Chapter Sixteen

 

“You can put it right over there,” I said, pointing at the table near the wall.

The delivery guy set the box down and waved as he left the room. I put my hands on my hips and sighed. The room was wall-to-wall boxes and I didn’t seem to be making a lot of progress in unpacking. I would have to call in some help or I wasn’t going to get anywhere.

When we got back from Honolulu last week the rooms were nearly complete with paint and carpet. We spent the next two days getting the kitchen finished with counter tops, plumbing, and electricity before Sawyer installed all the appliances with the help of the contractor.

I still don’t have my brace, which means I have to be careful and not overdo it. Thankfully, Sawyer is taking me to pick it up later this afternoon. The massage therapy twice a week is helping with the spasms, and the added medication has too, but it’s made me extremely tired. Most nights I’ve been asleep by the time Sawyer gets done in the kitchen. I had Lei make him a swipe key to my apartment. He wakes me and we share dinner before we fall into bed, either to make love or sleep. Today, I felt better and more energetic, which probably meant my body was getting used to the dose increase. I was glad. I have too much to do to be exhausted. I grabbed my phone and dialed a number, waiting while it rang.

“Hello,” she said. “You okay, Rosie?”

“Hi, Kate,” I answered. “I’m fine, but I was wondering if you have any spare time to help with the daycare center? There are boxes everywhere here. I don’t even know where to start. If you can’t, I understand.”

She laughed happily. “I can help! Let me get some toys together for Hope and we’ll be around.”

“Thank you so much, Kate. I’m drowning in here. If you want you can drop Hope off at the daycare; they’re short a toddler today. They have plenty of space.”

“Better yet! Hope misses her time there. See you in a few.”

She hung up and I laid the phone on a box. Last week the first words out of my mouth when we left the boat were ‘what’s wrong with Kate?’ Gideon chuckled and reminded me she can get a cold and it doesn’t mean she’s dying. I reminded him I’ve been taking care of Kate for years before he came into the picture, and even though I gave the job to him, I still worry about her. Thankfully she’s better, because I need her organizational skills.

My phone beeped a text and I thought it was Kate. I grabbed it quick and opened the text. “I love you.”

I smiled and typed back. “I love you, too. Kate’s coming to help me with some boxes, but I can’t wait to see you this afternoon.”

“I’m working on a surprise for you; do you feel up to dinner tonight? I thought we could go out after we get done at the clinic.”

“A surprise?” I typed, my heart pounding. “I love surprises, well, most surprises,” I typed, thinking about Jarrett for a heartbeat. “I’m feeling much better today. I think your food is helping my fatigue.”

“I have a huge smile on my face now. I’ll see you at two.”

“Love you,” I typed as there was a knock on the door.

I looked up and Kate stood in the entry.

“Hi,” I said, laying the phone down and hugging her. “You were crazy fast.”

She pointed backward. “Hope and I were in Gideon’s office. He forgot his computer, so we walked it over. Glad I did now.” She glanced around the room and shook her head a bit. “Boy, you aren’t kidding. You’re drowning in boxes.”

I did the palms up. “I am, but the good news is, this is everything. Once we get it all organized on tables, when the shelving is installed the job will go quickly.”

“When are the shelves being installed?” she asked, her attention focused on the new space.

“Tomorrow, which is why I need all these boxes emptied. There’s no floor space for the workers. I hate to have to unpack them today onto tables, just to move them to the shelves tomorrow, but there’s no choice. The shipments arrived earlier than expected. The infant room is essentially done, so we can put the infant toys in there as we unload them. Other than a few rockers I need to buy, we’re set for the little ones. I’m going to get the chairs local since they’ll have to be replaced often.”

“Why?” she asked, digging into a box of toys.

I took the trains she handed me and set them on the table near the wall, limping back. “We need glider rockers. They’re the only kind of rocker safe for little fingers. I want to sit in them and try them out versus ordering them and finding out they’re uncomfortable. Also, if one breaks or wears out, I can get another one quickly.”

She tapped her chin. “How many will you need?” she asked and I thought about it for a moment.

“I think two is enough. They’ll get a lot of use, but three would take up too much space.”

She stopped and broke down the first empty box. “I know a guy who makes koa wood platform rockers. They’re beautiful, and functional. Would you consider ordering two from him?”

