Chapter Five

 

Jake walked from the ER exam room down the hall to the waiting area. Steve Cosgrave, Matt’s dad, rushed toward him. “Is he okay? Did he rupture his ACL again?”

Matt was one of the best high school quarterbacks in the state and had already been scouted from colleges as far west as California a year from graduation. His family struggled financially with three boys. The Cosgroves hoped for a full-ride scholarship for their son. A few months ago, after football season was over, Matt tore his right ACL. Jake did the surgery. With rest and hard work, Matt should be back to good physical condition to play next fall.

“No, the ACL is intact—tests look good. Matt does have a fractured tibia. He ran into William Emmons. Hit him hard enough to dislocate William’s shoulder. Matt’s getting a cast. Not a walking cast. I don’t want any weight on his leg, so he has to use crutches. He’ll be in a cast for four to six weeks. Then we’ll get him scheduled for physical therapy.”

Lines of worry were etched deep in Steve’s face. “Matt knows staying healthy, and having a great senior year, are vital to getting a scholarship.”

Jake walked Steve over to a couch, and they sat. “Kids make dumb choices sometimes. You and I did. We learned from them. Matt’s a good kid. The first thing out of his mouth was ‘I’m sorry’ then, ‘my dad’s going to kill me.’”

The boy’s father sighed. “Last Christmas, we sprang for a pair of the taller, almost calf-high ski boots. I thought they were supposed to be much safer.”

“The changes in ski equipment have greatly reduced injuries,” Jake said. “Those mid-calf plastic boots give solid support from the lower leg down to the ankle. Unfortunately, now we’re seeing more injuries to the ligaments of the knee. The impact of colliding with William is what fractured Matt’s tibia.”

“Do you think the mayor is going to sue me?”

“No, it was an accident, but I think a heartfelt apology from Matt would be prudent—as soon as his cast is finished.” He put a reassuring hand on Steve’s shoulders. “It could have been a lot worse. Merry Christmas, Steve.”

Jake saw Emma, Amber’s young son, and Amber’s mother, Melinda Waite, across the waiting room. The two women were engaged in an animated discussion. He couldn’t imagine what they were saying. Teddy was clearly fascinated. The boy laughed and flung himself into Emma’s arms, which turned Jake’s heart into a giant cream puff. He could tell how much she enjoyed children. She must be amazing at her job.

The emergency doors slide open. A newly blonde Amber Waite Headlee stalked into the ER lobby, eyes narrowed, chin lifted in what looked to be full attack mode. Out of the two women standing before her, she lasered in on Emma.

“Well, look who’s here. It’s Miss Goody Two Shoes,” Amber spat. “Where do you get off, taking my son in your car without my permission? I should press charges against you for kidnapping or child endangerment. Wouldn’t look good on a social worker’s resume, now would it?”

Grabbing Teddy’s arm Amber tugged him toward the exit. Mrs. Waite glared at her daughter and stepped in front of her, blocking her path to the door.

“Amber, settle down,” she snapped. “You’re making a scene.” She took her daughter’s arm, pulling her aside. “My message to you was not to come here to pick up Teddy,” she murmured. “I told you to go home, pack your things, and leave the house. Teddy is staying with us.”

Jake looked across the waiting room at Emma, shaking his head, embarrassed for Mrs. Waite and Teddy, who was now hiding behind his grandmother.

“What?” Amber shrieked. “You’re kicking your only child out of the home I grew up in?”

“Yes.” Her mother lowered her voice to say, “Amber, you’ve given us no choice. Your father and I both hoped by now you would have shown responsibility. We are disappointed you haven’t.”

Amber’s face contorted into an ugly mask. “You wouldn’t,” she ground out. “You’re my mother, for God’s sake!”

