Chapter 11
Jake
My sister invited me for dinner tonight. She made the lasagna our mom used to make every year for my birthday. It’s still my favorite. It feels like it should be a special occasion with all the trouble Sierra has gone to. There is warm bread in a basket and a lemon pie on the counter she made from scratch for dessert. When we were kids, she would spend hours in the kitchen baking with our mom. She is so much like her; it catches me off guard sometimes.
But as much as Sierra is like our mom, she was always daddy’s little girl. The two of them were practically inseparable, always huddled together over a board game after we finished up with dinner. Occasionally Mom and I would join them, but usually it was only because I was forced to – or if they were playing Monopoly, that was my favorite.
Sierra serves me a square of piping hot lasagna on one of Gran’s floral-patterned plates and we both take our seats. The first bite is incredible. The meat sauce tastes exactly like Mom’s used to. I close my eyes for a moment, the familiar taste bringing back memories.
I’m scooping a second mouthful of lasagna into my mouth when my phone chimes on the table next to me. I glance down to see a message from Everly. We’ve been texting back and forth for most of the day about nothing in particular, but this time my eyes immediately focus in on the word emergency, and I quickly swipe the screen to open the message.
Everly: Sorry I didn’t respond to your message earlier. I’m at Emergency with Birdie. She’s okay but she fell off the monkey-bars at the playground. I think her arm might be broken.
I respond immediately.
Jake: I’m on my way. I’ll be there as quick as I can.
“I’m really sorry, Si. I have to go. Something’s come up.”
“Is everything okay?” She sets down her fork. “I saw you frowning when you were reading that text.”
I push my chair away from the table and bring my plate to the sink. “It will be. It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
She gets up, wiping her hands on a napkin, then follows me to the door. “Jake, does this have anything to do with the girl you’ve been seeing? And when will you introduce me to her? I feel like I’m in the dark, and I want to know what’s happening in your life.”
Sierra walked into The Dockside as I was saying goodbye to Everly and Birdie the other day. It didn’t feel like the right time for introductions, and after everything that just went down with Everly’s ex, and I, I didn’t want to push her by suddenly introducing her to my sister. She and Birdie were on their way out by the time Sierra got to the table, but of course Si gave me the third degree about them. I managed to dodge her questions.
“We’re not seeing each other,” I tell her now, grabbing my hoodie from the chair by the door. “We’re not anything right now. It’s just… it’s her daughter. She thinks she broke her arm. She’s taking her to emergency, and I said I would meet her there.” I scrub my hand across the back of my neck. “Sorry, Si, but are you okay if we wrap up tonight a little earlier than planned?”
“Of course. Will you let me know how she is?”
“I will. And I’m sorry. Dinner was incredible. Tasted just like mom’s. She’d probably get her feelings hurt if she knew how good you make it.”
She smiles. “You know, I’m sure this girl means something to you, but if that’s the case, shouldn’t you be smiling more? Isn’t that what’s supposed to happen when you’re getting to know someone? You’ve just seemed... pretty distant lately, and I don’t understand why.”
I sigh, stuffing my hands in my pockets. “She has a lot going on with her daughter.” I look up to find Sierra studying me as if she’s trying to figure me out. “She’s just been through a lot, and I’m trying to be patient. That’s it.”
“Okay. I just want you to be happy. I worry about you.”
“I’m okay, Si. I promise,” I say, hugging her goodbye.
Twenty minutes later I’m jogging into the emergency waiting room area looking for Everly and Birdie.
“I’m looking for Birdie Billings,” I tell the lady at reception. She asks if I’m a family member, and I don’t even hesitate before telling her I’m Birdie’s dad. I’m pretty sure her actual father won’t be showing up tonight to challenge it. The woman checks her computer screen, points to the large double doors to the left of her and tells me I’ll find her in there.
I push through the doors and find a nurse, who directs me to a curtained area towards the end of the hallway. I thank her, then follow her directions, sliding the curtain open a smidge to peek inside. Everly turns around and I see relief flash in her eyes when she sees that it’s me.
“She’s sleeping. It has been a day,” Everly says in a low voice, looking exhausted. Her eyes are puffy, with dark circles underneath from where her mascara has smudged. Between the late-night shifts and early mornings, she’s already been running on empty. She sags back into the plastic chair, lifting her hands to her face to cover a yawn. I can see she’s barely hanging on.
“What did the doctor say?” I ask quietly, stepping into the room, looking at Birdie who looks so tiny lying there in the hospital bed, a gray blanket pulled up past her waist. Her little arm is wrapped in a thick tensor bandage and is bent at the elbow in a sling.
