Chapter 13
I managed to hold back my questions, waiting patiently, hoping he might mention the spectacular achievement of winning his grant, but nope, not a peep. Not during the video chat when he told me he’d stay at his sister’s tiny basement suite this week, not tonight over dinner, nor did it come up during our pillow talk, though there was still time.
Jake pressed his lips to my temple before I sat and propped myself against the pillows.
“Guess what I learned last week?” I asked.
“Hmmm?” He tilted his head my way, blinking sleepy eyes.
“Hi. How are you?” I said, signing along with the words.
“Not bad. Where did you learn that?”
“Online. I’m doing a little every day, half an hour at a time.”
“Keep at it.” Jake slid from my bed.
“Come back. There’s more.”
“Luci’s expecting me.” He tugged his t-shirt over his head.
“Since when does your baby sister set your curfew?”
The little smirk revealed his dimple. “She’s a tyrant,” he said with a chuckle, but his smile faded. “I promised I’d spend time with her. The last two trips I’ve stayed with you, barely seeing her at all. Anyway, I work early tomorrow.”
“Fine. Go.” With a waggle of my fingers, I sank into the sheets, pressing my face against Jake’s pillow and inhaling the tangy remnants of man scent clinging to the soft cotton.
“Love you, Mare. He nuzzled my neck before giving me a long, satisfying kiss. “See you tomorrow night,” he whispered against my lips. “Sleep well.”
“Mmm.” I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck. “Don’t go.”
“Wish I didn’t have to, but tomorrow night, okay?” He loosened my grip and retreated. Seconds later the apartment door clicked shut behind him.
It felt like he was drawing away, slowly separating himself from our entanglement. I feared that one day soon he’d just stop calling. Was this just a bit of fun? A convenient cure to his loneliness? I wasn’t sure my heart could take it.
Late the next morning, when I entered The Quay and spotted Luciana with her companion, my stomach lurched. There was no mistaking the mass of dark curls or those eyes. I’d have known the little girl anywhere, even if she was the last person I expected to see here. Did I still have time to run? Could I duck behind the greenery and text Luci that something had come up?
Luciana smiled and beckoned from the small table beside the bank of tall windows, then she turned toward the baby girl in the highchair.
The young woman’s call early on this sunny Tuesday morning had been a welcome diversion on my day off. “I’ve been busy at the hospital, but I hope we can meet for coffee. I hate that we aren’t talking. Please, please call me back!”
Well, why not fill in my empty day and take the opportunity to mend my relationship with Luci? Tonight’s date with Jake would be a late dinner, though he’d probably leave my bed before midnight, just like last night. Now his speedy exit made perfect sense.
I approached slowly, carrying my cup of chai. Jake wouldn’t freak about this, would he? Right. He’d be as calm as a ballistic missile, coming in hot before detonating, leaving massive carnage with no survivors.
Sarina stared at me, not blinking as she grasped a chunk of muffin between chubby fingers and crammed it into her mouth.
“You look great.” Luci rose to hug me. “This is Sarina.”
“Of course, it is,” I said and settled into my seat. I angled toward to the girl, making sure I looked straight at her. “Hi, sweet girl.” I signed along with my words, hoping I was getting it right. “Enjoying your muffin?”
“How did you know?”
“Her resemblance to Jake.” No need to expand on the statement or admit I’d seen her latest photo last night as I shared pillow talk with her big brother.
“Well, yeah, who else’s child would I be babysitting, but how did you know to sign?” She tilted her head. “Who told you about her hearing?”
“Jake.”
Luci’s brows rose.
“At the wedding.”
Sari crammed another chunk of muffin into her mouth, leaving a streak of blueberry across her cheek.
“Huh.” A crease appeared in Luci’s forehead as she dabbed at her niece’s cheek with a napkin. “He rarely shares so quickly. Guess he trusts you.”
I lifted one shoulder and sipped my tea. Yeah, trust oozes from his pores.
“Do you want kids?”
“Someday.” The someday that Kyle had avoided. The someday I ached for.
“You’d be a great mom.” She eyed me. “Jake’s working, so he entrusted me with Baby Starfish last night, and I’ll have her again tonight. Must have another hot date with his mystery woman.”
“Good for him.”
“You think?” Luci wrinkled her nose. “I begged him to bring my darling niece this trip. Last time I saw her was the month before Dara’s wedding. It’s too long until the holidays, if I’m even able to beg time off to visit Halifax.”
I bit back my questions and my tears. Jake had omitted the crucial facts, all sweet parting kisses and promises as he dressed, leaving a slight dent in the pillow and a cooling spot in the sheets. Maybe that was the cruelest deception of all.
“Sorry.” She patted my hand. “It’s weird, right? Stupid of me to bring up the other woman, but … he’s playing it cool. He refuses to introduce her, which is weird. I should know something about her by now.”
With a forced smile and a tip of my chin, I bobbed my head. Luci’s words stung, and again, I considered where Jake and I were headed. Even worse, today’s invitation seemed less like an opportunity to reconnect and more like a chance for this young woman to get in some digs about how Jake was over me and dating with abandon.
“Are you seeing anyone?” Luci asked.
“Nobody special.”
She nodded slowly, studying me.
“Stop it, Luci. Quit overanalyzing my life. Use those psychology classes on someone else.”
Sarina whined, a chunk of blueberry
