Hometown Reunion

by Lisa Carter

  Jax snatched up a shell and hurled it into the foaming waves. “Mom’s worried about Brody. She says he needs to learn how to swim.”

  “Don’t you think he ought to?” Darcy’s toes sank deep into the sand as she resisted the pull of the tide. Not unlike how she felt when Jax looked at her. “Brody lives on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by water. And there’s the tidal creek in your backyard.”

  “I agree, but he doesn’t trust me.” Jax stared out over the choppy water toward the deepening hues of lavender and indigo in the sky. “He wouldn’t let me teach him. He’s still only two. Maybe next summer.”

  “Let me teach him.” Where had that come from?

  Jax’s brow furrowed. “I couldn’t ask you to do that for me.”

  “You’re not asking. I’m offering.”

  So much for her planned avoidance of all things Jaxon Pruitt. But when had her path with Jax ever been easy or straightforward?

  “Midafternoons the shop is pretty quiet. Tell your mom to bring him by tomorrow.”

  His eyes darted as if he was searching for an excuse to refuse.

  She jutted her jaw. “I lifeguarded at the Y, Jax. I’m certified in baby aquatics. Brody’s safe with me.”

  “It’s not that, Darce. It’s just...”

  She angled her head. “Of course, I’d need you to help me with his lessons.”

  His eyes became hooded. “You think this might bring Brody and me closer?”

  Yeah, that. She nodded at the reminder. This summer was about Jax and Brody finding their way to each other.

  This was not about her and Jax. Merely the sort of thing people did for one another in Kiptohanock. Neighbor helping neighbor. Although technically, they no longer lived next door to each other.

  But her dad would be proud of her for helping Brody. Right up a PK’s alley. Her mom would be jubilant for Darcy to spend more time with father and son. Especially elated about the Jax part.

  Jax scrutinized her. “If you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure. Hopefully, Brody will be interested.”

  “A chance to spend more time with his beloved Dawcy?” Jax’s mouth twitched. “Who could turn down an offer like that?”

  She didn’t bother to point out history had already proved him a liar on that score. “You should round up the newlyweds. We’d better head back while we still have light.” She trudged over the dune and took a deep, fortifying breath.

  Because in reality, she wasn’t sure of anything. Never had been when it came to Jax Pruitt. More likely than not, she’d find herself in over her head. And everybody knew what happened to people in over their heads.

  Eventually, they drowned.

  Chapter Six

  The next week flew by as Jax did a crash course in learning the business. He worked overtime to keep up with Darcy, physically and mentally. But despite her best efforts, the breach remained between him and Brody.

  Jax hadn’t failed to note, though, how she went out of her way to avoid him during work hours. Which rankled, despite the fact it’d been him who pushed her away that night in the tree house.

  Each afternoon, his mother dropped Brody off at the shop. And Darcy made it her business to initiate his son into the joys of a life lived on the water. Splashing, playing, having fun. But no worries.

  From the start, Brody proved himself a fish, jumping without hesitation into her outstretched arms. Immediately sticking his whole head into the water. Darcy grabbed Brody up, but not before nearly giving both her and Jax a coronary.

  Sitting on the dock keeping his distance, Jax felt his chest swell with pride as he watched his son’s little legs scissor kick, slicing through the water. As for Darcy?

  Feet dangling over the water, Jax decided annoying was preferable to indifference. “He’s a natural, like his father,” he called. Just to get a rise out of her.

  “If anything, he’s a SEAL in the making.” Her mouth quirked. “Like his uncle Ben.”

  Standing in the waist-deep water, she kept a firm arm around Brody’s midsection, keeping him afloat as he blew bubbles. “Come on in with us, Jax.”

  “Ben can get his own son.” Jax slipped off the dock, flinching as the water hit his bare skin.

  She laughed. “If Ben ever comes home, Shore girls might just take you up on that offer.”

  Easing toward them, Jax stopped in his tracks mid-motion. “Including you?”

  An unwelcome notion—Darcy with any of his brothers. She’d spent her childhood playing with Anna and Jax and...Ben.

