Moments (Breath of Life Book 3) (7 page)
Read Moments (Breath of Life Book 3) Online
Authors: Sara Marion
Jennah sat in the house. She was off today and had nothing to do but search for houses. Dobry was down for her nap and Jennah relished in the downtime she had. Chase had mentioned that playoffs started today and he wanted her to come, but she told him she had other things she needed to do. It wasn't a complete lie, but she needed to look for her own place. Now that she has an income coming in, she can pull from her savings account to get a place of her own.
"Jennah Mae!" a chirpy voice called out. "Jennah, Jennah Mae! Come on let's get to the game!"
Audra appeared in her doorway. Jennah smiled looking at her best friend, her sister.
"I'm not going to the game today and Dobry is sleeping right now," Jennah replied.
"What? It's the playoffs and your nephew really wants you to be there, Dobry can sleep on the way and in her stroller," she scowled.
"I can't. I need to look for a place and get out of your hair. You've put me up long enough. Plus if I wake up Dobry she will be a monster the rest of the day."
"True, Dobry is a diva," she laughed. "Seriously though, you don't need to leave here. Chase and I love having you and Dobry here. I wouldn't want it any other way."
"Please Audra. No one likes
their sister hanging around or a very rambunctious toddler. I'm sorry, I just can't go to the game."
"Is this because of the crush you have on the coach?"
Jennah gave a death stare to her sister, "No, I don't like him like that."
"Right, I saw the way you ran out to him at the last game."
"That was just my natural instinct."
"Natural instinct? Jennah, the way you looked running on to that field, the look on your face and reaction screamed of someone who is frightened for their loved one. Don't deny it. I have never seen that look on your face. Not even with Josh."
"You're wrong," Jennah grabbed her jacket and purse. "I don't need a relationship right now when I need to figure out what I am going to do. Where I am going to live."
"I have a friend who is trying to find someone to rent out his house. He has been for a while now. It's a 3 bedroom, 2.5 baths that he was going to rent for $1200 a month, all bills paid, but I'm sure if maybe I talk to him I can talk him down. Let me go call him really quick."
Jennah watched Audra bound off to call her friend. The thought of living in a house excited her, but she hoped that Josh had given up looking for her and Dobry. She was tired of running. She just wanted to figure out who she was and then move forward in life. Build a beautiful one for Dobry.
"Guess what?" Audra came bouncing back into her room about ten minutes later.
"Shh, Dobry is
sleeping
!"
"Sorry, sorry," she smiled. "I just talked to my friend and he is going to give you a great deal on the house! I told him a little bit about your situation and he agreed to put it under my name and cut the rent down to $700 a month, all bills paid."
"Audra, I can't take charity like that. Besides the house is probably too big. I will find something else."
"Come on, he wants to help you."
"Why?"
"I'm kinda seeing him," Audra smirked.
"
What
? When did this happen and why haven't I heard of him?"
Audra was beaming. "We just got together not to long ago and you are always working or taking care of Dobry. I just haven't found time to tell you. Listen he said this was no problem. I'll go to the game and by the time we get back, we can go check out the house if Dobry is up from her nap."
"Fine, but you should go. You are going to be late for the game."
She watched Audra walk out of her room. Jennah figured that she could find a million reasons beforehand on how to refuse this charity of Audra's boyfriend. She wanted to do this on her own and she was sure that an apartment would suit her and her daughter just fine. They could always go to the park to stretch their legs.
A couple hours later she found herself driving into the quaint little neighborhood with her sister. Jennah saw a few kids playing in the common area. There was a trail that seemed to start on the other side of the playground. She smiled at the kids as they passed by then looked at her sweet angel in her car seat. Audra passed by a few more houses then turned into the driveway of one on the corner.
