A Family for Jason

by Virginia McCullough

  “Think about what you want, Mike. You and Ruby need to clear the air. Fine. But please, be careful. She’s not so tough, you know. When the boy in Florida was in a coma, she was in tears. I talked to her two or three times a day until that boy opened his eyes and spoke his first words. She didn’t sleep, she didn’t eat. She blamed herself, not a little bit, but one-hundred-percent.”

  “She said as much earlier while we painted my office.”

  Emma gave him a look filled with suspicion. He hadn’t seen it coming. “How cozy. The two of you fixing up your new law office.”

  “Whoa. You think I’ll hurt Ruby? Is that it? I’d never let that happen. You must believe that.”

  Emma nodded.

  “And as for what I want? You mean like going back twenty years and starting all over again?” He stuck his hands in his front pockets. “You know, I’m pretty vulnerable myself.”

  “Maybe so, but you’ve made up your mind. Your life is here. You have a little boy.” She paused and offered a weak smile. “Ruby is taken with him and wants to help. After spending a couple of hours at your house, she filled me in on every little thing about Jason, including how happy he seems.”

  He closed his eyes as he relived that afternoon one more time. Every minute of it. It had given him such a lift.

  Mike sat down in the chair opposite Emma. “I was young and I made a bad decision. I let my dad dictate the rules and he demanded that I not see Ruby again. I heard Ruby’s mom that night at the hospital. She didn’t want me around, either.” He propped his elbows on his knees and held his head in his hands. “I put my feelings for Ruby in a box and tried to keep the lid on tight.”

  Emma rested her cheek on her palm. “But, twenty years later, here you are in my living room still heartbroken and angry.”

  “Yep, that’s me.” He let out a loud snicker. His hadn’t lost his sense of irony. “So, Em, it wasn’t that long ago I negotiated a significant settlement for a property dispute—millions at stake. It was an important case for the firm and the rumor mill buzzed about the brass making me a full partner.”

  “Really?”

  He looked down at himself and pointed to the stains on his worn-out T-shirt. “Can’t you tell what a hotshot I am? Instead of moving into my new corner office in a deluxe skyscraper at the firm, I’m about to hang my shingle on a street where half the storefronts are empty.” He tapped his temple. “Smart, huh?”

  Emma laughed. “Piece of cake, Mike. Besides, in the movies, everyone loves a small-town lawyer.”

  Glad the tension between them was melting away, he tapped his temple again. “I’ll remember that.”

  Emma glanced behind her to the kitchen door. “Here’s the thing,” she whispered, speaking faster now. “You and I are friends, but you and Ruby can’t be casual painting pals. Her heart isn’t made that way. Not when it comes to you.”

  Like my heart is? Emma was so right. And there was more than just their hearts at risk. With so much on the line, could he honestly say he wanted to pick up where they had left off before their parents died? Then again, why did it seem not only possible, but also easy? A part of him would marry Ruby right now and carry all her stuff—and her—into the lake house and settle right in.

  “She and I have left a lot unsaid.” Unable to sit, he went to the fireplace and leaned against the stone facade. “But Ruby brought up my mom for the first time. She mentioned how she and all her girlfriends liked her so much.”

  Emma looked amused. “More than other moms, she was her own person. She had a swagger about her.”

  Mike laughed. “Like Ruby. A one-of-a-kind girl, my mom once said.” What did he want from this one-of-a-kind grown-up woman, as complex and gorgeous as she was?

  The sound of the patio door opening interrupted his thoughts.

  “Think about what I’ve said, Mike. Please.”

  He nodded to acknowledge her and looked up in time to smile at Ruby coming into the living room.

  “Hey, you two,” she said, rubbing her palms together. “Getting cold out there.”

  “But the blaze will keep you warm.” He grabbed his jacket off the chair. “I’ve got to be on my way. School’s out soon.”

  Hurrying to the door, he said, “I’ll be by again. Soon.” He pointed to Emma. “Lunch today, dinner next time. You haven’t seen the last of me.” He grinned at Ruby and quickly let himself out.

  All the while, everything that Emma had said echoed through him... What do you want from Ruby?

