That Ring: Chapter 8

I wake up early, go to the closing, and then take Rachel to see the new house. She loves it, but I’m dying to show Jadyn. She will be a better litmus test as to if Danny will like it. I want to believe that he would love anything that I chose, but I just want to be sure she thinks he will be comfortable here. And she knows him better than anyone.

After Rachel leaves, I give Jadyn a quick call. I know she flew in this morning for a meeting and will be flying back to Kansas City tomorrow. I’m planning to go with her.

“What’s up, Jen?” she says upon answering.

“I bought a house,” I blurt out. “Closed on it this morning.”

“Wow. You found something really fast. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks to you, I looked at a different area. It was love at first sight. And I mean it. I wanted to buy it before I even walked in the door.”

“Don’t ever do that,” Jadyn jokes.

“Any chance you have some free time today? I would love to get your opinion.”

“The fun part starts now,” she says. “Decorating. Choosing furniture. Art.”

“It was furnished, and I loved the look, so I bought it fully furnished.”

“Now, that’s what I call move-in ready,” she says with a laugh. “I’m free at three. I do have a dinner to go to tonight though, so I’ll have to be back by six.”

I give her the address and then wander through the house, familiarizing myself with every nook and cranny.

“I love the exterior architecture,” Jadyn says when I open my door to let her in at promptly three o’clock. “The copper gutters and roof trim is a really classic and visually appealing touch.”

I give her a hug. “Okay, I want your complete and honest opinion on everything. Biggest question is, do you think Danny and the kids and you and your kids would be comfortable coming to stay here?”

One thing I can say about Jadyn is, she is meticulous. She doesn’t just wander aimlessly through the home, thinking it’s pretty; she notices every detail and comments on it. Which makes me happy.

And when I finally lead her outside, she says, “Everyone is going to love it. Maybe I can rent a room from you while I’m in town. The view is so incredibly relaxing. Wow. It’s breathtaking.” She smiles at me. “You did good. Really, really good.”

“Really?” I say, tears filling my eyes. “Do you think Danny will like it?”

“Danny and the kids will love it. I don’t think you would have to do too much convincing to get them to visit. Heck, this view makes me want to move.” She takes a seat on the patio and sighs contentedly. “I bet sunset will be gorgeous. Every single night.”

“Would you like a glass of wine?” I ask. “The realtor had some food basics delivered earlier today.”

“I’d love that,” she says as her phone rings.

She answers and listens for a few moments. “Calm down, Chase. It will be okay. Tell me exactly what’s going on.”

Her eyes get huge, so I sit down across from her instead of going to retrieve the wine. I can tell, even though her voice is calm, something is very wrong.

She doesn’t say anything for a few minutes, just listens. I can hear Chase’s voice through the phone, and it sounds like he’s crying.

Finally, she says, “Why don’t you go sit with Angel, pet her to make her feel comforted, and let me talk to your father?

“Is it really as bad as Chase thinks?” she says, presumably to Phillip.

Whatever he says makes her immediately tear up, and she lowers her head and presses her fingers around the bridge of her nose. “I’ll cancel my dinner and head to the airport. Stay with Chase. This is going to be so hard on him.”

She ends the call and sobs into her hand, then takes a deep breath and pulls herself together. “Angel is sick. Really sick. Phillip thinks she’s in pain. She won’t get out of bed. Won’t eat. I have to go home.”

“I’m coming with you,” I tell her.

She calls her pilot and notifies him of the change in plans while I grab the suitcase I’ve yet to unpack.

On the way to the airport, she sputters out, “Danny’s dad bought Angel for us. On my dad’s birthday. My dad used to call me Angel. He and my mom passed away my senior year of high school.”

“Dani told me the story about Angel. About your parents. I’m really sorry. She even said that Angel used to sleep under Chase’s crib when he was a baby.”

She smiles through her tears. “She’s always loved Chase the best. She’s been such a good dog. It’s surprising, honestly, that she’s made it this long. I know it’s time. I just … can’t. The kids are going to be so upset.”

“You’re upset, too,” I say, taking her hand in mine and giving it a little squeeze.

“Yes, mostly because Angel hates going to the vet. And I just don’t want to take her there for the end, you know?”

“Oh, you don’t have to,” I tell her, tears filling my own eyes. “A costar’s dog got very sick, and he went through the same thing. He didn’t want his dog’s last memory to be of going to the vet, so he hired a specialist to come into his home. The dog was in her bed with her favorite blanket and her loved ones around her when she went over the rainbow bridge.”

“That sounds really nice,” she says. “I’ll have to see if we can do that. Angel would certainly be happier, and I think the kids would be, too.”