Catching Serenity (16 page)

Jackson
pushed away from the rock and pulled out his wallet. “As a matter of fact, I might have a sample. Charlie’s doing the painting and wallpapering.” He smiled. “Even the chair rail. He picked up the wood at the lumber yard early this morning and signed for it.” Tugging out a small receipt, he held it out to her. “Take a look. Compare it to your note.”

Glancing at the paper in her hands, Serenity
held the two side-by-side. Jackson leaned over her shoulder, so close his cheek was millimeters away from hers. So close she could breathe in his woodsy scent. “Must you lean so close?”

He moved away.
“Sorry. Am I offensive?”

“
Not at all, but you’re...distracting.”

“
Best news I’ve heard all day.” A loud clap of thunder made her jump, and she burrowed into Jackson’s chest. The wonderfully weird part was how natural it was. “Now
this
is fun,” he said with a chuckle low in his throat.

She shook her head and pushed away
from him. “The letters don’t look the same to me. The ones in the note are big and loopy. Charlie’s letters are small and precise.” She held them both up for Jackson to see. “What do you think?”

“
I agree,” he said. “Based on this, Charlie didn’t write your note.” Another ear-splitting boom of thunder startled them both as Jackson pushed the invoice back in the front pocket of his jeans. “We’d better make a run for the car.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on.”

Note in hand,
Serenity jogged beside him the few hundred yards to where he’d parked his car. As large drops started to pelt them, she shooed him away. “Don’t worry about me. Get in before you’re soaked and drip water all over this beautiful car.”

“
Water doesn’t bother me, but hail’s a killer,” Jackson said. They both jumped into the car and pulled the doors closed mere seconds before the heavens opened and torrents of rain hammered down on them.

When he
’d pulled the sleek, pale blue metallic car—some kind of classic British import, and no doubt worth a lot of money—to the curb outside her office earlier that morning, she’d been surprised. In a way, the car suited him perfectly—unique, powerful and distinctive. The citizens of Croisette Shores drove “normal” cars, but they were used to seeing the wealthy zipping in and around town in cars like this one. Still, she was surprised she hadn’t heard about it until now. Could be because Jackson walked almost everywhere, like she did.

Serenity ran a hand over her hair and smoothed it down the front of her top and
jeans, more from nerves than anything else. She’d never been so close—in a confined space—with Jackson. “Where’d you get the car?” she asked, trying to calm her breathing.

“
It’s an Aston Martin from the early 2000s. I found it through a dealer in Chicago, but he imported it from London. Get this. The dealer actually said,
This car draws admiration from any living, breathing man with red blood running through his veins
.”

Serenity
laughed.
Boys will be boys.
“As opposed to a man with
blue
blood running through his veins? I really
do
think you’re a royal incognito or whatever. And you sure won’t be inconspicuous carting around town in
this
baby.”

“
I didn’t buy it to impress anyone. I just think it’s really cool.”

“
Well, you don’t need a car to accomplish that.” She gave him a coy smile. “You’ve already got that covered.”

Jackson shifted in the seat and turned toward her
, making her more aware of him than ever. “Is that a compliment?”

“
Yes, but don’t get too excited. They’re few and far between.”

They talked for another few minutes, waiting
for the rain to let up. Serenity talked about this and that and nothing in particular. Not normally a chatty person, she hadn’t
chattered
so much in years. Sensing Jackson’s amusement, she kept going, passing the time until he could start the car. “I’m sorry,” she said at length. “I don’t know what possessed me to go on and on like that.”

“
Notice I’m not complaining,” he said, slanting her a grin. “I’ve learned more about you the last five minutes than I would have otherwise in a year. So, I’m actually praising the Lord for this rain.”

Serenity watched as
Jackson doodled on his notepad during their meeting in Town Hall. The group of four men and three women listened, asked questions, and answered questions they posed to them. Serenity thought they made good headway with the plans for the renovation of the playground. She and Jackson sat behind a long, narrow table facing a U-shaped grouping of tables where the others sat. All the talk about permits and licenses made her head spin, but Jackson took charge and impressed her with his research and how he took command of the discussion. She usually saw the fun, relaxed Jackson, but in this environment, he was articulate, forthright and downright admirable.

After nudging her arm with his elbow,
Jackson tapped his pencil on the notepad.
Are you as bored as I am?

Picking up the pencil
, she scribbled,
More
. Still full from their lunch at The Happy Crab and a nice, quiet walk on the beach where they’d primarily discussed the playground plans, she fought overwhelming sleepiness and brought a quick hand to her mouth in an attempt to disguise her yawn. Embarrassed, she attempted to focus.

