by Carter Ashby
Two hours, which felt like a split second, later there was a knock at his front door. He went and opened it to find Maya standing there. He knew she wasn’t there for him, so he didn’t even bother letting himself be happy. He stepped aside and closed the door behind her.
Mr. Lansing stood when he saw her. Maya looked up at Jayce. He’d been about to sneak back to bed since she’d made it clear that this was none of his business, but she was asking him to stay. Just with her eyes, but still. He was thrilled to be of service. He looked down as she slipped her hand in his. He smiled slightly.
She led him to the couch and they sat together. Lansing eased back into the recliner.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” she asked. Her hand held Jayce’s tightly.
“I’m dying,” he said without prelude.
“I haven’t heard from you in nearly two years. Truthfully, I’d already thought you were dead.”
Her dad slumped. There must have been a spark of hope burning in his eyes because it vanished. “Oh.”
“Do you need something?”
A sigh. And then a tear slipped down his cheek.
Maya said, “I don’t have anything for you, Dad. You should go.”
It was as though the man was aging before their eyes. His hair seemed grayer. There were more lines in his face. “I know you don’t owe me nothing, girl. I just…I been sleeping in my car. Can’t find a friend in this world.”
She was trembling. “I married a bad man so I could get away from you. Now I’m getting away from him. I don’t have anything for you. I’m sorry.”
He nodded and rubbed his hand over his face. “I guess at this point I’d be happy for a pistol and a few seconds alone.”
“Christ, is that supposed to make me feel sorry for you?” Her voice raised.
“I got nothing. You’re the only hope I’ve got and you won’t…can’t help me. So what else is there?”
She pressed her face into her hands. Jayce withdrew a few inches on the couch, not wanting to intrude.
Mr. Lansing leaned forward, his gaze at last landing on her. “I’m gonna die, girl. I’m gonna die soon. So if I can’t die in comfort, I’m at least determined to die in peace. I want you to know this…I know I was a bad father. I know I hurt you. I remember every single time I raised my hand to you. Ain’t no excuse for it. Your momma—“
“Don’t fucking put your actions off on her. I didn’t even know her!”
“My actions were my own. I know that. But she broke my heart. She just tore me up. I shoulda sent you away somewhere…somewhere you’d be safe from me. But you looked like her. You were a part of her. That’s what I was hanging on to. And that’s what I was lashing out at. In between times, though, you were my little Maya. I did love you, darlin’. I just need you to know how sorry I am. I ain’t asking forgiveness. Don’t deserve it. Wouldn’t forgive myself anyway. I just want you to know somewhere inside this monster is a dad who loved his daughter.”
Maya collapsed into sobs. Jayce found his own eyes stinging. Hell, if Norris had even come close to apologizing like that he’d have been bawling like a baby. Of course, Norris was a monster through and through. No loving father in there at all.
“all right,” Jayce said, once Maya had calmed some. “Can you work, Mr. Lansing?”
“Tom. I don’t know. Not much. I get tired easy.”
“Can you clean? Sweep up? Ride a lawn mower? That sort of thing?”
“Yeah, I reckon.”
“Then you can work for me. Stay here. We’ll see if we can get you some kind of insurance. Maybe make the life you’ve got left a little less painful, at least.”
Maya sat up and looked at Jayce with wide eyes. “You do not owe me this.”
“Am I offering you something?” Jayce snapped. He stared her down until she looked away, then he turned back to Tom. “What do you say, old man?”
That spark of hope came back to Tom’s eyes. “I say it sounds like better than I deserve. Don’t know there’s any sense in the insurance thing. I doubt a doctor could help at this point.”
Jayce shrugged. “Up to you. It’s always worth a look.”
Tom nodded thoughtfully. “All right. Any conditions?”
“Don’t hurt Maya or the kids.”
“That’s it? You ain’t gonna ask me to quit drinkin’ or nothin’?”
Jayce laughed. “No, that’s none of my business. If you want help easing back, I’m happy to be supportive, but what a man drinks is his concern.”
