Undeniable You (Sapph in the City #4)

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Larison

It had been a long fucking day and I was completely frayed and barely hanging on. Thank goodness for Jo and Sophie. I hadn’t had to worry about Juniper at all (even though I still had a little) and Sophie had been stalwart and solid next to me.

Mama was fine. Everything had gone well, and she was actually going home the same night which sounded wild to me, but I guess that was how things went. She had been up and moving almost right away and even though it made me anxious, Mom was with her and they’d already set up the house for her, moving to the downstairs bedroom.

I’d be coming over to help and give Mom breaks over the next few weeks as Mama recovered and got her mobility back. It was going to be a process, but at least the worst part was behind us.

When I finally got back from the hospital, I walked into a home that smelled amazing.

“Mama!” Juniper ran over to me and I picked her up. She had to stop getting bigger or else I wasn’t going to be able to do that anymore.

“You’re back,” Jo said, a bright smile on her face. Seeing her there, in my kitchen, stirring something in my crockpot, was such a relief that my knees almost buckled.

Shit, I was tired. I set Juniper down and barely made it to the table, falling into one of the chairs. All of my energy seemed to abandon me at once.

“I made you some soup. For both of you. It’s chicken with a bunch of veggies and rice so it’s nice and warm and filling. I figured you’d need it after today.”

This woman was a treasure. Even though she didn’t have to, she was taking care of me too. And I didn’t hate it. Didn’t want to tell her to stop. It felt too good.

“Wow, thank you. It smells amazing.”

“Mama, can we visit MeeMee tomorrow?” Juniper asked, climbing in my lap with Mozzarella the dragon. She’d also brought it with her to the hospital and had informed Mama that dragon kisses were magic, setting it gently on her new hip and giving it a kiss.

“We’ll see. I have to go over and help Nanna, but I’m not sure. MeeMee is going to be really tired.”

I met Jo’s eyes. “I can bring her over for a quick visit. If you want.”

That was too much.

“Mama, please?” Juniper begged.

God, I was so tired I could fall asleep right in this chair.

“Hey, Princess Juniper. How about you help your mama to the couch and we’ll bring her some soup?” Jo said. That distracted Juniper long enough for me to stumble to the couch, sinking into the cushions.

“Here you go, Mama,” Juniper said, handing me a bowl of soup. I couldn’t believe she’d carried it all the way over here without spilling. Jo handed me a spoon.

“It’s late, Princess Juniper. How about we start getting ready for bed?” Jo said.

“I can—” I started to say, but Jo put her hand up.

“You sit and eat. I’ve got this.” She and Juniper went off to Juniper’s room and I heard my daughter giggling as Jo helped her get ready for bed.

I ate the soup slowly, savoring the rich flavors. I didn’t know what Jo had put in it, but it was absolutely delicious. Or maybe I was just too tired. I managed to finish it, though, and wanted to have some more, but I didn’t think I could get up.

This was the kind of tired that was not just in my body but had wrapped around my soul. The kind of tired that a good night’s sleep couldn’t cure.

Juniper scampered out to give me a hug.

“I’ll come and tuck you in,” I said, finding the energy to put my hands on my knees and push to my feet. I wobbled a little, but Jo appeared and helped me to Juniper’s bedroom.

She got in bed and I gave her a hug and a kiss.

“Sweet dreams for my sweet girl,” I said. The same thing I said every night.

“Goodnight, Mama,” she said, yawning. It was so nice she wasn’t fighting me tonight.

Jo and I left the room, closing the door softly.

I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.

“Come on. You’re having some more soup and bread,” Jo said, poking me and then essentially shoving me toward the couch.

I ended up with more soup in my hands and a plate of bread and cheese on the coffee table.

Things were getting fuzzy around the edges and I knew I needed to sleep soon.

Jo left me to eat while she quietly moved around the kitchen. Cleaning and putting things away, I imagined.

She came back and sat next to me.

“You should eat before it gets cold.” She sounded like she was scolding me. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been scolded.

“Thank you,” I said. Inadequate words. Completely and totally inadequate.

“Are you okay? Today was kind of rough.”

That was an understatement. I couldn’t explain why I’d gotten so worked up over a simple surgery. The worry had crept into my mind and clung onto me, whispering all kinds of terrible things in my ear. Rationally I knew nothing was going to happen, but then sometimes bad things did happen during surgeries. Maybe I’d watched too many medical dramas and had terrified myself.

“The worst is over,” I said. “Now she just has to recover, which is going to be a marathon and not a sprint. She’s going to be much happier, though. That hip has been bothering her for a long time. She always said she wanted to be able to run after her granddaughter without pain.”

My parents really were two of the best people in the entire world.

“Well, now she can. In a few weeks,” Jo said, propping her elbow on the back of the couch and facing me. I set the soup aside and reached for a piece of bread. It was slightly warm and crusty.

“You were really there for us today. I know you’re going to tell me you were just doing your job, but you weren’t. You did more. And I appreciate it.”

Reaching out, I squeezed her hand. The gesture was so casual, but it didn’t feel casual. Had I ever touched her before?

Oh, right. I’d collapsed on her today and cried all over her shoulder. How embarrassing.

“Sorry for that little breakdown earlier. I think everything just built up and had to come out.”

She turned her hand over, so our palms were touching. Almost like we were holding hands.

This, like coming home and finding her making soup, felt good. Too good.

“It’s okay, Larison. You don’t have to apologize for having emotions. You’re human.”

My fingers fluttered against her wrist, as if they wanted to stroke against her skin. Reluctantly, I pulled back. She curled her fingers into a fist.

“I know. I guess I just don’t like people to see me vulnerable like that.”

Jo nodded. “That makes sense. But you can be vulnerable with me.” Our eyes met and I sucked in a breath. Beautiful. So incredibly beautiful. Inside and out.

“I hope, maybe, that I could do the same for you, Jo.” Did anyone ever call her by her full name? It was so pretty.

“Thanks.” She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth as if she wanted to say something else. Her cheeks got pink and I wondered what on earth she was thinking about that would cause her to blush like that.

Jo let out a breath. “I should get going. You need to go to bed. It’s been a long day.” Getting to her feet, she put space between us that I didn’t like. If I wasn’t so tired, I would have reached out and dragged her back. Made her sit on the couch with me as we talked all night about anything but today. I’d make her laugh. She’d make me laugh. We’d laugh together until our stomachs hurt.

“Larison?”

I hadn’t realized I’d closed my eyes. I opened them to find Jo hovering near me.

“I’m good.” Blinking took so much energy.

“Do you need me to help you?” she asked.

“No. I’ll rally.” I would. I’d make it to my bed. I hoped. Or maybe I’d pass out on the couch. It had happened before and it was a very comfortable couch.

“Okay.” She didn’t seem sure, but she did step away. “Just, um, let me know if you need anything. No matter what time.” It was nice of her to offer, but I wasn’t going to message her in the middle of the night when I had bad dreams. That was definitely crossing the line.

“Thank you,” I said. That seemed to be the thing I couldn’t stop saying to her.

“Everything’s going to work out,” she said, just before she walked out the door, leaving me alone on the couch.