“Jodie,” he said harshly, “we’re not going to continue this conversation if you’re going to make ridiculous judgments about a woman you don’t even know.”
“I know her type,” she said, not relenting. “She probably couldn’t wait to get her clutches into B.J., either.”
Boone was growing tired of the whole topic, but he kept trying to get through to her. He knew his life would be a whole lot easier if the two of them could manage to get along. It would be best for B.J., too, not to have his father and his grandparents feuding.
“Jodie, you know how B.J. loves Cora Jane. Of course he and Emily were bound to cross paths. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
“Well, it is a big deal. What do you think Jenny would have to say about your old girlfriend getting close to her son?”
“I think she’d be more open-minded than you’re being,” he said candidly. “I think she’d be pleased that he has someone he’s comfortable talking to about his mom.”
“Why is it he can’t talk to you? Does it make you feel too guilty when Jenny’s brought up?”
“No, it makes me very sad, the same way it reminds you of your loss. B.J.’s picked up on that.” He bit back a sigh. “Look, I really don’t want to fight with you, but you need to keep in mind that B.J. is my son, too. I’m the one here raising him. It’s not something I would have chosen to do alone, but this is the way it is.”
“So my feelings don’t count?”
“Not when you’re being unreasonable,” he said, trying to keep his tone gentle. “B.J. loves you, Jodie. I want you and Frank to play an important role in his life, but I won’t let you question my decisions, especially when you’re not around.”
“Fine,” she said tightly. “Then I guess we’ll just have to make a trip up there next week. I want to see what’s going on with my own eyes.”
Boone bit back his annoyance. Out of respect for Jenny, he didn’t want to make this visit any more awkward than it was destined to be. “B.J. will be thrilled to see you,” he said. “Let me know what day you’re coming. Will you stay with us?”
“If you’re sure we won’t be in the way,” she said, not even trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
“You’re family,” Boone forced himself to say. “You’re always welcome.”
He just prayed that his open-door policy with his in-laws wouldn’t turn out to be a huge mistake.
* * *
“I’ll bet you’re glad I’m out of town, after all,” Emily said when Boone told her about Jodie’s impending arrival. Heaven knows, she was glad not to be there.
“I won’t lie to you, it’ll make things easier,” he said. “I know this is about her missing Jenny and blaming me for everything from ruining her life to her death, but one of these days I’m going to snap and say some things that will cause an irreparable rift. I came awfully close to doing just that today. The only thing stopping me was remembering what’s best for my son.”
“You’re too kind to do that, anyway,” Emily said. “You might be thoroughly and justifiably exasperated with Jodie, but you’d never intentionally hurt her.”
“Even I have my limits,” he contradicted. “If it weren’t for B.J., I’d have spoken my mind long before now. With my parents off going their separate ways all over the world, I want him to have at least one set of grandparents in his life. Frankly, though, Cora Jane fits that role better than the whole lot of them combined. Not that Frank is so bad, but he won’t go against Jodie.”
Emily chuckled. “Well, Cora Jane is the ultimate grandmother,” she confirmed. “Quick with the cookies and hugs. Of course, that comes with a fair amount of unsolicited advice.”
“Maybe so, but the advice is usually right on target,” he said. “And it doesn’t disparage everything I do.”
“And what does she say about this upcoming visit from the Farmers?”
“To watch my step,” he said with a sigh.
Emily didn’t like the sound of that. “Any idea why she’d say something like that?”
“I think she’s concerned that Jodie might do something completely irrational and try to make trouble for me,” Boone said. “I really don’t think it’ll come to that, though.”
“Boone, you need to pay attention to Grandmother,” Emily said. “She’s got really good instincts about this sort of thing. What sort of trouble is she picturing? Did she say? Is she talking about the whole custody thing?”
Boone didn’t answer immediately, which sent a chill down her spine. “More than likely,” he said eventually.
“No!” Emily protested, aware of the toll such a fight would take on Boone and B.J. and on her relationship with Boone, as well. “There’s no way she could do something like that.”
“Of course she could,” Boone said. “I told you that she threatened it before, right after Jenny died, but Frank put a stop to it then. I think that’s why he pushed for the move to Florida, to put some distance between us, in the hope that things would settle down. It’s the only time he’s drawn a line against her behavior, but if she’s really insistent, I doubt he can stop her.”
“No court would take that boy from you,” Emily said with feeling. “You’re an amazing father and B.J. adores you. If she tries something that crazy, she’ll lose for sure. B.J. won’t forgive her for trying, either.”
“I’m just praying it never comes to that,” Boone said. “I’m going to do my best to keep the peace while she’s here.”
“Will she do her part?”
“Doubtful,” he said wryly. “But it takes two to have a real fight, and I’m determined not to give her any ammunition.”
“You mean you don’t plan to tell her all about me and how we spent my last day in town?” she teased, hoping to lighten the mood.