Jennah stared up at the two-story house. She liked it from the outside. She found herself smiling as she got out of the car. She quickly got Dobry out from her car seat and started walking up to the house. She felt like she was coming home. It was a strange feeling for her as she has never seen this house before, she never even stepped foot in this town. Maybe it was a sign that she was heading in the right direction. Audra put the key in the door and they walked through the door.
Jennah looked around at the living room she walked into. She set Dobry down to let her run. It was a decent size room and it led straight into the dining room. From the dining room she saw the kitchen. It was a nice, updated kitchen that opened up to the den area on the other side. She walked through the kitchen, touching the smooth granite tops, noticing the stainless steel appliances. In the den, she found built in bookshelves, a fireplace and a door that led to the backyard. Opening the door, Jennah stepped outside onto the deck, keeping it open to listen to Dobry talking to herself or her echoes in the living room. The deck itself was large. She had plenty of room for patio furniture where she could relax while watching Dobry play in the fenced yard.
Stepping back into the house, she noticed another door on the other side of the room. She opened it up to find a laundry room. Two more doors were inside. One led to a half bath and the other to her two-car garage. She walked back out of the small room and walked through the short hallway that led back out to the front living room. To her left she saw the stairs. She grabbed Dobry and headed up to see what was on the second floor.
At the top of the stairs, she saw a full bathroom. On one side was a door and the other side of the bathroom had two doors. She went to the left and opened the door. She shifted Dobry to the other hip as she walked into the master suite. It was a rather large room. Tucked in the corner was the master bath. She quickly went to it. It had a tiled, steam shower and a door that led to her walk-in closet. She smiled. She knew she could only fill up half of the closet but the left side would be just fine.
She walked back and found Audra smiling. "This is a good-sized room!"
"You're telling me! The closet is amazing but I'll never be able to fill it. This house is almost too big for us, but I like it," Jennah smiled.
"Let's go check out the other two rooms," Audra beamed.
Jennah knew Audra was right. She was in love with this house. It already felt like home to her and that was a warm feeling she didn't want to disappear. The two rooms were decent sizes. One obviously a tad bit bigger, which would be Dobry's room. She needed space for her toys. The other room would make a great guest room. "You were right, I love this place Audra. Thank you," she hugged her sister.
"I knew you would. When Greg told me about this place, he brought me here. For some reason, I always kept this house tucked in the back of my mind. I hoped that it would be available one day for you, I can't explain why though. Seriously, this place is meant to be for you. I mean the timing and connection. Come on!" Audra waived her hand in the air. She was always theatrical when she knew something was a sure thing, then she was proven to be right.
"When can I move in?" Jennah felt the excitement grow within her.
"Right now if you want. I can drive you back to the house then help you although I really wish you would stay with us, but I understand why you want to get out on your own. Come on, let's go back and call Greg."
"Sounds like a plan." She looked around as they headed back downstairs. This would be her place, she knew her life was changing for the better. She couldn't explain it but she finally felt like she could become who she was meant to be. Everything just seemed to be falling into place.
***
Duke walked inside hoping that Jennah wasn't there, but part of him wanted her to be so he could see her again. When he asked the hostess, she stated that Jennah was off today. He felt his hopes drop and decided it was probably for the best. He just needed to reign in his feelings for her, stay away because nothing good can come from starting a relationship with a person that reminds you of your late wife. Duke decided he would just order a quick bite then go to the gallery. Ryan should be in and helping out with the weekend art goers. He could hang out there for a bit until he figured out what to do with himself.
Shortly after finishing his lunch, Duke pulled up to the gallery and it was dead. He sighed as he got out of his car. He figured Ryan would probably be in his office but he didn't see Ryan's car there. Duke walked in and was greeted by Maddy.
"Hey Duke, how's your face?" she joked.
"Better than the last time you saw it," Duke smiled. Link came up to him and greeted him. He bent over and patted Link on the head. He was getting so big. "Is Ryan in?" He looked up as he straightened himself back up.
"No, you just missed him."
