Mad About Moon

by Melissa Foster

  “We all were,” Scotty said.

  “But you felt safe with Brian?” Sarah asked.

  “Always. We lived with his grandmother until she passed away, and they did everything they could to make me feel safe. I was terrified his grandmother would send me back, but she said she was old-school. She believed some people weren’t meant to be parents, and lucky for me, she had no faith in the foster-care system. I have no idea how, but Brian got me a fake ID just in case our parents were looking for us. I was Joanne August. He worked construction, I went to school, and we cared for his grandmother, Helen. We lost her a year after Hail was born. I really loved her. She taught me all the things Mom never did—how to cook and bake and grow a garden. How to love and be loved. I missed you guys every single day, but I was happy, and I kind of feel guilty for that.”

  “I’m sorry you lost them,” Scott said. “Brian sounds like he was a good man. Thank God you had him and Helen. Don’t ever feel guilty for being happy, Josie. It’s what we both wanted for you.”

  “He’s right.” Sarah squeezed Josie’s hand. “I’m sorry you lost Brian. You must be so sad.”

  “I was a mess for a while, and of course Hail was, too. But we didn’t have a lot of time to wallow in it, which maybe was a good thing. Brian didn’t have life insurance. We lived off our savings for a while, which gave us time to get through the worst of our grief, but then I had to work to make ends meet.” She told them about the jobs she’d held. “When you guys were calling the bar trying to get me to see you before your accident, I was barely making it. We’d lost our home because I couldn’t make the rent payments, and we’d had to leave most of what we owned behind. The night of your accident, Hail was sick and I was on the verge of losing my job. I thought I could handle seeing you, but when I got to the hospital it was too much. I hadn’t been sleeping, and when I saw the terror in your eyes and the bruises, and you told me how bad off Scotty and the kids were, I lost it. It was like in my head I spun back to all those awful times when I couldn’t save you guys from being beaten up. I’m so sorry.”

  “Stop. You can’t torture yourself like that, Josie,” Sarah said thoughtfully. “It was a hard time for all of us, and it was never your job to save us.”

  “You were a kid, Josie.” Scott’s stormy eyes bored into her. “You couldn’t have done anything.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe then that was true. But more recently I was upset about having been abandoned, which I wasn’t, and I turned around and abandoned you guys. It wasn’t fair, and I’m sorry. And that day Sarah saw me near the shelter and I ran from her? I had just lost my job a few weeks earlier, and we had been evicted from our crappy apartment. We were staying at this seedy motel where you pay by the day. I’d decided to try to save what little money we had left for gas so I could look for a job and finally gave in to going to the shelter. But then there you were, gorgeous, pregnant, and my life was so out of control. I thought you had a perfect life and I was hurt you’d left me behind all those years ago, even though I didn’t believe it in my heart. And I was so upset at what I let happen to me and Hail, I couldn’t see clearly. That’s why I ran.”

  She lowered her eyes, feeling ashamed. “Then Bones gave me the pamphlet that I had been refusing to read.” She lifted her eyes, meeting Sarah’s compassionate gaze, and said, “And he loves you so much, Sarah. He’s the reason I finally read it. And I’m glad I did. I’m so sorry.”

  Sarah wrapped Josie in her arms, and Scotty joined in, both of them reassuring her that everything was going to be okay now. They talked for a little while longer, anxiously checking the time, as if this might be all they’d ever get.

  “What did you mean when you said Brian might have taken care of killing our father?” Scotty asked.

  “I’d forgotten I said that,” Josie admitted. “I freaked out about not wanting them near our child when I got pregnant. That’s when he told me our parents had died in a house fire a few months after we left Florida. I always wondered if he’d done something to them, because he had gone back to Florida for a long weekend once, but if he did he never said anything. Now I’ll never know.”

  A cloud of silence fell over them, each lost in their own thoughts.

  “Okay, I’ll be the one to say it,” Scotty said vehemently. “If he did do it, he was an even better man than I already thought he was.” He put his hand over Josie’s and said, “It’s time to move forward, for all of us. I have a house in town, and two bedrooms on the first floor where Sarah had been staying. Now that she’s living with Bones, it’s yours. Come stay with me. Let me get to know you and my nephew. You’ll be safe there. I’m not a big drinker. I don’t smoke…”

  Tears rolled down Josie’s cheeks again. It was a wonder she had any left to cry.

