by Gina Watson
Cory’s brow hitched. “What’s Parker doing here anyway?” He sighed. “I didn’t know they were friends.”
Clara giggled. Cory’s intensity could always be counted on for a laugh. “You’re utterly ridiculous. Brook only has eyes for you.” She knew Parker was still pining after Brook, but it was useless. The woman was over the moon for Cory.
The corner of Cory’s mouth curled. “I know, but I still get jealous.”
“Please.” Clara rolled her eyes. “She’s about to give birth to your child.”
Cory smiled widely. “Yes, she is.”
“Parker and Jackson do some fantasy football league together.” Jackson didn’t have much time for that kind of thing anymore, but occasionally they’d go to Logan’s pub and, while the guys played the game, she’d hang out in the kitchen with Brook. Clara knew Parker from Moretti’s. His family had a huge seafood business that supplied orders all over the south. Moretti’s bought all of their shrimp and fish from Larue Seafood. Parker was a great guy, but the poor man had been in love with Brook since she first set foot on Louisiana soil. Brook had only wanted to be friends.
Clay and their parents came back into the room. That’s when she felt a squeeze from the hand wrapped in hers.
“Jackson.”
“Bug?”
“I’m here Cracker Jack.”
His eyes opened, unfocused at first, but slowly taking her into his gaze. He smiled and then his brow crinkled and he groaned.
“What is it? Do you want the nurse?”
“No, I just need you.” He struggled, but finally swallowed. “Bug, I love you.” His hand reached to her hair and stroked there.
“I love you Jackson.”
She leaned in and placed a kiss on his lips, lingering there for several seconds. Behind her vigorous throat clearing occurred. It was from Clay’s large thorax. She’d be able to decipher that sound at a sold out hard rock concert.
She turned. Mom, Dad, Logan, Cory, even Clay, regarded her curiously. For the moment she’d completely forgotten anyone else existed.
Her dad stepped forward. “Is there something you want to tell us?”
Her eyes cut back to Jackson. His face contorted into a deep frown.
“We … we’re together.” Clara said.
Silence pervaded as she scanned from her dad to her mom to Clay. Cory and Logan had slipped out.
Dad spoke, “You’re only eighteen, and Jackson, you’re almost thirty. It’s a little Don Johnson of you.” Jackson groaned.
“He’s twelve years older than Eve.” Clara pointed to Clay.
“Yes, but Eve’s not eighteen.” Dad countered.
Her mother sighed. “I don’t think you two give Clara enough credit. She was born older. I trust her.”
“Would you say that if I told you that their intimate relationship began two years ago?” Clay’s brow hitched.
Clara’s lips tightened. Her parents gasped.
A warning beep resounded from Jackson’s bed. A nurse entered, waving her hands in the air. “Everybody out now. And from now on it’s two at a time. You all are lucky I don’t ban you from visiting.”
Clara didn’t move, just stood quietly and watched as the nurse pressed several buttons.
“Is he okay?”
“Blood pressure is up. We can attribute that to the conversation, but he needs to recover if he’s going to get better.”
Clara nodded. Jackson was oblivious, fast asleep.
Chapter 16
Jackson seemed to be underwater as he heard the muffled voices reverberate around the room. He could make out a word here and there. He must surely be dreaming because it sounded like somebody whispered Cracker Jack into his ear. But no, he was definitely hearing Clara now. She just said, “I’m here, Jackson. Everybody’s here. Your family’s come to take care of you.” On second thought, he must be dreaming because he had no family. He desperately wanted to open his eyes, but as much as he willed them to open they wouldn’t. His mouth wouldn’t work either, or he would have said, “Don’t leave me.”
His brain wasn’t making connections. It sounded like people were arguing all around him, but he still couldn’t get his eyes to open. And he heard Bug again, but surely the morphine was playing tricks on his mind. “Bug?”
“I’m here Cracker Jack. I love you.”