“Said she fractured the radius bone in her forearm. He took an x-ray, now we’re waiting for someone to cast her. Thank goodness he doesn’t think she’ll need surgery.”
“That’s good,” I say. “Poor thing. How long has she been sleeping?”
“About an hour,” Everly says through another yawn, dropping her head into her hands.
“Here, I brought you dinner. I thought you might be hungry.” I hold out a brown paper bag, and she smiles in response.
“What’s this?” Everly asks, peering inside.
“I stopped at The Dockside on the way here. I got what I could. They were closing so there weren’t a lot of options.”
She looks up at me. “You didn’t have to do all that.”
“Judging by how long you two have been here, I figured you might need it.”
She pulls the turkey clubhouse and a bottle of water from the bag, leaving the mac and cheese for Birdie. “Thank you. Really, Jake. I owe you.”
“I can think of a few ways you can repay me,” I grin, wanting her to smile again. I lower myself into the chair beside hers.
“You don’t have to stay. We could be here for hours,” she says as she unwraps the sandwich.
“I’m here, Ev, and I’m not leaving. I’ll bring you two home. Before you say it, I know you can handle this without me. I know you’re fine. But I want to stay.”
I wait for her to protest, but instead she just nods and smiles at me.
She might be just fine without me.
Iam anything but.
EVERLY
It’sclose to 10 o’clock when Jake pulls my car up in front of my apartment building. When Birdie was finally discharged, I tried to convince Jake he didn’t need to drive us home because I didn”t want him to have to leave his truck at the hospital. I knew it was pointless, but it made me feel a little better to at least try. It was a long day for all of us, but Birdie was such a trooper. Now she’s fast asleep in the back seat of the car, sporting a new hot-pink fiberglass cast from her hand to her elbow.
Jake shifts my car into park, and like mirror images we both glance over our shoulders at a sleeping Birdie. She lasted two minutes before she was softly snoring, and Jake and I spent the rest of the 15-minute drive in a comfortable silence. My breath catches in my throat now, looking at this big, broody man who is so clearly worried about my daughter. I am realizing that Jake has such a soft side to him, one I never would have expected. Overprotective, confident, alpha with the body of a Greek God and a compassionate side? Yep, a guy like that is my weakness. Tingles skate over my skin at the way he looks at Birdie so adoringly, sending a zip of warmth through me.
Taking a breath to center myself, I brush the feeling aside trying to stop the feelings I have for Jake from bubbling to the surface.
He meets me beside the car, getting to Birdie’s door first and opening it. “I’ve got her, Ev. You’re tired,” he whispers, carefully unbuckling Birdie out of her booster seat, gently scooping her into his arms like she weighs nothing. His six-foot something, carved like granite frame holding my baby in his arms as if she’s his own makes my insides melt. My ovaries do a happy dance too. Birdie’s eyes flutter open and her rose bud lips tip up in a smile. “Jake,” she whispers, groggy from the medicine they gave her at the hospital and tired because it is way past her bedtime. “Will you tuck me in?”
Jake’s big hand cups the back of her head while her legs wrap around him like a koala. “Of course I will, Birdie-girl.” Birdie-girl. If that isn’t the cutest. “Go back to sleep. I’ve got you.” She lays her head down on his shoulder, his hand on the back of her head as he holds her closer.
My heart is in my throat and my eyes fill with tears that I swipe away. No mother ever wants to see her child hurt— today was a tough one— but seeing Birdie cared for the way she deserves to be, I am overwhelmed with emotions. I turn away, shutting the car door, trying to stop myself from swooning over the sight of Birdie in Jake’s strong arms.
“Come here,” he says reaching for my hand, lacing our fingers together. “Let’s get you inside and to bed.”
Once we’re inside the apartment, I point to Birdie’s bedroom and follow Jake as he carries her there. I pull back her covers and he gently places her in her bed, being careful not to bump her injured arm. “Do you want to change her into her pajamas or is she fine to sleep in this?” he whispers, looking over his shoulder at me. She’s wearing a dress that is basically a long cotton t-shirt gathered at the waist.
“She’s fine in what she’s wearing.”
Luckily, she doesn’t wake as Jake pulls the covers over her and tucks her in. He brushes a lock of her blonde curls from her forehead. Jake doesn’t have to be here with her. He didn’t have to come to the hospital or wait there with us for hours. He didn’t have to drive us home or tuck Birdie into bed. He’s here because he wants to be. It’s obvious that in the short amount of time he’s known Birdie, he’s come to genuinely care about her.
I kiss her forehead before we both leave her to sleep and head into the hallway.
