Chapter 19
19
T he rest of the family had lingered in the house, waiting to hear what Melissa had to say. As soon as Jake returned, Logan was asked to take his breakfast out onto the porch.
The kid surveyed them all then nodded sagely. “I’ll just keep an eye on things, okay?”
Jake squeezed his shoulder in thanks then helped carry Logan’s meal to the small table tucked into the morning sunshine.
A few minutes later, Jake was back inside, dropping the bombshell.
“She wants you to what ?” Tansy quivered she was so mad. “Are we sure the woman is mentally stable?”
“Obviously she’s not,” Declan muttered.
“No sane woman offers to give up her son.” Kevin shook his head. “Only proving it will be nearly impossible.”
“A while ago she wanted me to sign a form that would put me on his birth certificate,” Jake informed them. “Would that help at all?”
Declan cursed. ‘”When did that happen?”
“Shortly after she got here. She also suggested that we’d make a great family, but I shut her down.” Dammit. Had he screwed up? Jake paused his pacing to demand of no one, “Should I have signed it?”
“If you’re on the birth certificate she can sue you for child support,” Kevin offered quietly. “I think it’s set at three years of back payments right now. You want her to have the legal right to what I’m spit-balling to be over thirty thousand dollars?”
Petra whistled softly. “She’d keep Jeffrey in a shot if she could nab that kind of money. And ongoing support, I’d bet.”
“That’s definitely not a solution.” Tansy shook her head. “I don’t know how she expects to monitor keeping us apart long term, but if pretending is all it takes, we’ll go along with it. Maybe it’ll only be for a short while, and once she’s convinced?—”
“I love you.” Jake’s words echoed in the suddenly silent room.
Tansy’s eyes widened.
Hope and pain swirled, tumbling together in the center of his heart.
“I love you, and I don’t want to have to pretend that’s not true.” He stared at her, an awful nothingness in his soul that shouldn’t be there. Not at the moment he’d confessed to a life-changing truth. He kept going because he had to. “Because I don’t believe Melissa for a minute. I don’t believe anything she says. No matter how much it hurts, there is no way in hell I can give you up just so she can jerk us around with false hopes and broken promises.”
A brittle gasp escaped Tansy. “We can’t let her leave with him. It’s every nightmare I’ve ever had.”
“Our hands are tied.” Jake’s hands tightened into fists, and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “I’ll have her followed. We’ll do everything we can to find a way, but it can’t be by having to endure her in our lives, in person or dictating our behaviour from afar.”
Tires squealed in the background as Jake wrapped his arms around Tansy.
They all turned. The front door opened and Logan leaned in. “Hey, guys? Melissa just left. She didn’t look happy.”
“Dammit.” Declan paced toward the door. “I’ll go see if she left anything in the apartment.”
Jake ignored the rest of the chaos and focused on Tansy. He lifted her chin and examined her tear-filled eyes. “I’m sorry. We couldn’t just take him.”
“I know we couldn’t, but that doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking,” she whispered back. “For you as well as me, yes?”
“Yeah.” The knot in Jake’s throat was the size of grapefruit. “I mean it though. I can’t give you up.”
Tansy’s face twisted as she fought back tears. “I love you too.”
He pulled her against him, limbs tangled together as they stood there, hearts breaking. Fear for Jeffrey and what Melissa might decide to do was a nearly tangible thing, and hopelessness was a weight pressing on Jake’s chest.
But this other part—falling in love with an amazing, kind, and beautiful woman—this was the seed of hope he needed to push toward the light.
He tugged Tansy with him out of the living room and into her bedroom, looking for privacy. Twirling her, he dropped into the loveseat with her in his lap. Arms tight around her torso, he rested his chin on the top of her head.
Tansy burrowed in and clung even harder. She rocked lightly, and his shirt grew wet with her tears.
“I’m so sorry, Tans. I’m so sorry.”
