by Anthology
“I dunno,” his father grumbled. “I don’t even know whose place this is. Why did you bring me here?”
Jamie sighed. “Why don't you two have a seat at the table and I'll be right back. Lemonade okay for everyone?"
"Sounds good," I said, giving him an encouraging smile.
I walked over to the glass table and pulled out a chair, gesturing for Denny to have a seat. The slightly rusted table was covered by an umbrella, shading the area. He nodded stingily, and I took the chair directly across from him.
Denny sat in his seat and, before Jamie left to get our drinks, he leaned down and whispered in my ear from behind. "If it happens again and he thinks you're my mom, it's easiest to go along with it. Otherwise he might get agitated."
I nodded, my heart cracking a bit. I wondered how many times Jamie's dad had mistaken him for someone he wasn't and Jamie had been forced to play along.
I heard the sliding door close behind me. I wasn't exactly sure what to say, so I tried to make polite conversation. "You have a lovely yard here." A large magnolia tree stood proud in the corner of the yard, while a flower bed full of colorful variations of blooms followed along the fence line.
Denny's gaze sprung up to me. "Well, you should know, Betty. You're the one that done all the work."
I gulped, the casing around my heart fracturing a little more. "That's true, I suppose. So what do you think of the weather we've been having? We've really lucked out. Not much rain this summer."
To my surprise, his dad launched into an explanation of the clouds in the sky that day and why the weather patterns had led to such a nice summer. Before he had finished, Jamie returned and set a glass in front of each of us, taking the seat beside me.
"How's everything going?” he asked me warily.
"Great." I hoped my smile was reassuring.
Jamie nodded, though his lips were pressed together. "What have you been up to all day, Dad?"
"What am I a child?” he asked, irritated. “You think you have to check up on me and know what I'm doing every minute of the day? You remember who the father is here."
I kept my face smooth. I knew abrupt mood swings could occur in people with Alzheimer’s, though it was more common in people with dementia. I wondered if it was possible that was what was going on. His demeanor earlier had been so sweet and instinct told me that had been the real Denny.
"Just making conversation, Dad," Jamie replied sadly.
Denny swung his head in my direction. "Can you believe this, Betty? Who does this boy think he is?"
"Now, Denny, just relax," I said in a soothing voice. "Your dad was just telling me all about cumulous clouds," I told Jamie.
"That's right," Denny jumped in before Jamie had a chance to respond. "I was explaining why we've been having such great weather this summer." He launched into the explanation again, and I was happy to listen to it all a second time. A deep satisfaction hit me, too, at the look of pleasure on Jamie's face while his dad spoke.
When he was finished, he was quiet and sunk back into his chair. I reached for my cup and took a drink, drawing Denny's attention back to me.
"Well, are you going to introduce me to your friend or not?" Denny asked Jamie.
Jamie appeared startled for a second, but quickly composed himself. "Dad, this is Jackie. Jackie, this is my dad, Denny."
This time I leaned forward over the table to shake his hand. "Pleasure to meet you."
He took my hand in his. "The pleasure is all mine." Raising his eyebrows at Jamie, he said, "You better not screw this one up, son. She's a real beaut."
We both laughed, and Jamie actually seemed to relax a little, much to my delight.
"He's never brought anyone over to meet me, you know. I'd say that bodes well for you."
I laughed again, amused by his candor. "Well," I leaned forward over the table and lowered my voice as if we were sharing a secret of our own, "I'll be sure not to do something to screw it up then." I winked.
Denny leaned back in his chair, laughing heartily. When I glanced over at Jamie, he was looking between the two of us, in awe.
"So what do you do for a living, Jackie?" Denny asked me. I went on to explain my job. "That where you and Jamie met then?" He picked up his lemonade and drank a sip.
"Not exactly," I said, a rueful smile on my face.
Jamie smirked. "I came across Jackie with a flat on the side of the road one day when I was on duty," Jamie said.
