by Casey Hagen
Jack unlocked the door and clicked on the lights with the remote. He dropped the pie onto the counter. “What can I get for you? I’ve got water, soda, beer, whiskey…”
“You know, whiskey sounds good. It’s been a rough day,” Chris said.
“I know the feeling. Whiskey it is.” Chris looked just like him. There was no denying it in the light, Chris had turned into a spitting image of Jack. The same hair and hairline, eyes, build, height. Christ, it was like looking at himself at thirty-one.
“Want to tell me about your rough day?” Jack said. He had no right, but just in case.
“Sophie has a cold so we have to postpone the surgery. Every day that passes puts her more at risk.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, shit is about right.”
Jack poured two glasses and led Chris to the living room. Unable to relax, keyed up, still upset from earlier and terrified he’d screw up the ensuing conversation, he perched on the edge of the sofa cushion and drank deeply from his glass.
Chris sat across from him on the other sofa. “I hope you don’t mind that I just showed up. Alan gave me your address a while back. I didn’t know if I wanted to use it. A lot going on.” Chris’s hand shook as he took a few big gulps of his whiskey.
“No, I’m glad you did. I’ve always wondered…”
“Have you?” Chris said with a hard edge to his voice.
So, there it was. “Not a day has gone by that I didn’t think about you or wonder if I did the right thing.”
Chris nodded, seeming to accept that. “Sorry… I didn’t know how I would handle this. A part of me has been bitter since I found out I was adopted.”
“I'd expect you to be angry.”
Chris scratched his head the same way Jack always did when he was frustrated. “It’s stupid. I’m a grown man. I just, I feel like I missed out.”
“Yeah, I know that feeling.”
Chris glanced up at him. “I guess you would.”
“I wanted you. Your mother wanted you. We wanted you so much that neither of us was willing to risk ruining your life. It was that simple.”
“My mother is gone.”
“Yeah, Alan told me.”
Chris ground his fingers into his eyes. “So, um, do I have any brothers and sisters?”
Jack stared into his glass. “No, no brothers or sisters.”
“Really?” Chris said, eyes wide.
“Really.”
“That’s too bad; would have been nice for Sophie to finally have aunts and uncles. I was an only child.”
What? “You would have been okay if you had come here and found out I had other kids?”
“Sure; why wouldn’t I?”
“Because I gave you up, but went on to have a bunch of kids I kept.”
“Well, I would imagine having a kid at seventeen is different than choosing to have one later.”
“True.”
“I’m terrified I’m going to lose her,” Chris said. His voice sounded as if he’d swallowed glass.
Jack nodded. “You’re a good dad.”
“Because of you,” Chris said.
Jack laughed. “Uh, no…that goes to your parents.”
“Parents I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for you,” Chris said quietly.
And just like that life gave him a swift kick in his stubborn, misguided ass. His son walked into his life and pointed out with a handful of words that he had been a moron of mass proportions. The years he’d given up, the relationships he’d avoided.
Laura and Bryce.
Just knowing his son would be fine with him moving on and starting a family lifted every fear he’d ever carried.
Now he just had to deal with the fact that he’d been stupid, stubborn, and—he winced when he thought back to the day—mean.
Ray was right.
“I’m an idiot,” Jack muttered.
Chris laughed. “I’ll have to take your word for it. Anything I can help you with?”
Jack smiled at Chris. “You already have. How do you feel about banana cream pie?”
“It’s my favorite,” Chris said.
“Mine, too. Let’s dig in.” Jack came back with the pie and two forks. “Hey, you have pictures of this granddaughter of mine?”
13
The next day Jack drove to Mimosa Key Dental with a bouquet of orchids from Bud’s Buds. He’d been assured that they were the perfect flowers for him to grovel his way out of the doghouse.
Chris had alleviated every fear he’d held inside for the past thirty-one years. He’d also highlighted what an ass Jack had been. With that, he’d freed Jack to go after what he wanted.
He pulled into the parking lot and shut off the engine.
Time to see how much magic he had bought with his hundred bucks.
He pushed open the door and stepped up to the front counter. “I’m here to see Laura Adams.”
The receptionist—her nametag read ‘Barbara’—stood. “Oh, she’s not here today. Can I take a message for her?”
“You wouldn’t happen to know where I could find her, would you, Barbara?”
The middle-aged woman pursed her lips. “We don’t hand out personal information on our employees.”
Jack leaned on the counter and laid the flowers next to his arm. “I wouldn’t ordinarily ask, but…” he glanced around. He didn’t want to advertise his business to everyone in the waiting room. “I owe her a massive apology for being a man. I’m hoping to find her and deliver that apology with these flowers that are just as beautiful as she is.”
Barbara’s eyes softened and Jack knew he had her.