"He didn't take Link?" Duke was confused. Link was always with Paxton, Jenny, or Ryan. Why was he here with Maddy?
"No, he leaves Link here with me when I'm by myself. He's become quite the guard dog."
"Have you had trouble?" It bothered him that someone was possibly causing trouble at Ella's gallery.
"Once, thankfully I was just watching Link as Ryan went out for food. Just some stupid kids," she paused, not wanting to go into it, "but Link saved me, scared them away." She smiled down at Link.
"Good thing he was here then."
"Yeah," she looked down at the dog. Link seemed to be loved by everyone. "So is there a message you want me to give Ryan?"
"No, I was just stopping by to chit-chat since I can't go to the field right now."
"Oh yeah, State is this weekend. Hope you guys do well."
"Yeah, me too. I should be there but the bruising is still pretty bad."
"It's getting better though."
"Yeah," he smiled. "Well, I guess I will get out of here. Have a good night,
Maddy."
"You too!" She called out as Duke walked out the door.
He seemed to be striking out all over the place. He hoped his team was doing much better than him. He drove back to his house. He figured he could just watch a movie to pass time. He should get a call or text when the game was over. He wondered if Jennah was at the game, not that he should care. His heart was in a thousand pieces and he was just now trying to get his life back in order. He had no time for relationship, not that he wanted one with her. He didn't even know if she was seeing someone or not. For now, Duke decided to forget her and concentrate on his students. He didn't need the distraction with finals coming up.
Duke found himself running along the gravel trail. He just passed the two-mile marker on the
Linear trail. He had gotten a call from his assistant coach stating that his team had lost. He knew that the team was disappointed but he was proud of them. They had a phenomenal season and he wouldn't let them forget that. They would have one more meeting before they stopped for the season. He would make sure that they left the season feeling proud of themselves. Now, Duke knew he had to focus on finals that were occurring in two weeks and then football camp that would commence in early July. After that, a brand new school year.
Duke saw another runner coming up on him from the opposite way. It would be only the second person he saw since he started out on the Casement entrance. He nodded as he passed the runner. The runner smiled at him and she seemed familiar to him. He thought he recognized who it was but she didn't stop or say anything else to him. Duke looked behind him and found that the runner had disappeared. His stride faltered as he came to a halt. Was he imagining the runner? Where did she go? He turned and jogged back a few paces looking around. Surely he didn't hallucinate the encounter. He didn't find any trace of any other runner. He closed his eyes trying to pull back details of the runner.
She had blonde hair pulled back underneath a hat. Her eyes were green, her smile was easy. He couldn't recall anything else. Then he remembered her stride, her shoes. It matched Ella's. Ella's bright running shoes came rushing to the forefront of his thoughts. She always wore them. His memories pushed forward images of her running on the treadmill. It was her. Duke saw Ella just a few moments ago. Duke felt weak and he fell to his knees there on the gravel trail. He couldn't believe he may have just envisioned Ella running down this trail. There was no logical reason for it. He stood trying to find his balance. Staring down the trail, he saw that he was definitely alone. No other person was in sight. He started to jog back to his car. He didn't like the eerie feeling he had now and he definitely didn't want that feeling while his was running on the lonely trail. On the way back, he tried to deduce the reasoning behind his vision of Ella but nothing came to him. There had to be some reason that he was conjuring up a hallucination of Ella, maybe it was just a residual effect from his concussion.
By the time he got back to his car, his body was shaking. He definitely pushed himself to get back to quickly. He called Dr. Maclyn, deciding that he should be checked out just in case. He found himself frustrated when Dr. Maclyn didn't answer he thought about just going to the emergency room but then he would look like a lunatic. He sat there looking out the window trying to decide how to proceed. Looking back at his phone, he texted Paxton. He lucked out when she stated she was at the hospital. Duke asked if he could come see her, but he didn't tell her why. She didn't ask but said it was fine if he came up.
