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This wasn’t a surprising revelation. Jake had seen it coming. “Can you finish up online?”
She smiled and nodded. “Yes. I looked into it. Can I please do that? I had to tell them it was a family emergency. Which it is. Or was.” Shethought for a moment. “With granddad, still is.”
He smiled. She was almost twenty-three. She could do whatever she wanted. But he was happy she still felt she needed, or maybe just wanted, his permission. Or a better word would be his blessing. “Of course. I have no problem with it. I’d be lying if I said I was looking forward to you leaving again. I missed you, kid. I missed the hell out of you.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “When you were gone. I was so afraid I’d never see you again. But you’re here. And I don’t want to leave you again.”
“Then don’t.” He stroked her hair. “To be honest. I hope you never leave. But I know sooner or later some…guy is going to come along and sweep you off your feet.”
Sawyer appeared in the door way. “I pity that poor bastard.”
Sage glared at him, but didn’t move from the embrace she still held with her father. “Don’t you have a fight to get to? Aren’t you itching to get beat up again?”
Jake pulled away from her. “Now, now. Don’t go pushing your brother out the door. I don’t want him to leave either.”
Sawyer moved to the chair to sit down. “I do have a fight coming up, actually. Before Christmas. But I’ll be back before Santa comes.
Jake looked at him. “You’ll be here for Christmas tree day, right?”
“Yes, sir. Can’t miss Christmas tree day. I’ll leave the day after and be back by the twenty-first.”
Sage frowned at him. “You’re going to miss cookie day with Aunt Genny?”
“Can’t we do cookie day on the twenty-first?”
She sighed. “I suppose if you want to mess with tradition.”
“I will do my best to get back by the twentieth. But it depends on what kind of shape I’m in.”
Jake decided he needed to interject. “You do what you need to do, Sawyer. Aunt Genny will wait for you to get here for cookie day.”
Sawyer squinted at Sage, then smiled at Jake. “Thank you, Dad.”
Monday morning, Ember came into Jake’s room with a smile. He was glad to see her and her beautiful smile.
“How’re you doing this morning, Jake?”
“I think I’ve turned the corner.”
“Don’t get too frisky, yet. I talked to Dr. Curtis this morning, and he told me to keep you tied down another day, if possible.”
Jake blew out a breath. “That wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t so bored. I’m not used to lying around doing nothing.”
“Well, it’ll be worth it in the long run.”
“I guess. Can I get untied long enough to takea shower?”
“Yes. But I’m staying here. If I hear you hit the floor. I’m coming in.”
“Is one of my sons available to listen for me hitting the floor?”
She smiled. “Are you shy, Jake?”
“No. It’d just be embarrassing for you to have to come in and lift my naked ass up off the damn shower floor. And…” He looked at her for a moment. “I’m not so sure you could.”
“I’m stronger than I look. Go. Your sons are busy working.”
Jake got out of bed and went to the dresser. He straightened the family picture, then kissed two fingers and touched Rachel’s face, before opening a drawer and taking out clean underwear, t-shirt, and pajama bottoms.
