Page 3 of A Heart to Find
Hailey giggled again, covering her mouth to hide the sound of conspiracy. She glanced up at her aunt, and Meredith put a finger over her lips. “Shhhh.”
“I can’t wait to meet my new mommy.”
A familiar ache coursed through Jared at the memory of his loss and the pain his baby girl should never have had to experience at such a young age.
“No one will ever replace your mommy. You know that, right?”
She nodded dramatically. “Yes, but Mommy told me to take good care of you, and she told me she made sure you’d find another grownup to love. And she told me it was okay if I wanted to call her Mommy someday, even though my real mommy wouldn’t be there.”
“Your mommy is always here.” Jared tapped a finger over his daughter’s beating heart, then another to her head. “And here.”
Hailey nodded solemnly before her lips turned to a pout.
“But she isn’t here to make me pancakes anymore. She said maybe you’d find someone who could make me pancakes as yummy as hers.”
“Oh, that might be asking too much. Your mommy made the best pancakes in the whole wide world. But now that you mention it, she did leave us her recipe, so how about when I get back we will make a big, big batch of pancakes and eat them for dinner?”
“Okay! And we’ll put a pile of whipped cream on ‘em!”
“Deal.”
Jared stood up, swinging Hailey up over his head. Delighted squeals punctuated the crisp New England air, and though he had agreed to go to this matchmaking island, the closer the ferry got to the mainland to board passengers, the less eager he was to follow through on his promise.
After more cuddles and tickles, Meredith held out her arms for Hailey to jump into. His sister-in-law smiled warmly, her eyes encouraging him to do what they both knew he needed to do.
“You’re the most adventurous guy I’ve ever known. Why do you look so hesitant?”
Jared pulled at his collar and turned away. He couldn’t meet his wife’s sister’s gaze. None of this made sense.
“Jared, don’t do this to yourself. You stuck by her even though she asked you for a divorce. Her gift to you was to set this up for you so you could find the true love she knew you wanted. Don’t disappoint us by regretting the agreement.”
His throat closed, and the backs of his eyes prickled.
Meredith helped Hailey get down to pick up rocks and then rested a hand on Jared’s elbow. Her empathetic look nearly killed him.
“I loved her, Meredith. I promise I did.”
“Of course you did. She was your best friend. No one ever doubted that.”
He closed his eyes against the anguish that threatened to ruin his send-off.
“Elizabeth knew your honor would get in the way of this moment, so she made me promise to get you onto that island. She told me she saved up for ages to pay for this trip, and to tell you that if you didn’t get on the ferry she would haunt you for the rest of your days. And she also said that since she knows every single secret of yours, she would find a way to use those secrets against you in the afterlife. As her sister, I know firsthand that she will find a way to follow through on that threat.”
Jared released a stream of air and fought for a smile.
“I’m all in. I’m going to do it. Thanks for reminding me of why.”
“You’ve always been a big brother to me, Jared. I want your happiness as much as she did. Now go! The ferry is boarding. Hailey and I have trouble to cause, don’t we, Hail?”
Hailey nodded emphatically.
Jared squatted down for one more eye-to-eye discussion with the love of his life, adjusting her winter hat over her ears. “Ok, but promise you won’t have any fun at all while I’m gone, okay, my tiny puffer fish? I want you to cry all day, every day because you miss me too much. And we all know that Auntie Meredith is no fun at all.”
“No, you sillyhead!” Hailey leaned forward, clasping her hands in front of her, a big smile lighting up her face and his entire world. “Auntie Meredith is sooooooo fun!”
“That’s my girl.” Meredith rubbed the top of Hailey’s hair.
“Ah, I’m doomed with you ladies sticking together.”
