Once there, he found his mother, told her to pack whatever Belle needed and then he went to the kitchen and told Elaine to pack what the dogs would need for an extended stay at the cottage.
Then, in his and Belle’s room, beside his mother, he packed what he would need for an extended stay.
All of this he put in the boot, he called the dogs and loaded them up and he drove into town.
He had a suitcase in each hand and a dog at each heel when he opened the door to Belle’s cottage.
Lila stood at the head of the stairs as he walked up.
He dropped the suitcases on the landing as the dogs nosed around the small house.
Without first offering her a greeting, Jack said, “I’ll need keys and someone should go to the grocery store.”
“I’ll go to the store,” Rachel, who had appeared in the back hall, offered immediately and bustled into the kitchen.
“I’ll find keys,” Lila murmured and she bustled into the kitchen too.
Jack went to Belle’s bedroom.
She was lying on her side on top of the covers, her hands in prayer position under her cheek, her right wrist wrapped in a bandage, her eyes were open.
She lifted her head when he entered then, without any further reaction, her head dropped back down on her hands.
This didn’t faze him. After being treated to days of this kind of behaviour while she was in hospital, Jack was used to it.
However, this time, as she was not in a narrow hospital bed having just fallen down the stairs, he took off his shoes. At the same time Gretl and Baron came in and started nosing at the side of the bed for Belle’s attention.
She reached her left hand out and stroked each dog alternately.
Jack joined her in bed, being careful as he knew she was stiff and sore and he settled behind her.
She stopped stroking and went still.
“Jack –” she whispered.
He cut her off as his arm slid around her waist, “Quiet, love.”
“I think –”
“Quiet.”
“We shouldn’t –”
He carefully pulled her into his body. “Belle, I said quiet.”
She kept her body stiff but whispered, “Okay.”
She resumed stroking his dogs’ heads until they settled in, lying by the bed.
And Jack held her until she fell asleep.
Then he cautiously left the bed and went back out to the car to collect the things he hadn’t been able to carry when he arrived.
As he filled the dogs’ bowls with water and food and set them in the kitchen, Lila came in.
“She’s still asleep,” Lila whispered. “I’ve closed the door.”
Jack nodded.
Lila studied him, her eyes soft. “Are you okay?”
His reply was instant and honest, “No.”
He watched as she closed her eyes and he felt his gut get tight at witnessing the pain in stark relief as it settled on her features.
“Lila, are you all right?” he asked in return.
Her eyes opened and she gave him a sad smile as she shook her head.
“Whatever your child feels, and that extends to whatever your grandchild feels, you feel it too. Happiness or despair, you feel it right along with them.” Jack’s jaw got hard and Lila came forward, put her hand to his arm and continued in a quiet voice, “I know that’s difficult for you to hear right now but I’ve every faith you’ll learn this yourself, my man, I know you will…” she paused and whispered, “someday.”
Jack nodded again. He didn’t have it in him to answer mainly because his chest had tightened along with his gut and he was finding it more important at that juncture to focus on breathing.
Lila got closer and her voice dipped quieter when she advised, “Don’t let her pull away.”
“I won’t,” Jack vowed and it was, indeed, a vow. His words were low and they vibrated.
Upon hearing them, he saw Lila’s eyes register surprise then they warmed. The sad smile disappeared, a hopeful one took its place and she squeezed his arm.
Later, Rachel came in carrying groceries and Jack went out to retrieve the rest.
Later still, Belle woke and sat in the kitchen with Jack while Rachel and Lila made dinner and even helped do the dishes when they were finished eating.
Shortly after, Lila and Rachel made their way to the door.
Belle followed them to the landing, her expression confused.
“Where are you going?” she asked her mother.
“Home, to The Point,” Rachel answered, giving Belle a kiss on the cheek.
“But, I thought –” Belle started.
“I’ve got painting to do and we’ve got guests, Cassandra and Angus,” Lila reminded Belle, moving in for her own kiss.
“But, they aren’t guests you hired –” Belle began again after she received her kiss.
“We’ll come and visit tomorrow,” Rachel assured her daughter.
“No, tomorrow’s Sunday. Sundays are Jack’s days,” Lila, to Jack’s surprise (and satisfaction) told Rachel.
Belle’s body jerked but Rachel said, “Oh, right.” She looked at her daughter and went on, “We’ll be back on Monday.”
“But, my car,” Belle said. “I’ll need –”
Jack slid his hand along her waist, pulling her to his side and interrupted her, “If you need to go anywhere, love, I’ll take you.”
She looked up at him, her face wan, the bandage still at her temple, dark circles under her eyes even though she’d slept a good deal the past few days and she mumbled, “But –”
His fingers gave her a squeeze at her waist and he promised softly, “Whatever you need, poppet, I’ll get it for you.”
He saw tears fill her eyes, she swallowed, looked to his shoulder, his ear and then away.
Then she said, “Okay,” but she didn’t mean it.
They spent a quiet night in front of the television until she fell asleep, her head against his bicep which she was using for a pillow.
He took her to bed and woke with her already awake in front of him.
His arm got tight and her body grew solid.
“Belle,” he whispered into her bent neck.
“You should go,” she said back.
It was then his body grew solid.
“Why?” he asked.
“I don’t want you here,” she told him, her voice quiet and remote, her words felt like acid injected straight into a vein.
He ignored the pain and replied, “Sorry, my love, I’m willing to give you just about anything you want but I’m afraid that’s something I can’t give you.”