  The Kiptohanock Four, Dad called them. Surely Jax hadn’t been out of the loop that long? Surely his mom would’ve clued him in?

  Going deeper, he moved toward Darcy, the water sluicing around him. Darcy and Ben? Nah... Unlikely in the extreme. Though opposites did attract. Him and Adrienne, case in point.

  And look where that had landed them both. His feet sank into the sandy bottom. Miserable.

  Sunlight glinted off the red tints in Darcy’s hair. The red she didn’t like to acknowledge. She’d never be interested in serious Ben. Would she? Jax figured her type to be someone more fun-loving. Like him. He gulped.

  He started forward again, but she halted him with her hand. “Stay there. I want to try something with Brody.” She bent over his son, murmuring instructions as Brody dog-paddled.

  Jax had always sort of considered her his exclusive territory. Which was crazy. But watching her with his son, he felt something in his chest tighten.

  He didn’t own her. She didn’t belong to him. She never had. But to the best of his knowledge, she wasn’t in a relationship. How could she be, considering the hours she worked at the shop?

  “That’s right, Brody,” Darcy encouraged as she put his son through the paces. She sputtered when Brody’s scooped palm accidentally splashed her in the face.

  Swiping her hand over her eyes, she laughed. Dewy drops of water spiked her lashes. And Jax’s insides went cattywampus.

  Was there someone she waited for? Was Ben the reason she’d never married? Why hadn’t some Shore guy snapped her up already? Darcy Parks, honest to a fault, was a treasure. And the idea of Darcy with Ben—or anyone else on the planet—didn’t set well with Jax.

  He cleared his throat. “You looking forward to Ben’s return, Darcy?”

  A wave lapped over her shoulders, and she did a little hop to keep her footing. “It’d be good to see Ben, but I’ll probably be in the Keys.”

  He glared. Like he needed another reminder of her impending departure at summer’s end. All week she’d gotten calls about apartment rentals from Aunt Shirley. Fast becoming his not-favorite aunt. And a dude from a trekking company in Alabama had phoned three times.

  “This kid is all you, Jax.” She sucked in a breath as she almost lost her grip on Dolphin Boy. “But a little fear is a good thing.”

  “Go big or go home, Darce.” Like he was one to talk.

  “Hold on there, Brody.” She scooped his son into her arms, resting his swimsuit-clad bottom against her hip. “I want you to swim to Daddy.”

  Brody’s brows puckered. “No.”

  Jax bit his lip.

  “Please, Brody,” she cajoled, as the water dripped off his son’s bare torso. “Let’s show Daddy how much you’ve learned.”

  But Brody stiffened, his arms in a stranglehold around her neck.

  Jax’s heart sank. “It’s okay, Darce.”

  She ran her hand over Brody’s hair, plastered to his head. “I’ll be right here the whole time.” She kissed his forehead. “There’s nothing to be scared of.”

  Brody shook his head violently. Wrapping his legs around Darcy, he clung to her like a limpet on a stone.

  Jax wanted to weep. “He’s not scared, Darcy. He just doesn’t trust me. I—I don’t want to force him.” His voice broke. “You can’t mak
e somebody love you.”

  Something fierce shone in Darcy’s eyes. For a second, he thought... But she dropped her gaze and whispered in Brody’s ear.

  Brody lifted his head, scowling at his father. But whatever she’d said to him, he slowly unpeeled himself from her, first his legs, then his arms. He eased into the water, Darcy holding him underneath his armpits.

  “Stay there, Jax. Brody’s going to swim to you.”

  “Darcy, he doesn’t have—”

  “He’s going to do it.” Her gaze locked on to his. “Trust me.”

  Jax opened his arms, baring his chest. “If there’s anyone in the whole world I trust, Darcy, it’s you.”

  Her smile lit places in his heart he’d believed long dead.

  “It’s go time, Brode.” She leaned over his son, holding him against the lapping current. “One, two, three...”

  Brody took off like one of the NASA rockets at Wallops Island.

  Darcy bobbed in the water, clapping. “Go, Brody, go.”