  “Why are you crying again?” Scotty asked.

  “Because I was so afraid you’d hate me for being so rotten, and now you’re offering me your home.”

  “You’re my baby sister,” Scotty said, squeezing her hand. “I love you too much to ever hate you.”

  AFTER WORKING THE late shift with Isabel and Diesel, Jed was anxious to talk to Josie. She’d texted him earlier, but he hadn’t had a break all evening. Tracey and Dixie had waitressed and had left about an hour ago, but Isabel was taking forever in the bathroom.

  “Hurry your cute little ass up, Iz, before I give it a swift kick.” He’d been trying to figure out where Josie could get an inexpensive apartment in a safe area, but he’d come up blank. He’d planned on talking to Isabel to see if she needed a roommate, but he wasn’t sure she’d be cool with a kid around all the time, so he held back.

  Diesel strode toward the door, a mountain of grunting, scary-as-fuck muscle despite the black baseball cap he wore backward every damn day. He had what Isabel called killer eyes, and she didn’t mean it in a sexy way. The guy was massive, rough, and had no people skills, which made him the perfect person to keep watch over the bar in Bullet’s absence. Jed wasn’t ashamed to admit that Diesel was about ten levels of badass above him. The guy even gave Bullet a run for his money.

  “You lay claim on that one yet?” Diesel asked in a voice as rough as his tree-trunk arms.

  “Izzy? No, man, we’re just friends.” Isabel was beautiful, with blunt-cut black hair, big almond-shaped hazel eyes, and a perky nose, not to mention a hot little body. But while she and Jed flirted and joked around, she’d never sparked fire in his veins the way Josie did. Hell, nobody ever had.

  Diesel lifted his chin with an indiscernible grunt, then lumbered out the front door without another word.

  Nice talking to you, too.

  Isabel rushed out of the bathroom carrying her jeans and shirt over her arm and wearing a short red minidress and heels. “Sorry! I had to change.”

  “Going hooking tonight?” he teased.

  She made a face. “Jealous?” she asked as she put on her coat.

  “Hardly, but watch yourself.” He held the door open for her. “Who are you going out with dressed like that?” he asked as he locked the doors.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She smirked as he followed her down the steps. “I’ve never seen you hightail it out of here so fast. I guess the rumors are true and you’re all hot and bothered over Sarah’s sister.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Word gets around.” She tossed her purse and clothes into the back seat of her car.

  “Whatever. Where are you going, Iz? You know you’re dressed for trouble.”

  “God, I sure hope so,” she said. “I’m meeting a friend from out of town for drinks.”

  “At one a.m.?” He shook his head. “If you’re doing that Tinder bullshit I’ll break the asshole’s neck. You’re not that girl.”

  “Nope, but sometimes I wish I were.” She climbed into her car and said, “Do they let guys into the women’s shelter this late, or are you going covert, climbing in the window?”

  He laughed. “You’re an idiot.”

  “And yet you love me
anyway.”

  “Text me if you need anything, and be safe.”

  She blew him a kiss and closed her door. As she drove away, he pulled out his phone and reread Josie’s text from earlier. I owe you a HUGE thank you! I had the greatest day, and if you hadn’t introduced me to Penny, it never would have happened. Call me!

  He’d texted her earlier to let her know he was working late, and now he thumbed out another quick text. Just got off work. You still up?

  Her response was immediate. He read it as he climbed into his truck. Yes! He sent another message. Want to turn off your ringer and I’ll call, or will we wake Hail?

  His phone vibrated seconds later. Okay, it’s off. I’ll go into the living room to talk. He started the engine, cranked up the heat, and called her.

  “Hi!” she said quietly but energetically. “I’ve been dying to talk to you. Did you have a good night at work?”

  He was surprised how much he liked having someone to call after work, even if he’d rather have her warm body in his arms. He wasn’t sure how honest he should be about his feelings toward her, but he pretty much sucked at lying, so he said, “Yeah, but it went by too slow. I wanted to call you, but we never got a break.”

