When the grandfather clock in the living room struck eight o’clock, Melanie got up from the table.
“Do you have to go so soon? I thought we’d have time to visit.” Aunt Phoebe’s eyes focused on the table.
She slipped back into her chair. Her stomach churned from the coffee. “I’m sorry. That was rude. It’s just...” She turned to the window. The sun gleamed onto Aunt Phoebe’s Bible on the desk across the room.
“What, dear?”
“Well, I wanted to see Rebecca.” A hint of a smile took hold at the thought of seeing her.
Aunt Phoebe nodded. “She’s a special little girl, isn’t she?”
“Yes. I’m going to miss her when I go home.”
A crooked grin formed on her lips. “What about Jackson? Won’t you miss him?”
She flinched and jumped to her feet. “I don’t want to talk about him.” Her chair screeched across the floor.
A frown moved across Aunt Phoebe’s brow. “I don’t understand. You two seemed so happy spending time together.”
Melanie slunk into her chair. A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed hard. “So it wasn’t just me? You saw it, too?”
“Of course I saw it. I don’t understand why you’re questioning the obvious.”
“The obvious?”
“Yes, dear. You and Jackson have fallen in love.”
Melanie’s shoulders drooped. “You’re half-right.” She wiped a tear that slid down her cheek. “I have fallen in love with Jackson, but he’s not in love with me.”
“I’ve known that man his entire life. Since the day he rescued you, he’s been happier than I’ve seen him in years.”
Her words reminded Melanie of the kiss they’d shared in this very kitchen. So why had he kissed that other woman? She took a sip from her coffee and grimaced. It was cold.
“What makes you think he’s not in love with you?”
“I don’t think—I know. He and Taylor are reconciling.” Hearing the words spoken made it all too real. Her decision had been made for her. She’d return to DC.
“Taylor? What on earth would make you think such a crazy thing?”
She wasn’t sure which was worse, seeing Jackson and Taylor kissing inside The Bean, or the final blow, an attempt at reconciliation, straight from Taylor’s mouth. Melanie pressed her fingers to her temples. “Taylor told me yesterday.”
“Taylor’s here, in Sweet Gum? Does Jackson know?”
Aunt Phoebe’s softly spoken questions stabbed Melanie’s heart. “Well, given the fact that I saw the two of them kissing, I’d say he knows.”
“What?” Aunt Phoebe jumped from her chair, nearly knocking it over.
Melanie exhaled. “Please, sit down. I don’t want to upset you... You’re still recovering.”
Phoebe placed her hand to her brow and took a seat. “Start from the beginning and tell me everything that happened.”
After recalling each ghastly event that unfolded yesterday, Melanie felt sapped. It all seemed like a bad dream. She watched an expression of disbelief take hold of her aunt.
“I don’t believe it. There has to be an explanation. I know Jackson, and he would never get back together with Taylor. Not only because of the pain he experienced as a result of her drinking, but especially since she abandoned her own child.” She shook her head. “No way.”
Maybe Aunt Phoebe was right. Perhaps there was an explanation, but the glimmer of hope faded. “How do you explain the kiss? I saw it with my own eyes.”
“I can’t, dear. Jackson will have to explain.”
Melanie wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear his explanation. “I’d better go get ready.” Her voice was laced with disappointment and dread.
“Are you going to be okay?” her aunt asked in a whisper.
She turned to Aunt Phoebe. “Yes, I’ll be fine.”
* * *
Later, Melanie fumbled in her purse for her sunglasses, but realized she’d left them in Aunt Phoebe’s kitchen. She pulled down the sun visor to shield her eyes from the blinding October sun that magnified the red and yellow leaves against a cloud-free sky. Soon the leaves would die and fall to the ground. Perhaps a sign it was time for her to return home. Despite the bright sunshine, a dark cloud appeared to hang overhead.
She glided her car into the empty parking spot next to Jackson’s truck. Her heart gave a tug at the thought of her last ride in his vehicle, after a day at the orchard. How quickly things changed.