"And he was a complete pompous ass," I added.
Denny laughed and leaned forward, squeezing the hand I had resting on the table. "I like you, sweetheart. You seem like you can put this boy in his place." He nodded over to Jamie.
"I don't need anyone to put me in my place, Dad." Jamie grinned and shook his head.
"Oh hogwash.” His dad waved a wrinkled, bony hand. “It would be good for you."
I giggled and turned to Jamie in time to see him roll his eyes. "Whatever you say."
We stayed a while longer until Jamie rose from the table, announcing that we had to be on our way.
His dad stood to see us off. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Jackie. I do hope I'll see you again soon."
"Thanks. Same to you, Mr. McTavish."
"It's Denny, remember?" He took my hand and patted it, a warm smile on his face.
"Right. I'm sorry."
Jamie took his dad in a fierce embrace, smacking his back until they pulled away from each other. "I'll stop by after my shift tomorrow."
"Okay. See you then." He patted Jamie's cheek. The tender gesture left me with a brief melancholy feeling, wishing that my own father were still around to do the same to me.
"Ready?" Jamie asked me.
I swallowed, pushing down the ache that accompanied the memory of my dad. "Ready."
We headed back through the house and out to the truck.
"Your dad sure seemed to know a lot about the weather."
Jamie stuck the keys in the ignition and started the truck, turning the air conditioner to high. "He used to be a weatherman. Studied meteorology at school."
"That's so cool. I've never met an actual weatherman before."
Jamie smiled, though it looked a little sad. He grew quiet after that, seeming to contemplate something. "I'm glad my dad had a lucid moment there and was able to meet you." He leaned across, placing one hand on my cheek and kissed my lips. He held his lips there for a moment, and the weight of the emotion behind the kiss was not lost on me.
"I'm happy I was able to meet him," I said with sincerity.
"I’m glad to know that even when he does go into his own world, and if he never comes out of it, that somewhere in there is a memory of you. Even if he can't recognize it."
The air pushed out of my lungs. This man was such a surprise. I’d learned that, even though Jamie was demanding and an entirely different creature in the bedroom, outside of it he was a gentle soul who felt deeply.
For me.
That was the part that amazed me the most.
Chapter Sixteen
Jamie
I carried the small cooler I’d packed along with my bag as Jackie and I made our way over the warm sand to find a spot not already taken by the substantial crowd. Apparently, the blue skies and sunshine had given a bunch of people the same idea as us.
“How about here?” Jackie turned to me, the ocean breeze blowing her hair in front of her face.
“Looks as good as any.” I set everything down on the sand, watching Jackie pull a colorful beach towel from her bag and spread it out.
I’d known instantly upon meeting her that there was something special about her, but I never would’ve guessed, based on our first meeting, what a phenomenal woman she would end up being. The way she had interacted with my dad today—with compassion and patience as he’d rambled on or thought that she was my mother—had only endeared me to her further. I knew from her profession that she took her civic duty of helping others as seriously as I did, but what today had made clear to m
e was that it was just a part of her that wanted to help those in need.
“Jamie.” She cocked her head at me. “Everything okay?”
I didn’t realize I’d been staring out at the ocean, lost to my memories. “Yeah, everything’s great.” I stepped over to her, gripping the back of her neck and bringing her in for a fierce kiss, bystanders be damned. By the time we’d pulled away from each other, Jackie’s eyes were hooded and full of need.
“Save that thought for later,” I said and chucked her chin.
She laughed. “You shouldn’t start something you can’t finish.”
I bent to grab my towel from my bag. “Ha. Don’t tempt me. You remember what happened the last time I saw you in a bikini? There were people floating around then too, and it didn’t stop me.” I gave her a wicked grin, and she laughed as she tugged her tank top off, tossing it into her bag, her shorts following right behind.
