Alana stared at Shirley, unable to speak. Finally, the stunning message of the older woman penetrated through her shock. She reached with her good arm to hug Shirley.
“Shirley, that’s amazing!”
Shirley bubbled with excitement. “I thought that would make you happy. No more worrying about finding a place to move. The building’s ours now, and no one can tell us we have to leave. There’ll be no more rental payments each month. There are so many things we can buy for the children without having to make those payments.”
Shirley smiled as she stood. “Well, I gotta run, sweetie. Just wanted to pop in and bring you the good news in person. Would you please tell him how much we appreciate what he did?” Happy tears slid down Shirley’s cheeks. “The children are so happy.” She smiled through her tears and turned.
When Brad appeared at the door, Shirley patted him on the arm and gave him a beaming smile as she left the room.
Brad glanced out the door and laughed at the way Shirley floated down the hall. “What in the world has her flying in the clouds?”
“I don’t believe it,” said Alana, pressing her hands to her cheeks. “She told me Jaydn deeded the orphanage building and the whole block to her and Darrell—for nothing.”
She dropped her hands to her lap and blinked at her brother. “And she asked me to tell him how much they appreciate what he did.” The confusion turned to misery. “How am I supposed to do that, Brad? He won’t even let me see him.”
Brad sat down beside her and took her hands in his. He said nothing for a full minute. Then he said, “Alana, there’s something I need to tell you. I’m not sure Jaydn would approve, but I can’t keep quiet when it’s obvious how you two feel about each other.”
Alana braced herself for what was coming.
“Jaydn asked me last week about the orphanage. He wanted to know what kind of job Darrell and Shirley were doing, about the kids there, and when their lease was up. He asked if plans to move to a new location were in place. When I told him no, he seemed excited. He said he had to talk to his lawyer, and he mumbled something about you.”
“Me?” Alana asked. “What did it have to do with me?”
Brad shrugged his shoulders. “He did it for you, Alana. He knows how much that orphanage means to you. He gave it to them because it would make you happy.”
Alana was dazed. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined Jaydn using his wealth for something so wonderful. It certainly clashed with her opinion of the wealthy business owners she had known in the past. She had tried to convince herself he was just like Tom, but deep down in her heart, she knew Jaydn was different. He said he cared for her, and to prove it, he put actions behind the words. Tears blurred her vision.
“Lane, you know what the Bible says about forgiving others. Can’t you forgive Jaydn for loving you too much to tell you the truth? You have to know that he would never do anything to hurt you like Tom did.”
He rubbed the back of her hand thoughtfully. “There’s another reason you should forgive him, sweetie. He saved your life—several times.”
When she nodded, he looked deep into her eyes. “He took a bullet for you, Alana.” Brad’s voice broke. “In my book, that proves a love beyond words. How much more does it take to convince you he cares?”
A strangled cry escaped her lips, and tears overflowed and streamed down her cheeks. Visions of Jaydn jumping in front of her at the warehouse and falling to the floor with blood staining his shirt overwhelmed her, and the throbbing in her chest grew stronger.
“Brad, please,” she moaned, reaching out to him as tears fell unheeded down her cheeks. “I need to see him. Will you help me? I have to tell him I’m sorry, that I was wrong.”
Brad nodded and took her arm, smiling. “That’s one thing I’d be happy to do.”
SEVENTY-SEVEN
JAYDN LAY BACK IN BED
and stared at the stained ceiling. When a knock sounded on the door, he waited until Brad stuck his head around the door.
“Hey, Jaydn. Do you feel like company?”
“I’ll take your company over a boring hospital room any day, Brad. Come on in.”
Brad didn’t move but looked down at the floor. “Well, actually, it’s Alana who’s here to see you.”
Jaydn grew quiet. Why should he suffer through her presence when it would only make him yearn for something he couldn’t have? Her words echoed in his head constantly like a time loop.
You’re a deceitful liar
.
I don’t ever want to see you again
.
Jaydn ducked his head and felt the awkward uneasiness injected into the room between him and Brad. Brad stood quietly—waiting for an answer.
Jaydn raised his head to look at Brad and shook his head. “Not yet, Brad. I’m not up to facing her yet.”
Brad stood up taller. “I really think you should see her, buddy. She has something important to tell you.”
Jaydn’s heart balked.
Yeah, right. Like I’m still a deceitful liar.
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. Not now.”
Brad nodded sadly and said as he exited, “All right, Jaydn. I’ll be back to see you later, then.”
Jaydn’s heart eased into overdrive as he stared at the closed door. Knowing Alana’s stubbornness, he wouldn’t put it past her to barge into the room uninvited.
He actually
wanted
her to.
Needed
her to.
The unnerving tap of the clock on the wall pounded out the seconds as he waited. The anticipation was murder. When she didn’t appear, his heart thudded to the bottom of his chest.
Guess that was his answer. Their future was set in stone. There was no future.
SEVENTY-EIGHT
ARE YOU READY TO GO
home, munchkin?”
Alana stood forlornly and mustered up a smile, waving Brad and Lisa into the room. Lisa crossed the room and sat a vase of gorgeous yellow and white roses on the table beside the window.
“What beautiful flowers, Lisa. Thank you!” She included Brad in the smile.
“Well, we’d like to take credit for them, but someone else had them delivered to the nurse’s station, and they asked us to make sure you got them.”
“Oh?” Puzzled, Alana wrinkled her forehead. “And do I know this someone else?”
“You do,” said Brad quietly. “It was Jaydn.”
“What?” Now Alana really
was
surprised. “Why would he send me flowers? He won’t even see me.”
Brad shrugged. “I think he sent the flowers before you tried to visit him upstairs.”
