Forgiving Hearts: For Better or Worse Part 21

"Barely. You can come in."

He walked through the door, an infectious smile pulling at his lips. "Let's go get donuts."

"You're determined to fatten me up."

"Not true; I just like donuts. How soon can you be ready?"

"Give me a half hour."

"I'll be out in the garage."

The drive to the donut shop took less than ten minutes. Jackson parked the truck and came around to open her door. As she stepped on the sidewalk, she glanced through the gla.s.s windows.

"Look at that line. These donuts must be good."

"They're the best," Jackson said as he followed her inside. "I can personally recommend the custard and chocolate glazed ones."

Hannah hardly heard him. She was staring fixedly at the woman behind the register. Why did she seem so familiar? Images flashed through her mind, but she couldn't make sense of them. She still hadn't figured it out when they reached the counter.

"Hannah!" The woman exclaimed. "We wondered what happened to you."

"Do you know me?"

"My husband hired you. You worked one day and then we never saw you again."

"When was this?" Jackson asked.

"About two weeks ago."

"Hannah was involved in a car accident, and she's been having trouble remembering things."

"Oh, you poor thing. I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you'll be back to your normal self soon."

"Thank you," Hannah replied in a low voice.

Jackson could feel her trembling. He put his arm around her and drew her close to his side. "We shouldn't stand here holding up the line. Did you want to try the custard donuts I told you about?"

She looked up at him, her face pale. "That sounds good."

"We'll take four custard, two chocolate glazed and two large coffees," he told Connie.

"That'll be seven-fifty."

He handed her the money and collected the tray of food. "Let's sit by the window." Like someone in a daze, Hannah followed him to the table and sat down. He glanced at her in concern. "Should we go?"

"I'll be okay."

"Drink that," he said as he handed her a cup. "You look like you need it."

She managed to get down a few sips. "I knew when I walked in that I'd been here before, but I didn't realize it had been so recently. Then when Connie said I worked here, it all came back. I was on my way here when I had the accident."

"You remember the accident?"

She shook her head. "I remember leaving the hotel."

Jackson nodded as he slid the plate of donuts into the middle of the table. "That would be the Best Western. The manager called me while you were in the hospital. I picked up your luggage."

Hannah absently bit into a donut. "I had only been in the area a few days. Something happened; something kept me at the hotel." She sighed. "It's gone. Again. My memories are like trying to catch a bubble. The minute I get close, they float away and disappear."

"Well, we know more now than we did fifteen minutes ago."

"But we still don't know why I was here."

"We're getting close. Now, take that frown off your face and eat your donuts."

She laughed weakly. "Does anything faze you?"

He shrugged. "Not when I have the opportunity to consume this amount of sugar."

Chapter Ten.

Jackson pointed to the couch in the living room. "Have a seat. I'll be right back." When he returned, he was holding a purse. "This was found with you at the accident. I should have given it to you before, but I felt you'd had enough thrown at you. Anyway, while you're looking through it, I'll go call our daughter."

Hannah took it from him. "Did I have a phone?"

"It's in the front pocket. I'll go ahead and apologize for invading your privacy. I was blindsided by your sudden appearance. I thought your phone might help me figure things out."

"You don't have to apologize. You had every right to go through my things."

"That may be true, but it didn't make it any easier to do it. I'll be back in a few minutes."

After he left, Hannah dumped the contents of her purse on the coffee table. Then she turned on her phone and went through her wallet. There must be a couple thousand dollars here. Why was she carrying so much money? She flipped open the other side. There was her airline ticket. She'd flown from New York to Atlanta.

"So let's examine this logically," she said under her breath. "I brought a ton of clothes and a wad of cash. I was either going on a long vacation, or I was doing another disappearing act." Grabbing the phone, she scrolled through the messages. A few minutes later Jackson strolled back into the room.

"Is Sophia okay?" Hannah asked.

"She's having a blast. Laurel is teaching her and Amanda how to bake bread."

"I can't wait to see her."

"I'll be picking her up tomorrow afternoon. Any luck with your purse?"

Hannah shook her head. "You know, these texts are pathetic. Mitch.e.l.l all but accuses me of stealing from him and then in the next sentence begs me to come back to New York. I really want to believe that I was leaving him. It doesn't speak to my motives, but it makes me feel better about myself." She frowned suddenly. "I knew there was a reason I didn't like him when he came to see me in the hospital."

"Let's be fair, Hannah. He'd just found out what happened to you."

"Why are you defending him?" she asked.

Jackson bit his lip. "I'm not defending him as much as I'm trying to remain impartial."

