TWENTY-FOUR
Janey hated the hospital, and no one would let her leave. She was stuck there until they determined the effects of the drug in the tranquilizer and how her system was dealing with it. She had nearly died with the drugs Dayle had given her six months before; no one was taking chances now. And no one was leaving her in peace.
The whole Mackay clan was there; if they weren’t in her room, they were outside her room. Taking turns coming in, watching her carefully and making her crazy. It went on all night, until by the next morning she wanted to scream in frustration.
Thankfully, Timothy Cranston arrived, ran everyone else out, and gave Alex a hard look when he nearly refused. Janey was surprised to see him go.
“He’s a damned good man.” Timothy ran his hands over his thinning hair as he sat in the chair beside her bed and watched her with heavy eyes.
“He is at that.”
Janey watched Timothy. There was so much grief inside the other man that her heart ached for him.
“I had a daughter once,” he finally said. “A family.”
She felt tears flood her eyes and barely kept them in check.
“A little granddaughter.” He smiled sadly, then ducked his head as he rubbed at his chest and inhaled hard. “I lost them in a terrorist bombing. My son-in-law, my daughter and grandchild, and my wife. I was supposed to be there, but a case was coming together and I wouldn’t leave.”
“And they died,” she whispered.
He nodded. “Yeah. They died.” He lifted his head again. “You look so much like my baby girl,” he said then. “My little Maria. The first time I saw you, I knew your heart, everything you were, would be sweet and kind. And I was right.”
Janey watched him silently.
“I don’t have family,” Timothy said then.
Janey reached out and touched the hand that lay on the bed beside her. “You’re wrong.”
His head lifted.
“Natches doesn’t fight with people he doesn’t care for,” she told him softly. “Dawg calls everyone he loves names. And well, Rowdy, he just wouldn’t speak to you at all if he didn’t like you. And you remind me, Timothy, of everything I ever wished for in a father.”
“I’m not the nice man you want to see.” Timothy grimaced. “Every one of those boys out there will tell you that.”
“Alex says you’re a genius,” she told him. “And I overheard Natches and Dawg talking after you left at Christmas. Natches was disappointed you hadn’t stayed for dinner.”
There was a flicker of something in his eyes, an emotion, almost a hunger that filled him. A need for family. The family he had lost was gone, and he knew it, but Janey saw that need inside him for something to replace it.
“Hang around awhile.” She tightened her fingers on his. “Don’t run off on us, Timothy. We miss you.”
He sighed again. “Yeah, well, DHS has suspended me again.” He grinned, like a little boy that had been caught doing something naughty. “They don’t like my methods.”
She grinned at that. “They’re crazy, then,” she decided. “But that’s all the better for us.”
He scratched his cheek. “Alex wants to be chief of police.”
She nodded at that. “He’ll get it, too.”
“Well, of course he’ll get it.” Timothy’s grin widened. “How much you wanna bet I can’t win the next election for mayor, though?”
Janey stared back at him in shock, then in amusement.
“You wouldn’t dare. He’d die.”
“I know how to boss him around,” Timothy chortled. “Trust me, Janey, he won’t get bored at his job.”
He rose to his feet, and his expression became serious once again as he reached out and touched her hair. “You’re too old to adopt.” He sighed. “Too bad. I’d have enjoyed holding a shotgun on Alex.”
Janey shook her head before patting his hand and staring up at him gratefully. “You’re a good man, Timothy.”
His shoulders shifted, his wrinkled suit jacket bunching around his neck. “I better go. Alex will be getting antsy.”
“Timothy.” She stopped him as he moved to turn away.
“Yes?”
“You’re part of my family,” she told him then. “Admittedly, those Mackay boys are hard to get along with, but I have a feeling you enjoy that part of it.”
His grin was mischevious. He finally grunted. “It’s the only reason I didn’t slap their asses in jail last year. They’re good boys. Damned good boys.”
“And we’ll see you soon?” she asked, looking for promises. She felt the need for promises right now. She didn’t want to lose anyone else she cared for.
“Yeah.” He nodded slowly. “Yeah, Janey. You’ll be seeing me more often than Alex might like.”
With a final grin, he left the room. Silence surrounded her for the first time in too long, and before she knew it, her eyes drifted closed and sleep was finally attainable.
No bitching cousins, no worried brother, no sister-in-law hovering anxiously. She missed Alex, but she knew he was close. She could feel him. She let her head sink deeper into her pillow and let sleep wash over her.
She felt the kiss at her brow and almost smiled. Heard the soft whisper of her lover’s voice, and almost woke. But it was quiet here, peaceful, and warm. And she let the warmth wash over her. Just for a little while.