I nodded eagerly. “Without a doubt, but I need them yesterday. Don’t furnituremakers work on special order?”

She grabbed her phone. “Usually, but he does it for a hobby and usually has a few finished and displayed at his home for sale. I’ll call him later tonight and ask.” She showed me a picture of one of his chairs on her phone and I reared back, staring at her.

“He makes those as a hobby? They’re gorgeous,” I exclaimed, bringing the phone toward my nose. “He’s crazy talented.”

She grinned. “I keep telling him the same, but he’s convinced no one will want to buy his furniture.”

“I would like one for my own apartment, but probably can’t afford it,” I said, laughing.

“He only asks five hundred a chair, which is ridiculous. I’ve been thinking about ordering one for the larger suites in the hotel. Maybe I’ll use the center as a way to work a deal.”

“How generous of you, Kate,” I said, my hand to my heart. “You’d probably make his year.”

She shrugged. “I know quality when I see it. I’ve had guests ask about rocking chairs frequently. We have the two wooden rockers, but they aren’t comfortable or especially safe. I think it’s one of the little things we’re known for here, always going the extra mile for the guests.”

I smiled. “You sure do. Even when the guest calls you from across the ocean in desperation. I’m forever grateful to you and Gideon.”

She laid her hand on my arm. “We don’t want you to be, Rosie. We want you to be happy and nothing else. I feel like something has changed between you and Sawyer.”

We moved to the next box and started unpacking a changing table, which we abandoned after we leaned it on the wall for the handyman to put together. I hadn't talked to Kate much about Sawyer for a few reasons. She’s a few years older than me, and lately, she’s been a surrogate mother helping me through this time of my life. The other problem is how much she's done for me, both here and in Snowberry. It feels like betrayal to tell her I've fallen in love so soon after the last dating debacle. I worked quietly, not answering her question, instead stacking blocks and books on one table, and diapers and wipes on another, until she grabbed my arm.

She forced me to sit. "Why won't you talk to me about Sawyer? All I have to do is look at him to see he lost his heart to you ages ago. You've played your feelings for him close to the vest, but since you came home from Honolulu, you're different. I haven't asked why, hoping you would talk to me about it. Then Lei told me she made a second swipe card for your apartment."

I growled and hung my head. "She promised not to say a word."

"She only told me because it came up on the computer. We do keep track of those things." 

I shrugged. "I gave him a card in case I needed help and couldn't get to the door."

"Help with say dinner every night and breakfast every morning?"

I threw my hands up. "Are you watching my every move?"

She shook her head. "You know the halls are monitored at all times. A security guard unfamiliar with the situation called me the other night and asked if he needed to intervene. I’m not trying to snoop or watch your every move. The thing is, Sawyer will tell anyone who will listen how much he loves you."

Crud. I hadn't taken his enthusiasm into account when attempting to stay low key about our relationship. I remained silent and she made the out with it sign with her hands.

“This is the part where you say, ‘I love him too, Kate’,” she said in a goofy voice.

“I’m not comfortable talking with you about this, Kate,” I said instead.

She sat back as if I’d slapped her and guilt rolled in my stomach. “Why not? I’m only teasing you, Rosie. I’m sorry if you got the wrong idea.”

I waved my hand. “No, it’s nothing you said.” I glanced up at the ceiling to gather my thoughts. “It’s more like I’m having a hard time talking to you about Sawyer.”

She grasped my hand. “Why? You know I support you.”

“I didn’t talk to you about it because I didn’t want you to feel betrayed. I didn’t take Sawyer’s display of affections into account, though.”

“Betrayed? Why would I feel betrayed?” she asked perplexed.

I gulped, and stared at my feet. “Because you took me in, paid for everything, and here I am, in love with another man already.”

She shook her head. “No. Life doesn’t work that way, Rosie. There’s no rhyme or reason to its order. You know this. You’ve seen it over and over again. I didn’t bring you here to hold any kind of control over your life. I gave you a chance to find a new life, which is exactly what you’ve done.”

“Mostly, I didn’t want to disappoint you,” I whispered, holding her hand.

“Disappoint me?” she asked confused. “Why would you disappoint me?”

“Poor choices? Inability to stay away from men?”

She sighed and shook her head for a second. “Rosie, you aren’t supposed to stay away from the man you’re meant to be with. We all make mistakes when it comes to love. You didn’t do anything wrong in the situation with Jarrett.”

