Friends--And Then Some (7 page)

Jake did mind, but this was exactly why he’d brought Lily to the party. She would make more contacts here than during a year of playing piano at the Wheaton. “Feel free,” he murmured, lifting a glass of champagne from the tray of the passing server. He didn’t watch as Lily and Rick crossed the room, Lily’s arm tucked securely in the crook of Rick’s elbow.

The bubbling liquid in the narrow crystal glass seemed to be laughing at him and, almost angrily, Jake set it aside. He hated champagne and always had. He much preferred a hearty burgundy with some soul to it.

He found an obscure corner and sat down, giving anyone who approached him a look that would discourage even the most outgoing party guest. He could hear Lily’s laugh drift from another section of the house and was pleased she was enjoying herself. At least one of them was having a decent time.

Another waiter came past and Jake ordered ouzo, a Greek drink. Gram had given him his first taste of the anise-flavored liqueur she drank regularly. Lily claimed it had made her teeth go soft, and to be honest, the licorice-tasting alcohol had curled a few of Jake’s chest hairs. But he was in the mood for it tonight—something potent to remind himself that he was doing the noble thing. Now he knew how Joan of Arc must have felt as she was tied to the stake and the torches were aimed at the dry straw. No, he was being melodramatic again. What did it matter? He’d known all along that he was going to lose
his
Lily. But Lily wasn’t his; had never been his. He drank down the liqueur with one swallow and felt it sear a path to his stomach. Lily was his good friend. He’d do anything for her and Gram—well, almost anything.

Jake asked for another ouzo and drank it down with the same eagerness as the first. Another followed shortly after that. His eyes found a woman sitting on the sofa on the other side of the room, and she smiled. Hey, Jake mused, maybe this party wasn’t such a loss after all. Maybe Lily wasn’t the only one destined to have a good time.

He stood, surprised that a house as expensive as Rick’s had a floor that swayed like a ship at sea. Suavely, he tucked one hand in his pants pocket and paused to smooth the hair along the side of his head. There wasn’t any need to look like a slob.

Just when he was prepared to introduce himself to Goldilocks across the way, he heard the piano and stopped cold. “Moon River.” Oh no. Rick had convinced Lily to entertain him. Jake knew how she felt about that song. Rick couldn’t do that to Lily. Jake wouldn’t let him. Rushing forward, he raised his hand and started to say something when the floor suddenly, unexpectedly, came rushing up to meet him.

* * *

“Jake.” The soft, soothing voice sounded like an angel’s and Jake struggled to open his eyes. The piercing overhead light hurt and he lifted his hand to protect his eyes from the glare. He was astonished to feel heavy bandages wrapped across his forehead. His head felt as if little men were standing at his temples and alternately pounding away with miniature sledgehammers.

“What happened?” His words were barely audible. He swallowed and moistened his mouth, which felt like the bottom of San Francisco Bay.

“You’re going to be fine.”

Jake recognized the voice as Lily’s. “The hell I am.” The volume of his own voice caused him to wince. “What happened?” he repeated, much quieter this time. “Where am I?”

“You fell, and to be on the safe side, Rick insisted that we call an ambulance.”

Jake snorted. Sure, Rick would say that. He’d fallen in Rick’s house and Rick wanted to be damn sure Jake would have no cause to sue him.

“I’m at the hospital?”

“They’ve given you ten stitches. It was a nasty cut.”

Rolling his head to the side, Jake avoided the light glaring down at him from a thousand-watt bulb. Something was wrong, and his eyes refused to focus properly. Instead of the lovely gold dress Lily had worn to the party she was dressed in red. He tried to swing his legs off the table and properly investigate his circumstances.

“Jake,” Lily cried, her sweet angel’s voice laced with concern. “Lie still.”

“I want out of here.”

“Oh, Jake, no. Rick has insisted the hospital keep you overnight for observation.”

“Like hell.”

“Would you stop swearing?” she admonished. “Now don’t worry about anything. Rick’s picking up the tab.”

Swear! If she knew the thoughts that were going through his head she’d blush from now until doomsday. “Lily, I want out of here. And for heaven’s sake, what happened to your dress? It’s covered with blood.”

