Charmed (Contemporary Romance) (24 page)

“Great, I can just imagine how obnoxious he’s acting. And why would they ask Justin to face off? He graduated fifteen years ago.”

“They’re doing this whole ‘legends past’ sports series down in Boston, for charity, and Jim Reilly’s wife is the event planner. He’s going to face off against someone who used to play for BC. Will you come? It’s for youth centers in high-risk neighborhoods.”

“You know I wouldn’t miss it. How much, where, and when?”

“It’s seventy-five dollars — remember, it’s for a good cause — and it’s at Agganis Arena in two days, and your parents are coming too.”

Jamie did the math. Spending two hundred and twenty-five dollars on tickets for her and her boys only to have them not sit still for the entire game was not tempting or practical.

“Liz, hold on a moment, okay?” Jamie covered the receiver with her hand.

“Cindy, do you have anything planned for the twenty-ninth?”

“No, no plans.”

“Do you mind if I leave the boys with you that day? Justin’s got this big game down in Boston, and I can’t take them with me.”

Cindy’s eyes lit up. “We’d love to watch them.”

“Liz?” Jamie spoke back into the receiver. “Tell Justin I’ll be there, okay?”

She hung up and a moment later, Michael burst out of the family room, down the hallway into his room and then ran back out, wind at his feet. Her face fell as soon as she saw what Michael retrieved. He had found the NASA play set.

Joseph said, “Nice rockets,” and Michael replied, “I’m a NASA scientist.”

“Santa Claus left it for him at Nick’s house, and Nick left it on our porch,” Timmy volunteered.

“Nick? Is this the same Nick who runs the school?” It was obvious Joseph knew the answer.

“Uh-huh,” Timmy answered as he rearranged his village.

“So this Nick goes around and leaves toys for every child at school on their doorsteps,” he continued, but Jamie refused to answer or give any indication of catching his tone.

“I think Santa only left toys for the kids Nick is friends with — I think.” Michael cocked his head to the side.

“Are you friends with Nick, or is your mom friends with Nick?” Joseph took his eyes away from Jamie and focused on Michael.

“Joseph, if you’re going any farther with this, you will be talking to me and not the boys.” Jamie tried to keep her tone light for the kids’ sake, but there was no mistaking the look in her eyes.

“If you can be friends with this Nick in front of my grandchildren, then we can discuss your friendship in front of them, too. They probably already know more than — ”

“Stop,” Jamie said forcefully.

Joseph was about to say something else, but apparently thought better of it. “Can I see you in the kitchen?” he instead requested. The boys had by now completely forgotten about their game and were watching the unfolding drama.

Jamie clenched her fists, nodded, and made her way toward the kitchen.

“Just stay here and play, guys, we’ll be right back. Grandpa just wants to learn a little more about our lives in Autumn Falls,” she called back.

“What is it?” Jamie faced Joseph across the counter.

“I don’t want to get into an argument with you, I’m just going to ask you point blank if you’re seeing this Nick in a romantic sense, and I would appreciate a straight answer because I don’t see a reason for you to hide something like that from us.” Jamie took a long look at Joseph and realized he wasn’t wearing his usual scowl. He looked anxious and years older than he really was.

She remained silent, knowing there wasn’t a right answer.

“I’ll take your silence to mean yes.”

“Look, Joseph, I’m trying hard to think about this from your point of view. I know how much you love Timmy and Michael, and I know you’re worried about the people I let into their lives. But I don’t agree with the way you go about things. Like, interrogating me in front of the children and treating me as if only the answers you want to hear are acceptable. And I won’t tolerate your disrespect no matter how much you love your grandchildren because it isn’t good for them to hear it. It doesn’t set a good example.” Jamie paused and made sure to keep any anger or resentment out of her voice. “The truth is, we have spent time with Nick because he is a great guy and a great friend. He is wonderful with the kids, and they really like him and his daughter.”

Joseph was silent, and Jamie’s eyes drifted toward the living room, to the portrait hanging above the fireplace mantle. It was like they were having the discussion in front of Scott.

“If you become involved with someone while the twins are still under your roof, they’ll suffer for it. Whoever it may be will demand time from you that you’ll have to take away from them. He will eventually resent the twins and consider them a burden, whether he lets it show or not. God knows how he’ll treat the boys when you’re not around. Michael and Timmy will feel it, they’ll know it — kids have a way on picking up on these things. And they will never say anything because they won’t want you to be unhappy,” Joseph finished.