“Look, I can’t go giving you addresses, but she took a personal day to spend on the beach with that boy of hers. I don’t know where, so don’t ask me. I suspect if you want to see her badly enough, you’ll find her.”
He knew right where she was and it was perfect! Jack braced his hands on the counter and hopped up enough to give Barbara a smacking kiss on her cheek. “I owe you big time, Barbara.”
“You pay me back by putting a smile back in her eyes. I suspect you’re the reason it disappeared?”
He nodded. “That would be me, but I’m going to fix that. I think. I hope.”
“You do that. Good luck!”
“Thanks,” he said with a wink, grabbing the flowers.
He stopped at home and changed into board shorts and a loose cotton shirt, hoping that if things worked out he’d get some much-needed time with his sand castle buddy.
He took a deep breath before walking onto the beach. He parked closer to where he usually ran into Maureen and Bryce and headed in that direction. With temps in the low eighties, more families had set up on the sand.
He scanned the horizon, searching for a head of dark curls and two redheads. What he saw was a bunch of families of varying types, all having fun.
All smiling and playing.
All loving each other.
He’d pushed that away. He loved Laura, he loved Bryce, and he had pushed it away.
Idiot didn’t cover it.
He kept walking and came across a suspiciously familiar sand castle standing alone, partially dried-out. If he had to guess, he’d put his money on it belonging to Bryce. He’d taught him how to build two-stories with turrets.
This castle had an addition, and a wall around it for fortification. Jack dropped to the sand next to the castle and stared out at the horizon. He rested his elbows on his bent knees, the orchids dangling from his hands in between.
He’d mucked this one up good.
Maybe he should just go to her work in a few days. He’d run out of time before going into the hospital. He could do what he needed to do for that beautiful blonde granddaughter of his and try again after.
He heard a piercing squeal and turned.
“My Jack!” Bryce screamed as he broke free from his mother’s hand and ran full-tilt right for Jack.
Jack fought a surge of emotion, tears threatening at the sight.
Almost to him, Bryce leapt into the air, right into Jack’s arms, and took them both down to the sand.
Bryce’s skinny little arms locked around him and squeezed tight. Holding the boy to his chest he sat up and closed his eyes, just relieved to have the boy with him again.
He had to do whatever possible to not lose him, or his mother, again.
He opened his eyes to find Laura watching them from about ten feet away. She hadn’t been sleeping well, if the dark circles around her eyes were any indication.
He had done that. He had heaped sorrow onto her already-burdened soul. Shame filled him. How could he have done this to her? To them?
He disentangled Bryce’s arms from his neck. “Buddy, I need to talk to your mom.”
“You were gone for a long time,” Bryce said, a serious look on his face.
“I was, and I’m sorry.”
“I thought you were going to be gone like my daddy,” Bryce whispered.
Laura dropped down to where they sat. “You didn’t tell me you were worried about that.” She brushed the hair away from his forehead.
“You were sad. I didn’t want to make you sadder.”
“You two need to talk. Bryce, come with me; let’s grab a juice box,” Maureen said.
“Promise you’ll be here when I’m done?” Bryce asked, a hand on Jack’s shoulder.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He said the words for Bryce, but his gazed stayed locked on Laura.
Bryce took Maureen’s hand and walked off, his head turned in their direction as if he expected Jack to disappear.
“I’m a horrible mother,” Laura whispered, watching him walk away.
Jack reached out and touched her. He had to touch her. He smoothed his fingers over her lightly-freckled cheek. “No. This was all me. I screwed this one up.”
She wiped away a tear. “Why are you here, Jack?”
“To throw myself on your mercy. And to bring you these.” He handed her the ivory orchids, which she took. She smoothed her fingers over the delicate petals.
“They’re beautiful, but why?”
“Because I hurt you.”
“Nothing has changed. I’m his mother first. That’s never going to change, Jack. We’re a package deal.” She shielded her eyes and smiled at her son before turning back to Jack. “I should have told you, I know I should have, but it never seemed to be the right time, and by the time I realized I should have, it seemed too late. I’m in uncharted territory here.”
“You did it right. I was being stubborn.” He stared out at the ocean. “I’ve kept myself safe for thirty-one years by controlling everything around me so I couldn’t hurt the way I did when I gave up my son.” He turned to her. “Then you came along with those damn pants and that smile. Safety didn’t seem so important anymore, but when it came down to it I freaked. I’m not proud of it. I’m sorry for it.” He took her hand and kissed it.
“And you’re over it, just like that?”
“Well, I had to go through a few things. Roseanne called me some unsavory names. My friend, Ray, gave me a good talking to at the diner. And when I got home, my son was waiting for me in my driveway.”
“He came,” she whispered. Tears spilled down her cheeks, but she ignored them and bounced up onto her knees.
