GINA WILKINS - The Soldier's Legacy

Jade had no doubt Trevor was anxious to get back to work. While they’d been gathered around the dinner table last night, she’d seen signs of his struggle to hide his frustration with being homebound, especially when the kids had chattered about their outing.

“What’s on your agenda today, Jade?” Adding another spoonful of brown sugar to the bowl in front of her, Mary Pat brought Jade’s thoughts back from last night’s dinner. The housekeeper had served a somewhat healthier breakfast this morning of steel-cut oatmeal, blueberries and whole-grain toast with her homemade peach jam. Everything was delicious.

Jade set down her coffee cup. She had a busy schedule with the academic year starting tomorrow. The mid-week kick-off was reportedly traditional for their new schools, a way to ease students back into routine with a shortened first week. “This morning I plan to help the kids get their school supplies sorted so they’ll be ready to go tomorrow. After lunch, I have to go over to our house to meet with the contractor and make some decisions. I just hope they have the roof adequately covered against this rain.”

“Are the children going with you? Because they’re welcome to stay here with me, if they’d rather.”

“Can we, Mom?” Erin asked hastily. “It’s so boring when you’re talking to the contractors, and we can’t even go outside because it’s raining.”

“We can play upstairs in the rec room here,” Caleb proposed. “It’s our last day for video games and movies and stuff before school starts tomorrow.”

“Mary Pat said I can help her make cookies today, like we talked about at dinner yesterday,” Bella piped in. “We could do that while you’re gone, right, Ms. Mary Pat?”

“Absolutely.” The housekeeper’s face practically lit up at the prospect. “Any kind of cookies you like, sweetie pie. I have cutters and frosting and sprinkles so you can decorate them and make them pretty.”

“Okay, Mommy?” Bella asked eagerly, though Jade had approved the cookie making lesson when they’d first discussed the idea.

Jade’s nod included them all. “You can stay here,” she told her children, “but you’d better be on your best behavior while I’m gone.”

A chorus of crossed-heart promises followed, assuring her that her trio would be perfect angels. Deciding she could count on that—to an extent—she thanked Mary Pat for agreeing to watch over them and finished her breakfast. She wasn’t particularly looking forward to going out into the heavy rain to wrangle with her laconic contractor, but she was ready for the repairs to her home to be completed. They needed to settle into their life, and not as guests in this luxurious house.

She was gone longer than she expected that afternoon. She’d arrived at her house dripping from the dash from the car. She’d had to park on the street because the driveway was blocked by pickup trucks, and had entered to find the workers frantically trying to contain leaks pouring into the kitchen. Apparently the roof tarp hadn’t been well secured, which was inexcusable in an area well practiced in dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters like hurricanes.

Seeing the fresh damage made Jade’s rare temper snap, and she had a few words for the contractor in charge of this team. Finally satisfied that the situation was under control—and that the contractor was now aware that his client was not a meek woman willing to simply accept whatever mansplaining jargon he threw at her—she spent the next two hours discussing options with him. Afterward, she had to stop by a home improvement store to make final choices on paint and trim colors. She could never resist browsing in that store, and the time slipped away from her while she admired appliances and fixtures, flooring and accessories. Having made her purchases, she slogged through the driving rain again and drove back to Trevor’s house.

She was going to look like a drowned rat when she entered, but maybe she’d have time to freshen up before he saw her. Not that it mattered, of course, she assured herself quickly. She simply had a normal amount of feminine vanity.

Sadly for the sake of her ego, she walked into the kitchen only to come almost face-to-face with Trevor on his crutches and a tall, striking caramel-skinned woman with shrewd dark eyes and impeccably styled black hair. The woman wore crisp, lightweight gray slacks and a fuchsia silk blouse, and Jade couldn’t help being aware of her own tousled damp hair, wrinkled clothing and rain-washed face.

Holding her head high, she pasted on a bright smile. “It’s really pouring down out there.”

“Much to the disappointment of our guests at the resort,” Trevor responded wryly, glancing at the window over the sink. “Fortunately, the rain’s supposed to end in a couple of hours.”

He motioned toward the tall woman then. “Jade, this is Tamar Jones, my administrative assistant. Tamar, this is Jade Evans. You’ve already met her kids.”

“I did, yes.” Tamar shook Jade’s hand warmly. “They’re delightful. So bright and polite.”

“Thank you.” Jade glanced at Trevor. “Where are they?”

“Upstairs, playing board games with Mary Pat—who’s been having the time of her life today, by the way. She and Bella made cookies, and Mary Pat’s been teaching Caleb and Erin some trick shots at billiards.”

Jade could smell the aroma of fresh-baked cookies permeating the kitchen. Several covered plates on the counter probably held the results of the cooking lesson.

“How’s the progress on your house coming along?”

She rolled her eyes in response to Trevor’s question. “Does the term three-ring circus give you a clue?”

“Ouch.”

Tamar shifted the large, thickly stuffed tote bag in her hands. “I should be getting back to the office. I have a long list of things to do—even longer now that the boss has had time to come up with some new ideas,” she added with an indulgent smile toward Trevor.

Like his housekeeper, Trevor’s assistant seemed totally devoted to her employer, which said quite a bit about how well he treated them. Jade and Tamar exchanged polite goodbyes and then Tamar pulled a small umbrella from her bag and went out to brave the elements to her car. Jade suspected the woman would look beautifully put-together even if caught in a hurricane.

“Tamar seems nice,” she said to Trevor when they were alone.

“She’s my rock at the office,” he replied simply. “I’d hate to think of trying to handle my workload without her.”

She nodded. “I’ve heard the best business leaders always surround themselves with the best employees.”

“I will concede that my employees are absolutely the best,” he said with modest expression.

She laughed. “Nice dodge.”

He grinned, balancing on one crutch as he reached out to brush a still-damp strand of hair from her cheek. “Thanks.”

Whoa. She felt the impact of that unexpected touch jolt her all the way to her toes. Perhaps he sensed her reaction, or maybe read it on her face. His smile faded, and his blue eyes glinted in a way that made her wonder what he was thinking.

He cleared his throat and took a step back. “So, about the issues at your house? Is there anything I can do to help? I know most of the contractors around here. Maybe I should have a word with yours?”

That suggestion straightened her spine again. “I’m handling it, thank you,” she said firmly. She’d never needed a man to step in and help her deal with her personal business, and she didn’t need it now from this man who’d already done more for her and her children than she was comfortable accepting.

Trevor seemed to realize he’d accidentally stepped on her pride. “I’m sure you are. Just letting you know I’m available if you need anything.”