Friends--And Then Some Read online

  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.

  “If you insist.”

>   Gram chuckled. “You two remind me of Paddy and me.”

  Paddy was Lily’s grandfather. He’d died several years before Lily was born, but the tales Gram told about him were very telling of the deep love and commitment her grandparents had shared. Lily hoped to find the same deep and lasting love with her own husband.

  “You ready?” Jake asked, standing.

  Lily looked at Gram for support, then back to Jake. “I hate to have you spend money on me. It isn’t necessary.”

  “Would you like it better if Rick bought you a dress? Is that it?”

  “Of course not.” She hardly knew Rick and didn’t want him buying her clothes.

  “Then let’s get this over and done with.” He was halfway across the living room before Lily moved.

  “Gram, what’s wrong with Jake? He’s not himself.”

  Gram shook her pin-curled head and laughed. “I can’t say I rightly know, but I have my suspicions.”

  With Jake marching ahead, Lily had little choice but to follow him. He was sitting in the driver’s seat of his taxi and glaring impatiently toward Lily as she came down the front steps.

  “How’d you get your cab back?” she asked, opening the car door. They’d left it parked in front of Rick’s house and Lily had wondered if Jake wanted her and Gram to pick it up for him. That was one of the things she’d planned to ask him that morning at the hospital.

  “I have my ways,” he grumbled, checking the side-view mirror before pulling onto the street. A heavy pause followed. “Did you have a good time last night?”

  The question repeated in Lily’s mind. Had she? Yes and no. The evening had been one she’d dreamed about for years. She’d met several interesting men who might be worth her time. Rick had been a gentleman, kind and considerate and genuinely concerned when Jake had fallen. He’d taken charge immediately and knew exactly what to do. Lily had been surprised at her response to Jake’s injury. She’d fallen to pieces, and Rick had been there to lend his support.

  “Hello? Earth to Lily,” Jake said. “Did you or did you not have a good time?”

  “The evening was grand. Thank you, Jake, for inviting me.”

  “Did you meet someone?” Anticipating her answer, his grip tightened around the steering wheel. He wanted Lily to assure him that she had found the rich man of her dreams. But in the same breath, he wanted her to tell him she’d found no one.

  “Not really.”

  “What about Rick?”

  “He was very nice.”

  The corner of Jake’s mouth curved up sarcastically. Her word choice was comforting. “Anyone else?”

  “Not really. A couple of others said they planned to visit the Wheaton to hear me play, but I don’t think they’ll show.”

  “Who?” Jake demanded.

  Lily lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug, surprised that Jake would sound angry when meeting eligible wealthy men was the reason he’d taken her to the party. “I don’t remember their names.”

  “If they do come, I want to know about it so I can have them checked out.” He was eager to know for other reasons as well—ones that weren’t clearly defined in his mind. He wanted Lily married and happy, and he wished to heaven that he could forget the taste of her. Every time he looked at her, he had trouble not kissing her again. He’d received a head injury, Jake told himself. One that was apparently affecting his reasoning ability. He shouldn’t be thinking of Lily in that way. His only option was to set her up with Rick or one of the others—and quickly.

  “Jake,” Lily said softly.

  “Yes?” Her swallowed hard.

  “Why are you insisting on buying me a dress?”

  “What’s the matter? Do you think Rick could afford a better one?”

  “Oh, Jake, of course not.”

  From the soft catch in her voice, Jake knew he’d hurt her to even imply such a thing. “It’s a matter of pride,” he explained. “You told me Rick wanted to replace the one I ruined. My blood stained it, so I should be the one to buy you another dress.”

  “But Gram got the stain out.”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “But …”

  “I’m buying you the dress. Understand?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “Understand?” he repeated forcefully.

  “Repeaters is off Thirty-second.”

  “What?”

  “The secondhand store where I usually buy my dresses.” It took all of her willpower to give in to his pride. Jake had always been so reasonable, but his harsh tone told Lily she’d best concede gracefully. Either Jake would go with her or he’d buy something for her on his own.

  “I’m not getting you anything secondhand.”

  “All right,” she agreed reluctantly. “Either Sears or Penney’s is fine.”

  “We’re going to Neiman Marcus.”

  “Neiman Marcus, Jake!” Lily’s jaw fell open. Jake couldn’t afford to shop there.