“He did. He was having a shit night. I was having a shit night. We shared some whiskey, and yeah…,” Jack grinned, “…it was a good night. He was bummed I didn’t have any brothers or sisters for him to meet. I’m hoping I can rectify that.”
“You want kids now?” she said, her eyes as big as saucers.
“I’m kind of hoping I can share yours and maybe add more. That is, if the woman I love can forgive me for being a jackass. Oh, and if she doesn’t mind setting up house with a grandpa.”
Laura threw herself at him and took them to the ground, laughing, crying, and kissing his face all over. “I would love that.” She pushed up on her hands and smiled down. “Wait…you love me?”
“Yeah.”
“I love you right back.”
“Come here, lady, and kiss me.” He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her to him. The puzzle pieces of his life finally slid together, everything in the right spot. He’d had the border, but the middle had been a bunch of holes and forced pieces that never quite fit right.
Until now.
It only took thirty-one long years, but he finally had his family.
His whole family.
Epilogue
They’d arrived at the beach super early that morning. Jack and Bryce had put together blueprints for the perfect sand castle city, and time was of the essence according to her boys.
They’d enlisted help. Chris stood at the water’s edge with his wife, Elle, holding Sophie’s hand.
After eight hours of digging, measuring, hauling sand, building, carving, and using spray bottles to keep the sand city at just the right moisture level, they finally had it.
“That husband of yours is crazy pants,” Maureen said from where she sat under the umbrella with Laura.
Laura smiled and started pulling out snacks. “He is, but as long as Bryce is happy I’m happy.”
“Pssshhhh, like you’re not just as happy. You glow brighter than a damned Roman candle.” Maureen nodded toward the crew. “Chris might be just as crazy pants. You see him out there?”
Chris had his Nikon out and circled the city, taking picture after picture. He and Jack had formed a bond and became the best of friends. Elle had been shy and unsure, but she was coming around. And Sophie had wrapped her papa around her little finger in a way that only a granddaughter could.
Jack had the procedure done the day after they reunited. It took a few weeks for Sophie to recover to the point where they dared try the surgery, but once they did, she handled it like a champ. That little girl radiated spirit and strength Laura suspected she got from her father and grandfather. Now, a year later, the doctors had declared Sophie’s leukemia in remission.
Thank God, because Bryce had forged a tight bond with her and would be devastated to lose her.
The biggest change had to be in Jack, though. He lit up the minute he accepted people into his life… when he finally built his family. To this day, he awed Laura by taking the chance with her.
Jack made his way up to their blanket and sat down beside her. “It’s finished and I’m beat,” he said, flopping onto the blanket.
His hand wandered over to her gently-rounded stomach. “I’m bitching and you’re growing a whole human. How’s the peanut?”
“The peanut is finally sleeping.”
“How’s Mom?”
“Mom is hungry,” she said with a laugh, rolling onto her side to face him.
“You knocked her up, Jack, and now she eats all the food. I’m going to have to pack a hidden stash when we do these family outings.” Maureen flipped open her copy of Cosmopolitan and promptly ignored them.
“How are you really? Because you look tired.” Jack brushed the hair away from her face.
“I’m tired, but I feel good.”
“You never fail to amaze this old man.” He smiled, kissed her forehead, and pulled her against his chest.
She lay there, surrounded by his comforting scent, warm, content, listening to the sounds of her family around her.
She still didn’t know if she deserved all of this, but she’d take it anyway, and never once forget how blessed she was.
Available on Kindle, Amazon, and Audible…
Falling in Fiji
A Falling in Paradise Novel
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Falling in Angels Falls
smarturl.it/AngelsFallsAmazon
Available on Kindle, Amazon, and Audible…
Sunset at Lake Crane
A Livingston Valley Novel
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Other Kindle World novellas by Casey Hagen…
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smarturl.it/BillionaireDame
smarturl.it/ConsumedbytheDare
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ABOUT CASEY HAGEN
Casey Hagen pens her snarky, passionate stories from the salty air of Kennebunk, Maine. She’s a born and raised Vermont native, a New England girl to the core, with Ben & Jerry’s in her heart and real Vermont maple syrup pumping through her veins.
She’s the proud mother of three girls and a soon-to-be first-time grandma with an insatiable addiction to Fall Out Boy, and a new, rather concerning obsession with tattoos and piercings. Can you say “cool grandma?”
The inked and pierced grandma spends her time tucked away in her office, coated in cat hair, alternating between tearing her hair out trying to find the perfect words and being one step ahead of her three scheming fur babies she is positive are plotting her demise with every swirl around her ankles at the top of her office stairs.
She loves writing stories about real people, with complicated histories, relatable everyday problems, and giving them the hard-won happily-ever-afters they deserve.
And she thanks every last one of you who picks up one of her stories.
Casey is done talking about herself in the third person.
*Casey out*
