Chapter 14

Annie finished up cleaning the kitchen, but Jack still hadn’t returned from his walk. There were plenty of hours of daylight and even the sun decided to make an appearance, easing her mind some. She got the kids settled into playing while she made several phone calls to friends and family about a holiday party. Every time she contacted someone, they wanted to know first how he was doing, and then what could they bring to the party. By the time she’d finished making the last call, she had a confirmed list of twenty. Hopefully, that would put a smile on Jack’s face.

Four hours went by, and now she began to worry. Temperatures were dropping, and in a couple more hours, dusk would be knocking on the door. She tried to recall if he grabbed a coat before rushing out. Pacing the floors, peering out windows, she finally couldn’t wait any longer. Bundling up the children, she headed outside.

Pulling the wagon around the property, pretending they were hunting for pine cones, Annie kept one eye out for Jack. As they explored the grounds, stopping only to pick up pine cones, she finally spotted him sitting on a stump, looking out toward the marsh side of their property.

He had to have heard Carolina laughing and Ashton calling his name, but he didn’t turn around. She pulled the wagon up close, letting the lever fall to the ground.

“Jack.”

“Daddy.”

“Jack. Please.”

“It’s so pretty out here, isn’t it?” he said calmly.

Annie rushed to his side, touching his arm softly. “You’re scaring me, Jack,” she whispered.

“I’m scaring myself,” he said, then chuckled.

“It’s not funny. I love you. We love you.” She choked up.

“I’m going to start seeing the therapist again,” he announced.

“Okay. That’s good. Whatever you need,” she said.

The children were sitting in the wagon, not moving an inch. It broke her heart they were going through this too. “Would it be all right for me to go to the therapist with you?”

“I’d like that,” he said, lacing his arm with hers.

“The children are excited about Christmas. I had an idea. Let’s go find a tree. We’ll go to our favorite tree farm and pick out the best tree ever. Just like old times. It’ll be fun.”

He turned his neck toward her, his eyes watering. “I’d like that. Lights and ornaments, with the house decorated, always makes me feel good inside.”

Jack pulled the wagon back home while Annie brought up the rear. He laughed with the kids, even jogged a little, giving them a thrill as they went over bumps along the path. When they arrived back at Sweet Magnolia, the house he built with his bare hands, they ascended the stairs together, holding hands, while Ashton ran ahead. Carolina rested on Annie’s hip, snuggling against her.

“I made the phone calls. We have twenty confirmed for the party on Christmas Eve.”

“Great. Let’s go get that tree, then we can plan the menu. Maybe you could help me chop some wood, too, while Grandmother and Auntie watch the kiddos. You know, more bonding time with them.” Jack let out a small, fun-loving chuckle and winked.

His chuckle made her smile. “Sure thing. Maybe Grandmother and Auntie would like to go get the tree with us. Remember last year, they were all about getting the Charlie Brown tree for their cottage.”

Annie had heard of people turning over a new leaf, but so quickly? Was this just another short-lived attempt to make her think he was all right, and that suddenly he was learning to live with his disability? She wanted to believe so.

As Annie had suspected, Grandmother and Auntie were excited about tree shopping. They headed to a place they regularly went to. A small gift store filled with one-of-a-kind ornaments, many unique to the Lowcountry, as well as homemade baked goodies like fudge, pecan turtles, and bags of saltwater taffy adorning the shelves. Ashton’s eyes widened when he saw the pastel candies tied with colorful ribbons. Annie had decided if he were good during the hunt for the perfect tree, she’d let him pick out some candy and an ornament for the tree.

Jack set off with Ashton, leaving the girls behind. Annie didn’t care; she knew they’d eventually catch up.

“Mommy, come here,” Ashton yelled, his voice ricocheting.

Annie picked up her pace a bit but didn’t want to leave Grandmother and Auntie too far behind. She could hear them huffing and puffing as it was. She realized it was an effort for them to walk this far, so she slowed it back down a notch.

“Don’t wait for us. We’ll get there eventually,” Grandmother said, her voice catching in between breaths.

Annie made it to the area where Jack and Ashton were. The trees were already cut and tagged, leaning up against a wooden fence. Twirling one around for Annie to inspect, she noticed he was also using his left arm to help guide the tree around.

“I like that one. Seems pretty full, has a nice place to put the star on top. Yes, let’s get that one.”

Jack held the tree firmly, stomping the trunk on the ground and giving it a good shake. A pine cone came flying off, getting Ashton’s attention and lighting up his entire face.

“For our bowl,” he said, picking it up and examining it closely.

