One Touch Page 19

  "You're just saying that, Jake, because you know that Chloe is ... Oh, God...” The realisation suddenly hit her.

  He reached for her face, bringing her eyes to his, pleading with his soul. “No! I know what you're thinkin’ and it's not true, baby. I loved Chloe the minute I laid eyes on her, but even before I knew she was mine, I wanted..."

  "What, Jake? What did you want?"

  "You, Chloe, and as many kids as we could have ... a family ... with you. You're the only one that ever made me feel that way. The only one I ever wanted ... Cassie darlin', I love you. I need you. Oh God, can you forgive me?"

  His arms tightened around her, determined to hold on.

  * * * *

  Could she? Could she really forgive him? Two weeks, two days, even two hours ago, the answer would have been no, definitely. In her heart and her head, she wanted to say yes so badly it was almost a scream inside her. But the protective instinct that had carried her through the last five years kicked in.

  No. Not this time. She could feel Jake's pain, every stabbing pulse like a knife into her own heart, but she needed time. Time to heal, time to think, time to make sure ... Make sure of what? she asked herself.

  That she loved him? She already knew the answer to that.

  To be sure that he wouldn't hurt her again? Even with what had happened, it was not this that scared her.

  No, it was about putting the pieces back together again. She had literally shattered after the fight with Jake that day, and she still hadn't found all the pieces. At any moment she felt as though she would fall apart. And fixing that would take time.

  "Not yet, Jake. Please ... let me work this out."

  At least it wasn't a straight out no, and he would have to be content with that for now.

  "About Chloe..."

  "Yes?” He watched her closely, trying to read her ... unable to break through the pain-filled gaze.

  "I can't do it. I can't tell her just yet. I know I should, Jake. I owe that to you and to her. But she's a smart kid ... she'll have questions, and I don't think I can do it at the moment..."

  Like a dam bursting, the tears she had been holding broke free. Without missing a beat, Jake pulled her into his arms, cuddling her close, stroking a gentle hand down her hair.

  "Shhh, baby. Don't cry. It's okay. It will all be okay..."

  And he wished it so with all his heart.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It had been two long weeks. Actually, if he had to be exact, two weeks, one day, two hours and assorted minutes. Stepping lightly and surely across the rafters of the roof he was helping the guys get ready for retiling, he slipped his hammer into the holster at his hip as he reached for his ringing cell phone. It was second nature these days to check the caller ID, looking for Cassie's number. He was waiting. That was all he could do. She wanted time and he would give her all she needed. That also meant that she had been on his mind for precisely every second of the last two weeks and whatever days, hours and minutes had passed.

  With disappointment, he noticed the number was unfamiliar, so he pressed the “yes” button expecting a work call.

  "Rowling Constructions. Jake Reilly here."

  "Mr. Reilly? It's Mrs. Newman over at Collaroy Kindergarten."

  Jake looked curiously at the phone, and then held it back up to his ear.

  "Sure, Mrs. Newman. What can I do for you?"

  "Well, it's just that we need someone to come and pick up Chloe and you are listed as her next of kin along with Ms. Grant."

  Quite apart from the stunning revelation that Cassie had some time recently put his name down as a relation for Chloe—he knew how seriously the schools took the issue of next of kin with children—was the realisation that Chloe needed him, and therefore, so, too, must Cassie in some way. Rather than please him, that realisation settled like a shiver of dread over him. A thousand questions rushed through his mind, but all of them could wait. Nothing was more important at this precise moment than getting to his daughter.

  "I'll be there in ten minutes."

  Actually, it ended up being slightly more than five. He rushed in through the foyer of the school to see Chloe sitting forlornly, her little backpack sitting at her feet as she waited. The worry he had been feeling on the drive over was slightly eased by the smile that lit his little sugar's eyes.

  "Uncle Jake!"

  She rushed into his arms as he reached down to scoop her up, squeezing her tight. “How's Da...” He pulled himself up abruptly before he uttered the words he was dying to say ... might never say—daddy's little girl. Instead ... “How's my girl?"