Boone chuckled, as she’d intended. “That is definitely not going to come up,” he assured her. “And I do have a weapon in my arsenal, if Jodie gets too far out of line.”
“What weapon is that?”
“Cora Jane. She is very eager to take her on, not just to defend you, but she seems to be pretty provoked over the way Jodie’s been treating me.”
“I imagine she is,” Emily said. “Nobody picks on Cora Jane’s family and gets away with it. I saw her stand toe-to-toe with some bully who towered over her to get him to stop bothering Gabi one time when Gabi was waiting tables. Grandmother threw him out of Castle’s without a qualm. I imagine she’d consider Jodie Farmer nothing but a nuisance.”
“I certainly keep trying to think of her that way,” Boone said, “but that woman can get under my skin quicker than poison ivy.”
“Then I recommend you keep a giant bottle of calamine lotion handy,” Emily teased.
“I was thinking bourbon,” Boone replied.
To Emily, it didn’t sound as if he was kidding.
* * *
Boone was in his office at the restaurant when Pete came in to announce that Jodie and Frank were out front.
“You all having some kind of a problem?” Pete asked. “When Jodie asked for you, she looked as if she’d just sucked a lemon.”
Boone laughed. “The mere mention of my name does tend to turn her stomach sour,” he told Pete. “I’d better get out there. Did you seat them?”
“They told me in no uncertain terms that they’d already eaten. I got the impression that they were a little leery of our food. They’re standing by the front door, probably scaring off the other customers.”
Boone walked quickly to the foyer and found his in-laws were indeed right by the door, looking as if they might flee at any second.
“Jodie, Frank,” he said, being determinedly cheerful. He dropped a quick kiss on Jodie’s cheek before she could jerk away, then shook Frank’s hand. “How was the trip?”
“Long,” Frank said. �
��Jodie insisted we do the whole drive in a day. She was anxious to get up here.”
Boone frowned. “You left this morning? What time? You must be exhausted.”
“Too early, in my opinion,” Frank said. “I thought the whole reason for people to retire was so they could lead a leisurely life, but Jodie gets a bit in her mouth and we’re off to the races.”
“I’m anxious to see my grandson,” she said. “I want to see for myself that he’s not maimed for life.”
Boone glanced at his watch. “He’ll be home from school in an hour. Why don’t we go to the house and get you settled? You might even be able to put your feet up for a few minutes before he gets there.”
“You could just give us a key,” Jodie said stiffly. “We don’t want to take you away from your work.”
“It’s not a problem,” Boone said, knowing that what she really wanted was a chance to snoop around the house. “The guest room’s all set, but I want to be there in case there’s anything you need to feel comfortable.”
“We’ll meet you there, then,” Frank said, his tone jovial.
When Jodie set off for their car without a backward glance, Frank stayed back.
“I’m sorry about this, son. Jodie gets her mind set, and there’s not a thing I can do or say to change it. It’s best just to let her get all this out of her system. Once she spends a little time with B.J., I imagine she’ll settle down.”
Boone nodded. “I appreciate you saying that, Frank. I know Jenny’s death has been real hard on her.”
“It’s been pure hell for all of us,” Frank said. “But Jodie most of all, I think.”
“B.J. and I miss her, too,” Boone said. “More than you can imagine.”
“I know.” Frank gave him an awkward pat on the shoulder. “See you at the house.”
An hour later B.J. raced into the house and jumped onto the sofa between his grandparents, giving them both big hugs. Jodie’s eyes immediately filled with tears.
“Do you know how much you remind me of your mommy?” she said, her voice a whisper. “You have her eyes, her hair.”
B.J. frowned. “But everybody says I look just like Daddy did when he was my age.”
Frank stepped in. “You’ve inherited the good looks of both of them, B.J.,” he said diplomatically. “Isn’t that right, Jodie?”
“Of course it is,” she said with an obviously forced smile. “Now tell me everything you’re doing these days. How’s school so far this year?”
Boone listened as B.J. filled her in on every kid in his class, on all his assignments and the part he’d been given for an upcoming school play. “It’s for Halloween and I’m going to be a ghost,” he said.
“Do you have your costume?” Jodie asked.
“Not yet. I have to get it made.”
“Why don’t I do that?” Jodie offered. “I used to make all of your mom’s Halloween costumes.”
B.J.’s eyes lit up. “Cool. Will you be here to see the play?”
“I doubt that,” Jodie said. “Halloween’s a long way off. Your grandfather and I will go back to Florida before then.”
“But you could come back,” B.J. said enthusiastically. “I asked Emily to come and she said she might.”
The light in Jodie’s eyes died at that, and Boone cursed himself for not suggesting to B.J. that he try to keep Emily’s name out of the conversation. Then, again, he didn’t think it was right to censor his son just to keep the peace.
“Is that so?” Jodie said tightly. “I think I’ll go lie down for a little while before dinner. I’m awfully tired all of a sudden.”
