo as Jenna put her phone on speaker. “Just a minute, Emily, I’ll need to put you on speaker. Jackson is fussing.”
“Mommy up.” Jackson tugged at Jenna’s shirt. “Up, up, up.” He held up his arms, and his face wrinkled into what Jenna recognized as the prequel to a frustrated wail.
She lifted him up onto her lap, tied a long bib around his neck, and then slid the plate in front of him with a dippy egg and strips of buttered toast that Kane had just prepared. She handed him the spoon. “There you go.”
Jackson had come to the age where his brain had matured faster than his body.
He watched what his brother Tauri did and wanted to imitate him.
Not being able to climb as well or run fast enough frustrated him.
Over the last few days, he completely refused to sit in his high chair, wanting to either sit on their laps to eat his food or wobble around in a booster seat up to the table.
Jenna had insisted he sit between her and Kane wedged in so tight that he couldn’t possibly fall off sideways. So far it had worked.
This morning, Tauri had left him behind when he went to help Kane tend the horses.
She’d found him trying to pull on his socks, crying in frustration for not being ready when Kane left.
She discovered that Kane hadn’t known Jackson wanted to go with them.
The temperature had dropped again and a freezing wind howled around the house, splattering the windows with the constant snowfall.
Usually, once Kane headed to the barn, Jackson would crawl in bed with her.
He enjoyed her early morning stories before she went to work.
As Jackson ate, Jenna went back to her conversation with Emily.
“Raven insisted that he wasn’t injured.”
“Well, he was.” The sound of Emily’s fingernails on the wooden table came through the speaker.
“He gave me a call and asked if I could X-ray his hip for him. When he fell, he landed on the water bottle and it chipped his hip bone. You should see him, Jenna. He’s black and blue from that fall. I’m surprised his ribs aren’t broken.”
Knowing the affection that Emily had for Raven, Jenna raised both eyebrows toward Kane. “I’m sure he’s in good hands with you, Em.”
“There’s not much you can do for a chipped hip, is there?” Kane slid plates of food in front of Jenna and Tauri. He collected his own plate, scooped Jackson from Jenna’s lap, and set him on his booster seat between them. “Did you bandage his ribs?”
“Yes, I bandaged his ribs.” Emily let out a long sigh. “Not that he wanted me to do anything to help him. He is such a stubborn man, you know?”
“The thing is, unless the ribs are actually broken or cracked”—Kane sipped his coffee—“it hurts more getting the bandages off and on when you take a shower. Trust me, I couldn’t count the times I’ve had bruised ribs. Wolfe just gives me some cream to rub into them. That helps better than anything.”
“Hmm, well he did mention the cream and I wrote him a prescription for it, so I assume he’ll be better soon.
” Emily paused for a beat. “There is one thing, Dave, that I’d like to mention after your comments about social workers not being safe.
You do know that Julie is working very hard to get all the certificates she needs to become a children’s advocate for the court.
She’ll be working in the department of children’s services, hopefully in Black Rock Falls because apparently there are two positions available, come next May.
This would mean she could literally go from graduation into employment.
Dad understands the implications around such a career.
We all know it carries some problems with it, because not everyone is going to agree with different verdicts or decisions made in the children’s best interest. Julie insists that the best interests of the child should be taken into account and that includes what the child wants.
Being on the outside looking into the team that surrounds you, Jenna, she understands that this is not always the case, and this has been her motivation to work in this field. ”
Jenna guided a piece of toast into the runny egg and smiled at Jackson. “Yeah, I know we’ve discussed it at length. I’m glad at last she found her vocation.”
“You don’t believe the boy she met at that convention has anything to do with her decision?” Kane raised one eyebrow and glanced at Jenna. “She mentioned him to your dad and he didn’t seem at all impressed when he told me about him.”
“Oh, she is having a long-distance friendship with a guy by the name of Rhett.” Emily yawned.
“They both have the same interests for their careers. He intends to move to Black Rock Falls after he graduates but he is two years older than her and has more than one degree up his sleeve.” She cleared her throat.
“I’m betting she won’t like him as much if he gets the job and she doesn’t.
” She chuckled. “Although every weekend she comes home from college she spends most of the day on FaceTime with him. I went into her room to speak to her during a call. He has the tattoo of a snake all up one arm and up his neck. He drives a Harley and looks like a typical bad boy.”
Chuckling, Jenna glanced at Kane. “Well, we have a few of them in the team. Honestly, Shane can’t possibly be concerned about a tattoo, can he? It’s not as if he can say anything about the Harley. He and every one of my deputies ride one now. It seems to me he’ll fit right in.”
“No one is good enough for Shane’s girls.” Kane gave her a side-eye. “You know that, right?”
“He is not so bad with Raven.” Emily sighed. “It’s weird that he likes him. You know I like to keep the peace, so it makes me wonder if I’m really attracted to Raven or I’m seeking my dad’s approval.”
“You sure you want me listening to girl talk.” Kane shook his head. “It feels like I’m intruding.”
“Me too.” Tauri grinned at Kane. “Girls are silly.”
“This is the problem.” Emily’s cup clinked on a saucer. “When we need a male’s perspective, they all run for the hills.”
“I’ve always been honest with you, Em.” Kane ran a hand down his face.
“The problem is, only you know what’s in your heart.
It’s scary, sometimes. From a male point of view, we have two options: go in boots and all and hope the girl likes us and maybe face rejection or take the slow road, become friends, and see if the attraction is mutual.
I figure Raven is much like me and your dad.
We prefer the courting.” He sighed. “If the pace is too slow for you, tell him.”
Jenna smiled at Kane. “Yeah, well, it worked for me.”
“Thanks, I appreciate your candor.” A chair scraped as she stood.
“We’ve been dating once a week or fortnight for ages and he still drops me at the front door.
I care for him and believe he would protect me with his life if need be.
You’re right, he’s old-school, like you, Dave.
I’m just hoping I won’t be thirty by the time he makes up his mind.
Maybe I’ll invite him to dinner with the family.
Oh, is that the time? I gotta go or I’ll be late for work.
Autopsy is at ten. See you then.” She disconnected.
“I don’t usually give that kind of advice.” Kane’s lips curled into a smile. “Maybe I’ll write an Agony Aunt column for the local newspaper. I’ll call it ‘help for dating couples—a man’s perspective.’”
Pulling wipes from a packet, Jenna cleaned the egg from Jackson’s hands and face and handed him a sippy cup of milk.
She stared at Kane. “You know, maybe you should have told her to get involved or show interest in his dog training and rehousing program. It’s a big part of his life.
I don’t figure he’d give that up to marry Emily.
Maybe that’s the reason they’re only having casual dates? ”
“Ha, there you go.” Kane stood and collected plates. “Advice for my first column: get involved in each other’s work or hobbies.”
Shaking her head, Jenna stood and lifted Jackson onto one hip. “How about you concentrate your energy on finding me a few suspects?”
Laughter filled the kitchen. “Yes, ma’am.” Kane looked at her over one shoulder and winked. “Gotcha.”