Chapter 9
Jacksonโs black Mercedes waited outside, engine purringโheโd gotten there quicker than sheโd expected.
Once inside, he glanced at Zinnia in the passenger seat. His thoughts wandered to her upbringing in that poor, remote townโwhere the fanciest ride was an electric scooter. Without thinking, he asked, โNeed help with that seatbelt?โ
But his worry was overblown. Sure, sheโd grown up isolated, but sheโd been with the Shaws long enough to know how a seatbelt worked. Still, he couldnโt help treating her like some helpless kid.
The way he talked to her like she was five made Zinnia bite back an eye roll. She jammed the buckle in herself.
Jackson caught the faintest hint of annoyance from her.
โAlright, letโs go,โ he said, firing up the engine. The Mercedes rolled smooth as silk out of the gates.
Outside, the trees blurred past. Exhaustion hit Zinnia hardโshe yawned, curling into the seat as sleep took her. The meds had left her drained and achy. Rest couldnโt come soon enough.
At the hospital, sheโd been thinking about leaving the Shaw family. Meanwhile, her body ached, and her mind wouldnโt settle, making sleep impossible.
Jackson looked at the small girl curled up in the seat, his heart softening a little. She could be tough sometimes, but now she looked so fragile that it made him want to protect her.
Heโd never met Zinnia before. When the Shaws got her back, he was overseas handling company business.
His grandparents had dragged him back home for Zinniaโs birthday, insisting he couldnโt miss it. But when he arrived at the Shaw residence with them, Zinnia was nowhere to be found.
Betty said Zinnia was probably upset about not having her own party.
Jackson had frowned at the time. โThe Shaws have plenty of money. Whatโs so hard about throwing two parties? This is Zinniaโs first birthday with them, her actual birthday. Doesnโt she deserve her own celebration? Bettyโs had sixteen birthday parties. Zinnia canโt even get one? The poor girlโs never had a proper birthday before. Making them share is just cruel,โ he had thought angrily.
To make matters worse, no one had even announced Zinniaโs existence. Everyone at the party still thought it was all for Betty.
When Sofia found out, she went to Maelis and suggested throwing two separate parties.
But Maelis rejected the suggestion, insisting one party sufficed since both girls were born on the same day. The previous celebration had been Zinniaโs, yet Betty hadnโt objected, so she saw no need for Zinnia to take issue either.
At the time, Sofia stood stunned by Maelisโs casual attitude. Her repeated questions about Zinniaโs whereabouts met only shrugs from Maelis and the others.
Sofia had come specifically for Zinnia. Between the girlโs mysterious absence and Maelisโs insensitive remarks, she finally grabbed Henryโs arm and left in frustration. They hadnโt traveled all this way to watch Betty command everyoneโs attention.
Jackson departed with them, which explained why he knew nothing about the subsequent pool incident involving both girls.
The Lynns didnโt learn the full story until morning. The moment Sofia heard, she sent Jackson to the Shaw residence. Now, seeing Zinniaโs condition, Jackson knew with cold certaintyโif he hadnโt stepped in, Zinnia would have disappeared for good.
When he saw Zinnia dragging her suitcase toward the exit, every instinct screamed that if he didnโt stop her right then, theyโd lose her forever.
Noticing Zinniaโs flushed complexion, Jackson remembered Lucyโs warning about a fever. His hand against her forehead confirmed itโshe was running dangerously hot.
Heโd mistaken her flushed cheeks for anger rather than recognizing the severe fever beneath.
Jackson cranked up the AC, threw a blanket over her, then hit the gas while calling Charlie Lynn, his younger brother.
Charlie was Zinniaโs cousin and a doctorโhis coming to check on her was only right.
Jackson already considered Zinnia part of the Lynn family. If the Shaws wouldnโt appreciate her, his family would. And he wouldnโt tolerate anyone mistreating her again.
Sofia and Henry were anxiously waiting outside the Lynn residence when Jackson arrived with Zinnia. Seeing how pale she looked in his arms, they immediately asked, โWhat happened? Why is she so pale?โ
Zinnia stayed unconscious as Jackson carried her inside, her breathing hot and labored. Henry and Sofia felt terrible seeing how pale and weak she looked.
โSheโs running a fever,โ Jackson explained. โGrandpa, Grandma, is Charlie back yet?โ
โTake her upstairs,โ said Charlie, who was already in the living room.
Noticing Jacksonโs concern, he glanced at the feverish girl and pointed to the second floor.
Jackson carried her upstairs with Charlie following. The worried grandparents trailed behind.
โ102ยฐF,โ Charlie announced after checking with the thermometer, his usual calm replaced by concern. โSheโs had medication too recently for another dose. Weโll need to cool her physically.โ
As Charlie applied a cooling patch, Jackson gently wiped Zinniaโs neck and arms with a damp towel, hoping to reduce her fever quickly.
Sofia carefully spooned water into Zinniaโs mouth, her heart breaking.
โThis is unacceptable,โ Henry murmured. โDonald and Maelis canโt even care for her properly. We told them this would happenโthey never treated both girls fairly. But they just wouldnโt let us take her in. Now look at herโburning up with fever, and nobody even noticed.โ
Henryโs body tensed as he watched Zinniaโs labored breathing. The girl whoโd been perfectly healthy days ago now burned up before his eyes.
He swallowed his anger toward his daughter, but Donaldโs neglect stuck in his throat. โTwo grown adults, both completely failing their own child,โ he thought, shaking his head.
Sofiaโs voice cut through the room. โThatโs settled. Zinnia stays with us. If the Shaws canโt care for Zinnia, and Maelis wonโt make time, I will.โ The thought of her daughterโs negligence made her blood boil.
โGrandma,โ Jackson whispered, โZinnia thinks Maelis is kicking her out. I found her leaving the Shaw residence with her bags. Had to lie that you were sick to get her to come with me. She canโt find out I lied when she wakes up.โ
Water splashed as Jackson dunked the towel again. He twisted it tight between his fists before laying it across Zinniaโs burning skin. The unnatural heat radiating from her skin turned his stomach.
Jacksonโs lie about her being sick caught Sofia by surpriseโshe was perfectly healthy, after all. She nodded absently at first, still focused on Zinnia, until the truth crashed into her.
โWait,โ Sofia said, her voice rising. โMaelis is kicking her out? Is she crazy?โ Rage burned through her.
The sheer heartlessness of a mother abandoning her own child left Sofia and Jackson speechless.