He said her name again. And she answered once more. How long could he keep this up? He didn’t know, but he’d do it for an eternity just to hear her sweet voice in his ear.
A giggle, her giggle. The playful one. And he felt something warm in his hand. Another hand maybe. Her hand.
He squeezed with all the strength he could muster.
“Bug?”
“I’m here, Cracker Jack.”
He felt his eyes roll around in their sockets and slowly open. Blurred images were all around him in varying shades of light and dark.
“What is it? Do you want the nurse?”
“No, I just need you.” He struggled, but finally swallowed. “Bug, I love you.” His hand reached to her hair and stroked there.
“I love you, Jackson.”
Warm honeyed lips pressed to his and finally he was able to open his eyes. She was more breathtaking than ever—like finding an angel in the ninth circle of hell. He heard her father’s voice. He was asking about them. Clay was there too, and Mrs. St. Martin. They were questioning her about the extent of her relationship with Jackson. He wanted to help her answer, but the words wouldn’t come.
She’d told them they were together. Her mother and father didn’t seem so upset about her admission. That was promising.
Clay’s booming voice wasn’t as accommodating. In fact, he’d just ratted them out. Jackson thought he heard gasps.
I’m sorry, Bug. I should have been the one to tell your family. He could no longer focus on the conversation as dreams overtook his consciousness.
Mrs. St. Martin was upset. She usually smiled as they talked about books and movies. Today she was different. Grave and serious. She patted the seat of the chair next to her.
“Come sit by me.”
He dropped his backpack on the floor and sat, precariously perched on the edge. He didn’t want to sit back all the way in the chair. He sensed something bad and thought he may need to flee at any moment.
She told him Dad’s plane had crashed.
And then she’d offered him a second chance.
“Don’t you worry, Jackson. You’re going to come home with me. You’ll be my son now. You will always have family.”
His eyes fluttered open. He scanned the room and then his gaze settled on the window ledge stuffed to overflowing with cards, plush animals, and flowers.
Sitting in a corner chair Clay read the newspaper. Jackson searched the room, but it seemed to be just Clay in the room with him. He pressed the button on the bed to raise the head. Clay immediately folded the paper and stood. He hovered over Jackson, his gaze piercing.
“I’m sorry about your accident. Please let me know what I can do to help. Time off from the station, money, what do you need?”
He was sincere and it made Jackson’s throat burn all the more. “Thanks.” His voice was raspy. “I plan to start back at the station as soon as possible. Probably next week.”
Clay scoffed. “Jackson, if you show up at the station next week I won’t let you work.”
“I’ll bring a work release.”
“You need to take some time and think about what it is you really want to do. Don’t you think?”
Jackson didn’t miss his intent look that said he meant something more.
“What?”
“You’ve got your graduation coming up. It’s time to look for a job. Logan has some hospital connections. We could help you apply at various institutions around the state.”
“As in away from Baton Rouge.”
“I just think it would do everybody some good.”
Clay’s hands squeezed the railing as he leaned in. “She’s my baby
sister. I’ll never give up fighting for what I believe is in her best interest. As long as she’s with you I’ll fight it, the entire family will fight it.”
Jackson swallowed back the heavy lump in his throat. He needed her, but he couldn’t have her. That’s all he knew.
“You’re going to have to force it. I can’t get her to leave the hospital. She’s napping right now in your office.”
Immediately Jackson recalled their last romp in that space. His heart broke all over again for the loss that was imminent.
“I’ll end it.”
“She said you broke up with her.”
“I did.”
“Breakup better this time. I’ll send her in.”
Chapter 17
Clara stretched, rolled over, and inhaled deeply, taking Jackson’s scent deep into her lungs. She sat up and grabbed her sandals. It was early morning and she was in a hurry to get back to Jackson. She placed her feet in them without clasping the buckles. As she walked toward the door a prescription pad caught her eye. She ran her finger across the name at the top, Dr. Jackson Reid Olivier.