  Jax held his breath, willing his son to come to him. “I’ll catch you, Brody.” He extended his hands. “I’ve got you.”

  Within a few strokes, Brody was there, and Jax swept him into his arms. “You did it, Brody. You did it, son.”

  Jax hugged him to his chest, water streaming off the both of them. How good it felt to hold his child close. At least for this one moment.

  “Yay for Brody!” Darcy fist-pumped the air.

  Grinning, Brody lifted his own skinny arm. “Yay me.”

  Jax bounced him in the water. “Yay you.”

  Brody wriggled, trying to get free. “Me do again.”

  “Farther this time, Brode?” At his vigorous nod, Darcy moved back another yard.

  When Jax carefully released him, Brody took off toward her.

  “Thank you, Darcy.” Over the splashing, Jax’s eyes locked on to hers. “I think maybe he’s beginning to trust me a little.”

  Catching Brody in her arms, she whirled. His little legs flew out behind him, skimming the surface of the water.

  “Whee!” His son squirmed. “Do again. Swim, Dawcy.”

  “Jax, go back a ways.” She motioned and set Brody down.

  His boy took off at once, and the joy in Jax’s heart couldn’t be measured. It filled him, spilling out of him. Back and forth Brody swam, Jax and Darcy wearing out long before his energetic son.

  Eventually, Darcy called it quits. With Brody on her hip, she trudged toward the beach, Jax following. On solid ground, she placed Brody on his feet. He tore off toward the supply shed, where he pulled out his favorite toddler-size orange PFD.

  “What did you say to him, Darce? What made him agree to swim to me?”

  Keeping her eye on Brody threading his arms through the life jacket, she smiled. “I told him if he swam to you, I’d teach him how to do a wet exit.”

  “Darcy! He’s a two-year-old.”

  Her shoulders shook. “I know. But he’s seen us teaching paddle school, and he thinks it would be fun to get dunked under the water. What we have here is a burgeoning daredevil.”

  Jax raked his hand over his head.

  “Now you know how your mom felt. Fear is so not a factor for your little guy, Jaxon Pruitt.” She patted his biceps. “I wouldn’t let him watch extreme sports on television anytime soon.”

  She headed up the incline toward Brody, who was doing his best to lug a child-size kayak to the water. “And over the next few years, if I were you, Jax,” she called over her shoulder, “I’d be sure and keep my insurance up-to-date.”

  * * *

  One benefit of afternoon swim lessons was that by suppertime, Brody was worn-out. Out like a light by eight o’clock without protest. Both good and bad, from Jax’s perspective.

  Good that he had some time to himself. Bad in that it gave him more time to think, and more time alone. Though being alone, and savaged by guilt, was exactly what Jax deserved.

  And then there was the continuing battle to keep Darcy out of his mind. Like how the sun kissed the freckles on her nose when they were in the marsh. The strength of her arms paddling across the tidal creeks. Or her kindness in trying to restore his son to him.

  She was pretty wonderful. He lived to make her laugh. To see her eyes light up. To catch her gazing at him. To simply, under any circumstances, spend time with her.

  Foolish, futile thoughts going round and round in his head. Toward a destination he couldn’t sanction. Not considering how he’d failed the only other woman in his life.

  So one night, after Brody had been put to bed, it was with some relief he opened the door to his brother Charlie. Jax was glad for the distraction and the company. As the oldest, already soldiering in global hot spots, he’d missed his youngest brother’s growing-up years.

  But the tallest, burliest of his siblings had done well for himself. A distinguished deputy sheriff, he’d reopened their renovated childhood home to Pruitt family members for however long they wanted or needed to stay. Including their happily retired, world traveler parents.

  “You’ve been sent by Mom to check on me, haven’t you?”

  Charlie lolled against the door frame. “She’s worried about her firstborn.”

  Jax stepped aside to let him through. “I’m doing okay.”

  Charlie sidled into the kitchen. “Are you?”

  He yanked open the refrigerator. “I can offer you sweet tea, water or...sweet tea.”

