Jessie Belle: The Women of Merryton - Book One

by Peel, Jennifer

  I did know. She had grown up in worse circumstances than Maddie. Her dad, Frank, still lived here, and if this town had a drunk, it would be him. Her sweet mother passed away not too long before Taylor and Easton split up. It was a rough time for my friend, but she endured it with class and poise. I probably should have taken notes.

  “You never know. She has a sweet spot for Ashley.”

  His eyes brightened at the mention of his oldest daughter. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

  “She looks a lot like Taylor.”

  “Lucky girl,” Easton responded like a lovesick fool. And he was a fool to let Taylor go. I know it takes two to tango, but I think he made a serious misstep.

  “Well, I should probably get to work. Have a good day.”

  “Try and stay out of trouble.” He winked.

  I rolled my eyes. Oh, this town.

  As soon as I reached my desk, my office phone rang.

  “Jessie Belle’s, this is Jessie,” I answered pleasantly.

  “Jessie, this is the mayor’s secretary, Lucy Tillman,” she said it like I didn’t know who she was. I used to babysit her when I was growing up.

  “Hey, Lucy.”

  “I was just calling to confirm the order for the mayor’s ball on July 3rd. Landon wants to make sure everything is in order.”

  The way she said Landon’s name sounded like they had more than a professional relationship. Pig. We were like ten years older than her and he was married.

  I pulled up the order on my laptop. “Looks like we have twelve dozen of each of the following: chocolate covered strawberries, personal triple-chocolate mousse pies, and also an assortment of cakes. Is that correct?”

  “Yes, I think so. I’m kind of new to all of this.”

  “Well, if you need to make any changes, please let us know as soon as possible. If we don’t hear from you we will plan on having this order ready and delivered by 3:00 pm on the 3rd.”

  “I think that should work. Thank you.”

  I hung up the phone and prayed that was the last of the phone calls from the mayor’s office. I didn’t want to do the order in the first place, but since I was informed by the Chamber of Commerce that I was receiving The Business of the Year Award, I felt like I had to do it. It also meant I had to show up to the stupid ball. I had asked Blake a few weeks ago if he wanted to go with me, and he had given me that look that said he would rather have someone rip his fingernails out one by one. So I asked my dad to escort me instead. My mom was going to be out of town visiting my aunt Deidre that weekend, anyway. I think my dad was looking forward to our father-daughter date.

  At least it was going to give me the chance to wear the cocktail dress I had bought at Bloomingdale’s two years ago when Abby and Cheyenne and I took a girls’ trip there. They knew my love for musicals and we got to see a few of my favorites, Fiddler on the Roof, Wicked, and The Phantom of the Opera. It was the best week ever. Finding the dress was just icing on the cake. The black dress had a lace bodice, scalloped square neck, and capped sleeves. It fell just above my knee and fit me like a glove. I tried it on the other day, just to make sure. It was a little tighter around my ribcage, but that’s what pregnancy can do to a woman.

  I sighed.

  After I finished up payroll, I headed to the kitchen to see what I could do. Aaron greeted me there. “Running like a well-oiled machine.”

  “You do good work.”

  “Thanks. You know if you want to spend some time with your daughter—I mean stepdaughter—we have it covered here.”

  I paused and held on to the gleaming stainless steel counter. That was a thought. And it’s not like I had been much help around here lately, anyway. I spent most of my time helping Maddie hate math - I mean get math. But really she hated it. I was happy to report that Blake agreed with me last night that he would be taking over the homework help, except for reading. I loved that part. I didn’t mind helping her, I just didn’t want it interfering with our budding relationship. Plus Blake needed to step up to the plate in that regard.

  “Well, I could spend the day with my mom and her.”

  “We’ll call if we need anything.”

  He turned from me and went right back to work.

  I had this odd feeling. Jessie Belle’s had been my life for so long, I wasn’t sure how to feel about this turn of events. I mean honestly, the past few weeks I hadn’t been present or much help. Basically, I had just been there to sign the paychecks. I mean, I was still working on the new menu items, but I did most of that at home.

  Last year at this time I was planning on taking a step back from my business, but I thought I was going to be having a baby. I did have a child in my care now, but did she need me full-time?

  Those were interesting thoughts.

  I took my thoughts with me to the arts and crafts store where, with the help of the owner, I got an assortment of drawing utensils and the right kind of paper. By the time I was done there, it was time to pick up Maddie. We were going to have lunch with my parents. My mom was so excited.

  “Hi, honey. How dreadful was school today?” I asked when Maddie got in the car. I had given up on asking if she had had a good day.

  She gave me her crooked little grin. “I survived.”

  “I’m happy to hear that, or else I wouldn’t know what to do with these.” I handed her the double-handled paper bag filled with art supplies.

  She eagerly took the bag and peered inside and began to remove each item. “This is awesome! Thank you!”

  “You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.”

  “Jessie?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you think my dad would like it if I drew him something for Father’s Day?”

  Oh, wow. I hadn’t thought about the fact that I had a dad in my own home now. “Uh, yes, I think he would like that very much.”

