Nex

by Cheryl Douglas

  Taken. I liked the sound of that. “How could I forget?”

  “Ah, that’s too bad,” one girl said while the other giggled and winked at me.

  I smirked while heading for an empty table on the opposite side of the bakery. Even if I didn’t have Jaci, those girls were too young for me. But it was nice to acknowledge that for the first time in my life, I was content. I wasn’t looking for the next greatest thing. I was happy with Jaci and the relationship we were building.

  “Here you go,” Mac said, setting a cup emblazoned with their hot pink logo in front of me.

  “Thanks.”

  “So Jaci’s something else,” Mac said, squeezing my hand. “I really like her, honey.”

  Mac’s opinion had always been important to me. If she’d told me she had a bad feeling about Jaci, it would have crushed me. “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “And she’s obviously really into you.”

  “You think so?” God, I felt like such a girl.

  “Of course she is,” Mac said, laughing. “I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”

  “It’s just…” I took a sip of my coffee, trying to find a way to express my concern without making myself sound like a total puss. “You know, she has this ex. She says it’s over. But in his mind, it’s not. She’s going to be spending all summer with him.”

  “I doubt she’ll be spending all summer with him if it’s over,” Mac said, sipping her coffee.

  “Yeah, but she’s going to be working at her aunt’s diner. Nothing to prevent him from coming in there to eat, is there?”

  “No, I guess not.” Looking thoughtful, Mac said, “But you have to be able to trust her, Nex. A relationship can’t survive without trust.”

  I’d been telling myself the same thing all morning, so I knew Mac was right. “I do trust her. It’s just…” I wouldn’t have been able to say this to anyone else, not even my brothers. “I’ve never felt like this before. It’s scarin’ the hell out of me.”

  Mac smiled, curling her hands around her mug as she sat back, quietly observing me. “You’re in love with her?”

  “I think so.” There was no question in my mind, but it felt too soon to commit to it aloud.

  “Have you told her how you feel?”

  “She knows.”

  “And she feels the same way?”

  “I think so.” She made me feel certain she did whenever we were together, but I was worried about what months of separation would do to our relationship.

  “Then you have nothing to worry about. Jaci strikes me as the kind of woman who takes her commitments seriously. If she’s committed to you, you have to trust that she’ll remain faithful to you, no matter the temptation.”

  “I guess you’re right,” I said, sighing. I knew I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t anticipate the worst possible outcome and expect that things wouldn’t turn out any better. “I’ll try to relax.”

  “Can I ask you a question about Jaci?”

  “Sure.”

  “She’s studying business, right?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Any idea what her future plans are?”

  I didn’t want to think about her future plans, especially if they revolved around her returning to Hartwell. “I don’t know. She’ll be here for the next three years, at least, working on her degree. After that…” I couldn’t even say it.

  “What?” Mac asked, looking concerned.

  “Her mama’s not doin’ too well, so Jaci feels she has to go back there and take care of her after she graduates. She said something about maybe taking over her aunt’s diner when she’s ready to retire.”

  “Hmmm.” Mac bit her lip before asking, “But her mom does have other family there? She’s not all alone?”

  “No.” I knew Mac wouldn’t be so interested in Jaci’s situation unless she had an idea. “Why?”

  “We’re thinking about taking on another partner here.” She hooked a thumb toward the exterior wall. “We’d like to expand, and my mom is already working too many hours. I can’t ask her to take on anymore. If we had someone to share the responsibility…”

  “Jaci?” I was stunned. Jaci just might jump at an opportunity like that, and it would give her even more incentive to stay put. “Seriously?”

  “She’s obviously a very intelligent, talented young lady. I think she could be exactly what we need.”

  I wouldn’t be surprised since she was exactly what I needed. “How would that work?” I asked, “since she’s still in school?”

  “I can’t imagine she’d accept our offer unless she was as invested in the business as we are. Does she have any money saved?”

  “Yeah, for her tuition. She waited to go to college because she wanted to save all the tuition money first.”

  Mac’s eyes lit up as she set her mug down. “That’s perfect! She’d be able to draw a salary from the business right away. Like I said, we’re having a hard time keeping up with the demand.”

  “What about school? That’s important to her, Mac.”

  She nodded. “I totally get that, but she could still go part-time. It would take her longer to get her degree, but she’d still get it, right?”

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  “Do you think she’d go for it?”

  I sure as hell hoped so. It would be the answer to my prayers. “Um, I don’t know. You’d have to talk to her about it, see what she thinks of the idea.”

  “What time is her last class today?”

  “I think she said two thirty, then she was headed home to study.” Home, our home. It still made me smile whenever I thought about sharing a home with Jaci, knowing she’d be there waiting for me when I walked in the door.

  “That’s perfect. You think you could text her and ask her to swing by here after class?”

  “Of course.” I pulled my phone out and fired off a text. “Done.” I had to ask before this went any further. “Mac, you’re always telling me you’d do anything for any one of us, and I know that’s true. You’re not just making Jaci this offer because you know it’ll help me, are you?”