  "Mumma didn't come to pick me up..."

  "I know, sweetheart. That's why I'm here.” The last thing he wanted Chloe to do was worry. Hell, even he didn't know what was going on.

  "Ahh, Mr. Reilly, I presume?” A diminutive, prim-looking woman had come out of the office and was walking towards him.

  "Yes, ma'am. Thanks for calling me, but would you mind telling me what's going on?"

  At a look from Mrs. Newman, he deposited Chloe back on the seat. “Don't you move, sugar. I won't be long and then we'll go home, okay?"

  "Okay. But Uncle Jake?"

  "Yeah?"

  "I'm hungry."

  "Don't worry, little darlin'. How about a trip to McDonald's on the way home? We can grab a burger and some fries."

  "Yum! You sure Mumma won't mind?"

  "We could pick something up for her too, couldn't we? Then she won't have to cook when she comes home.” He grinned at her. “You got a book to read or something while I talk to Mrs. Newman? I won't be long."

  He waited until she was settled. The smile he had put on for Chloe slipped as he followed Mrs. Newman into the small office.

  "Where's Cassie? What's happened?"

  "I didn't want to say anything in front of Chloe, Mr. Reilly, but we had a call from the university where Ms. Grant works. Luckily, one of the staff there knew that she usually picks up her daughter on her way home, so she rang us to let us know. You see, there was an unfortunate altercation this afternoon between two of the students there. Ms. Grant tried to break up the fight and was harmed. I believe a knife was involved."

  Jake froze. “Where is she?” His heart thumped loudly in his chest, fear filling him. “Is she ... is she..."

  "Royal North Shore Hospital, I believe. She is in emergency surgery as we speak. I'm sorry to have to break this to you like this."

  "No, Mrs. Newman. I ... thank you for calling me. Thank you ... If you'll excuse me, I have to make a call."

  "Of course. I'm terribly sorry..."

  He nodded to her, and flipped open his phone, getting Lizzy up on quick dial, hoping like hell she was at home. He sighed with relief when she picked it up on the second ring. “Sis?"

  "Jake? What's up?"

  "I need a favour. Can you watch Chloe for me? I'm not sure how long I'll be."

  "Sure. But where's Cass? And why are you asking me?” She stopped, realizing obviously that Jake had Chloe and how unlikely that was considering the current state of affairs between him and Cass. “Oh, no. What's happened?"

  "Long story, sis. But Cassie's been hurt. I need to get to the hospital and I don't want to take Chloe in there with me. I don't know how long..."

  "No worries, Jake. Bring her here. I'll keep her for as long as you need."

  * * * *

  Sitting beside the bed, holding her hand and stroking it tenderly, Jake looked again at Cassie. Apart from being very pale, her vital signs were good. The damage to her kidney was not as bad as initially thought, and all that remained now was the wait for her to come out of the anaesthetic.

  He had passed a tense few hours pacing the waiting room attached to the surgery unit. The thought of losing Cassie had made him sick with worry. The relief he had felt when the doctor came out and gave him the good news ... well, he could have kissed the man.

  A soft moue of discomfort left her parted lips and her eyes slowly opened, a little unfocusse
d at first. He watched as she gradually realised where she was.

  "Jake?” she asked softly.

  "Yeah, darlin'. I'm here, don't worry."

  Her eyes darkened suddenly; her body tensed. “Chloe!"

  "Shhhh.” He stroked her forehead, trying to reassure her, calm her. “She's fine. I picked her up from school and she's with Lizzy right now munching on McDonalds."

  "Thank God.” She sighed and her eyes fluttered closed, the tension leaving her body. She seemed to have drifted off under the stroking of his fingers.

  Until she opened her eyes, he hadn't realised how tightly strung he had been. But the relief he felt now that he knew she was going to be all right hit him all at once. He lay his forehead on the blanket beside her hand and let the tears run. From what the doctors had told him when she first came out of surgery, another inch or two and the damage would have been much, much worse. As it was, she would need to take it easy for a while, but there would be no long-term effects.

