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“If my daughter phones about my cat, will you come get me?” Mrs. O’Connor called as the door was closed.
“Right away.”
Lilly traveled the short hall that opened into the main recreational room. There was, as usual, a flurry of activity and a cacophony of noisy chatter. She was stopped frequently—by both clients and staff members—on the way to her office, located near the main entrance.
“Lilly, Mrs. Vega has taken the TV remote again and refuses to tell me where she’s hidden it.”
“Try looking in the microwave.”
“M-M-Miss R-R-Rus-s-so. S-s-see wh-what I d-d-draw.”
“Very nice, Samuel.”
“The soda machine is out of Pepsi again.”
“You know you’re not supposed to drink caffeine, Mr. Lindenford. It makes you agitated.”
And on it went.
Lilly’s official title was administrator, which involved running the office, supervising the personnel, maintaining the financial records and overseeing customer relations. Some days, however, she felt more like a babysitter. Not that she minded.
Lilly no sooner reached the entrance to her office door and sighed with relief when she was stopped yet again.
“Is it true we’re picking up the mule tomorrow?”
She spun around. “Jimmy Bob, where did you hear that?”
The young man hung his head in shame. “Georgina told me.”
He was lying. They both knew it. Like many people with Down’s syndrome, Jimmy Bob was a sweet, kind soul with boundless energy and a quick, hearty laugh. He was also a chronic eavesdropper, sneaking quietly up and listening to conversations that weren’t any of his business. Because it was impossible for him to keep a secret, he always confessed what he’d heard, usually in the form of a lie so as not to implicate himself. Fortunately, he was also very likeable.
Lilly took pity on him. His woe-is-me expression never failed to win her over despite resolutions to the contrary.
“Sucker,” she mumbled under her breath, then said out loud, “We hope to be able to pick up the mule tomorrow. We’re not sure yet.”
“When will we be sure?”
A glance at the phone on her desk and the glaring absence of a flashing red message light made her heart sink. Jake still hadn’t called. Was he avoiding her? Had the family rejected her plan, and he was trying to think of an easy way to let her down?
“I don’t know, Jimmy Bob. By the end of today, maybe, if all goes well.”
His face broke into an enormous grin, his earlier shame evidently forgotten. “Can I ride him tomorrow? I’m a good rider. Ask my mom. She took me riding at the ranch. You know, the one with the big white barn.” He started whistling an off key rendition of the theme to Bonanza.
Bear Creek Ranch had a red barn. Jimmy Bob must be referring to Wintergreen Riding Stables, which were located about a mile outside town heading toward Phoenix.
“If we get the mule and if your mother agrees, you can ride him. But that won’t be tomorrow, honey.”
Jimmy Bob stopped whistling and his enormous smile collapsed.
“Maybe by Friday.” She patted a cheek that bore severe acne scars along with the slightest hint of facial hair. “I promise, when we finally take our first trip to see the mule, you’ll go with us.”
She meant what she’d said. If Jake agreed, they would need their more able-bodied clients to keep Horizon’s end of the bargain. Jimmy Bob wasn’t only enthusiastic, he was strong and fit and cooperative. Other clients, like Samuel, weren’t capable of performing any chores but would be able to interact with the mule, possibly ride it while being led around a ring.
Jimmy Bob’s smile showed signs of reemerging.
“Would you do me a favor?” Lilly asked.
He bobbed his head.
“Go to the supply closet and bring me a ream of paper, okay?”
He shot off to do her bidding. Lilly didn’t really need a ream of paper. She had two stacked beside her printer from previous attempts to distract Jimmy Bob.
Sitting at her desk, she debated placing another call to Jake and was startled when the phone rang. It was answered by Gayle who was currently manning the welcome desk in the main room. The four to five caregivers always on duty took turns at the desk, rotating every hour or so. Ten seconds later when the caller wasn’t put through to her, Lilly gave up hope that it was Jake.
She lifted a manila folder from a wire rack on the corner of her desk and withdrew the monthly bank statements. Normally, she could reconcile a bank statement in her sleep, but today the numbers refused to add up. Her chronic indigestion wasn’t helping matters. How long until those damn antacids kicked in?
