Page 42 of I've Got You

It wasn’t just that though that had my gut threatening to push me off balance.

“And then you’re seeing Davis, and he’s coming here for dinner, right?”

That was the second reason.

On Jenna’s third night here, we’d sat down with liquor once the boys were in bed, and I’d built up to telling her the truth.

She’d cried, devastated I’d been unable to come out and share with her before, while becoming incensed over Dad’s involvement. I’d wondered how much she’d known or seen about Dad’s treatment of me, but she admitted between sobs and shots that she’d been so caught up in our parents all but trapping her in the house and fixing her up with Stan, who she was determined would be herex-husband, that she’d wallowed in her own angst and hadn’t even considered what I’d been hiding.

It made sense. I just wished life had been different for us. All too well I knew many wouldn’t understand that. Shit, we’d been brought up with goddamn silver spoons in our mouths, but wealth and education were not the making of a man. It was only since moving to Kirkby that I’d allowed myself to embrace that belief fully.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah.”

She grinned widely, while my nerves were as obvious as the heat touching my cheeks. When she waggled her brows ridiculously, I couldn’t help but mirror her amusement. She was excited, and that knowledge slammed into me so hard, I caught my breath.

Davis was incredible. And sharing him with Jenna and the boys was something I’d never expected to be able to do. Life had a funny way of panning out sometimes, and it was that I had to grasp on to rather than allowing the shadows to seep back in.

“What about you?” I asked.

She washed her hands, having discarded the offending items while I’d been blushing. “I have an appointment at the day care in thirty minutes.”

It was that permanent, this move. The morning after our talk, she’d approached me wearing sunglasses and let me know that she planned to stay in Kirkby. Resolve had held her voice steady when she’d told me this place was exactly where she and the boys were meant to be. I hadn’t hesitated when I’d tugged her close and hugged her so hard that she threatened to vomit on me.

Her plan was to settle the boys into the same day care as Libby. Davis had recommended them when I’d discussed everything with him a couple of nights ago over dinner at his house. Toby would be able to start school at the beginning of the next school year, but rather than wait till then, Jenna hoped the boys being together would help settle them in easier, plus she was resolved to find a job.

She hadn’t worked since the boys were born and was determined to make sure she could care for them financially. There was still the fallout of leaving her husband to deal with, but she wasn’t quite ready to handle that just yet.

“Okay, well, I’ll be home at maybe four so I can start on dinner.” I rolled my eyes when her waggling brows started up again.

“I can—”

“Nope. My… Davis.” She grinned when I hesitated. “So I’ll get food prepared.”

“Even the kids’?”

I nodded, sure I could wrangle together a meal for us all. “I’ve got it.”

Amusement lit her features. She knew I wasn’t the best of cooks, but I was determined to try. I pressed a kiss to her cheek, did the same to the boys who were glued to the TV in the sitting room, then headed out to the clinic, trying to shake the nerves away as I traveled closer.

When I pulled up out front, I took a deep breath, grabbed my files, then headed inside. Emily, one of the receptionists, was at the desk. Her eyes widened a little before she smiled. I was aware how lucky I was that all the shit I’d caused with Carter, which seemed like a lifetime ago but in reality was only a few months, had been kept on the down low. Only Lauren and Terry were aware of the events.

“Hey, Emily.” I bobbed my head in greeting.

“Well, I’ll be. If it isn’t the elusive Dr. Anderson. I heard talk that we may be seeing more of your handsome face around here again.”

Genuine laughter escaped, relieving some of the tension I carried in my shoulders. “Is that right?” Emily nodded, her gray-white hair staying miraculously in place. “Is Terry in his office?”

“He sure is.”

“Perfect. Are you okay for me to head back—”

“Do you really need to ask…, boss?” she hedged.

I snorted and shook my head. “Thanks.” I made my way around the familiar hallway, rightness settling in me. While I hadn’t been at the clinic long before I’d messed up, there was nothing like the stinging scent of disinfectant and the underlying smell of animals to make me feel like I was at home. For all my moments of arrogance and idiocy, medicine was in my blood. Healing animals made my blood sing and heart soar. Hell, I’d missed this place.

As I approached Terry’s office, Lauren stepped around the corner. Her eyes zeroed in on me, her smile slipping as she continued my way. I paused, knowing it was time I addressed her. “Lauren.”

“Dr. Anderson.” There was an edge to her voice.

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