Chapter 5 Jane #2
Jane didn’t deflect the way it had become her habit over these past three years. She didn’t shrug and say “I’m fine, really” with that practiced smile that fooled no one but let everyone pretend.
Instead, she surprised herself by opening up. “I honestly don’t know.” Her voice was quiet but honest. “It’s a shock. I’m finally deciding to start really living each day again, and it’s like fate just slapped me in the face with yet more potentially devastating news.”
“I understand more than you know,” Gabe said quietly. There was something heavy in his voice. Something personal and painful. “Can you keep a secret?” he asked, meeting her eyes directly.
“Of course,” Jane said immediately. She meant it completely.
Gabe took a deep breath, as if steeling himself. “When I broke my leg, there was more to it than just a fracture.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “I took shrapnel. A piece lodged near my femoral artery. It’s too dangerous to remove.”
Jane felt her breath catch. She stared at him with widening eyes.
“There’s a Physical Evaluation Board review coming up,” Gabe continued, his voice steady, but Jane could hear the strain beneath it. “PEB. They’re determining if I can return to active duty.”
Jane waited. She knew there was more to the story. Could see it in the way he was choosing his words so carefully. He was not telling her everything, but he was telling her what he could.
“The mission was a hostage rescue,” Gabe said finally, his voice quiet enough that she had to lean in to hear him over the fair sounds.
“We got everyone out, but there was a little girl. The last one. And...” He trailed off.
His jaw clenched with the memory. “There was a bomb. An explosion.” He said it simply.
He did not elaborate. Could not or would not.
“The only thing I could do to ensure she survived was to cover her with my body, trying to shield her.”
Jane was shocked. She stared at him, trying to process what he was saying. He had thrown himself over a child. Taken the blast. Saved her life by using his own body as a shield.
“Gabe. I...” The words stuck in her throat.
“The doctors say there’s an experimental procedure that might help.
Might make it safer,” Gabe continued, not looking at her now, looking out at the fair lights instead.
“But even if the procedure works...” He trailed off, but Jane understood what he was not saying.
“They probably won’t let me return to duty.
I’m too high risk.” His eyes found the girls.
“I haven’t told my family… I don’t really know how. I don’t really want to just yet.”
Jane was lost for words. She stared at him, processing everything he had just told her.
He really did understand. He understood having life ripped away through no fault of your own.
Understood the uncertainty looming over your future.
Understood the fear of losing everything you had built, everything that defined you.
She had to quell the sudden desire to hold him. To comfort him. To be comforted by him. The connection between them deepened through this shared vulnerability, becoming something more than just early-morning painting sessions and casual conversations.
Instead, Jane found words spilling out of her own mouth. The story about her mother leaving when she was three years old.
“Pamela did as much mothering as she was capable of,” Jane admitted, and even saying it out loud hurt in a way she had not expected.
“But honestly, when she left, I never even felt her loss that much. She was mostly absent even when she was still with us.” She swallowed.
“Dad was everything. Gran was everything. Pamela was just...” Jane searched for the right word. “There. Until she wasn’t.”
Gabe nodded with understanding. “That makes this harder, doesn’t it? Her showing up now with this news.” Jane nodded as he continued. “What about the disease?” Gabe asked gently. “Are you going to get tested?”
Jane shrugged, feeling conflicted and confused. “I’ve been living just fine not knowing about it.” Her voice was uncertain even to her own ears. “I don’t know yet.”
“How about we go together?” Gabe suggested suddenly.
“Together?” Jane frowned, confused by what he meant.
“Yes. I go to the specialist, and you come with me. And I’ll go with you to get tested.” His voice was earnest, offering support that made Jane’s chest feel tight. “We face our fears together.”
Jane’s heart lurched. She realized she wanted that desperately. Wanted someone there with her. She knew her gran and dad would do it, would go with her in a heartbeat. But this... this was different.
