Page 16 of Jaime's Story
“It’s Mom’s mandatory dinner this week.”
“I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes, princess. I hoped she’d be there so she wouldn’t be alone when she finds out,” he says and that warms my heart immensely despite the fact that his news is likely to devastate her.
“Do you want me to…”
“No, princess,” he says stopping me from offering to pull her aside to let her know. “That’s my job. I won’t put that burden on you.”
“I’m sorry it’s on you,” I whisper as Mom comes out of the room, her brows furling my way, and I know she can read the look on my face. “I’ll see you when you get here.”
“It won’t be long,” he promises, and I hang up, looking to Mom as she comes over to me.
“What’s wrong, baby? Who was that?”
“Bryan…he was working and either got called out to a crash or something,” I tell her and her brows furl further as she looks up at me. “He called me to see if Jennie was here…”
“Oh no,” Mom whispers, and I nod, hugging her tight while I try to stop the tears from falling again. Zack just turned fifteen last month. Troy’s been part of the family for almost sixteen years. A friend of Ethan’s for even longer than that.
“What’s going on, baby girl?” we hear a minute later, and I glance up at Dad as he moves over to us faster than someone else his age might. “Jaime, what’s wrong, sweetie? Is it Bryan? Did he upset you? Is that why he hasn’t been by lately?”
I slip into his hold, drinking in his hug before shaking my head as Mom slips up to us.
“He’s on his way here though, it’s work related,” Mom adds stopping the slight smile that began to slip onto his lips from forming.
“For what?” he asks, his eyes roaming over my face again for the answer.
“He’s been working traffic incidents the last two weeks, covering for the night shift detective who was injured in a wreck.”
“Someone you know was hurt in one tonight?” Dad asks and I drag in a deep breath.
“He was looking for Jennie, knew about Mom’s dinners and wanted to know if she was here or at home,” I answer him.
“Damn it,” he curses, hugging me and Mom tightly once more. “He’s still coming to tell her even though you know?”
“He said it was his job,” I tell him with a nod, and he gives me a light smile although it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“He’s a good man,” Dad says, and I nod again, as he studies my face. “But if he upsets you the way you have been the last two weeks again, he and I are going to have to have a talk.”
“Why would you think he upset me and I’m not just miserable that he’s been working nights lately?” I ask curiously.
“Because I know you, sweetheart. You and Jackie are my quiet girls, but when you’re upset or hurting, it shows in your eyes. So whatever it was, he better fix it, or I’ll fix him,” Dad warns, and it pulls a little chuckle from me as I smile for real. Maybe not as bright as it might have been before learning the reason Bryan’s on his way here, but it’s still real.
“Right now, I’m going to go in and sit with your sister. I won’t tell her, but I won’t let her learn this without her momma with her,” Mom says, and Dad gives her a tight hug, letting her head into the room.
Dad and I stay in the hall until we see the car come up the drive, and I meet Bryan at the door, nearly losing it when he wraps me up in a tight hug. He’s wearing a police jacket that reflects light and all I can think is that I’m so glad nothing happened to him out there tonight.
“I’ve missed you, princess,” Bryan whispers against my ear and I cling tighter to him for another moment.
“I’ve missed you too,” I tell him as I pull back, seeing tiredness in his face that makes me hurt worse.
“Mr. Cartwright,” Bryan says and I almost giggle at the formality, but I can’t quite work up the heart to make the noise.
“It’s Jake, Bryan,” he says shaking his hand as we move over to him, his arm around my waist still and I love it. “Jaime told her mom and me what’s going on. It’s a damned shame but if anyone were to have to bring us this news, I’d rather it be you than someone else.”
“Me too,” Bryan states, before looking to me with a gentle smile. “I’ll find you before I have to leave.”
“There’s not going to be an easy way to break this news, son,” Dad says, pulling Bryan’s attention back up to him. “It’ll be better to do it all at once. Troy’s been part of the family too long to not tell everyone now. His parents died five years ago, so there’s no one on his side left.”
“Alright,” Bryan agrees, and Dad leads us towards the room where the majority of the family is. The room runs the length of the house when all of the doors are open like they are now, and it’s a relief to see that Zack and the others are still inside and not out in the game room.