Beck cast a quick look at his wristwatch. Surely by now the Flints were at the hospital getting Jewel released.
He picked up his nearly cold cup of coffee and stared into it. The little cabin his friend had loaned him was exactly that—a cabin—but it met his needs and he was grateful for it. He had water, the cookstove worked, there was a microwave and refrigerator, a toaster, a telephone and plenty of firewood cut and stacked by the door. There was even a CD player and an old television set with a roof-mounted antenna, but the picture wasn’t too good. He’d had a rental car delivered to the hospital when he’d been released, and he’d stopped by the grocery store to stock up on supplies, so he had everything he really needed. When he got a chance, he’d pick up a few CDs, but for now, his choices were radio or snowy TV pictures.
“I wonder how Jewel is doing?” he asked aloud, laughing at himself. “Living alone and spending most of your life behind the steering wheel of a truck makes a guy talk to himself.” He stared out the window at the beautiful Rocky Mountains, a scene he never tired of seeing. “She sure is pretty. I can see why the Flints went after her.”
Shrugging, he placed his cup on the scuffed-up end table beside his chair. “Should have been me instead of him. Lord, why you took that young man and left me behind, I’ll never figure out. And why did Jewel have to get hurt? None of this makes any sense to me at all, Lord. Pardon my questioning of Your wisdom, I mean no disrespect, but I just don’t get it!”
Beck put a hand on the phone, lifted it, then placed it back in its cradle. Even if he called, the hospital probably wouldn’t give him any information, but he’d sure like to know if she was being released today. Maybe he’d phone the Flint house later and ask. Yes, that’s what he’d do. He’d give the Flints a call.
Closing her eyes for one brief moment, Tavia called out from deep within herself. God! If You are real, forgive me for what I am about to do.
“Jewel, are you okay?”
She opened her eyes to find Annie hovering over her, her eyes wide with concern.
“I’m—fine,” she managed to say.
“Then you’re ready to go?” James asked, stepping up beside his wife.
Tavia swallowed at the lump in her throat. With great effort and a heavy heart, she nodded her head and murmured a weak, “Yes, I’m ready.”
“I’ve brought you a coat and a small bag for your nightgown and toiletries.” Annie scurried about the room, pulling things out of the drawers and placing them in the bag. “James can carry your flowers. He’s already pulled the car up under the canopy.” Annie glanced about the room. “I think that’s everything.”
Tavia felt sick to her stomach. She worried about the questions to come at the Flints’. Questions for which she had no answers. After all, she knew very little about Adam and not much more about Jewel.
“One thing before we leave!” Annie reached for Tavia’s left hand and cradled it lovingly. “I’ve brought your engagement ring. I know Adam would want you to have it.”
Tavia felt her heart clench. That ring had changed her life.
Annie carefully slipped the ring onto the third finger of Tavia’s left hand, then stepped back to admire it. “It’s perfect on you. I can’t tell you the joy I feel just seeing it there.”
The sight of that ring on her finger made Tavia hold her breath as visions of the beautiful, smiling Jewel Mallory pulling off her ring and handing it over the seat to her, begging her to try it on, came flooding back. If it wasn’t for that ring being on her hand at the time of the accident, and everyone assuming she was Jewel because of it, things would certainly have turned out differently. Instead of staying in a private room at a first-class hospital and heading for the Flints’ lovely home, she’d have been sent to a ward in the County Hospital, then she’d have had to go to the local rescue mission, begging for help. And she would have never met Annie and James and Beck, and fallen in love with each of them.
Annie pulled a tissue from the box on the nightstand and gently wiped the tears from Tavia’s cheeks. “I’m sorry, sweetie, I didn’t mean to make you cry. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought that ring to you this morning. You’ve been through so much, but I just knew you’d want to have it back.”
I haven’t been through nearly as much as you, Annie!
Annie cupped Tavia’s ringed hand in hers. “I can’t begin to tell you what this means to me. I’m so pleased you’re going home with us. I just knew Adam’s fiancée would want to be with his family at a time like this.”
“Here’s your chariot!”
Tavia spun her head toward the voice as an orderly moved into the room, pushing a wheelchair. He rolled it up beside the bed and waited.
James latched on to his wife’s arm. “Are you girls going to talk all day, or are we going to take Jewel home?”
Annie smiled up into his face. “Let’s get her home. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later.”
