Page 65 of Sliding Into Love
“Are you a queen?” The little girl gestured at the older woman’s impeccable coiffure and perfectly tailored silk suit. Jannadiddo a curtsy.
“She is to me.” the man in the wheelchair chuckled and wheeled himself over to where Janna was glancing back and forth between them. When he reached the small vinyl-covered couch where she sat, Janna peered at him for a moment, then went to stand beside him, eyeing the IV tube warily.
“Does that mean you’re the king?”
“Me? I’m a scoundrel.” The man grinned at her.
Ethan snorted.
“Got something to say, kid?” The old man’s tone was still light, but there was an undercurrent to it Ivy couldn’t interpret, and she didn’t like not knowing what it meant. Ready to jump back into the conversation, Ivy started to speak, but Ethan beat her to it.
“Why are you here?” Ethan repeated the question, running a hand through his hair, then wincing.
“Emily told me you were coming for x-rays, so I came down to meet you, and then I saw—well-- I saw what I thought was your family, and I brought Jimmy so we could meet them. I’m Laura Lorne,” she said, turning to hold her hand out to Ivy.
“Ivy Johnson. And this is Jase and Janna.”
“And I’m Jimmy Fisher.” He winked at Janna, who still sat in his lap. “Not the king.”
Ivy glanced back at Ethan. His face was pale, and he looked as though he might be struggling to breathe. That may have had something to do with the bandage wrapped around his waist, though, because once she’d gotten closer, Ivy noticed it beneath the gown he wore. She threaded her fingers through his and squeezed, and he bumped his shoulder into hers in silent thanks.
“It was lovely to meet you all, but I think we should go. Ethan, do you need me to call you a car?” Laura turned her gaze to her son.
Ivy bristled.
“He’s going home with me, Ms. Lorne.”
Laura’s unreadable face flickered, and Ivy couldn’t tell if she was angry or amused. Ethan’s lips twitched as he looked between the two women. It looked like he was trying not to laugh.
“Call me Laura, dear.”
Dear? Ivy was uncertain if the endearment was genuine or insulting, but she tried not to glare at the older woman. But when Laura offered a warm smile, Ivy tentatively returned it.
Laura looked at Ethan for a moment, then eased over to brush a lock of hair off his forehead before rushing out of the room, leaving Jimmy behind.
“Guess I better go after her.” He winked at Janna, who wrapped him in a hug and gave him a smacking kiss on his cheek before climbing off his lap. “Good to see you, kid.” He nodded at Ethan. “I like her.” Jimmy jerked his thumb at Ivy as he followed his wife out. “Wait for me, Your Majesty,” he called after her as he wheeled out of the room.
After his parents left, Ivy saw Jase still hovering in the corner, so she called him over to where she was still tucked under Ethan’s arm.
“You okay, buddy?” she asked him.
His shoulders ratcheted up to his ears, but he didn’t answer.
Ethan flicked the bill of Jase’s hat, knocking it back on his head.
“What’s wrong?”
Ivy heard the concern in Ethan’s voice, and she kissed him on the cheek before sitting on the awful couch with Janna.
With his head still down, Jase’s words came out as a mumble. The only word Ivy caught was ‘drunk’, and a pang shot through her.
Ethan patted a spot beside him, and Jase perched on the edge with his head still down.
“Jase,” Ethan said, and it was a jolt because he so rarely used the boy’s name, “don’t be scared. Marshall got arrested, and he’s gone now.” He paused. “Everything is going to be okay.” It sounded as though he were speaking to himself as much as the boy.
Slowly, Jase nodded, his shoulders loosening. Ethan bumped Jase’s fist with his own, and while Ivy didn’t comprehend male bonding rituals, somehow it seemed to have worked. Jase was calmer, so Ivy didn’t question it.
The doctor entered a few minutes later, and Ethan was cleared to leave with instructions to take pain medication as needed, as the injury had only been a nasty bruise.