“Go get ready for bed,” Jake says, stopping in front of my bedroom door. “I’ll make you a mug of tea.”
I stare at him, speechless. I’m not used to being taken care of, and part of me wants to tell him he doesn’t need to worry about me. But the bigger part is completely exhausted, barely able to keep my eyes open.
“Go, Everly,” he says, before I can even attempt to protest. “It will help you sleep.”
“You’re spoiling me,” I say, not sure what I did to deserve him.
He smiles as I turn towards my bedroom door. I need a shower to rinse off the sterile hospital smell, and as soon as I step under the spray, I can feel the hot water start to soothe my tired muscles. I stay there for a very long time, before finally drying off and getting dressed into a T-shirt and sleep shorts. I’m climbing under the covers when I hear a soft knock at my door.
Jake appears in the doorway with a mug of steaming peppermint tea, setting the cup on my nightstand. “Feel better? I heard the shower going.”
“Much,” I say, pulling the covers up past my waist.
“Get some rest. You need a good night’s sleep. I’m going to sleep on the couch in case Birdie needs something in the middle of the night.”
“Jake, no. You can’t sleep on the couch. Look at the size of you. Besides, you need to get your truck. It might get towed.”
“My truck will be fine. I had a buddy pick it up for me. As for your couch, I’ve slept on smaller ones in college. I’ll be fine.” He tucks a loose strand of my hair behind my ear and the feel of his fingertips brushing against my skin sends chills up my spine. “I’ll be here in case you or Birdie need anything. Just sleep, Everly.” He tucks the comforter around me tighter.
“Thank you,” I murmur before my eyes flutter closed and I fall into the deepest sleep I’ve had in a long time.
JAKE
Birdie grabsthe loaf of bread while I crack three eggs into a frying pan. She climbs on to the chair she persuaded me to move into the kitchen so that she could make the toast, promising me it would be okay with her mom. I keep a close eye on her, praying she doesn’t fall off and break her other arm. I can’t believe I’m making breakfast with a seven-year-old. More than that, I can’t believe I’m actually enjoying it. There was no way I was leaving last night. Everly needed a good night’s sleep. Fortunately, she seems to have gotten just that. So far Birdie and I are the only ones awake.
I only got up once in the middle of the night to check on Birdie when I heard her tossing in her bed. She had to go to the washroom, so I waited in her bedroom until she was done and then tucked her back in. She fell back asleep quickly, but then woke me up around 6:30 this morning. I still had some time before I had to get to work, so Birdie and I decided to make breakfast.
I’m just finishing up the scrambled eggs when I hear the creak of a door and glance over my shoulder to find Everly. She looks rested, still in her pajamas with her hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She smiles when she sees Birdie and I in the kitchen.
“You’re making me breakfast too? You must be a saint,” she says as she walks into the kitchen, kissing Birdie on the top of her head. “How is your arm, sweet girl? Any pain? Did you sleep well?”
Everly strokes her hand through Birdie’s curls. “It hurt a little when I woke up, but it’s better now. Jake gave me my medicine from the doctor,” she reports as Everly pulls her into her side.
“Um… what’s this?” Everly asks Birdie, looking down at her broken arm.
“Jake signed my cast! He said I can get all my friends to sign it. Gramma and Grandpa too.”
“And you let him sign it before your Mom?” Everly teases her, tickling her side. Birdie’s raspy laugh echoes around the small kitchen, making me laugh too.
“Don’t worry. You can sign it too. There’s lots of space.” Birdie hops down from the chair, runs to the coffee table, and comes back with a Sharpie. After Everly signs her name, she gets back to work making toast. Her casted arm is making it a little more difficult, but she seems to be managing okay.
I slide the eggs onto a plate and turn off the stove, then pour a cup of coffee for Everly. “I’ve gotta get to work. But the eggs are made and Birdie’s on toast, and there’s extra coffee in the coffee maker. I’ll text you later and see how things are going.”
Four hugs from Birdie later, Everly walks me to the door. “Thank you for everything. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this rested.”
“I’m glad.” I say, raking my hand though my bedhead. “Birdie will need another dose of medicine around noon.”
“Okay… she didn’t mind it?”
“I let her chase it with a scoop of ice cream,” I chuckle. “Sorry about that.”
Everly laughs and then goes up on her toes and hugs me. For a second, I foolishly thought she was going to kiss me. Wishful thinking. I hold her body to mine for as long as I can until I have to let her go.
I know it sounds insane, but I’ve never been as happy as I am when I’m with Everly and her daughter. And if being Everly’s friend is the only way I get to be a part of their world, I’ll have to accept that. But I sure as hell am going to try soon for something more.
I like a challenge.