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“Yes,” Alec said, his voice flat, quiet. “When I made you leave… she changed. She grew cynical, hard. Cold. Her eyes lost their sparkle. When I made you leave, I broke my daughter’s heart. I let this happen.” He waved a hand at the bed. “I made her susceptible to men like Sam Lyndon, to men who would use her and discard her. By doing what I did, I made my little girl believe she was unworthy of love.”
The older man scrubbed a hand over his face and Rafe saw the worry eating away at him, the lines bracketing his mouth and eyes, the permanent creases marring his brow. He looked as exhausted as Rafe felt.
“I didn’t see it at the time, thought it was nothing more than a crush, that if we separated the two of you, she’d move on in time and start dating someone more appropriate, someone her own age.” Sighing heavily, he shook his head. “But that didn’t happen. She flitted from one relationship to another, a different boy every few months. She was so lost. The only time she was ever happy was when you were around, but by then the damage was done.
“She held herself apart, even from you, protected herself from any more hurt, and all because I’d made her think the man she loved didn’t love her back.” He took Jane’s hand in his. “I’m so sorry, Janie. I only wanted to protect you.”
Then he sat back in his chair and sighed. “I suppose you’d like an apology too,” he said, but Rafe wasn’t paying attention.
Jane was looking up at him, blinking slowly.
Her voice cracked as she whispered, “Rafe.”
He was by her side in an instant, stroking her hair away from her face and pressing the softest of kisses to her cracked lips.
He looked at Alec. “Buzz the nurse.” Then he grabbed the cup of water from the bedside table and held it to her lips. “Drink, baby. Just a little sip. That’s my girl. That’s my good girl.”
A moment later, he and Alec were being shuffled to the side and out of the way as a stream of medical staff filed into the room and began checking monitors and taking Jane’s vitals. Rafe blocked it all out. It was white noise as far as he was concerned, an annoying hum of sound easily forgotten if he focussed on something more important.
Someone more important.
Jane.
She was his focus, his centre, and even when the doctors finally spoke to him and Alec, assuring them Jane and the babies were going to be 100 percent okay, his gaze never left hers.
“Babies?” Jane said, and Rafe’s smile grew broader. “Plural?”
Rafe returned to her side, threaded his fingers through hers. “Yes, plural. Twins.”
Shifting so their joined hands rested on her baby bump, Jane grinned. “I told you this was your doing,” she whispered, her voice still hoarse from lack of use.
Rafe returned her grin wholeheartedly. “Yes, you did.”
Alec’s face softened as he looked at his daughter. “I’m glad you’re okay, sweetheart. I have to call Mary, let her know you’re awake.”
“Dad?” Jane reached out for her father. Alec returned to her side and took her hand in his. “I heard what you said,” she said quietly.
“We can talk about it later. When you’re feeling better.”
She shook her head. “No. Now.” She swallowed hard.
Rafe held the water cup to her lips. “Small sips, Janie.”
She pushed the cup away. “Dad, I understand why you did what you did. And I know I was too young, we both were, but I would have waited until the end of time for this man.”
Her father hung his head and nodded. “I know.”
“And do you also know Rafe did nothing wrong that night? He held me, kissed me, told me he loved me, but he never crossed that line. You want to know what he said when I asked him why? Because he respected me too much to begin our life together with a crime.”
Alec’s gaze snapped to Rafe’s, his shock evident in his wide-eyed stare. Rafe tilted his chin up and gripped Jane’s hand tighter. He wasn’t sure what she hoped to achieve with this conversation, but figured a united front was probably called for.
Jane mirrored his expression. “Now, I believe you owe Rafe an apology. A proper one.”
Her father’s expression softened and a smile tugged at one side of his mouth. “You are so much like your mother,” he said, then turned to Rafe. “Which I guess explains why she loves a dull bastard like you.”
“Dad!” Jane snapped, immediately coughing with the effort.
Alec held his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry, Rafael. For the dull bastard comment, and for doubting your integrity,” he added, his tone sincere. “My daughter is lucky to have a man like you in her life, and you’re lucky to have her.” He rested his hand on her shoulder. “I am proud of you, Jane, and all you’ve achieved over the years. And I’m sorry you ever doubted that.” He took a breath. “Now, I really must call your mother,” he said, and disappeared into the hallway.