She grabbed a pen and wrote:
I love you and I know you love me too.
My brother is wrong. It’s always been us.
You and me. Together. Forever. Against the world.
She held the pad to her heart before placing it back on the desk. “Come back to me, Cracker Jack.” She whispered.
A light knock at the door had her moving. Clay stood on the other side.
“Jackson’s awake.”
“I’m coming.” She grabbed her sweater and closed the door behind her. They rode the elevator to the third floor in silence. She followed him, but at the door he stood aside and gestured for her to go in. She turned back to Clay to catch him closing the door, leaving her alone with Jackson.
Approaching the bed cautiously, she cleared her throat. “Jackson.”
Dark blue irises pierced her heart. “Clara.”
“How do you feel?”
“Better.”
“You look better.”
His gaze never broke from hers. The intensity was too much for her to process and she didn’t want to think about what his behavior could mean. Anxious, she picked at her fingernails.
“Clara, I want you to go home.” His voice cracked under the strain of his injuries.
Her skin slowly burned at his words. She couldn’t do this again. Be dismissed like they were nothing, like they had been nothing more than mere acquaintances.
“I want to help. You’ll need someone here to help you recover.”
“No, Clara, the staff here will see to that. I’m being transferred to rehab this afternoon. I won’t have time to worry about you.” He choked out the words, the last sentence said on the breath of a tortured whisper. His wincing eyes lied as his gaze penetrated her.
Clara turned her face away from his because she didn’t want him to see her eyes filled with tears. There was nothing left for her to say so she gathered her paperback and trash from her snack earlier and quietly exited the room. She didn’t look back. Just focused on walking forward. Clay and Eve were there to escort her out of the hospital.
At Clay’s house she showered and donned her best sundress, fixed her hair, and applied a little makeup. Looking at her appearance in the mirror her spirits lifted a little. She’d always loved the feminine white dress with delicate pastel-pink flowers. However, she could definitely see her panty line and swapped her current underwear for a sheer thong. She decided to focus on work since it was something she enjoyed. Mr. Moretti was more than happy to allow her to work long hours to make up for her time off.
By the afternoon she’d completed a double batch of mozzarella. As she rolled the curds through her hands the bell sounded, announcing the arrival of a delivery at the back door. Wiping her hands on her apron, she walked toward the back to accept the delivery.
“Oh, hey Parker.”
“Hey yourself.”
“I’ve got fifty-pounds of shrimp for you. Here’s the invoice.” The yellow receipt crinkled at her touch and because she was such a mess she started to cry.
“Thanks, Parker. Let me get you a check.” She sobbed.
His hand at her shoulder guided her to a stool in the kitchen. “Clara, forget it. I can get the check next time.”
She nodded.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“I just … I just want to … I don’t know.” She howled.
“Wait here. Don’t get up, okay? I’ll be right back.”
He passed her a few napkins for her nose. “Thank you.”
“I’ll be right back, sit tight.” He called over his shoulder.
He returned several minutes later with two cappuccinos and a tartufo ice cream ball. He took the stool next to her at the stainless steel prep station. “All right, now we’ve got what we need to get through this.”
“What?”
“Chocolate and caffeine.”
He was such a nice guy. She couldn’t believe Cory didn’t like him. She sipped the rich and smoky coffee. The contrast of the cool chocolate with the hot liquid satisfied her senses and actually made her happy.
She relaxed as they sampled the ice cream together in silence. She noticed that Parker was extremely muscular. Maybe it was due to laying and hauling shrimp nets all day. Whatever the reason, she’d be blind not to notice his chiseled jaw and gray smoky eyes. Extremely handsome in every way, he didn’t seem to use it to his advantage. As far as she knew he hadn’t really dated anyone.
“I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that your crying has something to do with Jackson.”
She moaned around a spoonful of crunchy chocolate shell and cold melting cream. “You’d be correct.”