  “Do you think I could make him a chocolate cake, too?”

  “Honey, you know your dad doesn’t really like dessert.”

  “Yeah, but he will if I make it for him for Father’s Day.”

  I appreciated her enthusiasm, and I used to think like her once upon a time, but he had killed my little baker’s heart.

  I glanced her way and she looked so excited about it. I hated to crush her spirit. And maybe if it was her he would behave appropriately. “Okay, we’ll go shopping for the ingredients next week as it get closer.” I don’t know why I said that. I’m sure we had what she needed at the house. I think I was just caught off guard.

  “Can you help me make him dinner, too?”

  I normally spent that day with my dad at the hospital visiting the children’s ward. It was tradition. And Sunday dinners were always at my parents’ house. I quickly thought about what my therapist, and even my mother, would say. I knew they would both want me to choose Blake. I guess I could cut my time short at the hospital. I mean, it was technically Blake’s first Father’s Day. Even though the year before I had purchased him one of those “father to be” cards and a football for future use with our son. I wondered what he had done with it.

  My eyes began to tear up. I needed to quit dwelling on the could have beens, or what I considered the should have beens. I looked over to my here and now and said, “Sure, honey.”

  We had an enjoyable lunch with my parents, but the real enjoyment for me came that evening as I watched and listened to Blake and Maddie do homework together. I knew I shouldn’t take such pleasure in it, but after two weeks of dealing with it by myself, I felt justified.

  They sat at the breakfast bar while I relaxed on the couch with lemon water and my feet propped up, reading the cozy mystery I had never finished.

  “You can get this, you just need to concentrate,” he told her.

  “You’re not very good at this. Can Jessie help me?”

  My grin kept getting wider and wider.

  “What do you mean, I’m not good at this? I know how to solve story problems.”

  “Well, Jessie explains it
better and she uses stuff.”

  “Like what?”

  “Would you like some help?” I called out casually.

  “I got it,” Blake said with a surly tone.

  “Yes,” Maddie said at the same time.

  I took a long sip of my lemon-infused water and then got up and joined them at the breakfast bar. They occupied the two stools in the middle. I squeezed in between them, to my husband’s annoyance. I winked at him and tried not to laugh, but he was kind of cute when he was frustrated.

  I turned my attention to a beyond-frustrated Maddie, “Show me what you got, honey.”

  The problem read something like you are making lemonade and the recipe calls for ¾ cups of sugar. How much sugar do you need for five batches? It was a simple problem and below her grade level, but this was why she was in summer school.

  I walked around to the kitchen and got out the sugar and a measuring cup and measured out the sugar, and once she had the visual we solved the problem on paper.

  My husband didn’t say a word the whole time, he just watched me.

  “See?” Maddie said. “She uses stuff.”

  I kissed his cheek. “You better get some stuff. Good luck.”

  I walked away, smiling to myself.

  Blake grabbed my hand and pulled me back. “Where you are going? We still have ten problems left.”

  “No, you have ten problems left.”

  “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” he asked.

  “Oh, yeah.”

  He groaned lowly. “Let’s go to the shop, Madeline.”

  “Why?” she whined.

  “Because that’s where my stuff is.”

  “I’ll be here when you get back.”

  He pulled me closer and kissed me once before they headed out.

  Maddie looked back at me like she was hoping I would save her, but I just smiled and waved and went back to enjoying my book.

  I think we were all happy the next day was Friday, because it meant no homework. I blessed the no homework on the weekend policy.

  The no homework on Friday was just the tip of the happiness I would feel that day. I had gone in the back door at the café that day as I needed to prepare some paperwork for my accountant and wanted to get it done first thing so I didn’t have it hanging over me. I was just about ready to head out to talk to my customers when there was a knock on my door. I opened it almost immediately to find my husband standing there in his usual attire, but clean.

  My stomach sank. The last time he was here unannounced, it was to drop a bombshell on me. And he looked nervous - I knew it couldn’t be good.

  I was afraid to even ask why he was there. I stood there staring at him while my stomach churned.

  “Are you busy?” he asked.

  “No …”

  “Do you mind taking a walk with me?”

  “I don’t know. Does it involve unpleasant news?”

  “Jess.”

  “What? You never come here out of the blue.”

  “I know. I should be better about that, but regardless, will you come with me?”

  “Sure.”

  He actually reached out for my hand this time.

  I took it suspiciously. I reached up with my free hand and felt his forehead. “Are you feeling well?”

  “Funny.”

  “That was a real question.”

  He shook his head at me and led us to the main area, where we had plenty of glances, but my little ladies’ group was more than glancing. “You two are at it early,” Doris yelled out for all the world to hear.

  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Others were snickering. Dirty minds apparently all think alike.

  Unfortunately they weren’t done. “Keep your eye on that one,” Fran said. “She’s a handful, we hear.”

  Blake was smart enough to keep on walking us out the door.

  I exhaled loudly as soon as we hit the fresh air.

  “What was all that about?” Blake asked.

  “That was your fault.”