  He felt a tentative hand on his head, the fingers threading gently through the mussed strands.

  "Jake?"

  He lifted his head, knowing his cheeks were still wet, but he didn't care. He loved this woman more than his own life. Every emotion he felt was tied up in his love for her.

  She sadly shook her head at him and wiped at a tear. “How did you get in here? They only allow family..."

  "I know.” He looked guilty. “I ... em ... told them I'm you're husband."

  "You didn't!"

  "You better bloody believe it!” A new strength and resolve flowed through him. “I sure did. And I will be. I'm not taking the chance of losing you again, darlin'. I couldn't go through it..."

  "Is that a proposal, Jake?"

  "No, darlin'.” He grinned down at her, mischief and amusement lighting his eyes. “That's an order, and as soon as you can stand vertical for fifteen minutes, I intend making it legal in every sense of the word."

  "How very romantic.” She rolled her eyes.

  "You want romantic, baby?” His voice was husky as he lifted her hand to kiss each fingertip. “How about I love you so much my heart nearly breaks just to look at you,” he whispered, brushing a thumb over a tear that slipped down her cheek. “Or that I want to be with you every minute of every day for the rest of our lives."

  "Now that's more like it,” she teased gently. “I think I like the second version much better."

  "So, that's a yes?” His watched her intently, his eyes darkening as he waited for her answer.

  "Do I have a choice?"

  "Nope.” He laughed as he leaned over to kiss her.

  Epilogue

  Standing at the sink after loading the final dishes into the dishwasher, Chloe looked out over the backyard at the couple walking in the moonlight, arms around each other. The woman turned to the man and looked up at him, smiling. Even from this distance, Chloe could see the way they were looking at each other. It never ceased to amaze her the way her parents were still so much in love after all these years. Twenty-five years, to be exact. And they were still acting like besotted teenagers. She shook her head affectionately.

  She could still remember the day she had found out that “Uncle Jake” was really her father. It was even better than the day her parents had married. But that was because she had fallen in love with “Uncle Jake” the minute he had scooped her up in his arms and hugged her tight. She loved both her parents so much. Her childhood had been every young girl's dream. And they had given her the one thing she had always wanted—brothers and sisters. The house had always been full of noise and laughter and she had loved every single second of it. She wiped quickly at her eyes before anyone noticed.

  "Hey, what's up, sis?” Robbie had come up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist in an affectionate hug. “You okay?"

  Robbie always noticed, was always ready with a hug. He was just like his father. She'd never known two such huggy guys in her life. And even though she was older than her brother by seven years, he always made her feel like the little sister. Of course that could have had something to do with the fact that he towered over her by a good foot, just like their dad. The little brother she had always wanted ... And he was the best. Just like Grace, Sally and Mike who was the baby at fifteen, even though he hated being called that.

  "Mum and Dad at it again?” Robbie looked over her shoulder at their parents and rested his chin on the top of her head.

  "Do they ever stop?” She laughed with joy, remembering all the times when they were growing up that they had caught the two of them and teased them unmercifully.

  "Nah, but it's kinda cool, you know? I want what they have ... someday."

  "Don't we all,” she agreed, grabbing his arms a little tighter. “Don't we all..."

  The End

  About the Author:

  Susie Charles was born in Sydney, Australia and with the exception of two short stints—one in Alice Springs, the other in the highlands of New Guinea—has never lived more than spitting distance from a beach.

  Of course, growing up surrounded by bronzed Aussies and surfies gave her ample opportunity to form an appreciation for the physical beauty of the male of the species, although these days she stays out of trouble by looking and not touching. Well, mostly not touching ... It's wonderful how many things fall under the banner of ‘research’ when you're a writer.

  After a variety of careers spanning everything from restaurant owner to computer trainer, Susie finally discovered (just in time before she retires) what she wants to be when she grows up, and combines her love of writing with a new and hectic career as a freelance editor.

  You can reach Susie at suz@changingdreams.com

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