Waterfront Weddings (68 page)

Everything in Alanna wanted to stay. But something told her to leave. Give Jaclyn her chance.

Alanna sank onto the couch next to Patience. “Do you think we could find a hotel room?”

“Already have a reservation just down the road. We can leave the number with the nurse so they can let us know if anything changes with Jonathan. He’ll still be sleepy after surgery. You probably won’t get to see him much before morning anyway.”

Alanna chewed her lower lip as she considered Jaclyn. “All right. Jaclyn, do you want to stay?”

A flash of hope slid across the woman’s face. “Yes.”

“Then we’ll be back in the morning. Tell Jonathan I’ll return.”

Hopefully he’d still want to see her. If a few hours’ absence changed the direction of his feelings, he wasn’t hers anyway. Better find out now rather than later after she’d dared to hope.

The next morning, Earl dropped her off at the door. “You sure you don’t want us to stay?”

“No. I’ll get a ride to the ferry when it’s time.”

“All right. Tell Jaclyn to call by ten if she’d like a ride back.”

“Thanks, Earl.” Alanna slipped into the hospital, feeling good after a decent night’s rest and a shower. Her clothes might be the same, but she felt clean. Her stomach fluttered as the elevator carried her to the trauma floor. How would Jonathan look this morning?

The doors opened, and the antiseptic smell slapped her in the face. Her stomach clenched in rebellion, and she swallowed to keep the bile down.

The nurse at the station looked up, a question in her expression. “Can I help you?”

“I’m here to see Jonathan Covington.”

“Are you on his list?”

“I was last night.”

The woman punched a few buttons on the keyboard then studied the screen. “Hmm, what did you say your name was?”

“Alanna Stone.”

More punching ensued, and then the nurse turned to her. “I don’t see you in his record.”

“Could you buzz his room?”

“I’ll walk down there. If he’s sleeping, I don’t want to wake him.” Another nurse approached. “Would you sit here while I check a patient?”

The nurse nodded and slid in front of the bank of monitors. Alanna paced in front of the nurses’ station as she waited. Finally, the first nurse returned.

“I’m sorry, but the patient is asleep. Someone else is with him and says he doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

Alanna nodded, her heart falling. She reached into her bag and pulled out a notebook. “Can I leave a note for him?”

“Sure.”

She scribbled a quick page then folded it and gave it to the nurse. “Thank you.”

A moment later, she stood in the waiting room. Should she stay? Leave? Would the note even reach Jonathan?

By early afternoon, Jonathan had tired of Jaclyn’s presence. She talked almost nonstop with his mother, and he missed the quiet. Anytime he asked where Alanna was, Jaclyn made some excuse for her. At one point, the nurse brought in a note, but Jaclyn took it before Jonathan could read it. The glimpse he caught made him think Alanna had written it, but Jaclyn tucked it in her purse before he could do anything.

Being tied down with all these wires and IV lines, not to mention the never-ending burning in his shoulder, was enough to drive him crazy. He wanted his small cabin and some privacy. The ability to tell people to leave sounded wonderful. Especially when Jaclyn had somehow convinced the nurses he wanted her there—all the time.

“Where’s Dylan?”

She looked away from the TV where she’d clicked through channels endlessly. Didn’t she get nothing was on daytime TV, no matter how many times you surfed? Nothing still equaled nothing.

“He’s with a friend.”

Jonathan couldn’t imagine whom she’d left the boy with overnight. He was the only one who’d ever kept him other than the day care. “And your job?”

“Someone’s covering the shift.”

“Hmm.”

A doctor entered the room. “Let’s check how you’re doing today, Mr. Covington.”

“Do you mind?” Jonathan glanced at Jaclyn, and color tinged her cheeks. She slid from the room.

As the doctor rewrapped his bandages, Jonathan held his breath. The pain punched him but had lost a bit of its edge. “Any chance you could keep her from coming back?”

The doctor studied him. “If that’s what you want, absolutely.”

“The gal I want here isn’t. I’ll recover faster without Jaclyn hovering.”

A knowing grin crossed the doctor’s face before he wiped it off. “Glad to get you some peace and quiet.”

“When will I get to go home?”

“Do you have anyone to take care of you?”

“My parents or a friend.”

The doctor eyed him. “Assuming you stay infection free, maybe in a couple days we can transport you home. I can confer with the doctor at the island’s medical center. Make sure she feels comfortable continuing your care.”

“Thanks.”

As soon as the doctor left, Jonathan pulled out his cell and started dialing. He wanted out of this prison the moment it was possible. Anything was better than one extra day lying here.

He had too many events to wrap up and a woman’s heart to win.

R
achelle Stone should arrive any minute. Jonathan had been surprised she agreed to pick him up, but he couldn’t thank her enough for freeing him from the prison of his hospital room. His parents had planned to get him settled at home when his uncle had a stroke. They’d left only when he’d insisted his uncle needed more help than he did. All he wanted was his cabin and being left alone. He’d considered calling Alanna but decided not to. He didn’t want to see her again until he was at home in real clothes. The nurses and physical therapists delighted in torturing him. He tried to mask the pain. Reality remained that his shoulder felt like someone routinely speared him.

Now after three days inside the four walls of this room, he wanted his cabin. At least there he could sit on his deck, fire up his computer for a few minutes, and make sure the details of the Morrises’ event still held together.

