by Marin Thomas
“Sure.” Walter pushed the cart toward the exit, and Katelyn heard Ginny say, “You’re helping me because you want a free pie.”
Walter chuckled. “Am I that transparent?”
Katelyn averted her gaze when Brian leaned in and kissed Layla. Once he’d wheeled his cart away and disappeared down the aisle, Layla approached the register. “Did Walter tell you that he’s working around my school schedule?”
“He did.”
“He asked me if I knew your plans for the future.”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Did Jackson ask you to stay?”
“Yes.”
Layla’s eyes widened.
“We’re taking it one day at a time like you and Brian.”
“But how can you do that if he’s here and you’re in Missouri?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Katelyn winced when Layla took a step back. “I’m sorry. It’s that I don’t like thinking about the future. It makes me anxious.”
“Boy, do I get that.” Layla lowered her voice. “I’m worried I’ll screw this up with Brian.”
“How so?”
“He’s such a responsible guy, and he treats Gavin like a son.”
“And you’re concerned because . . . ?”
“What if I grow bored with our relationship?”
Katelyn could never imagine herself growing weary of being with Jackson. “What if you don’t?”
“I keep telling myself that if things don’t work out, at least I gave it a try.” Layla shrugged. “All these years I had my sights set on finding a wealthy guy so I could live on easy street, and I end up falling for a deliveryman.”
“Sometimes what we think we want isn’t what’s best for us.”
“I thought about your situation,” Layla said. “You married for money and look how things turned out.” Her tone softened. “You lived in a big, beautiful house. Traveled all over the world. Never had to worry about how to pay the bills, and your kids had the best of everything, but your marriage didn’t last.”
“No, it didn’t.”
“After I began dating Brian, I told myself to live in the moment and that the future would take care of itself, but you know what?”
“What?”
“I realized there’s more good in life than bad and it took Brian to make me see that.” She smiled. “I’m a better person when I’m with him.”
Jackson’s face flashed before Katelyn’s eyes. He’d supported her dreams and encouraged her to chase after them. He’d always believed in her. It was Katelyn who’d lost faith in herself.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“Mom! What did you do to your hair?”
Katelyn hugged her daughter in front of Wood Hall on the Stephens College campus, the third Saturday of August. “Do you like the style?”
“I love it.” She gave Katelyn a second hug. “You look younger.”
“And you look older.” Melissa’s suntanned skin glowed. Where had eighteen years gone? The little girl who tripped over her shoelaces had grown into a lovely young woman right under her mother’s nose.
“You’re not going to cry, are you?” Melissa smiled.
“Don’t be silly. I missed you this summer.”
“I missed you, too. I took a ton of photos from my trip abroad and uploaded them to my computer. We can look at them later tonight.” Melissa glanced around. “Where’s Grandma Chandler?”
“Talking to the girl by the fountain.” The student handed Birdie her guitar and a group gathered around to listen to her play.
“Grandma’s going to embarrass me.” Melissa covered her face with her hands and peeked through her fingers.
“You might be surprised,” Katelyn said. “Grandma Birdie plays in a band now.”
“Dad said they’re called the Hot Tamales.”
“And Grandma Birdie sings on Friday nights at a local bar.”
“I guess it’s cool to have a grandmother who’s a musician.” Melissa frowned. “If she’s performing in front of people, she needs a hipper wardrobe. Capri pants went out of style before I was born.”
“Shirley offered to buy her a pair of dress slacks and a silk blouse, but your grandmother refuses to give up her Buy & Bag T-shirts.” Katelyn caressed a strand of her daughter’s long brown hair. “I’m glad I was able to meet you at school and help you move in.”
“Dad’s been acting weird since he told me about the divorce. I think he knows I’m mad at him, because he cheated on you.”
“Give it time and things will get better between you.”
“I know, but is it okay if I’m mad at him for a while?”
Katelyn wished she could protect her daughter’s feelings. “Of course you can be angry at him, but never forget that he loves you.” Katelyn motioned to Birdie. “While your grandmother’s putting on an impromptu concert, why don’t you introduce me to Sara’s parents? I’d like to thank them for inviting you to stay at their home this summer.”
“They want to meet us later for dinner.”
“Sure, that sounds nice. Grandma and I are staying through Monday. I want to see if you like your classes and professors.”
“I only have two classes on Monday, so we can shop if you want to. Dad gave me a credit card to use this semester.”
It figured Don would try to buy his kids’ forgiveness.
“I’ll pay for a pair of Rockies jeans and a rhinestone cowgirl shirt for Grandma when she sings at the bar.”
“Good luck convincing her to wear them.” Katelyn pointed to the building where her daughter had been assigned a dorm room on the second floor. “What do you want to do first?”
“I guess haul my stuff upstairs. Then we can organize it all.”
Katelyn and Birdie had flown into St. Louis two days ago and had loaded Melissa’s belongings into Katelyn’s SUV. After eight trips up and down the stairs, they had all her daughter’s belongings in the room.