As Tavia was assisted from the bed and into the wheelchair, a heaviness settled over her. These kind people deserved to know the truth. But one look at the joy on Annie’s face was all it took to make her decide to keep her silence. At least for a while longer.
As the chair was rolled toward the door, Tavia took one last look at the bed she’d vacated. Once she left that hospital, she would no longer be Tavia MacRae, but Jewel Mallory. She had to remember that.
Annie chattered all the way to the car. Tavia loved the lilt of her laughter, and she found herself almost excited to be going home with them. Though she’d never been much of an actress, had even failed drama class her sophomore year in high school, she was going to have to be on her toes every minute of every day. The last thing she wanted to happen was for them to find out in a way that would hurt them.
“I’ve told all our friends they have to wait until you’re more fully recovered before they come to see you,” Annie went on. “When you’re feeling better, we want to have a big party for you. Invite all of them so they can meet the woman Adam chose to be his wife. Would you like that?”
Tavia nodded, but inwardly she wanted to shout out a big “No!” Being among their friends and having to answer questions about her relationship with Adam would add more pressure that she cared to take.
The fancy car parked under the hospital’s canopy took Tavia’s breath away. She’d never ridden in such a fine car. It smelled like new leather. She noted Annie had filled the back seat with plump pillows and a blanket to make her ride more comfortable, which she greatly appreciated. Though her ribs were paining her, once she settled in and Annie propped the pillows around her, she was actually fairly comfortable.
The drive to the Flint home up in an area near Eldorado Canyon was beautiful, and farther than Tavia had expected. Dr. Flint turned the car onto a road leading off the highway into the Denver foothills, and toward the little town of Eldorado, eventually coming out onto a plateau-like area. It was a gorgeous day. The air was clean and fresh, without a cloud in the sky.
James smiled at her in the rearview mirror, causing Tavia to remember how Adam had smiled at her in that same way. She hadn’t realized how much the two men looked alike until she caught the glimpse of James’s eyes framed in the mirror. “You picked a good day to come home. It was a bit cloudy yesterday and much cooler.”
Tavia smiled back at him. “Nice—day.”
Annie turned in her seat to face her, much as Jewel had done just minutes before the accident. “I’m glad you’re here with us.”
Without taking his eyes off the road, James cupped his wife’s shoulder. “Now, Annie. Don’t rush our little girl. You two will have plenty of time for visiting. If I have my way, Jewel will be with us for a long time.”
Annie muffled a snicker as she reached to pat her husband’s hand. “You may never get away from this man, Jewel. He’s as excited about having you with us as I am.”
Tavia’s breath caught as James maneuvered the car through an iron gate and up a short, tree-lined driveway to an elegant, sprawling Spanish-style home. This was where the Flints lived? This was to be her home while she recuperated?
“Well, here we are. Home. Mi casa es su casa.”
She remembered reading those words painted in bright colors on the wall of a Mexican restaurant where she’d once worked. My house is your house.
James pulled the car as close to the front door as possible, then hurried out the driver’s side to assist first his wife, then Tavia.
She wanted to scream out as she leaned to get out of the car. The pain in her ribs was nearly unbearable, but she bit her tongue and kept her silence, offering only a meek, “Thank you.”
Both James and Annie helped her into the house, into a room more beautiful and inviting than any she’d seen in magazines. The walls were all stucco and painted off-white. The fireplace was lit, transmitting a warm, welcoming glow to the entire room. The furniture was a deep-burgundy leather, and covered with an abundance of throw pillows woven in combinations of every earth tone you could imagine. The floors were done in varying shades of beige and brown tile, and made a perfect backdrop for the many hand-woven area rugs scattered about the living room and hallway.
“I know you’re tired from your trip home, Jewel.” Annie nodded her head toward a long hallway. “We can show you the rest of the house later. Why don’t I take you to Adam’s room, where you can get some rest, maybe even a nap, and I’ll bring you a nice cup of hot tea. Would you like that?”
Exhausted from both the trip and the mental strain of portraying herself as someone she wasn’t, Tavia nodded. I can’t whisper forever. I have to talk to these people or they’re going to know something is wrong. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her hand going to her throat. “That—that would be—very nice. Thank—you.”
Annie grabbed on to her hand. “Oh, sweetie. You don’t have to try to answer if it hurts your throat. Just keep whispering. Hopefully, a nice cup of tea with two or three spoonfuls of honey will help soothe that throat of yours.”