She sucked for air, wiggling back to stare at him with eyes full of moisture. “Me, too.” She pressed her palms to his cheeks. “It’s lousy timing because inside it feels as if I just got tossed in a frozen lake, but you get some major spontaneity points for what you said out there.”
He caught her fingers and pressed them to his chest. “I’m frozen right now, as well, but I’m serious about being in love with you. I should have said something sooner—” He laughed softly. “For once I can honestly say it wasn’t because I had big plans of how I wanted to tell you. I was just being a dumbass cowboy, struggling to figure out what this need in my heart meant. It’s definitely love.”
“I know. Me too.” She sniffed, lips quivering. “I’m really happy right now, even though it doesn’t look like it.”
“I get it.” Jake took a deep breath. “Good thing humans are complicated creatures and we can be devastated and glad at the same time.”
“We’ll find a way to save him.”
It wasn’t a question, so Jake nodded. “Somehow. I know she took off, but I’ll reach out to my contacts so they’re on the alert. Petra will do her tracking magic, and we’ll make sure we know exactly where Melissa is at all times.” It wasn’t one hundred percent certain, but he had his suspicions about another matter. “I don’t think she’ll try to take advantage of Jeffrey in the next while. She’ll be scared someone is watching her.”
“Good.” Tansy wilted against him. “We need to get our brains to aim at the next thing. Or at least I do, otherwise, I’ll start spiraling.”
“Then we do the next thing.” Jake stroked her back gently. “Need me to make a list of possible activities not remotely related to our current situation? And I hope that doesn’t sound glib or make light of what just happened?—”
“Of course not.” She let out a sigh that echoed off the wall. “I just admitted I need distraction, so I suppose this is as good a time as any to warn you I set up a surprise birthday party for you for tonight.”
Christ. With everything that had happened that morning, he’d completely forgotten. “Oh. It’s my birthday.”
“Yeah.” Tansy wiggled until she was sitting next to him, hands still tightly connected. “I didn’t organize anything elaborate. It’s not really a jump-out-of-the-cake surprise event, just a few people gathering in the barn and by the firepit. But all things considered, I figured you should know what’s up.”
“Thanks for that. Yeah, being prepared is better today, although I am working hard on my Boy Scout spontaneity badge.” Jake brushed his lips over hers. “You okay rejoining the family and making plans?”
“Okay.” She rested her forehead against his. “I love you.”
“That sounds really nice,” he offered softly.
Tansy snorted. “Excellent, but try again.”
A smile arrived far easier than he’d imagined. “I love you, Tansy Fields.”
“Good.” Her lips twitched upward. “Let’s go make plans.”
Melissa had left a note.
If I get harassed by the police, I’ll deny everything and you’ll never see us again. If you’re good, I’ll be in touch. Be ready to make a choice.
It wasn’t much to go on, but they all kicked into action mode. Petra set up her tracking grid, and Jake contacted the couple of friends still in the force he promised could be relied on to be more than discreet.
Tansy pulled herself together and tried her best to figure out how to balance the sheer joy in her head and the painful, stabbing pain in her heart.
Pulling together food for the birthday celebration helped. There was comfort in the familiar, although far too many people hovered nearby, ready to offer her a hand or a random hug. Far too much support for her to spiral.
That night as the barn rang with music, and friends from the community danced around them, Tansy slipped into Jake’s arms and hoped.
He held her, swaying together in an easy intimate embrace.
Tansy glanced around at the contented gathering. “One task done. Which means I can now make some major plans.”
He raised a brow. “Going for your master’s degree in planning?”
“Absolutely. I’ve had this great instructor during my exchange program.” She stole her hand from where it had rested on his hip and lifted a finger with each comment. “First, Petra, Sydney, and I are fumigating your apartment tomorrow.”
Utter confusion flashed before something she swore was disappointment rushed in. “Okay, I think? Does that mean I’m getting kicked out from where I’m sleeping now?”
“Yes. That’s point two on the agenda.” She lifted another finger. “Grab your stuff and join me in my room. The apartment is bigger, but I’d like to stay in the house because it makes things simpler for cooking without bothering others, and someone still needs to live there to supervise Jinx and any women ranch hands who show up.”
