Page 111 of Return to Us
“Better, I think. Low fever today, but she was in a much better mood.”
She smiles. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
“But, while I got one person on the mend, another showed up on my doorstep requiring aid.”
“Oh?” she asks with surprise.
“Yeah, Jack is passed out in the guest room—drunk. He kept talking about a girl, but won’t say her name.”
Jess’s eyes widen just a touch. “That’s . . . wow. Who do you think it is?”
There’s something going on that people are aware of, I can feel it. The tone in her voice says she isn’t telling me the truth. “Who is it, Jess?”
“I have no idea. I’m just surprised.”
I lean back in bed, watching her. “Why don’t I believe you?”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know. Could it maybe be Delia? She mentioned something about him.”
Now it’s my turn to react. “Delia? No. Not a chance.”
“I know she was meeting him tonight.”
“Shit. Then maybe it is.” I scratch my head. For him to be so torn up like that about her would be . . . strange. Delia has been in love with Joshua for as long as I can remember. Jack has never given any indication that he had feelings for her, but maybe it was her. If she shot him down, I could see him being pissed enough to drink a bottle.
“Well, I’ll find out tomorrow when he sobers up. Anyway, how are you? I feel like we haven’t had any chance to talk.”
Jess smiles warmly. “You’ve been a bit busy.”
“Are you feeling neglected?” I say with a smirk.
“No, Amelia comes first. I’m fine. Things are fine. I’ve been a little nauseous the last week, and I wonder if I’m not coming down with what Melia had.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I hate that she’s not feeling well. “Did you call the doctor?”
“Grayson, it’s fine. I promise.” Jessica’s voice turns to laughter at the end.
“Speaking of the doctor, when is your next appointment?”
She smiles, but it looks a little forced. “Soon.”
“How soon? If you want me to go with you, I will.”
“No. You don’t need to.”
It’s clear that she doesn’t want me there and I try not to let that bother me. “Jess, I want to be there with you.”
“I appreciate that,” Jessica says, but her tone says otherwise. “I don’t have an appointment for a bit. I’ll let you know, though.”
“Okay. What about things at work?”
Jessica fills me in on everything that’s been going on at the Park Inn. My receptionist apparently had sex with the gardener in the shed, which was a big scandal because he was dating the cook. She found out and threatened to cleaver him. Stella and Jess were able to get her to calm down, but the gardener demanded she be fired. My sister, being all about girl power, fired him. The guests in the cottage were unhappy about the distance they had to walk, so she was able to “upgrade” another couple into switching. Mostly, it was a lot of nothing, but I listened, smiling as she told me all about it.
“And then your father came in today . . .”