"Do you think he'd do the same for you?"

"It doesn't matter whether he would or not. I have to answer to G.o.d for my actions."

Hannah gathered the few items from the table and put them back in her purse. "Just as I do for mine, and I have no intention of making the same mistakes again."

Jackson opened the door and watched as Sophia ran into the house. The look on her face when she saw her mother brought tears to his eyes.

"h.e.l.lo, Sophia."

Sophia went to stand next to Hannah. "You are my mommy; you look just like your pictures."

"Yes, I'm your mommy, sweetheart."

Sophia peered at her closely and then turned to Jackson who was waiting in the foyer. "Mommy is beautiful, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is. She's as lovely as the first time I saw her."

Sophia turned back to Hannah and tentatively touched her arm. "Your skin is soft like mine. Daddy's arms have dark hair all over them." She stopped and giggled. "Sometimes when he kisses me, his face is scratchy."

Hannah's eyes met Jackson's, and they both started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Sophia asked.

"Nothing, pumpkin," Jackson replied. "I'm going to check on Freya."

Hannah looked as if she wanted him to stay, but he knew the best way for her and Sophia to get to know each other was without him around. When he came back inside, he heard voices coming from Sophia's room. A smile crossed his face as he listened to his daughter's high-pitched voice asking questions followed by the lower tones of Hannah.

Was this really happening? Jackson hardly dared believe it. Any minute he expected to wake up and find that nothing had changed. He walked around the kitchen somewhat aimlessly before coming to stand in front of the window. How long would he have this time? This was the question that hovered over him like a menacing shadow. Until Hannah remembered all the events that brought her to St. Simons and got closure on her feelings for Mitch.e.l.l, they were caught in the middle of an increasingly awkward situation.

He leaned against the counter and closed his eyes. "I need You, Lord, more than ever. With each pa.s.sing day, it's gets harder for me to stay away from Hannah. I've loved her for as long as I can remember. Help me to be strong and to wait on You."

A little hand touched his arm. "Are you sleepy, Daddy?"

Jackson's eyes flew open. "No, I was talking to Jesus."

"Were you thanking Him for sending Mommy back?"

He crouched down beside her. "No, but that's what I should have been doing."

"Could you do it later? I'm really hungry."

"After all those waffles I saw you eating at Miss Laurel's house? Hmm. You must be growing again."

Sophia pulled him over to the wall to look at the pencil marks visible on the door frame. "Am I taller than last time you measured me? Am I, Daddy?"

"I can't tell with you moving around like that. Stand still, pumpkin." Jackson bent down and nodded. "You're this much taller," he said, showing her the distance with his fingers. "If I don't quit feeding you, you're going to be taller than me."

Sophia laughed loudly and looked at Hannah. "Wouldn't that be funny if I grew taller than Daddy?"

"Yes, it would."

"What do starving little girls eat for a snack?" Jackson asked.

"Peanut b.u.t.ter and honey sandwiches," Sophia answered quickly.

"Sounds like a winner to me. I'll start making them while you wash your hands."

"Okay, Daddy, but could you please hurry? My stomach is making growling sounds."

After Sophia left the kitchen, Hannah came over to where he stood. "You've done a wonderful job with her."

"I've done my best, but I've also made plenty of mistakes," he said as he cut the crusts off the bread. "She needs a woman's perspective on things, and that's something I can't give her."

"You've given her everything else, Jackson."

After dinner, Sophia asked Hannah to help her take a bath. The sound of their laughter reached Jackson in the kitchen. He'd never seen Sophia so happy. She hadn't stopped talking all day. He wondered how they'd ever get her to go to sleep.

After he finished loading the dishwasher and took care of Freya, he followed the sound of Hannah's voice. He found them on the bed in Hannah's room. Sophia was lying against her mother, her eyes heavy with sleep. His steps halted as he took in the picture they made. He'd never seen anything so beautiful.

Hannah closed the book and leaned down to kiss Sophia's head. Then she looked at Jackson, and he saw the tears in her eyes.

"Can you carry her to bed?" Hannah whispered.

Not able to speak for the lump in his throat, he nodded and swung Sophia into his arms. He tucked her in, turned on the nightlight, and quietly left the room. Hannah met him in the hallway, and they walked together into the kitchen.

"You go back to work tomorrow. How will Sophia get to school?"

"I'll drop her off, and Laurel will pick her up and bring her home."

"What time do we get up?"

"I get up at six-thirty. I'll wake you when I get Sophia."

She threw him a shocked glance. "I'll get up when you do. What do you want for breakfast?"

"I usually have bacon and eggs."