Mad About Moon

by Melissa Foster

  He slid the brochure across the table and said, “For once in your fucking life, do the right thing for your daughter. I’ll take you there, pay for treatment, and visit you as often as they let me. Or I’ll stay the fuck away, whatever it takes.”

  She was shaking as her gaze fell to the brochure.

  “Do it for Chrissy, and I’ll make sure you get out of this trailer park.” He didn’t know how he’d manage that, but while Crystal was acting cool about not seeing their mother and not having her in her baby’s life after the child was born, he knew better. Every woman wanted a mother who loved her and doted over her children. He thought of Josie and Hail, and his heart ached for them, too. Josie had never had a doting mother, but at least she’d had Brian’s grandmother for a short period of time. And though Hail had no biological grandparents, he knew Biggs and Red would step in, and Chicki and their friends would follow. But Crystal had a mother who once knew how to treat her children, meeting them after school with fresh-baked cookies, hugging them often, and making their lunches for school and family dinners.

  With any luck Jed could get her back for his sister.

  His mother pushed the brochure across the table and stood up, using the table to stabilize herself. “Rehab is for people with problems. The only problem I’ve got is you.” She downed the rest of her drink and waved in the direction of a cardboard box near the door. “Take that shit to Chrissy.”

  “How can you turn your back on her?” he ground out as he hoisted the box into his arms.

  She grabbed the bottle of liquor from the table and sauntered toward the bedroom.

  “I’m not going to keep doing this,” he called after her.

  “Yes you will, Jeddy. Bring cigarettes next time.”

  He ground out, “Fuck,” and headed out the door, pissed off that she was right.

  ON HIS WAY home Jed turned off the main drag and drove toward Bear and Crystal’s stone and cedar cabin. He wound through the narrow mountain roads and pulled down their driveway. Their cabin overlooked a lake, buffered from the rest of the world by acres of forest. He climbed from the truck and reached for the box, catching sight of his blue-tinged palms. He reveled in the memory of Hail’s little hands pressing down on the back of his when he was teaching Jed how to make a handprint.

  Bear was in the garage working on a bike. He stood as Jed approached and set his tools on the bench. “What’s in the box?”

  “No idea. My mother said it was for Crystal, so I thought I’d bring it by. Is she around?”

  “She’s napping. This pregnancy is wiping her out. Just set it on the bench.” He motioned to one of the work benches. “Crystal doesn’t know you still go over there.”

  “Yes, she does,” he said as he set the box down. “Even if she pretends she doesn’t. She knows I can’t let our mother die alone.”

  “I hear ya, man. Blood is blood. How’s she doing?”

  “Same shit different day. I tried to get her to go to rehab, for Chrissy, you know.” He leaned against the workbench and said, “I don’t get it. How can a parent turn their back on their kid like that? Hell, I’ve only known Hail for a week and he’s not even my kid, and I’d still do anything for him. Same with Kennedy, Lincoln, Bradley, and Lila.”

  “I don’t know, man, but it’s a sore subject with your sister. So maybe I’ll hold that box for a bit.”

  “That’s fine. There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about. You know I’m looking for my own place. I’m wondering what’s going on with the old shop out by Whiskey Bro’s. It’s been empty forever. Think Biggs would consider selling it?”

  Bear pulled a beer out of the refrigerator and offered one to Jed.

  “No, thanks. I can’t stomach it after seeing my mother.”

  He followed Bear down the mulched path to the backyard. They sat on a couple of Adirondack chairs down by the water.

  “My uncle Axel was a good man. We lost him too early.” Bear’s uncle had died from lung cancer when Bear was in his early twenties. “I miss that guy every fucking day. He taught me everything I know about mechanics, and a good deal of other shit. He and my grandfather built this place.”

  “I know. Crys told me.”