Maya put her hand on Jayce’s shoulder. “Jayce you don’t have to—“
He ignored her, continuing his conversation with Tom. “I’ve got rules, cause believe it or not, Tom, you’re not the first stray I’ve brought home from the bar. Here’s my rules: Don’t hit on my employees…they’re all hot, they know it, and they get sick of old men groping them. Don’t steal from me…if you need or want something, just ask. If you’ve got any illegal shit to do, don’t do it in my apartment, my bar, or my gym, and don’t do it using my phones, internet connection, or address. Also, if you have any illegal shit to do, don’t tell me about it.”
The old man was almost grinning. “That all?”
“Other than, put the toilet seat down when there’s a lady in the house,” Jayce said, “that’s all.”
Tom shrugged. “I think I can handle all that. I appreciate the hospitality, Jayce.”
“No problem.”
“I’ll try not to overstay my welcome. Get me a real job and a place of my own.”
“Don’t go making promises you ain’t gonna keep.”
They shook hands and then Jayce walked Maya out. On the landing, she turned to him. “Why?”
This was getting old. Jayce just shook his head. “You know what, I think I’m done explaining my motives to you. If you asked me to, I’d get rid of him, but otherwise I just don’t have it in me to kick a dying man out on his ass.”
She nodded quickly. “I understand. I’m grateful—”
“I don’t really give a fuck about your gratitude, right now. Are we done here?”
She blinked and nodded. “Yeah. I’m sorry, Jayce.”
He shut the door, regretting his harsh words to her, but also knowing he couldn’t have done anything else. If he hadn’t shut her down like that, he’d have ended up on his knees begging like a dog. Again. He’d begged her enough. Pined enough. It was time to deal with the heartbreak.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Maya had a sudden bout of nerves on Valentine’s Day. After all the work she and the girls had done, what if no one came? What if the whole thing fizzled? All she wanted was for it to be an amazing party that everyone talked about for weeks and weeks…was that too much to ask?
Jayce had apologized for speaking to her rudely. She’d told him he had no reason to apologize, but he’d waved her off. Now, by all outward appearances, Jayce didn’t have a care in the world. He flashed his charming smile, flirted, flipped glasses in the air before pouring drinks in them. He laughed with Kellen and Zoey, took Mattie to the gym, and treated Maya with kindness and respect as always.
Maybe it was obvious only to her, but she could see that his smiles and flirtations were a mask. She could see it in the fact that he treated her exactly the same as he did all the other women he saw on a day-to-day basis. He was shutting her out. It made Maya sad, but she also knew that it was necessary. He needed to heal.
Jayce had continued to be supportive and energetic about the Ladies Night. She couldn’t tell whether he was fully behind the idea, or if he was just being nice because he liked her, or if he was just so laid back that he didn’t care one way or the other. Either way, he had provided her with everything she’d needed, spending a lot of money on the thing, and he seemed to truly enjoy making up girly drinks.
Valentine’s morning, as Maya was hurrying to get her kids fed before the bus came, there was a knock at the front door. She finished pouring milk in Sophie’s cereal and then ran to answer it. Jayce was t
here in his usual jeans, but instead of a t-shirt, he had on a button down shirt and a sport jacket. He was holding a huge, heart-shaped box of chocolates.
“I have a date,” he said. “With my lady.”
Maya grinned, having forgotten all about his promise to bring Sophie chocolates on Valentine’s Day.
“Uncle Jayce!” she squealed, running toward him.
Maya stepped out of the way and Jayce scooped Sophie into a hug. He swung her up to his hip.
“Are those for me?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” He turned to Maya. “I promised her I’d drive her to school today, is that all right?”
Maya couldn’t speak. She smiled and nodded.
Jayce carried Sophie back to the table and sat her in front of her cereal. He left the chocolates next to her breakfast. “Sweetie, we should probably give your brother a ride, too, huh?”
Sophie sighed. “I guess. But you promised to walk me to class, right?”
“Yep.”
He kissed the top her head. Kellen came out, then, wearing jeans and the pink, wife-beater tank top Maya had had designed for Ladies Night. He stood there at the end of the hall and stared at her. “Really?”
