“Bad,” Pamela said quietly. “Please, Jack. I know I have no right to ask. I know I gave up any claim to being her mother a long time ago. But this is important. This could affect her health, her future. I need to speak to Jane and ask her if she’ll get tested.”
Jack closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on him. Jane had built a life without Pamela. She’d survived her mother’s abandonment and built walls to protect herself from ever being hurt like that again. Letting Pamela back in, even for something like this, could shatter everything Jane had carefully constructed.
But if this was real, if this genetic condition was as serious as Pamela claimed, didn’t Jane have a right to know?
“I need more information before I even consider letting you anywhere near my daughter,” Jack said finally, his voice low and controlled. “What exactly are we talking about?”
And as Pamela began to explain, Jack felt his world tilting once again, the past reaching forward to complicate a present he’d been trying so hard to rebuild.
12
ISABELLA
Isabella balanced the tray carefully as she walked through the inn’s hallway toward the library. Two sandwiches, two cups of coffee, and a side of fruit she’d arranged with more care than the simple lunch deserved. Her mind was already racing ahead to the meeting in two hours, running through possible scenarios and trying to prepare herself to face Todd after all these years.
The library door stood slightly ajar, and Isabella pushed it wider with her shoulder, the tray occupying both hands. “I brought lunch and thought we could?—”
The words died in her throat.
Logan and Charlie sprang apart like teenagers caught in a bedroom with the door closed. Charlie’s cheeks were flushed a deep pink, and Logan’s hand still hovered near Charlie’s waistwhere it had clearly been moments before. Both of them looked guilty and flustered in a way that would have been comical if Isabella wasn’t so mortified at having interrupted them.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I uh... I brought your lunch,” Isabella stammered, walking quickly into the room and trying very hard not to look directly at either of them. She set the tray down on the desk near Charlie’s makeshift office setup with more force than necessary, the cups rattling slightly. All she wanted was for the floor to open up and swallow her whole.
Before she could make her escape, Jane’s voice came from the doorway behind her. “Well, this is a little awkward.”
Isabella’s eyes closed briefly. Perfect. Jane stood there with a knowing smile playing at her lips, clearly having seen everything too. There was no way this situation could get more awkward.
“Did you two uh...” Logan started, running a hand through his hair in obvious discomfort.
“See you and Charlie having an intimate moment?” Jane finished for him, her grin widening. There was no judgment in her tone, just warmth and a hint of amusement.
“Jane,” Isabella warned, feeling embarrassment flood her cheeks with fresh heat. This wasn’t her business to discuss, and she certainly didn’t want to make Logan and Charlie more uncomfortable than they already were.
“You know,UncleLogan,” Jane said, fighting a smile. “We just want you to be happy. You and Charlie don’thave to sneak around like teenagers. You’re not Romeo and Juliet. No one here is planning to duel at dawn because you two are holding hands or stealing kisses in the library.”
“That’s a bit dramatic,” Isabella said softly to Jane as she walked further into the room.
“We... uh...” Charlie muttered, glancing at Logan and then back at the two women standing in front of them. “We’re just figuring things out, so we don’t want to announce our relationship yet.”
“Everyone knows,” Isabella blurted out before she could stop herself. Then she clapped her hand over her mouth, horrified at her own lack of filter. “Sorry. But it’s true. Everyone can see how you two look at each other.”
“We do,” Jane confirmed, nodding. “There is even a pot going to see which one of us catches you out first.”
“Jane!” Isabella hissed, her cheeks flaming as she was part of that pot. She’d bet five dollars that Trinity and Maddy would be the first to catch them.
“What?” Charlie and Logan hissed in unison.
“Trinity and Maddy started it,” Isabella blurted.Good grief, what is wrong with me? I sound like the school yard snitch!If this was how she reacted to catching adults together, how was she going to react when she caught Maddy with her first boyfriend? Isabella gave herself a mental shake. She didn’t even want to think about that yet, although it wouldn’t be long… She cut the thought off.
“But don’t worry. I won’t say anything until you’re ready,” Jane told them and glanced at Isabella, teasing, “Maybe we should put this in the book.” The chances of you and I catching them together and then change our bets.”
Isabella couldn’t help but laugh, appreciating how Jane was lightening the mood, and turned back to Charlie and Logan. “I won’t say a word either,” Isabella promised quickly, desperate to smooth over the awkwardness. “Your secret is safe with us.”
“Thank you,” Charlie and Logan said in perfect unison, relief evident on both their faces. “We’ll come clean when we’re ready.”
Jane shifted topics with the smooth ease of someone used to navigating uncomfortable situations. “UncleLogan, where is the arch you were restoring for the ballroom? Dad mentioned it was ready.”
“Yes,” Logan said, standing up. “Come, let me show you where it is.”