  His head kept trying to shush his stubborn, nagging heart.

  * * *

  TWO DAYS LATER, Mike pushed the refinished table between the two chairs and stepped back to have a look. Not bad. All he needed was a stack of magazines. A business journal, a sports monthly and a health magazine. Something for everyone.

  Thanks to Ruby he even had a plant. She’d left it in front of the office door early that morning, along with a note:

  Enjoy this jade plant—a symbol of luck and prosperity. Some think of the leaves as coins—so, may this office bring you great good fortune and happiness. Best, Ruby.

  Now the green plant sat on the low window shelf, alive and well. A far cry from the yellowing plants in the dirty window of the old insurance company. He’d also hung two black-and-white photos of River Street, vintage 1930 or so, in the reception area. He’d saved two colorful photos of Hidden Lake in the fall for his office.

  He turned to the sound of a knock on his glass front door. A tall woman with long, wavy gray hair was smiling at him. She lifted her hand to greet him. When Mike opened the door to let her in, she didn’t hesitate to barrel inside and scan the room.

  “Welcome to River Street,” she said. “I saw the crew painting your name on the door and putting up your banner, so I already know you’re an attorney. Rumor has it you came from a fancy firm somewhere in Ohio.”

  Laughing, Mike held out his hand and introduced himself. “So, news still travels fast here. Yes, I came from Cincinnati, but my roots are in Bluestone River. I moved back here to raise my little boy. He’s six now.”

  “Aw, that’s nice. This is a good place for little kids. By the way, I believe we share a rental agent. Last time I saw her she was doing a little happy dance over filling another space.” She gave his hand a quick shake. “I’m from Florida myself. But here I am in Blue...oops, I should tell you my name before I give you my whole life story. I’m Margaret Hall. Everyone calls me Maggie.” She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a business card. “I’m an experienced web designer—ten years.”

  “Have a seat,” Mike said, pointing to the two chairs. “Be the first to sit in my brand-new reception room.” He tapped the business card on his palm.

  Not waiting to be asked, Maggie described her web-design business with clientele in eight states. “Doesn’t matter where they live.”

  “You stopped by at the right time. I need a website, and soon.” He’d noticed a sign on the door of her office, housed in a bungalow-style building, same as his.

  She beamed. “I was hoping to work with more local businesses now that I have a real office. My first one.” Maggie tilted her head toward him. “And I earned it. My oldest is off to college and the other one is in her senior year. My husband is the chaplain at the hospital in Clayton, but no more morning goodbyes in the kitchen when he leaves for work. These days we’re doing our kisses in the driveway next to our cars—in full view of the neighbors.”

  Mike laughed out loud. What a character. He wanted a website on the offbeat side. Upbeat, too, with a neighborly image. He was a Bluestone River guy through and through.

  “Anyway, as it happens, I need an attorney to help me incorporate my business,” Maggie said, getting to her feet. “And if I take on a part-time designer, a goal of mine, I want to be sure I follow all the rules—the laws dealing with employees. I imagine you know what I mea
n.”

  He offered a nod in her direction. “Absolutely. Happy to help. Just let me know when you’d like to sit down and talk about it.” He gestured around the room. “The paint dried yesterday, and I’ve been officially open for business the minute you walked in the door. I’ve got lots of holes in my schedule.”

  She shook his hand. “I’m glad I stopped by. Seeing you move in makes me even more determined to be part of the River Street revival.”

  “Hey, I like your attitude,” Mike said, his spirits climbing. “I’m hoping I came home at the right time.” Home. It sounded better to his ears every time he said it. “I grew up here, so I’ve got a stake in the place.”

  He and Maggie agreed to meet in his office in two days. Incorporation, employment law. This was the kind of work he could practically do in his sleep.

  With her hand on the doorknob, Maggie said, “Oops, I almost forgot to mention the town-council meeting tonight. Are you coming?”

  “I plan to be there. I want to introduce myself, or in the case of the mayor, reconnect. I went to high school with Kristine Laughlin. So, I’ll see at least one friendly face—two, counting yours.”

