25. Jami
Jami
“Hey, big bro,” I say as I step into Jaxon’s hospital room. It’s been a long week worrying about him, and waiting for his surgery.
The lights are low, the curtains half-drawn against the blustery afternoon, everything washed in that sterile, too-bright white hospitals seem to favor. Jaxon’s on his side in the bed, his back to us, one arm tucked beneath his pillow.
I glance at Brody and instinctively slow my steps. “Maybe he’s sleeping.”
“Not sleeping,” Jaxon says, his voice rough as gravel.
He rolls onto his back, eyes heavy, pupils blown wide and unfocused. Pain meds, I assume. My chest tightens anyway.
“Did we wake you?” I hurry to his side, dropping my bag and leaning down to wrap my arms around him.
“Nope,” he says, a tired smile pulling at his mouth. “Just resting.”
I breathe him in—hospital soap, antiseptic, and something familiar that tells me my brother is still my brother, even here, even broken. I peel off my winter coat and scarf, and sit on the bed next to him.
Brody hangs back, giving us space. He always seems to know just what I need.
“How was the helicopter ride over?” Jaxon asks, eyes flicking to mine. He knows how much I hate flying.
I snort. “Frank is a menace to society.”
Jaxon’s lips twitch.
“My God,” I add, pressing a hand to my chest, “I’m pretty sure my fingernails are still embedded in the seat. Although…” I shrug, forcing a smile. “The ride over the falls was really cool. Brody thought I’d like that.”
Jaxon lets out a low laugh. “Frank,” he murmurs, like that explains everything.
What is it with Frank?
“Brody here?”
Brody steps up beside me. “Hey, Jaxon.”
“Brody. Hey, bud.” Jaxon holds out his fist and Brody bumps it. Even now, even stuck in a hospital bed, Jaxon manages to make it look casual. “You good?”
“I’m good. Business is good.” Brody slings an arm over my shoulders, easy and familiar. A big-brother move, one I’ve felt from Jaxon a thousand times growing up.
Only it doesn’t feel the same when Brody does it.
“Your sister here is kicking butt and taking numbers on the court,” Brody continues, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “We might even have a fighting chance in Alberta.”
Jaxon grins at me, pride brightening his tired eyes. “I knew she would be.” He playfully thumps his knuckles against his shoulder. “Gets her natural talent from her big brother.”
We all laugh, the sound a little too loud in the quiet room. A nurse slips in then, efficient and kind, and Brody and I move to the chairs beside the bed. She sets a tray of food on the table and flips through a chart while a doctor follows her in.
A very pretty doctor.
Very young.
Very feminine.
“How are you feeling, Jaxon?” she asks, her tone warm, practiced.
Jaxon sits up as she pulls the blankets back to inspect the heavy brace strapped around his knee.
“No cast?” I blurt, aware of how out of my depth I am.
“Not for this kind of injury,” Brody says, answering easily.
The doctor turns toward him, interest lighting her eyes. “You must be Brody.” Her smile widens. “Jaxon’s friend, business partner…” She gestures to Jaxon’s leg. “And now his physiotherapist.”
“That I am.”
Then she turns to me. “And you must be Jami.”
She barely spares me a glance.
My jaw tightens as her appreciative gaze goes back to Brody. “Looks to me like Jaxon will be in good hands.”
What the what?
“He will be,” Brody says, and she rewards him with a smile that sends a spike of jealousy straight through my chest.
“Jaxon’s told me so much about you both,” she says, still mostly looking at Brody. She gives him a wink. “He’s chatty when medicated.” Brody laughs. I don’t. “It’s nice that you could fly over to help get Jaxon home.”
You, as in Brody? What about me? Am I a fancy salad or something?
Oh, God, I’m really turning into a Newfoundlander.
The nurse rolls the tray closer to the bed, adjusting it so Jaxon can reach his food, then slips quietly from the room.
Jaxon peels the plastic lid off a prepackaged Jello. “That looks…delicious,” I say, tilting my head skeptically. “Maybe when we get back to Devon’s tonight, Brody can make you some bologna sandwiches. He said you loved them.”
“That sounds amazing.” Jaxon reaches for his spoon. “Jami, did you like them?”
Brody laughs. “Like them? If eating three is liking them, then yeah, I’d say yes, she liked them.”
I pinch his arm and he yelps. “Hey. Don’t food shame me.”
“I’m not.” He grins and pokes my side. “I love a girl with an appetite.”
“Well, you ate four,” I shoot back. “So you have no right to talk about my appetite.”
“Now who’s food shaming?” he counters.
The banter flows easily, until I notice the silence in the room. The air seems to still, like someone hit pause. Jaxon has stopped mid-spoonful, staring at us with unfocused curiosity, and the doctor gazes at us, eyebrows lifted.