His lips curled the slightest bit. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“Yup.” She made the p pop with a great deal of satisfaction. “That’s what I hear people in love do, and I’m not letting anyone muck that up for us.”
“Good.” Jake grinned and twirled her. “Then why cleanse the apartment? And what do you plan?”
“At some point, someone will stay in that space. The girls are coming over with candles, and we’re getting the negative vibes out of there before the bad juju messes with the entire ranch.”
“Candles have that sort of power?”
Tansy poked him in the chest. “Go with the flow. It’s more about the ritual than anything else, but Petra promises it will help.”
He twirled her then, holding her tight. “I’m on board.”
That night Jake took less than fifteen minutes to move his stuff into her room, and a good solid hour to tease and tempt and kiss every part of her until there was no room for worrying or nightmares. No room for anything but pleasure and the promise of a future with him.
Even after the heavy breathing was done and bonelessness had set in, Jake made sure to cuddle her in tight. “You wake up and need me, I’m here, okay?”
“We both don’t have to be awake if I have a nightmare,” Tansy informed him, the heat of his chest to her back and the still racing endorphins making her eyelids droop.
“People in love are willing to give up a little sleep,” he informed her. “Or so I hear.”
Tansy linked her fingers through his where they rested on her belly. “Okay.”
The nightmares didn’t dare come close.
Post breakfast, Tansy hauled Jake out to his apartment. Sydney was already there, along with Declan. Petra arrived a minute later, dragging Aiden with her.
“Are we in a rush?” Aiden asked, amusement on his face.
“No, I just like pulling you places,” Petra admitted.
Tansy snickered then gestured them in the door.
One glance was enough to confirm the apartment had already been cleaned. Petra had said it was good to go, but with her food prep demands, Tansy hadn’t had time to get out to check.
“When did someone deal with the place?” Jake asked.
“I did it yesterday afternoon,” Declan said quietly. “Figured it needed to be done sooner than later for a bunch of reasons.”
“And that was without knowing about the uncursing. Good job, Deck,” Sydney offered.
Aiden raised a brow. “Uncursing?”
“I know, strong words, but I believe people leave energies in a place, and we have better things to focus on than running into that person’s shitty aura.” Sydney frowned at Declan. “What?”
He shrugged. “You’re a doctor. I didn’t expect to hear you talk about auras and energies.”
“I’m a well-rounded doctor,” she said with attitude. “Deal with it.”
“On that note, here are your candles.” Petra stepped forward and handed each of them a paper bag. “Jake, it’s your room, so you get the master candle, and we’ll light ours off yours.”
“This is not my typical morning, but I appreciate the sentiment.” Jake took the tall candle she held out to him. “Thanks.”
“Always.”
He glanced down and read the note attached to the taper out loud. “ One Fuck Left (and It’s on Fire).” He glanced at Tansy. “This is one of those kinds of fumigations, is it?”
“Petra’s in charge. I’m just along for the ride,” Tansy said with a grin.
It might have been somewhat inappropriate, but having the people who meant the most to her and to Jake there made it hugely meaningful. Especially as everyone attempted to solemnly read their candle labels and slowly failed more and more hysterically.
Laughter was therapeutic, right?
Aiden’s candle read Sometimes You Have to Take It One ‘Are You Fucking KiddingMe?’ at a Time .
Petra made direct eye contact with Jake then announced, “ Some People Just Need a High Five in the Face. ”
When Sydney read, I Will Gladly Tittiepunch a Ho for You , Declan choked briefly. He waved them on. “Sorry. That was a little on the nose.”
“Wasn’t it?” Sydney offered in her best Disney princess voice.
Before reading hers, Tansy nodded slowly. “I like this, and it goes well with yours, Jake. May the Bridges I Burn Light the Way .”
“Nice.” Jake nodded. “Very appropriate.”