  Mac threw her head back, laughing. “Nex, I love you, but this is my business we’re talking about. We’ve been busting our butts to make this a success, and I wouldn’t compromise that for anything, not even you.”

  I stood, bending to kiss her cheek. “Thanks.”

  “I feel like I should be the one thanking you for introducing me to Jaci.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jaci

  I couldn’t imagine why Mac would want to see me, and when I’d called Nex to ask him, he was evasive, making me even more curious. I’d run through so many possible scenarios in my head that I was actually nervous by the time I pulled the door open and ventured inside the bakery.

  I was immediately impressed with the chic décor. It was cute and trendy with a fifties vibe that made me smile.

  “There you are,” Mac said, coming around the counter to pull me into her arms. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

  “It’s nice to see you, Mac. What’s up?”

  “Do you want a coffee or anything while we sit down to chat?”

  Since I knew I had to go home and study, I decided a caffeine fix might be in order. “I’d love an espresso if it’s not too much trouble.”

  “Not at all.” She pointed down a small hallway. “My office is just back there. Second door on the right across from the restrooms. Why don’t you head back there, and I’ll meet you in just a sec?”

  “Uh, sure.” I’d assumed she’d called me here to talk to me about my relationship with Nex, but I didn’t see the need to do that behind closed doors.

  I ventured into the small office, not at all surprised the hot pink, black, and white scheme extended to this space. There was a collage of framed photos of Ryker and the boys, not that I was surprised. It was obvious Mac’s family meant everything to her.

  Sitting down, my eyes honed in on their wedding photo. Mac had been wearing a
simple white dress, Ryker a dark suit. It didn’t look like a large or lavish affair, but they both looked radiant, as though that single day marked the culmination of their dreams.

  I wondered if I would ever have what they had, a man who loved me so completely. I’d seen glimpses of that with Nex, but I could tell he was still guarded, as was I, since neither of us knew exactly what the future held.

  “Here we go,” Mac said, depositing my cup and saucer on her glass desk. “I’d love for you to try some of our signature pastries before you go.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, they’re bite-sized, so you can just sample.”

  “I’d love to.” I looked around the office. “This place is great, Mac. How long have you been in business?”

  “Thanks. Just a few months, but we’ve been swamped.” She sank back in her leather chair, bringing her hand up to her temple. “This is definitely the season for celebrations. Weddings, prom—”

  “You do wedding cakes?” I’d always thought that would be fun.

  “We have had a few requests from our regular customers, but I have to be honest, I’m kind of afraid to take on weddings until we find another partner who could devote herself to growing that part of the business.”

  “Oh, you’re looking for a partner?” I asked, sipping my espresso.

  “Yes, that’s why I asked you to stop by, actually.”

  I blinked when I realized my wide eyes were betraying my shock. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.” I set my cup down when I realized my hands weren’t as steady as they had been.

  “At dinner the other night, you talked about your love of cooking and baking.” She smiled. “We have that in common. That’s why I decided to start this business with my mother. I learned everything I know from her. We thought it would be fun, but I don’t think either of us were prepared for how much work it would be.”

  “I can imagine.” I didn’t know what she expected from me or why I was even here, so I was trying to listen while remaining noncommittal, hoping this would all start to make sense soon.

  “You’re studying business, right?” She laced her hands, resting her elbows on her armrests.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Getting a degree, has that always been a dream of yours?”

  I considered the question, wondering how to respond. It was always just assumed that I would find a way to go to college. “It was definitely my mother’s dream. She wanted the best for me.”

  “As a parent, I can understand that.” Mac leaned forward, resting her arms on the desk. “So you’re loving school then?”

  At the moment, I wasn’t even liking it very much, but I knew that was just the pressure of exams looming. “I don’t know if I’d say that I love it, but it’s a necessary evil, right?”

  “I don’t know. Is it?”

  I frowned, trying to make sense of what she was asking. “I’m sorry, Mac. I’m not following.”

  She laughed. “Probably because I’m not making much sense.” She took a deep breath as though she were steeling her courage. “Okay, here it is. Would you be willing to pursue your degree part-time while partnering with us?”

  My jaw dropped as I stared at her, speechless.

  “I know this must come as a shock,” Mac said, smiling gently. “But I tend to act on instinct, Jaci. As soon as I met you, I knew you were tough, tenacious. The way you handled my brother-in-law was impressive, to say the least.”

  “Thank you, but I’m not sure what that has to do with this,” I said, gesturing around her tidy office. “I don’t know anything about owning a business yet. Maybe after I get my degree, I’d be in a better position to consider—”

  “I didn’t know anything about running a business either,” Mac said, laughing. “Neither did my mother. We’re figuring it out as we go along. Sure, we’re making some mistakes, but we’re also having a lot of fun and building something we’re proud of, so that makes it all worth it.”

  “I guess it does.”

  “I understand why you want to get your degree. It’s important to you, but I assume you’re studying business because you want to open your own someday?”

  “I’m not sure exactly,” I said, sinking my teeth into my lower lip. If I had only myself to consider, I would probably jump all over this opportunity, but there was my mother to consider.

