Page 41 of The Compass Series

KENNEDY

“ W hat are you doing here?” I gasped as Yoana came walking up toward my front porch. Jax and Connor were working on the landscaping and I was knee-deep in writing a scene in my novel when I noticed my sister skipping my way.

I shot to my feet and hurried over to her, pulling her into a tight hug.

“You guys weren’t supposed to be home until next month,” I said, confused as ever.

“Yes, well, I had a little birdy in town tell me you might be in need of some family. Nathan is back at home, resting, so I figured I’d stop by to see you so we can talk,” Yoana said as she glanced over at Jax, who was trying his best to act as if he was hard at work.

“And you must be Jax.” She smiled as she walked over to him.

“It’s nice to see you again after all these years, and thank you for that call.

” She pulled him into a hug, and I was still confused as ever.

“You called her? How?” I asked, baffled.

He shrugged. “I grabbed your phone the other night while you were sleeping and reached out to her. I figured you could use some familiar faces around.”

My heart was his.

“Thank you, Jax,” I said, and he gave me his half-grin, which warmed me up inside. I went on to hug Yoana again.

She wrapped an arm around my shoulder and nudged me in the side with her hip. “Now, how about a cup of Mama’s favorite coffee so we can catch up a little?”

“Aren’t you jetlagged? You don’t have to hang out with me if you’re exhausted.”

“I’d rather be exhausted with you than sleeping. Now, come on. I need you to catch me up on everything, especially the hottie that little Jax turned out to be.”

I shook my head. “I thought you were concerned about me dating him.”

“After that phone call? No way. I was wrong. I was very, very wrong. So, come on—caffeinate me.”

We headed inside, and my chest felt as if it were going to explode with excitement from having my sister back with me.

I needed her more than I even knew. We sat down in the dining room, talking about everything under the sun.

She told me all about her travels, and I could see that whenever she mentioned Nathan, she had even more love for him than when they’d left.

It amazed me how love could keep growing after so many years.

“And this Jax guy, Kennedy,” she said, shaking her head as she held her cup of coffee. “He’s the real deal, isn’t he?”

“I think so. He just makes me feel better. He makes me feel happy on days that would normally be sad.”

“Good,” she said, nodding her head. “That’s what you deserve.

I’m not going to lie; I was really nervous when you told me about his past. I didn’t want you to get hurt, but the way he showed up for you when you were at your lowest, the way he championed you…

that’s what I always wanted for you. I wanted you to have a real love, the kind that holds you up instead of letting you fall.

Penn wasn’t that man for you, but Jax…the way he looks at you…

” She pretended to swoon, making me laugh.

“You saw him stare at me for all of two seconds, and that was all it took?”

“Yes,” she said somberly. “You know why?”

“Why is that?”

“Because he stared at you the way Daddy looked at Mama—like you were the world and he was lucky to even be near your orbit.”

Butterflies kicked around in my stomach. “That’s how he makes me feel: important, like I’m enough.”

“Because you are enough, Kenny. You always have been. I know you’ve been through some hard times, but in the end, I know they are going to make you stronger. I’m already so proud of the progress you’ve made.”

I looked down at the coffee swirling in my mug. “Sometimes, I think I was so foolish for staying away for so long. I could’ve been here with you and Nathan and healed much faster.”

“Nobody can make a person heal faster, but we sure as hell would’ve sat with you during the rain.”

Maybe that’s what it’s all about. Maybe it isn’t about getting to the sunlight, but being able to weather the storm with those you love most.

“I think I’m going to start seeing someone,” I said. “Jax mentioned how therapy helped him, and I think it might help unclog some of the mess built up inside my head.”

“I think that’s a brilliant idea. It takes a brave person to reach out for help. Just never forget that you aren’t alone in this world, Kennedy. I’ve got your back through thick and thin, and you know the most beautiful thing about it all?”

“What’s that?”

“We now have a team of angels watching over us each day. If that isn’t a blessing, I don’t know what is.”

That night, I thanked Jax with both my words and my body. I loved on him as if it was the only thing I was ever meant to do. Our bodies fit together so well, as if we were each other’s missing puzzle piece. I loved the way he loved me, both with his body and his words.

As we lay in bed, his phone dinged, and he sat up to see it. I saw the grave look on his face as he read the words before him.

“What is it?” I asked.

“It’s from Amanda about my father,” he said somberly. “He’s on life support, and it’s not looking good. They transported him to a hospital.”

“Oh my gosh, Jax. I’m so sorry.”

He began scrambling. “I have to get down there. I have to go see, I have to…” He began putting his clothes on, and his words were jumbled. “I need to?—”

“Hey,” I said, stilling him by placing my hands on his shoulders. “It’s okay. I got you. I’ll drive you there.”

“No, I can’t ask you to do that. I know how driving is for you. I’m okay, I’m…”

“Jax, you’re not okay. You can’t drive right now. I got you. Give me your keys.”

He reluctantly handed them over, and we gathered our things before leaving.

As I slipped into the driver’s seat, I took the deepest breath of my life.

I’d have been lying if I said my nerves weren’t shot, but I had to get past that quickly, because in the passenger seat was a man who’d stood beside me during my storms, and now it was my turn to do the same for him.

I turned the key in the ignition, put my foot on the gas, and away we went.

When we arrived, the outlook wasn’t good. Jax brought a book inside with him, and the doctors informed him that there wasn’t much time left for Cole, said Jax should prepare to say his goodbyes.

He didn’t say a word to his father about his feelings.

He didn’t express his love or gratitude.

He didn’t share stories about how his father had changed his life.

Instead, he sat and read War and Peace .

He read chapter after chapter until his emotions began to get the best of him.

When it became too much, when the words wouldn’t fall from between his lips and the heartache began to drown him, I took the book from his grip, and I began to read the words for him.