7

 

“Come on, Misty…you can do it.” Cool water, a soothing touch. “Come on, open those huge baby blues.”

She wanted to sleep, to remain in the safe cocoon of her unconscious. But he was jostling her.

Jack was shaking her.

“You’re scaring me, Misty.” His breath, warm and minty, caressed her cheek. “In about two seconds I’m going to scoop you up and carry you to the car for a visit to the emergency room.”

“No.” She struggled to sit up, but something was on her chest—Lucky. Gently, she nudged him aside and heard his paws hit the floor before he scampered off.

“That’s one persistent cat.” Jack’s voice swirled up. “Stood sentinel here the whole time, watching.”

“He’s a smart cat.” Misty’s head felt like it was full of Jell-O. “Give me some room. It hurts to breathe.”

“Easy.” Jack took a slight step back. “You bumped your head on the counter when you went down.” He swept hair from her forehead, placed a cool cloth along her brow before running his fingers along the side of her head. She winced when he hit a tender spot. “I’ve never seen you faint.”

“You’ve never disappeared for six years, and then, out of the blue, come back.”

“Yeah right.” He paused. “How bad does it hurt?”

“My head?” With great difficulty, Misty managed to pry open her eyes. His face, still scruffy with the unfamiliar beard, came into focus. “Or my heart?”

“Your head—for now.” Jack’s lips curled into a half-grin. “We’ll get to your heart later.”

“I’m OK. Just give me a minute.” She clenched her teeth, scanning the room. Her gaze caught the time on the DVD player’s digital clock. “Oh! I have to get Allie. She’s done at lunch today—teacher work day.”

“You’re not going anywhere, Misty.” Jack pressed a hand to her shoulder, forcing her to lie back again. “You’re in no condition to drive.”

“I promised I’d pick up Ralph, too.”

“Ralph?”

“I don’t have time to explain. Just move, please.” Misty swung her legs over the edge of the couch and lifted her head from the pillow Jack had tucked beneath her neck. The room swayed, and she fought a wave of nausea. “Ugh.”

“Easy.” Jack settled in beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Just relax a minute. Get your bearings. Allie’s fine. Your mom went to pick her up.”

Misty drew a breath, waited for her vision to clear. “Mom? But how did she know?”

Jack waggled his cell phone. “I gave her a call.”

“Oh, no. You shouldn’t have done that.” Misty scooted away from him, to the far end of the couch. “She’ll be worried about me—and shocked you’re here.”

“She knows I’m here.” He watched as she nudged to her feet and took a tentative step, clinging to the arm of the couch. “I stopped there last night—I mean early this morning—before I came here.”

“Trying to butter her up, get your hooks into me again?”

“My hooks?” He shook his head, whistling. “Wow, haven’t you become the cynical one?”

“Comes with the territory.” Misty released the arm of the couch, took a step toward the window. The storm had passed, and sunshine streaming through the window hurt her eyes. How long had she been out?

“I didn’t know where to find you, so I tried there first.”

“Oh.” The nausea faded; her vision cleared.

“I called Mimi right after you passed out.” He crossed the room to hand her a glass of water. “I think you were more tired than anything. How long has it been since you’ve had a decent night’s sleep?”

“I’m elbow deep in a project.” Misty drew a long sip of water and set the glass down on the cluttered coffee table. “There’s no time to sleep.”

“I see.” But Jack’s narrowed gaze said, clearly he didn’t. “Anyway, Mimi offered to get Allie while I took care of things here.”

“Oh, you’ve taken care of things, all right.”

“Just give me a chance, Misty. I deserve that much, don’t you think?”

“I think it doesn’t really matter what I think.” She shook her head, and even that slight movement cost her. She gritted her teeth, spoke through clenched lips. “Look, Jack, what matters is what Allie thinks.”

A car door slammed in the drive. Misty’s nerves chilled to ice as her belly welled with dread.