As Melanie reached for the doorknob, she spotted Rebecca sitting at the counter, reading a book. She smiled and turned the knob to enter The Bean, thrilled to see the one person who still brought her happiness.
The jingle of the bell caused Rebecca’s head to turn with a jerk. She flew off the stool and darted toward Melanie. Her tennis shoes squeaked as they crossed the tile floor.
“Miss Melanie! I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” she yelled.
The feeling of Rebecca’s tiny arms around her waist nearly stole Melanie’s breath. She released a forced laugh. “What would make you think such a thing?”
Rebecca’s arms dropped, and her sad eyes looked up. “Since you broke your date with Daddy last night, I thought you didn’t like us anymore.”
Melanie flushed and turned toward Jackson, who stood behind the counter with his arms crossed. Turning her attention back to Rebecca, she cupped her chin. “Didn’t he tell you I had a nasty headache last night?”
“Yeah.” She looked down. “But I didn’t know if it was true.”
Melanie turned at the sound of Jackson’s boots clomping across the floor.
“Of course it was true. Why else would Miss Melanie break our date?” Jackson said with a raised brow. “Speaking of a headache, I thought you planned to take the day off today to recuperate?”
She blew a wayward lock of hair away from her eyes and took off her jacket. “I had a good night of rest, and I feel better this morning.” That couldn’t have been further from the truth. She’d tossed and turned all night. Finally, around three in the morning, she moved to the Queen Anne chair and leafed through a quilting magazine for an hour.
“Since you still like us, does it mean you’ll come with us to the apple festival tomorrow?” Rebecca asked and pressed the palms of her hands together. “Please.”
Melanie couldn’t imagine saying no and disappointing Rebecca, but the thought of spending the day with Jackson, given the circumstances, was wrong.
The jingle of the bell saved her from answering, at least for now. As a tour group stormed the restaurant, Melanie and Jackson went nonstop for the next hour.
By the time Rebecca was getting ready to board the bus, Jackson had barely spoken two words. Melanie was the one who should have been angry. Why was he acting mad?
* * *
Jackson wasn’t prepared to see Melanie, at least not today. When she’d abruptly broken their date yesterday evening, his mind slipped back to his non-trusting ways, which was not a place he cared to be. But it was just as well. He had a full plate since Taylor was back in town. He needed to keep her away from Rebecca and figure out a way to get her out of town and out of their lives for good. “Have a good day at school. I’ll pick you up at three o’clock.”
“Can we go visit Sam later today?” Rebecca begged.
It wasn’t a bad idea. Jackson wanted to find out when they could bring the dog home for good. He had a feeling that once Melanie left Rebecca would need Sam’s companionship. “I think that’s a great idea.”
“Do you want to come, too, Miss Melanie?”
Jackson watched, and Melanie shook her head. His teeth clenched.
“No, I’m sorry, Rebecca. I need to be home with Aunt Phoebe.”
Rebecca winced. “What about tomorrow? You’ll come to the ap
ple festival with us, won’t you?”
His heart broke. Getting involved with a woman who didn’t live in the valley was a mistake. He had no idea what was going on in Melanie’s head, and why the abrupt change of heart, but he couldn’t let it continue. “Sweetheart, you heard Miss Melanie. She has to take care of Phoebe. It’s why she’s here. Now go on before the bus leaves without you.”
She lowered her head and walked out the door. Outside in the parking lot, halfway to the bus, Rebecca dropped her book bag onto the asphalt and sprinted inside. With her arms once again around Melanie’s waist, tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’ll miss you, Miss Melanie.” With a rapid turn, she was back out the door and boarded the bus.
Jackson hesitated, then shook his head.
“This is for the best, Jackson.”
He jerked at the sound of her voice. “For the best... How can crushing a little girl’s heart be for the best?” he snapped. “I thought you, of all people, would know about heartache, Mel.”
“Rebecca needs a chance to know her real mother. I’m nothing but a stand-in.” With her shoulders hunched, Melanie walked to the counter and flopped into the seat.