Brad stole a glance at Lisa, who sighed and added, “In spite of his refusal to see you, I think he really cares for you. Just give him some time.”
“Lane, when I went back to see him last night, all he could talk about was you. He wanted to know how your arm was feeling . . . if you were in pain . . . if your vision had returned . . . when you were going home. The guy’s hooked, and I think you feel the same way about him.”
Alana felt the blush rise from her cheeks to her hairline.
Brad grinned. “Bingo! A blush like that has to mean something.”
Alana looked at Brad, then Lisa, and then her head hung low. “Brad, you know money and I have always been enemies, and you know the reasons why I feel that way. It changes a relationship after a while. I’m afraid. I’m afraid he’ll end up being like Tom.”
Brad sighed softly and lifted her chin with his finger. “I know you’ve had it rough in the past, but Jaydn’s different. I feel it in here.” He patted his hand over his heart.
A knock sounded on the door, and Kent stuck his head into the room.
“Can I come in?”
Brad got up off the bed and motioned for Kent to come into the room. “Sure, Kent.”
Kent’s olive complexion turned ashen when he saw the flowers surrounding the bed. “Man, I should have brought flowers. I’m sorry.” His embarrassment caused his gaze to drop to the floor, and his feet never stopped scuffing the tiled floor.
Alana walked over to him and put her hand on his arm. “Kent, please. You’ve done so much already. If you hadn’t pulled me from the lake . . . I don’t know what might have happened. I couldn’t have lasted much longer.”
“But I let Bo steal you away. I should have watched him more closely and stayed with him like Brad ordered me to do. Then maybe he wouldn’t have taken you to the warehouse in the first place, and you and Jaydn wouldn’t have gotten shot.”
Brad spoke up. “Kent, I told you to keep an eye on Alana and Jaydn, and that’s what you did. You followed Bo from town and discovered the location of the warehouse, didn’t you?” His voice shook with emotion. “You called me and helped me find them. You saved my sister’s life. I’ll forever be grateful.” He shook Kent’s hand with a moving handshake.
Kent shifted from foot to foot, clearly embarrassed with the thanks. Alana gave him a hug. “Thank you, Kent. You’re a great friend.” She smiled and turned back to the bed. “Now, let’s get out of here, okay?”
On the way home, they drove down the quiet street right in front of Jaydn’s office building. Suddenly, Alana sat up straight in the back seat.
“Brad, I have an idea. Do you know when Jaydn will be coming home from the hospital?”
Brad thought for a minute. “I think it’ll be in a day or two, the way he talked. Why?”
Alana grinned to herself. “I think I know how I can see Jaydn, and there’s no way he can stop me.” Her eyes were bright and full of hope.
SEVENTY-NINE
TWO WEEKS LATER, ALANA STEPPED
out of the elevator and murmured a heartfelt prayer.
Lord, please let this work.
Her shoes tapped across the wooden floor until they sank into the oriental rug in front of the massive desk. Greeting the secretary behind the stylish desk, she gave her an uneven smile.
“Are you Florence?”
The middle-aged woman rose with a smile and walked around her desk to greet Alana. “I’m so glad to finally meet you, Alana. You’re just as pretty as I pictured you over the phone.” She gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“I hope this works.”
“It has to, dear. I’ve never seen Jaydn like this before—moping around like a dog that lost his master. I don’t think I can stand all this meekness any longer—humility
oozes
out of his pores. Something has to give.” She smiled to take the edge off the criticism.
“When do you expect him here in the office?”
Florence looked at her watch. “In about twenty minutes. He’s been coming in a little later since he got out of the hospital. Come on over. I’ll help you get set up.”
Twenty-five minutes later, the elevator door opened and Jaydn stepped out, talking to a tall, thin man beside him. The man stayed in the elevator, waiting for Jaydn to finish his instructions.
“See which of the three properties suit the town of Bishop, Ward. If they like either one of them, we’ll develop that one for the parking garage. And, let me know when it’s done.” Jaydn nodded, and Ward pushed the button. As the elevator doors closed, Jaydn turned and stopped in mid-step.
The back of the woman standing at the filing cabinet behind the secretary’s desk didn’t look like Florence at all. In fact, she bore a striking resemblance to Alana—but then, everyone did these days. His heart sped up when the woman turned and faced him.
“Hello, Mr. Holbrook. Here are your messages.” Alana picked up a small pile of notes from the desk. “The typed letters are ready to leave in the afternoon mail, and you have two messages about the building going up in Medville and three appointments before lunch. Your coffee’s on your desk along with two perfectly heated chocolate doughnuts, and,” Alana paused and finally looked up at him then, “you have a young lady waiting for an interview about an apology.”
Alana smiled at him then, and the sun came out from behind the clouds. Jaydn stepped forward for the messages she held out and stopped beside the desk—his system gradually coming to life.
“And where is this young lady waiting for an interview? Does she have an appointment?”
She smiled at him shyly and shook her head. “No, but I had to see you, Jaydn. I know why you wouldn’t see me at the hospital, but I had to say I’m sorry. I misjudged you.” Alana could see into his heart, and what she saw brought tears to her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Jaydn. I tried to stuff you into the same mold as someone who had a completely different personality. Someone whose only concern was himself. Someone who used the money he inherited to make life miserable for everyone else. Can you ever forgive me? Will you please give me a second chance?”
Jaydn could stand still no longer. Setting aside the papers in his hand, he closed the space between them. Taking her hands in his, he stared into her eyes. “Alana, I’ve already forgiven you. I’ve missed you so much. You are the sunshine of my life. I think I fell in love with you the first time I ever saw you standing beside this desk. Do you think you could ever love a bull-headed, rich business executive like me?”
Her sparkling laughter filled the air. “Oh, Jaydn, I could never love anyone else.”