Captured Heart (A Garrett's Point Novel) (5 page)

His gut clenched. Who the hell was this guy? He’d visited Jeff and Dana at Christmas. Emma didn’t have a boyfriend then. It was just three months later. Did she now?

She looked sexier than he’d ever seen her in her white fluffy robe with bright pink daisies on it. Desire twisted his inside like it did every time he saw Emma.
Jesus, what the hell was wrong with him? His sister and her husband were dead, and I’m lusting after Emma?

“Jack!” Emma exclaimed in surprise, breaking the embrace with Grady. “You’re here.”

Emma practically jumped from Grady’s to Jack’s arms. She clung to him as if her life depended on it, her embrace knocking the air out of him, causing him to lose his balance and step backwards with Emma still hanging on.

“Oh, sorry.” Emma started, her cheeks a lovely crimson color. “I’m just so relieved you’re here.”

She released her grip on Jack and stepped back. Looking up at him, she caught her breath. She’d visited with Jack on numerous occasions over the years, mostly holidays here at Jeff and Dana’s. One thing about Jack had always been how put together he was. Always well-dressed in his tailored suits, clean-shaven, not a hair out of place, but this morning was a different picture. Jack was a mess. His navy blue dress pants and white-collared button-down shirt looked slept in and his face had a day’s growth shadowing it, his short, dark-brown hair windblown. The sorrow Emma could see in his sad brown eyes, made Emma want to comfort him. He looked ragged.

Genius assessment, Einstein. His sister and brother-in-law just died, he had to ID the bodies and now he has to tell his seven-year-old niece that her parents are never coming home. Guess he might be a little disheveled, but he was still a picture-perfect hot mess.

Really, Emma? Your hormones can kick in at a time like this?
She disgusted herself.

Emma had always thought Jack was an extremely handsome man with a lot of sex appeal. He looked like he had stepped right off a book cover from one of her fairytales the first time she met him. It was a barbeque here at Dana’s for Olivia’s birthday. That was six years ago when he’d still been in law school. Now he was in line to make partner and laser focused on that next step. Dana had always told Emma that she wished her brother realized there was more to life than work.

“Jack, this is Sheriff Grady McCloud. He’s a long-time friend,” Emma explained, “and he came by to check on us this morning.”

I’ll bet he did.

Grady extended his hand to Jack. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank You.” was Jack’s gruff reply. He had to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat.

“Uncle Jack! I thought I heard you.” Olivia came flying down the foyer with outstretched arms to her uncle.

Jack bent to her eye-level and captured her up in his arms. Standing with Olivia held in his embrace, he held her tight…a little too tight.

“Uncle Jack, I can’t breathe. You’re squeezing me too tight!” Olivia complained as she squirmed her way down to stand on her own two feet.

“Well, hello to you too, Ducky.” Jack had dubbed Olivia with the nickname when she was two due to her fascination with ducks. She’d walked around the house months quacking at everything. It had stuck.

“What are you doing here, Uncle Jack?” Olivia asked. “Are you here to help Aunt Emma while Mom and Dad are gone?”

Jack turned three shades of green. His eyes lifted to Emma’s questioningly. Did she know, they asked.

“Olivia, your uncle is here because he has to talk to us about something very important, but first I want you to go finish breakfast and get dressed. I laid your clothes out on your bed for you. Now, go on, please, and then we will sit down with Uncle Jack. Deal?”

Emma could see the conflict flitter across Olivia’s face. She wanted to stay with her uncle, but ultimately she conceded. She was still hungry.

“Okay, but don’t go anywhere, Uncle Jack.” She turned and skipped back into the kitchen.

Grady stepped forward and planted a kiss on Emma’s forehead. That was his signature exit.

“Be prepared for the descent later this afternoon. You won’t be able to hold them off after that.” Grady reminded her.

Jack looked up confused. “The descent?” he questioned.

“Townspeople coming to offer condolences and show support.” Emma explained.

Jack rubbed the back of his neck trying to work out the kinks. He really wasn’t in the mood for company. This day was going to be difficult enough without bystanders.

Grady left and an overwhelming silence filled the room. Emma always babbled when she was uncomfortable.

“Traffic wasn’t too heavy, I hope. You made good time. We had just sat down to breakfast. Would you like…” Jack held his hand up, halting her babbling.

Running a hand through his already tousled hair, he looked determined. “I need to splash some water on my face and regroup if you don’t mind. Then we can figure out how to do this. Give me a minute.”

Emma nodded in confirmation and watched Jack walk down to the hall bathroom. Returning to the kitchen, she commenced cleaning up as Olivia finished eating and headed upstairs to change clothes.

As she finished loading the dishwasher, she heard Jack’s heavy footsteps echoing up the hall. His eyes met hers. Both reflected the same overwhelming sadness.

“Let’s do this.” he stated flatly.

Emma said nothing. She didn’t think she could if she tried. She followed him into the living room where they called Olivia down.

Nothing will ever be the same after this moment, Emma thought to herself.
She felt her heart shatter.

Chapter Five

Rain pelted the ceiling-to-floor windows in the kitchen as Emma loaded glasses into the dishwasher. Fitting, she thought as she looked at the grey skyline. The dark sky matched her dark mood.

The funeral service had been beautifully heartbreaking. She was fairly certain most of the town had been present. Jack had seemed overwhelmed at the outpouring of support.

The teachers from school, Jeff’s clients from his law practice, and all their friends – they’d all come to celebrate Dana and Jeff and to say good-bye. More importantly they had all come to offer support to Olivia.

Mrs. Harper walked in with another chicken casserole. “Here you are dear. It can be frozen for later use if you need to.”

