Chapter 14 #2
“I’ll be better when I hear Eric’s all right,” Andi said, grateful to all of them for coming to be with her.
Jack squeezed one of her hands in reassurance while David took her other.
After an interminable wait, Dr. Porter returned, still in the surgical scrubs he had worn to assist in the surgery.
Andi jumped up when she saw him coming.
“He did just fine, Andi. No perforation.”
She sagged against Jack as her legs threatened to give out.
Jack kept both arms around her. “When can we see him?”
“He’s in recovery. I don’t expect him to be awake for a few hours, so you might want to go home for a while. The nurses will call you when he starts to come around.”
“Thank you, Dr. Porter,” Andi said.
David and Lauren had to get home to their four daughters. They promised to check in later. Andi and Betty wanted to stay, but Jack talked them into going home to rest. After he left Andi’s phone number with the charge nurse, he took them home and whipped up some eggs and toast for them.
When they’d finished eating, Andi called the nurse’s station. Eric was still asleep, so she let Jack talk her into trying to take a nap on the sofa before they went back to the hospital.
“I’m going to bed,” Betty said. “You’ll wake me if you hear anything?”
“Of course. Good night, Mom,” Andi said.
“Thanks for your help, Jack,” Betty said. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
After she left the room, Jack stretched out on the sofa next to Andi and put his arms around her.
“Your approval rating seems to have gone up a bit with Mom,” Andi whispered, thrilled to feel his arms around her even if the circumstances were less than ideal.
He chuckled. “Remind me to thank Eric for that.”
As she studied his handsome face, she could honestly say she’d never loved him more. “I still can’t believe you’re here. You were such a rock. Thank you.”
“It felt like my own child was in that operating room.”
“Nothing you could say would mean more to me.”
“I love you, sweetheart, and I love Eric, too.” He kissed her forehead. “Why don’t you get some rest?”
“I’ll try.”
He covered her with a blanket and went into the kitchen to call home to check on the girls. She dozed off to the comforting sound of his voice, relieved to know he was there to share some of the burden with her.
Jack was alone with Eric when he woke up late on Saturday afternoon.
He’d closed his tired eyes for a few minutes, and now he rubbed his hand over the stubble on his face as he tried to force himself to wake up.
Being in a hospital had brought back memories he’d rather not revisit, but he’d pushed them aside so he could focus on Andi and Eric.
The boy smiled and signed, “Hi, Jack.”
“Hi, buddy.” Jack’s sign language had improved during the week they spent together earlier in the month.
Eric asked for his mother, and Jack held up five fingers to let him know she would be back soon. Eric squeezed Jack’s hand and drifted back to sleep.
Andi came in a few minutes later to find them holding hands. “Did he wake up?”
“Just for a minute.”
“I’m sorry I missed it.”
Jack tucked Eric’s hand under the blanket. “I told him you’d be right back.”
“I know it has to be hard for you to be hanging out in a hospital,” she said, surprising him as she often did with her insight.
“I’m okay, honey.” He reached out to run his fingers through Eric’s soft blond hair. “He’s so little in that big bed. I hate seeing him in there.”
“I know. Thank God it was only appendicitis, and he’ll be able to come home in a day or two.”
“Yes.”
She leaned over Jack’s chair to hug him from behind. “What’re you thinking about?”
He hesitated for a moment, not sure this was the time to be dredging up the past, but he wanted to be honest with her.
“Being here and seeing him so sick has brought back all kinds of memories. I remember thinking, after Clare’s accident, that as bad as it was to lose her like that, it would’ve been so much worse if the car had hit one of the girls. I have to think Clare would agree.”
“Oh, Jack, of course she would. I’m so sorry that being here is hard for you.”
Reaching for her hand, he brought it to his lips. “Being with you is never hard for me. Don’t worry about me.”
Betty joined them a few minutes later. “How is he?” she asked.
“About the same,” Andi replied. “Still sleeping a lot. They’ll lower the pain medication tomorrow to keep him awake. He’ll be getting up, too.”
“Did the doctor say when he could go home?”
“A couple of days. He should be back to normal in two to three weeks.”
“Well, the worst part is over,” Betty said with relief. “Why don’t you two take a break? It’s nice outside.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind staying?” Andi asked.
“I’m fine. I have my book and my knitting. Go on along for a while.”
Andi kissed Eric’s forehead. “We’ll be back in a few hours. Call my cell if he wakes up or if you need me.”
“I will. Don’t worry.”
Jack held the door for Andi and kept his arm around her while they walked to the elevator.
Outside, the city bustled with limousines headed to the theater district and people venturing out for dinner.
