TWENTY-SIX
“ZACK and Gracie just went in,” Shadow’s report sounded in Isaac’s concealed earpiece. “Caleb and Ramie and Beau and Ari are already in position. The others are at the bar having a drink and doing the guys’ day-out routine, watching the game on television, acting like a normal group of friends without causing too much disruption. The table where you, Jenna and her mother will be is surrounded and we have eyes on all the entrances and exits. Wait two minutes and then take Jenna in and seat her at the arranged table. I’m watching the front and will alert you when I see her mom arrive.”
“Got it,” Isaac responded quietly.
He glanced over at Jenna sitting in the passenger seat, who was clearly in an agitated state. He reached over to take her hand and he squeezed it reassuringly.
“You ready to go in, baby?”
Fear and uncertainty swirled in her blue eyes and she bit her bottom lip in nervousness.
“I’m afraid,” she admitted. “I don’t know what to say to her or what to even ask her.”
“Then let her do the talking,” he advised. “You’ll know what to say or how to handle it when the time comes. And if at any time you want the meeting to come to an end, we get up and leave. Okay?”
She nodded, then reached up to slide her hand down the side of his jaw. “I love you, Isaac. It means the world that you arranged this for me.”
“Anything for you, angel. I’d give you anything in the world. And I love you too. So damn much.”
She smiled, seeming to relax as the anxiety lessened in her eyes. Then she sucked in a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
“We’re coming in,” Isaac said to Shadow.
He got out and then walked around to Jenna’s side, his eyes rapidly scanning the area, carefully looking for any potential threat. He opened her door and helped her from the vehicle and then pulled her close against his side, wrapping his arm around her body.
Moments later they were seated at the prearranged table and as Isaac had instructed her, Jenna didn’t acknowledge or look in the direction of the other couples.
Jenna flipped through the menu, not even dwelling on the excitement of her first time eating in an actual restaurant or being able to choose any of the delicious-sounding entrees. It felt as if a thousand butterflies were swarming around in her belly.
Her gaze flew to the doorway every time someone new came in, her pulse leaping, wondering when or if her mother would arrive. Their telephone call had been brief. Both women had been overcome with emotion and Jenna hadn’t been able to stop crying long enough to go into any detail about her ordeal. Her mother had just repeated over and over that she had prayed for this reunion every single day since Jenna had been taken from her.
Now that the day had come, Jenna had no idea what to say. The fact that she had family, someone who loved her and who’d grieved for her for so long, should hearten her. She was . . . scared. Not just afraid, but utterly terrified.
Isaac’s gaze was constantly on her, worry for her reflected in his eyes. Then he straightened in his seat and reached down to enfold her hand in his. He held it tightly, not letting up.
“She’s coming in now,” Isaac murmured.
Jenna’s pulse was like a hammer pounding at her temples, her heart racing so fast she felt light-headed.
“I’ll be right here the whole time, baby,” Isaac said, pulling her hand into his lap.
Jenna’s gaze locked onto the front entrance as a blond woman, the same woman Jenna recognized from the news program, walked in, her gaze eagerly scanning the occupants of the restaurant. The hostess smiled at her and after the two exchanged a few words, gestured toward the table where Jenna and Isaac sat and escorted her to the seat just across from Jenna.
Her mother stopped, staring at Jenna, seemingly in shock. She should greet her mother, surely. Should she hug her? Say hello?
Jenna rose on shaking legs and met her mother halfway around the table and was immediately enfolded in a tight hug as her mother gathered her in her arms.
“Oh my darling baby girl,” her mother said, her voice choked with tears. “You have no idea how long I’ve prayed for this day. I never gave up hope of finding you. I’ve missed you so much.”
“Mama,” Jenna whispered, closing her eyes as she clung to the older woman.
When the two finally drew away, one of the buttons on her mother’s coat caught on Jenna’s wrist and scratched her bare skin.
“Oh I’m so sorry,” her mother fretted, wiping at the light scratch evident on Jenna’s skin. “That button is forever catching on stuff. I really do need to have it mended.”
“It’s all right,” Jenna said softly. “It’s nothing. Really.”
“Ladies, please have a seat and we’ll order something to eat. Jenna’s been so nervous over getting to see you again that I couldn’t get her to eat breakfast,” Isaac said.
“You must be Isaac,” Jenna’s mother said, beaming at him.
“Oh, I’m being terribly rude,” Jenna said, a flush burning her face. “Yes, this is Isaac. He’s . . .” She glanced at Isaac standing so protectively beside her and a flood of love washed over her, her heart aching with the ferocity of the emotions she felt for him.
“He’s the man you’re in love with,” her mother said with a laugh. “Oh darling, that much is very obvious, just as it’s obvious he loves you very much as well.”
“That I do, ma’am, and it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Isaac said, leaning to kiss her on the cheek.
Tears were bright in her mother’s eyes when she took the seat across from Jenna and Isaac. “I’m so glad she has you, that someone has been here for her when I couldn’t be,” she said to Isaac. “You look at her the way Jenna’s father used to look at me. I was devastated when I lost him and my sweet baby daughter on the same day. I’ve missed them both every single day of my life.”
Jenna tensed, and Isaac rubbed his hand up and down her leg as he quietly gave the waitress their order.
“I remember him,” Jenna said tearfully.
Her mother looked at her sharply. “You do? What do you remember?”
She smiled sadly at her mother. “My birthday party. It was my fourth, I think. It’s the last memory I have of him. He was swinging me around and there was a cake with lots of pink flowers and icing.”
Her mother’s expression changed to one of anger. “Yes, it was your fourth birthday. And the next day he was killed and you were taken from me.”
Jenna lowered her head, staring down at the hand clasped in Isaac’s. Her stomach knotted. She was suddenly besieged by nausea and she fought back the urge to throw up.
“Are you all right?” Isaac asked, bending his head so he could look into her eyes.
She nodded, not wanting to worry him even more. “I just need to eat,” she said. “I’m feeling hungry. Missing breakfast wasn’t such a good idea after all.”