Road Blocks

by J. A. Armstrong

  Melanie smiled. “Is that a Fletcher thing?”

  “Probably,” he admitted. “It’s not from Mom.”

  “Jonah?” Melanie looked at him as if she needed his approval.

  “What?”

  “Do you think that’s strange; I mean, that Shell would be the one to have our kids?"

  Pearl finished the braid in Melanie’s hair. “I’m going to go get myself together., and check on your gram. We’ll pin it once you put on your dress,” she said. She looked at Jonah, winked, and excused herself.

  “Mel?” Jonah sat down across from his friend. “Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “You didn’t. I guess, I'm just wondering if there is some reason you think Shell wouldn’t want to.”

  Jonah shook his head. “No. I told you, my mouth runs away from my head sometimes. You live with Shell, you should get that.”

  Melanie nodded. “I can’t,” she said.

  “Can’t what?”

  “I can’t get pregnant,” Melanie said sadly.

  Jonah was stunned. He had clearly opened a can of worms unintentionally. “Mel, you don’t have to…”

  Melanie sighed. “It’s okay. It’s not that I wouldn’t want to,” she explained. “I mean, we could try, but the chances aren’t good for me. They’re better for Shell. Actually, chances are really good for Shell,” Melanie smiled.

  “Are you two planning something?” Jonah smirked.

  Melanie nodded. “Not tomorrow,” she told him. “But, yeah. We wanted to find out where we stood. The details aren't important; just—well, I've had some problems. Shell wanted to get some answers before she made a decision about running for Congress.”

  Jonah nodded. “Mel?”

  “I should let her tell you.”

  “Just tell me. Kind of sounds like you need to.”

  “She’s not going to run.”

  Jonah was surprised. “Really?”

  “She wants to concentrate on family, and I think she wants to be there for your mom. If she were to run for Congress, she'd be in the thick of her own campaign.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  Melanie smiled. “Honestly, Jonah, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m just glad that I have her in my life,” she said tearfully.

  Jonah understood. “I’m glad you are in her life too,” he said.

  “Don’t get sappy. I already have to fix my makeup,” Melanie laughed and wiped away her tears.

  “Check. No sap.”

  “Mel!” Cooper and Spencer came running into the room.

  Jonah’s jaw dropped. The boys were filthy, covered from head to toe in dirt, presumably from Pearls’ garden.

  Cooper held out a handful of dandelions he had picked. Jonah looked at Melanie expecting to see frustration or worry on her face. Instead, he found his future sister-in-law grinning from ear to ear.

  “Those are for me?” she asked Cooper.

  “Yep. Me and Spen picked ‘em.”

  Spencer offered Melanie a toothy grin; one she had seen Jameson sport on occasion.

  “Thank you,” she told the boys. She looked them up and down thoughtfully. “I think maybe we need to visit the bathtub before you get dressed,” she said.

  “Again?” Spencer complained. “Nana already did that!”

  Melanie laughed. “I don’t think Nana expected you to be gardening,” she offered.

  “What in the world?” Pearl’s voice carried across the room.

  Spencer and Cooper turned around. “Hi, Grandma!” Spencer smiled.

  “Hi, Grandma?” Pearl shook her head.

  Cooper turned and looked at Melanie sheepishly. Melanie winked at him and held out her hand. “Come on, Coop. You and Spence have a date with Grandma Pearl’s bathtub.”

  “I can take them,” Jonah offered.

  Melanie smiled and shook her head. “I’ve got it,” she told him, taking Spencer’s hand and leading the boys to the stairs.

  “Mel,” Jonah called out.

  “Let her,” Pearl told Jonah. “She told you?”

  “About the kid thing?”

  Pearl laughed. “The kid thing?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  Pearl nodded.

  “She told me enough. I didn’t know…”

  “I know,” Pearl said.

  “You did?”

  “Mel was pretty devastated,” she said. “She needed someone to talk to.”

  Jonah shook his head. “I guess, I sort of take it for granted.”

  “What’s that?”

  “JJ,” he said. “This baby. It’s been easy for us.”

  Pearl smiled. “Not everything has been easy for you,” she said. Jonah sighed. “Or for Laura,” she reminded him. “We all have our crosses to bear, Jonah. There is no such thing as a charmed life. There’s only life.”

