True Devotion (10 page)

Kelly nodded and wondered if she had time to move from the bed to a chair before the man arrived. “Did he give you a tough time?”

“He was too glad to see that I was awake and okay. Listen, Kelly—before he gets here—my dad is probably going to want to say thanks in a tangible way.”

“Ryan, thank you is all I want. I’m not expecting a gift.”

Ryan appeared embarrassed by what he wanted to say. “No, you don’t understand. Dad isn’t the type to give just any gift. It tends to be extravagant. Would you please just accept it, whatever it is? It would mean a lot to me.”

Kelly was puzzled by the plea. “Ryan—”

A tap on the door interrupted them.

Ryan was dressed casually in jeans and a sweatshirt, but his father was not. It was rare to see a dress shirt, dress slacks, and a silk tie in a hospital, even if the tie was loose and the shirt cuffs were rolled up. Ryan’s dad must have come from work yesterday and never been home. He was carrying a wrapped package.

Her hand instinctively straightened her sweater.

“Kelly, this is my dad, Charles Raines.”

She returned his smile and held out her hand, trying to ignore the embarrassment of having to meet him from a hospital bed. “Mr. Raines.”

Her hand was enveloped in his and held in a comfortable grip. “It’s a pleasure, Mrs. Jacobs.” She liked the gentle tone of his voice, his smile, although his gray eyes were hard to read, the color unusual, not cold but cloudy gray. “I’ve been hearing all about your adventure.” He took the second chair.

Adventure.
Kelly approved of his word choice. It had almost been a tragic accident, but it
had
been an accident. If he had overreacted, Ryan might never surf again.

She could see the toll last night had taken on Charles; the man didn’t look like he had had much sleep. For a father to face the possible loss of his son . . . There were few things more tragic. Even the loss of a spouse did not equate with the loss of a child. She had struggled to hold on to the boy; Charles had struggled to hold on to hope. If Ryan was not in the room, she would have apologized for the duration of the rescue.

“Please, it’s Kelly. Ryan slept through the fun parts.”

He acknowledged the quiet message with a gaze that held hers and a slight nod. Ryan wouldn’t have memories of what had happened last night. The man deliberately relaxed and smiled back at her, taking her by surprise as she was enveloped in the warmth of his eyes. “So he told me. He’s begging for a repeat helicopter ride.” There was laughter in his words as he glanced with affection at his son.

“Dad said maybe. That means yes.”

Kelly had to laugh at the boy’s confidence. She remembered Ryan saying it was only him and his dad. It was pretty obvious the two of them were close.

“We meant to come down earlier. I would have enjoyed meeting your husband, but we got tied up with visitors.”

Her husband . . .
She struggled not to blush as the comment flustered her. “Oh—no, that was Joe. He’s a good friend. He was the one who found us last night.”

“Lieutenant Baker? Now I’m really bothered we didn’t get down here earlier.”

“He’ll be back in the morning. I told him to go home and get some sleep.”

“Your husband?”

“He passed away a few years ago.”

“I’m sorry. I know what that is like.” She saw in his eyes that he did, and it made him infinitely more approachable. She had never been comfortable around the very wealthy, and right or wrong, she had pegged Charles as that with Ryan’s casual words about where they lived. He was slipping under that caution by creating a common ground between them.

She turned her attention to Ryan. “No problems from our swim besides the ankle? Not even a sniffle?”

“No. Did I give you that black eye?”

“Would you believe I don’t remember?”

“It looks like it hurts.”

She didn’t want to leave that impression. “Only when I forget and rub my eyes.”

Charles was not quite so willing to accept her words. “No double vision?”

She glanced back at him and she shook her head. “My eyesight’s fine.”

“I’m grateful you were there, but I hate seeing you pay this kind of price for having helped.”

“Relax. It’s not my first ocean swim. I may end up with a cold, but that’s about it.”

“Is there anything you need? Anything we can bring you?” Charles offered.

“Joe stopped by my place and packed for me.”

“The bear looks old.”

She looked at it and felt childish now about having it with her. “Yes. My husband bought him for me ages ago.”