“Yes!” she squealed. “You look amazing. Oh, thank you, Kellen!” She hugged him.
Kellen shook his head. “I can’t believe I agreed to this. Is he gonna wear one?” He jerked his head toward Jayce.
“Oh, we’re making him work topless.”
“What?” Jayce asked, his voice cracking.
Maya winked at him.
“You’re gonna get Ace to wear one of these?” Kellen asked. “And Rick? And Eddie?”
“Yup. Janice has them all wrapped around her little finger. I just don’t understand why you agreed. I told you you didn’t have to.”
“Yeah, well, then Jayce pulled me aside and said if I ever wanted to drink in his bar again, I’d cooperate.”
“Aww,” Maya said, turning back to Jayce. He was leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee. He showed no reaction.
Zoey came out, dressed professionally as usual. She slapped Kellen on the ass as she walked past him. “Hey princess,” she said.
Kellen rolled his eyes. “I’m going to get slapped on the ass a lot tonight, aren’t I?”
Zoey poured herself a cup of coffee. “If anyone touches you, I will take the bitch down. I’m not even kidding. Nobody touches him, Maya. He’s mine.”
Maya saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Zoey, I made a drink for you,” Jayce said. “In your honor. It’s awesome.”
“You made a drink in my honor?” she asked drily.
He grinned. “It’s awesome.”
“Please don’t tell me about it. I don’t want to know. And who keeps putting my face up on the dart board?”
Jayce shrugged. “You have a lot of enemies. You made Lance’s girlfriend cry in the grocery store last week. Maybe he put your picture up.”
Zoey glared at him. “Well it hurts my feelings.”
Jayce’s eyebrows went up and he darted a look to Kellen, who shrugged.
“I’m trying to be honest about my real feelings,” Zoey said, “instead of lashing out all the time. It hurts my feelings that people hate me so much they wanna throw darts at my face. I’m really trying to be better, and I know it’ll take years for people to stop thinking of me as a bitch, but I’m trying.”
Jayce’s expression softened as he stared at her. “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen anymore,” he said.
She smiled almost sweetly and the two of them hugged. “You’re a good friend.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m gonna have to change the name of that drink, now.”
Zoey backed up and punched him in the shoulder before taking her coffee to the kitchen table.
Sophie and Matthew finished their breakfast, and headed down the hall to brush their teeth and dress for school. Maya moved towards Jayce and reached for him, intending to touch his arm. But he backed away. “You know, let’s just…not touch each other.” He glanced up at her. “You were right. I really can’t….” He took a steadying breath. “I can’t handle this as well as I thought.”
She nodded and backed up. “Thank you for what you’re doing for Sophie and Mattie.”
He frowned, his jaw tensing. “I don’t want your thanks, Maya. I’m not doing you a favor. I’m crazy about your kids. When I’m with them, I feel…I’m not sure. I feel…important. You know? The rest of the world couldn’t give a shit about me, but Sophie’s so proud of me she wants to be seen with me in public. And Mattie’s my bud, now. The kid can throw a punch and he talks to me, confides in me. So…I’m not doing this for you. You don’t want me, but they do. Okay?”
Tears streaked down her cheeks, but she nodded. Zoey and Kellen had discreetly withdrawn. “Okay.”
He shoved his hand in his pocket and looked down at his feet. “I like how Kellen is with them. And don’t tell him I said this, but Kellen and his dad, they’ve always sort of been heroes of mine. Role models.” He looked up at her. “I wanna be a father someday. A husband. With you, obviously, but that’s not gonna happen. So I think when I get over you, in a hundred years or so, I’m still gonna want those things. Don’t you think?”
She smiled gently. “Jayce, you’re so not the person I once thought you were.”
He didn’t answer. Just stared her down.
“I think you’ll make a wonderful husband and father someday.”
He nodded down at his feet. “Yeah. Well, thanks.”