And now that Brendan had been arrested for involuntary man-slaughter, murder, and attempted murder, he could throw his efforts into finalizing Trevor’s official debut at the studio.

Rachelle sailed into the room, a Kentucky Derby-worthy hat resting on her sophisticated bob. He smiled at the image of Alanna looking like her in twenty years.

Now to convince Alanna he meant forever.

That was the next item on his agenda. Two successful events and one heart won. Not necessarily in that order.

“You don’t look too much worse for wear.”

“You haven’t seen my stitches.”

Rachelle held up a hand. “That’s all right. I appreciate the way you protected Alanna. More than you know. But I don’t need to see the evidence of your bravery.”

Jonathan wished he had some dark corner to hide as heat flooded his face. Maybe he could blame the closed air in the room.

“So where are your things?”

“Don’t have any. It didn’t cross my mind before Mom and Dad had to leave.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” She sighed with a motherly expression. “I’ll get you some clothes.” After writing down his sizes, she left.

Jonathan barely had time to wonder if Alanna would be glad to see her before Rachelle returned with a bag of undergarments, button-up shirts, and jeans.

“I figured you wouldn’t want anything that pulled over your head.”

“Thanks.” Ten minutes later, he’d changed and finished checking out.

The drive to St. Ignace and the ferry passed in silence, only the strains of some classical symphony filling the car. Then Rachelle followed him onto the ferry.

“Pushing things a bit.” There was no question in her statement.

“I’ll be good as soon as I’m home.”

“Sure you will.”

Silence settled again as the ferry pulled away from the dock and picked up speed. The lake spray threatened to soak him as the ferry worked across the water. As soon as they reached the dock on Mackinac Island, Rachelle edged him to a bench and forced him down. “I’ll find a taxi. No way you’re walking or biking home.”

The island felt the same—abuzz with summer activity, even as he saw it tinged with tragedy. No one had mentioned Ginger yet. Would she pay for her part in the crime spree?

Rachelle came back and dragged him to the taxi. Then she got him settled in his cabin. “I’ll go check on Alanna. Send her here.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

She gave him a knowing smile. “I’m not the Stone you want babysitting you. Besides, I need to work at the studio. I have a painting to finish for your client.”

“So you took the commission? Is your arthritis allowing you to paint?”

“The doctor has me on a medicine that’s helping. I figured after the ways I let you and Alanna down, the least I could do was help him.” She fiddled with her purse strap. “I have a few things to do for this party you’ve planned for Trevor, too.” She turned to the door then back. “Thank you for all you’re doing for him. It’ll be nice to see his name on his paintings.”

Before he could say anything, she disappeared through the door. It was a start. The woman might not admit what she’d done by putting her name on Trevor’s paintings was wrong. But she could start fresh now with the painting for Bonnie.

He couldn’t wait to see what she created. Somehow he knew she would craft the perfect image.

Now he just needed to do the same for Lanna.

It was past time for that.

Alanna dusted the canvases. She couldn’t see a speck of dust, not surprising since she’d circled the studio at least twice a day since Jonathan was shot. Her body refused to sit still, and she had nothing left to investigate. The only details to wrap up related to Trevor’s debut. She didn’t know enough about what was left to do without consulting Jonathan, and she couldn’t do that while he remained in the hospital.

Everything seemed squared away. Trevor would move up for the balance of the summer with Patience helping him. Mom had indicated she could slip up here a couple of times a month now that Dad seemed on the mend.

They didn’t need her. She needed to decide if she could handle a return to her old life in Grand Rapids. The thought sapped her energy; yet if nothing changed with Jonathan, she had no reason to stay. She didn’t want to leave, but she couldn’t remain, not like this.

The feathers tickled another canvas, and she finished.

Now what? The studio sparkled. Everything was ready for next Saturday’s event.

The bell sounded, and Alanna turned. “Mom? What are you doing here?”

“Just deposited Jonathan at his cabin.”

The words struck her like a blow. Jonathan hadn’t called her, but had asked her mom for help? Ouch. “Are you staying long?”

“Through Trevor’s party. Your aunt Mary is staying with your father. She’ll bring him up for the party if he’s well enough. So I’m here to paint and send you to the house. Jonathan didn’t want me babysitting him. I have a feeling you’re much more what he had in mind.”

“Or Jaclyn.”

“Who?” Mom wrinkled her nose. “That woman? I don’t think so. Go gather your things and scoot. The day’s still young. And I have lots of painting to do.” Mom made a shooing motion with her hands, and Alanna obeyed.

Jonathan was at his cabin. That must be good.

She hurried home but stalled when she saw a bike outside his door. Who could that be?

A woman stepped out of the cabin. “I’ll be back tomorrow. But all looks good for now. Don’t push too hard, and get some help. You may be home, but if you’re not careful, we’ll have to transport you right back to the hospital.”

“Thanks.” Jonathan’s voice reached her, though she couldn’t see him.

The woman hopped on the bike and pedaled past Alanna without a wave. She’d have to ask Jonathan, but right now she just wanted to see him. Alanna biked to Jonathan’s door and dismounted. After leaning the bike against the wall, she knocked and entered. “Jonathan?”

He lay on the couch, a pillow shoved beneath his head and another at his side. “Lanna.”

“Are you okay?”

“I will be. Glad to be home. Your mom sent you?”

“She thought you’d rather have me.”

He grinned, which only emphasized the purple bruises under his eyes. “She’s pretty insightful.”