Charles picked it up. “It’s certainly more practical than flowers.” The expression on his face became distant. “My wife used to buy me little carved figures of jade lions, bears, pandas—so there would be something to put on the hotel dresser when I traveled that would remind me of home.” He smiled at her as he put the bear down. “Jade isn’t as huggable.”

“No.” He was lonely. She could hear it in his voice, and she wondered why he hadn’t remarried long ago. A good-looking, wealthy man with a teenage son? It couldn’t have been for lack of candidates.

“We brought you something.” Charles held out the box.

Kelly saw Ryan’s silent plea as she accepted the gift, not sure what to expect. It had always been easier to give gifts than receive them. Her hands fumbled with the tape, her fingers not cooperating, making a lie to what she had said about being fine. Her body wasn’t quite as resilient as that of a teenager. Charles stilled her hands and broke the tape for her. She glanced up, met his gaze, then quickly looked back at the gift.

The lid on the box came off easily and she moved the tissue paper aside. It was a rosebud vase made of fine porcelain. She lifted it from the box with great care and let it rest against her palms. It was absolutely lovely.

“Dad brought it from the Orient.”

Charles met her gaze with a smile, without changing his relaxed posture. “Pretty, but not so expensive it should sit on a shelf and not be used,” he noted. “We’ll bring you a rose for it tomorrow.”

Not totally the truth. She had a feeling that the age she sensed in the piece was real, not a good replication. She felt inept in situations like this. She glanced again at the vase, traced the design. “Maybe a pink one to match this rose?”

“Of course.” The warmth in his voice grew. “That would be a pleasure.” Kelly could see where Ryan got his charm.

They stayed for half an hour. Charles relaxed like Joe did, completely, and his smile was never far away. She liked the fact that when he asked questions, he really listened to the reply. He made her laugh, and that was rare with a stranger.

When they left, Kelly settled back against the pillows, still a little overwhelmed. Charles Raines would not have crossed her path under normal circumstances. She had made an unexpected friend.

Kelly reached for her Bible and opened it again but soon found herself struggling to keep her eyes open. She finally closed it, accepting reality.
Tomorrow, Lord.

Seven

* * *

“Charles, it’s gorgeous.” The rose was a perfect match for the vase. “Thank you.” Kelly moved the vase to the middle of the table, pleased with the gift. In anticipation of his visit, she had risen early and was reading the Saturday San Diego newspaper when he arrived. She wasn’t surprised he was alone; it was early for Ryan to be allowed up.

Charles indicated the chair across from her. “May I?”

“Please.” She moved aside the newspaper inserts. “Did Ryan have a good night?”

“Fine. I left him eating breakfast and watching music videos.”

She laughed at his bemused expression. It was obvious he didn’t share his son’s music tastes. He had brought his own coffee with him, and she relished the aroma as she sipped ice water. “Will he be released today?”

“I expect so. It was incredibly quiet around the house last night. Are you also able to leave today?”

“As soon as the doctor makes his rounds.”

“I’m glad.” Charles set down his coffee. “I wanted to ask you, Ryan’s going to need to learn how to surf
safely
. He and Tony were supposed to be going to the beach, but not to surf. I’m not willing to risk such an accident again, and I don’t think grounding him for life is going to work.” He grimaced at that. “Do you know a good instructor?”

“A few. Greg Peterson is good. He does a lot of work with the park district, has classes scheduled for most of the summer.”

“What about private lessons? I’d like to get Ryan scheduled for something in the next week, ten days.”

“Outside my purview, I’m afraid. Greg would know.” Kelly was aware the world was different when money was not a problem. She hesitated. “I could give him a few pointers until you line something up.”

“Would you?”

He looked pleased with the offer and she relaxed, for it had been a bit presumptuous to offer. “I’d enjoy it.”

“I’ll gladly take you up on it. Ryan thinks you’re neat, so he’ll listen to you.”

Neat.
It sounded like a direct quote. “Tell him thanks. I like your son.” She sipped at the water and saw him glance at the newspaper. “Would you like the financial page?”

He looked back at her and gave a lazy grin. “I look like an investment banker?”