  “Do you really think Mom and JD will be happy—about the baby, I mean?”

  “Your mother and Jameson love you, Jonah.”

  “Yeah, but JD has given me so much already with the firm and the condo, and… And, now I will have to move; right when Mom’s whole world goes upside down. She doesn’t need that.”

  Pearl snickered.

  “What?”

  “You underestimate Jameson,” she said.

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Yes, you do,” Pearl said. “She didn’t give you that job as a favor, Jonah. She did it because you deserved it. If you don’t believe me, ask her yourself. Although, I suspect she’s already told you that more than once.”

  “Yeah, but she also did it because of Mom.”

  Pearl shook her head. “Jonah,” she said with a sigh. “Jameson couldn’t love you fools any more if she had given birth to you.”

  Jonah swallowed hard.

  “And, you love her—all of you. Maybe you most of all.”

  Jonah looked away.

  Pearl grabbed his hand and smiled at him. “You of all people should know that families are what we make them,” she said. “Look at yours.”

  Jonah nodded. “I just don’t want to disappoint them. They’re a lot to live up to.”

  “I suppose they are,” Pearl admitted. Jonah’s downcast gaze made her chuckle. “Well, what did you expect me to say? You should know by now; I tell it like I see it,” she said. “Your mother and Jameson—they are exceptional people, Jonah—special. Don’t get me wrong,” Pearl said. “Everyone is special. Some people just get a little extra shine. Your mom and Jameson are two of that kind. They don’t think so. They enjoy watching other people shine more than they enjoy the spotlight themselves, even your mom; that’s what makes them shine even brighter.”

  Jonah smiled. As usual, Pearl's observation was spot on.

  “Don’t try to live up to them,” Pearl said. “That’s not what they want from you. They want you to be happy,” she told her grandson.

  “You think Mom will run; don’t you?” he asked.

  Pearl winked at him. “I’d bet that stash of fortune cookies,” she said.

  “You know where it is?”

  Pearl wiggled her eyebrows. “A good poker player never shows her hand, Jonah.”

  Jonah laughed. He could hear his mother’s voice echoing in his brain. “Lunatics,” it said.

  ***

  Jameson held her breath when Candace walked into the kitchen. Candace smiled at her knowingly, wondering when Jameson would stop looking at her the way she did now.

  Jameson shook her head in awe. “Jesus, you are beautiful.”

  Candace let her eyes travel over Jameson. Jameson was wearing a perfectly tapered navy pantsuit. Her hair fell softly over her shoulders, and her eyes were highlighted by a subtle blue shade. Candace marveled at Jameson. She leaned in and captured Jameson’s lips in a kiss that nearly brought Jameson to her knees. She pulled back slowly, smiled and wiped a small smudge of lipstick from the corner of Jameson’s mouth. Jameson’s eyes were still closed, and Candace giggled softly. “Jameson?”

  Ja
meson took a deep breath and opened her eyes slowly. “Don’t ever stop doing that,” she said.

  Candace grinned. “I won’t.”

  “Oh, you have got to be kidding,” Michelle’s voice startled them both. “This is my night for Bible Study.”

  Candace laughed and leaned back into Jameson’s arms. She looked at Michelle and smiled. “You look stunning, Shell.”

  Michelle bit her lip nervously. “I hope she thinks so.”

  “She’d have to be blind not to,” Jameson said.

  “If that wasn’t so creepy to hear from my mother’s wife, I might be flattered,” Michelle teased.

  Jameson laughed. “I love you too, Shell.” She pulled away from Candace and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m going to go corral Shell’s escort.”

  “Is Jonah lost again?” Shell laughed.

  “I think the boys cornered him upstairs,” Candace explained. She took a step toward Michelle. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thanks, Mom—for everything.”

  “I would give you a kiss, but the last one left half my lipstick behind.”

  Michelle laughed. “I thought JD’s lips looked funny.”

  Candace swatted her daughter just as Jameson emerged with Jonah following behind and Spencer at her side.

  “Did you see her?” Michelle asked. Jameson grinned. “How is she?”