Declan was the last to go. He raised a brow as he lit his candle and intoned, “ I Cleanse this Room of Your Negativity. ”
Huh. Tansy glanced at Petra. “That was boring.”
“Not the candle I bought.” Petra glanced at Sydney then rolled her eyes. “Never mind. Last thing, carry your candle to your assigned part of the apartment.”
Tansy carried hers into the bedroom, standing where she could still see Jake where he remained as the hub of the candle spoke. The teeny light of the candles bounced off the walls as every corner of the apartment got hit by very profane sentiments.
The event was somewhat childish if she’d had to describe what they were doing, but at the same time, warmth radiated through her. Friendship and family, all doing their best to find the good and move toward the light.
One fucking candle at a time.
It was almost anticlimactic when he finally got the text. For two weeks, Jake had silently stewed and tried not to obsess so that he could help the rest of the family, and especially Tansy, deal with their uncertainty.
When the notification showed up, Aiden was the only one near at hand. The two of them huddled together over the phone and hoped Melissa had come to her senses.
That faint hope was dashed pretty damn quickly.
Melissa: Hello, darling. Miss me?
Jake: What do you want? Get to the point.
Melissa: Such a bad attitude. Don’t you remember that saying about catching more flies with honey?
Jake: If you don’t have anything to say to me regarding Jeffrey, goodbye, Melissa.
Melissa: Still a stick up your ass. Fine. I gave it a lot of thought, and you’re right. There’s nothing to say you’ll keep away from that woman a second longer than you have to, so I’ll accept a show of you humiliating yourself and her. Your precious new town holds an auction every year. Sign up for it.
For a moment, Jake truly had no idea what she was talking about. “An auction? What auction?” he demanded.
“For fuck’s sake.” Aiden shook his head. “The town fundraiser on Canada Day. We arrived after it happened last summer, but someone has to have told you about it.”
He didn’t have a clue. “What auction? Do I need to sell my truck?”
Another curse rang from his brother before Aiden caught him by the shoulders and forced him to stop pacing. “It’s a bachelor auction. You offer a date to the highest bidder. It’s somehow all rated PG, but it’s real.”
“There are far worse things she could have asked for,” Jake muttered.
Aiden raised his hand. “If you want to sign up, you’d have to not be dating Tansy. As in, you’ll have to convince the organizers that you’re not dating Tansy, or they won’t let you in.”
Jake’s stomach dropped at the warning in his brother’s eyes. “Who are the organizers?”
Aiden made a face. “Malachi Fields. And I heard Chance Gabrielle say he was involved this year.”
Great. Fucking great. Tansy’s dad and her future brother-in-law.
Jake met Aiden’s gaze. “I know Tansy will be good with telling her father what’s going on, so he at least wouldn’t kill me. But we can’t tell anyone else, like her mom or her sisters, because at some point we risk everyone finding out and Melissa running before we find a solution.”
“Which means you’re about to have at least ninety-five percent of Heart Falls pissed at you.” Aiden nodded. “Yeah, that’s pretty much what I see as well.”
It still really wasn’t a choice. “If there’s even a chance this will work, I have to do it.” He turned back to his phone.
Jake: Fine. I’ll sign up. What then?
Melissa: If I see you get sold off to someone other than her, I’ll consider dropping my problem on you permanently.
Of course she’d have figured to add that twisted demand.
Jake: How do I know you’ll keep your word?
Melissa: Don’t you trust me, sugar bear? Oh, I guess not. Too bad. That’s the deal.
Jake: Take care of Jeffrey. That’s all I ask.
Melissa: Your move. I’ll be in touch?—
Jake and Aiden stood in silence, staring at his phone. Impossible. What a goddamned mess.
Aiden scuffed a foot on the ground. “You know if you do this, chances are she’ll say fuck you and just keep jerking you around for a long time to come.”
“She might, but she also might decide she’ll be happier not having to care for a child.” Jake breathed out so long and slow his head spun. “I have to take the risk. For Jeffrey’s sake. And for Tansy’s.”