Calamity Jena (Invertary 4)

“Go away,” she mumbled as she snuggled down under the duvet. “Sleeping here.”

With a shake of his head, Matt pulled on his jeans and T-shirt before heading to the kitchen.

As he passed the living room, he heard his phone ringing where he’d left it beside the pull-out bed. It was his mum.

“There’s been an accident. Your dad fell out of bed and broke his hip. They’re taking him to the hospital.” The worry and fear in his mother’s voice brought out all of Matt’s instinct to protect.

“We’ll be right there. I’ll get the twins. Don’t worry, Mum. He’s tough. He’ll be okay.”

“Aye.” She didn’t sound convinced. “See you soon, son.”

Matt hung up the phone and dialled his sisters, and told them he’d swing by to pick them up. He then ran up the stairs to tell Jena breakfast was postponed.

She was sprawled across the bed on her stomach, her head under a pillow. He lifted the pillow.

“Go away,” she grumbled. “I don’t smell coffee or food. Come back when you have both.”

“Breakfast will have to wait, princess. I got a call. Dad’s in hospital. He fell out of bed and broke his hip.”

She sat up, rubbed her eyes and blinked up at him. “What can I do?”

His chest unclenched. He ran a finger down her cheek. “Nothing you can do. I’m going to Fort William to see what’s happening. I need to drop you off at Abby’s house. Is that okay?”

“Sure thing.” She clambered over the bed. “I’ll get ready fast.”

“That’s my girl.” He grabbed hold of her for a quick kiss as she headed to the bathroom.

24

Jena felt bad that she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She tried to, she really did, but it was like it was stuck there with superglue.

“You’re making me nauseous,” Abby grumbled.

After a day of helping Abby around the mushroom farm and looking after her delightful, but hyperactive, four-year-old, Jena was in need of a relaxed evening. Matt was still at the hospital with his family. His father’s broken hip was being operated on to replace the shattered bone. They would be gone

for hours yet. Jena wished she was at the hospital with them, although she knew she would be of little use.

Still, she was pleased to be able to spend time with Abby now that Katy was in bed. They relaxed at her kitchen table for a sumptuous Sunday night feast—complete with wine and chocolate cheesecake. Katy was fast asleep. Pete, the guard Lake had provided while Matt was gone, was standing by the window. Far enough away to allow the women privacy but close enough so he could keep an eye on them and on the driveway leading up to the house.

“If you feel nauseous, does that mean I get to eat all of the cheesecake?”

“No. It means I get all of the cake, because you are so obviously getting something else.”

Jena blushed even though she made a conscious effort not to. Abby pointed a fork at her.

“I’m hating you right now. You could be a bit less obvious about the fact you spent a night in Matt’s bed.”

“Technically, it was my bed.” She shovelled more cake into her mouth.

“I miss having a man,” Abby said on a sigh. She put her elbows on the table in front of her and perched her chin on her hands.

Jena eyed the bottle of wine and mentally calculated how much Abby had drunk—enough to loosen her lips.

“Are we talking about having in the biblical sense, or having as in ‘he’d be useful around the house’?”

“Both.” Abby reached for the wine and topped up her glass. “I’ve been thinking lately that I might be ready to start dating again.” She gave Jena a cautious glance to catch her reaction.

“That’s great, honey.” Jena patted her hand. “Remember, you don’t need to rush it. Take your time. Don’t push yourself.”