“Just guessing.”

“Nothing so glamorous. My firm is a dealmaker for military hardware between the U.S. Navy and the British Navy.”

“Really?”

“I had to do something once they tossed me out of Hong Kong.”

“What were you doing before?”

“Keeping my ear to the ground. Hong Kong presented some unique security concerns both for the British government and the British companies based there. My firm helped fill in the gaps when the military needed some civilian expertise.”

A civilian who understood the military. Kelly tucked it away to ponder later. She didn’t ask about that area of his life, for she had lived with the reality of military secrecy too long to even raise the questions. “Ryan sounds like he misses living abroad.”

“We’d go back in an instant if it were possible. Hong Kong is a fabulous place to live and work.”

“What do you miss the most?”

“Besides the food? Almost everything. The people, the pace, the potential around every corner. My wife was born there.”

As she listened to Charles talk about Hong Kong, Kelly could hear how much he loved it. She leaned back in her chair, peppering him with questions when he paused.

He stopped midsentence and gave her a rueful look. “Kelly, tell me to shut up. You don’t need an encyclopedic tourist guide.”

“I’m a little envious; I’ve never been outside of California.”

“Really?”

She smiled at his shock. “It’s not that bad. It is a very big state.”

“Maybe I’ll get a chance to show you Hong Kong sometime in the future.”

She started to say something, stopped, and blinked. The guy was serious. She was still trying to formulate how to reply when she caught movement from the corner of her eye. Joe was here. She turned, pleased the men would get a chance to meet.

She had decided one thing early this morning—she was going to get her feelings about Joe back under control. Yesterday had been nothing but unchecked emotion, spurred by events. She was thinking more rationally today. They were friends. She wasn’t going to let anything mess that up, didn’t dare. His friendship was the best thing she had in her life. It wouldn’t work for them to be something more. She was rather proud of the fact she could look at him this morning and not have heart flutters. How long that control lasted was another matter. He
would
have to show up in his summer whites, not his usual desert cammies. He looked sharp and in command.

“Joe, I’d like you to meet Ryan’s father, Charles Raines. Charles, Lieutenant Joe Baker.”

Charles got to his feet. They were an interesting match—Charles with his smooth charm and easy smile, Joe with his innate confidence and sense of presence.

“It’s good to meet you, Lieutenant.” Charles held out his hand.

Kelly was startled by the hesitation before Joe offered his and shook hands. “Mr. Raines.” His voice was cool and his expression anything but welcoming.

What was his problem? She pushed back her chair. “Charles was just telling me about Hong Kong, where he and Ryan used to live.” She could hear herself rushing her words, for the tension in the room was palatable.

“Did you live there for long?” Joe asked, never turning his attention from the man.

“Ten years. Have you ever been?”

“I’ve visited. How’s your son?”

“Doing well. I would like to offer my thanks for your help in a tangible way.”

“I’m sure the naval base would appreciate a contribution to the family fund.”

Charles nodded, then glanced over at Kelly. “I should let you get packed.” He reached for his coffee mug, keeping one eye on Joe even as he spoke to her.

“Thanks for the rose.” She hated to see him leave but couldn’t blame him given Joe’s reaction. She had never known Joe to take such an immediate dislike to someone. She didn’t understand it and there was no reason for it.

“It was my pleasure. I’ll call you this evening, see how you are doing.”

“I’d like that.”

She walked with Charles toward the door. “Tell Ryan I said hello.”

Charles smiled. “I’m sure he’ll want a few minutes on the phone tonight. See you later, Kelly.” He turned slightly. “Lieutenant.”

Joe nodded tersely.

Kelly made sure the door was closed behind Charles before she turned on Joe. “What was that all about? You were rude.”

“Guilty.”

Joe was in full grizzly bear mode this morning, but she wasn’t going to let him off the hook. “Why?”

“I don’t know, Kelly.” It wasn’t an angry denial as much as a frustrated one. “Call it instinct. The guy put my back up.”

“Well, that doesn’t give you the right to be impolite.”

“What was he doing letting his son go surfing anyway? The sea was churning.”