  “Anxious to see you, I think,” Jameson said. She moved next to Candace and looked down at Spencer. “Okay, you get the rings from Uncle Jonah, and you follow Nana and me; okay?”

  Spencer nodded. “Jay Jay?”

  “Yes, Spence?”

  “I won’t drop ‘em.”

  “No, you won’t,” Jameson assured him. “If you do, though, you just stop and pick them up. Mommy will be right behind you.”

  Spencer nodded. “Nana?”

  Candace looked at Spencer lovingly.

  “Where’s Mommy?”

  “I’m right here,” Marianne practically jogged into the room.

  “Is Maddie okay?” Michelle asked.

  Marianne nodded. “Scott has her. Don’t think he doesn’t want to be there," she looked at Michelle. "Maddie's not all that agreeable right now.”

  Michelle smiled at her sister knowingly. “Kids cry at weddings all the time.”

  “She’s in good hands,” Marianne said. “He’ll try to slip into the back if he can get her settled down.”

  “Okay, kids,” Pearl walked into the kitchen. “I have one anxious architect upstairs. Time to get this show on the road.” She leaned in and kissed Michelle’s cheek. “I love you, kiddo.”

  “I love you too, Grandma,” Michelle said.

  Jonah held out his arm to Pearl. “May I?” he asked.

  Pearl grinned. “I’d be honored.”

  "Don't forget about me," Michelle called after her brother. She took a deep breath just as her father walked into the kitchen through the back door. “Daddy?”

  Jonathan smiled. “I guess, your mom had a talk with Cooper,” he explained.

  Michelle looked at her mother. Candace grinned.

  “Mom?” Michelle asked.

  Candace shrugged. “Cooper just needed to understand that his brother needed to walk with his Grandma. Both brothers have a job,” she explained. “As long as Jonah was walking with someone, he was happy.”

  Jonathan leaned in and kissed Candace on the cheek. “You do have your moments,” he whispered to his ex-wife. “JD,” Jonathan looked at Jameson.

  “Hi, Jonathan.”

  “Buy you a drink on Candy’s dollar later,” he joked.

  Candace laughed.

  Michelle broke away from her father and embraced her mother. “I love you so much, Mom.”

  Candace started to choke up. Jameson put a comforting hand on Candace’s back. “I love you too, Shell,” Candace promised. “Now, let’s get going so you can all get drunk on my dollar like your father promised.”

  Jameson squeezed Candace’s hand. “It really is an asylum,” she whispered.

  “Truer words,” Candace squeezed back. “Truer words.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Jameson loved to watch people watching Candace. She held Candace’s hand as they approached their seats, noting how the instant Candace appeared everyone fell silent. Candace could take command of any situation simply by stepping into it. Jameson felt an enormous sense of pride in her wife. She was sure that she was grinning like an idiot. She didn’t care. Candace was her wife. As hard as it was for her to believe some days, Candace had chosen Jameson. She and Candace stepped in front of their seats and turned to watch as Spencer stepped out and made his way down the makeshift aisle with Marianne a few paces behind.

  “She looks gorgeous,” Jameson commented.

  “She looks happy,” Candace whispered.

  Jameson forced herself not to laugh at the way Spencer’s tongue snaked out. It was a telltale sign of his concentration and determination to keep the pillow straight that held Michelle and Melanie’s rings

  When Spencer reached the front, he looked over at Candace and Jameson and grinned. “I made it, Jay Jay,” he tried unsuccessfully to whisper.

  Candace caught Marianne’s amused chuckle. Jameson held out her hand to Spencer. He ran to her and collapsed against her side.

  “Mommy’s pretty,” he looked up at her.

  “Yes, she is,” Jameson agreed.

  Marianne took her place, and all eyes turned toward the door.

  Jameson heard Candace suck in a ragged breath the moment Michelle appeared on her father’s arm. She imagined it was a strange sensation; raising your children to adulthood. Jameson stole a glance at Spencer. One day, God willing, she and Candace would stand proudly as Cooper and their grandchildren took vows. It seemed so far away. Looking at the expression in Candace’s eyes, Jameson understood that when that day came, it would feel like it had arrived in the blink of an eye.

  Michelle’s eyes met Candace’s as she made her way toward the reverend, and Candace winked at her in encouragement.

