The Jaxon Effect

by KC Michaels

  “Dad,” Kate addressed him as she walked into the kitchen with Jaxon behind her. “We’re going into town for some ice cream. Do you need anything?”

  “Actually sweet pea, could you grab me some rope at the hardware store? I want to fix that tire swing in the yard. There will be some kids here for the party tomorrow.”

  “Sure any particular kind?”

  “Just something heavy that will hold. If Clarence is there, tell him what you want it for and he can pick it out.”

  “Sure,” Kate said kissing him on the cheek.

  “And why don’t you grab me a pint of that Orange Pineapple while you are there.”

  “No problem,” she agreed as she made a face at Jaxon. Kate never liked the taste of orange pineapple yet her dad loved it.

  “Listen Missy, I saw that look. It’s much better than that Blueberry. Watch out Jaxon she's going to try to get you to eat that stuff. I was off ice cream for two months after she finally forced me to taste it.”

  “Pay no attention to him, Jaxon,” Kate's mom interjected. “He has never gone more than three days in his life without his ice cream fix.”

  “What do you mean woman it was 1989?”

  Jaxon chuckled. “I will take that as our cue to leave.”

  “Sorry about that,” Kate said as they walked out onto the front porch. “My parents can be a bit much, they bicker about everything.”

  “No, Kate, they’re great. I like them. They are so different from the type of parents Jason and I grew up with."

  Kate had never thought about that. Now she felt a little guilty complaining about her parents. They could have been so much worse; dead—like Jaxon's were.

  “What were they like?” Kate asked noticing Royce who had accompanied them was busy listening to something on his iPod. It was likely to give them privacy.

  “Who?”

  “Your parents.” Kate answered knowing full well he knew who she meant.

  “You weren’t kidding this town is small,” Jaxon pointed out now that they were on the main road.

  She realized he wasn't going to talk about his parents. Another time perhaps. She let it go and addressed his subject changing comment.

  “I told you it was small.”

  “I like it.”

  “You do?” For some reason that surprised her. She figured he loved the city and the fast paced environment. This was yet another side of him.

  “Yeah I do. It must have been an adjustment for you, moving to Manhattan.”

  “It was. I almost came back home. I despised the city; everything was so busy and fast paced. It took me a while to get used to it. And I missed my parents.”

  “And the Blueberry ice cream,” he added.

  “Especially the ice cream,” she chuckled.

  “Do you ever think about moving back?”

  “Maybe someday. If I ever get married and have kids. Lively would be a great place to raise a family.” She paused. “What about you? Have you ever lived in a small town?”

  “No I was born and raised in Manhattan.” His thoughts drifted away until Kate brought him back to reality.

  “Hey here's the ice cream shop.”

  He looked up at the sign reciting, “The Double Scoop” before following Kate inside.

  The interior was painted in pastels; yellow, blue, pink and green. It was fun. Royce had decided to wait outside and Kate had promised to get him a double chocolate cone.

  “Kate Sims, I haven’t seen you in years.”

  “Hi Mrs. Williams,” Kate grinned happily at her. “How are you?”

  “Same old, same old. How’s the big city treating you?”

  “The city is great, but it's nice to come home. This is…” She seemed unsure what to call him – her boyfriend her lover, partner, friend? “This is Jaxon Remington,” she finally said. “We came down for dad's retirement party tomorrow.”

  “Very nice to meet you, Jaxon. You are one fine looking man. You need to keep an eye on this one Kate. Kate’s face tightened as unwanted thoughts threatened to come to the forefront.

  “Now what would you like? Wait, don’t tell me. You want a large Blueberry with two spoons and a pint of Orange Pineapple to take home for your dad.”

  “How did you know that?” Kate was surprised that Mrs. Williams guessed right.

  “Well you never order anything but the Blueberry and your dad called to make sure you didn't forget his order.”

  Kate laughed. “Yes thanks.”