  “Good, I’m looking forward to it.” She frowned in thought. “If you ever need a babysitter...well, you have my number. My high school senior is a good candidate for you.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” And he would. Maybe not right away. But after Jason... The blank was easy to fill in. After Jason starts talking. It always came back to that. And was followed by the next intrusive thought: What if he doesn’t? What if years passed by and Jason stayed silent? In special-education classes he didn’t need?

  Stop. Fear trapped him in its vise grips whenever he allowed his thoughts to drift to a hazy future. Today. Stay focused on today. Wave goodbye to Maggie as she passes the window.

  Back in his office, he entered the woman’s information into his files. His fingers flew across the keyboard. His first meeting with a client pleased him more than he could describe. He grabbed his phone off the desk. He had to tell Ruby. She’d get a kick out of knowing he’d launched his practice with someone down the block. “Hey, Rubes,” he mumbled to himself, “in my freshly painted office with its jade plant and sparkling clean windows.”

  He stared at the phone in his hand and took a deep breath. I can’t call her every time I have some news. But it was his first impulse. Then Emma’s concern about him and Ruby becoming close again flashed in his mind like a neon sign. Reluctantly, he put down the phone.

  The framed poster of the covered bridge sat propped in one of the two client chairs across from him. It would fill some empty space in the reception area and remind his clients of one of the town’s best—and revered—features. He’d chosen the one showing the bridge in the summer, when the maples and elms and a smattering of birch tree surrounding the approach to the bridge were thick with leaves. The bright blue lettering at the bottom read Step Back in Time—Visit the Historic Bluestone River Covered Bridge.

  Just looking at a picture of the bridge led him back in time. For him, the first part of the caption could have just as easily been Stay Stuck in Time. He stood and carried the poster out of his office.

  Then the phone rang.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “COME ON, PEACH, a good pal of yours is at the door.” Ruby chuckled as she opened Emma’s front door to greet Mike and Jason. “Hey, Jason, Peach has been waiting for you. The three of us are so glad you could visit.”

  Jason’s serious face brightened at the sight of the dog and he hurried inside. The attention temporarily diverted Peach’s busy nose from the mixed aromas coming from the shopping bag filled with burgers and fries in Mike’s hand.

  Mike followed Jason inside. “I really appreciate this, Rubes. Like I said on the phone, I’d have canceled plans to go to the council meeting if I hadn’t told my new client I’d see her there.”

  She could barely keep her eyes off him standing there in jeans that fit like they were custom-made for him, like his navy blazer. With his curly hair brushing the collar of his light blue shirt, he carried off the professional-casual look to perfection.

  “No problem. Emma is happy to meet your son. And you know I’m always glad to see him.” She grinned at the boy, who was absorbed in the dog.

  “We’ve got plenty to keep him busy,” Emma called from the couch. “Jason is going to think I’m some kind of slouch, though. Sitting around, being waited on.”

  “That’s okay, I didn’t come empty-handed.” Mike held up the bag. “Dinner is served.”

  Taking the bag of food from his hands, Ruby saw him glancing at the fireplace. “Uh, we let it burn out. I wasn’t sure if it was okay...” She gave him a knowing look, assuming she didn’t have to finish the sentence.

  They’d had a fire going all afternoon, as they did almost every day now. Then Mike called and said Heather’s baby was feverish and she had to cancel afternoon day care. Ruby was almost too eager to jump in and offer to watch Jason even before Mike asked. But it’s something she’d have done for any friend, she told herself.

  “Good thinking. I haven’t used mine at the house yet. It can wait.”

  Ruby pointed to Jason’s backpack. “What did you bring?”

  “His super tractor, and a book about a farm.” He pulled out a jigsaw puzzle. “We’re big on The Wizard of Oz these days,” Mike said. “He’s especially taken with Toto.” “This is plenty to keep him occupied, even if he gets antsy before I get back.” He reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out a box of crayons. “I brought these just in case. He draws a lot. I figured you have paper, but not necessarily crayons.”