  Charlie propped his elbows on the counter. “I got all the sweet tea I need at home, bro.” He gave Jax that Cheshire cat smile of his.

  Jax rolled his eyes. “Water it is then.” He pulled out a bottle. “You married up, my friend.”

  “Yeah.” Charlie smirked, taking the bottle. “I did.”

  Jax grabbed a water bottle for himself. “How’s that book club thing working out for you, Charles? Whatcha reading now?” He chortled. “Gone with the Wind?”

  Charlie unscrewed the cap. “Like you’d know Gone with the Wind from a comic book.” He threw back his head and took a swig. Coming up for air, he wiped his hand across his mouth. “But for your information, book club doesn’t meet during the summer.”

  Jax opened the French doors to the deck. “All kidding aside, I’m happy for you, Charlie. You’re a lucky man.”

  His brother sank into one of the deck chairs. “Not lucky, blessed.”

  Jax sat down, glancing over the railing toward the gurgling creek. From somewhere, the scent of gardenias wafted. The two of them remained silent for a few moments, enjoying the dark summer evening.

  Until Charlie worked up the nerve to say what he’d come to say. “You’ve been happier this summer than I’ve seen you in a long time, Jax.”

  Because of Darcy. Jax took another sip of water. But he couldn’t say that to his brother. “How ’bout those Nats?”

  Not easily distracted, Charlie could be like a terrier with a bone. “Adrienne’s been dead almost two years, Jax.”

  Jax set the water bottle on the small table between them. “I’m not having this conversation with you.” He’d spent most of the last two years trying not to think about Adrienne.

  Charlie ran his finger around the lip of his own plastic bottle. “When then? And with whom?”

  Jax knotted his hands in his lap. “So the family elected you, huh?”

  Charlie sighed. “Her dying wasn’t your fault, bro.”

  Jax clenched his jaw. “I know that.”

  His brother’s eyes locked on to his. “Do you?”

  “What happened before she died was my fault.” Jax balled his fist. “And every day I see what the loss of her has done to Brody.”

  Charlie leaned forward. “The guilt is eating you alive. And you’re stuck on punishing yourself. Not allowing yourself a chance for happiness.”

  “Happine
ss?” Jax’s mouth twisted. “Not part of my plan. I’ve got a new business to operate and a son to raise. Brody needs me.”

  Charlie rested his elbows on his knees. “What Brody needs is a mom. And you’re too busy guilt-tripping yourself to see who is right under your nose.”

  Jax gaped at him. “What’re you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about Darcy. You spend a lot of time with a woman you claim not to care about.”

  Jax stiffened. “I do care about Darcy. She’s a friend.”

  Charlie snorted. “Tell me another one, bro.”

  “We work together.” Jax dropped his gaze. “Anything good happening between my son and me is her doing. And without her help in the business, I’d already be in over my head.”

  Charlie laid his palms on the wooden armrests. “She’s more to you than you’ll admit. Don’t deny it, Jax.”

  Jax’s shoulders slumped. “Even if she was, how could I bring another woman into our lives when I failed Brody’s mother so miserably?”

  There was the crux of it. He’d made mistakes, but the biggest mistake had been trusting Adrienne. She’d taken his heart and crushed it.

  “Adrienne did a number on your head, Jax,” his brother whispered in the darkness. “I get why you’d be scared.”

  Jax straightened. “Don’t blame Adrienne. I was as much to blame for what happened as she was.” He gritted his teeth. “And I’m not scared.”

  Charlie blew out a breath. “Somehow you’ve got to forgive yourself and let go of what happened.”

  Jax scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t deserve forgiveness, Charlie.”

  “None of us do, Jax, but God forgives us anyway. And He has a way of working everything out to our good if we allow Him to.” Charlie’s voice softened. “Evy and I are a prime example of that. I hate to see you lose the best thing, besides Brody, that has ever happened to you.”

  Jax tilted his head. “What’re you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about Darcy, bro.”

  Hopeless futility rose in his throat. “There is no me and Darcy. There can’t ever be. Even if I...” He swallowed. “Darcy barely tolerates me. She doesn’t think of me that way.”