  “My fault?”

  “Did you really think your little display of affection at the rec center was going to go unnoticed? The rumor mill has you in a jealous rage and me playing the part of seductress.”

  “Seductress?” He grinned. “I like the sound of that.”

  I rolled my eyes at him.

  “So, where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.”

  We walked together hand-in-hand in the bright sunlight past the town square and the courthouse. We turned at the bookstore and walked one more block. We stopped in front of my bank at the old-fashioned lamp post that stood out in front of it.

  I looked up at the gas-burning light that was always lit. “Is there something special about this particular lamp post?”

  He gently turned me toward the bank. “I thought it was time we had a joint account.”

  I threw my arms around his neck. “Really?” I whispered in his ear.

  He wrapped me up against him. “Yes,” he said into my ear. “I wish you would have told me from the beginning this is what you wanted.”

  I loosened my hold on him and looked into is eyes. “You seemed to have strong feelings against it when we got married and, like I said, I didn’t want to rock the boat.”

  “I didn’t want you or your family to think I was marrying you for your money.”

  “Blake, my parents had money. I didn’t come with a silver spoon in my mouth or a healthy bank account.”

  “Jess, by the time I moved here, bought your engagement ring, and paid for our honeymoon and the deposit on our first apartment, I wasn’t left with much. I didn’t want you to think I couldn’t take care of you.”

  “I offered to help with those things.”

  “That’s not the way it’s supposed to work.”

  “Says who?”

  “Me.”

  I smiled and rested my hand against his unshaven cheek. “So are you doing okay now?” Of course I knew he was.

  He reached into his pocket and handed me a check, “This is our first deposit.”

  My eyebrows got lost in my bangs out of surprise at the dollar amount. “So you have done okay for yourself.”

  He shook his head slightly. “I know it might not seem like it, but everything I’ve done is for us.”

  “I like the sound of us.”

  “Me, too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  You’ve never seen anyone so excited to open a checking account or order checks. Patty, my personal banker, kept giving me odd looks like maybe I should seek professional help. Little did she know, I had. My therapist was in Evergreen, a good half an hour from there. I wasn’t dumb enough to see someone in this town. And I didn’t care what Patty thought. Ordering checks was major progress in my marriage.

  Not a cure-all—I decided there wasn’t such a thing—but definitely a step in the right direction.

  That night after work we took Maddie to the movies to see some teen beach movie that I wished I could un-see, and after, we mapped out a budget as I sat up against him in his arms on the couch. We decided to each keep our own accounts, but our new account would pay for all of our household expenses, including the costs of raising a child, aka Maddie.

  “Speaking of Maddie, have you talked to Sabrina?” I asked him.

  “Unfortunately.”

  Maddie was already sound asleep, thankfully. “Blake.”

  “Sorry, she’s just, well, she’s herself.”

  “How is her health?”

  “Who knows? I think half the time she’s either lying or high.”

  “Do you think she’ll change her mind about Maddie?”

  “No, but even if she does, I already have a petition filed for full custody.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “You already agreed she could stay with us. I didn’t think it was important.”

  “You know, we need to tell her she isn’t going back.”

  “We will. But before
we say anything I want her to be settled here.”

  “How do you think she’ll take it?”

  “She seems happy here, right?” I could hear the worry in his voice.

  “I think so, even with a wicked stepmother.”

  He kissed my head. “You are anything but wicked.”

  “I’ve been thinking about cutting my hours at the café. What do you think?”

  “If that’s what you want. But what’s brought that about?”

  “Well, Aaron has everything running like clockwork. And I have a feeling when Maddie starts school in the fall she’s going to need a lot of help. Then I was thinking that maybe I would join the PTA and volunteer at the school. You know, be a mom. Or at least a really good knock off of one.” I said, almost embarrassed.

  “Have I told you how much I love you lately?”

  “No.”

  He kissed the side of my head. “I love you, Jessica.”

  It was moments like those that helped me not to strangle him when he reverted back to his old ways, like he did on Father’s Day.

  We had been doing so well. Family dinners every night except Sundays, which Blake designated as father-daughter days. It annoyed me that he wouldn’t come to dinner at my parents’, but I let it slide. It wasn’t fair to expect everything to be my way, though I wouldn’t have minded if he had jumped on that train.

  Father’s Day dawned, and I admit I was feeling a little down about the day, or maybe a lot. It was one of those milestone days, as my therapist called it, a day I had to deal with the fact that not only was my husband a father now, but it had nothing to do with me. I tried hard all that week to be supportive of Maddie as I helped her prepare her gifts for her dad. She had drawn two pictures for him, one of him playing baseball. She did not capture how fabulous he looked in baseball pants, but I suppose that was a good thing. She also drew the cutest I heart my dad picture, complete with 3-D lettering. We found the perfect black frames that matched his office to complete them. We also purchased his favorite cologne and I helped her prepare the menu. It was bland, just like he liked it: baked chicken, asparagus, and a green salad.

  My dad wasn’t pleased to hear that I wasn’t dining with him on Father’s Day, of all days.