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“Well, I’m hoping that your arrival will put an end to his being alone so much. It’s not good for him. I’ve only been staying here for a few days. Until then, he lived in this great big old house all by himself. Can you imagine that?”
Yes, Joanna could imagine that. But she smiled and shook her head. There wasn’t much point in defending Jake. He enjoyed solitude, whether Ina understood that or not. “So, that’s the dining room?”
“Yes,” Ina responded, looking into the adjoining room. But Dr. Barnes prefers to eat in the kitchen usually. Let’s go upstairs so I can show you your room.”
They climbed the staircase together. “That’s yours there to the left,” Ina explained when they reached the top. “Mine is right across the hallway. Aunt Mae is in that room down on the right, and the fourth is a guest room. Dr. Barnes has the master bedroom, which is downstairs next to the study.
“Let me put these suitcases in here, then I’ll go see Aunt Mae.” Joanna stepped inside the door to her room and stopped. Exquisite was the only word that came to mind. She looked from the delicate furniture fashioned from honey-colored oak to the soft, pale colors of the wallpaper with matching curtains and bedspread. Realistic oil paintings of Victorian gardens and English cottages hung over two dressers. In the far corner near a window, there was an overstuffed chair covered in tapestrylike fabric similar to the paintings.
“Well, do you like it?” Ina asked.
“It’s wonderful. Amazing,” Joanna replied, stunned to find such lavish surroundings. Several times during her unsettled childhood, she had walked into a new home, a new bedroom—but nothing as lovely as this had ever awaited her.
“I told Dr. Barnes you would. I helped with the decorating,” Ina answered with a grin. “Now, let’s get you down the hallway to see your aunt.”
And down the hallway they went. Joanna found her aunt awake, with a little more color in her face than the last time she’d seen her and very happy to see her niece again.
It was much later that afternoon before Joanna unpacked her clothes and then eased into the ivory porcelain tub for a bath. She leaned her head back, soaking her hair as she sank into the vanilla-scented bubbles. For the first time in weeks, she didn’t rush through her bath to hurry over to the hospital, to work at the day care, to class…wherever. Instead, she allowed herself to enjoy the fragrant warmth of the water for as long as she wanted—a luxury of time Jake had provided. Her eyes flew open at the thought. Bringing Mae here helped Joanna as much as it helped Mae. Jake had known that. How was she supposed to stop caring about a man like that?
Jake had a briefcase in his hand, and his head was down when he entered the house many hours later. He seemed unaware of Joanna’s presence as she sat silently in the chair in the corner of the darkened living room.
“Hello, Jake,” she said softly, but if he was surprised, he did not show it.
The corners of his mouth lifted in a generous smile as he studied her for a moment before answering. “I didn’t think you’d still be awake. It’s after midnight.” He loosened his necktie before dropping his briefcase and jacket into a nearby chair.
“I wanted to see you before I went to sleep.” Her voice wavered, and she paused for a moment. “I want to thank you.”
He tilted his head in unspoken question as he approached her.
“I mean, for bringing Mae here, for my plane ticket, for hiring Ina to stay here. For all the inconvenience you’re willing to put up with to help Aunt Mae, to help me. I think it’s rather noble of you.”
“Noble?” His laugh was gentle. “I doubt that’s the right word, but thank you for the thought.”
“And the bedroom, it’s beautiful but unnecessary.”
“It needed to be remodeled,” he said. “This seemed liked a good time to take care of it.”
“And the paintings, Jake…they’re lovely.”
He nodded with a hint of satisfaction tugging at one corner of his mouth. “I bought those a long time ago.” They reminded me of you, he almost added, but decided it was better left unsaid. He slid a hand into his pocket and looked down at the carpet for a moment trying to sort out what he was feeling from what he could say. “Ina selected most of the furnishings. I asked her to make your room resemble one you’d find if you could see into a window of one of those English cottages.”
Joanna swallowed at the lump that rose in her throat. “And…it does….” An instant of pain squeezed her heart.
Jake was standing beside her now, and Joanna had to tilt her head back slightly to look up at him. Her heart pounded mercilessly within her. She’d come here to get over this man, she reminded herself. Not to fall hopelessly in love with him.
Jake knew they needed a change of conversation before nostalgia overtook their emotions. “I apologize for not picking you up at the airport this afternoon, Jo. I’d intended to be there.”
“It’s all right. Ina told me you were delayed at the hospital.”
“Yes,” he replied. “You’ll see that the cancellation of personal plans is a frequent and unfortunate consequence of being in the medical profession.” His mouth slanted into a smile that softened the negative quality of his comment.
Joanna smiled back. “I had a chance to get acquainted with Ina. She’s a sweet lady.”
“I knew you’d like her.” Jake placed a hand against the back of the chair as he studied the dark eyes that viewed him—gentle eyes he’d never forget, not even when Joanna was gone.
Joanna shifted nervously in her seat when Jake’s silence prolonged the awkward moment. “I—I’m glad Ina’s here, but I’m sorry that you had to go to the expense of hiring live-in help because of me.”
Jake gave a dismissive shrug. “It’s no problem. Ina already works here on a part-time basis. Turning this into a live-in position temporarily was a simple matter, and I think she likes it.”