How long until Jake called?
Lilly jumped to her feet. It wasn’t quite lunchtime, but she couldn’t tolerate the waiting anymore. A break from the center might be the perfect remedy to settle her nerves. She stopped at the welcome desk to inform Gayle that she was leaving.
But Gayle forestalled her. “Any chance you can postpone lunch a few minutes?”
“Why?” Lilly inquired.
She inclined her head in the direction of the front door. Lilly turned to see Jake striding across the room straight toward her.
JAKE SENSED every pair of eyes on him but he didn’t react.
Activity and chatter ceased by degrees until the hiss of a wheelchair-bound woman’s portable oxygen tank was the only sound in the room. Three people abruptly leapt out of their seats to trail his every move, like predators stalking prey. He looked behind him and smiled. One of the trio, a young man, smiled back. The other two glared openly. Jake was an experienced businessman and accustomed to holding his own under pressure. But for some reason, his confidence wavered, and he didn’t like it.
“Good morning, Lilly,” he said when he reached her.
“Hi, Jake.”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t appear fine. Fatigue shadowed her eyes and when she first caught sight of him, her cheeks had paled. Shock at seeing him? He supposed he should have called first. But the family trust attorney’s office was only a few minutes away, and since a signature was required on the contract, Jake had decided to stop in and deliver it in person.
His self-appointed security detail crowded in around them. Jake shifted, resisting the urge to tug on his suddenly tight shirt collar. If Lilly noticed, she gave no indication.
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Glancing around, he added, “Alone.”
“Come with me.” She motioned for him to follow. His security detail came, too. Once he and Lilly had crossed the threshold into her office, she informed the group to “Wait here” and shut the door on their unhappy faces. “Sorry,” she told Jake. “New visitors always create a stir. They weren’t intentionally ganging up on you.”
“No problem.” When she didn’t stop scrutinizing him, he added, “Really.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. Special-needs individuals often make people feel ill at ease.”
“I’m not ill at ease.”
She didn’t believe him. He could tell by her narrowed eyes.
Could it be true? Jake didn’t consider himself a snob but the fact was, he’d had little interaction with “special-needs” people other than his grandfather. Jake had been away at college during most of Grandpa Walter’s decline and, as a result, missed the worst of it.
“I’m—” he started to say ignorant then changed it to “—inexperienced.”
“You’re not alone.” She didn’t act offended at his remark. Quite the contrary. “Would you like a tour of the facility?” Pride rang in her voice. “You’re our landlord, after all, and I don’t think you’ve seen the place since I took over.”
What she said was true. With the exception of his aunt’s antique store located in the same plaza, Jake rarely dropped by his tenants’ businesses. Not unless there was a problem, which wasn’t the case here. And during the short time he and Lilly had dated he had always picked her up at her house rather than work. He’d told himself it was a matter of convenience for both of them, as most of their outings took place in town. Now he wondered if he hadn’t been unconsciously keeping their relationship from progressing by avoiding her work and the ranch.
“Thanks, but I can’t.” He hated disappointing Lilly. She obviously loved the center and showing it off. “I’m meeting someone for lunch, and I only have a few minutes.” As if a switch had been flicked, she sobered, and Jake didn’t know why. Had he insulted her by declining her offer of a tour? He certainly hadn’t meant to.
“Please, sit.” Lilly gestured at the visitor’s chair facing her desk.
“I’d rather stand if you don’t mind. I’ve been sitting all morning and will be again all afternoon.”
Her office had a glass window opening out to the main room. He turned to face it, and a dozen heads swivelled to stare at him. The young man who’d smiled earlier waved exuberantly. Without thinking, Jake raised his hand in return.
“Did you get the insurance certificate we faxed over?” Lilly asked.
“Yes. It’s exactly what we needed.” He stepped away from the window and held out the envelope he’d been carrying. “Our attorney also suggested we draw up a contract.”