It didn't take him long to get to the hospital. He walked through the familiar hallways, navigating his way to Paxton's office. He knocked on the closed door. He heard her faintly say 'come in'. He opened the door and saw her smiling face greeting him.
"Duke, you got here fast. What's up?"
Duke sat down in one of her chairs as she leaned against her desk waiting for him to respond. Duke rubbed his hands on his legs. "I'm not sure how to say this without sounding like a complete lunatic."
"It's me, just tell me."
Duke launched into his story. He told her about the team losing, that he needed to get out to run so he could focus. When he got back to the point of seeing the runner, he tried to picture the event more clearly but didn't get any more details than what he remembered from the moments following.
"So you saw a mystery runner? That's what brought you in?"
"No, I saw Ella," he looked up at her. "Ella was the runner that passed me."
Duke watched Paxton's eyebrows shoot up in disbelief. Her jaw tightened as if she were trying to formulate a response to what he just said. He waited to see if Paxton believed him.
"Ella? You saw Ella?"
Duke nodded. She sighed and rubbed her face. "Are you positive? The runner didn't make a turn or anything?"
"Pax, the part of the trail I was on had no turns, no veers in it. It's a continuous, straight path. I think it might be an after effect of my concussion. What else would it be?"
Duke watched her walk around her desk and grabbed her penlight out of her lab coat. She stood in front of him. "Look at me," she directed him.
Duke looked up into her eyes. He saw the worry and hoped that she wouldn't give any indication that something indeed was going on with his head injury.
"Look right over my left shoulder." She turned the bright light on and he did his best not to blink. She checked both eyes. She clicked the pen off and held it in front of her face. "Follow it. Eyes only."
She moved it in all directions. Duke felt like he had no problem following the pen, but only Paxton would be able to clear him.
"Hmm," she looked at him, tucking the pen behind her. "Your eyes dilate fine. Have you noticed anything else different in the last few days or since you've been discharged?"
"No, nothing. I felt fine until I saw her."
She pursed her lips. Duke knew this wasn't a good sign.
"No dizzy spells, light-headedness, headaches?"
"Nothing. Pax, what's wrong with me?" Despite the last time he saw her, when he kicked her out of his house, Duke needed her. He felt like she was the only one that he could turn to for help. She would be the only one to understand. He found himself afraid of what those feelings might mean, but he didn't care as long as he got answers as to why he was seeing Ella.
"Nothing, at least nothing I can see." She pushed herself off her desk and jumped on her computer. She started typing, and then sat looking at her screen. She typed a little bit more then waited. He felt the anxiety build within him. She looked up at him. "You okay there?" she asked.
"Fine." He kept his answer short.
She looked back to her computer and then back at him. "Dr. Maclyn is suggesting a scan. He wants to make sure that there is no lingering swelling or new problems cropping up."
Duke nodded. He didn't like the sound of this but he was glad that Paxton was here with him. She led him out to Radiology. "Do you have anything scheduled soon?"
"No," she quietly replied.
"Stay with me?" He grabbed her hand. He knew it was wrong and that she was with Jack, but he was scared of what was happening.
"Of course," she smiled, squeezing his hand.
Duke realized he missed Paxton's touch. No matter how much hurt she caused him, his heart was still aching. He didn't want to let her go, but it was impossible for them to be together now. Too much has happened and she made it clear that Jack would win out no matter what he did. They went through a set of doors and Duke realized they were now in Radiology.
"Here," she handed him a hospital gown. "Put this on and come out to the room when you're done."
She left quietly. Duke quickly changed into his gown. He felt his nerves grow. As he turned around, he saw Ella standing there in the corner with a worried look on her face. It was like she was pleading with him, like she didn't want him to go into the room. He shut his eyes,
she isn't here
. He repeated that to himself,
it's a trick your mind is playing
.
"Duke?" Paxton's voice filled the room. He turned and saw her concerned look. "You alright?"
