Please Remember Me (21 page)

Stomping on the brake, she shook her head. I was a celebrity for years, I can wear the persona for a little longer.

When someone, she wasn’t sure who the arm belonged to, shoved a digital recorder in her face, she plastered a smile on her face and waved. “Thank you for your support in this very difficult time. I love you all.” The lie tasted sour on her tongue. But it would pacify the gossip mongers.

Biting back tears, she backed the car onto the road and shifted into drive. She cast one last look at the Pennywood house. So many happy memories flooded her mind. She’d walked into Judi’s home a virtual child, full of hope and a wide-eyed expectation of the future, only to emerge a woman—hurt and disillusioned by life.

“Say goodbye to our house, kids. We’ll visit Judi and then we’re going to go on an adventure.” Sparky barked and Riley growled. The cats cowered in their carrier.

A shadow darkened her driver’s side window. When she turned, a scream ripped from her throat. The blond man peered through the dirty glass. A smile curled his thin lips, his sky blue eyes vacant. Pressing the button on the locks, she stomped on the gas pedal.

“I’ve got my gun,” Bobby said in a calm voice. “Go. He won’t hurt you. I’m here.”

Not relieved by his demeanour, she shivered and peeled out. Before she got too far down the street, she glanced in her mirror, seeing nothing. A cop probably sat at the end of the street ready to nab her for reckless driving or speeding. She’d adopted the ditzy glamour girl image and hesitantly embraced her newfound bad luck. She peeked again. Still nothing but dull, grey pavement.

“Honey, you’re gonna run into this kind of crap until you decide what you want.” Bobby patted her thigh. “We’ll get you through this crisis.”

With shaky hands, she drove to Cass’s house. Oh sure, Cass listened and tried to understand, but Judi was more of a mother figure. Cass was just an older, doting sister-type.

She zipped around town, taking side streets and backtracking to leave the swarm of paparazzi in her dust. After an hour, her tactics had worked enough for her to stop at Cass’ to drop off the animals. With help from Bobby and Cass, Jaden got the dogs into the run with Cass’ dogs, and the cats into the house. She scratched Sparky’s ears. “I’ll be back in a couple days. Promise. I won’t leave you for long—ever.”

Jaden said her goodbyes to her friends and made her way to the hospital. There, she found a spot near the door. She gave a cursory visual sweep of the lot in case the creep was back or the wide range lenses were poised to capture her. With Bobby by her side, she rolled her shoulders and willed her pounding heart to slow. I can do this.

One of the nurses, a brunette named Joy, grinned. “You’re early. Wonderful. Judi hasn’t stopped bragging about you.” She shook Bobby’s hand, but spoke to Jaden. “Now are you her daughter or granddaughter?”

Shoring her courage, Jaden shook her head. “I’m just the girl who took care of her pets. She’s got a son named Steven and a daughter-in-law named Peggy.”

“They must’ve been by to visit,” Bobby added.

Joy clicked her tongue. “Huh. I’ve never seen them, and I’ve got the shift that gets the most visitors. You and Cass Malone are about it. Judi loved playing with Julian last night. He brightens the whole place. And his giggles are contagious. I love it.” She started down the first hallway. “Do you mind me asking—”

Jaden bit her tongue and waited for the sex tape question. Or better yet, who was her new dish. Her stomach churned.

“—I hear you got two cats. Where from? I know there are a few patients in the geriatric wing downstairs who are allergic, but I think a couple of cats and a dog or two might brighten their days. I know it would be a boost for the staff.”

Jaden sighed and thanked God she’d dodged the bullet. “I got them at the Sunny Retreat Animal Shelter. Summer Tyler told me there are too many animals coming in each month that belonged to older folks who can’t take care of their pets. You’ll find some great critters there.”

Joy stopped short. “Summer? You mean Marlon Cross’s girlfriend? Well, no, she’s his ex, I think. I didn’t know she ran the SRAS. I guess you learn new things each day.”

Jaden winced. Just the mention of Marlon’s name stung. Hearing his name in conjunction with another woman hurt like hell. Bobby grinned and rubbed circles along her back. Maybe having him come along wasn’t a good idea.

“I heard you and Marlon have a thing. Well, no, Judi told me so. She’s practically got wedding dates picked out. You know she wants to wear pale pink during the ceremony?” Joy stopped in front of a waiting room. “Why don’t you and your friend spread out here? I’ll get Judi. Be right back.”