  “That place by the bar is really special to Biggs. Axel and my grandfather built it. It’s where Axel started his business. When Axel died, Biggs took it hard, closed himself off, and never let anyone else step foot in that house again. I know he goes down there sometimes. He has other siblings, and they’re pretty close—my aunt Reba lives on Cape Cod, and Uncle Tiny is out in Colorado—but he was closest to Axel.”

  “Man, I didn’t realize that. Thanks for letting me know. I won’t mention it again. Jojo asked about it last night, and it just got me thinking. It’s near the shop and the bar, has plenty of space, so I wouldn’t have neighbors breathing down my back.”

  “My father loves and respects you. It’s worth asking. It’s been empty for more than a decade.”

  “Nah,” Jed said. “Biggs doesn’t need me putting him in the uncomfortable situation of having to tell me no.”

  “Biggs loves telling people no,” Bear said with a smirk.

  They both laughed.

  “So, you and Josie, huh?” He took a swig of his beer. “Getting serious, or…?”

  Jed leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees, and gazed out at the sun’s reflection glittering off the dark water. “It’s strange, man.” He cocked his head as he spoke to his trusted friend and mentor. “When we first met, we spent hours talking, and then we spent hours fucking. But it wasn’t just talking, and it wasn’t fucking. You think it’s possible to be serious after one night? Because if the guy she lived with—who later became her husband—hadn’t told me she was underage and chased me away, I think I might have turned my life around for her back then.”

  “Damn, Jed. And now?”

  “It’s like the years in between didn’t change a thing. You know I’m not a big talker, but with Jojo? Man, I never want to stop. The thought of Hail not having the best life a kid can?” He pounded his fist over his heart and said, “That hurts. And the rest of it? Zero to sixty in seven seconds flat.” He shook his head. “And we haven’t done anything other than kiss. I no longer need to turn my life around, but I definitely need my own place. She’s lost everything, and she deserves the world.”

  “Then I’d say you already know the answer. But she lost a husband. You might need to tread carefully.”

  “I know. I’m not pledging my love for her. I’m just doing a reality check. Making sure I haven’t lost my mind.”

  Bear chuckled. “Oh, you’ve lost your mind all right. But like Tru said, it happens to the best of us.”

  Chapter Ten

  WEDNESDAY ARRIVED WITH blazing sunshine, blessing them with an unseasonably warm day. Josie had been so busy making sure she had enough outfits for work, getting Hail used to the idea that he was going back to school, and trying to keep her feelings for Jed in check, the last two days had flown by.

  As she drove to Scott’s, she spoke to Sarah on speakerphone. The initial awkwardness had subsided quickly, and within minutes they were talking like old friends.

  “Everyone was thrilled to meet you and Hail at the party,” Sarah said.

  “God, I was so overwhelmed at first.” She told her how Red had helped her calm down and how Chicki had given her a quick makeover.

  “Chicki is a makeover queen.”

  They laughed about the kids, and they discussed Scotty’s offer for Josie and Hail to move in with him, and then Sarah asked about Jed. Josie told her how close they’d gotten and how Hail had the picture of all three of their handprints hanging by his bed.

  “I haven’t seen him since Monday afternoon, and even though we’ve texted and spoken on the phone several times, I miss him.” Jed had told her about his visit with his mother, and she worried about the way he’d brushed it off. He had Dark Knights meetings Monday nights. They called them church, which was weird, but apparent
ly it was biker lingo. She knew how important prospecting was to him and assumed he had enough on his mind without her pushing him to talk about his mother. “And you know what, Sarah? I miss you and Scotty, too, even more than I let myself realize over the years.”

  “We missed you too, so much. You should take him up on his offer, Josie. And as far as Jed goes, I couldn’t be happier for you.”

  Josie sighed with relief. “Thank you. I’ve been spinning my wheels for so long, and when I’m with him I don’t feel like a mother scrambling to find her way. You know I’d never wish Hail away for the world, but with Jed, in addition to being Hail’s mother, I feel like a regular almost-twenty-four-year-old woman who laughs and kisses and remembers that life is so much bigger and better than the brief setback we’ve found ourselves in.”

