CHAPTER75
“Your mom’s going to be discharged in a day or two, Emma; I’ll be okay.” She looks determined. Jake looks at me, then her, confusion on his face. I hadn’t yet told him of Sophie’s plan to stay here another week.
“She’s following us in seven days,” I point out to him and see the twitch in the corner of his eye briefly; he doesn’t like this idea but knows it’s not his place to say anything. His jaw tensing, he gets up and leaves the room. I know him too well; he’s walking off so he doesn’t say exactly what he’s thinking.
“Sophie, yesterday a man called Ray Vanquis came here. I know he’s the one who did this. He was very aggressive; he may come back,” I tell her, scared to divulge the full story in case it makes her afraid. Maybe I should, so that she’ll come with us today after all. She swallows hard, her eyes shifting to the window; she looks nervous.
“Your mom told me not to tell you it was him,” she replies softly, and I nod, indicating I already guessed that.
“He won’t come here until she gets out,” she adds hastily. I want to point out that he already did, but her expression hushes me. For a moment, she looks so young and uncertain that my throat catches with emotion. I can’t leave her here alone. The thought of him coming back when she’s here by herself makes me tense up. I hadn’t thought about this fact. I realize she’s staring at me, and I assume my expression is betraying me.
“I don’t want to go until you come too, Sophie,” I say, sounding uptight, suddenly unsure about what to do, my insides tied up in knots.
“I know, Emma, but I can’t just leave her like that, helpless and injured.” She tries for a smile, but I just stare at her impassively.
“Is that the issue?” Jake’s voice breaks in. He’s at the door with his cell in his hand as though he’s just used it, walking back in at the opportune time.
“She has no one else,” Sophie answers him, glancing at me warily. I experience a pang of guilt but push it down. She has no clue how complicated my relationship is with my mother. I watch as Jake frowns, his eyes losing focus for a second as he thinks something through. Even standing like that, the heat of attraction surges through me still, and I push it away.
“If I arrange for someone to care for her until she’s well, Sophie, will you come with us? Today?” He’s in negotiation mode, Mr. Business, and watching him lifts my heart. I knew from the second he had met Sophie that he had taken an instant like to her; I knew he would help her. Jake is that kind of person.
“Maybe,” she says quietly, mulling it over in her mind. “If I can go see her and tell her myself,” she adds softly. My heart lifts, hopeful, satisfied that he just gave me an answer to this problem. The sooner I detach this girl from this situation the better. I could kiss him right now; he is just beyond amazing sometimes.
“It’s a deal then, Sophs,” he beams at her, dazzling and charming. “I’ll call an agency this morning and hire a live-in nurse until she’s fully recovered. On me.” His eyes flick to me as though asking for my permission, but I just shrug, a smile creeping over my face. At this moment, I could not love him more than I do right now. He is just everything to me."
