“I know.” Jess stepped closer and reached out a hand but was reluctant to touch her. “As I said, my assumptions were stupid, and I apologize. For everything.”
Lena’s gaze swept over her for a moment, then she wiped her tears away. “I accept your apology. Let’s start over.” She grasped Jess’s hand, which she hadn’t withdrawn, and shook it. “Hi, I’m Lena, your neighbor. Nice to meet you.”
Jess exhaled, and the sickness she’d felt since she admitted to herself how wrong she’d been slowly dissolved. “Hi, I’m Jess.” She searched Lena’s eyes for her emotions. Was it that easy for her to forgive?
Hurt still glittered in the hazel eyes like raindrops on leaves after a storm, but nothing was masked or blurred. Lena regarded her with an openness and inner calm that put Jess to shame.
“I…I better go and see if Ella’s awake.” Using her daughter as an excuse to flee was a cowardly move, but Jess needed a moment to process what had happened.
A wide smile swept over Lena’s face. “Say hi to the little one for me.”
Jess nodded. “I will.”
Chapter Eleven
“Sheila totally freaked out when she found them in the on-call room. She grabbed Scott and Courtney’s clothes from the floor and locked the door from the outside.” Kayla doubled over from laughter. “They had to pound on the door and call for help because both their phones were still in their scrubs.”
“Who is Courtney again?” Jess smiled, even though she couldn’t care less. Most residents and fellows messed around. Even she had done it once or twice when she was younger. A lifetime ago.
“ED resident. Haughty bitch. Doesn’t respect the nurses.” Kayla pushed her sunglasses up in her hair and wiped tears from the corners of her eyes, then leaned back on the desk chair. “Nice place your mother’s got here.”
As if she’d heard, Jess’s mom chose this moment to appear on the patio. She carried a tray with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and milk.
Jess rolled her eyes. Milk? Really?
“I have a snack for you, girls.” She put everything on the table and smiled at Kayla. “It’s so nice of you to visit my Jess out here.”
“Thank you, ma’am. This smells wonderful. Your garden is beautiful.”
“Isn’t it? I recently rearranged the perennials over there and—”
“Thank you, Mom. But we were just talking about work.” Jess needed to curb this before her mom offered Kayla the extended tour and Kayla was too polite to decline.
“Oh, I see. Then I’ll leave you girls to it. It was nice meeting you.” With a nod to Kayla, she left again.
Jess buried her head in her hands and groaned. What had she done to deserve this? Had her mom just called them girls? She was thirty-fucking-seven, and her mom served milk. She glanced at Kayla. “I’m sorry.”
Chuckling, Kayla picked up a cookie, tore off a piece, and dipped it in the milk. “Why? I think she’s super nice.” She stuffed the soggy cookie in her mouth and moaned appreciatively.
“She’s great. But sometimes she seems to forget I grew up.”
“As my daddy is happy to remind me anytime I visit, we’ll always be their children. You’ll see with Ella one day.”
“I guess.” Jess snatched a cookie before she could control herself. Maybe just half? It would be impolite to let her guest eat alone, right? With a sigh, she put it down next to the glass of milk she didn’t intend to drink. Lying to herself wouldn’t get her figure back.
“They are delicious,” Kayla said around cookie number two. “Don’t you like them?”
“I love them, but I need to watch what I eat. My heart can’t afford to carry around the extra pounds I gained during pregnancy.” Jess wasn’t so sure if her heart or her vanity suffered more, but that was the only reason she would say out loud. “I’m not making good progress with working out. I still don’t have the strength to run, and the drive to my gym is too far.”
“What are you always telling your patients at the free clinic? Exercise doesn’t mean you need an expensive gym or fancy equipment. What did you advise Mrs. Jameson last year?”
Jess grimaced. “To go walking? But that’s something for old people!”
“Yeah, face it, you’re old.” Kayla grinned. “Hey, why don’t we go somewhere together now? I saw a park a few blocks away. Is it nice?”
“No idea. I haven’t been there for years.” Jess couldn’t even remember the last time. “Okay, let’s check it out. I’ll ask my mom to watch Ella.”
As they walked down the driveway, Lena’s old car came to a sputtering halt in front of the house. Jess frowned. That didn’t sound healthy at all. She had no clue about cars, but she wouldn’t trust her life to a vehicle like that.
Lena was about to get out, but she stopped with one leg on the ground and the other still inside. “Oh, hey, Jess. I’m sorry. I forgot. I’ll park around the corner.” She let herself fall back on the seat, closed the door, and started the car.
Jess guessed the wheezing sounds were supposed to be attempts to start the motor. She had almost forgotten about the stupid incident when she had yelled at Lena because of the car. Ella had been colicky all day and had just fallen asleep when the car had woken her. But that hadn’t been Lena’s fault, and Jess had behaved like a selfish ass.
She couldn’t take back her words, but she needed to rectify the situation.
Jess hurried over and knocked on Lena’s window.
Lena swiveled around, her eyes wide. She pressed her lips together and rolled down the window—manually. How old was this car?
How on earth could she have been so hostile that Lena seemed afraid to even talk to her? Jess’s cheeks burned again, as they had in too many interactions with Lena. “Um, Lena. Don’t go. Leave the car here.