“When is”—Katelyn glanced at the name on the door—“Kristin getting here?”
“Tomorrow. She texted me this morning and said they had car trouble in Kansas City.”
“Where’s Kristin from?” Katelyn asked.
“Nebraska.” Melissa fell across her bed. “Mom?”
Katelyn sat in the chair and propped her feet on the desk. “What?”
“Dad told me about the guy you dated in high school.”
“Jackson?” She hadn’t expected Don to mention her old boyfriend to the kids.
“Is it true that you and Jackson are getting back together?”
“Did your dad tell you that?”
“Grandma Pratt did. I called her last week to talk about my trip abroad.”
Shirley must have forgotten about the conversation; otherwise, she’d have told Katelyn.
“You’re not going to marry Jackson, are you?”
“I have no plans to marry anyone.” Not yet. Maybe never. Katelyn considered changing the subject, but she didn’t want any secrets between her and the twins. “Jackson and I have been on a few dates.”
“Is it weird seeing him after all these years?”
“Kind of. He’s the same and yet different—like me.”
“Are you moving back to Little Springs?”
“If I do, would you visit me during holiday breaks and your summer vacation?”
Melissa nodded. “You wouldn’t expect me to hang out all summer, would you? There’s nothing to do there.”
“Where do you want to spend your summers?”
“Grandma Pratt said I could use her apartment. I’d be able to hang out with my friends, and Dad would be around if I needed anything.”
“As long as you get a job, I think that would be okay. Grandma Chandler and I can fly to St. Louis to visit you, too.”
“I guess that would work.”
Katelyn was impressed that Melissa was taking her parents’ divorce in stride. “Have you talked to your brother lately?”
“He bragged about getting As in his summer-school classes.”
Katelyn laughed. “When are you two going to stop competing with each other?”
“Never. We made a bet our first semester.”
“What’s that?”
“Whoever earns the lowest GPA has to wear one of Grandma’s Buy & Bag T-shirts to class for a week.”
“Ouch.”
“Hey, Mom? Is it true that Grandma Pratt’s boyfriend is a minister?”
“Yep.”
“Is he nice?”
“Very. And he puts up with Grandma, so that makes him even more special.”
Melissa hopped off the bed, opened a plastic bin and began putting her toiletries away. “How’s Grandma’s memory?”
“About the same. She still forgets where she puts her purse, but Vern looks out for her, and since she’s been spending time with him, she’s in a much better mood.”
“Grandma mentioned that she and Vern want to visit me Labor Day weekend.”
“I’ll make sure to remind Vern in case Grandma forgets. Shirley would enjoy showing him around her alma mater.”
“How much do you want to bet Grandma puts money into my expense account?” Melissa grinned.
“I’m sure she will, so use it wisely.” Katelyn pointed to the end of the bed where a framed photograph of Greece rested on the mattress. “It’s a beautiful shot. Did you buy that abroad?”
“I wanted something to remember the trip by.” Melissa opened a bin of clothes and put the outfits on hangers. “Grandma Pratt said there’s a lady who’s interested in showing your work in an art gallery.”
“Grandma sure had a lot to say when you talked to her last.”
“Wasn’t she supposed to tell me?”
“I was hoping to keep it a surprise until this weekend.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“I entered my work in the Pecos Art Festival and a painting I did of the auto body shop in Little Springs won Best in Show.”
“Seriously, Mom? That’s so cool.”
Melissa and Michael knew Katelyn had attended college on an art scholarship, and they’d seen her doodle on her sketch pad, but she hadn’t discussed art with them.
“How come you never said you started painting again when we talked on the phone this summer?”
Mostly because she feared she’d fail. “I thought I wanted to draw again, but I hadn’t done it in so long that I didn’t know if I still had the passion for it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t sure I believed in myself and my talent.” It had taken courage to display her work for people to critique.
“So what happened with the lady from the art gallery?” Melissa asked.
“She’s interested in my charcoal sketches. I’m hoping she wants one of them for her gallery.”
“I’m proud of you, Mom.” Melissa pointed across the room. “Do you think you could do a drawing for that wall? It would be neat to have something my mother made hanging in my room.”
Katelyn’s heart swelled with love for her daughter. “I’ll surprise you.” She spread her arms wide. “We’d better get busy if we’re going to meet Sara’s parents for dinner in a few hours.” She opened another bin of clothes and put those in the dresser. “By the way, Grandma Pratt has a new hairstyle also.”
“Maybe I should cut my hair.”
Katelyn studied Melissa’s long tresses and saw her younger self in her daughter. All through high school and college, Katelyn’s long hair had been her identity, her security. Then after she married, she’d used her hair as a shield against Shirley’s disapproval of her. “I think your hair is perfect.”
“Mom? Are you and Dad going to be okay?”
“We’ll be fine, honey. The only thing you need to worry about is your schoolwork and enjoying your first year of college.”
Melissa smiled. “Okay, I will.”