  “Honey, I…” An older version of Mac popped her head in the door, smiling when she spotted me. “Oh hi, you must be Jaci?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said, standing to accept her outstretched hand.

  “I’m Mary, Mackenzie’s mom. So has she talked you into jumping on board yet?” Mary asked, winking at me.

  “Um, no, I—”

  “I’ve barely had time to pitch the idea,” Mac said, rolling her eyes. “But as long as you’re here, why don’t you pull up a chair, Mom? I’m sure Jaci has some questions for us.”

  Mary claimed the chair next to mine before I said, “You said you’re looking for a partner. I assume that would involve a financial investment?”

  “My mother and I have each contributed twenty-five thousand dollars,” Mac explained. “Since Ryker and I own this building, we don’t have to pay rent.”

  I thought of the money sitting in my savings accounts, intended for three more years of tuition.

  “You’d be able to draw a salary from the business,” Mac explained. “If you decided you wanted to join us and were able to contribute an equal amount of money that would be ear-marked for our expansion project.” She pointed at the wall behind her. “There’s an exterior wall we’d bust through. The shop on the other side used to be a flower shop, but we’re just using it for storage right now. We want to use that for the wedding and shower cakes display.” Reaching into her desk, she produced a glossy brochure. “If you decide this is something you’re interested in pursuing, this company offers some wonderful courses. You could start this summer.”

  “But I…” My eyes drifted to the photos of beautiful wedding cakes. “I’m supposed to go back to Hartwell this summer. I was going to live with my mama so I could earn some more money for books and living expenses next year.”

  Mackenzie laughed. “Well, if you decide to pursue this, I’m sure your salary would cover your books and living expenses. Unless…” She shrugged. “Well, unless you and Nex decide to make your living arrangement permanent.”

  It’s not like we were cohabitating… exactly. I’d just accepted a temporary position to earn extra money. “Uh, I don’t think so.”

  “At any rate,” Mac said, “I’m sure we’ve given you a lot to think about.”

  “You certainly have.” My head was spinning. I still couldn’t believe everything that had happened to me in the past few weeks.

  Mac came around the desk to give me a quick hug. “Take all the time you need to think about it, Jaci. We’re not going to be ready to move forward with the renovation until the fall anyhow. We still have to get that space cleaned out and all of the old fixtures sold off, so I’m sure that’ll take a while. It’ll give you plenty of time to go home and get your mama squared away, if need be.”

  How could I possibly tell my mother I wouldn’t be coming home to stay when she had her heart set on me being there to take care of her? I sank back in my chair, feeling confused and overwhelmed, when Mary reached over to grasp my hand.

  “I know how you must be feeling, honey. It’s a lot. You think you have your whole life mapped out, and then someone throws you a curveball, right?”

  “Something like that.” I’d just met Mary, yet her warm smile and positive vibe told me she was someone I could trust. I also remembered what Nex had told me about her being there for him when his mama died, and that was reason enough for me to deem her a good person. “You see, Mrs.—”

  “Mary,” she said, squeezing my hand.

  “You see, Mary,” I said, clearing my throat. “I’m all my mama has really. I mean, she has siblings, but they all have their own families. It’s up to me to take care of her.”
>
  “That’s quite a burden for a young woman to bear.”

  “I don’t mind,” I said, trying to convince myself it was true. “She’s made sacrifices for me. It’s time for me to repay the favor.”

  She gave me a quizzical look before shaking her head. “Pardon me for saying this, Jaci, but I’m a mother too. When my girls were growing up, my husband and I would have done anything to give them a better life than we’d had. That was our job as parents. But we never expected them to return the favor someday. That’s not why we did it.”

  “You don’t understand. My mother isn’t well. She has Parkinson’s.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. An advanced case, then? She’s not able to live on her own or care for herself?”

  “Well, no. She is. Things are just becoming a bit more difficult for her.”

  Mary’s unpainted mouth tipped up at the corner. “I can relate. It’s called aging, sweetie.”

  I was silent for a minute, staring at my clasped hands as I tried to make sense of my thoughts.

  “I think it’s very commendable that you wanna take care of your mama. But are you really willing to sacrifice your own life for hers?”

  I thought I was. “She’s my responsibility.”

  “To some extent, I agree with you.” She nodded, looking thoughtful. “I think it’s your responsibility to make sure that she has food to eat and a roof over her head. I think it’s important to make sure she can tend to her own basic needs or see that she has someone to help her. I think you need to make sure she can get to her doctor’s appointments and stay abreast of her medical condition, but you’re talking about a lot more than that, aren’t you?”

  “I guess I am.” I knew my mother expected me to live with her for as long as I could. If I ever married and had a family of my own, she assumed it would be in Hartwell and she’d move in with my husband and me.

  “I would never want my daughters to make the kind of sacrifices you’re talking about, Jaci. And if your mother loves you, which I’m sure she does, I don’t think she wants that for you either.”

  Ha! She didn’t know my mother. She’d learned a long time ago that a healthy dose of guilt was the best way to manipulate me.