  Kate waited with bated breath as Jaxon brought the spoon to his mouth. She really hoped he would like it.

  Just before it touched his lips he stopped.

  “What?” she asked, anxiously, throwing her hands in the air.

  “I can't eat with you staring at me like that.”

  “Okay, I won’t look. Just taste it.” She covered her eyes and when she opened them again he had his eyes closed and he was smiling to himself.

  “So,” she said, “it’s good, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t know yet,” he said. “I think I need to try it again.”

  “Ha ha, very funny. You love it, don’t you?”

  “Okay yes, but don’t tell your dad. Somehow I feel he would think differently of me if he knew I liked it. Blueberry is not as macho a flavour as Orange Pineapple.”

  Kate laughed at his sarcasm. She was really enjoying this time with him. She leaned in and kissed him. She tasted the Blueberry on his lips and on his tongue. “Mmm yes, just as good as I remembered.”

  “I have to go to the men’s room. Don’t eat all that while I’m gone,” he said.

  “Then you better hurry.” She chuckled playfully.

  He disappeared through the door of the men’s room. She was blissfully happy eating her favourite ice cream when all of her senses went on high alert. She heard a familiar voice at the counter—Eldon. God! Of all people, Eldon, she cursed to herself. She wanted to slide under the table.

  “Kate is that you?” Eldon was standing in front of her with an ice cream cone in his hand.

  “Yes Eldon it's me. Were you confusing me with my sister again?" Kate really didn’t care about him at all anymore. She still thought he was scum of the earth.

  “I guess I deserved that. But it’s been a long time. Look I’m really sorry that things didn’t work out.”

  “I'm not,” Kate said. “In fact, I should thank you. You did me a favour.”

  Kate was pleased to see that his smile disappeared, but it didn’t stop him and he continued on.

  “Listen Kate, why don’t you and I grab a bite. You know, catch up.”

  “Why the hell would I want to do that with you?”

  “Kate, I can tell you are still hurt and I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you.”

  Kate couldn't believe her ears. Had he no idea how much what he did to her changed her life?

  “Come on Kate,” he said, sliding in next to her. “Let bygones be bygones. I know we can be good together.”

  Kate spotted Royce come through the door. He was likely making sure the Eldon wasn’t bothering her. As much as she would love to see Eldon get smacked around a bit for what he did to her, she waved him off; Mrs. Williams didn’t need a brawl in her shop. Royce complied and retreated back toward the door where he could still keep an eye on them.

  “Have you lost your mind, Eldon? You lost your chance when you slept with my sister.”

  “Come on Kate, I was young. I had needs and you wouldn’t give it up. I didn’t care about your sister. I loved you, Kate.”

  “Yeah right, Eldon,” she snapped. “The only person you loved was you.”

  “Come on Kate for old time sake. I have an apartment upstairs and we could…”

  Kate wasn't sure what had gotten into her but, before she knew it, she had slapped Eldon across the face.

  “How dare you think I would sleep with you after everything you did to me!”

  “You were always such a tease,” he ground out as his hand rubbed the spot whe
re she hit him. Kate could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath. Not only was he an asshole but he was a drunk. “I never would have slept with her if you hadn't continuously turned me down.”

  “Eldon, I suggest you get out of here right now and never speak to me again.”

  “Kate we are two consenting adults and a lot of time has passed. We are no longer the same people we once were. Why don't we just see if there is anything left between us?” He grabbed her hands and held them in his. Kate’s automatic reaction was to pull away but Eldon was holding on too tight.

  “Eldon! Let me go!” Kate demanded but he ignored her.

  “Let’s just go up to my place, kitten, and we will talk about this some more.”

  “The only thing I want to say to you is that if you don’t let go of me you will be sorry.”

  Eldon laughed. “Are you saying you are going to slap me again because, honestly baby, I found that kind of hot.”