Jaden waited for the nurse to leave the room before she let her true emotions loose. She blinked back tears and sat on a nearby couch. Bobby grabbed her hand and rubbed circles over the top of her palm. The gesture made her feel a little better, but not warm and gooey like Marlon’s touch.

“Shit,” Bobby muttered.

Jaden turned when Bobby stopped moving. She expected to see Judi. Her smile faded.

Marlon.

He frowned and shoved his hands into his pockets.

She forced a small wave.

Closing his eyes, he shook his head.

“I’ll stay over here.” Bobby grabbed a magazine with a football player on the cover. Jaden stood and hurried to the door. “Marlon?”

He paused a couple of feet from her, but didn’t say anything.

Forcing her pride aside, she spoke. Maybe a couple of kind words would help them on the road to mending the friendship. “I didn’t expect to see you here. How’d things go with Mac?” She snapped her mouth shut. If he wanted to speak, then he could continue the conversation. If not, she’d leave him alone. Watching the play of muscle under his snug polo shirt, she longed to smooth her hands over the tension in his shoulders. How could she tell him about the baby? She gulped air. “I guess you don’t want to talk. I’m sorry to bother you. Have a good one.”

As she turned to open the door, he stepped into her personal space. “Why?” His green eyes blazed. Creases marred his forehead. “I just spent the last several hours pissing in a cup and explaining why I didn’t deserved to be fired. Until the test comes back, no one believes me it was just sugar and innocence. No one.”

She gazed up at him. “I’m sorry, but there is so much you don’t understand.” What else could she say? The sex tape debacle wasn’t her doing—not that he believed her. The interview accompanying the video had been faked—nothing but clips strung together and played over still shots taken by the paparazzi.

With a sigh, Marlon tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry, too. I’m sorry I didn’t fit into your lifestyle. I can’t be so casual with my mine. I want a woman to want to be with me because she loves me, not because she can further her career.” He dipped his head. His words came out in a murmur. “Why would you—I mean, how could you make that clip for the news? I believed in you.”

“Then let me explain. There’s a lot you don’t know, but I’ve not given up loving you.”

“I want to believe you, to believe that you didn’t pull this stunt, but no matter how much I may or may not love you, something in my heart won’t let me give us a try.” His words came out broken. He cleared his throat. “I’m a cop and a damn good one. I can’t do my job with my privates all over the internet. What happens if the information on my computer or phone is stolen because the paparazzi want dirt on you? That puts so many people in jeopardy.”

“I had no idea.” Sure, Jade Weir personified the camera-hogging celebutante. Anything to get her name and picture into the paper in the past…but Jaden? The only time she’d cut loose was with him. Nothing had ever been simple in her life, but to put others in danger… She nodded, unsure of what else to do. He wouldn’t listen to her explanations when he had his mind made up.

 
“I’m not trying to be a dick, but I can’t live looking over my shoulder to keep an eye on anyone who wants to catch me in the middle of some faked illicit act. As of right now, I’ve been stripped of my badge.” His voice wavered and he glanced away a moment.

“I hope you find that one man who makes you tick.”

The words teetered on the tip of her tongue. She itched to tell him the truth.

I already did.

As she watched his sculpted body disappear around a corner, she heard the nurse approach. With Bobby right behind her, Jaden followed Joy down the hall and entered Judi’s room.

“Jaden, honey! I thought you forgot about me.”

Swallowing a cry, she wiped her damp cheeks and plastered a smile on her lips. “Hi Judi.”

Once the door had snicked shut and the nurses had left, Judi frowned and pointed to Bobby. “Then the rumour is true. You made a bad movie, broke up with Marlon, and got a new man. I don’t believe it, but I know it happens. What I don’t understand is why? You’re so good together.”

Bobby aimed his thumb at the door. “I’ll go try to talk to Marlon. Be back in a moment.” He exited the room, leaving Jaden alone with Judi.

Jaden sat down in one of the chairs. “Where should I start? Marlon and I argued, made love, and some lunatic turned it into a viral video. He’s convinced I lied to him. I can’t change what happened, so he’s through with me and I can’t blame him. If I saw the spectacle, I wouldn’t want to talk to me either.”

“Do you love him?”

“Bobby? He’s still just acting as a bodyguard.”

“I meant Marlon.”

“I love him with all my heart.”

“And you aren’t going to fight for him?”