“Well,” Jack turned toward the door. “I guess we’re about to find out.”

 

****

 

“Mama, I’ve got Ralph!” Allie’s voice echoed through the open window as her shoes clattered up the stairs and over the porch planks. “Look, Mama. Grandma’s carrying his playhouse.”

She raced through the door, took one look at Jack, and skidded across the wood floor before she came to a stop at Jack’s feet.

She gazed up, puzzled, and then threw her arms around his thighs, squeezing tight. “Daddy!”

Tears welled in Jack’s eyes. Allie knew him, but how?

She pressed her cheek to his legs. “You came from ’fornia—to see me?”

She knew that, too? Jack glanced at Misty, who nodded slightly, clearly resigned to the Powers that Be. He fell to his knees and gathered Allie close. She smelled of strawberries and sunshine and bubble gum. “Yes, I came to see you, princess.”

“You have a beard.” She smiled and stroked the hair on his cheek, coaxing tears to his eyes. “It tickles. I didn’t see it in the picture Mama gave me.”

“Your mom gave you a picture of me?”

“Uh huh. For my family tree.”

Her giggles made the tears spill over. Jack couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried.

The night I drove away from Mill’s Landing—and Misty. The tears came with a vengeance then.

Jack stood, gathering Allie into his arms. He held her tight, trembling. “Such a pretty girl. You look like your mama.”

“Why are you crying, Daddy?” Allie’s sweet voice questioned as she placed one small hand on his scruffy cheek. “Do you have to go away again?”

 

****

 

The words stabbed Misty. Of course, Jack had to leave again—maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually. Where would that leave Allie?

Where would that leave her? What now?

Misty felt as if the earth’s axis had shifted ninety degrees. Her belly listed, and the living room walls seemed to close in.

“Are you OK, sweetheart?” Misty’s mom stepped through the doorway, a huge plastic enclosure in her arms. Ralph, wedged in a tunnel, peered at them, his tiny, pink nose twitching.

“I’m…” Misty couldn’t find words to describe what she was feeling. There weren’t any. It was…beyond impossible.

“Let me take that.” Jack set Allie on the ground and stepped forward to grab the cage. “It looks heavy.”

“That’s Ralph, Daddy.” Allie tapped the plastic gently and waved to the long-haired rodent. “He’s going to stay here this weekend. I have to play with him and feed him carrots and celery and maybe some lettuce, too.”

“Sounds like a tall order. Where would you like me to put him?”

“In my room, away from Lucky.” Allie’s voice darkened and she covered her mouth, finishing in a whisper as Lucky, perched on the arm of the couch, looked on. “Mama thinks the cat will make Ralph a snack.”

“I see.” Jack nodded. “And where is your room?”

“I’ll show you.” Allie grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and tugged. “Come with me.”

The scent of cedar wood shavings wafted as Allie and Jack, together, crossed by on their way down the hall. Misty pressed a fist to her mouth as she watched, helpless to stop the waterfall of emotions that coursed through her.

Their gait held the same swagger, and Jack reached for Allie’s hand as they turned the corner.

“It’s a miracle, isn’t it?” Misty’s mom settled in the arm chair.

“I’d hardly call it that, Mom.” Misty crossed the room as Allie’s giggles drifted down the hall. “It’s a shock…a nightmare…an abomination of justice.”

“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

“Not at all.”

“How’s your head?”

“I’ll live.”

“Do you need anything?”

“Where should I start?”

“In that case…” Her mom rose, gathering her purse in her hands, and stepped over to kiss Misty’s cheek. “I guess I’d better skedaddle and give you two some space to start working this out.”

“Don’t go, Mom.”

“It’s for the best, Misty.”

“I need you.”

“No you don’t. You need to talk to Jack.”

“I don’t want to talk to him.”

“Regardless…” She winked and turned toward the door. “I’ll be praying for all of you. Keep an open mind, sweetheart…and an open heart.”