“Yes, and it’s a nice one too.”

“Here you are,” Auntie Patty said, coming from the path.

“We found the perfect tree,” Jack said, holding it out proudly.

“And it didn’t take me looking at several. This was the first one he showed me.” Annie cocked her head, her mouth turning up at the corners as she lifted her brows.

“Help us find the perfect tree,” Grandmother said, grasping Ashton’s hand.

The three of them took off among the trees, leaving Jack and Annie behind.

“Annie, I wanted to take a moment while we’re alone.”

Annie’s puzzled look turned worried.

“No, everything is all right. I just wanted to tell you I love you with all of my heart.”

“I love you too,” she said, taking her time to get the words out.

“I needed a swift kick in the pants, and you gave it to me. I can’t sit around and feel sorry for myself. I have a family to feed.”

“Jack—”

He held up a finger. “Let me finish.”

She nodded.

“It’s going to be a bit tight until I can figure some things out. I know you’ve been on the fence about going back to work at the bakery. If you still want to do that, go ahead. I’ll stay home with the kids. When I have a doctor or therapist appointment, I’ll ask your grandmother or auntie to help me out, or my mom. She’s offered countless times. I want to spend more time with the children anyway, so this works…that is, if you want to go back to work?”

“Jack, I don’t know what to say.”

“Just think about it. I know you miss Sweet Indulgence, and I haven’t exactly been husband of the year. Going back and rolling up your sleeves will do you good. And, it will give me time with the children.” He shrugged.

Ashton came running and smashed into Jack’s legs. “Come quick. Grandmother hurt.”

Jack let the tree fall behind him and took off running in the direction Ashton had come. Grabbing Ashton’s hand, Annie braced Carolina against her side and took off after Jack. The happy moment she’d just shared with Jack drifted away, and guilty thoughts imploded her brain, wondering if the tree finding trip was too much for her elderly family members.

As Annie rounded a corner, she saw Jack bending over and helping Grandmother up. Auntie was laughing hysterically. This didn’t seem like an emergency. Grandmother brushed off her pants and shook her head. “I’m such a klutz.”

“What happened? Are you hurt?” Annie asked, eyeing Grandmother up and down.

“Just my pride. Ow, and maybe this hip,” she said, rubbing it.

“Grandmother. What happened?” Annie demanded.

“She wanted that little tree over there,” Auntie Patty said, pointing. “She was being too hardheaded to wait for you guys and decided to go in after it. She lost her balance, and in she went, face first.”

“Thanks for wounding my pride again,” Lilly said, picking out a piece of pine straw from her mouth.

“Are you sure you’re all right? Maybe we should go get an X-ray or something,” Jack said, looking for approval from Annie.

Grandmother took a step and winced. All eyes were on her. She took another, this time crying out.

“That’s it. We’re headed to the hospital to get that hip checked,” Annie said.

“I’ll go get the car and bring it down the road here.”

Jack took off running, leaving them to wait. Soon he brought the car and loaded them all up.

“What about our Christmas tree,” Ashton asked, looking back as they drove away.

“We’ll have to get it later, sweetie,” Annie said, trying to comfort him.

“I’ve ruined everything,” Lilly said.

“No, you didn’t. It’s going to be fine,” Annie said.

“I’ll tell you one thing, you gave me a laugh that I won’t soon forget,” Patty said, trying to conceal her chuckle.

“Oh, you,” Lilly said, clearly irritated with her sister. “I’m glad I entertained you.”

Jack put the pedal to the metal and got them to the hospital. A feeling of nausea overcame her when she stepped into the emergency room. The same one she visited when Jack got hurt. All the feelings of uncertainty came rushing in. She took a few breaths to ward off another fainting spell. The smells of disinfectant were powerful, and it didn’t help to settle her feeling of nausea. They got Grandmother in quickly to see a doctor and get an X-ray.

Now they’d wait for the results.

“Your grandmother is a very lucky woman. It’s not fractured, just bruised,” the doctor said.

“Great! Bruised like my ego,” Grandmother said.

“I want you to ice it, put heat on it, and take the pain pills. You should be back to yourself in a week or two. As you know, the older we get, the more time it takes to heal.”

She waved him off while shuffling to the door. “It will take more than a face-plant with a Christmas tree to bedridden me.”

“Hold up. Nurse Palmer, please get us a wheelchair. Mrs. McPherson is ready to go home.”

Grandmother started to argue with the nice doctor but realized it was a bad idea, and she’d not win the argument. So as humbly as she could, she thanked the doctor and waited for the wheelchair.