Taking her elbow, Annie led Tavia down the hall to a room at the far end. “This was Adam’s room. We moved into the house when he was still in high school. Typical teenager, he wanted the one at the end of the hall so he could be off by himself so his loud music wouldn’t disturb us.” Annie paused, her hand caressing the smooth oak door. “The only thing we changed when he went off to college was to take down some of the posters he’d hung on the walls. Adam had a passion for Christian music artists. These walls were covered with their pictures.”
Tavia braced herself in the doorway, peering cautiously into the room. She had to smile. It was the ideal man’s bedroom. Heavy furniture. Big-screen TV. Tape decks. Speakers mounted in the wall. A desktop computer on the massive desk. Indirect lighting, as well as several large lamps on the chests and nightstands. But one thing seemed out of place in the room. The queen-size bed was covered with a lovely basket quilt, done in shades of blue, yellow, lavender and green, and it was hand-quilted with tiny, even stitches. And there, leaning against the pillows, Annie had placed the plush yellow bear Beck had bought for her. Tavia felt like running to it, grabbing it up and hugging it to her bosom. It had become her security blanket.
“Adam’s grandmother made the quilt. She finished it a few weeks before she passed away. The next one was to be for Adam’s eighteenth birthday. He’d picked out the colors and the fabric to match his room, but she didn’t last long enough to finish it.” Annie sat down on the bed and lovingly traced a finger across the tiny stitches. “He loved his grandmother. When she died, Adam asked for this quilt. Though it’s not the masculine style he would have preferred, it was special to him because she made it.”
“Your mother?” Tavia asked, amazed by the importance both Annie and Adam put on the lovely hand-made quilt.
Annie’s face took on a look of nostalgia. “Yes, my mother. I inherited my weak heart from her.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I. She was a wonderful mother.” Annie stood quickly and busied herself taking the pillows off the bed and turning back the quilt. “Let’s get that coat off you.” She helped Tavia remove her coat, motioned her to sit on the bed, then pulled the house slippers and socks from her feet. “Be careful now. Don’t hurt those ribs!”
Annie’s concern touched her deeply. Once she was in the bed and Annie had covered her with the sheet and quilt, she leaned back into the pillows and tried to relax.
“You stay right there and I’ll bring you that cup of hot tea. Will green tea be all right? It’s supposed to help with healing.”
Tavia nodded. “Green tea is fine. Thank you.” Her words were coming a little easier now. Maybe, by tomorrow, the rawness in her throat would be nearly gone.
“Is it all right if I come in?”
Tavia lifted her head and smiled at James. “Of course.”
He crossed the room and placed the bag Annie had brought from the hospital on a chest. “Anything I can get for you?”
Continuing to smile, she shook her head.
“Annie insisted you’d want to stay in Adam’s room. I wasn’t so sure that was a good idea. If you’re uncomfortable staying here, we can move you to the guest room next door.”
“It’s fine. I like it.”
James seated himself on the edge of the bed and sat gazing at her, his eyes filled with tenderness. “I guess Annie told you about the quilt.”
Tavia nodded.
“Adam and his grandmother were very close. About as close as me and my dad. She was close to Annie, too. Did Annie tell you her mother had heart problems?”
“Yes.”
He lowered his head and flattened a palm on the colorful quilt, spreading out his fingers. “It scares me to think how much Annie’s health parallels her mother’s.”
Oh, James. You’re making this even harder.
“Oh, good. James brought your bag in. I’ll put it on the counter in the bathroom.” Annie carefully crossed the room, a cup of steaming, hot tea in one hand and a glass of water in the other. “Dr. Stevens said it was all right if you took a pain pill. Do you need one, Jewel?”
Tavia shook her head. As long as she stayed perfectly still, the pain was tolerable. “No—thank you.”
“Well, I’ll put one here by your water glass, in case you need it later. I know it’s hard for you to sit up with those ribs bothering you, so I brought a straw for your tea.” Annie placed the water on the nightstand and knelt beside the bed, holding the teacup and offering the straw.
Tavia took a careful sip. The hot tea did feel good to her throat and the honey added just the right amount of sweetness. “Thank you, Annie.”
Annie patted her arm. “You’re welcome. I love you, and I’m so happy you’re here with us.”