“And you’re Teddy’s mother.” Mrs. Waite tried to take her daughter’s arm. Ruthlessly, Amber twisted away from her. “For some reason, you can’t be bothered to take proper care of him.” She smiled at Teddy. “Who lets a six-year-old go to a ski resort with a seventeen-year-old high school student? Matt went off skiing with his friends. Those little boys were removed from the ski slope for being underage and without an adult. Teddy didn’t have your cell number. You were unreachable. In desperation, they called me.”

“I was getting my hair done for Christmas, Mother.” She huffed as if her appointment explained everything. “It took longer than I expected.”

“A hair appointment? Really?” Mrs. Waite’s face flushed dark pink, and her mouth thinned to a straight, hard line. “Amber, you don’t get it. Your child always comes first and takes precedence over anyone and anything. After Christmas, you can tell it to the family court judge. Your father filed a motion for temporary custody at noon today.” She turned her back on her daughter and reached for Teddy’s hand.

It took every drop of Jake’s willpower not to step in and shake some sense into Amber. She needed help. Hopefully, if her parents got temporary custody, she would get it.

“Fine,” Amber spewed. “Teddy, sorry. Santa won’t be able to find you on Christmas Eve. I’m afraid there will be no toys or games for you.” She made a dramatic about-face, walking backward out the sliding glass doors, almost tripping over the curb.”

If she breaks an ankle or gets a sprain, she will have to go to another hospital because I’m sure as hell not going to treat her, Jake told himself. How could any parent with a super kid like Teddy be neglectful? What was wrong with her? Amber always has been selfish. Her parents did spoil her. In his opinion, she was the one who endangered her child and deserved more than a warning.

Amber’s mother smiled at Emma. “I apologize for the hysterics. Thank you for rescuing our Teddy today. You are truly kind.”

He couldn’t agree more. Then, a vision of Emma reading a bedtime story to a couple of young children, theirs, of course, invaded his thoughts.

None of the women he’d dated in California came close to replacing what he’d lost with Emma. If he’d learned anything from their breakup, she couldn’t be swayed or manipulated to do what he wanted. She needed to be free to make her own choices. He would have to live with it or risk losing her a second time.

“My pleasure.” Emma hugged her. “I am glad I got to meet this young man.” Hoping to reassure the little boy, she said, “Don’t you worry that Santa won’t find you. He has a special website for address changes. Your grandmother already notified him.” She winked at Mrs. Waite.

Jake came to where Emma stood. They watched Teddy, and his grandmother leave the hospital. “You made a friend today, maybe a couple of friends,” Jake said. Then, without thinking, he pulled her into a side hug, earning him a quick jab to his ribs.

“Don’t go thinking we’re friends, buster.” She clamped her hand to her hip. “You barely made it onto my ‘former friend’ list.”

“You protest too much, Emmie.” He had to stop himself from reaching for her. Not having the right to touch her like he used to was killing him. His girl had gotten a lot tougher over the years. Winning her back wasn’t going to be easy. If she had any idea of his true intentions, she’d be on her way back to New York City faster than you could say, “Bah, humbug.

Her stomach rumbled, making her cheeks flush into a rosy pink.

“Hungry?” he teased-asked. A glance at the waiting room clock indicated lunch time had passed hours ago. “Emma…there’s no reason you need to stay here. Why don’t you take my car back to the inn? I still have two post-ops to check on. I’ll catch a ride.”

“No. You must be starving too.”

“Yeah, I am. I know. How about a pizza from Antorelli’s? Sound good?” His dark brows hitched, a questioning look in his gray eyes. “Since we’re both hungry.” He dipped into his pocket for his wallet. “Make it a large with pepperoni.”

“Sausage, mushrooms, regular crust, not thin.” She finished his list of pizza items and pushed his wallet away.

“You have an excellent memory, Miss Kimball.” At least she hadn’t completely forgotten everything about him.

“I’ve heard you order it at least fifty times over the years. Your favorite menu items are permanently etched in my brain.”

At least it was a start. If Emma remembered something as insignificant as sausage and mushrooms, she likely remembered how good they had been together, in life and love.