“But the costs—”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jake told her. “Ina will help you settle in. She attends services at a church just up the road a few miles. I’m sure she’d like it if you went with her while you’re here. She already has plans to involve you in a children’s Sunday school class.”
“She didn’t mention that to me. I’ll have to ask her about it,” Joanna responded as she rose from the living room chair and smoothed the folds from her plum-colored sweater.
“I doubt you’ll need to ask Ina very many questions. You’ll find she volunteers information quite freely,” Jake said, his smile widening.
Joanna gave a soft laugh. “Ina does seem to enjoy talking.”
“Yes, she does,” he agreed. “Did she give you the credit cards?”
“Yes, but I don’t want them, Jake. You’ve paid for my ticket, my coat and boots, and you’re letting me stay here to be with Aunt Mae. I want to be able to pay you back and you’ve done so much already—”
“No arguments, Jo.” He cut off her protest as they walked together toward the staircase. “Buy whatever you need. I trust your judgment.”
“But the car, Jake. Ina gave me the keys to that blue car and told me it’s mine to use while I’m here. I can’t accept that.”
“It’s a rental. When you leave, I’ll send it back. You’ll need transportation while you’re here and, in case you haven’t noticed, there aren’t any bus stops out here in the country.”
“I’m going to find some temporary work while I’m here so I can repay at least part of the money.” Joanna stood at the foot of the stairs, looking up into smoky gray eyes that showed no hint of the answers she was seeking.
“There’s no need. Don’t worry about it,” Jake assured her before an uncomfortable stillness fell between them.
“Aunt Mae seemed to be doing very well today,” Joanna said. “She’s better than she was in the hospital.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “The cardiologist saw her yesterday. He changed her medication. He will come by the house tomorrow to check on her.”
“I think you may have saved her life by bringing her here,” Joanna admitted the thought that had awed her. How much Jake had been willing to give up to help Mae.
“I want her to have the best chance she can.” Jake rubbed a hand against the muscles in the back of his neck. “Did Mae ever tell you how much she loves Indiana farmland?” he asked, with a gentle laugh. “Years ago she told me stories about growing up around here. I think that’s why she liked me so much that first time we met at the clinic. She found out I was from this part of the country, and that was all it took.”
Joanna’s laugh was soft. “No, she’d have loved you even if you were city born and bred. You’re the son she always wanted and never had.”
“Maybe,” Jake replied, “But either way, I’m grateful. She’s a pleasure to know.”
“Yes, she is,” she agreed before another awkward silence had to be chased away. “You have a beautiful home, Jake. Ina showed me around.”
“It was my father’s.” His words were suddenly quiet, solemn. The house had belonged to his mother, too, for a few years. Before she’d walked out on them. But he wouldn’t acknowledge it. Not to Joanna, barely even to himself. He could hardly remember the woman whose absence had left more of an imprint on his life than her brief presence ever did. But that was enough reflection on unpleasant memories for one night. What had they been discussing? The house, he recalled. “This place is pretty much the way my father left it.” Except for Joanna’s room.
“It’s very…picturesque,” she replied, and he looked away from her, down to the dark wood of the banister. She stopped talking, sensing his mood change. Had she managed to say something wrong already? During their first conversation? “I—I appreciate everything you’re doing for Aunt Mae and for me,” she offered in a gentle voice.
Jake met her gaze, his eyes guarded again. Unreadable. “I know,” he replied. “But you’ll need to rely on Ina, not me. I’m not going to be here much.” He’d make sure of it. He’d decided that the moment he’d asked her to come.
Joanna nodded her head. “I’ll sit with Aunt Mae as much as I can so you can cut down on the expense of hired help.”
“That’s not necessary. There’s a steady stream of caretakers in and out of here,” he answered. “Mae just needs you around for moral support, I think. And comfort. I realize you two are very close.”
“She’s been good to me,” Joanna responded, placing her hands on the smooth wood railing. “She accepted me as family from the moment we met. Unconditional love. After my difficult childhood years, I needed that.”
Jake gave a brief nod, not trusting himself to speak. The subject of her troubled past was not a good one to embark on. It brought too many painful emotions to the forefront that he wasn’t capable of dealing with tonight. It would make Joanna sad, and he couldn’t bear to see her sad again. Even if it wasn’t his fault, this time.
“Well…” she began hesitantly, “I guess I’ll say good night.”
“Good night, Jo,” Jake responded as he watched her turn and make her way up the staircase to the second story of this house. His house. In the two years he’d lived here alone, he couldn’t count the times he’d wondered how it would be to have her here, in his home, with him. Now, here she was, against his better judgment. And on this first night, it was proving to be as impossible as he’d suspected it would be. Jake shook his head in a mixture of frustration and sadness. There could be no future for them together; nothing had happened to change that. Now, all he had to do was stop wanting it…wanting her.
Chapter Three
“W e could use you for however many weeks you’re available, Miss Meccord. Could you start tomorrow?” the administrator of Smithfield Children’s Home asked at the end of an extensive interview.
“Yes, definitely,” Joanna replied. “I certainly can.”
