by Kat Brookes
“Lainie...” he said tenderly, leaning in as if to kiss her.
Her heart leaped. Was she ready for this? Did she even want him to kiss her? As she leaned in to meet him, she knew in that moment she did.
A cell phone rang.
Hers. Blushing, Lainie pulled back and hurried over to where she’d left her purse lying when they’d returned home. “Hello?” she said, grateful for the interruption. Otherwise, she might have let Jackson kiss her, something she wasn’t so sure she was prepared for now that she’d had a moment to step away.
“Mom...” her son said on the other end of the line.
He didn’t sound upset, but that didn’t lessen the worry she felt when she asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Mom,” he said with a groan, “why do you always have to ask me that?”
Maybe because he hadn’t been okay. Not for a very long time. Throw in the fear of losing Lucas as she had his father. Suddenly. Irrevocably.
Jackson moved to stand beside her.
Lainie signaled to him that everything was all right and then returned her focus to the conversation. “Because I’m a mother, and it’s my job to worry. So what’s up?”
“Grandma was talking to Uncle Justin on the phone and he said that he was taking that lady who fixed my knee and her son to dinner and the movies. He asked if I’d like to go with them. Can I, Mom? Please?”
Justin was taking Jessica to the movies? Well, well. It appeared her brother was verging on being completely smitten. Dinner, and now a movie and dinner. “I’ll have to talk to your uncle first.”
“He’s going to be calling you,” her son said. “I just wanted to tell you that I’d really like to go.”
Other than his joy at the horse-riding lessons he’d been having with Jackson, this was the most excited she’d heard her son in a very long time. She couldn’t hold back her smile. Her son’s happiness meant the world to her. Since he was finding it in so many things since coming home, Lainie knew she had made the right decision in moving back to Bent Creek. “If Jessica and her son don’t mind, then, yes, you can go.”
“Thanks, Mom!”
Her phone buzzed, signaling another incoming call. Lainie glanced at the screen. “Uncle Justin is calling. I’ll see what’s going on and call you back after I’ve talked to him.”
“Okay,” her son said excitedly. “Love you!” A second later, the line went dead.
Tears of joy nearly sprang to her eyes. When was the last time her son had spoken those words to her? She answered her brother’s call. “Hello?”
“Hey, sis,” he said. “I’m heading over to pick Jessica and her son up when I get off work this afternoon. We’re going to the movies and then grabbing a bite to eat afterward.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Lucas just called.”
“Beat me to it, did he?” he said with a chuckle.
“He did at that.”
“Would you mind if he went with us?” her asked. “We’re going to be right down the road from Mom and Dad’s place, so it wouldn’t be any trouble to swing by and pick Lucas up.”
“Have you checked with Jessica to make certain he wouldn’t be imposing on your date?”
“Already ran it by her,” her brother replied. “She’s more than okay with it. And who said anything about this being a date?”
She laughed, her gaze following Jackson as he returned to stringing the Christmas lights on the tree, no doubt wanting to give her a modicum of privacy. “Has it been so long since you were on a date that you don’t remember what one is? Asking a woman out to dinner could fall under that category. Asking her out again, this time to a movie and dinner, definitely sounds like a date to me.”
“Dinner was repayment for tending to Lucas when he was injured,” he explained. “And this evening...well, it’s for the kids. Something to do while they’re on Christmas break from school.”
“I see,” she said, her gaze shifting to Jackson. “So then you wouldn’t mind if I invited Jessica to come over and help Jackson and I string popcorn for the tree while you take the boys to the movies?”
Her brother hesitated, and then with a heavy sigh said, “All right, I like her. And yes, I would mind.”
She let out a soft giggle. “Figured as much. Maybe you could bring Jessica and Austin back here afterward. They could help us make the popcorn garland.”
“I’ll ask her, but she works the early shift tomorrow. I’d imagine she’ll need to head home after dinner.”
“Probably so,” Lainie agreed.
“Maybe some other time. Getting back to stringing popcorn garland,” he said, “I take it that means I now have a Christmas tree up somewhere in my house.”
“You do,” she replied with a smile. “Several of them, in fact. One in each room.”
“Lainie,” he choked out.
She laughed again, and it felt so good. There had been a time when she wondered if she would ever even smile again, let alone laugh out loud. Coming home had not only helped her son to start to heal emotionally, it was helping her as well. “I’m teasing,” she told him. “There’s only one and I picked it out myself. Well, not exactly myself. I couldn’t have gotten it without Jackson’s help. We drove over to his place to find a tree and then he cut it down for me.”
“You put up a real tree?” her brother said in surprise. “I thought you were all about faux trees since moving to California.”
“Will preferred artificial trees,” she replied, feeling both sad and guilty at the mention of his name in the same room where she’d nearly kissed Jackson.
“I’m sorry, sis,” her brother said regretfully. “I didn’t mean to stir up painful memories.”