She was wearing a different bikini than the one she’d worn at Don’s retirement party, though she looked just as good. This one was primarily white with black trim and a bright Aztec pattern. Her tone, tanned body was on display and, as I glanced around, I realized I wasn’t the only one appreciating her beauty. That was okay. I wasn’t some prick that couldn’t stand other men checking out his woman…though I wasn’t even sure I could call her that yet. Sure, we’d slept together a couple times, but that seemed to be Jackie’s MO. I hadn’t broached the subject of exactly what was happening between us because I feared forcing Jackie to put a label on it might end it.
Jackie lay down on her stomach, and I took the spot beside her on my own towel, laying on my back and propping myself up on my elbows. “This is a nice beach.”
Sand Beach, as it was called, was an inlet of sorts surrounded by large chunks of rock cropping up and forming a hill where a lush forest grew on top. The two points of land stretched out farther into the ocean than the inlet beach, giving it a private feel, even though the sandy shoreline was peppered with people.
She lifted up and set her hands on her chin. “Is this your first time here?”
“Yeah, I came into Acadia once on my own for a hike, but I didn’t see this part.”
“I hope you brought your bear spray,” Jackie laughed.
I raised an eyebrow. “I was smart enough to talk to one of the Rangers to see what essentials I needed to bring.” I tapped the side of my head and grinned. “Not as dumb as I look.”
A sexy smile broke out on Jackie’s face. “Oh, I wouldn’t say you look dumb.”
I leaned toward her a bit. “What would you say?”
She laughed again and shook her head. “Oh no. You are not sucking me into saying something that’ll feed your ego.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Jackie always seemed to be of the opinion that my ego was out of control.
We both lay there for a while, soaking in the sunshine. Yes, the sun was bad for you. But when you lived in a state that only got summer three months of the year, you were going to enjoy the heat to the fullest while you could.
“Did you want something to eat or drink? I packed some fruit and water,” I said when the heat began getting to me.
Jackie pulled her head up off the towel and squinted at me. “Water would be great, thanks.”
I nodded and sat up, reaching for the cooler and pulling a pair of water bottles out, handing one to Jackie. She stretched her neck up so she could drink it while still laying on her front. She looked so sexy lying there, I had to fight the urge to lean in and run my tongue along a path straight to her earlobe.
When we’d both had our fill—of water—I returned the bottles to the cooler to keep them cold.
“Do you think you could rub some lotion on my back?” She pushed her sunglasses up onto her head for a second, revealing her bright green eyes. “I put some on before I left the house, but it’s starting to get really hot.”
“I’d rather rub it on your front,” I said, wagging my eyebrows.
Jackie rolled her eyes, looking exasperated with my one track mind, and reached into her bag for the suntan lotion. I took it from her and half crawled over her back so that I was straddling her just below her ass. Squirting some of the lotion into my hand, I closed the lid again and dropped it on my towel. I rubbed my hands together for a second and then wasted no time rubbing the liquid into the soft skin on her back. I tried really hard to think of something other than ripping Jackie’s bikini off of her.
Then Jackie said, “It must be really hard for your dad when he comes out of an episode.”
Well, that would do it.
“Does he realize afterward what happened?”
I heaved a sigh. “Not usually, but sometimes, if he realizes he’s missing time, then he assumes that’s what happened.”
“That’s tough. On him and you.”
I know she’d lost her father as a child and that brought its fair share of pain to her life, but it was a particular kind of agony having to watch a parent suffer and unravel before your eyes. “Yeah. I think I’m going to have to have the nurse come by more often to keep an eye on him.” Shifting myself farther down so I could rub the lotion on the back of her legs, I tried to concentrate on that, not wanting to delve too deeply into the subject matter. We were here to enjoy ourselves. “I can’t be there as much as I’d like, and I need to know if his episodes are becoming more frequent.” I dragged my hand down Jackie’s firm leg, making sure she was thoroughly protected from the sun.
“You must really love your dad. A lot of people would’ve stuck him in a home as soon as they got the diagnosis.”