She realized there wasn’t anything she could say to him. And thankfully, the kids came running back in the room, ready to go. After they left, Maya leaned back against the counter and pressed her palm to her chest, certain that the ache, there, was simply the pity she felt for him.
Mostly certain, anyway.
#
Maya went in at five. The weather was unseasonably warm, having made it over sixty degrees that day. She put on a light jacket over her dress.
The sofas had been delivered the day before so that there were now two, comfortable corners in the bar to go with all the table seating. The bar looked amazing.
The party wouldn’t start until seven, but the decorations were already up, thanks to Janice and Tasha. They were dressed to party, in short skirts and slinky tops, high heels and makeup. Maya was in a dress with a wide belt and full skirt. She loved this dress because it accentuated her small waist. She didn’t think she was imagining Jayce’s eyes on her. The real question was, why did it give her such a thrill?
She and Janice took care of customers until a little before seven when Ace and Rick came in. Rick was a decent looking guy, fit and trim. But Ace was downright muscle bound. He made that pink shirt look good. In all, with Kellen, they had seven guys to serve drinks. All arrived on time. As did the band, looking hot.
The best thing of all—women started arriving in groups, just before seven. When the band kicked up, everyone started dancing. Jayce had promised to help weed out any sleazy guys who might cause problems. He loved being bouncer at his own bar. He kept busy mixing drinks behind the counter. The whole building was full of chocolate, liquor, dancing, and fun.
Zoey came in with Addy around eight. Maya rushed over and hugged them both. “I’m ready to get plastered!” Addy shouted. “It’s been a horrible week.”
They made their way to the bar.
“Zoey!” Jayce shouted. He was still wearing his shirt, but he had a pink ball cap on backwards. The bar was swarmed with women and the men who were buying them drinks. “Okay, everyone, listen up!” Jayce shouted, clearly in entertaining bartender mode. Everyone at the bar leaned in. “I’ve got a new drink.” He was mixing as he spoke. Maya saw Fireball whiskey and Cinnamon schnapps. She couldn’t see what else there was. He shook, poured, and lifted a martini glass filled with red liquid. “In honor of our dear friend, Zoey, I was gonna call this, The Redheaded Bitch. But since she’s been in anger management, I think it’s ti
me to give her a fresh start. So I give you, the Red Hot Mamma! Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful.” He handed her the drink.
The crowd laughed.
Zoey, whose trademark was usually to flip someone off, blew him a kiss instead, took the drink, and sipped. Then she gasped. “Holy shit, Jayce, that’s hot.”
“Just like you, baby.” He winked at her before taking more drink orders.
Janice caught up to Maya, breathing hard from dancing. “He’s more fun when he’s had a few drinks,” she said.
“Who, Jayce?” Maya asked.
“Yeah. I managed to get a couple shots in him. He’s been so tense and miserable lately, I just couldn’t have him ruining our party. We just have to keep an eye on him because if he gets too drunk he turns into a complete slut.”
Maya laughed. “Well maybe he should have another, because he’s supposed to take his shirt off.”
“I’ll get it.”
Janice vanished. At the end of the band’s song, there was a pause. “Hey, everyone!” It was Janice, on stage speaking into the mike. The crowd got quieter. “We are so glad y’all came out tonight. For those of you who aren’t aware, we’re raising funds, tonight, for the local women’s shelter. There’s tip jars all over the place, so if you’ve got it in your heart to donate, please do.
“And next, I wanna thank Maya Bradley for coming up with this awesome idea. Are y’all having fun?”
Cheers, hoots, and screams.
“All right,” Janice said, laughing. “All right, that’s awesome. We’ve got manicure stations around the bar. Free chocolates and the drinks that aren’t free, are half-price for us ladies. Feel free to ogle our hot servers.” The men, including Kellen, flexed their muscles, receiving several cheers. “And I need one favor from you all. Our bartender was supposed to work shirtless tonight, and he still hasn’t done it.”
“For the love of God, Janice!” Jayce shouted.
“So let’s all encourage him, because I can attest to the fact that he’s got a serious hot bod under there. Help me out, girls. Take it off! Take it off!” The crowd began chanting.