  “As a matter of fact, I brought some art supplies with me from Florida—colored pencils and some pastels.” Why had she even mentioned that? She hadn’t even told Emma she’d squirreled away those things in the back of the desk drawer in her room.

  When Mike looked past her, she followed his gaze to see Jason perched on a chair, keeping himself busy rubbing Peach’s jowls.

  “All’s well for the moment. Come with me,” Ruby said, gesturing for him to follow. “We’ll get dinner on the table in the kitchen.”

  Ruby set out place mats and forks while Mike unwrapped the burgers and put them on plates Ruby stacked for him. She didn’t need a mirror to know she was smiling. For what? What was the big deal about putting a fast-food spread on Emma’s table? Maybe because they’d fallen into an easy rhythm as they moved around Emma’s tidy kitchen, like they’d been teaming up on dinner for years.

  “All set,” Mike said, glancing at his watch. “I don’t want to eat and run, but I have to. I won’t be gone long, though.”

  “He’ll be fine.”

  Mike frowned. “I’m not sure. Just don’t be surprised if he seems a little upset that I’m leaving him here. He’s used to being with Heather after school a few days a week. But I’ve never left him at night after dinner.” His forehead wrinkling even more, he added, “Uh, you see, we have a routine.”

  “Whatever happens, we’ll handle it.” Lowering her voice to a whisper, she added, “You’re a great dad, but you can’t prevent him from getting out of sorts or even angry sometimes.” Seeing his troubled expression, she acknowledged, “I get it, easy for me to say.”

  “I know you can handle whatever happens. Besides, I’m what...? Ten minutes away. If anything comes up, send me a text.” He turned away and called over the divider shelf. “Dinner’s ready, you two.”

  Ruby put Peach’s food in her bowl and by the time they’d gathered at the table, the dog had flopped in front of the patio door. “We’ll take Peach out after dinner,” she said to Jason. “She always needs one chance to run around before it gets too dark.”

  Jason scrunched up his face and stared out to the backyard. She could almost see the thoughts popping into his head as he put two and two together. He wasn’t so sure he liked th
e idea of his dad leaving him. Dog or no dog.

  As they sat around the table, Jason was distracted by his fast-food dinner. Emma filled in Mike on how the town council and the mayor had taken advantage of complacency—some called it apathy—to keep the town running in a predictable way. “What it really comes down to is being stuck in a rut.”

  “Well, I’ll find out, won’t I?” He pushed away from the table and stood. “Okay, Jason, time for me to run. I’ll be back to pick you up before you know it.”

  Jason’s eyes opened wide as he slid off the chair and followed his dad to the front door. Ruby went behind him but kept her distance.

  “Hey, Jason?” Ruby said. She looked into Mike’s amused eyes. “Your dad has to go to some boring meeting, but you get to be here and play with us.”

  “So, have fun, buddy. Be good.”

  Jason shook his head, and tugged on Mike’s jacket, but Mike eased away. “We went over this before. You’ll be here with Peach, Ruby and Emma.”

  Again, Jason shook his head and grabbed at Mike’s blazer, but like he and Ruby had talked about on the phone, Mike gently removed Jason’s fingers and pulled away from the squirming boy. Ruby put her hands on Jason’s shoulders, but he shrugged her off. Mike held up two fingers. “I’ll see you in about two hours.”

  Ruby stepped forward and closed the door behind Mike as soon as he was on the porch. “Come on, Jason, let’s wave goodbye, and then we can take Peach outside.” She again rested her hands on the boy’s shoulder, but still, he was having none of it. He rushed to the front window and pushed aside the curtains.

  Ruby stayed behind him, watching the boy splay his fingers on the window. In the light, Ruby saw the dull streaks of scarring on his lower arms and a couple of spots on the top of his hands. Only after Mike made the tight turn, so he could drive out nose-first, did Jason wave.

  When the car disappeared from view, Jason’s shoulders sagged and he got down on his knees and braced his elbows on the windowsill. Through the reflection on the glass, Ruby saw him wiping away tears. In that moment, the forlorn little boy looked younger than his six years—more like a preschooler not used to babysitters. So this was what Jason’s rebellion looked like, Ruby thought.