  “I get that,” Sarah said sweetly. “Call me after you make a decision?”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  Josie felt good as she made her way to Scotty’s house. But when he answered the door of his rambler and wrapped her in his warm embrace, she knew there was no way she’d get through today without tears. His blue and gray flannel shirt was so soft, she wondered if it was an old favorite. He wore a plain white shirt underneath, along with a pair of jeans, just like his standard attire as a teenager. It was strange how much and how little could change over a decade.

  “Good to see you. Come in.” Scott held the door open for her. “You’re still so tiny, it’s hard not to see you as a kid.”

  “I’m not sure I was ever a kid,” she said lightly, though they both knew it wasn’t a light subject.

  He took her coat, and as he hung it by the door she admired his home—and it definitely felt homey, with a comfortable-looking couch, two armchairs, and a coffee table. A coffee mug and a few boating and car magazines littered the tabletop. A bucket of toys sat by the television in the corner of the room, and matchbox cars were lined up on the windowsill.

  “How’d it go with Hail?” Scott asked. “Did he get off to school okay?”

  “Yeah. He loves school, and he must have asked me a dozen times if he’d see Kennedy and Bradley there.”

  “It must be weird for him, finding out he has cousins. Want some coffee? A muffin? I went by my friend Cassie’s bakery yesterday and got a few different types.”

  Scotty headed for the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a half wall, and Josie went to check out the books on his shelves.

  “No, thanks. I think it’s different for kids. They see cousins as friends, whereas for us, finding each other again is life changing. It is for him, too, but he’s too young to realize just how much.” She ran her fingers over the spines of the books and said, “Did you ever really think we’d find each other again?”

  “I hoped,” he said. “I looked for you guys, but I was a kid with no money, so I couldn’t do much.”

  She turned to face him and said, “But then you found the means to look and you reconnected with both of us. I will always regret how awful I was to you when you reached out.”

  He hooked an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. “I’ve got enough guilt and regret for all of us. Let it go, okay? It’s time we all moved on.” He kissed the top of her head and said, “Come on. I’ll show you your room.”

  “My room?” she said as they walked down the hall.

  “One for you, one for Hail. You think I’m letting you stay in a shelter? I’ve given you space; now it’s time for family.”

  He showed her two beautiful rooms across the hall from each other, with big beds and matching furniture. There was a full bathroom at the end of the hall. His generosity made her eyes tear up. “Scotty, I don’t know if we can barge in on your life like this.”

  “Please don’t cry. I’ve seen enough tears to last a lifetime.”

  “But look at everything you’re offering us. Where’s your room? I don’t want to take your bedroom.”

  “I have a bedroom, bathroom, and living area in the basement, so this is yours. And I know you’re an adult and you’re seeing Jed. He’s a good friend of mine. He, Quincy, and I hang out a lot.”

  “The single guys’ club?” she teased.

  “Something like that,” he said. “It’s fine if you want to have him stay over.”

  “We’re not slee—”

  “Whoa!” He waved his hands. “Stop right there. This house is a military zone. Don’t ask, don’t tell.”

  They both laughed.

  “God, I’ve missed you so much.” She threw her arms around his waist. “Thank you. This means the world to me. But Hail might drive you crazy and wake you up early.”

  “It’s going to take some getting used to for all of us, I’m sure,” he said. “But Sarah and I made it work, and I’m sure you and I will, too. I make a great babysitter.”

  “Yeah, I hear you use the kids as wingmen.”

  “Oh man. She gave away all my secrets. Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the house.”

  The rest of the house was just as wonderful. Sarah had made curtains with squirrels on them for the kitchen, and Scotty kept toys on hand for when the kids came over. He really seemed to embrace being an uncle, and that made Josie feel good all over. They decided she’d move in Saturday so Hail wouldn’t be in school, and they called Sarah to let her know and invite her and her family for dinner Saturday night.

