J
olene had been counting down the hours until her shift was over—her last one for a while. It had been a fight to get the leave of absence, one that ended with a push from Tage for the administration to comply. They should have done it without the push since Jo hadn’t taken a vacation since she started working there. She’d more than proven she was a hard worker and diligent in her duties. A good employee shouldn’t have to put up with such, but it was an all too common complaint.
Things with Ma had already taken a downward swing and she was now getting around the clock care. Jo had been eager to take her turn sitting with her momma and was already on the schedule for Friday night. It had been just like Micah said, the rest of the family were practically fighting over whose turn it was to sit with her.
Micah.
That man had been such a comfort to her. He’d somehow showed up just when she’d needed him the other day. It was almost like… No, she wouldn’t go there. God didn’t send him into her life. He wouldn’t do that to a good man like Micah. It was all happenstance, but she was nonetheless grateful.
Him picking her up from the side of the road that day had given her the opportunity to do something she’d been wanting to do—pick out clothes for his little girl. Since the first time she’d laid eyes on Lala in that old-fashioned, ruffled dress, Jo had wanted to dress her. Every time she’d stepped inside a store that sold children’s clothes, she’d been drawn to the little girls outfits. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for her to buy clothes for someone else’s child, but the chance meeting on the side of the road had fulfilled that desire. Rachel had been sending her pictures every day since of Lala in her new outfits.
A hand on her shoulder drew her out of her reverie. Tage squeezed her against him in a side hug. “Keep me updated on your mom.”
Jo barely nodded. She owed him big time and there was no reason for him not to know how her momma was doing, but something about it felt off. Considering their past relationship and the fact that he was still a married man, was it okay for them to have a friendship outside of the hospital? She wanted to say there was no problem, but in her core it felt wrong.
You’re just being silly. He hasn’t come on to you in the last month, at least.
“You have a hard road ahead of you. If you need someone to talk to, or even to just step away for a cup of coffee to clear your head, I’m your man. Just shoot me a text, okay?”
Her nod was automatic. Because it was the expected answer even when she knew she probably wouldn’t do it.
After saying her final goodbyes, Jo headed out. When those automatic doors whooshed behind her for the last time until who knows when, it felt like she’d been set free. Which was ridiculous. The job ahead of her would no doubt be the hardest of her life. Losing her momma was no kind of freedom. Yet, the feeling persisted.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to think about moving to a different department when it was time to come back. Maybe then she could make a complete break from Tage. Because she knew in her gut that they were following the same pattern as before. The one that led them back into each other’s arms.
At the tug on his quilt, Micah opened his eyes and smiled. He grabbed Lala’s elbow and assisted her in climbing up on the bed. “Morning, sugar pie. Did you have a good sleep?”
He glanced at the clock on the bedside table. After his last night of work each week he always hoped for more time for his early morning nap but rarely got it. Today was no different. He raked his fingers through Lala’s tangled locks as she rambled on about dinosaurs and llamas that he could only guess had shown up in her dreams last night. Then she asked the question she’d asked him every day since the shopping trip.
“See Jojo?”
“Yes, you’ll get to see Miss Jo today.” She pushed to the edge of the bed, and he pulled her back. “Not right now. Later, at Paxton’s birthday party.”
Chase and Rachel’s oldest was turning three and Micah had offered to sit with Leora so the rest of the family could be there. Since Lala had been driving him nuts to see Jojo, he’d asked Jo to look after her at the party. The woman had been too enthusiastic at the prospect to do his heart any good. She’d even requested a certain outfit on Lala—the torn jeans and the top with yellow flowers.
The day seemed to drag out. His lack of sleep after night shift and Lala’s crankiness to be on their way didn’t help. She’d been ready to go from the time she got dressed that morning. Trying to explain to a toddler that the party didn’t start until three was like trying to teach a cat to knit.
When the time finally rolled around for them to leave, Lala quietened down. Micah worried she’d fall asleep on the short trip and wake with a mood worse than before, but she was still wide-eyed when they got there.
Just as he lifted Lala from the car seat, the front door to the farmhouse opened and Jo sauntered out. Micah looked her way and his gaze stuck there as his heartrate sped up. The torn jeans and flowery shirt were almost identical to the outfit Lala had on. Even their sandals were the same.
Lala ran to her, and Jo lifted her up and swung her around as laughter spilled from both of them. Once the spinning stopped, Jo smiled at Micah. Warmth slid down his chest. He shook his head to dispel the familial image they made. Jo was just the kind of mother he would want for his daughter. The kind of wife he’d want for himself. But there was one thing missing and that one thing made all the difference.
He reminded himself to smile past his disappointment as he walked to where Jo stood. “Well, don’t y’all make a pretty picture.”
Jo’s smile grew. “Thanks.”
He held his keys up. “Want to take my car so you don’t have to switch the car seat over?”
“We’re going to ride over with Wade on the Gator, if that’s okay with you.”
He slid the keys back into his pocket. “That’s fine. Alethea took our gift for Paxton over when she went to help set up.” Micah stepped closer to Jo to give Lala a kiss on the cheek. “Be a good girl.”
“I will, Daddy.” The words had come from Jo, not Lala.
His gaze flipped to Jo to catch the cheeky smirk on her face. Their gazes locked as the scent of her perfume swirled around him, putting him in a heady trance that had heat pooling in his stomach. She’d never flirted with him before, but this seemed like flirting.
The trance was broken by the sound of the screen door slapping against its casing and Micah put distance between them.
Wade stepped down from the porch looking shell-shocked. Alarm shot through Micah. Wade had been on the schedule to sit with Leora before Micah got here so he must have just come from seeing her.
“Is everything okay?”
Wade nodded. “She’s fine. Still sleeping. She’s been out since her last dose of morphine this morning. She usually wakes up around lunch time but not today. But I guess as long as she’s not in pain, it’s okay.”
Micah squeezed Wade’s shoulder knowing exactly how he felt. “You’re right. If she’s not in pain, she’s good.”
Jo’s smile from a few moments ago had disappeared, replaced by worry lines across her forehead.
“Everything will be okay. Y’all go and have a good time at the party. I’ll take care of your momma.”
Wade pulled his keys from his pocket. “Don’t hesitate to call me if you need to.”
“I will.”
As they started to walk away, Lala called his name and reached out for a hug. Micah made a point of not looking at Jo as he obliged his daughter, not that he expected anything from her this time. Not after the mood had taken such a nosedive. He said a quick prayer for everyone concerned as he entered the house.