"Yeah, sorry." He started heading into the room. Paxton stood back and let the tech do his job.
He injected dye into the IV that he started on Duke. Duke noticed the metallic taste in his mouth. He grimaced, it was not a pleasant taste. He heard Ella's whispered voice say his name. He tried his best to ignore it. It was his imagination, something was wrong. He knew it, the test would prove it.
Duke felt like the test took forever. When it was done, he was thankful that he could change back into his running attire. He never liked hospital gowns, but who did? He felt agitated as Paxton led him back down to her office. They sat in silence. He knew that it would probably be a few hours before they got the results. He saw the paperwork marked as urgent as he passed it to go change. That just meant he didn't have to wait days for results.
"Are you worried?" He needed to break the tension he felt.
"We are just making sure nothing is physically wrong. Since you have no symptoms, I'm not worried about swelling. What I am worried about is how you are doing, mentally that is," she paused. "Maybe you are stressed, putting too much pressure on yourself. Something is triggering this Duke, I don't like it."
Duke looked down. He was worried too. He knew that there was a lot going on around him and he felt like his world hadn't been balanced since he found out about his unborn child, Paxton's engagement, and meeting Jennah. He heard clicking of the keyboard and looked back up at her.
"Let's get out of here. Dr. Maclyn will be letting us know when he gets the results. I told Jonathan I need to take some personal time today."
"No Pax, I don't need a babysitter. I shouldn't have come running to you. I could have waited for Dr. Maclyn. This is just blurring the lines here. I meant what I said at the house, I'm not your concern. This was mistake."
"Duke, stop," she tried stopping him as he got up. "Wait!"
"No, I can't lean on you, not about this."
"This personality swing may be caused by whatever is going on. Just please stay," Paxton called out as Duke walked out of the office.
She may have a point but right now, Duke couldn't be there while Paxton coddled him. It reminded him again that he lost her to Jack. She chose Jack, not him. He needed to stop leaning on her in times he thought he was in trouble.
***
Paxton answered within a few moments and let him in. She took him to the living room and waited. She was obviously upset with what happened earlier. Looking around, Duke noticed she slightly redecorated again. He looked around taking the changes in. He sat on the couch in the living room. He relived the moments that took place on that couch with Paxton. He remembered Paxton giving herself over completely to him, which led them up to her bedroom.
He looked over to Paxton. She was now sitting in a recliner that she must have recently added. She was lost in her own thoughts. He couldn't help but remember the softness of her skin. Tracing his fingers on her delicate skin, her body responding to every touch. He remembered carrying her up the stairs, clothes being peeled off every step of the way. Duke wanted to reach out to her, touch her once more. She suddenly looked over at him, something wild behind her eyes seemed to be brewing.
Duke got up and approached her. She looked up at him with questions in her eyes. He reached for her hand. She looked at him, confusion now masked her face. "Duke? What are you doing?"
"I don't know. Just being here, with you. Paxton, I'm so sorry," He kissed her forehead. "Memories of us are flooding through my mind, my thoughts."
"I don't think this is a good idea," Duke silenced her by pressing his lips against hers.
"I know," he breathed.
"He's your best friend, Duke."
"He screwed me over," he breathed. Their lips met gently once more. Duke could still sense her resistance through the kiss but she didn't pull away this time.
He pulled Paxton in closer, causing her to stand from the recliner she was sitting in. He forgot how it felt to have her against him. Duke moaned as their kiss deepened. Duke led her to the library. He wanted to christen another room in the house. Paxton didn't seem to hesitate. Tonight he would let her know what she walked away from and maybe, just maybe he could make her change her mind. Everything that has happened up to this point went out the window. His need to feel her beneath him overpowered everything else. Every ounce of anger he had dissipated as they continued into the library, every bad thought of her, gone. Duke could only think of what used to be, how happy they were and how they were just good for each other. If she could forget about Jack and he could forgive her for keeping secrets, they could be happy once again.