“Does that mean…” She took the envelope and turned it over in her hands. “Has the family agreed?”
“For once, we were completely unanimous.” Jake hadn’t needed to twist one arm or press a single point. “I didn’t tell you earlier because I couldn’t meet with our attorney until this morning.”
“Oh, wow.” Lilly’s face, always so expressive, lit up. “I can’t believe it.”
Her delight was contagious, and he chuckled. “There are one or two conditions you should know about.”
“Oh?”
Jake sobered. He hadn’t yet determined how he felt about the stipulations the attorney had insisted on putting in the contract. “As you can imagine, liability is our main concern. Our attorney suggested that someone in charge, specifically you or the owner, accompany the clients on their visits. At least for the first several months until we determine how well the program is going.”
“I doubt Dave can go. He and his wife commute regularly to Apache Junction where they just opened a second center.”
“Then I guess it’ll have to be you.”
He could see the uncertainty in her eyes and wondered if she harbored the same doubts he did about the prospect of them constantly running into each other at the ranch.
“Okay.” She nodded resignedly. “Whatever it takes.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.” She relaxed. “I’m not about to let a few scheduling conflicts get in the way of this program.”
“I’m glad.”
“Thank you, Jake.” Setting the envelope on her desk, she took a step toward him, and hesitated. Then, evidently going with her first instincts, she closed the distance between them. “Thank you so much.”
Before he could say anything, she linked her arms around his shoulders. He automatically returned the hug and was instantly lost when she laid her head in the crook of his neck. They had, after all, done this before. Often.
He might have gone on holding her, might have let himself enjoy the memories her nearness evoked, if not for a loud bang on the window. Lilly gasped and sprang back. Jake swung around to see what had caused the noise.
One—no, make that two dozen—of the center’s clients and staff stood crowded outside the window, some with their noses or fingertips against the glass.
“Are we getting the mule?” The young man’s muffled shout barely penetrated the insulated window.
Lilly nodded, fidgeting nervously. Her previously pale cheeks shone a vivid red.
Their audience cheered. Lilly motioned for them to go on about their business. Her order went unheeded. “Now,” she mouthed, and still no one moved.
Jake couldn’t help himself and laughed.
“This isn’t funny,” Lilly scolded and retreated behind her desk.
He could see her point, though for a moment or two, it had been nice holding her.
“What next?” she asked him and glowered at the window. Some of their audience had fortunately dispersed. The rest ignored her silent warning and remained glued to the spot.
“You and Dave review the contract. If it meets with your approval, sign it and send it to my office.”
“What about the mule?”
“I’ll arrange to have him picked up, unless you have access to a truck and horse trailer.”
“We don’t.”
“Is tomorrow early enough? I remember you said you were in a hurry.”
“Tomorrow’s perfect. I’ll let the Malcovitches know.”
The reference to his ex-wife’s fiancé’s family didn’t generate nearly the anger it usually did. If anything, Jake felt good. Damn good. His charitable deed accounted for some of his elevated mood. He suspected Lilly’s hug was responsible for the rest.
“I have to leave. I’m late for my meeting.”
“I’ll walk you out.” She came around from behind the shelter of her desk.
At the entrance to the center, he got another hug. This one, however, was from the young man who’d waved. Not Lilly.
JAKE WATCHED Lilly’s long legs emerge from the open car door. Her delicate shoes were sexy as hell and completely inappropriate for traipsing around a stable. Her wool slacks weren’t much better. At least she’d had the sense to wear a warm coat. She must have flown out the door and sped the entire drive from Payson, considering what good time she’d made.
“Is that him?” she asked. Breathless and eager, she tentatively approached the mule tied to the hitching post in front of the barn. Her long black hair, usually twisted in a braid or gathered in a ponytail, fell loose around her shoulders, framing her face and emphasizing her large brown eyes.
“It is.” Jake couldn’t look away. Only after he’d stared his fill did he invite her to come and stand by him. Together, they turned their attention to the ranch’s newest boarder and the man standing beside him. “That’s Doc Mosby. He’s giving the mule a quick examination.”