I shrugged. “Let’s recap. If I had been smarter and not ended up pregnant, I would have walked away from Jarrett none the wiser to his craziness.”

She nodded and smiled, patting my hand. “But if you hadn’t been pregnant you also wouldn’t have met Sawyer. I wish like hell it hadn’t happened that way, but I guess I’m saying everything works out the way it’s supposed to, one way or the other. We have to be the ones to decide if we let the wrong way control us for the rest of our lives, or if we grab the second chance when it comes our way.”

“Like you and Gideon,” I said. “I recall telling you to give him a second chance.”

“You did,” she agreed, her head nodding and a smile on her face. “I trusted your opinion, so I took a chance and here we are. You and I are working together again, and you have a chance to be as happy with Sawyer as I am with Gideon. All you have to do is stop punishing yourself for something beyond your control.”

I tipped my head to the left. “I’m not sure if I’m punishing myself as much as I’m questioning myself, Kate. I read Jarrett completely wrong. He didn’t exhibit signs of his mental issues, but I knew something wasn’t right. I suppose it’s why I had no qualms about walking away from him with no monetary support for the baby. Some kind of warning bell was ringing loudly in my head.”

She shook her head sadly. “Even if that’s the case, Rosie, you still didn’t do anything wrong. There are women in this world who marry and live with a man for years and never expect him to snap and beat them half to death. You aren’t alone in your pain, guilt, questions, and self-doubt, but you don’t have to let it control you.”

I bit my bottom lip and rested my head on my hand. “You’re saying if I don’t stop with the self-sabotage I’ll ruin what could be a beautiful thing with Sawyer.”

She touched my nose. “Bingo. Second chances only come around once.”

Sawyer’s smiling face flitted through my mind. “They sure do.”

Kate rubbed my shoulder and stared intently into my eyes. "Now then. Let's start over. It seems something has changed between you and Sawyer."

I laughed openly, my heart a little bit lighter. "Only for the better. We're in love."

She clapped happily. "Soulmates I hear."

I put my hand to my chest and nodded, holding back tears. "I finally understand."

"Feeling like you need the other person just to breathe, when a few weeks before you were living your life fine?" she asked.

I nodded, knowing she'd understand. "Our time in Honolulu showed me I've never been in love before. Not this kind of love. His tenderness and support at the clinic was the only reason I didn’t break into a million shattered pieces when the doctor told me there was nothing he could do."

Kate rubbed my shoulder. "Gideon is beside himself with guilt for sending you with the hope of relief when there wasn’t anything for you there."

"He shouldn't," I said, clearing my throat of the tears. "He tried to help. Believe me when I say, I knew in my heart of hearts the chances were slim Dr. Keoki could help me. You can look at the leg and see the damage is beyond repair. It was hard, but it was time I heard it. I have to face reality. This is me now. Jarrett took my leg and my baby, but I won't give him my second chance. A pity party will only give him the win, and I refuse. There's no way I would ever be upset with Gideon. All I want to do is make him proud of this center and show him I appreciate all he's done for me."

She leaned in and hugged me, her arms comforting when she whispered, "Are you kidding? He brags about you and this daycare center nonstop. Maybe when you see him next you could tell him to chill? Hope and I aren't having much success."

I smiled and nodded over her shoulder. "I'll do my best."

She released me and held her hands out. "Guess we better get back to work."

I pushed up from the table carefully and steadied myself. “We better. I have to go pick up my new brace in a few hours and apparently Sawyer has a surprise in the works.”

She lifted one eyebrow as she began to unload a baby swing. “A surprise? Sounds intriguing.”

I gave her the palms out. “It’s all he would say, but I would bet it involves food.”

Kate burst out laughing, her silliness contagious and soon I was giggling, too. “It’s a pretty good chance,” she said, crying tears of laughter. “He’s always cooking something.”

I shook my head and grabbed a baby bouncer, slicing the box open. “When we were in Honolulu he actually begged the chef at Orchid Reef to let him cook our meal, and he did.”

Kate brushed her hand at me. “He and Chef Winehouse go way back. Sawyer used to train their sous chefs when we owned the resort. Sawyer and Sam still work together. They’re on the board for the Community Table. Sawyer runs the one in Maui and Sam in Honolulu.”

