Lost & Found Love (23 page)

“Yes,” Jake said, “but I also know there’re a lot of rumblings out there about Tabby and you. I’m sure half is fiction like it was with Holly and me. We just need some strategy.”

“Like a political campaign.” Holly waggled her brows. “Hmm. I wonder where we know any people who might have experience in that area.”

Tabby now knew the real meaning of feeling like she’d been hit by a truck. On top of that, every time she fell asleep, a nurse was there to check her blood pressure, adjust her IV, and make sure she knew who she was and where she was. For the first few days, she was in and out of it so much the only visitors she could recall for certain were Joseph and Stoner. Having them with her gave her the strength to get better.

Most of the hospital staff was helpful, but Tabby had been on the receiving end of treatment that bordered on rude from a couple nurses. No doubt it went back to the Facebook page, or maybe a nurse who, like the kindergarten teacher, had harbored her own fantasies about a future with Joseph.

The final blow, though, was when her breakfast tray was set in front of her the first morning she was allowed to eat solid food. She smelled it even before she lifted the lid. Eggs and bacon. Tabby pushed the tray and table away in revulsion, spilling coffee on herself in the process, so she cried out.

“Tabby? Are you all right?” Joseph asked. Stoner filled the doorway right behind him.

She saw them and burst into tears. She hated being weak, hated feeling helpless, but most of all she hated being in the hospital. It made her feel trapped.

“J-Joseph…Daddy… I want to go home. I can’t breathe here.”

She held Joe’s gaze, could see he recognized her mood. He’d seen it the night he found her in her studio with the torn up canvases. Without saying a word, he crossed the room, took her uninjured hand in both of his, and pressed it against his face. “Shh, Tabby. It’s okay. Look at me, darling. It’s okay.”

Stoner lifted the lid on the breakfast tray, saw the eggs and bacon, and his mouth thinned. Grabbing the call button, he rang the nurse. Stoner’s gray eyes narrowed furiously. His voice dripped icicles as he pushed the tray into the woman’s hands.

“I know my daughter-in-law would have noted her sister is a vegetarian, so take this shit back to the kitchen and bring a new tray.”

The woman made the mistake of trying some feeble defiance. “I’ll be happy to have an orderly take care of it.”

Stoner drew himself up even taller than his already immense six-five frame. Years of power and leadership oozed from his very pores. “Unless you wish to wear this tray and its contents, do it yourself. Now.”

“Is there a problem?” Jenny asked from just beyond the nurse’s shoulder, looking as if she was ready to rip Stoner’s head from his shoulders if he was harassing anyone. Then her brows lowered over her golden eyes as she smelled what was on the tray, and her attention turned to the unfortunate nurse. “You okayed bacon and eggs for her breakfast? Didn’t you read her chart?”

Jenny stepped around the woman, with her back to Stoner, and put her face close to the nurse’s. “You might not like my sister, and you might not like me, but you will be a professional. Blink wrong around this patient again, and I’ll have you tossed out. Now, take the tray and bring one that complies with a vegetarian diet.”

The nurse backed out of the room with the tray in her hands. Jenny began flipping through Tabby’s chart as nonchalantly as if nothing at all had occurred. Stoner chuckled. Jenny arched one brow and eyed him coolly. “What’s so funny?”

“Damn,” Stoner said in amazement. “I thought I was a son of a bitch, but I can’t even hold a candle to you. You must really give Evan a run for his money.”

Tabby watched the byplay between the two cautiously. She wondered if Joseph knew their history, but who didn’t after such a public trial? Jenny glared at Stoner for another instant before poking him in the chest. “That’s right, and don’t you forget it.” Then she spoiled the whole effect by laughing.

“Joseph?” Tabby whispered softly. “I think you should pray for all the staff until I get out of here. Between my sister, my father, and probably my brother, too, I think they’re going to need all the help they can get.”

He laughed and touched her cheek with his lips as he whispered into her ear. “You’ll be all right in here with two watchdogs like them. Three counting me. I love you, Tabby Richardson.”

That sounded wonderful. Almost as good as Tabby Taylor might sound. Her feelings must have shown. Joseph grinned and kissed her on the forehead. “It’s who you are, who you should be as soon as you and Stoner can make the name change legal. You might wear the scars Tommy MacVie inflicted, darling, but there is no reason now to bear his name, not if you don’t want to.”

