Chapter Eight
Jade had arrived at the island and slept for almost two days. Maggie, the housekeeper, took care of her, bringing Jade’s meals to her room. Jade knew Maggie well since she’d worked for Serenity and Michael from the time Jade was thirteen and Layla was born, until Serenity no longer needed her. Asher had then hired her to run the island estate.
Her second day here, Jade felt somewhat better. She showered and came out for dinner. Her brother also had a live-in chef for himself and guests who came to visit, and he’d called ahead for her arrival. She ate a delicious chicken, rice, and broccoli dinner, relieved she could keep the food down. After, she made her way to her room, watched some television and turned in for the night.
Exhaustion had become her new best friend, and it felt so good to know she could crash and not worry about work the next day. She slept late and ate the healthiest breakfast she’d had in a long time, sitting outside on a veranda overlooking the ocean. She tipped her head and took in the blue sky. The sun shone overhead with a few white fluffy clouds. If not for the slight queasiness in her stomach reminding her why she’d had to escape to paradise, things would be perfect.
She placed her hand over her still-flat belly and sighed. It wasn’t like she was here to decide what to do. As soon as the plane had taken off—and she’d left New York and the pressure behind—she’d known what she wanted. She would have this baby. But she needed to decide how to approach Knox about it. On top of not knowing how he’d react, she also worried about what her child might inherit from her. Migraines? Worse?
“Thank you, biological mom,” she muttered.
Jade was sure most of her issues came from the parent she’d never known. Anxiety accompanied her most days, and in the back of her mind, she lived in fear of ending up like her mother. Even though she’d become pregnant without having thought it through, she reassured herself that she could be the mother Audrey Dare had never been. Still, the possibilities frightened her.
After breakfast, she called Asher as promised, assuring him she was okay but not sharing her news. Knox needed to hear it before anyone else, and he would… as soon as she managed to get a handle on her fears. Next, she FaceTimed with Lauren, assuring her friend she was fine, she just needed time.
“Knox is losing his mind,” Lauren told her. “He came by the office today and he wasn’t happy when I wouldn’t give him any information.”
Jade let out a sigh. “You’re the best friend a girl could have. I’m not trying to torture him. I just want to come to terms with all the changes I’m going to be dealing with before I bring him into it. And besides, I haven’t heard from him since his return from Vegas. Why is he suddenly looking for me?”
Her friend tucked her sleek bob behind one ear. “I don’t know, but his expression when you weren’t at Holly’s appointment was pure disappointment.”
Jade bit down on her lower lip. “I’ll text him and let him know there’s nothing to worry about.”
Lauren nodded. “I think that’s the right thing to do.”
“Agreed. So how’s work?”
Lauren rolled her eyes. “You took time off. Use it. Everything here is under control. Even Holly,” she said, laughing.
“Okay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Jade blew her friend a kiss and Lauren did the same before they cut off the video call.
Before she could change her mind, she texted Knox with a brief reassurance that she was okay and would be in touch. Then she shut off her phone.
Gathering her beach bag, she walked from the veranda, down the stairs, to the umbrella and chair that had been set up for her by Corey, Maggie’s son, who’d moved here to be close to his mother. Asher had given him a job. He was in charge of the pool, the beach, the grounds keepers, etc. Not once had Jade ever taken her family or her financial circumstances for granted, and she whispered a thank you as she took in the beauty around her.
No sooner had she relaxed onto the cushioned recliner in the shade of the umbrella than she fell asleep. She spent most of the morning and midafternoon alternating between dozing, reading, and staring out at the ocean, hoping for a sign to guide her—something that would help her manage the unease churning inside her. Once she returned to New York and told Knox, they’d have to figure out his role in their baby’s life. And she’d have to make an appointment to see an obstetrician.
But the first thing she’d have to do was talk to her psychiatrist, in actuality, a psychopharmacologist who handled her medication, to find out which medications she should discontinue and what she could do to make sure she kept the life growing inside her healthy. She’d already left him a message but hadn’t heard back yet. Equally important, she needed to keep herself safe. Her mother’s ultimate act was never far from her mind. More reasons for Jade to be concerned.
In this beautiful place, where she shouldn’t have a care in the world, her worries were starting to overwhelm her. Needing to move, she rose from her lounger and walked along the beach, allowing the ocean waves to occasionally wash over her bare feet, then recede again. Her hair blew around her, sticking to her face and annoying her. She turned to face the house so the breeze pushed her hair off her face, helping her as she grabbed the long strands and wound them with a tie she kept on her wrist.
She blew out a breath as she took in the sprawling mansion, a white stucco manor with its long veranda… and saw a dark-haired man walking her way. She stiffened and tried to convince herself Asher had arrived to check on her, but the closer the lone figure came, the more certain she was that her visitor wasn’t her brother.
“Knox.” His name flew away on the heavy breeze, as she stood, nerves churning, and waited for him to reach her.
He strode closer. A pair of jeans was rolled at his ankles, his feet were bare, and a casual navy Warriors T-shirt clung to his muscular form.
He reached her, stepping into her personal space, his eyes hidden by aviators that only added to his appeal. “I have to ask. Are you running from anyone in particular? Or just me?” The sexy twist to his lips was her only indication he wasn’t furious with her.
“I texted you,” she said, her excuse lame and she knew it.
“A couple of hours ago. I was already in the air.” He studied her behind those dark lenses. “By then, I wanted my arrival to be a surprise.”
“Why are you here?” she asked.
A long strand of hair escaped her ponytail, and he reached out, tucking it behind her ear. “Because you’re here.”
A soft tremor rippled through her, and her nipples puckered against the small triangles of her bikini—something she’d worn because she’d thought she was alone.