Cameron wasn’t sure if it was surprise or panic on Jane’s face, or maybe both, when she turned around. He’d only caught a glimpse of her as she reached for the cafeteria door, but he instinctively knew that the woman in yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt, hair pulled into what might have once been a ponytail, was Jane. It just took him a minute to reconcile why he was seeing her at the hospital.
He scanned her appearance as he approached. She didn’t look like this was a planned visit, more like she was dressed for curling up on a couch and reading a book.
“Hi, Cameron,” she said, giving him a tight smile.
His heart did a funny little twitch. He hadn’t expected to see her here, and she definitely wasn’t expecting to see him. Maybe she worked at the hospital too? “What are you doing here?”
She exhaled and looked away.
This made him worried. “Are you all right?” he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She looked up at him, and he saw tears in her eyes. “My dad almost went into a diabetic coma this morning. I drove him here.”
“Oh, wow. Is he going to be okay?”
She blinked a few times, as if to wish away her tears. “He’ll be fine. I’m hoping he’ll listen to me more after this.”
Cameron shook his head. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
She shrugged. “How could you? And what brings you here? Is everyone in your family all right?” Her green eyes deepened with concern.
“I’m meeting my mom—we’re presenting last night’s results to the director,” Cameron said. “She’s running late.”
“Oh, I hope the benefit was a success.”
“Thanks, it was,” Cameron said. “How long will your dad be here?”
“Just a few hours more,” she said. “They’re going to monitor him for a bit.” She shook her head. “I should have put the basket in my room last night.”
“The basket?” he asked.
“That food basket you bought at the auction,” Jane said. “My dad ate some of the sugar wafers when I was still asleep. That and his breakfast sent his blood sugar sky high.”
Cameron couldn’t speak for a moment.
“Don’t worry, it’s not your fault—or really mine. My dad knows better.” She wiped at her face. “I just can’t let my guard down, I guess.”
“Is your dad...” Cameron didn’t know exactly how to put it. “Mentally healthy?”
Jane lifted a brow, and then a smile crept on her face. “He is. He’s perfectly capable of managing his diabetes. He’s just stubborn.”
Cameron nodded. “Do you want me to talk to him for you?”
Jane looked like she was trying to hold back a laugh. “Uh, that would not go over well. He already has quite a few opinions about me going to the gala last night.”
“Oh really? Like what?”
Her face pinked, and Cameron wanted to backtrack. He was being too pushy.
“I’m sure you can guess,” Jane said, motioning toward him. “You’re you, and I’m me. The same issue Crystal would have. Did she ever text you?”
“Wait, you just changed the subject like three times.”
Jane grinned and folded her arms.
“Crystal did text me, and she’s furious, but I don’t care,” he said. “Now, tell me what your dad’s problem is with me.”
She sighed. “He’s just protective of me, that’s all.”
Cameron wanted to question her more, but just then someone came out of the cafeteria doors, and Jane moved to let them pass. Before Cameron could respond to her previous statement, she said, “Well, I’m going to grab something to eat, then go and sit with my dad.”
“Wait,” Cameron said, not ready for her to disappear on him. “My mom sent me some pictures from last night. Can I text them over to you?”
Jane blinked. “Pictures of us?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t know there were pictures.”
“Well, there was an unofficial photographer who took a few of the event for a write-up in the local paper.” Cameron shrugged. “But if you don’t want them, that’s cool.”
Jane seemed to hesitate. “Okay, send them to me.”
Cameron tried not to show that he was gloating over his victory. He didn’t know why. It wasn’t like he was going to contact Jane later or anything. She rattled off her number as Cameron created the contact. Then, before he could ask her more about her dad’s strong opinions, she’d opened the door to the cafeteria, said goodbye, and gone inside.
Cameron stared after her for a moment, fighting the urge to go in after her, maybe sit with her and eat. What was wrong with him? Jane was clearly not interested, and it seemed her dad wasn’t a big fan of Cameron’s either. Besides, what was he thinking? He was swamped with work and personal fallout from the canceled engagement. He didn’t have the time, or desire, to date anyone.
“Cameron?” his mom’s voice cut through his thoughts.
He hadn’t realized he was still standing by the cafeteria doors. He turned. “Great, you’re here.”
“Sorry I’m late,” she said. “Did you let the director know?”
“Uh, not yet,” Cameron said. “I was actually just talking to Jane Morris. Her dad is here, dealing with some diabetes stuff.”