  Kate’s instincts kicked into high gear and she head butted him in the nose, using her scull to make it less painful for her and more painful for him. The force of the blow sent Eldon flying backwards off the bench. He lay on the floor with his hands to his nose.

  “Jesus Christ! You fucking bitch!” he yelled. His entire face was covered in blood. “I think you broke my fucking nose."

  Kate was speechless. She had never done anything like that in her entire life. She had taken a self-defence course as part of her ER training, but this was the first time she ever had to use it. Eldon staggered to the bathroom.

  Jaxon was just hanging up the phone, after doing a quick check in with Jason, when a bloodied Eldon pushed his way through the bathroom door.

  “Hey buddy, what happened to you?” Jaxon never expected a brawl in an ice cream shop in Lively.

  “A little two bit whore out there just head butt my nose. She better hope it’s not broken or I’ll break her fucking neck,” Eldon snarled as he reached for paper towels to control the bleeding.

  “Jesus,” Jaxon retorted, feeling a bit sorry for the guy. What did you do to her to make her that angry?”

  “She still blames me for something I did years ago. The bitch needs to let it go. To think I could have been married to that witch.”

  Jaxon saw red. This guy was the piece of shit that took so much from Kate all those years ago. Something had to have happened out there. He knew enough about Kate to know she would never break a man’s nose unless she felt threatened.

  “You must have done something to piss her off,” Jaxon accused, his voice lethal. It took all he had not to kill the guy.

  “She’s just a tease,” he said. “I could tell she wanted me so I invited her up to my place. It might take some convincing, but I’ll get me a piece of that ass one way or another.”

  He threw a wad of paper towel into the garbage and he got himself a fresh piece and then tried to leave.

  Jaxon extended his arm in front of Eldon, holding the door closed so he couldn’t go anywhere.

  “What are you doing man?” He had a fearful look that suggested he finally noticed Jaxon’s lethal expression.

  With all the fight he had in him, Jaxon kept his temper somewhat in check. He could tear Eldon apart right now but he wasn’t going to do that. He would deal with Eldon privately, later.

  “I suggest you stay as far away from Kate as you possibly can. I will kill you with my bare hands if you don’t. Got it?”

  Eldon was taken aback by Jaxon’s warning. He opened his mouth to speak and then shut it again, choosing not to say anything further.

  Jaxon hauled off and punched Eldon in the jaw and watched him fall into a crumpled heap on the floor. He strolled out of the bathroom as if nothing had just happened. He could see, through the heavy glass door that Kate was now waiting for him on the sidewalk, chatting with Royce who was inhaling a double chocolate cone. Eldon finally came out of the bathroom still holding a wad of a paper towel over his nose. He slipped past Jaxon not even making eye contact.

  “Hey Jaxon.”

  Jaxon looked over to the direction of the counter. Mrs. Williamson was standing there holding a tub of ice cream in her hand. It’s Blueberry. I think yours melted.”

  Jaxon reached into his pocket to grab money to pay for the ice cream.

  “No sugar, it’s on the house. You take good care of our Kate, you hear.” She glanced at Eldon as she said it. Obviously she knew something went down in the bathroom.

  “I will,” he said, looking back at Kate through the door.

  “By the way, Bill wanted me to remind you two not to forget his rope.”

  “Right. Ah thanks.”

  The hardware store was only five doors down. Jaxon decided not to ask Kate about Eldon or mention his run in with him either. He didn’t want to give her the opportunity to forbid him from getting even with the guy for what he did to her. As they entered the hardware store Jaxon noticed the place was jammed packed to the rafters with items from A to Z. It was typical of a small town. They carried anything they could fit in the store. “I’ll go look for Clarence,” she said. “See if he can help us.”

  “I’m sure we can find rope on our own baby.”

  “I doubt it,” she replied. “It would be better if we found Clarence.”

  Jaxon stopped another customer passing by. “Excuse me; do you know where I can find rope?”

  “No but you could ask Clarence. He's around here somewhere.”