Tavia reveled in those three words. Other than Annie and James, no one had ever told her they loved her before. Oh, Annie, I love you, too. More than you’ll ever know. Living here with you like this is like living a fairy tale. If I could have my way, I’d live here forever.
“We’re going to leave you alone.” Annie rose and reached out her hand to her husband. “Try to rest. The nurse told me you didn’t sleep well last night.”
Tavia watched as the considerate couple left the room, then snuggled down beneath the quilt, ready to take a nap. She’d made her decision and, right or wrong, she would live with it. There was no turning back.
When she awakened, a tray was sitting on her bedside table, complete with a carafe of coffee, orange juice, a small dish of applesauce and a carton of strawberry yogurt. How thoughtful. Annie must have placed them there while she was sleeping.
Gritting her teeth against the pain, she worked her way out from under the quilt and slipped into the robe Annie had bought her, then slid her feet into the slippers. Going into the spacious bathroom, she splashed her face with water and finger-combed her hair, then added a slight dab of lipstick to her sore, cracked lips. Gazing into the mirror she took stock of her appearance. Her pale, tired face stared back at her and seemed to be saying, “You’re not Jewel Mallory. How dare you try to take her place?”
She turned away, trying to block the image from her mind. Being careful not to jar her body and agitate her ribs, she moved across the thick carpet to the bed and poured herself a cup of hot coffee. She was about to take her first sip when a timid knock sounded on her door and Annie’s smiling face appeared.
“I’ll fix you some soft-boiled eggs, if you like.”
Tavia pointed to the tray and answered in a soft whisper. “No, thank you. This is more than I can eat.”
“Do you mind if I stay? I have some things I’d like to show you.” Annie closed the door and moved quickly to the tall chest of drawers. “Adam cleaned out this chest when he came home for Christmas.” She pulled one of the drawers open and lifted out a stack of sweaters. “I bought these for you. I hope they’re colors you like. And I got these to go with them.” She opened another drawer displaying pairs of both blue and black jeans. “I figured you and I were about the same size. There are a couple of pairs of sweat pants in here, too. I thought they might be easier to get on and off, with your arm in that cast.”
Stunned by her thoughtfulness and generosity, Tavia sat speechless, staring at the lovely items.
“You’ll find several new T-shirts in the third drawer, along with some underwear and socks, also white tennis shoes. I hope these will work for you until you feel like going shopping. What else do you need?”
Tavia sat in a daze. She’d never owned this much clothing in her life, and certainly not expensive clothes like these. “I can’t—take all these—things.”
Annie gave her a puzzled frown. “Of course you can. Adam wanted you to be a part of our family. I loved getting these things for you.”
“Too—much.”
“Too much?” Annie gave Tavia a teasing smile. “I thought young women never had enough clothes. I know that’s the way I was when I was your age.” Her face took on a melancholy look. “It gives us joy to do things for you, Jewel. Don’t deprive us of that pleasure. Doing things for you is like doing things for Adam. James and I both need that. It’s therapy for us.”
Tavia didn’t have a response. What could she say?
“James and I are going to run to the grocery store and pick up some things from the cleaners. He never gets the right things, even if I give him a list. Will you be all right here by yourself?”
Tavia nodded.
“Why don’t you stay in bed and rest until we get back. The housekeeper is off today, so I put a kettle of soup on to simmer. We’ll have an early lunch and, when you’re up to it, we’ll show you the rest of the house.”
“I’ll be fine,” Tavia whispered. “Don’t—don’t worry about me.”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t bother about dressing today. You’re still much too weak. Just stay in your gown and robe, okay?” Annie kissed her cheek again, then made her way out the door.
Tavia lay back against the pillow and pulled the quilt up over her. The late-morning sun was filtering into the windows through the stately pines surrounding the house, making lacy patterns dance on the wall. The last thing Tavia remembered before drifting off to sleep was the sound of James’s car pulling out of the driveway.
When she awoke nearly two hours later, according to the clock on the night table, she was immediately treated to a wonderful aroma.
“Oh, good, you’re awake. I was just coming to check on you. You’ve got company.”
Tavia narrowed her eyes and stared at Annie, her heart racing. “Company?” Who would be coming to see her? Only Beck and Dr. Stevens knew she was here, and Dr. Stevens certainly wouldn’t be making a house call. It had to be Beck.