“Oh, really?” she said. “Is he going to be all right?”
“Jane says he is,” Cameron said, walking with his mom away from the cafeteria.
“So she’s here alone?” his mom pressed.
“Yeah, I guess so,” he said. “Her parents are divorced, and her mom lives in another city.” At least, he guessed that. He wasn’t entirely sure where her mom was.
“We’ll have to check in on her after our meeting,” his mom said. “Make sure she’s all right.”
Cameron nodded. They’d reached the director’s office, and he opened the door for his mom. He didn’t know what he’d do if one of his parents had to go to the hospital. He didn’t know if Jane had any other relatives in Pine Valley. Frankly, he didn’t know much about her. It was hard to focus on the meeting, and he found himself more than once wanting to excuse himself to go find Jane.
When things finally concluded and handshakes were extended all around, Cameron couldn’t leave the director’s office fast enough.
“Do you want to go golfing with your dad this afternoon?” his mom asked Cameron. “I think I’m too worn out.”
“Maybe,” Cameron said. It might be good to get out in the sun and forget everything for a while.
She scanned his face, then said, “Let’s go check on Jane. Then you should call your dad. He’d love you as a replacement. I tend to give up after about five holes.”
“All right,” Cameron said. But Jane was nowhere to be found. They looked in several waiting rooms, and short of asking the hospital staff if they could page her, Cameron gave up. He didn’t want to bother her if she was in her dad’s hospital room.
“I’ll call her later,” Cameron told his mom.
“You have her number?” She raised her brows as if this was significant.
“Sure,” Cameron said, trying to brush off the look his mom was giving him. He leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I’ll call Dad and see you later.”
“Thanks, son,” his mom said, then turned to walk out of the main entrance.
Cameron stood looking at the waiting room for a moment, then left the hospital himself. There was no use stalking the hallways. Jane was probably perfectly fine. Probably.
But to be sure, he sent her a text before he started up his car. Just leaving the hospital. How’s your dad doing? Do you need anything? This is Cameron, by the way. He waited ten minutes, but there was no reply. So he started his car and slowly drove away.
By the time he pulled up to his cabin, she still hadn’t replied. Cameron walked into the cabin and went out to the back deck. There, he sat in one of the outdoor chairs and pulled up the pictures his mom had sent over from the gala. Two had him and Jane in them. In one, they were in the background, and another person was the focus. In the second picture, the shot was closer. They were sitting at the table, looking at each other, and Jane was smiling at something Cameron must have said.
He gazed at the picture for a few moments, then attached both to a text and sent them to Jane. After a few more minutes waiting for Jane to reply, he went into the house and called his dad.
“Mom’s passing up on the golfing today,” he told his dad when he answered. “Want me for a partner?”
“Love it,” his dad said. “Two o’clock at the club?”
“Sure,” Cameron said, then hung up. He settled on his kitchen counter with his laptop and pulled up his emails. He responded to a few but kept checking his phone. Jane still hadn’t replied.
He read through Crystal’s texts from the night before where she called him a few choice names. Again relief washed over him at the fact that he wouldn’t be marrying the woman. He screenshotted the texts, then deleted the strand. He didn’t need it staring at him when he opened his text app.
Then a new text buzzed his phone, and he saw Jane’s name pop up. He opened the text to read it: Thanks for the pictures. I was in the billing office so sorry I didn’t respond earlier. My dad will be fine. We just got home, and although he’s grumpy about me getting rid of more treats around the house, he’ll survive.
Cameron smiled and wondered if it would seem too eager of him to text back right away? Or should he wait an hour or so? He started typing: I’m glad your dad’s okay. I have a pantry full of treats if you ever need to splurge.
He hit SEND before he could overthink his response. It was completely casual, right?
If you have Oreos, I might be tempted.
I have regular and double-stuffed, he wrote back.
She sent back a smiley face with heart eyes.
Cameron re-read the text strand twice. Then he took a deep breath, and typed: Let me know if your dad needs that talking-to.
LOL. I will.
Cameron scrubbed a hand through his hair. Okay, so he would admit to himself that he liked Jane. More than a little. But now wasn’t the time or the place to be thinking about another woman. His emotions were a mess, and Jane didn’t deserve to be in the middle of whatever rebound he was apparently going through.
He refocused on going through his emails, then got ready to go golfing with his dad. Maybe some father-son time would clear his head.