Stoner, who’d heard the last part, rounded the other side of the bed. “I would erase it all if I could, Tabby, so at least let me give you this much. Catherine and I would like you to come home with us while you’re recovering. We can even fix you up with a studio so you can paint.”

Tabby looked from Stoner to Joe. “What about my cat?”

Joe coughed. “Uh… I can take care of her. She’s sort of moved in with me already.”

Jenny pointed to the door. “Out. Right now she is still here and, unless I can get a look at her, likely to stay. I need to examine my patient, and neither one of you need to be here for that.”

After the door closed behind them, Jenny came around and leaned down to kiss Tabby’s cheek. “Hi, sis. I didn’t get a chance to tell you I’m glad you’re still here. It was a little touch and go there for a bit.”

Tabby plucked the sheet covering her. “I have the strangest dreams from then.”

“It’s not unusual. Do you recall them?”

“I saw Mama. Other people, too, like I was at a big garden party.”

“You miss her, don’t you?” Jenny asked softly.

Tabby sighed. “Yes. I wish you could have known her like I did, Jenny. She wasn’t what your daddy said. You look so much like her; it’s why Stoner was afraid of you.”

Jenny’s head swiveled up from where she was checking the bandage at Tabby’s hip. “
Afraid
of me? Tabby… He nearly destroyed me. You have no idea. Look, I’m glad you’re my sister. I’m glad Evan is your brother. We love you. I’m even glad you seem to have such a great relationship with Stoner, but don’t expect me to, and don’t expect it from Evan either.”

Tabby didn’t say anything for a moment. She wouldn’t push. She had come to know Stoner pretty well, and his reactions whenever Jenny came up in a discussion were revealing. If only they would all sit down and talk. “Jenny, could you at least work with him to help Joseph? There are people in his church who think he should be fired. Mr. Underwood is one.”

“Yeah. I can do that. Evan too. Jake already called us. We’re meeting this afternoon to talk about it. We’ll let you know what goes on, but right now, let’s look at some of those other abrasions on you. The sooner we can get you out of here, the better for you.”

* * * *

Joe studied the group assembled around Jake’s kitchen table, surprised by how just seeing them together made his chest tighten with gratitude. His and Tabby’s friends and allies. Jake’s house was neutral territory. Joe watched them gather as though they were already all family, even if a few of them didn’t want to acknowledge it. Jake and Holly, Jenny and Evan, Catherine and Stoner…all there to help Tabby and him.

Another knock sounded at the door. Jake stood up with a small smile.

“I asked Sam to join us. Figured we might have to call in some favors, and he could help us….”

“Twist arms?” Evan inquired. “Or play poker?”

“Provide gentle reminders,” Holly said with a smile. “It sounds much nicer, don’t you think?”

Evan and Stoner looked at Holly’s innocently smiling face, and Stoner inquired, “Are you Evan’s press agent? If not, you should be.”

“I’m an accountant.”

“Damned missed calling, if you ask me,” Stoner muttered.

Sam walked into the room, nodded to the women, then shook hands with Joe and Evan. He nodded coolly to Stoner and sat as far from him as possible. Stoner, it seemed, had few fans. Joe stood up and looked around at everyone gathered around the table in support. He felt humbled.

“I’d like to start us off with a prayer, if you don’t mind. A little divine help couldn’t hurt.” Joe kept it straightforward and simple, asking for guidance and patience. When he finished, everyone said amen. “Thank you all for your support. I can’t tell you how much it means.”

Stoner stood and took charge. Joseph saw the look of surprise on Sam’s face before he turned his penetrating look on Evan and Jenny. Joe smiled. Things were changing. Joe hoped the price of the miracles happening wouldn’t be his career.

“Holly,” Stoner began, “If you’re like most accountants, you’re organized. Can you take notes?” At her nod, he continued. “I think we should begin by outlining the problems we face, then formulate a plan of attack to assist Joseph and Tabitha.”

“As I see it,” Jenny said, “Tabby’s biggest problem is having come into the community as a stranger and immediately claiming the town’s most sought after bachelor, a little like Holly last year with Jake.”

“There’s another problem,” Jake offered. “Tabby didn’t fit the image everyone had of an art teacher. Remember the last one was the motherly-teacher type not a gorgeous college grad.”