A car whizzed by outside, blaring its horn. Jackson took a seat next to Melanie. He placed his hand on top of hers. She flinched. “Where is all of this coming from, Mel? Please help me to understand what’s going on in that head of yours, because right now, I don’t have a clue what’s happened to us.”
She pulled her hand away and turned. With no concern for the tears racing down her face, her eyes held his gaze. “I saw you and Taylor kiss yesterday.” She rubbed the back side of her hand across her cheek to erase the tears. “Aunt Phoebe asked me to drop off the new menus before I went shopping for a special outfit for our date. I wasn’t spying on you.” She looked away. “I saw you through the window when I walked up to the door.”
The menus.
Jackson had found them at the front door when he’d left yesterday. He’d assumed the delivery truck had been in a hurry. When he thought of how he would feel if he saw Melanie kissing another man, his pulse accelerated. He wouldn’t have liked it one bit. “Oh, Mel, please believe me—it’s not what you think.”
“You were kissing. What else am I supposed to conclude?”
He rubbed his hand across his chin. “She kissed me. She’d been drinking, and she came in demanding to see Rebecca.” He decided not to mention the custody issue—he’d deal with it—but he had to make Melanie understand there was nothing going on between him and Taylor. “Didn’t you see me push her away?” He rested his hand on her back. “I don’t want Taylor. You’re the only woman I want to kiss, Mel.”
Melanie ran her hands down the front of her jeans, once and then again. “No, I didn’t see you pushing her away. I’m sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion, Jackson, but that’s not the only reason. Taylor told me you were reconciling.”
His mouth dropped open. “You talked to her? When?”
“Yesterday, at Estelle’s shop, I felt someone watching me. When our eyes met, I realized she was the odd woman who came into The Bean. Remember, the one who stared at Rebecca?”
He nodded. “Go on.”
“She followed me back to the dressing room and told me you like women in red.” Melanie paused and studied her fingernails. “When she said she’d been in town for a while and you knew, I couldn’t understand why you hadn’t told me. The only conclusion I came to was what she said was true. You two were reconciling, but you were afraid to tell me because you thought I’d change my mind and move Aunt Phoebe against her wishes.”
His gut wrenched. After the time they’d spent together, the kiss they’d shared, everything he’d told her about Taylor and her destructive behavior, how could Melanie think that he’d do anything like that?
As though she read his mind, she reached for his hand. “I’m sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion about you and Taylor. I should never have believed her. I know your heart, Jackson. You’re a good man.”
He moved in a little closer. “Good enough for you and Phoebe to join Rebecca and me at the festival tomorrow?” He tried not to get his hopes up, but he wanted her there as much as Rebecca did.
“Well, you’ll just have to wait and see.” She smiled and turned toward the kitchen, leaving behind an enticing floral scent.
No. He was wrong—he wanted her to come to the festival more than his daughter did.
* * *
At 2:00 p.m., Jackson dried the last plate as his thoughts centered on a future with Melanie. First he’d have to deal with Taylor.
As Melanie chatted away with the only customer in the restaurant, he slid his phone from his pocket. Sheriff Huggins had told him Taylor was staying at the Red Bird Inn, just outside of town. He’d programmed the number into his phone the other day, just in case. He wanted her out of his life, and he had the perfect plan.
The clerk answered on the first ring.
“Room ten, please.”
The sound of a television blared through the line before anyone spoke.
“Taylor?”
“What do you want, Jackson?”
He cringed at the sound of her scratchy voice. He didn’t believe Taylor wanted custody of Rebecca. Her motives were more than likely financial. He’d make her an offer she couldn’t refuse. “I’m calling to let you know that I’m willing to pay you ten thousand dollars if you leave town today.”
She gave a deep-throated laugh and coughed into the phone. “You can’t buy me out of my daughter’s life. I came here to see her, and I have every intention of doing so.”
