Flowers on Main (32 page)

“Believe me, I know that,” his sister lamented. “After you caught them in your office, they’re never out of my sight for long, at least when I know they’re together. You’ve talked to Jenny. I’ve talked to her. I pray we’ve gotten through to her.”

“Or if we haven’t, that I’ve scared the hell out of that guy,” he said direly.

Connie pulled a beer out of the refrigerator and handed it to him. “I need to talk to you about something else.”

Jake stiffened. Here it came. She was going to lecture him about Bree and that ridiculous scene he’d caused by jumping to conclusions. Will had finally cornered him late this afternoon and made it plain that Bree’s arrival had been pure coincidence. Just one more thing he probably needed to make amends for.

Now he studied his sister warily. “Oh? What is it you think we need to discuss?”

“I’m taking some time off tomorrow,” she announced. “Just a couple of hours at lunchtime.”

“Okay,” he said slowly. “You know I don’t care about stuff like that. Why are you telling me?” Alarm suddenly set in. “You’re not sick or something, are you? Do you have a doctor’s appointment? Do you need me to go with you?”

She touched his arm. “Settle down. I’m fine. I’m just doing a favor for a friend.”

His gaze narrowed. “Which friend?” he asked suspiciously.

“Bree.”

“You’re doing a favor for Bree that necessitates you taking time off from your job working for me,” he said, his tone turning cold. “Do I have that right?”

“Got it on the first try,” she said cheerfully. “And before you start ranting and raving, remember that you told me not two seconds ago that you didn’t care what I did.”

“This is different,” he grumbled. “She had to know I wouldn’t like it. So did you, for that matter.”

“Let me be clear about your objection,” she said. “It’s not the time off that bothers you, it’s the fact that I’m helping Bree.”

“Exactly.”

“Do you know how ridiculously petty that sounds?”

Jake could hardly deny it. “Traitor,” he mumbled.

She stared at him in shock. “Did you just accuse me of being disloyal?”

“Yeah, I did,” he said defiantly.

“Then you and Bree are fighting again? I’m supposed to choose sides?”

“You know perfectly well we are. You’ve been asking me about it ever since she and I had dinner. I’m sure she gave you an earful.”

Connie didn’t deny the accusation. Instead, she played innocent. “Do I at least get a clue about what you’re fighting about this time?”

“It’s always about the same thing.”

“The way she abandoned you, mistreated you, blah-blah-blah,” she said.

He frowned. “Are you mocking me now?”

“Yes, because you’re being ridiculous. I know she hurt you. The whole town knows she hurt you. It was six years ago, Jake. Get over it. You’re still in love with her. Stop wallowing in the past and go after what you want before you lose her again.”

“What is it you think I want, to have my heart broken all over again?”

“Are you so sure that’s what will happen? Because the way I see it, if you don’t even try, you’re going to wind up miserable and alone anyway. If it were me, I’d take the risk.”

“You’re a romantic,” he said accusingly. “Even after the way Sam treated you, you still believe in the power of love.”

“I do,” she agreed. “And you’re a cynic. How’s that working for you?”

Just then Jenny walked into the kitchen and stood staring at them, her expression shaken. “Why are you two fighting?”

“We’re not fighting,” Jake claimed.

“It’s just a discussion,” Connie confirmed.

“Well, it sounded a lot like a fight to me. It scared Dillon off. He doesn’t need to be involved in your drama.”

“This isn’t drama,” Connie said. “This is just your uncle and me having a difference of opinion. Happens all the time between siblings.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Jenny said angrily. “Since I don’t have any and I’m not likely to, ever.”

Jake saw the stunned look on Connie’s face right before her eyes welled with tears. He knew, though Jenny probably didn’t, just how much his sister had wanted to have more children. It had been at the root of her divorce. She wanted a big family. Sam had been unhappy she’d gotten pregnant with Jenny Louise. They’d started fighting almost from the moment she’d told him she was expecting a baby. He’d left not that long after Jenny’s birth.

Connie ran from the room, her face ashen. Jenny stared after her in shock.

“What did I say?” she asked, looking bewildered and faintly guilty.

“You know how much your mom adores you, don’t you?” he asked her, his tone gentle despite how exasperated he was with her at the moment.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“And she’s a terrific mother.”

Jenny nodded.