“Pinkie swear?” They curled their pinkie fingers around each other’s, and at that moment, Katelyn knew everything was going to be okay.
• • •
“You got a minute?” Vern walked over to the couch in the garage and sat.
“Be right with you.” Jackson typed on his laptop. “I’ve got to place an order for a part.”
“I can come back later.”
“Done.” Jackson’s gaze collided with Vern’s expressionless face. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I stopped by to see how you were doing.”
“Where’s Shirley?” Jackson asked.
“I dropped her off at the beauty salon. She spends more money getting her hair done than any other woman I’ve known.”
Katelyn and Birdie had left for St. Louis the previous week, and Shirley had remained behind. Since Vern worried about her staying alone in Birdie’s house, he’d insisted she sleep in the guest bedroom at his place. “How are things going with you two?” When Vern didn’t answer, Jackson walked over and sat next to his mentor. “Is everything okay?”
“Fine.” Vern’s gnarled fingers pressed against his slacks, bunching the material over his thighs.
“You’re worked up about something.”
“Have you and Katelyn made any plans for the future?”
“The only plan we have is not to have a plan.” He wanted Katelyn to come home for good, but he refused to pressure her. Her happiness filled him with a sense of peace and rightness, and he wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize that.
Vern scowled. “Didn’t you ask Katelyn to stay?”
“I told her to do what’s best for her.” If she came to the conclusion that he and Little Springs were best, then he’d grab hold of their future together with both hands and never let go.
“And if Katelyn doesn’t come back, you’re going to be okay with that?”
“Yep.” He wasn’t fooling himself—it would hurt. Probably a lot. “I’d rather Katelyn be happy without me than unhappy with me.”
“If she doesn’t want to live here, then sell the garage and go be with her.”
“We’re not teenagers anymore, Vern.” He spread his arms wide. “I’m doing what I love.” Running the garage and working on cars made staying sober doable. “Katelyn deserves a chance to live her own dream.” With or without him.
“I don’t want you to have regrets,” Vern said.
“You’ve changed your tune about Katelyn. When she first arrived in town, you weren’t happy we were spending time together.”
“I shouldn’t have interfered.”
Jackson rubbed a hand down his face. He didn’t want to argue with the man who’d helped him do something worthwhile with his life. “Did you tell Abby you’re driving to St. Louis with Shirley in September?”
“Abby wants us to stop in Dallas on the way. She’s got plans for us to meet her boss at some fancy restaurant.”
“Shirley will like that.”
Vern stood up. “It’s official. I’ll resume my church duties in October.”
“The congregation will be happy to hear that.”
“And I’m asking Shirley to marry me once I speak to Abby about it.”
“What about Shirley’s son?”
“I’m not worried about Don’s approval. According to Shirley, he’s on her shit list.” Vern smiled. “Her words, not mine.”
“I’m happy for you, Vern.”
Vern’s mouth curved in a sad smile. “Elaine was a quiet, peaceful woman who shared her love of God with me. Every time I walk into the church or open my Bible, I feel her presence.” He straightened his shoulders. “You told me Elaine would want what’s best for me, and I believe that now.”
Vern needed to take care of people. He’d watched over his parish for decades. He’d encouraged Jackson the past few years and he’d stayed by his wife’s side as she battled cancer. It was natural that he’d gravitate toward Shirley, who’d need him more as her memory grew worse.
Vern clasped Jackson’s shoulder. “You know you’re like a son to me.”
“And you’re the father I’d always wished for.” When Vern’s eyes lit up, Jackson swallowed hard. He should have told the old man more often how much he meant to him.
Vern walked out of the garage. A moment later, Jackson heard the Mercedes drive off. He went back to the Civic in the bay and lifted the hood. Fixing cars was something he could control, and he needed to keep busy so he wouldn’t think about Katelyn and whether she’d come back to Little Springs.
And to him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
This was it?
Jackson sat in his pickup across the street from Katelyn’s home in St. Louis and stared at the house. A Sold plaque had been slapped across the realty sign in the front yard, and an SUV was parked in the circular driveway.
He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake by driving up here without an invitation, but when Birdie had stopped by the garage after Shirley and Vern had taken off for Dallas and had given him the painting of Mendoza Auto that Katelyn had left behind for him, he’d needed to speak with her—in person.
All those years ago he’d believed Katelyn had ended their relationship because he’d been damaged goods and unlovable. Something had to be wrong with him if the only two women he’d ever loved—his mother and Katelyn—had left him behind.
His drinking had grown worse, and he’d roamed from job to job. There were months when he’d laid off the booze, and other months when he’d fallen into a dark hole and hadn’t remembered how he’d crawled out. Then one morning he’d woken with the worst hangover ever and decided to give up alcohol. Just. Like. That.
It wasn’t long after when Vern talked to him about AA, which Jackson hadn’t believed he’d needed. But he’d screwed up the courage and gone to a meeting. Then another. And another. It had helped knowing there were others struggling each and every day like him.