He had voiced all of Jamie’s old fears out loud. And it was at that moment, as Joseph spoke his own mind, that Jamie understood her own.

Above the tension, there was an inner voice telling her Nick wasn’t like that at all.

“I don’t doubt your words describe some, maybe many — I have no idea. But it doesn’t describe Nick.” She paused, searching for words. “That doesn’t mean I want to be involved with him, but I can’t let you lump him into this awful category of selfish men.”

Joseph eyed Jamie a long moment.

“I think we’ve both said what we need to say, Joseph — I’ll only add that I really appreciate how much you and Cindy love the boys, and if anything happens in my life that will have an impact on theirs, I will let you know — whether we agree on it or not.” And with that, she left, not waiting for his response or reaction.

By the time her in-laws left that evening, Jamie was battling a serious headache. Her parents were coming by soon to wish them happy holidays and to bring Michael and Timmy their presents, and Jamie couldn’t wait. The boys were now arguing over an old and truly crappy toy xylophone. She stifled a sigh. So many toys they’d gotten for Christmas, and yet they both chose to go ape over an old thing they hadn’t noticed since they were two.

She was relieved she had agreed to meet up with Charlene, Alex, and Mrs. Kirkpatrick at Chuck E. Cheese’s the day after Christmas for a play date. They needed a distraction, and she needed friends. It was difficult for her to admit it because part of her still wondered if it was foolish to let people into her life again, but the four of them had become friends at some point, and Jamie really loved their company.

The next day, she quietly sat and listened to her friends talk about everything and anything at Chuck E. Cheese’s.

“Maple Sugar Café,” Alex declared.

“I love it!” Charlene’s dimples were more apparent since she’d put on some weight. She looked adorable.

“Maple Sugar Café.” Jamie tried it out and nodded happily.

“I like it.” Mrs. Kirkpatrick smiled.

Alex discussed his plans for a few minutes, his friends delighted to listen.

“So what’s up with you, Jamie?” Charlene turned to her.

“I’m just happy to sit here, be Jamie, and listen to you guys for a while.”

“Be Jamie? Do you have another personality we’re not aware of?” Alex raised an eyebrow.

“I just had a visit from my in-laws, and with them I feel like I’m just Scott’s widow and Michael and Timmy’s mom, you know? So, right now, sitting here with three friends, I feel more like an individual.”

“I think you need to get out more, honey. You work at home, you take care of your kids at home … ” Mrs. Kirkpatrick reached across and played with the charms on Jamie’s bracelet. She then changed her tone of voice, avoided Jamie’s eyes, and switched to playing with a napkin on the table. “I remember Nick was the same way, but at least he would go on dates once in a while. Maybe that’s what you need — a date.”

Heat crept up Jamie’s neck at the mention of Nick and a few details of their last time together popped into her mind. She looked at a giant statue of Chuck E. Cheese to kill her lustful thoughts. No offense to Chuck, but he was the unsexiest male she’d ever seen.

When she looked back at her friends, they were exchanging amused glances. “What?” Jamie asked.

“Okay Jamie, here it is, I’m just gonna lay it all out for you. We know, okay? We know you’re totally into Nick. And Alex here has reason to believe he’s all into you, too.” Charlene dropped her hands on the table and everyone jumped a little.

Jamie quickly looked around to see where the kids were before looking at the tables around them to see if she knew anyone there. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she whispered, panicked.

“You don’t know what I’m talkin’ about?” Charlene repeated as Alex took a sip of his Coke and watched them with wide eyes.

“I’m — I’m — I’m flabbergasted!”

“You’re
flabbergasted
.” Charlene leaned back and crossed her arms.

“Oh, good lord.” Mrs. Kirkpatrick nodded. “Now, why would you be flabbergasted, Jamie? We’re your friends, and we see the way you act when he’s around, and how you avoid looking at him, and nobody avoids looking at Nick, dear. Not even me, and I’m seventy-one.”

“I’m married, and I take a good look whenever I can,” Charlene said and looked at Alex for confirmation.

“Don’t look at me — I don’t look at him.” Alex raised his hands.