“Then you should also be able to see that she might have wanted to have more kids. Things just didn’t turn out that way.”

He wasn’t going to say any more. Though he would have happily told his niece what a jerk her father was, Connie had refused to ever say a harsh word against Sam. She’d wanted Jenny to believe her father’s absence from her life had nothing whatsoever to do with her. He doubted Jenny bought that
since Sam rarely did more than send his checks on time and mail the occasional birthday card, but it wasn’t Jake’s place to disillusion her.

Right now, Jenny’s expression was shattered. “Oh God, I never meant to upset her. I just kind of blurted it out, you know.”

He draped an arm across her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “I know. Maybe you could go apologize.”

“What about you? Are you going to apologize? I couldn’t hear what you were arguing about, but you sounded kinda mean, too.”

Jake sighed. “Yeah, I’ll apologize,” he said. Sometimes setting a good example was a real pain.

“I can’t believe y’all are doing this for me,” Georgia said as they gathered at the inn for lunch. “The table looks so gorgeous.”

Bree had sent over fresh flowers for the table and Jess had used the inn’s best crystal and china. She’d even put out place cards edged in gold for each of them.

“I want so much to be a part of the family because I know how much you mean to Kevin,” Georgia said. “I want to get to know you all like sisters. Getting to stay here a little longer had been such a blessing.”

“We want to get to know you, too,” Bree said. “We know how much you mean to our brother.”

“I wish I had more time here,” Georgia lamented. “Maybe at the end of our tours of duty, we’ll settle someplace nearby. I know that’s what Kevin wants. It’s all he talks about.”

“Are you okay with that?” Abby asked. “Your family’s in Texas. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be close to them?”

“Wherever Kevin is will be home for me,” Georgia responded with starry-eyed enthusiasm. “I hope you all know that I love him to pieces. Meeting him is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“He’s pretty special,” Jess said, then grinned. “Of course, he might have just a few tiny little flaws.”

“None,” Georgia said loyally. “At least I haven’t found any yet.”

“And don’t you girls disillusion her,” Gram chided.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Bree said, shooting a warning look at Jess.

“You know, when your tour ends and you’re back in the States for good, we want to throw the two of you a big party,” Abby said. “How much longer do you have to serve? Does your tour end when Kevin’s does?”

“My tour—did y’all know it’s my second one?—is up in six months, so I’m sure I’ll be back here for a while. Then, if we’re still over there, I’m going to sign up for another stint,” Georgia said.

Gram looked shaken by that. Bree felt a little queasy, as well.

“You don’t think Kevin will stay in, do you?” Bree asked, her heart in her throat.

“We haven’t talked about it, but I imagine he will,” Georgia said blithely. “We’re needed there.”

Bree exchanged a look with her sisters, then reached over to give Gram’s hand a squeeze. “I’m sure you’ll give it careful thought before you make a final decision,” Bree said, resolving to have a heart-to-heart with her brother before he left town. Not that she didn’t admire his dedication to his job and his country, but it seemed to her that accepting another tour of duty when he didn’t have to would be sheer folly, especially when starting a new family. Then again, maybe she wasn’t giving him enough credit. Perhaps he’d change Georgia’s mind, convince her to settle here and begin the rest of their lives.

Despite Bree’s optimism that things would work out, Georgia’s revelation had managed to cast a pall over the lunch.
Though everyone tried to remain upbeat, none of their hearts were in it. Eventually Abby stood up.

“Gram, why don’t I give you and Georgia a lift home. I need to pick up the girls.”

Gram joined her at once. “I believe that glass of champagne has gone to my head. I might need to lie down.”

Georgia came around the table to hug Bree and Jess. “Thank you so much. I just loved spending time with y’all.”

“We were glad to do it,” Bree said when Jess remained stubbornly silent.

As soon as they’d gone, Jess whirled on Bree. “Do you believe that? She wants Kevin to stay over there!”

“Kevin’s a grown man. He’ll make his own decision about what’s right for him,” Bree said.

“You want him to reenlist?”

“Absolutely not,” Bree said fiercely. “And I intend to tell him that the first chance I get, but I think I’ll hold off until Georgia’s left tomorrow. I certainly don’t want to start something that might upset either one of them.”

Jess nodded with obvious relief. “For a minute there I thought you’d lost your mind, too.”