Her finger goes back and forth between the two of us. “Are you two…” she starts.
“No,” we say in unison.
Brody jerks his hand away from me like I’ve suddenly become contagious.
“He’s like…my brother,” I blurt, a snort escaping before I can stop it.
Jaxon snorts too and then turns back to his Jello, seemingly satisfied. He scoops up a spoonful, and I swear I’ve seen a prettier shade of green on a bullfrog.
The doctor watches us a moment longer, then—apparently satisfied—turns her attention fully to Brody.
“Can I speak with you in the hall?” she asks. “I’d like to talk about Jaxon’s therapy and this pickleball social you two have started.” Her smile brightens. “I’d love to come check it out sometime.”
I bet you would.
He’s a lumber-snack, and there isn’t a woman alive who wouldn’t want a bite.
The thought makes my stomach twist, because I’m starting to think Elise actually wants him back.
She was only supposed to be home for a short visit, but it feels endless.
Over the last week she’s practically been living at the social, always hovering around Brody, always texting about something.
Is the reason he didn’t answer her text in front of me because he didn’t want me to know what they were talking about? Sure, he says they’re “friends” now, but friends is exactly what Tristan called Lucy… until she wasn’t.
I don’t know why I’m so worked up about this. Brody and I can’t ever be more. I have no plans to live in Churchill Falls forever and I’m pretty sure he’s still in love with Elise, not her look-alike.
“You okay, sis?” Jaxon asks as I glare at the doctor’s retreating back while she disappears into the hall with Brody.
“I am,” I say, forcing my eyes back to him. “Now that I see you’re doing okay. I was so worried about you.”
His expression softens, the humor slipping away. “This really does suck.”
I move closer to the bed, careful of the brace, and rest my hand on his arm. “It does. But we’ll get through it.”
He nods, eyes glassy but steady. “We always do.” Then he goes quiet for a beat, like he’s sifting through years of memories, the kind where it was always just the two of us against the world. “We get through everything together, don’t we?”
My stomach twists, a cold knot forming in my gut. If he knew what Brody and I have been doing behind closed doors, could he forgive it? Or would it shatter more than just our relationship—costing him a friendship and a business they both built?
A male voice grabs my attention, and I lift my head to see a man with similar features to Brody walk in. His smile is big and friendly the moment he sees me.
“Jami.” He opens his arms and comes over, pulling me into a hug like we’re long-lost friends. Honestly it’s crazy how the people of this province instantly treat you like family. I’m not used to that—but I’m really beginning to accept it—maybe even like it.
“You must be Devon.” I laugh as he gives me a bear hug that nearly squeezes the wind out of me.
He releases me and I can almost hear Brody now…breathe. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
“Let me guess. You’ve heard all about me, because Jaxon likes to talk when he’s medicated.”
He laughs. “You’re right, Jaxon. She is funny.” He steps back and smiles at me. “But you didn’t tell me how beautiful she was.”
“Hey, careful, Devon,” Jaxon warns. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.”
Devon grins. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Devon,” Jaxon warns again, but there’s a playfulness about him.
Devon taps his head. “Don’t be dense, bro. It’s not like you can fight me.”
I laugh at their banter.
Jaxon glances toward the hall. “Yeah, well… you’ve seen your cousin, right?
Just then, Brody walks in, sliding a piece of paper into his pocket with a grin on his face.
Hot doc’s number, maybe?
My brother points his spoon at Brody. “He’ll put a beatin’ on ya and put your eyes back in your head if I ask him to, b’y.” I laugh at Jaxon’s exaggerated Newfoundland accent. This man really does belong here.
“Who you calling b’y?” Devon teases, cracking his knuckles.
“Brody,” Jaxon bellows, waving him closer.
Devon playfully squares his shoulders. “I’m not afraid of Brody.”
“You should be. Jami’s like a sister to him, and he’s not going to let anyone mess with his sister.”
“Okay, easy, you two,” Brody says, pulling Devon into a hug. “Thanks for taking care of Jaxon for me. I owe you.”
“Oh yeah.” Devon winks at me, still teasing Jaxon, and I love the camaraderie between these guys. “How about a date with your little sister then?”
“Little sister can speak for herself,” I point out, putting both hands on my hips. “And while I’m flattered, Devon, I’m not dating.”
Hot doc walks back in. “Okay, Jaxon, just a bit of paperwork, and then you’re cleared to leave. I’ll have the nurse bring you out in a wheelchair.” She smiles at Brody. “If you could bring the car up front.”
“If you’re not going to finish your food,” Devon says, lifting the lid off what looks like a roast beef sandwich. “I hate to see it go to waste.”
Jaxon pushes the plate toward him. “Help yourself.”
“You eat, I’ll get the car.” I’m about to ask what car—we took a cab from the airport—but then Brody holds out his hand, and Devon tosses him the keys.