Page 27 of Love's Patient Journey
“I know you think I signed those papers for the money, but I did it for Zac. I have had a few months to think about your deal, and I don’t want your money. If you feel like you owe me anything, just be good to Zac. Give him the kind of childhood that I never had. I always envied you and your brothers and sister. You had the best parents. The way your mom looked out for you guys and your dad always seemed so proud of everything you did, hell, I wanted that. But my father didn’t know how to be a dad. He was too busy being a politician to even recognize one of my accomplishments. Be a good dad for Zac.”
Ryan reached his hand across the table to shake Jake’s hand, but the guard intervened.
“Right, no touching,” Ryan grumbled. “Thanks, man. You don’t ever have to worry that Zac isn’t being taken care of; that will never be an issue. I couldn’t love him anymore, even if he were my own.” Jake nodded, still looking down at where his hands were cuffed.
“Thanks, Ryan.” Ryan knew it was now or never.
“I do need a favor, though, Jake. You are probably the only person who can keep Zac safe. It kills me to even ask this, but do you know anything about a man named John Monahan?” Jake froze for a second, telling Ryan that he was on the right track. “He broke into Jenna’s house at least twice. He is looking for the papers you signed, and he’s threatened to take Zac. He’s in police custody now, but you know how your dad works. He’ll be out and coming back after us in a few days. I need you to tell us what you know about him and your dad’s involvement with him.
Jake hesitated, looking at his lawyer, “I’ll tell you what you need to know, to keep Zac safe.” Jake’s lawyer blustered but settled down when he realized that Jake had made up his mind and there was nothing that he could do to change it.
Two hours later, Ryan and Tom left the state penitentiary with a sworn, signed deposition from Jake, detailing his father’s criminal involvements and his relationship as Mr. Monahan’s employer. Tom was confident that they had everything that they needed to bring an investigation against Mr. Ashbrook and to have Mr. Monahan sent away for a very long time. Ryan couldn’t believe how well his meeting with Jake went. Now, he just needed to convince Jenna that he did it for her and their family. The last thing he wanted now was for his new bride to thinkthat he was trying to control her life again, even though he was. Still, she married him for better or worse. His controlling nature might be a hurdle for her, but it was the only way he knew how to be. She was his, and now he had three babies to take care of. He just needed to get home and set Jenna straight; Yeah, that would go well.
∞
Ryan came home to find the house dark, no Jenna, Karlie, or Zac. He quickly searched the house and called his brother. Drew answered on the first ring, “I think you may need to haul ass over here, brother. Your new bride is not too happy with you. She has packed an overnight bag for her and Zac and is camped out in my guest room. How did you fuck up this time?”
“Fuck off,” Ryan didn’t need Drew riding his ass right now. He knew that he was going to see Jake would piss her off, but he needed to do it, to make sure no one could touch them again. “I just came from seeing our old pal, Jake. Then I had to turn over all the evidence he provided against his father to my friend at the station. Our intruder will be going away for a long time, and Mr. Ashbrook will be brought up on charges. They are done terrorizing my family.”
“No shit,” Drew breathed.
“Yeah, no shit. So, tell my wife that I will be there in ten minutes and I expect her ass to be packed and waiting for me to bring her home.” Drew barked out a laugh at Ryan’s command. You know, Ry, you aren’t in the Navy anymore, maybe you should try a little softer approach when it comes to your woman. She’s pretty hormonal right now, as you know. It’s like mom always said, ‘You get more flies with honey’.”
Ryan knew that Drew was right, but right now, he didn’t want an audience while he explained things to Jenna and then groveled for her to come back home with him. He knew that there would probably be a whole lot of begging on his part, and he didn’t want any more shit from his brother.
“Fine, don’t tell her anything. I’m on my way.” So, Ryan was going to have to do this the hard way. Either way, he would be bringing Jenna home tonight.
When he got to Drew’s house, Jemma and Zac ran up to him, begging to be picked up. “Fly us around, Uncle Ryan,” Jem begged.
“Yeah, fly us, Dad,” Zac squealed as Ryan pulled him in for a kiss and rubbed his stubble all over the toddler’s belly. He couldn’t get enough of hearing Zac call him “Dad”. After he gave Jem the same attention, he headed up to the second floor to find his wife. Karlie met him outside Jenna’s bedroom and told him to go easy on her sister. Karlie always did have a protective nature when it came to her little sister. Ryan nodded and headed into the darkened room.
“Jenna, baby,” Ryan could hear her breathing and knew that she wasn’t asleep. He crawled into bed behind her and pulled her into his body. She sighed as he wrapped his arms around her and the babies. “You okay, honey?”
“No,” she mumbled into her pillow. He could tell by her voice that she had been crying, and that tore his heart apart. He would do anything in his power to keep his wife from ever crying again.
“I’m sorry, baby. There was no other way to keep that goon in jail and to stop the Ashbrook’s from coming at us again. It would have never ended.” He was rubbing her belly, feeling his babieskick. He just wanted to keep them all safe.
“See, the babies forgive me,” he whispered into her hair.
Jenna barked out a laugh, “No, they are mad at you. That’s why they are kicking you. If I had the strength, I would kick you, too.” Ryan stilled behind her. “So, how much did you have to pay Jake this time to get the evidence you needed?”
“Nothing,” Ryan rolled her to her back so that he could look into her eyes. “He didn’t want anything. He isn’t even taking money for signing Zac’s paternity papers. He doesn’t want my money. He says he did it for Zac, so he would have a better dad than Jake did. He never wanted his father to have any hold over Zac. When I told him about the break-in, he gave up Monahan and his father and spilled everything. We have enough for the police to keep Monahan and to investigate Ashbrook. They won’t come after us again, ever.”
Jenna wrapped her arms around Ryan’s neck and pulled him down, kissing him so passionately, it took him by surprise. He pulled back and tried to focus on Jenna’s face in the dark, “What was that for?”
“For being you. For taking care of Zac and our babies, and me. I love you, Ryan. I wish you would tell me your plans so we can discuss them together, but I understand. Thank you for loving all of us.” She held Ryan’s hand over the babies, and they lay in bed, feeling their little kicks and movements.
A year ago, if someone had told Ryan that he would be lying in bed with Jenna, feeling his twins kicking his hand and the father of one of the most wonderful two-year-old boys in the world, he would have thought the person was crazy. For two long years, he wished for this dream and never thought that it wouldbe possible. But Jenna showed him that everything is possible when you’re willing to work for it. Jenna gave him a second chance when he all but fucked everything up by walking away from her and Zac. She gave him everything, and he was so damn thankful.
“I’m hungry,” Jenna whispered, “Can we have some dinner?”
“Honey, it’s almost seven, didn’t you eat dinner yet?” Ryan got out of bed and carefully pulled Jenna into his arms.
“Well, yeah, we ate dinner, but I’m hungry again. Two babies equal two dinners, right?” Ryan laughed.
“Honey, I can’t argue with your logic. I guess we are going to grab some more dinner.”
Jenna smiled up at him, “I waited a long time for you, Ryan Jackson.”