Lily didn’t ever want to feel again the terror that gripped her the moment she’d seen Jake lying on the floor. She’d rushed to him and lifted his bleeding head into her lap.
“Honestly, you scared me half out of my wits. Now don’t argue. I’ll be back in the morning. Just take care of yourself and don’t worry about a thing.”

“Lily.” His hand held her fast to his side. “How will you get home?”

“Don’t worry. Rick’s taking me. And before you feel guilty over my dress, Rick wants to buy me another one to replace it.” She leaned over him and lightly brushed her lips over his. “Good night, Jake. Sleep well and take care of yourself. I insist.”

The sound of her clicking shoes told him she was leaving. The feeling came again—the sensation that told him something was awry—and for the second time it had to do with Lily. Rick wasn’t right for her, either, and Jake had to find some way to put an end to that relationship before it got started.

Holding a small bouquet of flowers, Lily traipsed through the hospital lobby to the open elevator, stepped inside, and pushed the button for the appropriate floor. She’d worried about Jake all night. He’d looked so pale against the starched white hospital sheets. Pale and confused. Lily should never have left his side, but Rick had convinced her that there wasn’t any more either of them could do. Jake had been given a shot and would soon be asleep. Nonetheless, Lily had lingered outside in the hall until the shot took effect, then reluctantly left.

When the heavy metal doors of the elevator parted, Lily stepped out eagerly. She had so much to tell Jake. He’d been such a dear to have taken her to the party. Everything had turned out beautifully—except for his fall, of course. Lily had met several men, all of whom had an aura of wealth. She prided herself on her ability to recognize money when she saw it. Rick had tried to buy her a new dress, since the one she’d worn to the party had gotten stained. But Lily had adamantly refused. The evening dress wasn’t ruined. Gram had used vinegar and a few other inventively chosen ingredients to remove Jake’s blood.

Lily stepped past the nurse’s station and headed down the wide hall to Jake’s room. The faint smell of antiseptic caused her to wrinkle her nose. Jake would be glad to get out of there.

The door to his room was open and Lily paused in the doorway, looking at the nurse’s aide who was stripping the bed of the sheets and blankets. Troubled, she looked to the number printed on the door for a second time to be sure she had the right room.

“Good morning,” Lily murmured.

“Morning,” the other woman answered flatly. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Do you know where Jake Carson is?”

“Mr. Carson signed himself out early this morning.”

Lily swallowed to relieve her voice of its shock and surprise. “Signed himself
out? But why?”

“I believe Mr. Carson had several reasons, all of which were described in colorful detail.”

“Oh, dear.” Lily was shocked to realize she’d spoken out loud.

“I’m afraid so. He also insisted on paying his own tab and wanted the bill brought to him immediately.” Impatiently, the woman jerked the bottom sheet from the raised hospital bed. “I’ve seen a few stubborn men in my day, but that one takes the cake.”

It didn’t take much imagination for Lily to picture the scene. Jake could be a terror when he wanted to be, and from the frustrated look on the nurse’s flushed face, Jake had outdone himself this time. Lily was all the more convinced that she shouldn’t have left him. She shouldn’t have listened to Rick. Next time, she’d follow her instincts.

“Did he say where he was going?” Lily pressed.

The woman hugged the sheet to her abdomen and slowly shook her head. “No, but I’m sure the staff could give you a few suggestions about where we’d like to see him.”

“I am sorry.” Lily felt obliged to apologize for Jake, although she was convinced he wouldn’t appreciate it. “I’m sure he didn’t mean … whatever it was he said.”

“He meant it,” the woman growled, placing the sheet with unnecessary force inside a laundry cart at her side.

“Well, thank you, anyway,” Lily stammered. “And here …” She shoved the small bouquet of daisies into the woman’s hands. “Please take these.” With that, Lily turned and hurried from the room.

By the time she arrived back at Gram’s, Lily was more worried than before. “Gram, Jake’s left the hospital.”

Gram stood at the ironing board, pressing dried flowers between sheets of waxed paper. “I know.”

“You know!”

“Why, yes. He called earlier.”

“Where is he?” Lily demanded, the wobble in her voice betraying her concern. He shouldn’t be alone … not with a head injury.”

“He sounded perfectly fine,” Gram contradicted, moving from the iron to the
stove, where she stirred the contents of a large stockpot.