Charlene frowned at him.

“Okay, so maybe there’s some bicep-envy now and then.”

Jamie sank down into her side of the booth and moped. Thankfully, Michael and Jason came by to ask for more tokens, and the conversation was momentarily interrupted.

“Well?” Alex asked as soon as the boys were out of earshot.

Jamie breathed in and breathed out and tried to tamp down her anxiety. “Something happened, okay? But I don’t know what to do because … I’m just so afraid of dragging me and my kids into something we might regret later.” Jamie looked at her friends, not sure if she should go on. But the faces staring back at her were all understanding and encouraging. She took a deep breath, convinced they just wanted to see her happy.

“Wait, why are you so scared?” Charlene spoke a little too loudly.

“She doesn’t want anyone to get hurt.” Mrs. Kirkpatrick spoke for her. She reached over and grabbed Jamie’s hand. “But you have to know that you can’t control the future. You are both good, smart people, with the best intentions, and that’s really all you can ask for.”

“Whatever! Just go for it, Jamie! Nick’s a great guy,” Charlene butted in.

“He’s leaving tonight. I’m not going to drive like a madwoman to the airport and tell him to throw twenty thousand dollars in airplane tickets away when I’m full of doubts. I won’t do anything unless I’m a hundred percent sure it’s the right thing, and I’ll never be a hundred percent sure.” She still had questions about who Celine was to him. But her mind seemed to be making her out to be more important than her heart did, as if her heart wasn’t worried. It was all too confusing.

“He’s not leaving tonight. Dylan told me he changed his plans and is leaving tomorrow night from Boston — after he faces off against a certain Justin Viera at a charity game. But neither of them knows they’re facing off against each other. Jim Reilly wanted to see the sparks fly when they found out.” Mrs. Kirkpatrick squeezed Jamie’s hand, hard.

Jamie sat perfectly still, her heart beginning to thunder. Maybe she could see him one more time? Let him know she’d try and work out her fears while he was away? Nobody would get hurt if they weren’t physically together. But would he wait for her?

“Why can’t we go to Uncle Justin and Nick’s game?” Timmy whined as they made their way to Joseph and Cindy’s house the next day.

“Because it’s too much money, and you guys wouldn’t be able to see or hear very much with everyone standing up and yelling. Those games can get really rowdy.”

“Will you tell Nick I said goodbye, and that I’ll miss him?” Michael asked.

“Listen, if I do see Nick and get a chance to talk to him, I’ll tell him we’ll all miss him.”

“You’re going to miss him, too?” Michael now asked.

“Yes,” Jamie answered simply. She looked over at Michael through the rear-view mirror, and she could see the little wheels turning behind his eyes.

“Do you like Nick the way I like Paula Mitchell?” Michael looked up and met her eyes in the mirror.

Jamie took a deep, nervous breath and thought hard. She was treading uncharted territory. “I do like Nick, and I like having him around, and part of it is because I think you two like having him around, too.”

Her boys smiled at each other, and her hope swelled. Maybe in a year …

“Grandpa Joseph doesn’t like Nick,” Michael interrupted her thoughts.

“No, he doesn’t. But that doesn’t change the way you feel about Grandpa or Nick, right?”

“No,” both boys agreed.

• • •

There was more of a crowd than Jamie expected, and she wondered if she’d be able to find Nick before
or
after the game. She’d found her family only because they’d agreed on where to meet.

The crowd moved and flowed around them, and they were all swept into the movement, unwittingly floating toward the doors with everyone around them.

“Jamie!” a young female voice cried out from the crowd. Jamie turned and looked around before seeing Emma, Susan, and Claire struggling to make their way toward her.

“Why are you here? Please tell me why you’re here!” Emma was breathless when she reached Jamie.

“Yes, tell us why you here,” Susan demanded. Her eyes glittered as Jamie’s eyes widened. She and Susan had never even been introduced.

“Um, I’m — ”

Claire looked over Jamie’s shoulders, spotted Justin, and gloomily responded, “I think she’s here for Justin. Is Justin playing, too?”

“Yes, but I also need to talk to Nick,” she admitted. She’d rehearsed it all in her head — she was going to tell him she would use his time away to try to regain faith, to find hope, and to let go of fears … and to ask him to wait.