I waved my hand at her. “Wait. He said he was on the board and cooks food once a month. He didn’t say he ran it.”

She made a snorting sound as if to say I have a ton to learn about him yet. “He told you a fib then because he runs it. It was his conception. I helped him set it up as a legal nonprofit when I married Gideon. He has a real thing for women and kids who have been abused.”

“He feeds them as a way to heal them,” I whispered. “I get it now.”

She leaned on a table, her eyes curious. “Get what?”

“Why he feeds me nonstop. He told me he wants me to have healthy food to strengthen me. Maybe part of it has to do with nutrition, but I think a bigger part has to do with him—”

“Proving not all men are bad guys? He wants to prove there are good men out there who care about women and children? He wants to heal with his food, but also give them hope and a landing place to get out of a bad situation?”

I raised one eyebrow. “Uh, yeah. Did he talk to you about this when you were setting it up?”

She shrugged as she started on another baby playset. “Sure, I mean, he explained why he wanted to set up the program, but his personality makes it easy to see what his intentions are.”

I nodded as I grabbed the square box the deliveryman dropped off earlier. There were no markings on it or a packing slip. “All you have to do is look in his eyes to see his intentions,” I whispered, and she put a hand on my arm.

“He intends to have you, Rosie. He’s not going to give up, so if you aren’t ready to give your whole self to him, don’t string him along. You’ll break his heart, but better now than a year from now.”

I grasped her wrist angrily and she winced. I released it quickly and put my hand in my hair. “I’m sorry, Kate. Are you okay?”

She rubbed her wrist but nodded. “What did I say to anger you?”

I shook my head and swiped at a tear as it fell down my face. “I’m not angry, but scared. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have grabbed you, but I wanted you to stop before I cried, and now look at me.” I laughed at myself sadly as I grabbed a tissue and wiped my eyes. “I’ve already given my whole self to him,” I whispered. “I realize now how wrong every other guy has been for me. Every time I think about losing him my heart starts to race. I’m scared my past is going to screw it up, or Jarrett will show up. I couldn’t stand it if he got hurt because of me,” I cried.

She tucked me into her shoulder and held me while I shook with fear, sadness, and worry. “Shhhh. we aren’t going to let anyone get hurt. We’ve done this protection detail a few times, and we’re getting good at it, if I do say so myself,” she quipped. I laughed through my tears and wiped at them with the tissue. “You aren’t going to lose Sawyer or any of us for that matter, and we aren’t going to lose you. Let go of the fear and replace it with faith, okay?”

I stood up and took a cleansing breath, wiping my eyes and nose and tossing the tissue. “I’m good. I got this,” I promised, squeezing her hand before we turned back to our respective boxes. “If you want to put the bigger pieces of baby furniture in the other room I would appreciate it. Stack it in a row along the far wall.”

She picked up the bouncy seat. “You got it boss,” she said as she carried it through the doorway.

I sliced open the box and lifted the flaps, reaching in to pull out a wooden cross. I held it in my hand while I dug around for anything else, but I didn’t like the way the cross made me feel. I set it down on the table as I pulled out a notecard, which I flipped open and read aloud. “One, two, Jarrett’s coming for you. Three, four, I can walk through a locked door. Five, six, here’s a crucifix. Seven, eight, I’ll show up late. Nine, ten, you’ll never breathe again.”

I dropped the note to the table and it fluttered like a leaf on a lazy October breeze. “Dammit!” I screamed, grabbing the cross and hurling it across the room. It sailed over Kate’s head as she ran toward me, both of our heads swiveling toward the sound when the cross clattered to the floor.

Kate grasped my shoulders, her fingers digging into my arms. “What happened.”

“Jarrett,” I moaned, my eyes traveling to the paper on the table.

She picked it up and read it, her lips pursed together tightly. “I’ve had it with this guy,” she ground out.

She took out her phone and made a call, but I didn’t hear what she said because my hand was burning. I grasped my wrist and stared down at the palm of my hand. Where I held the cross it was red, and blisters started to form in the shape of the cross.

“Kate,” I called, holding my hand out toward her. “My hand,” I cried, the blisters filling with liquid as we watched.

She grabbed me and helped me to the sink in the kitchen, turning the faucet on and sticking my hand under it. The coolness of the water soothed the burn and I left it there, filling the sink until I could submerge my hand. I leaned on the edge of the counter, panting.