With Gabe, she would not have to pretend to be brave. He understood fear. Understood uncertainty. She would not have to worry about being careful not to worry her family. She could just be scared. Be real. Be herself without the armor she had worn for three years.
“Deal,” Jane said, taking his offer. She felt a weight lift slightly from her shoulders.
Gabe looked pleased with her answer, his smile warming his features and reaching his eyes.
Then he deliberately changed the subject, his voice taking on a teasing tone. “I showed my painting to my mother, aunt, and Trinity.”
“And?” Jane prompted, grateful for the lighter direction.
“They were polite and told me it was beautiful.” Gabe continued with mock seriousness. “My mother even hung it in their suite.”
Jane laughed, appreciating how he was lightening the mood. He really did understand, she decided. Understood when to be serious and when to pull back. She totally relaxed into the bench beside him, their shoulders almost touching.
“I think we should make it a regular morning thing, and I’ll teach you how to paint.” The words came out before Jane had fully thought them through. She astonished herself by saying it, by offering something so personal. “You’ll be painting the perfect sunrise in no time.”
She was pleased when Gabe accepted immediately. “I’d like that.” His voice was warm, genuine. “Though I warn you, I might be a hopeless student.”
“I doubt that,” Jane said softly.
Trinity and Maddy returned then, breathless and happy. Their arms were full of candy apples and bags of roasted nuts, their faces flushed from running around in the cold air.
All too soon, it was time to go. The fair was winding down, the shops were closing, and they had bags of dresses and gifts to gather up.
The drive home was filled with the girls chattering about the dresses they had found.
The perfect ones for the Winter Ball. Jane drove carefully through the historic streets and then out toward Anastasia Island, while Gabe sat beside her in the passenger seat.
There was a comfortable silence between them beneath the girls’ excited chatter, a peaceful companionship that Jane had not felt in years.
When they got back to the inn, the girls hugged Jane goodnight. Both of them, not just Trinity. Warm embraces that made Jane’s chest tight with emotion she had not expected to feel.
Maddy was staying the night with Trinity, and they rushed upstairs with their armloads of bags, giggling and planning what accessories they would need for their dresses.
Jane and Gabe lingered in the foyer. Neither of them seemed quite ready to say goodnight, to let the evening end.
“Thank you for a wonderful evening,” Jane said softly. “And for listening.”
“Anytime,” Gabe told her, his voice sincere. “I mean that. Anytime you need to talk. Or not talk. Just be.” She smiled at his offer in silent acceptance. “I’ll see you on the boardwalk bright and early,” he added with a small smile.
“Yes,” Jane agreed. She was already looking forward to it.
There was an awkward moment. Both of them were standing there in the quiet foyer. Something was shifting between them. Something new and fragile and important.
Then Gabe leaned in. Slowly. Giving her time to pull away if she wanted to.
He kissed her cheek tenderly. A soft brush of lips against her skin that sent warmth flooding through her entire body.
“Goodnight, Jane,” Gabe said softly. His voice was rough with emotion.
Then he turned and hobbled up the stairs on his crutches, managing them despite the cast, despite the exhaustion of the long day.
Jane watched him for a few seconds, her hand coming up to touch the cheek where he had kissed her. She could still feel the imprint of his lips, still warm on her skin.
She turned and went through the connecting door to the family house. Her feet felt light. Her heart felt lighter.
Even with the dark news Pamela had brought. Even with the uncertainty looming over her future. Her heart did not feel heavy.
And surprisingly, wonderfully, she had no fear. Not tonight. Not with Gabe’s promise of being there with her. Not with morning painting sessions to look forward to. Not with life slowly, carefully, beautifully starting again.
Jane walked down the hallway to her bedroom, touching her cheek one more time. Tomorrow morning, she would meet Gabe on the boardwalk. They would paint as the sun rose over the Atlantic. And maybe, just maybe, she would be brave enough to believe that good things could happen again.
For the first time in three years, Jane went to bed not just surviving the day, but actually looking forward to tomorrow.