She stood up and left the room, leaving B.J. staring after her in confusion.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Of course not,” Frank told him. “But I’d better go check on her. I’ll take her a cup of tea, if that’s okay.”
“Help yourself,” Boone told him. “You know where everything is.”
When he was alone with his son, B.J. regarded him with a troubled expression. “I made her mad, didn’t I?”
“Absolutely not,” Boone said, wondering just how much he should reveal about the situation. The less said, the better, he thought. B.J. could hardly be expected to understand the dynamics among the grown-ups. “You know how much your grandmother loves you, right?”
“Sure.”
“And she loved your mom, too.”
“Well, yeah,” B.J. said.
“I think it’s hard for her to hear you mention Emily as if she’s real important to you. It may make her think you’re forgetting about your mom.”
“But I could never forget mom,” B.J. said, looking puzzled. “I miss her every day.”
“Then you should mention that to your grandmother sometime. It might make her feel better.”
B.J. fell silent, clearly trying to take in what Boone had told him. “Okay,” he said eventually. “Should I go tell her now?”
“No, let her rest now. You’ll have plenty of time to tell her while she’s here visiting.”
“It’s cool that they came, isn’t it?” B.J. said, though his eyes were shadowed with worry over the apparent misstep he’d made.
“It’s cool,” Boone said. “They love you very much. I might know what a pest you are, but they think you’re the best kid ever.”
“Hey,” B.J. protested, grinning, “I am the best kid ever.”
Boone chuckled at his son’s confidence. He figured he must be doing something right if his boy had that much faith in himself. Didn’t that prove that B.J. was surrounded by people who encouraged and loved him? If it hadn’t been tempting fate, he’d have dared Jodie right then to try to suggest otherwise.
* * *
Cora Jane was in a booth, her feet up, going over the day’s receipts, when Boone came into Castle’s.
“Uh-oh, I know that look,” she said as he poured himself a glass of iced tea before joining her. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing really,” he admitted. “I’m just afraid I’m not going to get Jodie back out of town before I lose it with her attitude toward me. She never misses an opportunity to take a jab about all the wrongs I committed against Jenny. She’s gotten in a couple of jabs at Emily, too, though, to give her credit, she’s been careful about those in front of B.J. I think she’s figured out that I wasn’t lying when I told her there’s a growing bond between B.J. and Emily. She doesn’t like it, but she’s smart enough not to take it on with him. She reserves that for veiled comments to me.”
“You knew it was going to be like this,” Cora Jane reminded him. “I give you credit, though, for inviting her and Frank to stay with you. If it had been me under these circumstances, I’d have sent them to a hotel. No way would I let them stay under my roof and pick away at everything I do.”
“You talk tough,” Boone accused, “but I know better. You’d have put B.J. first, the same way I did.”
“What’s Frank doing while Jodie’s trying to stir up trouble?”
“Apologizing for her,” Boone said. “And trying to keep B.J. out of it. They’ve gone fishing every afternoon this week. He even took him to the driving range to hit golf balls one day and to play miniature golf the other evening after dinner.”
Cora Jane nodded approvingly. “Frank always was a sensible man. He knows the relationship with his grandson will be forever damaged if Jodie keeps up this nonsense.”
“He’s said as much to me,” Boone acknowledged. He gave Cora Jane a frustrated look. “I know the woman is grieving. I know she’ll always be convinced I wasn’t right for Jenny. I am trying to make allowances for all that.”
“But she keeps pushing,” Cora Jane guessed. “Why don’t you bring ’em over to my house for dinner tonight? I’ll put a bug in her ear. Maybe she’ll listen to me.”
“That’s a crying shame,” Cora Jane said, wishing she could shake some sense into Jodie before she lost her grandson, the only real tie she had left to the daughter she’d lost. “I feel sorry for her.”
“So do I,” Boone said, then finished his last swallow of tea. “Thanks for listening to me vent.”
Cora Jane smiled at him. “You’re welcome here anytime to tell me anything that’s on your mind.”
“Thanks,” he said, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “Everything okay at the restaurant?”
“We’re back to operating at full capacity. I thought after Labor Day, the crowds would die back some, but it hasn’t happened. All the people who don’t like the crowded summers come now.” She grinned. “Because of that, it ends up being just as crowded. Sure is good for business, though, to have the season extended through fall.”
“It’s the same at my place. Tommy was able to finish our renovations last week and we’re booked solid for the next few weekends, and a few week nights, too.”
“You and Emily been in touch?” she asked, throwing the question in casually.
He grinned. “Every day.”
“Good.”
He looked at her with surprise. “That’s it? No more probing questions, subtle suggestions?”
Cora Jane laughed. “Not a one. You’ll hear from me, though, if I think things are getting off track.”
“I’m sure,” Boone said dryly. “I suppose I should head over to the school to get B.J. He was practicing for the Halloween play this afternoon. It’s been a few days since I’ve been able to have any quality time with him alone.”
“Give him a hug for me,” Cora Jane said. “And Boone?”
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