The crisp air held the promise of a chilly evening as they walked hand in hand along the busy street.
“Are you hungry?” he asked after they’d gone a few blocks.
“Not really, are you?”
“I’m good for now.”
“I hope you’re not missing anything important at home. I haven’t even thought to ask you.”
“It’s a good weekend for me to be gone. Jill had a lacrosse game, but they’ve already clinched a playoff berth, so the game was a formality. We have some clients in town, and Jamie’s taking care of them. Don’t worry, honey. I’m right where I need to be.”
They wandered into a small park, and he steered her to a bench where they sat to watch an older couple with two young girls who had to be their granddaughters. The girls giggled as they fed the pigeons. When the birds chased after them, the girls shrieked with delight.
“They remind me of Jill and Kate at that age,” he said as he caressed Andi’s fingers absently.
“Jack…”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”
That got his attention. “Oh, yeah?” He’d gone out of his way not to mention “the question” to her.
She looked down at their joined hands. “David offered me the Newport property.”
“What do you mean?”
“Managing the hotel. The job is mine if I want it.”
Jack sat up straight, his grin stretching from ear to ear. “Are you serious?”
She nodded, smiling at his reaction. “I’m glad I waited to tell you in person.”
“Oh my God! This is fabulous! When did it happen?”
She focused again on the girls and the pigeons. “A couple of weeks ago.”
“You weren’t going to tell me?” Jack asked, surprised and hurt that she’d kept such big news from him.
Turning her attention back to him, she brushed the hair off his forehead and ran a finger over his cheek. “I was thinking about the big picture, trying to decide what’s best for Eric and me. And what’s best for you and your girls.”
“I’ve told you what’s best for me—and the girls.” He hoped they’d agree if it happened, but he’d seen no point in broaching the subject with them until Andi decided.
“You’ve been so patient about giving me time to think, and I appreciate that.”
“Do you want the Newport job?”
“I think I do,” she said sounding almost surprised. “I love what I’m doing now, but I’m ready for a new challenge and less travel now that Eric is getting older.”
He could feel her edging toward a decision and had to resist the urge to push. “Let’s get going.”
“Good evening, Ms. Walsh,” the uniformed doorman said as they stepped into her building. “How’s Eric?”
“Much better, Joseph, thank you.”
“That’s real good news. You have a nice evening.”
“You, too.”
In her apartment, Jack stopped her when she reached for a light. He took her hand and kissed it as he brought her into his arms, kissing her neck and working his way up to her lips.
She pulled him closer, desperate with need after so many weeks without him. Pushing his jacket off his shoulders, she unbuttoned his shirt and kissed his chest and neck, while her fingers caressed his back, making him tremble.
He startled her when he suddenly lifted her and headed for the bedroom.
He set her down, worked fast to get rid of their clothes, and brought her down so she faced him on the bed.
Sighs became moans, arms and legs became tangled, two became one. Cupping her bottom, he held her tight against him as he slid slowly into her.
Only when she needed to breathe did she pull her lips free.
Jack shifted so he was over her and picked up the pace. Hooking his arm under her leg, he pushed it up to her chest and sank deeper than he had ever been before.
“Jack!”
He opened his eyes to find hers glistening with tears and froze. “Honey, what is it? Does it hurt?”
“No.” She arched her back and fought to absorb the staggering array of emotions and sensations. The sorrow he’d shown her earlier had touched her deeply, and she wanted so badly to help him forget his pain, even if the relief was only temporary. “Nothing…”
He brushed his lips over her face. “What? Tell me.”
“Nothing has ever been like this. Ever.” She reached for him to bring his mouth back to hers. The thrusts of his tongue matched the motion of his hips. He filled his hand with her breast and rolled her nipple between his fingers.
She cried out when the climax hit, her hips surging up to meet him, and her hands clutching his shoulders.
“Andi.” He trembled as he pushed hard against her and groaned with his own release. They lay panting in the darkness for several minutes afterward.
“You can turn the light on now.”
Laughing, she said, “What was that?” She had never before felt such a fierce need and was almost frightened to accept that she’d never again feel it for anyone but him.
“That,” he said, kissing each of her fingers, “was you and me and our love. Something comes over me when I’m with you.”
“The same thing comes over me.”
“Whatever it is, I love it, and I love you.” He gazed at her. “You’re all I want in the world, all I’ll ever want.”
She caressed his face. “Ask me again, Jack.”
It took a second for him to understand, and then he seemed to know. “Andrea,” he said, his voice heavy as he gazed into her eyes, “will you come live with me and be my love?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He closed his eyes and rested his forehead on hers. “Thank you.”