Bob’s smile showed signs of reemerging.
“Would you do me a favor?” Lilly asked.
He bobbed his head.
“Go to the supply closet and bring me a ream of paper, okay?”
He shot off to do her bidding. Lilly didn’t really need a ream of paper. She had two stacked beside her printer from previous attempts to distract Jimmy Bob.
Sitting at her desk, she debated placing another call to Jake and was startled when the phone rang. It was answered by Gayle who was currently manning the welcome desk in the main room. The four to five caregivers always on duty took turns at the desk, rotating every hour or so. Ten seconds later when the caller wasn’t put through to her, Lilly gave up hope that it was Jake.
She lifted a manila folder from a wire rack on the corner of her desk and withdrew the monthly bank statements. Normally, she could reconcile a bank statement in her sleep, but today the numbers refused to add up. Her chronic indigestion wasn’t helping matters. How long until those damn antacids kicked in?
How long until Jake called?
Lilly jumped to her feet. It wasn’t quite lunchtime, but she couldn’t tolerate the waiting anymore. A break from the center might be the perfect remedy to settle her nerves. She stopped at the welcome desk to inform Gayle that she was leaving.
But Gayle forestalled her. “Any chance you can postpone lunch a few minutes?”
“Why?” Lilly inquired.
She inclined her head in the direction of the front door. Lilly turned to see Jake striding across the room straight toward her.
JAKE SENSED every pair of eyes on him but he didn’t react.
Activity and chatter ceased by degrees until the hiss of a wheelchair-bound woman’s portable oxygen tank was the only sound in the room. Three people abruptly leapt out of their seats to trail his every move, like predators stalking prey. He looked behind him and smiled. One of the trio, a young man, smiled back. The other two glared openly. Jake was an experienced businessman and accustomed to holding his own under pressure. But for some reason, his confidence wavered, and he didn’t like it.
“Good morning, Lilly,” he said when he reached her.
“Hi, Jake.”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t appear fine. Fatigue shadowed her eyes and when she first caught sight of him, her cheeks had paled. Shock at seeing him? He supposed he should have called first. But the family trust attorney’s office was only a few minutes away, and since a signature was required on the contract, Jake had decided to stop in and deliver it in person.
His self-appointed security detail crowded in around them. Jake shifted, resisting the urge to tug on his suddenly tight shirt collar. If Lilly noticed, she gave no indication.
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Glancing around, he added, “Alone.”
“Come with me.” She motioned for him to follow. His security detail came, too. Once he and Lilly had crossed the threshold into her office, she informed the group to “Wait here” and shut the door on their unhappy faces. “Sorry,” she told Jake. “New visitors always create a stir. They weren’t intentionally ganging up on you.”
“No problem.” When she didn’t stop scrutinizing him, he added, “Really.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. Special-needs individuals often make people feel ill at ease.”
“I’m not ill at ease.”
She didn’t believe him. He could tell by her narrowed eyes.
Could it be true? Jake didn’t consider himself a snob but the fact was, he’d had little interaction with “special-needs” people other than his grandfather. Jake had been away at college during most of Grandpa Walter’s decline and, as a result, missed the worst of it.
“I’m—” he started to say ignorant then changed it to “—inexperienced.”
“You’re not alone.” She didn’t act offended at his remark. Quite the contrary. “Would you like a tour of the facility?” Pride rang in her voice. “You’re our landlord, after all, and I don’t think you’ve seen the place since I took over.”
What she said was true. With the exception of his aunt’s antique store located in the same plaza, Jake rarely dropped by his tenants’ businesses. Not unless there was a problem, which wasn’t the case here. And during the short time he and Lilly had dated he had always picked her up at her house rather than work. He’d told himself it was a matter of convenience for both of them, as most of their outings took place in town. Now he wondered if he hadn’t been unconsciously keeping their relationship from progressing by avoiding her work and the ranch.
“Thanks, but I can’t.” He hated disappointing Lilly. She obviously loved the center and showing it off. “I’m meeting someone for lunch, and I only have a few minutes.” As if a switch had been flicked, she sobered, and Jake didn’t know why. Had he insulted her by declining her offer of a tour? He certainly hadn’t meant to.
“Please, sit.” Lilly gestured at the visitor’s chair facing her desk.
“I’d rather stand if you don’t mind. I’ve been sitting all morning and will be again all afternoon.”
Her office had a glass window opening out to the main room. He turned to face it, and a dozen heads swivelled to stare at him. The young man who’d smiled earlier waved exuberantly. Without thinking, Jake raised his hand in return.
“Did you get the insurance certificate we faxed over?” Lilly asked.
“Yes. It’s exactly what we needed.” He stepped away from the window and held out the envelope he’d been carrying. “Our attorney also suggested we draw up a contract.”
“Does that mean…” She took the envelope and turned it over in her hands. “Has the family agreed?”
“For once, we were completely unanimous.” Jake hadn’t needed to twist one arm or press a single point. “I didn’t tell you earlier because I couldn’t meet with our attorney until this morning.”
“Oh, wow.” Lilly’s face, always so expressive, lit up. “I can’t believe it.”
Her delight was contagious, and he chuckled. “There are one or two conditions you should know about.”
“Oh?”
Jake sobered. He hadn’t yet determined how he felt about the stipulations the attorney had insisted on putting in the contract. “As you can imagine, liability is our main concern. Our attorney suggested that someone in charge, specifically you or the owner, accompany the clients on their visits. At least for the first several months until we determine how well the program is going.”
“I doubt Dave can go. He and his wife commute regularly to Apache Junction where they just opened a second center.”
