Chapter Nine #2
Bella explained everything, leaving nothing out.
She told Veronica of her struggles with her father from an early age, of his smothering her, trying to run her life.
She explained how she’d defied him when she’d married Paul and then refused to work at the company.
Then, while she was still grieving, her father had pushed Ben Tolben on her.
He was a very nice man who worked for Forte Foods.
They’d had a few dates, but it was never serious and it never could be, yet Marco leaked to the press that they were getting engaged and it had all escalated after that.
She concluded with describing the fight that had driven her from San Francisco, fearing that she’d lose her child.
Veronica asked a few questions and seemed satisfied with her answers, but she still wasn’t ready to dismiss her lying to Jared. “Why didn’t you tell Jared this?”
“I...I couldn’t. I haven’t been able to trust too many people in my life, especially when it comes to Sienna’s safety.
She’s all I have in this world right now.
The thought of her being taken away from me, well...
I can’t even think about it without feeling sick to my stomach.
I...was too scared. So, yes, I’m hiding out here, but I can assure you, what I feel for Jared is very real. ”
“Yet you couldn’t trust him?”
“T-this hasn’t been e-easy for me,” she whispered.
“I’m not a liar by nature.” Bella glanced at the monitor she held in her lap.
Sienna was sleeping soundly, and tears formed in her eyes seeing her beautiful child looking so peaceful.
There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for Sienna.
If it meant leaving Jared and Stone Ridge Ranch, she’d do it.
She’d pack up her belongings and go, because keeping Sienna with her was her first priority. “I’m protecting my daughter.”
“And I’m protecting my son. You understand. I assume you know about Helene and the number she did on Jared?” She shook her head. “I can’t let that happen to him again. He’s a good man.”
“I know,” Bella said. “He is good. I care for him very much.”
Veronica closed her eyes briefly and drew a breath. “You have to know how appreciative I am that you saved my son’s life. And because of that, and the debt I owe you, I’m not going to tell Jared what I know.”
“Thank you,” Bella said softly, overwhelmed with gratitude and relief.
“But I am going to insist that you do. Bella, you have to promise me you will tell him the truth, the sooner the better. If you don’t, I’ll be back here next week for Christmas and I won’t keep my mouth shut. You understand as a parent, I can’t let my son be led astray.”
“I’m not doing that. And yes, I promise you, I will tell him.”
“Sooner rather than later?”
“Yes, I’ll...I’ll try to find the right time.”
Veronica took her hand and gently squeezed. Her eyes softened in understanding. “Bella, don’t wait too long.”
“I promise, Veronica.” Several tears trickled down her face. This wasn’t an easy conversation and she surely didn’t want Jared’s mother to think the worst of her. She’d keep her promise and tell Jared the truth—and hope she wouldn’t lose the man she loved. “I’ll tell him soon.”
Bella hardly got a wink of sleep, and in the morning rose from bed exhausted and perplexed.
She caught her reflection in the dresser mirror and groaned.
It was not a pretty sight. Her body ached, probably from tossing and turning.
All night, she’d rehearsed what she would say to Jared and how she would implore him not to see what she’d done as a total betrayal.
She’d have to make him see that, just like him, trust didn’t come easily to her. He should understand that.
She’d lay it all on the line and tell him what was in her heart and hope that would be enough.
Up until this point, he seemed to be a reasonable man.
Well, except for his crazy need for speed and danger.
While he was recuperating, she really hadn’t seen that side of him, but she’d heard enough from his mother and brother about it, and how could she forget the accident?
She shook off the image and glanced down at her baby daughter on the bed. Just gazing at her angelic face was enough to make her forget all the bad stuff in her life. But Sienna’s nose was running and she looked pale and clammy this morning.
Bella immediately climbed back on the bed and laid her palm flat on Sienna’s forehead. The baby felt warm. Sneezing in her sleep, she nearly woke herself up, but Bella immediately tucked her in more cozily with the blanket.
Once she was sure Sienna was asleep, she walked into the other bedroom and texted Jared.
Sienna isn’t feeling well this morning. May have a fever. I won’t be down to make breakfast. Sorry.
She climbed back into bed with Sienna to keep a good eye on her, and not two minutes later heard soft knocking at her door. She padded to the door and opened it only inches.
Jared stood there, dressed in his usual jeans and blue chambray shirt, face unshaved and hair unruly.
Her heart skipped but she was too concerned about Sienna to think about anything else.
Still, Jared’s presence just had a way of disrupting her normal breathing patterns.
“What’s wrong with the baby?” he whispered immediately.
“I’m not sure,” she answered, keeping her voice low. “She was fine last night. And this morning her nose is running and I think she has a fever.”
“You think?”
“Yes, she’s warm, but my baby thermometer is broken, so I’m not sure. Sorry about breakfast.”
He waved her off. “There’s enough leftovers to feed my entire crew. Don’t worry about cooking today.”
“Thank you.”
“So besides a baby thermometer, what else does she need?”
“That’s it. I think I have everything else.”
“Let me see what it looks like. I’ll make sure you get a new one.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “Give me a sec.”
She went into the bathroom and returned right away, showing Jared the thermometer. “This is it.”
He took it out of her hands. “I’ll have a new one delivered from the pharmacy in town.”
She stared into Jared’s concerned eyes. Gosh, he really cared about Sienna. If Bella blew it with him, it might be the biggest mistake of her life. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “Just keep that sugar plum healthy, will you?”
The baby slept most of the day and Bella managed to get some rest, too.
Sienna had no appetite really, only munching on baby crackers and sipping from her bottle.
The thermometer Jared had delivered from the pharmacy registered a low-grade fever, which meant Sienna’s body was fighting off an infection.
Bella got up to shower and change her clothes.
She took her computer to the other room and began going over her notes.
She was in the middle of designing a different version of a Christmas morning soufflé when Sienna began coughing.
The cough was rough, coming from deep in her chest, and nothing Bella had ever heard before.
She raced over to her and sat her up immediately, holding her until the coughing fit was over.
And then Bella touched her face. “Oh, no, Sienna.” The baby was burning up.
She raced to the door and called down for help. “Jared! Marie!”
Sienna’s hacking returned. It was deep and guttural, like barking.
Bella heard Jared’s footsteps on the stairs and the sound put her a little bit at ease. She needed him right now. “What’s wrong, Bella?”
“It’s Sienna. She’s burning up and the cough...it’s horrible. I think she’s wheezing. She’s not getting enough air.”
He walked over to Sienna and the frightened look in his eyes added to her own fear, but his voice was calm as he picked up the phone. “I’ll call Lauren. She’ll know what to do.”
Bella stayed with Sienna, encouraging her to drink between her coughing fits. The wheezing got worse, and raw panic seized Bella’s stomach. Her baby wasn’t breathing right.
Jared hung up the phone and strode over to the bathroom. “Bella, while I get the shower going, you get Sienna and hold her on your lap on the toilet seat. We need the room to steam up real fast.”