“Don’t apologize,” she told him. “Will was Lucas’s father. I have no intention of setting aside the memories we have of him just because it might be painful at times. Now, getting back to the movie non-date you are taking Jessica and her son on. If you’re sure she doesn’t mind, then Lucas can go with you.”
“Great. I’ll bring him home with me and save Mom and Dad a trip. And who knows, maybe Jessica and her son will be able to join us.”
Save them a trip. If she could bring herself to drive without having Jackson at her side, then nobody would have to go out of their way to run her and Lucas to and fro. It had been so much easier to get around in Sacramento between walking and, when necessary, a taxi. Thankfully, almost everything they had needed had been within walking distance. And the weather hadn’t really ever been an issue. Jackson was right. It was time she pushed her fears aside and got back up on that proverbial horse for good.
“That would be nice,” she said. “I’ll call Lucas back to let him know.”
“No need,” her brother said. “Truth is, I’m looking forward to spending some time with him now that my work schedule is easing up a bit, thanks to Sam coming back part-time.”
“I know he’s been wanting to spend time with you, even though he understands why you haven’t been around much.”
“You can’t imagine how guilty I feel about leaving you and Lucas high and dry since your return,” Justin replied, regret clear in his voice.
“You didn’t leave us high and dry. You made sure we had Jackson looking after us,” she reminded him. Though she’d been against the arrangement in the beginning, she was now beyond grateful for the time she and Jackson had been able to spend together. It had helped to heal the rift between them.
“Good news is, I can now let Jackson off the hook,” her brother added.
Her heart sank a little at the thought. While she was happy to finally be able to spend time with her brother, not seeing Jackson every day was almost painful. “I’m sure he’ll be relieved to get his walking papers,” she said, casting a glance in Jackson’s direction. “Talk to you when you get home.”
; Shoving her phone back into her purse, she crossed the room and bent to open one of the ornament storage boxes. His walking papers. Jackson would be free to go back to his life as usual. While she would have to get used to hers without him in it as much.
“Something on your mind?”
She glanced up at Jackson. “I was just thinking about my brother.” And you.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“Justin has a date this evening.”
“I heard,” he admitted. “Not that I meant to pry.”
“I would have stepped out of the room if I hadn’t wanted my conversation overheard,” she assured him as she began busying herself with unwrapping more ornaments, which she placed atop the coffee table to keep them safe until they could be hung.
He studied her for a long moment. “Are you okay with him taking Jessica out?”
She met his questioning gaze. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I might be reading something into this that’s not there, but you don’t seem overly happy about it. Is it because Justin’s time is finally freeing up, but he’s spending it elsewhere instead of with you and Lucas.”
She shook her head. “That’s not it at all. Justin and I have managed to find time to visit between his demanding work shifts. I would never begrudge him for taking time for himself. Truth is, I can’t even recall the last time my brother went out on a real date.”
He nodded. “Work does take up a lot of his time.”
“He needs this,” she said with a tender smile. “I want it for him. But a part of me worries that my brother is too busy to be the settling-down type. You and I both know he’s always joked about being dedicated to bachelorhood.”
Grabbing a handful of smaller bulbs, Jackson began hanging them from the branches at the top of the tree. “Since he became sheriff, his career has definitely taken top priority in his life. And it shows. He’s good at what he does, is well respected by both his employees and those who live here in Bent Creek, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a change of heart where bachelorhood is concerned.”
And what about Jackson? He hadn’t wanted a serious relationship when they were younger, and he had yet to put down marital roots. Would he ever have a change of heart where his bachelorhood was concerned? Lainie pulled another tissue-wrapped ornament from the box and began peeling away its protective covering. “I hope you’re right. I would hate to see Jessica end up getting hurt.”
Jackson stopped what he was doing to glance over his broad shoulder at her. “Your brother’s as good as they come. Always putting others before himself. What makes you think he would hurt her?”
Because she knew firsthand that even good guys were capable of hurting a woman who cared about them. “I don’t think he would intentionally. But he’s so used to putting his job before everything else. And you and I both know he’s never been a long-term commitment type of guy when it comes to relationships.”
“Maybe that’s because the right woman hadn’t come along yet,” he surmised.
“For Justin’s sake, I pray she is the right woman for my brother,” Lainie said as she stepped forward to hang a red-and-green glass bulb from one of the lower limbs. “For Jessica’s sake, I hope he decides quickly if this thing between them has the potential to go long-term or not. Because it’s not just Jessica who is investing into this newly formed relationship with my brother. It’s also her young son. If Justin discovers he’s not ready to be in it for the long haul, he wouldn’t be breaking one heart, he’d be breaking two.” Something she would be smart to remember. It was one thing to consider risking her own heart again, but she knew that Lucas would get hurt as well if things didn’t work out. Her son admired and looked up to Jackson, even had a special connection with him.
Jackson appeared to take in her words, a slight frown pulling at his mouth. Then he reached into the box and began unwrapping another ornament. “We need to have faith that your brother will handle this budding relationship with Jessica with care. But if it will make you feel any better I’ll have a talk with him about it.”