  “I told you,” Kate said.

  “I am sure once we find the rope I can figure out which one we need.”

  “Okay,” Kate said, doubtfully.

  “How hard can it be to find rope? The place isn’t that big, it’s a quarter the size of Home Depot.”

  “Yes but unlike Home Depot things aren’t quite in the same order.”

  “What do you mean not in the same order?”

  “Well Clarence just puts things were he can remember where they are not necessarily where they belong.”

  “Like not grouped together?”

  “No, well yes, but grouped in Clarence's mind.”

  “Of course,” he said

  After being directed to aisle four by Clarence, who looked like he was about a hundred years old, they found the rope. It was with the tires. Some of it was tied off and packaged in certain lengths and others were still on spools waiting to be custom cut.

  Jaxon was fingering a soft white rope. For some reason Kate was taken by his expression. He was lost in some type of thought that made Kate rather curious. She had wandered to the end of the aisle to look for the type Clarence said they would need. She turned to call out to Jaxon that she had found the rope when a bleach blonde with a short skirt and six inch spikes approached him. She couldn’t hear what they were saying.

  “Jaxon you are here! I didn’t see your name on the list so I didn’t think you were coming, especially after what happened the other week.”

  “Candy? What are you doing here?”

  “I assume the same as you big guy. Will I see you later? I will text you my room number.”

  “No you won’t see me and texting isn’t necessary either,” he said as Kate approached. He wasn’t sure what Kate might have heard he really hoped nothing.

  “This is Kate,” he said to Candy. “We are here for her father’s retirement party.”

  “Oh, okay,” Candy replied looking disappointed. “Maybe next time she said with a pout as she sauntered away.

  “Who was that lady you were talking to?”

  “An old acquaintance.” Kate followed Jaxon to the cashier.

  A few minutes of silence passed between them. Jaxon could tell Kate wasn't going to let the subject of Candy drop.

  “So how do you know her exactly?”

  “I don't remember.”

  “Did you sleep with her?”

  “Kate I never claimed to be a virgin nor an angel. If it's okay with you I prefer not to talk about women I have been with sexually.”

  “So you have slept with
her.”

  He sighed. “Okay fine I see you aren't going to let this go. I have never slept with her. You're the only woman I have ever slept with in the literal sense. Now if you want to know if I had sex with her the answer is yes. Are you satisfied?”

  “So when did it end?”

  “When did what end?”

  “Your relationship with her. When did it end?"

  “Kate there was no relationship. I told you before that I don't do relationships. We had an arrangement.”

  “I forgot that’s what you prefer to call it... an arrangement?” She drew out the word.

  “No Kate. This is not the same thing.”

  “Of course it isn’t,” she said with sarcasm and a smile that never did reach her eyes.”

  He let it drop because he really didn’t want to explain the difference between his arrangement with her and the one he had with Candy.

  ***

  CHAPTER 22

  Jaxon never really had a chance to clear the air with Kate in regards to their conversation at the hardware store. He wasn’t going to tell her everything but he wanted to assure her that their relationship was much more than anything he had ever had with anyone else before. She deserved to know where she stood with him. He could tell she had no idea how important she really was to him. She had disappeared somewhere in the house and he never had a chance to go look for her because her dad got to him before he had a chance. He was sitting at the picnic table in the back yard forcing down a bowl of orange pineapple ice cream while Bill rambled on about the Yankees.

  In the kitchen, Royce was sitting at the table reading the paper when Kelsey appeared out of nowhere. “So you're the friend.”

  “You're the sister,” Royce replied, appraising Kelsey.

  “There is something strange going on with the three of you and I want to know what it is.”

  “What?” he asked, with a shrug of his right shoulder. “I have no idea what you are talking about little lady?”

  “Don't call me little lady. I wasn't born yesterday. Just because I still live in a small town and I didn't move to the city and become a doctor like my sister, doesn't mean I’m not just as intelligent as her.”