Page 73 of Waiting for Devon
His gaze riveted on the TV. One of the cable news channels was running footage of a convention featuring Devon’s keynote speech. As he focused on her, primal love and the pain caused by her betrayal intermingled and tore through him. During the weeks Devon had been gone, Reed had convinced himself he felt nothing for her, not even anger. It was easier that way. To feel nothing. But seeing her on TV and hearing her passion-filled voice, Reed realized he had only been fooling himself. He still loved her and the knowledge devastated him.
When the news anchor switched to another story, Blair turned off the TV and touched Reed’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Yes…no…” he responded with an absent look in his eyes.
“It must have been a shock to see Devon again. She looked well, didn’t she? She’s gained weight since leaving Dallas, and I dare say she seemed happy.”
“Stop, Blair. I don’t want to talk about Dr. Brooks anymore. What she did…”
“Wasn’t her fault, no matter what you may think, Reed,” Blair interrupted. “Dad and Shane trapped Devon in a power struggle between them and left her with no alternative whatsoever. You heard what Dad said. He cost Devon her job and knew all along that the engagement was a scam. He could have put a stop to it anytime, but he didn’t. He allowed it to go on until she was hopelessly entangled and in love with you. I don’t understand how you could forgive Dad and Shane but not the woman you claim to love.”
“She ran away.” The words tore from his taut throat. “She ran away because she didn’t trust me enough to confide the truth in me. She never even gave me a chance to prove the strength of my love for her. How I would have forgiven her without question if she had demonstrated an ounce of faith in me. I can’t forgive her for that.”
Chapter Nineteen
Caleb protested whenDevon called to inform him to expect an extra guest for Thanksgiving. He didn’t relish spending the four-day weekend with his selfish and arrogant former brother-in-law. However, when his sisters and Jack arrived at noon on Thanksgiving Day, he discovered a softer and humbler Dr. Taylor. Happy to be included and eager to please his host and hostess, he offered to help Robin in the kitchen, much to everyone’s surprise.
As the men settled down for a long and lazy afternoon of televised football, Caleb commented, “You’re different, Jack. Don’t take offense, but I was dreading your coming today.”
Jack took a long swallow of his beer. “None taken. The truth is, I was dreading it, too. I know how you feel about me after what I did to Devon.”
“I despised you for a while. But you’ve changed, and for what it’s worth, you’re good for Devon. I’m glad you’re taking care of her after what she went through because of Barrington. I’d like to get my hands on the Barrington brothers.”
Jack grinned and saluted Caleb with his bottle of beer. “Don’t worry. I knocked Shane Barrington on his ass.”
Caleb’s kids giggled and declared, “Ooo, you said a bad word, Uncle Jack!”
“I did. I need my potty mouth washed out with soap.”
“Gross.” Caleb’s daughter wrinkled her cute nose.
From the kitchen,Robin and Emmaline peeked into the living room. “Well?” Devon whispered. “What’s going on?”
“They’re talking and laughing with each other and the kids,” Robin reported.
“That’s a relief. I was sure I had started WWIII by bringing Jack here.”
“I don’t understand you at all,” Emmaline began as she poured coffee for them. “One minute you hate Jack enough to pretend you’re engaged to Shane Barrington, and now you two are bosom buddies. What’s the deal?”
“Reed doesn’t love me anymore. And as far as Jack is concerned, he’s become a good friend. That’s it.”
“He’s not looking at you through the eyes of a friend,” Robin pointed out. “Jack is still in love with you.”
“Yes, I know. Sooner or later we’re going to have to talk about his feelings.”
“Sooner,” Emmaline advised. “He needs to understand you don’t feel the same way about him.”
A little pang of regret hit Devon. If only Jack had come to his senses long before now, she might have learned to love him again, especially when she watched him with her brother’s children. One day he would make a great father.
During the onsetof the Christmas season, Devon brushed aside her sister-in-law’s observation about Jack’s feelings for her. It seemed silly to consider it at all given the amount of time she and Jack had been divorced and the painful circumstances surrounding their separation and eventual breakup. Jack was solicitous and attentive, of course, but Devon didn’t think about his continual acts of kindness too deeply. She was only comforted to know she wasn’t facing her pregnancy alone.
One evening after Jack helped Devon trim a Christmas tree and decorate the rest of her home, he built a fire and settled next to her on the sofa. They sipped cups of hot cocoa and watched the multi-colored lights twinkle on the Victorian tree.
“Do you remember our first Christmas together?” Jack asked.
“Yes,” she answered as a knot of dread formed in her stomach. She knew what was coming.
“Our tiny apartment in Chicago could hardly fit the two of us let alone that humongous Christmas tree.” Jack chuckled. “We had such a devil of a time trying to get it upstairs. You insisted on that Douglas fir.”
