Ten minutes later, they pulled up to her family home, which was a large Colonial with a circular driveway lined with oak trees and strategically placed flowerpots to give a sedate but elegant glow of color.
Growing up, she’d run across the grass, picked flowers for the neighbors, and climbed the trees. Despite the place’s sophistication, it had been a warm, family home.
There were cars in the driveway, too many, which made her stomach jangle uncomfortably. Never in her life had a crowd bothered her, certainly not a crowd of what was sure to be people she knew and knew well, but as they got out of Sam’s car, she held on to the door a little too long.
Sam came around for her and took her hand. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” But at the front door she hesitated again. It hadn’t been that long, she’d flown home for a long weekend for her father’s birthday. And then over Memorial Day for another quick trip when her cousin had had a baby.
“Jade,” Sam said softly.
“Give me a minute.” Or another year and a half.
But then the matter was taken out of her hands when the door whipped open and her mother stood there.
“Well goodness, darling. You’re standing out there like a delivery person waiting for a tip.” Lucinda Bennett had given up practicing medicine five years ago now to dedicate her time to Jade’s father, but she hadn’t given up a single concession to looking good. She was in a black Prada cocktail dress, her carefully maintained red hair twisted up out of her face. She was as beautiful as ever as she gestured for Sam to come in, giving him a hug that she had to reach up for since Sam was a foot taller than her.
Sam dutifully bent and kissed his aunt on the cheek, gently squeezed Jade’s shoulder, and moved into the house out of sight.
Lucinda took Jade’s hands into her own and held tight. “So you don’t escape.”
“Mom.”
“What, you ran off once. I am not risking it again.” She looked Jade over. “Your hair’s getting long.”
“Yes.” Jade resisted patting at it self-consciously. “Mom, I-”
“And you haven’t been wearing sunscreen religiously like I taught you-you have a tan. Darling, your skin is your age meter.”
Jade let out a low laugh. “I know, Mom.”
“And what is that you’re wearing…
“Yes.”
Her mother’s eyes lifted to Jade’s and filled. “And the cashmere sweater I sent you for your birthday.” She tightened her grip on Jade’s hands. “Oh, baby. Are you really here?”
“Yeah, I’m really here.”
Lucinda pulled her in for a warm hug, then stepped back, searching her pockets for a tissue, which she used to dab precisely at her eyes. There was never an excuse for running mascara.
“Where’s Dad?” Jade asked.
“Right here, pumpkin.” William Bennett rolled into the foyer. Even in his motorized wheelchair, he still cut an imposing figure. He had straight shoulders and thick gray hair that gave an impression of great knowledge and power. He held out his arms and Jade crouched at his side and hugged him.
“Thought I was going to have to come get you myself,” he said with affection in his voice.
“I promised, didn’t I?” Jade said, some of her joy at seeing him diminished by the feel of him in her arms. Thinner. He’d lost weight.
A line appeared between his brows. “Honey, I don’t give a fig about a promise. I thought you were back because you wanted to be.”
“Of course she wants to be,” Lucinda said. “Chicago’s her home, we’re her family.”
William cupped Jade’s face and looked into her eyes. “You’re really okay?”
“I’m okay.” When he didn’t relax, just kept looking at her, into her, she sighed. “Do you want me to promise?”
“No more promises,” he said softly, for her ears alone. “Family isn’t solely about obligation.”
Jade didn’t have words for that, so she hugged him again.
“Stop making me cry,” Lucinda said behind them. “I don’t want to be blotchy for pictures.”
Jade’s stomach shifted. “Pictures?”
“We’re having a welcome-home party.”
“Now?”
“Well, when else?” Her mom pulled Jade through the foyer toward the grand living room. “I sent Sam for you to make sure you showed up.”
Oh, for the love of-
Jade’s gaze sought out a guilty-looking Sam’s.
Twenty-six
Dell was as good at denial as the next guy, but even he was going to need some good distractions to get through Jade’s being gone.
Turned out, he got plenty of distractions.
He was called into Belle Haven at five A.M. A fivemonth-old golden retriever had consumed a kitchen towel and gotten deathly ill.
Dell met them at the center and confirmed his suspicions-the dog’s intestines were blocked by towel shreds. He operated and was back in his office by seven, leaning back in his chair studying the ceiling.
His eyes felt gritty. He was exhausted, but every time he closed his eyes he saw Jade. He could feel her touch, hear her laugh, taste her tears in their last kiss.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. He’d been such a cocky son of a bitch. He’d actually convinced himself that Jade being the one to walk away was a good thing. He wouldn’t have to break her heart.
And then he’d gotten his broken. He had definitely not seen that one coming…
His door opened. “Mrs. Mason’s Chinese Shar-Pei puppy is in exam one,” Keith said. “Star was wounded in a scuffle with a housemate.”
The twelve-week-old Star weighed all of ten pounds dripping wet. Her “housemate” was a twenty-pound Siamese cat with the disposition of Scrooge. Shit. Well, he’d needed more distractions…
It was easy enough to busy himself. He’d already fucked up his neat, organized office. That had happened the day Jade had left. He was back to his old ways. If she wanted to fix it, she’d have to get her sweet ass back here.
Only that wasn’t going to happen.
If he wanted her sweet ass back here, he was going to have to go get it. He was going to have to figure his shit out, figure out how to give her what she wanted and get what he wanted at the same time.
The next day Jade got up, showered, dressed, and drove into work. She parked in the lot, grabbed her purse, and reached into the backseat for Beans’s carrier.
Which wasn’t there, of course.
Jade had left the cat in the town house. The medical center was no place for her.
Beans had taken this as the final insult. After a three-day drive and being thrust into yet another new environment, she’d revolted, retreating to beneath Jade’s bed, and no coaxing or bribing could get her to come out.