  By the time Josie got ready to leave, she wondered why she’d been so nervous in the first place. “Thank you, Scotty. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

  “Just knowing my sisters and their families are safe is all I’ve ever wanted.”

  She hugged him, and then she said, “I know this is a military zone and all, but do you have a girlfriend?”

  He slid one hand into the front pocket of his jeans and said, “I’m too much man for any one woman.”

  “It’s good to see your ego didn’t take a hit over all the stuff we went through. You know, Tracey is single, and she said Izzy is, too. Oh, and Dixie!”

  “God, you too? I’m well aware of the single women in this town. How about we just concentrate on getting your life back on track, which I imagine will mean I’ll be busy babysitting so you can remember what it’s like to be a single woman.”

  “A woman with a child is never really single.” She didn’t think she’d ever been a single woman, and after being so happy with Brian, and now reconnecting and having such strong feelings for Jed, she couldn’t imagine that being single was anything to write home about.

  As she drove away, she decided to surprise Jed with lunch. He’d done so much for her, and she was too excited to just go back to the shelter. She stopped at Jazzy Joe’s café and picked up sandwiches for her and Jed and a cookie for Hail, which she’d give him after school. Then she drove over to the auto shop to surprise Jed.

  When she arrived at the shop, she realized she probably should have called first. They were busy, and she had no idea if Jed even took a lunch break, much less if he was working there or at the bar today. She scanned the open bays, but didn’t see Jed. She spotted jeans-clad legs sticking out from beneath a car in the first bay, so she headed over with the bag from Jazzy Joe’s.

  Truman slid out from beneath the car as she approached. “Hey, Josie. Looking for Jed?”

  “Yeah. I thought I’d bring him lunch. I won’t stay or get in the way.”

  “No worries.” He pushed to his feet and pointed to a set of steps by the office. “He’s up in his apartment. He’s not working at the bar until three. Go on up. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you.”

  “Thanks.” She headed for the steps and saw Tex peering at an engine beneath the hood of a car. “Hi,” she said as she walked by.

  “Hi. Josie, right?”

  Big Mama, the big calico cat she’d seen at the bonfire, wound around her legs. She leaned down to pet her. “Yes. Good to see you again.”

  “That was some party, huh?”

  “It was fun. I’m just going up to see Moo
n—Jed.”

  Tex winked. “Have fun.”

  As she climbed the steps she played over that wink, wondering if Tex was used to women going up to Jed’s apartment in the middle of the day. On the landing at the top of the stairs she knocked on the door, trying to ignore the swirling in her stomach. She waited for what felt like forever, but in reality was probably only a minute, and then she knocked again. She heard him say something that sounded like come in, so she turned the knob and peered around the door, quickly scanning the masculine loft-style apartment. Worn hardwood floors ran beneath a deep-cushioned brown couch, an orange chair, and a heavy wooden coffee table. There was a small open kitchen and glass doors that led to a deck.

  “Moon?” she called out.

  “In here,” came from behind a partially open door.

  She closed the door behind her, and as she crossed the room, she said, “I just got done with Scotty and—”

  He pulled open the door and she lost her voice. His hair was wet and tousled, his bare chest slick from a shower, and sweet baby Jesus, he was naked, save for a towel tied low on his hips.

  “And…?” he asked as he stepped toward her.

  She tried to speak, but her mouth had gone bone dry. A devilish grin spread across his face.

  There he is. My big bad wolf.

  And that wasn’t all that was big about him.

  Her gaze dropped to the significant bump in the towel. Heat whipped through her like a torrential storm, bullying its way through her core, up her chest, and down her limbs. Her sex clenched, and her nipples burned. He lifted her chin, and that flirtatious smile morphed to sinfully enticing hunger.

  “And…?” he whispered against her lips, drawing a needy whimper from her lungs. “Did you miss me, Little Red?”