“Nor does she fit what everyone believes my wife should be.” Joe smiled grimly. “While they’re looking for someone to organize the church bazaar and host sewing circles, I simply want a woman to love and support me, not be an adjunct church employee.”

“Okay,” Stoner said. “We have at least one concrete issue that must be handled and that’s the school board meeting to consider the question of a morals clause violation. I’m guessing your meeting, Preacher, will center on the same issue. So.” Stoner looked hard at Joe. “What were you doing coming out of my daughter’s house before dawn?”

Every eye was on him, and Joe blushed.

Evan snorted in exasperation. “The first thing you and Tabby must do is control the blushing, for God’s sake. It instantly makes you appear like you’ve done something wrong.”

“Evan,” Holly said. “You will not use the Lord’s name in vain in my house.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said meekly. If Joe hadn’t been feeling so much like he was on the hot seat, he might actually have laughed.

“I had gone to Tabby’s house the night before with two soft drinks. The light was on in her studio, and I wanted some company. When I got up there, she was upset and painting in an absolute frenzy. I’m sure it’s still in her studio. It’s one of her students. The one she believes is being abused.”

Jake and Sam both went on alert. “Did she report it to her administrators?” Sam snapped.

“The day before she was put on a leave of absence,” Evan snarled, “but we’ll come back to that. I’ve already set wheels in motion on my own investigation.”

“Anyway,” Joe went on, “The whole situation reminded her too much of her own childhood. She showed me the scars.” He swallowed. “I calmed her down and helped her to bed. She asked me to stay with her. I did, but not in any sexual way. She was under the covers. I slept on top of them, fully clothed.”

Stoner grimaced. “I appreciate the fact you did the honorable thing, but it still looks bad.”

Joe saw how somber everyone’s expressions were. This was not going well. The silence hung heavily as they realized it would indeed come down to perceptions.

“I vote on the gentle art of arm twisting,” Holly said, breaking the silence.

Stoner arched a brow. “I like you. You’re like a Santa’s elf who’s gone to the dark side. Okay. Who’s owed favors or has any dirt on a school board member?”

And so the lists began. One for the school board and one for the church council. “We should start with the church council, since that meeting’s tomorrow evening,” Holly reminded them.

“Jim Tarpley won’t vote to fire me,” Joe said. “I don’t believe John Gatewood will either.”

“Underwood is a yes we won’t be able to change. He’s the one behind it,” Stoner said. “Who’s he most likely to influence? We’ll have to get to them first.”

As they made up the list, among Evan, Stoner, Sam, and Jake, they covered all but one council member. Surprisingly, Jenny was the one who spoke. “That one’s mine. I can’t say why.”

Stoner arched a brow. “Arm twisting with patient confidentiality? Isn’t that unethical?”

“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?” Jenny shot right back. “These folks are messing with my family. Besides, I won’t have to say anything as soon as he realizes Tabby’s my sister.”

Joe gaped at all of them as he listened to the private sins of his church elders being discussed as if they were common knowledge. Of course, in Mountain Meadow, they likely were.

“Okay, then. Who’s going with Joe to make the speech?” Evan looked around the table.

“What speech?” Stoner asked.

“The ‘let he who is without sin’ speech,” Holly clarified.

“I will,” Jake volunteered. “No one expects a speech from me.”

Holly smiled. “Combined with the phone calls this evening, that should be enough to save Joe’s job. Then we can work on improving his and Tabby’s image.”

Stoner nodded. “Okay. Let’s move on to Tabby. Making it public that she’s Evan’s sister will help. She’s already agreed to the name change, so we can begin working on the legalities Monday. Catherine can also work on some of her friends in the community. That will help build the idea that she’s not a stranger, that she belongs here and always has.”

“I don’t hear how you’re helping,” Sam commented.

Stoner’s jaw clenched. “I think we can all agree I’m not much of an asset. Besides, as soon as it gets out she’s my daughter, a lot of disapproval will shift to me.” He shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

“I believe we should host a showing of Tabby’s work at the Country Club,” Catherine said into a silence that had become strained.

“Her painting of Joe is brilliant,” Evan offered.

“A lot of her work is disturbing,” Joe told them. “In fact, Tabby believes that’s what spurred a lot of the abuse she lived through. It will make a few people uncomfortable. But I have to agree—everything I’ve seen her do is brilliant.”