When she put
down the pencil, Jackson took it and jotted notes, chiming in the active discussion every now and then. He cleared his throat at one point, prompting her to glance at the notepad.
Do you think these guys were
ever
kids?
When he drew a caricature of one of the men with oversized ears, a wide mouth and big teeth, she turned her head and stifled the urge to laugh. Picking up the pencil, she scribbled,
You’re a very bad man
.

“
Miss McClaren, what do you think of that idea?”

Warmth flooded her cheeks. Great.
Jackson had a knack for getting her in trouble. All she’d heard was something about monkey bars. She’d never liked them. The indoor monkey bars in her school were too big for her small hands. Nerves always made her hands clammy and she’d fall…
Focus
.

“
I think...” she said, searching for a diplomatic and halfway intelligent response when she had no idea of the specific issue. “I think it’s a valid suggestion and one we should take under consideration. Why don’t we discuss it at the next meeting?” She held her breath, hoping they didn’t look at her like she had two heads. Jackson nudged her leg under the table.

Before the meeting ended, she
’d played three games of tic-tac-toe with Jackson and won two. Taking the pencil, Jackson scrawled
XOXOXO
along the bottom of the page.

Smiling through tense lips,
Serenity murmured her goodbyes while Jackson shook hands and talked with a couple of the men. How did he do it? Most likely, the man could charm anyone into doing his bidding. “Please tell me I didn’t make a huge fool of myself,” she said under her breath as they filed out of the meeting room.

“
You didn’t,” he said, walking beside her as they descended the front steps of Town Hall. The rain ended long ago but a few dark clouds remained. “You were politically correct. Well-played, as your dad would say.”

She smiled.
“So, do
you
know what they were talking about?”

“
Nope. Haven’t a clue. May I have the honor of walking you back to your office?”

“
No,” she said. “It’s late on a Friday afternoon, and I already told Kelsie to take off for the weekend.” Looking around, she breathed in. “You’d never know it rained buckets earlier.”

“
Don’t change the subject, please. Have a hot date tonight?”

“
Sure do.” She almost laughed at the expression on his face. “With Mr. Darcy.”

“
Fan of Jane Austen?”

“
That, too, but it’s the name of my neighbor’s cat. A total misnomer. Trust me, this Mr. Darcy is no gentleman. I take popcorn, Mrs. Marciano makes peanut butter and banana sandwiches and we watch back-to-back episodes of
Who’s the Boss
.”

“
Sounds like fun. I might have to crash the party sometime. I can bring the snacks and some cat treats to get on Mr. Darcy’s good side.”

Serenity laughed.
“You do, and you’re golden.”
Not that you’re not already.
Her cell phone rang. “I’d better get it,” she said, pulling it from her purse, not recognizing the number. “It might be a client. Or Dad.”

“
Is this Serenity McClaren?” The voice was female.

“
Yes.”

“
This is Kendra Lawson. I used to work with your mother at Croisette Shores Hospital.”

“
Yes, of course. Hi, Mrs. Lawson. How are you?”

“
I’m at the hospital, Serenity. They’ve just admitted your father. He came in by ambulance.”

“
My dad?”
Oh, no.
Serenity moved her hand over her chest. “What happened?”

“
We’re not sure, but we think he might have had a heart attack.”

“
Is he okay? How bad is it?” Her heart pounded so hard her ears throbbed. Jackson put a supportive hand on her arm.

“
They’re running tests now. Just come as soon as you can. Hopefully, we’ll have some answers by then.”

A
s soon as she thanked Kendra and disconnected the call, Jackson grabbed her hand.

“
Let’s go.”

~
CHAPTER 16~

When
Jackson cut the engine in the Croisette Shores Hospital parking lot ten minutes later, Serenity darted out and sprinted toward the revolving front door. That odd sensation came over her again, as though she moved in slow motion. Or like she was someone else and watching from a distant place. Although her dad could be gruff and infuriate her, he was all she had left.

Hold on, Dad. Don
’t leave me now.

She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light
s inside the hospital lobby. With Jackson right beside her, she hurried to the information desk, thankful a volunteer manned the station.

“
My dad was brought here by ambulance. Can you tell me where we need to go?”

The volunteer asked her a few cursory questions. When she couldn
’t choke out her dad’s name, Jackson answered for her. Faltering a few times, she managed to provide the needed information. The woman checked her computer and told them Clinton was being prepped for surgery and instructed her to go to the family waiting room on the fourth floor.

Thanking the woman, Jackson put a light hand on her elbow and headed for the elevators. After shifting from one foot to the other
while they waited, Serenity finally stalked toward the stairwell and ran up all four flights without stopping.

Another woman sat behind
a reception desk near the elevator doors. She seemed sympathetic and told her the surgeon would be out to speak with her momentarily. “There’s water and coffee in the waiting room. Help yourself.”