He crunched on a hazelnut from the center of the ice cream ball. “It’s a hell of a thing, isn’t it?”
“What’s that?”
“Trying to figure out love without losing your mind.”
“You speak like you know a little bit about it.”
He chuckled as he wiped chocolate from his bottom lip. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Who broke your heart?” She already knew, of course.
He cocked his head at her. “I think everybody but Brook knows I was in love with her.”
“Was?”
“Yeah, well I’m not going to admit to still loving her when she carries another man’s child in her belly.”
She closed her fingers around his wrist. “Hey, you’re a super nice guy. In comparison, my brother is an ass. But I think it may help you to know that Cory loves Brook like nothing he ever has before. It’s intense. He’s changed. He would never hurt her.”
“That does help. Thanks.” The row of straight white teeth he displayed when he smiled was doing funny things to her insides. She looked away and sipped her coffee.
“What about you?”
“What about me what?”
“You and Jackson.”
“There is no me and Jackson. There was, but he broke up with me.”
Parker’s head shook vigorously. “I’ve been around him enough to know that’s not possible.”
“Well, he did. Twice.”
“He may have spoken the words from his lips, but that’s not the message in his heart.” Parker’s palm rested over his chest. “Whenever you’re around his eyes and thoughts are on you. Trust me. You know that Father’s Day golf scramble I partnered with him on?” Clara nodded. “Came in dead last. In previous years we’d placed in the top. However, this year, you were there handing out refreshments with the Junior League. Couldn’t stay away from you. Kept going back for pimento cheese sandwiches.”
Clara giggled. “Sorry. I had no idea.” She remembered that day as if it were just a few days ago. She’d made the sandwiches he kept coming back for.
“I told him we should claim you as a handicap, but he tried to play innocent. I knew better. I don’t know what’s going on with him right now, but give it time.
I think he’ll find his way through it and back to you.”
She took a deep breath. God, she hoped that was true. “Thank you, Parker.” He swallowed down the last of his coffee.
“I’m gonna unload that shrimp and then I’ve got to get moving. Got some deliveries to make, but if you want to hang out or talk just text me.”
“I definitely will text you to hang out.”
They stood together and he hugged her. She felt comforted by his presence and a little sad when he walked out the door.
She squared her shoulders and stood up straight. Time to push past her self-indulgent pity party. Or at least try a little harder.
After lunch, Mr. Moretti wasn’t too happy that he wasn’t able to balance his checkbook and he demanded that she take the check over to Parker to pay for the shrimp.
Clara turned her car onto the drive for the huge plantation that encompassed the David crawfish fields and processing plants for shrimp, oysters, and other seafood harvested from the gulf.
She parked and walked into the warehouse through the only door she saw. Inside a man hosed down the large cement slab floor. Water flowed toward the center of the slab and swirled down a drain. He stopped hosing and looked expectantly at her.
“Hi there. I’m looking for Parker David.”
He pointed ahead. “Follow this hallway down to the end. Turn right, then left. You will see his office.”
“Thanks.” She smiled and began the trek. The first hallway was brightly lit, but the deeper she went, the darker it became. Industrial light bulbs dangled above, but they were not on. At four in the afternoon she assumed they were winding down for the day since they started before sunrise. She did find his office. The door had his name printed on it and was ajar. A beam of light blasted the dark hallway. She entered, expecting to see him at his desk, but his office was empty. She grabbed a pencil and tablet and was preparing to write a note when she heard the soft groans of a woman in ecstasy. The lusty deep sounds could not be mistaken and wherever the noise was coming from was close. She pushed her back to the wall not wanting to be seen—or to see something she didn’t want to see.
However, with the light from his office she could see everything as clear as if she was watching a trashy porno flick. Parker had a woman bent over a table. Her dress was hiked up to her waist as he pumped vigorously into her. He was going at it rough and hard. With every thrust her body was pushed down forcefully onto the table. The woman moaned around his name.