Page 4 of Jaime's Story
Mom didn’t seem to be paying attention to me, and Jeffery’s has been on Maia since we sat down. His eyes darken as he looks up at the man with Dad and I tilt my head towards Jeffery, lifting a brow at Jillian who nods, a little hint of a smile on her lips saying she sees it too.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal,” the man states as Dad keeps heading towards Mom.
“You didn’t,” Mom replies nodding to a chair. “There’s plenty if you’re hungry.”
“I couldn’t…”
“Cold eggs are crap. Let Maia eat first, then you can do whatever you need to keep her safe,” Jeffery says stopping his argument.
I hear Jillian’s little indrawn breath next to me and completely understand. I mean, holy cow, he sounded so much like Dad and Jesse just now it’s not funny.
“If you’re sure?” the man says and Mom nods as Dad slips onto a seat next to her, leaving the newcomer with the open space next to me.
“This is Detective Bryan Taylor,” Dad says in introduction when he’s settled in with us. “I don’t think you’ve met our three youngest yet.”
“No,” he agrees after swallowing a bite and god, it shouldn’t make my pulse race to watch his Adam’s apple move but it so does. “I’ve met Jesse, Jasmine, and Jamison of course, then Johnnie and Jude when I stopped by the office to let Jamison know that Lieutenant Commander Dennis was refused bail.”
“You know Jasmine?” Jillian asks and I’m so glad that she’s more outgoing because I really want to know the answer to that too.
“Aaron sent Bryan over to Adam’s to help with the Tina situation,” Dad answers for him and my insides are seriously dancing to hear that. Not that my sister ever had to deal with that crazy woman and her obsession with Adam’s niece he’s guardian of, but that it meant he’d never dated her.
Jillian asks little questions in between finishing our food, letting me learn that Bryan was the detective that went out to get a statement from Natalie, to help her file a restraining order against her ex, when she was at her brother’s cabin this summer. Jamison found Natalie there and never let her go. They got married at the beginning of August, just a couple months after they met.
Even seeing them together, knowing they’re perfect for each other, and how quickly my family tends to get married, I never quite understood how they could do it until now. Just being near Bryan makes me feel alive and I seriously want to hold onto it for a long, long time.
When we’re finished, I stay with Jillian and clean up the kitchen while Jeffery seems to be stewing in his seat. I shake my head as Jillian’s eyes dance with glee and take pity on my brother. Well, maybe not pity since what I’m about to tell him still isn’t going to comfort him that much.
“She’s seventeen,” I tell him causally, “so it shouldn’t be that difficult for Mom and Dad to get guardianship and a judge to agree she doesn’t have to go back to her parents. She’ll be eighteen in June so it’s not even a whole year.”
He lets out a little grunt before going back to stewing and Jillian gives me a nudge out the door, laughing softly when we’re out of his view. “Oh boy this is going to be fun.”
“He’s going to fight it tooth and nail,” I agree, “especially since she’s seventeen.”
“Yeah but it’ll give him time to get to know her so that’s actually in their favor really. Now about you and the hunky detective…”
My jaw tightens hearing her call him hunky and I lift a brow her way in annoyance.
“Easy girl. He’s all yours. I mean seriously, he’s here for whatever’s going on with Maia, but his eyes were focused on you while we were eating,” she adds, and I blush a bit, but I can’t help it. I’ve never felt like this in my life, and I don’t know how to act. “Sounds like they’re done. Go, see if you can actually talk to him now that you don’t have food you might choke on.”
She gives me a little push towards the front of the house, and I head that way, acting like I was headed for the stairs and not wanting to see who was coming out of the room.
“Ah Jillian, why don’t you show Maia up to Jackie’s old room?” Mom suggests giving her a gentle nudge our way. Jillian would hate to hear that she’s more like Mom than I probably am, but she’s definitely got more Dad in her than Jackie who is all Mom for sure does to balance her out.
“Jaime can show you out in case you have any questions for her,” Mom adds to Bryan and all I can do is silently say ‘thank you Mom’ for that. “I’m going to see if Jeffery’s staying the night and Dad’s on the phone with Doug.”
“Sure thing Mom,” Jillian easily agrees, and I nod, moving up to Bryan before heading out into the hallway that leads to the front door.
“I don’t know if I can really add anything other than finding Maia behind my office building,” I tell him as we stop at the door. “I knew it was supposed to storm, get worse overnight and didn’t want to leave her out there by herself.”
“I’m glad you didn’t. Her stepfather sounds like a piece of work so I’m happy to help keep her away from him. Filing the report will also protect your family from anything they might try, so having your statement that you found Maia, never met her until tonight in it will help. Based on what Maia told me, I think I have it all down and can stop by tomorrow to get her signature on the file. If I can have your number, I’ll call if I need any clarifications and then to have a time for you to sign a statement?”
“Sure,” I agree, writing down my number on his notepad. My heart races when our fingers touch as he takes it back and I so want to say a million things, but nothing comes out.
“This is my card,” he says surprising me as he pulls a business card from the front of the notepad. “If there’s anything else you think we should add to the statement or if you need anything, just give me a call. I’ll do whatever I can to help keep you…and Maia, safe,” he adds after the tiniest pause, and oh god, my heart’s beating so fast I swear it’s going to come out of my chest. It steals all my breath and all I can do is nod as he reaches for the door handle.
“Thank you,” I fight to get out giving him a smile, his card safe in my hand.
“I’ll talk to you soon, Jaime,” he states returning the smile and I float all the way up to bed savoring it. Picturing it as my eyes close for his kiss that I’m desperate for now. No one else could possibly compare to him.