“No,” Bree said grimly, then waited until her sister met her gaze. “But we can’t force him to make the decision we want him to make, okay?”

“Maybe not, but we can raise holy hell if he shows the slightest indication that he’s going back to that place after this tour ends,” Jess said fiercely. “I say we double-team him. No, quadruple-team him. Mick’ll be on our side. So will Gram.”

Bree lifted a brow. “And you know exactly what Kevin will do if we gang up on him.”

Jess sighed. “The exact opposite of what we want,” she admitted.

“Then let’s be smart,” Bree suggested. “I’ll talk to him on my own, see what he’s thinking. Then we’ll decide where to go from there.” She gave her sister a rueful look. “Maybe we’re getting worked up over nothing.”

“I guess you’re right,” Jess said with obvious reluctance. “I told you Kevin marrying that woman was a bad idea.”

“He doesn’t seem to think so,” Bree said. “Let’s keep that in mind.”

“When she said that about staying in, I wanted to scream,” Jess admitted. “I swear it took every ounce of willpower I possess not to cause a scene.”

“So glad you thought better of that,” Bree said dryly.

“Yeah, well, I wish I hadn’t.”

Bree gave her a hug. “Maybe you should stay away from Georgia, okay? For the sake of family harmony.”

“But there’s a big family dinner tonight to send her off,” Jess protested. “It’ll tick Kevin off if I don’t show up.”

“It’ll tick him off more if you and Georgia get into it.”

Jess grinned. “You have a point.”

“Love you, kid. I need to get back to work.”

“Hold on a sec,” Jess ordered. “Did Connie say how Jake reacted to the news that she was going to fill in for you?”

“We didn’t have time to discuss it. I took it as a good sign that she showed up.”

It would be an even better sign if Jake didn’t turn up before the end of the day to accuse her of taking advantage of his sister or to suggest that she stay the hell away from his employees.

Mick knew something was going on with his girls. Abby and Bree were being even more quiet than usual at dinner. Jess hadn’t even shown up, and his mother had barely said two words to Georgia all evening. Kevin was so wrapped up in his
new bride, apparently he didn’t realize anything was amiss, but it was getting on Mick’s nerves.

When he couldn’t stand it another minute, he managed to catch Bree alone. “What happened at that lunch you all had this afternoon? And don’t even try to tell me it went just fine, because I have eyes in my head. You all are barely speaking to Georgia, or anyone else for that matter.”

“Sorry, Dad.”

“Don’t be sorry. Just tell me what’s going on.”

“Georgia mentioned that she plans to go back to Iraq on another tour if she’s needed there, and she wants Kevin to do the same thing.”

Mick stared at her, trying to absorb the news. Kevin wasn’t career military the way Georgia was. He’d been a paramedic who’d felt compelled to enlist with a war going on in Iraq. His original two-year stint had already been extended. In Mick’s opinion that was long enough to prove his dedication to his country.

“Kevin’s not going to buy into that idea,” he said with certainty. “He’s his own man. And you know yourself how persuasive he can be. He’ll convince Georgia that they belong back home.”

“I hope so,” Bree said, “but he loves his wife. If she’s determined to go back, it seems likely he will, too. He’s certainly not going to want her over there alone.”

“Then we’ll talk him out of it,” Mick said. “I admire what he’s done. He’s been over there saving the lives of our men and women, but he has a life back here, too. I want him to have a chance to live it. I want the same for Georgia.”

“That’s what we all want. I think hearing Georgia’s plans really upset Gram, and Jess was so furious I talked her out of coming tonight. I wasn’t sure what she might do.”

Mick nodded. “To tell you the truth, I’m not sure what I’ll do if I go back in there, so I think I’ll take a walk instead and give this some more thought. As mule-headed as your brother can be, I don’t want to say the wrong thing and have him dig in his heels just to spite me.”

“Amen to that. And Dad,” she said, looking him in the eye, “don’t make an issue of this while Georgia’s still here, okay? We don’t know for sure how Kevin feels about it. Let me talk to him after she’s gone and see what
his
plans are.”

Mick nodded reluctantly. “That makes sense. I’ll do my best to keep my opinion to myself till we know more.” He studied his daughter intently. “Is that the only thing weighing on you tonight?”