  “I know. When Tracey got home she said it was a madhouse.”

  “She did a good job tonight. Why are you so wired at one in the morning? I guess things went well with Penny?”

  “Beyond well. She’s so much fun, and I’m excited to work with her. She named an ice cream flavor after Hail, and he’s told everyone he’s come in contact with since.”

  He chuckled, imagining her little boy’s excited eyes peeking out from behind his floppy bangs as he told his story. “Atta boy. Gotta brag when you can. I’m glad things went well.”

  “Moon, that was all great, but as we were leaving Penny’s shop, we saw Sarah. I talked to her and Scotty, and we, um…” Her voice trailed off, and he heard her sniffle.

  “Hey, you okay? Do they let visitors in this late? I’ll head over.”

  “No. I’m okay, really,” she said, but he heard her sniffle again, and his chest squeezed. “We had a great talk. Scotty even offered for me and Hail to stay with him.”

  Jed closed his eyes, and his head tipped back with relief. “That’s great, Jojo. I’m so happy for you. Are you going to take him up on it?”

  “Probably. I’m not sure. I told him I’d come by Wednesday when Hail’s in school. What do you think?”

  “Me?” He was surprised she’d ask for his opinion.

  “Yes. Do you think I should take him up on it?”

  “He’s your brother, and he’s a great guy, so of course I do. Why are you hesitant?”

  “I just hate being a burden to him.”

  “Babe,” came out before he could stop it. “Scott loves you. I don’t think you could ever be a burden on him. But if you’re hesitant, we can talk about it when I pick you and Hail up tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  He heard the happiness in her voice and said, “I’ve got the day off. I thought we could take Hail to the Touch Museum. He seemed excited to go.”

  “Moon, just because you’re prospecting doesn’t mean you have to spend all your extra time with us.”

  He scoffed. “Is that what you think? That I’m taking you out because I’m prospecting?”

  “I don’t know what to think.”

  Yes you do. He kept that thought to himself, because even though she’d said she felt their connection as strongly as he did at the bonfire, she could have meant their friendship, so he hedged his bets. “I don’t know what’s appropriate when a woman has lost her husband, but, Jojo, I’m not asking to see you because I feel obligated. I want to see you. I want to spend time with you and Hail. But if it’s too soon, or you’d rather not hang out with me, that’s cool. I get it.”

  “No. I’d rather. But don’t you have a girlfriend or someone you should be showering with attention?”

  “Did you forget what I told you the other day about my longest relationship?”

  “No, but look at you. You’re a great guy, a good listener, and you have a huge heart. There’s no way your date book isn’t full.”

  She’d seen him for who he was at a time when no one else had even tried, and here she was, years later, doing it again. “It’s true, Jojo. I’ve never been a relationship guy, but if I’m overstepping, or you feel pushed, then I’ll back off.”

  She was quiet for so long, he checked his phone to be sure he hadn’t lost the call. “You still there?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s okay, Jojo. Too much too soon—”

  “Don’t back off, Moon,” she said softly. “I was just…It’s been a big day, and I didn’t expect you to really feel the same way I do.”

  He did a fist pump, chuckling at himself for acting like a fucking teenager who landed a date for the prom. “Pick you up at nine, then, beautiful. And tell Hail I want to hear all about his ice-cream namesake.”

  Chapter Seven

  THE TOUCH MUSEUM was located in Echo Beach, a small waterfront town about an hour from Peaceful Harbor. On the drive into town, Josie had seen stunning beaches and rows of tiny colorful cottages that had probably been there forever. The main drag was adorable, with painted brick-front shops, old-fashioned streetlamps, and a park with a huge white gazebo. The shops, streetlamps, and even the trees were lit up with holiday decorations, giving the grayish winter day a festive feel. The street names were just as charming as the rest of the town, each one boasting a flower—Peony Way, Daffodil Drive, Black-Eyed Susan Lane…

  They’d been exploring the three-story museum for the past two hours, and Hail was like a kid on speed, darting from one exhibit to the next, chattering and asking questions the whole time. Josie couldn’t blame him; she was just as excited, and Jed seemed to be, too. She’d never been anywhere so colorful and alive with energy. Every room was decorated to match the interactive exhibit within. In the solar room there were planets hanging from the ceiling and stars painted on the walls. Jed, Josie, and Hail launched foam rockets through big plastic chutes, sending them soaring toward the ceiling. Hail and a handful of other kids collected the foam rockets as they landed, making loud engine noises as they flew them around the enormous room.

