Read Online Jane and Bingley (Countdown to Christmas Book 8) by Jenni James - Free Book Online

she was okay, he said, “You know, I’d come over and pound on your back for you, but I think you deserve to suffer a bit for that comment.”
    She found the remote and tossed it at his shoulder. “Hush, you. You’ll make me wake up Grandpa. Besides, it’s true, though. You don’t know it yet, but you’re so besotted that if Jane Bennet wanted to be lost to you, you’d darn well wait for her over and over again until you got her back. Don’t make rash blanket statements like saying you won’t go through this again. You will. You will lots of times.” She leaned over and waggled her finger. “And if you do things right, you’ll be real grateful you did, too.”
    There was no other person who treated him like Grammy did. He always felt like he was a ten-year-old boy being scolded all over again, but somehow, greatly loved, too. He could never deny the unbelievable love she had for him. He ignored the truth of her statements and instead decided to bring the conversation back to where it had been. “But what if she never wants to see me again? What if whatever happened is so awful that no matter how long I wait, she’ll never come back?”
    Grammy shrugged. “Then you move on.”
    Never. “What?” He sat up. “But I don’t want to move on.”
    Her eyes met his, and she looked at him real hard for a moment. “Then you’d better pray she’s as forgiving as she seems to be.”
    “But I don’t deserve it. Not really. I’ve put her through the worst of the worst—I mean, I doubted her loyalty and dropped her and . . . and… I don’t deserve anything good from her.” He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “That’s what worries me most. She’ll realize just how awful I treated her and decide she’s worth so much more than that. Because she is, Grammy. She so is.”
    “Chazz, you’re a good man. You have a kind heart. And you’ve been jaded many times by women who weren’t what you thought they were. Yes, you made a mistake with this one, but any woman worth her weight in gold will see the real you. You two have gotten off to a rocky start, but you know what? I think you’ll be okay. Stop worrying about what you can’t control. Just remember, you really have no idea what’s going on with her, and it’s okay. Don’t jump to conclusions. Just be there. Be there and be willing to listen when she’s ready to talk, and she’ll appreciate you so much for it. I promise.”
    He took another deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay. I’ll stop stressing and let things settle on their own.” He glanced up. “But what about the other gifts I have for her?”
    “Well, give them. Don’t stop that. Besides, it lets her see that you’re still there and thinking of her.”
    He nodded. “You’re right.”
    “Charles, someone close to her could’ve passed on. She might’ve lost her job at work. You never know what’s going on. Give her space. It’ll be fine. Let her mourn whatever she’s mourning and when she’s ready to speak, she said she will—so she will. You have no reason to believe anything else. Nothing has shown that she’s walking away from you. This is all crazy talk. Stop. And let it be.”
    Charles suddenly stood up and kissed her cheek. He needed to think. “Thank you, Grammy. You make everything better.”
    “Good. Now go get some sleep. I for one am exhausted, and I know you are too.”
    He chuckled wearily. “Yes, ma’am.” He collected his coat and waved his hand as she began to rise. “No, no, stay and watch your late-night shows. I know how much you love them. You don’t need to see me to the door. I love you. Thank you.” He kissed her cheek once more before letting himself out.
    “Stay out of trouble, you rascal!” she hollered after him as the door shut.
    Charles rehashed his grandma’s advice as he headed home. There was no reason to get worked up about never seeing Jane again, or to feel upset because she wouldn’t speak to him. This was