She moved to hang another ornament from the tree. “It would. Especially because I know what it’s like to be a single mother with a son who’s hurting emotionally.”
“Justin would never hurt Jessica intentionally. But we men don’t always handle situations the way we should have,” he said, making Lainie wonder if he was referring to that night so long ago. “One thing I do know for sure is that if your brother does, however unintentionally, hurt Jessica in any way, he’ll have to deal with Hannah and Garrett, who have pretty much made Jessica and Dustin a part of their family.”
“She’s blessed to have such good friends,” she said as she stepped around to the far side of the tree with another ornament. “Life isn’t easy to maneuver on one’s own.”
Jackson looked her way. “I know things haven’t been easy for you since Will died, but I hope you know that you’re not alone anymore.”
She met his gaze, the kindness in his green eyes melting her heart. “Thank you for saying that.”
“It’s not just words, Lainie,” he told her. “We’re all here for you, your family, my family...me. Especially me.” He bent to plug the lights into the wall plug. The tree flickered to life, its twinkling lights dancing at random. With a quick adjustment, Jackson had them glowing a solid white. “Now all we need is the star.”
The heirloom Lainie held in her hands had been in the family for generations and had been left at the house when their parents moved out. Their mother had chosen to take with them the angel topper their father had given her for Christmas ten years before, instead, saying it had sentimental meaning to her.
“Would you like me to get a chair from the kitchen for you to stand on?” Jackson said, pulling her from her thoughts. “Or would you rather I grab you a ladder from the garage?”
She held the precious antique glass star out to him with a smile. “No need. I think you’re tall enough to place the star atop the tree.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you,” she told him. “I wouldn’t have a tree to put up if it weren’t for you.”
“Maybe you should leave it for Justin or Lucas to put on.”
“Neither of them has any interest in holiday decorations,” she said, wishing it were otherwise. Seeing his hesitation, she said, “It would mean a lot to me if you were to place the star.”
He glanced down at the precious family heirloom she held in her outstretched hands and then back up at Lainie, tenderness filling his eyes. “I would be honored.”
She stood watching as Jackson Wade slid her family’s star down over the top branch, carefully adjusting it until it stood perfectly straight. Then he stepped back to join her, the two of them admiring their handiwork together.
“Perfect,” she said with a sigh.
“Perfect,” he agreed.
The tree hadn’t been the only thing she’d been referring to, however. It had been the time they’d spent together that afternoon. The ease with which they’d fallen back into their long-ago friendship. The comfort she found in spending time with Jackson. She sent a silent prayer of thanks to the Lord for bringing Jackson back into her life again, and for giving her the strength and ability to forgive him for breaking her heart the way he had. Rebuilding their friendship had helped to heal a large part of her. Now she prayed for the strength to hold on to that friendship without pressing him for more. Because more wasn’t something she was prepared to offer to anyone. Especially Jackson Wade.
Chapter Seven
Seeing the barn door ajar, Lainie let her son race on ahead to Jackson’s parents’ house, while she was drawn in a different direction. Tucking her hands into the fleece-lined pockets of her winter coat, she crossed the sun-warmed yard, a smile already on her face at the thought of seeing Jackson. Even for a few moments. She wondered if he felt the same way, considering how
close he’d come to kissing her just a couple of days before.
Lainie stepped into the oversize building and caught sight of Jackson’s youngest brother across the way, busily at work inside one of the empty horse stalls. “Morning, Tucker,” she greeted with a smile.
He straightened, glancing her way. “Lainie,” he replied with a wave of greeting and then a troubled expression moved over his face. “Tell me you didn’t walk here.”
“I didn’t,” she assured him. “Not that I haven’t walked that distance before. Even in winter. However, Justin dropped Lucas and me off on his way to work. I wanted to save Autumn a trip out to my brother’s place to get us.” She hoped to buy a car of her own someday and continue working on getting comfortable behind the wheel of a vehicle. It was just a little too soon for that big of a commitment. She planned to take baby steps. But she was determined to make it happen.
The Wades were going to watch the children while she, Autumn, Hannah and Jessica drove into town to pick up baskets various businesses had offered to donate for their cause after they’d had gone around town posting flyers the week before.
“I hear you ladies are heading out to do a gift basket collection run,” he said.
“We are,” she replied, her gaze searching for Jackson. “Is your brother around?”
“I take it you’re not referring to Garrett,” he answered with a teasing grin, his older brother having returned from the NFR in Vegas a few days earlier.
Her cheeks warmed. “No.”
“Didn’t think so,” he said with a knowing grin. “Jackson isn’t back yet. He ran into town to the post office to mail out a couple of contracts. Something I can help you with?”
Lainie shook her head. “No. I just wanted to say hi.” Hearing herself, she felt a little foolish hunting Jackson down just to say hello to him.
Tucker rested the shovel handle against the barn wall and then stepped over to stand at the closed gate, resting his folded arms atop it. “It’s good to see you and my brother on speaking terms again.”