  Josie watched her boy running around, laughing with the other children, and it reminded her of how happy he was yesterday when they’d stayed at the bookstore with Scott and Sarah and the kids. Getting Hail to leave had been like prying him from his best friends. She’d had to promise to get the kids together again soon, which she’d hoped to do anyway. It was the best feeling in the world.

  Well, maybe neck and neck with the feel of Jed’s chest pressed against the back of her shoulder and his hand on her waist as he bent to say, “He’s a great kid, Jojo.”

  His minty breath warmed her cheek. He’d been doing that all day, sticking close to her and Hail, his eyes never wandering to the pretty women walking by. But she couldn’t help wondering why he hadn’t invited her to the New Year’s Eve party Penny had mentioned.

  “Yeah. I think I’ll keep him,” she said, glancing up at Jed’s handsome face.

  “So you were what, eighteen when he was born? What was that like?”

  “It was like receiving the greatest, most terrifying gift in the world. Suddenly I had this little baby who relied on me.”

  “What about when you first found out you were pregnant? Were you scared? At eighteen, I would have freaked out.”

  “I was too shocked to be scared or elated at first.” Her eyes moved to Hail and she said, “After the shock wore off, I wondered if I’d be mean, like my mom was. But honestly, I’d been with Brian and his grandmother for so long by then, my past was almost like a bad dream or another life. I didn’t feel like I had my parents inside me anymore, if that makes sense. Hail was born from love, and from the moment I held him, I loved him more than I’d ever loved anything or anyone in my entire life. I’ve never once regretted getting pregnan
t, and Brian was incredible from the moment we found out.”

  “That’s good.” He seemed a little tense as he asked, “You told me you came to the party the night we met to make him jealous and that you had tried to seduce him. I’m not sure I really want to know the answer to this, but how did that change for you two?”

  “Gosh, I tried to seduce him a lot. Dozens of times when I was fifteen, sixteen, seventeen…He wouldn’t even kiss me, the weasel. But on my eighteenth birthday he gave me flowers, and we got all dressed up and went out to a fancy dinner, which we never did. We didn’t have much money, but—”

  “Mama! Moon! Look!” Hail hollered as he threw a rocket through a plastic hoop.

  “Awesome, buddy!” Jed called out.

  She loved how he instantly responded to Hail. Her little boy had been inserting himself between them, holding both of their hands as they walked from one exhibit to the next since they entered the museum, as if Jed were part of their family. Jed hadn’t questioned Hail’s affection or acted uncomfortable. If anything, he’d been paying even closer attention to him. The same way he was paying attention to Josie right now, waiting for her to say more.

  “Anyway, when we got back home, he professed his love to me. He said he hadn’t wanted to rush and that it had been hell turning me away, but that he was so much older, he wanted me to be sure before we slept together.” She noticed Jed looked tense, and she realized how hard this must be for him to hear, so she said, “You know you were my first.”

  She remembered how he’d been careful at first, and there had been some pain, but she’d gotten so lost in him, the pain had become part of the pleasure. She’d waited for that exquisite mix of pain and pleasure every time she’d made love with Brian, but it had never come. Jed had been just as lost in her, and she’d never forgotten the way his rough hands had run over every inch of her body, pressing into her flesh so hard she’d felt it hours later.

  Just thinking about that night brought fantasies of Jed. She tried to extinguish the flames, but the feel of his hand on her hip and the way his eyes drilled into her sparked darker curiosities—What would your hands feel like on my body after all these years? Would your mouth feel the same on my breasts, my skin, my lips? Would you suck and nip, taking me rough and wild, or would you be careful and tender?