“Is he at the marina? I should probably go there, don’t you think? Something could happen.” Not waiting for a response, Lily made a sharp about-face and headed out of the kitchen. For a panicked second, she imagined a dizzy, disoriented Jake stumbling about the sailboat. He could slip and fall overboard and no one would know.

“It’d be a waste of time.”

“A waste of time? Why?” Lily paused and turned around to face Gram, her thoughts scrambled.

Humming an old Beatles tune, Gram continued stirring. “Jake’s on his way over here.”

“Now?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?” Lily cried.

Gram turned away from the stove and studied Lily with narrowed, knowing eyes. “You seem worried, girl. Jake can take care of himself.”

“I know … but he’s lost a lot of blood. He had ten stitches and …”

“He’s not going to appreciate it if you make a fuss over him.”

Lily forced the tense muscles of her back and shoulders to relax. Gram was right. Jake would hate how concerned she was.

“What else did he say?” Trying to disguise how disquieting Lily found this entire matter, she pushed the kitchen chair under the table.

“Do you want some split-pea soup?” Gram asked as though she hadn’t heard Lily’s question.

“No, thanks.” An involuntary grimace crossed her face. Gram loved split-pea soup, but Lily didn’t know why she would be eating it now. It was only midmorning.

A loud knock against the front door announced Jake’s arrival. Lily battled the urge to run across the room to meet him.

Jake let himself inside. “Morning.”

“Hello, Jake.” Lily laced her fingers in front of her. “How are you feeling?”

“Great,” he answered, breezing right past her and into the kitchen.

“Soup’s ready,” Lily heard her grandmother tell him.

“I appreciate it, Gram.”

“When it comes to restoring a person’s health, it’s better than chicken noodle.”

“Anything you cook is better than my futile attempts.”

Shocked and a little hurt at Jake’s abrupt greeting, Lily stood stiffly, halfway between the kitchen and the front door. Jake may have said only one word to her, but his eyes spoke volumes. Over the past year they’d often informed her what he was thinking and feeling before he could say a word. They were a stormy shade of jade when he was angry, and that seemed to be happening on a regular basis lately. At other times they were a murky green, but that was generally when he was troubled about something. Then there were rare times when they sparked with what seemed a thousand tiny lights. They’d glittered like that when he’d first seen her in the dress she’d bought with Gram’s bingo winnings and again later, when they’d met before Rick’s party. But then they’d quickly changed to that murky shade of green. Lily didn’t know what to make of that. Jake had been so easy to read in the past, but either he was changing or she was losing her ability to understand the one man she thought she knew so well.

“How are you feeling?” Lily asked for the second time, coming into the kitchen.

Jake pulled out a chair at the table, and sat drinking Gram’s soup from a ceramic mug.

“Fine,” he answered curtly.

“You look better.” Some color had returned to his face. Yet he remained so pale that the tiny creases around his eyes were more noticeable than ever.

Gram joined Jake at the table, pouring two additional servings of soup. “Here.” She gave one to Lily, who wrinkled her nose at it.

“No, thanks, I prefer chicken noodle.”

Jake’s snort was almost imperceptible. “I’ll be ready in a minute here,” he added.

Lily glanced at Gram, who appeared oblivious to the comment. “Ready for what?” Lily inquired.

“Shopping.”

“You’re going shopping?” Good grief, he’d just been released from the hospital. “Whatever for?” If he needed anything, she’d be happy to make the trip for him.

“We’re going out.”

“Us?”

Jake caught Gram’s eye. “You didn’t tell her?”

“I didn’t get a chance.”

“Tell me!” Lily demanded, not liking the way Jake was ignoring her.

“Jake’s taking you out to buy you a new dress,” Gram informed her.

“The dress is fine,” Lily protested loudly. “Didn’t you tell him that?”

“I did,” Gram huffed. “But he insists.”

Jake’s gaze bounced from Gram to Lily and back again. “Did you tell Lily that it won’t do any good to argue with me on this one? I saw what I did to her dress. I’m buying her another one and that’s all there is to it.”

Lily sank into the chair across from Jake and boldly met his gaze. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m standing right here. There’s no need to ask Gram to tell me anything when you and I are separated by less than two feet.” The words came out sharp and argumentative despite her effort to sound casual.