Page 37 of Serve and Protect
I can tell she’s not happy with my reply.
The eggs are done now, and so is the toast. I fix up three plates and plan to carry them to the table—one at a time—but Jennie jumps up.
“I’ve got this,” she says. “You sit down and rest your shoulder.”
“George must have gone to the grocery store to buy cat food,” Granny says as she takes a bite of her toast. She reaches down and scratches Pumpkin’s chin. “I swear, that man dotes on this cat.”
“Yes, he does,” Jennie says, a bittersweet smile on her face.
Pumpkin saunters over to me and throws himself against my shin. “Well, who can blame him?” I ask as I pat the cat.
I love how Jennie keeps her grandpa’s memory alive for Rosie. There’s no point in reminding her on a daily basis that her husband has passed, not when a little white lie will make Granny happy.
Jennie’s gaze meets mine as she gives me a grateful smile. And for a moment, she lets the pain shine through. Her grandfather’s passing left a big hole in her heart, too.
My chest hollows out, leaving an aching hole. I’d take that pain for her if I could.
Did I tell you I love you, Jens?
I can’t help dwelling on the fact she remembers exactly what I said yesterday, and like me, she’s pretending she doesn’t.
I guess we’re both going to pretend it never happened.
Chapter 13 – Jennie
Granny is the first one done with breakfast. She excuses herself from the table and goes to her room to get dressed. Pumpkin follows right behind her.
As we sit at the table eating, I can’t help noticing how Chris’s chest fills out his T-shirt. It hugs his torso like a glove, outlining his muscles. His shirt is short sleeved, baring his muscles and the thick veins running down his forearms. There’s not an ounce of flab on him. I wish I could say the same about myself. His feet are bare. His hair is damp, so I’m thinking he managed to sneak in a shower this morning.
“I see Micah made good on his promise to drop off more clothes.”
Chris nods as he sips his coffee. “So, what’s on your agenda for today?”
He knows it’s my day off. “Granny and I will hang out here and keep ourselves busy.”
Chris sets his mug on the table. “Jennie.” His voice is heavy, laced with intention. He’s staring at the table top, tracing the pattern of a flower on the tablecloth. He’s nervous. He’s fidgeting.
My pulse picks up. “Yes?” My stomach is in knots because I know what’s coming.Questions.
“Yesterday, at the hospital,” he begins. “I’m pretty sure I said some things to you.”
There’s no point in playing dumb. If he wants to talk about it, the least I can do is meet him halfway. “You did.” I’m a nervous wreck because I don’t know where this is going. Does he want to take it back? Ask me to pretend it never happened?
I decide the best course of action is to give him a graceful out. “Chris, you were under the influence of a sedative, so I won’t hold you responsible for the things you said.”
He’s so unsure as he forces himself to look at me. “That’s just it, Jennie. I meant what I said—every word of it. I just never meant to tell you.”
My heart stops, and I swallow hard. “Why wouldn’t you tell me, if that’s how you feel?”
“I didn’t want to put you on the spot or make things awkward between us. You made it plenty clear in the past that you aren’t interested in me, not like that.” He runs his fingers through his hair and grimaces, but it’s emotional pain on his face this time, not physical pain. “God, I’m sorry,” he says. “I wish I’d kept my damn mouth shut.” His brown eyes radiate pain and regret. “I would never want to do anything to jeopardize our—”
“Chris, stop.” I reach for his good hand.
He pulls it back, as if touching me is simply too much right now. “Jennie, I—”
“No, please, let me speak.”
He nods and goes back to tracing the pattern on the tablecloth.