  “Aunt Shell’s pretty too,” Spencer said innocently.

  “She sure is,” Jameson said. She looked back up at Michelle and realized that Melanie must have appeared in the doorway. Michelle’s eyes had glossed over. Jameson took the cue and turned back toward the back door. She immediately caught sight of Cooper holding onto Melanie’s arm proudly. Jameson tightened her grip on Candace’s hand. Nothing in the world had prepared her for the emotions that began to roll through her at the sight. Candace felt the slight unsteadiness in Jameson and put her hand on Jameson’s back to steady her. Jameson swallowed hard. That’s my son.

  Candace didn’t need Jameson to say anything. She knew where Jameson’s thoughts had traveled. Not for the first time, Candace found herself offering a silent prayer of thanks to whoever or whatever had brought Cooper into their life. “He’s so proud,” she whispered in Jameson’s ear. Jameson nodded.

  Cooper smiled at his parents brightly as he and Melanie reached their destination. Jonah stepped up beside Melanie. She bent down to Cooper. “Thanks, Coop,” she whispered in his ear. “You are the best little brother ever,” she told him, and promptly placed a kiss on his cheek. Michelle smiled at Cooper, bent down and whispered in his ear. “I love you, little man,” she told him.

  Cooper beamed. He nodded to his sisters and scampered off toward his parents to the delighted chuckles of everyone present. Jameson moved to let Cooper reach Candace. He looked up at her happily, and Candace gave him a wink. She took the opportunity to place a faint kiss on Jameson’s cheek. “I love you,” she said as they turned their attention to the women standing before them.

  Michelle took a deep breath and tightened her hold on Melanie’s hands. Melanie looked more beautiful than Michelle had imagined. She found herself locked in Melanie’s gaze, unable to separate one emotion from another. She wasn’t certain she had heard anything at all. Melanie’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

  “Shell,” Melan
ie lifted an eyebrow.

  “Oh,” Michelle took another deep breath. “I’m not all that wonderful with words, which is funny when you think about who my mom is,” she began. Candace rolled her eyes. “I know I’m not always eloquent. Maybe sometimes I don’t tell you enough why I love you so much,” Michelle said. “I love you because you put up with all my 80’s movie marathons. You make me laugh more than anyone ever has. You listen to me—even when I sound crazy,” Michelle said. Melanie grinned. “Didn’t think I’d admit that, huh?” Michelle said. Melanie chuckled along with everyone present. Michelle squeezed Melanie’s hand. “There are a million reasons why I love you, and a million more I know I haven’t discovered yet. That’s the truth. I’m lucky, Mel. I have this incredible family. Sometimes, I forget how lucky I am. I am. But, my mom told me something once. I know I will never forget it. Families aren’t given to us; we make them. I know that more than anything, I want you to be my family, to be the person I create a family with. You’re my best friend. I watched you walking toward me, and all I could think was, ‘I wish she would get here.’ Because I don’t want to be without you ever again in my life. I can’t promise you that you won’t want to throttle me from time to time,” Michelle smiled. “I will do everything I can to make sure you remember that you are my best friend first and foremost, and that I love you more than anything in this world. Because I do, Mel. I always will. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes—how you amaze me every day. You're so giving to everyone, most of all to me. I promise you that everything I have is yours, every place I travel; I want you beside me. If I could give you everything; I would. I love you, Melanie."

  Melanie steadied her breathing. “You know,” she began. “You Fletcher women are a tough act to follow.”

  Jameson laughed out loud.

  Melanie shrugged. “See? JD understands. You are,” Melanie said. “But, there isn’t anyone in the world I would rather travel with than you, Shell. You just said that you wished you could give me everything. You never give yourself enough credit. You have no idea how much you give me every day. You have from the first beer we shared. I didn't want that day to end. I just hoped you'd want to do it again. The truth is, I would have watched Weird Science with a bra on my head every night if that had meant I could be close to you,” she joked. Michelle laughed. “You are the most compassionate person I have ever known. You are always there for me, at every turn, no matter what I need. You say I make you laugh. I love to laugh with you. I also love that I can cry with you. I love that you let me in on all your best-kept secrets, like the fact that you could have been a chef,” Melanie winked.