Page 43 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
“Were your family supportive of your decision to be a nurse?” Barb asked her.
“Oh, yes, especially my grandmother,” Jackie told her. “She wanted to be a nurse, but her father pushed her to become a doctor as he was this arrogant neurosurgeon, as my grandmother called him.”
“You and your brother must be close?” Barb watched as Jackie swung the little character for an excited Charlotte.
“Yes.” Jackie nodded. “He’s had a hard time in the past three years. His wife ran off with his best friend. She’salso a doctor, as is Davens’ best friend. They took off to another state to start their own practice.”
“You mentioned your brother has a son,” Barb stated. “Does his mother share custody?”
Jackie’s eyes flashed with anger. “No. She just signed sole custody to Daven and waived all parental rights. She wasn’t really maternal.”
“I can’t understand how some women can be like that,” Barb said, feeling compassion for Doctor Daven Reece. “Your brother seems like such a nice man.”
“He is,” Jackie agreed. “He didn’t deserve what his best friend and ex-wife did to him.” She pulled a face. “Oh, shoot. Daven’s going to kill me, giving away his history.”
“It’s okay.” Barb smiled, promising. “I won’t say a word.”
“Thank you.” Jackie breathed a sigh of relief.
“What about you?” Barb asked, finishing off her breakfast. “Are you in a relationship?”
“No.” Jackie shook her head, but Barb could see pain flashing in her eyes. “My fiancé died six months ago. He had a terminal illness.”
“I’m so sorry, Jackie.” Barb’s heart went out to the young woman. “That’s why you needed a fresh start in a new place!”
Jackie nodded and gave Barb a tight smile. “Everything back home just reminded me too much of Simon.”
“I can understand that,” Barb said, her voice filled with empathy. “Thank you, for agreeing to help me with Charlotte. While it’s going to be hard to leave her even for a minute, it’s going to be easier doing so knowing she’s been looked after by you.”
“Thank you.” Jackie touched her heart. “That’s such a nice thing to say.” She glanced at Barb’s clean plate. “Now go shower and make yourself feel better. Then we can discuss Charlotte so youcan get some much-needed rest.”
Barb hesitated for a moment before nodding, leaning over to kiss Charlotte, and then making her way to the kitchen to put her tray down. As she was about to turn away, her eye caught the Shields brothers walking out of their chalet.
Her heart lurched when she saw Zac and then dropped when she saw the brunette who burst through the front door after him. It was the same woman who’d been on his arm in the photo Barb had seen of them in the newspaper article eleven months ago.
Barb quickly moved away from the window before they got close enough to her bungalow to see her watching them. She ducked into the dining area and covertly made her way to the living room.
“If you’re okay, I’m going to have a shower,” Barb told Jackie. Her legs felt like jelly, and her heart felt like someone was squeezing it painfully as she went to her bedroom and closed the door.
Twenty minutes later, Barb emerged feeling like a new, cleaner person as she stepped into the living room tofind Charlotte peacefully sleeping while Jackie read her a story.
“You look refreshed,” Jackie commented as Barb walked into the room.
“I feel refreshed,” Barb admitted and smiled at Charlotte. “I see she’s feeling content.”
“Yes. Although babies tend to bounce back from being sick, they still need their sleep to finish healing,” Jackie said. “I hope you don’t mind. But my brother called. He’s been asked to go to Denver for two days, so I have to take Max for him. Is it okay if Max comes here?”
“Of course, I’m sure my son and Rose would love to have another friend their age,” Barb replied.
“Thank you,” Jackie said and glanced at her wristwatch. “He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
“I was going to go to the lodge to see Oscar and speak to Emily,” Barb told Jackie. “I’ll keep an eye out for them.”
“That’s kind,” Jackie told her. “Would you mind if I made myself some tea?”
“Please, help yourself,” Barb told her. “I’ve bought snacks for the kids, and if you need anything, just let me know.”
“I will,” Jackie promised.