”Yes I am, which is why I’m here. I’m heading to California.” Jaden slapped her thighs and stood. “It’s Daddy’s doing. I know it. He dismissed me like a spoilt child and it drives him crazy to not have me under his thumb. I won’t do it.” Despite her best attempts to keep her true feelings under wraps, the truth bubbled to the surface. “I want Marlon and I want this nightmare over with. I’m tired of being synonymous with failure.”

“I’m disappointed in you.” Judi narrowed her eyes. “The girl I know doesn’t give up like this.”

 
“I haven’t given up. I just don’t have a real firm plan on what I’m going to do.”

“Do you have access to your wealth?”

Jaden tipped her head. “Money isn’t the answer to my Marlon problem. He hates me and my father’s money.”

She shook her head. “Not for him. I want you to promise me you’ll do something good with it.” Judi shifted in her seat. “Do you remember my bridge buddy Estelle Lowry? Her sister Eunice lived a couple of houses down from us.”

Jaden nodded. “Eunice is a sweet lady. Estelle had a bulldog, didn’t she?”

“Bruiser and she had a cat named Charlie.” Judi removed her glasses and wiped her eyes. “She loved the both of them very much. When the doctors’ tests came back with cancer and they made her live in the rest home, her daughters sent the cat to the shelter. Bruiser went with the oldest girl. She called me the other day. It seems he won’t eat. I think he misses Estelle.”

“So what can I do? I’m not a vet.”

“I know, so hear me out. What did you tell me when you left the shelter after you got Tantrum and Unruly? You told me all the animals had the same look in their eyes—please remember me. Maybe you can use that money to help them.”

“How?”

“You have to figure that out on your own. I can’t tell you.”

She reeled. How Judi expected her to care not only for her four animals, but a whole passel of other ones when she’d just got her own life more or less on the tracks? Grief. “Why are you saying these things?”

“Because I don’t have much time left. I dreamt of my Collin last night. He told me I needed to come home soon. I miss him. I miss his arms around me when I sleep. I miss his kisses.” Judi blotted her eyes. “The doctors say I’ll live a while longer, but I’m not convinced. Please, do this something for me. Help the animals in remembrance of me. I know you’ll figure out what to do.”

Emotions from way down deep welled to the surface. “I’m nothing but a spoilt rich kid who failed at everything she tried. I pushed everything good in my life away!”

“You’re wallowing in your drama. Snap out of it. The cats, the boys here, all think you’re doing a fantastic job of caring for them. You need to face the drama head-on and obliterate it.”

Jaden rubbed her face with both hands. Judi had a point. Running away from California hadn’t solved her problems. It had made them worse. But she’d also learnt how to grow up. She’d figured out how to take care of herself. She’d found the strength to love.

“So did you decide what you’re going to do?”

Jaden stood and folded her hands in front of her mouth. “First thing I’m going to do is read my father the riot act. I didn’t when I lived in California and I should’ve. As for the money, well, that’s about half-formed. I can’t take the critters with me for a short trip, but they’re being taken care of.”

“Who?”

“Cass and Logan have agreed to have them at the farm for a little while. What I have to do won’t take long.” She hugged Judi. “I’ll miss you, but if it’s time to be with Collin, then you should. I’ll make you and the furry kids proud. I promise.”

Judi clapped her hands. The smile returned to her face, followed by a bout of the giggles Jaden loved so much. “See? I told you things would work out. Go put that plan that isn’t formed into action. You’ll be unstoppable.”

“You bet! Love you, Judi.”

“I love you, too, honey.”

As she walked out of the door, a cloud of peace settled around Jaden. The niggling feeling she wouldn’t see Judi again ate at her mind, but she shoved it aside and nodded to Bobby as she passed him in the waiting room. She’d make Judi proud and she’d find her purpose in life.

“Don’t give up on me, Marlon. I haven’t given up on you,” she murmured and strode out of the hospital. “This roadblock isn’t enough to extinguish my dream. Before I’m done I’ll make you all proud of me!”

Chapter Nineteen

Twenty-four hours after visiting Judi at the retirement centre and seeing Jaden with Bobby, Marlon sat splayed on his couch. The thought of her laying with Bobby unnerved him. He tossed his third beer can into the recycling bin at the far end of the room. Drinking wasn’t dulling the pain of Jaden’s betrayal. It made it worse. He glanced at the laptop perched on his stomach. According to leading search engines, his name had surged into the top one hundred searches overnight. The video was the talk of every major online tabloid newscast. It hurt to see the object of his affection plastered all over the television and internet.