“Fine. Come in around four o’clock so you can have dinner with us and meet the children.”
Joanna had the urge to hug the man, but he looked so dignified sitting behind his large oak desk, she decided against it. “Yes, I’ll be here. Thank you, sir.”
“Glad to have you on board.” The gray-haired gentleman stood up, extending a hand to Joanna. “We’ll be expecting you tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.” Joanna shook his hand before finding her way to the personnel office where she picked up the necessary forms. Then she headed for her rental car. A part-time temporary job. She couldn’t wait to share the news with Ina, and thank her for her help in getting this position.
Pulling into the driveway, Joanna saw Jake’s silver sports car parked next to the garage. She gathered up the paperwork, slid her purse over her shoulder and hurried through the crisp wintry air toward the house. She pushed open the front door and stepped into a hallway filled with the aroma of a bakery. It smelled wonderful. Like home. Except, not any home Joanna could actually remember.
“Ina?”
“In the kitchen, dear,” Ina called from the far end of the house.
Dropping her car keys into her small handbag, Joanna hung her coat in the closet and headed toward the kitchen. “Hi!”
“Hello,” they greeted her. Jake sat at the table with a half-eaten slice of peach pie in front of him and the morning newspaper in his hands.
“Want a piece of pie?” Ina asked. “Freshly baked.”
“Not right now, but thanks. It looks delicious,” Joanna responded. She glanced toward Jake and was surprised to see him wearing a casual navy shirt and jeans. And glasses. “I’ve never seen you wear glasses,” she commented. She liked the look.
“That’s because we haven’t been around each other much for the past two years,” he replied as he looked up from his paper.
“How did your interview go?” Ina asked, wiping her hands on a dishtowel.
“Great!” Joanna exclaimed. “I got the job!”
Ina opened her arms, enveloping Joanna in a big hug. “That’s wonderful, dear. I’m so happy for you!”
“What job?” Jake asked with obvious surprise. “You haven’t been here more than forty-eight hours.”
“I know, but Ina told me about Smithfield Children’s Home. She knows several people who work there, and she made a few calls. They needed some temporary help to work with the children…someone with a social work background. And I got the job! I can’t wait to tell Aunt Mae.”
But the idea didn’t seem to please Jake. “You don’t need a job while you’re here, Joanna. If you need more money—”
“I don’t want to ask for money, Jake. I’d like to be able to even pay you back for some of what you’re doing.”
“It’s not necessary. Don’t feel that you need to do that.”
Joanna smiled and gave an uncertain shrug. “I may not be able to do that even with this job. It doesn’t exactly pay well. Is there any iced tea, Ina?”
“In the refrigerator, dear,” Ina answered.
“Thanks,” Joanna replied and opened the door. Lifting the pitcher from the top shelf, she poured some of the drink into a tall glass. “But it will be wonderful experience for me working with the kids. Do you want some tea?”
“No, thanks,” Jake responded.
“Don’t you want to join us, Ina?” Joanna asked when she noticed Ina had returned to the kitchen sink to finish rinsing some dishes.
“No, thank you. You go ahead,” Ina said, glancing over her shoulder.
“Smithfield Children’s Home,” Jake repeated and sent an inquiring look with a sharp lift of his brows in Ina’s direction.
Joanna noticed the exchange. “Yes. They have about a hundred kids there, Jake. Boys and girls, all ages. They’re children going through transitional periods in their lives—moving from one foster home to another or out of a treatment center into an adoptive placement.” She spoke in such a rush of words, she had to pause for a quick breath, which brought a grin from Jake. “It’s a wonderful place!” she added with enthusiasm.
“Yes, it is,” he agreed with a nod. “I thought so myself the first time I visited it.”
“You’ve been there?” Joanna sat down.
“I’m there every Wednesday morning for an hour or two. When do you start?” Jake asked before taking another bite of pie.
“Tomorrow. But, what do you mean you’re there every Wednesday? What do you do there?”
“The same things I do daily at my office,” he replied. “I see patients who are sick or injured. The kids, I mean.”
“But…” She glanced over at Ina who was busy concentrating on the dishes in the sink rather than facing Joanna just then. “Ina, you didn’t tell me Jake was one of the people who worked there.”
“Didn’t I mention that?” Ina responded without looking up. “I meant to.”
Sure you did, Joanna thought. How convenient for Ina to forget that one piece of information. Joanna returned her gaze to the man seated beside her at the table. “Should I thank you for getting this job for me?”
“No, not at all,” Jake assured. “I didn’t know anything about this, and I’m not in favor of you working right now. Especially not at Smithfield. Putting yourself in a setting like that with all those troubled kids…it won’t be easy for you, Joanna. It will bring back bad memories of your own childhood.” He paused. “Are you sure you’re prepared for that?”
“I have to be. Social work is what I want to do. Being an advocate for those children is my career goal. I can’t help them if I’m not exposed to them, can I?” she explained, defending her choices.
Jake wasn’t pleased. She could see it in that shadowy frown that hovered at the corners of his mouth. But she could be just as determined as he could, Joanna assured herself and gave a slight but definite lift of her chin.