“
Serenity McClaren?”

“
Yes.” Turning, she spied a middle-aged surgeon in green scrubs walking toward them from an adjacent hallway. His expression was impossible to read, worrying her even more.
God, please help me accept whatever he has to say
.

“
I’m Dr. Saunders.”

She swallowed hard as she shook his hand.
“How’s my dad?”

“
We’re prepping him for a procedure now. Your dad noticed a weakness and tingling in his arms. He had a bad headache and felt dizzy. When he called 9-1-1, his words were slightly slurred and he was having trouble with his motor coordination. I’ve conducted an angiogram and discussed Clinton’s case with his physician. Combined with what he experienced today, everything points to a significant carotid artery blockage.”

“
So, it wasn’t a heart attack?”

“
No,” the doctor said, “but the symptoms very closely mimic a heart attack. The carotid arteries are the two large blood vessels on either side of the neck that supply blood and oxygen to the brain. The blockage is caused by a buildup of plaque on the arterial walls called atherosclerosis, a progressive vascular disease that’s an accumulation of fatty substances inside the walls of the arteries. That condition leads to narrowing of the arterial walls and causes the carotid blockage.”

“
What procedure do you need to do?” she asked. When Jackson covered her hand with his, Serenity gripped it tight.

“
Traditionally, the surgical procedure is to perform an endarterectomy. That’s where we open up the neck, expose the artery and physically remove the plaque. But there’s a newer procedure that’s been highly successful—and minimally invasive—called a carotid angioplasty. We pass a catheter from the blood vessels in the groin to the carotid artery. Then we’ll inflate a balloon to open the artery and put in a stent to hold the artery open. That’s what I’d like to do for your father unless we see we need to do the endarterectomy once we get him in the OR.” Dr. Saunders focused on her again. “I’ll need your consent for the surgery, Miss McClaren. The nurse has the form at the desk.”

“
Of course. I’ll sign it right away.”

Dr. Saunders nodded.
“This type of blockage is one of the major contributing factors for a stroke. If the plaque hardens and narrows the arteries completely, the blood supply and oxygen to the brain is restricted. That causes the brain cells to begin dying, leading to a loss of brain function, permanent damage or even death. It’s a good thing your father called for help as soon as he recognized the warning signs.”

The surgeon
’s words were factual and to-the-point, but Serenity admired the compassion in his eyes and expression. She trusted her dad would be in capable hands for the surgery. If he thought her dad was in imminent danger, he wouldn’t be explaining it all now.

“
Thanks, Dr. Saunders,” she said. “I appreciate all you’re doing for him.” Her mind was spinning as she returned to the desk to sign the consent form.

“
Do you have any idea how long the surgery might last?” Serenity asked the nurse.

“
Depends on what they find, if there’s any complications and how much repair work they have to do. I’m sure he’ll be fine, dear,” the nurse told her with a sympathetic smile.

“
Repair work?” Serenity grumbled. “That makes Dad sound like an old, broken down car.”

“
Try to relax,” Jackson said, his voice soothing. “I’ll go get you some water. Unless you’d rather have coffee?”

She shook her head.
“I’ve heard about rancid hospital coffee. Water’s fine. Thanks.”

Nearly an hour and several cups of water later, Serenity bit her lip to control its trembling.
Although it sounded like it was a fairly routine procedure, she couldn’t stop worrying. Jackson remained seated beside her, a solid, quiet presence. From the way he bowed his head often and clasped his hands together, she understood he’d been praying off and on. That alone touched something deep inside her. She hadn’t been able to pray. With her stomach twisted in knots, she felt like she might be sick. After visiting the ladies room and gulping down more water from the fountain, she returned to her seat.

“
Thanks for being here,” she whispered.

“
I’m honored.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she lowered her gaze.
Is this man for real?
She wasn’t worthy of this man, didn’t deserve him. Jackson was so strong in his faith. God’s grace was one thing, but what had she ever done so right to deserve his friendship?

After another twenty minutes
, Dr. Saunders returned to the waiting room. Not waiting for him to call her name, Serenity jumped to her feet and rushed over to him.

Removing
his surgical cap, the doctor rubbed one hand over his brow. “He’s fine. We performed the angioplasty and put in the stent. He’ll need to stay overnight in the cardio rehab unit for observation, and I might be able to send him home as early as tomorrow. I’ll make that determination when I check on him in the morning. We’ll give you literature and instructions for an extended treatment plan,” he said. “The recovery time can take as little as a few days or weeks, depending on how your father reacts to the procedure and how well he follows the directions.” The slight irony in his tone suggested the surgeon might be acquainted with her father.

