Page 10 of Loving Jake

“I understand, Jake, I do.”

He had asked her over breakfast this morning if she wanted to go with him, and she had been thrilled with the invitation. She told him that the large, boisterous Texan that used to join her parents for drinks or dinner had awed her as an adolescent. The stories she shared with him brought back memories of his own, and he was reminded of how fortunate he was to have the old man in his life… and how alone he would be when that was no longer the case.

He mentally braced himself as he opened the door to his grandfather’s room.

“Gramps, you awake?”

“Perfect timing, Mr. Taylor. Your grandfather just finished taking his medicine. Haven’t you, Zachary?” The nurse practically yelled in order to be heard over the booming voices coming from the television. Waiting for a reply that never came, the nurse finally shook her head. “He’s all yours.” She sent Jake a knowing smile. “Good luck, he’s in full temper today.”

“Thanks,” Jake mouthed to the nurse before she left the room. He gave Kimberly a tentative smile before walking over to his grandfather’s bedside. His grandfather lay propped up with several pillows behind his head and back, his gaze trained on the corner of the room.

“Gramps, it’s me. Jake. Your grandson.”

“For cryin’ out loud, boy. I know who you are. I raised you from a boy, didn’t I? And don’t be talkin’ slow as if I’ve lost my senses, either,” grumbled the old man.

“Gramps, why didn’t you say anything when I walked in?”

“Because it’s two o’clock, and between you and that confounded nurse, I haven’t been able to hear one word of my television program. Only doggone show worth watching, andain’t no one here who lets me watch it in peace. That one there,” he pointed to the television with a wrinkled hand as a rugged, handsome soap opera star appeared on the screen. “Reminds me of myself years ago, that one does. He’s from Houston, you know, his brother too. Damn fools they are, always have some woman distracting them from taking over the state’s largest oil company. Wife has a split personality too, a damn shame.”

Jake glanced at Kimberly, not surprised to see her puzzled expression. A smirk crept up on his lips. “He overheard one of the nurses talking about how surprised they were to see some TV drama that took place in Texas back on television. That was all Gramps needed to hear. He’s been hooked ever since,” He shifted his gaze to find his grandfather ignoring him again, as the old man’s attention returned to the television blaring from the corner of the room.

He glanced at Kimberly, and she smiled back at him. Her gaze returned to his grandfather, and it went soft. He assumed she was trying to adjust to the sight of his thick crop of hair, once a rich black, now predominately white, and his large frame now withered to a shadow of himself.

“Should we come back later?” she whispered with a soft giggle.

“No way.” Jake shook his head determinedly. “It’s John Wayne marathon week, starting at three-thirty. He won’t even talk to us then, will you, Gramps?”

“I give up, Jake. Turn the blasted contraption off. And who is us?” he asked, finally moving his attention from the television to look at his grandson.

Kimberly reached out and placed her hand on the side of the bed rail. “It’s Kimberly. Kimberly Urbane, Mr. Taylor. I grew up down the street from you in Los Altos Hills.” A wide smile creased her lips. Her eyes sparkled with merriment when she glanced at Jake, and he responded with a grateful wink. “Thought you had straw-colored hair?” the rough, old Texan rasped with narrowed eyes.

“That’s Carly, my younger sister.”

“Ah, yes. She was a rascal, that one,” he responded with a chuckle. His eyes widened with recollection. “Now I remember you. You’re the little mouse who would hide on the stairs when I would visit your parents. Thought you would probably run away and join a convent when you got the chance,” he stated with another deep chuckle.

Kimberly pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “Nope, no convent for me. Actually, I’m a photographer.” Kimberly shot a glance in Jake’s direction.

“Another one who can’t keep a steady job either, I reckon,” he replied with a meaningful glance at his grandson.

Jake was unable to hold back the sudden cough that erupted from deep inside him. He glanced at Kimberly and found her lips twitching, glad that she had a hard time keeping a straight face also.

“Gramps doesn’t consider my job as a reporter honest work. You don’t work with the soil or get your hands dirty working in television. He obviously feels the same way about photographers.”

His grandfather raised his hand and pointed a wrinkled finger at him. “And you don’t go wearin’ your hair in no ponytail, either. You weren’t brought up that way. It must be that dang job of yours, allowing you to keep that hair of yours long like you do. At least you finally have a woman who believes in looking like one,” he grumbled with a glance of appreciation toward Kimberly. “If my grandson here gives you a rough time, you holler. I’ll take care of him.”

“Thank you, I will.”

Jake glanced up and found her cheeks tinged with pink. Helonged to run his fingers along the smooth skin, to trace each curve of her face.

“He can be a wild one, that’s for sure, just like his brother, Zane,” his grandfather said, breaking into his wandering thoughts. “I’m glad to see Jake’s finally got the common sense to settle down and give me some great-grandchildren?—"

“Gramps,” Jake hastily interrupted. His focus returned to his grandfather where he should have left it, if he had any common sense at all, which, apparently, he didn’t. “I forgot to bring you some chocolate. Kim, do you mind running down to the cafeteria and getting a candy bar for him? Gramps has a terrible sweet tooth, which I try to appease with some cookies or a candy bar.” He reached into his wallet and grabbed several dollar bills from it.

“I don’t want no choc?—"

“Here.” Jake reached over and thrust the money into Kimberly’s hand. “The cafeteria is on the second floor. Thanks, Kim.”

“Ah, sure, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Kimberly gave him a confused look in response to his silent plea. Even so, to his relief, she reached out and closed her hand around the money.

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