She was right about that, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. He’d supported me my entire life and it was time for me to do the same for him. “He was a wonderful father. I was lucky. Not everyone gets that. It was worth giving up everything I had in Boston to be here to help him.” I eased up off of Jackie’s towel and went back to lay on my own, choosing to lay on my stomach this time.
Jackie and I had both turned our heads so we were looking at each other. “What or who did you have to give up?” she asked softly, a slight hesitation in her voice.
“No ‘who’,” I assured her. “But I was aiming for S.W.A.T., and I was close to getting it.” I almost winced at the memory of exactly how close I’d been. “I had to leave that dream behind to move here.”
Every muscle in Jackie’s body seemed to tense at my words. “Your dream is to be on the S.W.A.T. team?” Her eyes were big now, anxiously awaiting my response.
“It was. Like I said, I had to leave it behind in Boston.”
She looked unconvinced. “People don’t just give up on their dreams that easily.”
I pressed my lips into a thin line. “I suppose not…maybe someday it’ll happen for me, but for now my dad has to be my priority.”
Jackie bit her lip, looking thoughtful for a moment.
“Hey, what is it?” I asked, concerned I’d said something wrong.
She smiled up at me, the cloud in her eyes clearing. “It’s nothing.” Rolling over onto her back, she sat up. “Want to go take a dip in the water?”
“Think it’ll be warm?” I asked, rolling onto my back and sitting up, too.
Jackie shrugged. “Warm enough.”
I stood up and stretched a hand down to help her up. She took it and adjusted her bikini once she was standing.
“Alright. I don’t want any shrink dink happening. I’ve got a woman to impress, you know.” I wagged my eyebrows, grinning wide.
She laughed. “Well, you should know she’s more than impressed with your dink. No worries there.” She winked.
I puffed my chest out in mock pride. “Happy to hear it.”
“Geez, you’re making me wish the water was freezing. You could do with a cold bucket of water over your head.”
I laughed and draped my arm across her shoulders as we began the trek over the sand to the water’s edge.
There were things to miss about Boston, to be sure, but it had never felt as
much like home as these past few weeks with Jackie had.
Chapter Seventeen
Jackie
I banged on Chloe’s door later that night, restless and tired of pacing around my own house. Her kid sister, Jess, ended up answering.
“Hey, Jess. Is your sister in?”
She smiled big. “Yep. She’s in the kitchen, cleaning up after dinner. I’m headed out to meet some friends for a bit, so I’ll see you later.” She sailed past me, giving me a small wave and bounding off the porch.
“Chlo!” I called as I walked in and closed the door behind me.
“In the kitchen,” she called.
I entered her country kitchen to find her drying dishes beside the sink, so I plopped myself in a chair at the breakfast table. “Hey, babe. You might want to consider putting a chastity belt on Jess. She’s turning into quite the looker.”
Chloe’s shoulders slumped, and she turned to face me. “Don’t I know it. I can’t believe she’s going to be done with high school in a couple years. It’s gone so fast.”
I gave her contemplative nod, thinking of my father who I’d lost years before Chloe’s mother had been killed. “Time marches on.”
“That it does,” she said, setting the dish towel on the counter. “I was about to make a tea. Would you like one?”
I twirled a piece of hair around my finger. “Do you have anything stronger?”
“Uh-oh. That can’t be good.” She came to sit across from me at the table. “What’s going on?”
I hunched down in the chair and crossed my arms over my chest. “Jamie’s going on, that’s what.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand. Last I heard from you, you guys were seeing each other and doing the horizontal mambo. What happened?”
I huffed. “He wants to be S.W.A.T., Chlo. It’s his dream. He had to leave it behind when he moved here to help his dad.”
Chloe leaned forward and looked at me like she was waiting for more.
“S.W.A.T.!” How did she not get how awful this was? “Those are the guys they send in when things really go to shit.”