“
Clinton needs to quit smoking and eat foods low in saturated and trans fats. His weight isn’t an issue, but he needs his blood pressure checked regularly and daily exercise.” The doctor’s expression was kind. “If he adheres to a healthier routine, the prognosis is good for a longer and more productive life than he would have had without the procedure. I’d take this as a warning, Miss McClaren. If there’s a next time, your father might not be as lucky.”

T
ears flooded her eyes and relief filled her soul. “Thank you again, Dr. Saunders. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done. I’ll make sure my dad follows your orders.”

“
Good.” The doctor nodded. “I’ll be around to check on him later tonight and again in the morning. If you have any questions at any time, feel free to call my office.”

“
When can I see him?”

“
He’s resting in the post-op recovery room and needs to lie still for a period of time. Then we’ll check his vitals before moving him to a room. Give him about an hour.”

Jackson
reiterated his thanks before turning to her. “Want to get something to eat while we wait?”

She shook her head.
“I can’t possibly eat, but I’ll go with you. It’ll be good to stretch our legs and get a change of scenery.” After speaking with the woman behind the desk and being told to go to the sixth floor—the cardiac wing—upon their return, they headed into the elevator and then down to the cafeteria on the ground floor.

A few minutes later,
Serenity watched with faint amusement as Jackson attacked his turkey sandwich. Even when life was in turmoil, men could always eat. Then again, it wasn’t
his
dad who could have died. Her lemonade was tart, and when she winked, Jackson returned it. “You goof,” she said. “The lemonade’s really sour.”

“
My mistake. I thought you were trying to relieve the tension.” He swallowed a huge bite of his sandwich and wiped his mouth before offering his bag of chips to her.

“
No, thanks. I have half a mind to snatch that bag out of your hands. My dad eats too many of those and look where it got him.”

“
Point taken, but come on. Sometimes you have to bend the rules a little. I don’t scarf them down all the time. Who knows? I might find one that looks like Jesus.”

She almost spit out her lemonade. Unfortunate timing.
“What?”

Jackson
examined a chip before popping it in his mouth. “Haven’t you heard how people are always finding food oddities that resemble deity?”

“
If nothing else, I appreciate your blatant attempt to make me smile.” Lowering her empty glass, Serenity ran her finger slowly around the rim, lost in thought. “Why does Dr. Saunders seem so familiar?”

“
Maybe he played the tuba in the Salvation Army band with Art what’s-his-name and your dad. Or he’s a big supporter of the fire department. Does it matter?”

She glanced at
Jackson across the table as he chomped on another chip. “No, I guess not. And it’s trombone, not tuba. My mind tends to wander to trivial things when I’m under stress. Surely you’ve seen it in your profession. Must be some kind of coping mechanism.”

A woman eating alone at a nearby table caught her attention. She wore dark-rimmed glasses and her hair was
completely hidden beneath a black scarf. Her shoulders were narrow and she wore plain clothing—jeans and a nondescript, plain, dark T-shirt. Deep red fingernails. Like with Dr. Saunders, something about this woman seemed familiar. Was it possible this was the same woman she’d seen on the street when Jackson left her office? For one thing, why would she keep her features hidden or disguised in a hospital cafeteria, of all places? Was she finally going crazy and exhaustion combined with worry was making her loopy?

“
I guess I should have known something like this would eventually happen,” she said.

“
Oh no, you don’t.” Pushing his plate aside, Jackson grabbed her hand and held on tight. “Don’t you even think about blaming yourself for your father’s condition.”

S
erenity blew out a breath and focused on a group of people at a nearby table. They barely touched their food. She wondered which of their relatives or friends was in the hospital. Although her mother always wanted to be a nurse, it was the one thing she’d
never
wanted to be. She hated hospitals. They reeked of antiseptic and death.

“
I should have come home sooner, Jackson. Should have gone through every cabinet, every drawer. I should have checked everything in the pantry and his bathroom medicine cabinet. Thrown out every single thing that’s unhealthy or contributed to him being here now.” She pushed her curled fist against her lips, steeling herself not to shed any tears when all she wanted was to break down and sob. “I knew he wasn’t well. Knew he’d probably end up here and yet what’d I do? I ran away. Dad could have died here all alone while I was ignoring him in Atlanta. I’m a horrible daughter.” Full of self-loathing, she couldn’t even look at him.

Jackson squeezed her hand
. “Listen to me, Serenity.” He waited until she raised her eyes to his. “You weren’t ignoring him and you’re a terrific daughter, but you can’t take on the weight of the world. I know you’ve been doing everything you can to get your dad to eat better. You’re getting him out for fresh air and exercise. His sedentary lifestyle and bad habits landed him here, and it’s in no way your fault. If anything, you
saved
his life.”