“Don’t touch the cross, there’s something on it,” I said, my voice weak. “I think I’m going to pass out.”

Kate sprang into action and pushed a chair toward me, but firm hands grasped my waist and lowered me to the chair. “Deep breaths, baby,” he said, holding my head between my legs. “I’m here and I’m not going to let you go.”

I listened to his voice and took several slow, but long, breaths. There was a pounding of footsteps in the hallway and Gideon and Niko ran in. Sawyer released my head and I sat up slowly, my hand still in the water in the sink.

“Nobody touch the cross,” I ordered. “Not without a glove.”

Gideon knelt in front of me as Sawyer kept a hand on my shoulder. “Did you see who delivered this?”

I nodded. “It was a UPS guy. I was here and he dropped it off without a word. I didn’t recognize him and I didn’t have to sign for it. It’s been sitting there for probably an hour and a half. I thought it was more supplies for the center.”

Gideon flicked his eyes to Niko. “I’m on it,” he called as he ran out the door.

“Niko will check the security camera,” he said as he stood and lifted my hand from the water. He plunged it back in immediately and swallowed hard. “I’m calling in a doctor. I don’t want you going to the ER.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think I need a doctor.”

He knelt again and held my chin. “Rosie, those are chemical burns on your hand and you need to see a doctor. I can’t risk sending you to the ER. I think his plan is to grab you there. He sends you a gift to cause an injury to get you off the property. He’s close and we have to catch him before he hurts you worse. Do you understand me?”

I nodded robotically, not even taking into consideration he might be close. “I have to pick up my brace in an hour. I need it and don’t want to miss the appointment.”

He put his hand on my thigh. “I’m calling the cops, the doctor, and then I’ll call the orthotics clinic. I’ll pay them extra to bring it over here tonight. I don’t want you leaving the resort for any reason until we catch him.”

I held up my left hand, the one not burned. “No arguments here. I’m ready for this to end.”

He brought his phone to his ear while Sawyer stalked to the table and picked up the notecard, reading it quickly. “This guy is a sick puppy. She’s my girl and he can forget about hurting her again.” He stalked back to me and held my shoulders possessively. “I’ll take the animal out myself if I have to.”

I patted his hand on my shoulder while attempting to block the burning of my hand from my mind. “Leave him to the police, Sawyer. I need you here to protect me,” I whispered.

Gideon spun on his heel and pointed at Sawyer. “She’s right. I better not hear about you doing anything stupid and confronting the guy unless you aren’t given a choice in the matter. He’s clearly lost all grip on reality.”

Gideon pulled the drain on the sink and turned the faucet back on. “Leave the water to run over it and wash away any residual chemicals. You don’t want to keep your hand soaking in whatever toxin he used,” he explained patiently. “We’re going to move you to the spa where we can keep you comfortable. The doctor is on his way.”

His expression was killing me and I grabbed his shirt before he could stand. “Gideon, please stop feeling guilty for sending me to Dr. Keoki. You don’t know what it means to me to have a friend like you. Maybe he couldn’t offer me a miracle cure, but his advice has already improved my quality of life. I know the extent of the damage to my leg. I understood it was a long shot going in, so please, don’t carry guilt for simply trying to help. You’ve done nothing but help and protect me. No matter what happens, I wanted you to know how much I appreciate you, and your devotion to me. I know it’s cost you time, money, and worry. I’m praying this ends quickly so we can all get on with our lives, but in the meantime, promise me no more guilt.”

He hung his head and shook it a couple times. “You’ve been hanging out with my wife.”

Kate couldn’t hold in a laugh from where she stood by the counter. “She’s right though, babe,” she said.

He nodded and brought his hand up to pat my cheek. “I know she is. I’ll do my best to honor your wishes. I want this over, too. You’re rocking this daycare center and I want to open it knowing everyone is safe.”

Niko came through the door with his iPad and a cop. “I have the footage. Can you tell me if this is the guy?”

He showed me the video on the iPad and I pointed as the guy walked toward the center. “That’s him.” I looked closer and realized he didn’t have a UPS uniform on. “He’s dressed in brown, but he doesn’t work for UPS.”

Niko shook his head. “No, he doesn’t. Jarrett paid him to deliver the box, which means he is close, very close.”