“So no, I won’t let you look at Hope and think less of her because of who her mother is.”
“She’s Dylan’s daughter too,” he conceded. “We’d never think she was anything less than perfect.”
“Because she’s Dylan’s. Not because she was a beautiful, wonderful girl on her own. And how would you know? You never came to see her in the hospital. You could have. I wouldn’t have kept you from her. Oh, but wait, you couldn’t come see her because your wife refused to acknowledge her. Well, now it’s my turn to refuse.”
She expected Dylan to ask her to show them the picture. He didn’t. He sat back against her bed with his arms crossed over his chest. Greg was beside him holding Will. They sat between her and his parents, making it clear the line had been drawn. His parents on one side, and they stood together against them for Hope.
Robert hung his head, and then focused on his wife with one of those looks that pass between couples who have known each other for a lifetime. The message was clear. He wasn’t happy with what she’d done, or the results. Martha maintained her dignified posture. Grabbing her elbow, he turned her with him and escorted her from the room.
Jessie let out her breath. She didn’t like being mean. She didn’t like that someone had made her be mean. It upset her more knowing Dylan’s parents’ actions had forced her to do something she’d never do under normal circumstances.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with them again, Jess. I’ll have a talk with my father and try to figure out a way to make him understand I mean what I say. I don’t want them interfering in my life, or yours. Ours,” he said to reiterate he meant to have her in his life for good.
“Go home and get some sleep.”
Dylan shrank in front of her. His shoulders slumped and his face went lax. Dealing with his parents and her took a toll on him.
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve been here every day and most of every night. You work and take care of me. Go home with your son and catch up on some sleep.”
“I’ll sleep when you’re home.”
“I’m much better, they’re sending me home tomorrow.”
Greg laughed as Dylan scowled at Jessie. “I think he means when you’re home with him.”
“I’m not going home with him—you.” She looked from one to the other like they’d lost their minds. “I have my own home. I’m going to sleep in my own bed and not have people poking and prodding me all night.”
The two men tried to hold back the smirks and the laughter, but it was hopeless.
“Shut up,” she said to both of them. “I’m going home—alone.”
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” Dylan said.
“I’ll swing by and pick you up,” Greg said helpfully. “Dylan doesn’t know where you live, and I promised Pop I’d see you got home safe.”
“I’m perfectly capable of finding my own way home and taking care of myself. I’ve been doing it a long time.”
“Maybe it’s time you let someone take care of you.” She scowled at the very idea, making him chuckle and shake his head. Dylan ran his hand down her hair. He saw it in her eyes, that longing to be connected to someone again, to him, allowing herself to love and be loved. Afraid to accept it, or reach out for it, it had been taken away too many times. Not this time. He intended to give her everything.
He, Greg, and Will left to her many protests about them going home with her tomorrow. Greg slapped him on the back as they got into the elevator. “You’ve got your work cut out for you. She’s afraid of being hurt again. Good luck knocking down all her walls.”
“I plan on bulldozing them to the ground.”
“I want to ride on the bulldozer,” Will cheered.
“It’s you and me all the way, buddy.”
Dylan hoped he had it in him to heal Jessie’s heart and win it back. He’d never stop trying, not until he had Jessie again. This time, he’d love her the way she deserved to be loved.
Chapter Twenty-Five
* * *
“DISAPPOINTED DYLAN DIDN’T come and pick you up from the hospital?” Greg tried to hide a smile, allowing only the corners of his mouth to tilt slightly, but Jessie caught the movement. “Since I picked you up, you’ve been quiet. Admit it, you wanted him to pick you up and take you home.”
No way in hell she admitted that, but the disappointment settled in her heart and made it ache. “He’s probably working. I imagine the sheriff’s department needs to have their sheriff actually work. He spent a lot of time at the hospital with me.”