Jackson picked up the red dish towel and whipped it against the edge of the countertop. “You can’t walk back into her life. She’s a child. You’ll confuse her.”
“I think you’re the one who’s confused. She’s my daughter. I have a right to see her. In fact—I’m going to her school now.”
Click.
The line went silent. Jackson crammed his phone into his pocket and sprinted into the dining area. “Mel, we’ve got to close up. Now!”
With the last customer gone, Melanie was busy clearing away the coffee cups. She turned with a jerk. “What’s wrong, Jackson?”
“It’s Taylor. She’s going to Rebecca’s school.” He grabbed his coat and jammed his arms inside the sleeves. “Here, take your jacket.” Jackson snatched the keys off the counter. “Let’s go. I have to protect my daughter.”
Jackson gripped the steering wheel and peeled out of the parking lot. “Put your seat belt on.”
Melanie secured her belt. “How do you know Taylor’s going to the school?”
“I called her. I wanted to pay her to leave town.”
Several minutes later, Jackson tore into the school parking lot, practically on two wheels. Taylor had beat him. “There she is.” He fumbled with his seat belt, his eyes peeled on Rebecca, Taylor and a teacher’s aide, standing next to the swings.
He vaulted from the truck and raced to his daughter. Melanie followed. His heartbeat pummeled his eardrums when Rebecca turned to him and he saw her tears. He was too late, the damage done.
“Get away from my daughter.” He snatched Rebecca into his arms, and adrenaline surged through his body. He looked at the young assistant. “Go get the principal.”
Jackson watched the girl take off running toward the school. “It’s okay. Daddy’s here.” He ran his hand through Rebecca’s curls. Her body trembled.
Rebecca wiped away a tear and pointed toward Taylor. “That lady says she’s my mommy.” She sniffled. “She said I have to go live with her.”
He lurched toward Taylor. “Leave! Now!”
Rebecca jumped and covered her eyes.
Melanie stepped toward Jackson and held out her arms. “Here, let me take her.”
Without hesitation, Re
becca settled into Melanie’s arms and nuzzled against her shoulder. “I want to go home, Miss Melanie.”
Taylor approached them and pointed her finger in Melanie’s face. Rebecca whimpered. “Just remember, I’m her mother. I always will be.” She turned and hurried to the black Mustang parked along the curb. From the car, she yelled to Jackson. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.” She climbed into the car and zoomed out of sight.
Melanie turned to Jackson. “What’s going on?”
He shook his head. “My worst nightmare has come true.”
* * *
That evening, after following through with his promise to take Rebecca to see Sam, she was sound asleep in the back of Jackson’s truck. Off in the distance, the call of a coyote caused Melanie to jump while she leaned against the outside of his vehicle.
“It’s okay. He’s just calling for his pack.” Jackson zipped up his jacket. After the incident at the school, the three had headed to the Whitesides’ house and had a nice visit with Sam. Rebecca hadn’t mentioned the encounter with Taylor. Jackson was thankful. He needed time to figure out how to explain all of this to her.
They stood in silence for a few moments. Both looked up at the millions of stars congregating in the dark ink sky.
“Thanks for bringing me back to my car. I’m sorry about everything that happened today.”
He shook his head. “This is like a bad dream. I can’t believe Taylor came back after all this time. It’s been four years and not a word from her. Why now?”
She shrugged. “Can I ask you something?”
Regret consumed him. He knew the question before she asked. “Sure.”
Melanie sat down on the curb and motioned for Jackson to sit beside her. “Why didn’t you tell me, or anyone, that Taylor wants custody of Rebecca?”
A pickup truck whizzed down the road. Its headlights pierced his eyes. He turned away and was face-to-face with Melanie. “You’ve got enough on your plate without dealing with my baggage.” He released a sigh.
Her hand was warm when she placed it on his. “Jackson, you, of all people, know the importance of reaching out for help. You’re fortunate enough to live in a town where people care about each other, but you’re trying to be Superman and do it all on your own.”
Second Chance Romance Page 17