  The announcement was as much of a shock to Jake as it was to Lily. He’d driven toward downtown, thinking they’d figure out where to shop once he’d found parking. But now that he’d spoken the words, he wouldn’t back down. If he was going to buy Lily a dress it would be one she’d remember all her life.

  “I saw a dress I liked on display in Penney’s.” Her hands felt clammy just at the thought of spending all Jake’s money on some silly dress. He worked too hard and saved so little.

  “And I saw one at Neiman Marcus,” Jake countered. “You’re always talking about how you want to shop there someday. I’m giving you the chance.”

  A hundred arguments crossed her mind as they parked and Jake escorted her through the elite department store.

  “Jake,” Lily pleaded.

  “And nothing on sale.” Jake paused in front of a mannequin. “Nice,” he said to no one in particular.

  “It should be,” Lily informed him stiffly, reading the price tag. “This little piece of chiffon is fifteen hundred dollars.”

  It demanded all of his discipline for Jake to reveal none of his thoughts. Fifteen hundred dollars for a dress? He had no idea. He hesitated a second longer. “So?”

  “Jake, honestly, fifteen hundred dollars would wipe you out.” Lily was growing more uneasy by the minute. This whole idea was ridiculous. Pride or not, Jake had no business buying her clothes. Not here.

  “May I help you?” An attentive salesclerk approached them.

  “Yes,” Jake said.

  “No,” Lily countered.

  “Perhaps if I came back in a few minutes.” The salesclerk took a step in retreat.

  “My friend here would like to try on this dress,” Jake said, lifting the hem of the pricey dress on the mannequin.

  “Jake,” Lily hissed under her breath.

  “And a few more just like this,” Jake continued.

  The clerk gave a polite nod. “If you’ll come this way.”

  Jake’s hand on the small of Lily’s back urged her forward.

  “Do you have any color in mind?”

  “Midnight blue, red, and maybe something white.” The choices came off the top of his head. Once, a long time back, it had occurred to him that with Lily’s dark hair she’d look like an angel in white.

  “I have just the thing.” The clerk motioned toward the dressing rooms on the other side of the spacious floor.

  Like a small duckling marching after its mother, Lily walked behind the salesclerk through rows and rows of expensive dresses.

  Sitting in a deep, cushioned chair outside the dressing room, Jake leaned against the padded back and crossed his legs, playing the part of a generous benefactor. This was just the type of thing Rick would relish. Jake had recognized the look in Rick’s eyes the minute he laid eyes on Lily. He’d wanted her. Jake knew the feeling. He’d wanted Elaine from the first minute he’d seen her; had lusted after her and been so thoroughly infatuated with her that he couldn’t think straight. But Lily was different. She wasn’t Elaine—knowledgeable in the ways o
f the world and practiced in controlling men. No, Lily was an innocent.

  Changing positions, Jake uncrossed his legs and folded his arms over his chest. He didn’t know what could be taking so long—or how he was going to pay for whichever dress Lily chose. But it would be worth it to salvage his pride.

  “Jake,” Lily whispered, coming out of the dressing room. She wore a deep-blue dress with a scalloped collar and short sleeves. “How do you like it?”

  Jake watched her walk self-consciously in front of him. It was a dress, nothing special. “What do you think?” he asked.

  “The saleslady called it Spun Sapphires.”

  “It has a name?”

  “Yes.” She inserted her hand inside the thin belt. “It’s a little big around the waist.”

  “Then try on another.”

  Relieved, Lily returned to the dressing room. The dress was nice, but she hated the thought of Jake spending nine hundred dollars on it. As tactfully as possible, she asked the clerk to bring dresses that were in a lower price range. Eager to please, the woman returned with a variety in the colors Jake had requested. A white crepe frock with feminine tucks and simulated pearl embellishments caught her eye.

  Jake felt a little too conspicuous as he sat and waited. Since Iraq, he liked to think of himself as an island, an entity unto himself. His life was comfortable. He needed no one. There were no ties to the mainland, no bridges, no sandbars. Nothing. Elaine had been the first to tug him closer to the shore. And now Lily … Just when he wanted to cast thoughts of her from his mind, he glanced up to discover her standing in front of him. She was breathtakingly beautiful in a simple white dress. Without realizing what he was doing, he slowly rose to his feet. Their eyes met for an instant before Lily turned away. Jake could hardly breathe, let alone speak. He’d never seen anyone more lovely.