“Thank You Mrs. Harper. How is Mr. Harper? Are you two enjoying retirement? It’s been just a couple of months since Dan took over the store for you, isn’t it?”

“It took a few weeks for Mr. Harper to accept that he didn’t need to be at the store. Now he has an eight o’clock tee time every morning.” Mrs. Harper grinned, shaking her index finger for emphasis. “Now does that sound like a man mourning retirement?”

“No, Ma’am. No, it doesn’t. I’m so happy for the both of you and for your son. I know Dan loves the hardware store. I know Mr. Harper has left it in good hands.” She hugged Mrs. Harper. “Thank You again for the casserole. The elderly woman returned to her husband in the living room.

Looking at the bounty of food now covering the kitchen counters, she didn’t know what in the world they were going to do with all of it.

She felt a hand on her back. “Need a hand?” Turning she found Mel, Kat and Syd standing behind her. Smiling, she wiped her hands on a dishtowel. Hanging it back on the oven handle, she replied. “No, just about done for the moment. Keeps me busy, and you guys have done so much already.”

Two days had passed since Jack had sat Olivia down to break the news. Of course, it had been worse than awful. Emma knew she would never forget the shattering cries of denial from the little girl. She’d been reliving them in her dreams at night.

Her concern for Olivia’s well-being and recovery from this shock was foremost in Emma’s mind. Olivia had withdrawn, which was normal in these situations. Even though Emma had received some training for these situations, she had called on the school counselor for advice.

Time. Give her time, love and support. Let her talk about it. Ask questions, but time seemed to be the only real thing that was going to heal or at least make the situation bearable.

Time was something she didn’t know how much she had with Olivia. Yes, she was her God parent, but so was Jack. Logically Jack would have custody of Liv, so that would more than likely mean she would be moving to Richmond with him. Losing Dana, Jeff and now potentially Olivia threatened to break Emma’s resolve to hold her emotions in check for Olivia’s sake.

The will would be read tomorrow, so there was no reason to fret until she knew what the details were and help Jack and Olivia with whatever she could. This wasn’t about her.

“I hate that you two cut your trips short, but I am so grateful to all of you for being here.” She glanced at her closest friends. Dana had been like a sister to her. These three were true friends through thick and thin. “You have been a lifesaver handling all the people coming through here the past two days. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Group hug – even Kat, where public displays of affection were outside of her comfort zone.

“I need to go check on Olivia. She was exhausted after the service.” Emma turned to head up the back stairs to Olivia’s bedroom. “She was asleep five minutes into the car ride home.”

“Let me go. Why don’t you sit down for a few minutes? You’ve got to be about to drop yourself, honey.” Melanie offered. “I’ve got this.” Melanie headed up the stairs.

“I’ll just take this tray around and pick up anymore glasses. See if anyone needs anything.” Emma grabbed an empty tray and headed to the living room where most friends and acquaintances had gathered.

Kathryn and Sydney watched her go. “I’m really worried about her.” Kathryn started.

“I know. Me too. She’s keeping everything and everyone at bay. She’s going to hit a wall eventually, and it isn’t going to be pretty if she doesn’t talk about it.” Sydney frowned; worry etching across her flawless face.

“You know you’ll get wrinkles if you keep doing that.” Kat couldn’t help but tease.

“Yes, I know, but thanks for reminding me, Brat…I mean Kat.” Sydney teased back.

Both sighed heavily. “We’ve never had to work through something like this, Syd.” Kat continued to watch Emma move from person to person, making sure everyone else was alright. “Yes, my parents are gone, but I was an adult. How is this kid going to get through this and not be totally messed up?”

“Emma’s right about one thing. Time and love. We’ve got plenty of love and hopefully enough time to wait it out, but I’m not just worried about Olivia.” Sydney said as she continued to watch Emma with her pasted-on smile circle the room.

Sydney wasn’t the only one watching Emma. Jack was standing by the fireplace, a scotch in hand watching her every move. He was drawn to her whenever she was near. He didn’t know why, but he felt calmer when she was near, but not today. Something was off. He couldn’t put his finger on it. She was different somehow today. He watched her face for some indication. This had been one of the worst days of his life. Hell, this was the worst TIME of his life. He knew what Emma was going through because he was going through the same roller coaster of emotions from sadness to anger to emptiness that felt like a black hole waiting to swallow him up.

Jack didn’t know what he would have done without Emma’s presence the past few days. He knew nothing about taking care of a child. He took a long swig of his drink. She had stepped up and handled it all. Feeding, bathing, talking, and handling the child’s fears and questions like a pro.

He had listened to them talking last night when Emma had put Olivia to bed. Standing in the hallway as Olivia had asked if her mommy and daddy could see her from heaven and why couldn’t they come back had been like a knife to his heart. Emma had answered with such grace and love, telling Olivia that she was certain her mom and dad were now her guardian angels. She had been honest with the little girl when she’d said she didn’t know why this had happened and bad things happen to good people. She had said we had to have faith that God would work things out in the end.

Humph. God had allowed this mess to be created, hadn’t he?

Now Jack had to figure out how to handle the situation. Tomorrow would give him the pieces he needed to make some major decisions. If all went as he thought it would, he would be named executor and custodian of Olivia. If that happened, then he knew what he had to do.

Emma needed some fresh air and her face hurt from forcing a smile all day. Most of the people had finally left except for the girls. They were wrapping up food and cleaning up the remnants.

They finished cleaning in silence. “Why don’t you and Jack come by for breakfast in the morning before heading to Allen’s office for the reading? Olivia can stay with me.” Melanie offered.

“That’s a wonderful idea, Mel. Are you sure she wouldn’t be in the way at the diner?” Emma asked.