CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
(part two)

“You’re exhausted, Jill,” he whispered. “You need to care for yourself or you’ll get sick too.”

“I don’t have time! When do I have time?”

“You’re not alone anymore. Every little thing doesn’t rest on your shoulders. I’m here. I can take Katy to work with me if I need to. Delphie said she’d stay with Katy. Julie said she could easily take Katy since Paddie’s sick too. Your mother’s coming over this afternoon to look after Katy and Aden’s kids. You’ve done a lot for everyone. Why not let people repay your kindness?”

“What have I ever done for Delphie?” Jill asked.

“You helped her with her Celia problem,” Jacob said.

“Yeah, like I said, what have I done for Delphie?”

“Oh Jill.” His lips touched hers. “There has to be some place where you get a break, even if it’s just inside your own head. Why don’t you go back to bed? You don’t have to be up for a few more hours.“

“But I need to get your…”

“I’m fine,” Jacob said. “Dad, Blane, Val and I are meeting to make decisions before breakfast this morning. Aden’s with Sandy and his kids this morning. I can get lunch with Blane.”

“How did Blane get better so fast when Katy’s still sick?”

“He’s had strep before,” Jacob said. “He seems to be turning the corner on the ribaviran too. Listen, will you do me a favor?”

“Anything,” Jill said.

He took her hand and led her to the bed. While he held the covers, she slid into bed next to Katy. Jacob dropped to his knees next to the bed. His face was right next to hers.

“Please rest,” he whispered. “This has been an awful week. You have a couple weeks of nastiness with the trial. Promise me you will rest at least another hour. Nothing, not one thing, is more important than your health.”

“What about all this other stuff? School? Trial? Sandy? Katy? Aren’t they important?”

“To me. Nothing is more important to me than you.”

Jill was so surprised by his words that she stopped talking. Her eyes welled with tears. In that second, she saw, maybe for the first time, that he truly loved her. She pulled him to her.

“You love me,” Jill said in his ear.

“I love you more than I have breath to express. I’ll be in touch about the trial,” he said. “If I can get away, I’ll go with you.”

Jill nodded.

“Will you sleep?”

She nodded. He pulled the comforter around her and kissed her good-bye. On his way out of the loft, he stuck his head in the room and she was sound asleep. He left with a smile on his face.

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow….