Heart of the Hunter (49 page)

I nodded.

“Shit, you’ve still got Sam to meet,” Forrester said. “You’re going to love that little kid. He’s as stubborn as you, Jackson.”

I let out a long sigh. I was dying to see Sam. I’d been dying to see him his entire life, and I was nervous of what he’d think of me. I mean, I didn’t even know if Faith had ever told him about me. Who’d he think his father was? What was he hoping for?

“I thought it was nice when Faith named him after your father,” Grady said.

“I did too,” I said. “I did too.”

The other three looked at me, then looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

“You’re getting
really
sentimental in your old age, Jackson,” Forrester said.

“Shut up.”

“Is that a tear in your eye?” Grady said.

“Fuck you guys,” I said, joining them in laughter.

“All you need is to go back down to the Rusty Nail tonight, and you’ll be right as rain,” Forrester said. “Hell, lets all go. There’ll be some tail there tonight. I’ll bet dollars to donuts all four of us will get our socks blown.”

They were teasing me. They knew there was no way in hell I’d get with another woman, but I played along.

“Sure, let’s get finished up here and go for a few drinks. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

“It’s like you’ve been in prison,” Grady said. “You know the guys who go in for a long stint, come out changed men. Found Jesus. You need to get out and get good and drunk with your brothers, Jackson. We’ll set you straight.”

I nodded. I loved those guys. I’d have given my life for them. They’d have done the same for me. The years away had done nothing to lessen the bond between us.

Then I thought of Faith. That moment when my cock slid into her soaking wet pussy. That was
something
. That was something real.

“Grant,” I said.

“What is it, little man?”

“How was Lacey last night?”

“She was pretty quiet. Knocked back a few shots like she had something on her mind. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know, I’ve just been worried about her.”

“She’s going through something with that guy she’s dating.”

“The secret guy?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I’d like to know what’s going on, but if she wants to keep her love life private, that’s up to her.”

“All right,” I said. “Just, keep an eye on her.”

Grant nodded. “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. She always is. She’s been let down by jerk offs before. We never get involved. She and Faith can handle it.”

Chapter 37

Faith

“W
HAT DID YOU THINK?”
I said to Sam. We were sitting in a booth at the ice cream place by the theater.

“I
loved
it, mom.”

“What did you like best?”

He looked up at me and thought about his answer.

“I liked the way the boy looked after himself. He knew he could beat the bad guys. All he had to do was train.”

“I liked that part too,” I said. I didn’t say that the kid in the movie had a father to help him. That it was his father’s mentorship that made all the difference in the world.

“Did you like the part where the dad showed him how to defend himself?” Sam said.

“I did like that part,” I said.

The waitress came over and asked what we were having. Sam looked at me.

“Go ahead,” I said. “Order whatever you like. No limits.”

“No limits?”

I nodded. He scanned down the menu, which was cute because I knew exactly what he was going to order. We’d been coming to this place his entire life and he always had the same thing.

“Hot caramel fudge sundae with cream and a cherry,” he said.

The waitress took down his order. “And for you?” she said to me.

“Just a coffee,” I said.

She left and Sam looked up at me, his big, bright eyes like two stars in the heavens. I was spoiling him. He’d had hamburgers, popcorn, now ice cream. It wasn’t good for him, but being bullied at school wasn’t good for him either.

“Have you been thinking about what sport you’d like to sign up for?” I said.

Boy’s liked sports. It helped them make friends. Sam had enjoyed baseball when he was younger. Soccer too. He was an active kid. It was just recently that he’d become more withdrawn. He seemed to have lost his confidence. And I didn’t know how to help him find it again.

He shook his head. “All the mean kids are in sports,” he said. “I think I’d rather steer clear of them, at least for now.”

I nodded. I didn’t want to pressure him. Tonight was about being kind, helping him find his feet after a difficult day. We’d deal with his real issues another time.

The waitress arrived with the sundae and my coffee.

“Holy cow,” Sam said.

He always said that. No matter how many times he got that sundae, it never ceased to amaze him. I poured a little cream into my coffee and gave it a stir. I looked up at my son.

“I love you, you know.”

He smiled, more interested in the ice cream than his mother’s sentimentality. “I love you too, mom.”

My phone beeped. It was a text message from Lacey. It said, “I fucking love you so much.”

I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Lacey was probably drinking wine. I knew I should call her. “Honey,” I said, “I’m just going to call Lacey.”

“Okay, mom.”

I dialed Lacey’s number but she didn’t answer. I thought that was a little strange since she’d just texted but it wasn’t a huge deal. I sent her a text back. “I love you too, best friend. Is everything all right?”

Chapter 38

Jackson

I
WASN’T IN THE MOOD
for the Rusty Nail. It was nice of the boys to take me out and all, but I had Faith and Sam on my mind. I needed to reconnect with them. They were my family. I couldn’t let any more time pass us by. They were mine and I had to return to them. I had a terrible feeling that if I didn’t, I’d miss out on the opportunity to be a part of their life. Forever, this time.

“Fellas, I’ve got to go do something,” I said.

“Come on,” Grady said, “we just got here.”

“I know. We’ll do this another night.”

“What have you got to do? You just got back. You don’t have any plans we don’t know about.”

I smiled but didn’t answer. They knew what business I had. “I’m taking the truck,” I said. “You fellas will have to find your own way home.”

We’d all rode down in the pickup. Grant and Grady in the cab. Me and Forrester in the back.

Forrester shrugged. “You owe us a night out, Jackson. This was in your honor.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I said, walking out of the bar. I knew that if it hadn’t been for me, they’d have been more than capable of coming up with another reason to head out for a few drinks.

I got into the truck and turned the ignition. I pulled out of the lot with no idea where I was headed. Instinctively, I drove up out of the valley. I was headed for the hills. That’s where Faith was. Even if I wasn’t going to meet her, I still wanted to be near where she was. I thought about going to her house, but I didn’t want to surprise her there.

As I drove up the mountain side, I passed the municipal boundary separating the Valley from the Hills. There was a clear difference between the two areas. Most of the roads in the valley weren’t paved. They were packed dirt, compressed by all the agricultural vehicles picking up fruit and grapes. The valley was the hidden gem of California’s wine country. It had some of the best soil in the world. The climate was perfect for bringing out natural flavors. The heat built up during the day and gave the grapes a dryness you didn’t get in other places. In the evenings, cool, moist air rose off the Pacific and settled over the valley like a blanket.

It was a beautiful place to call home. It was a beautiful place to make a home with Faith, if she wanted to.

My relationship with Faith had taken an unconventional path. Twelve years apart was not something most people could survive. But I knew in my heart, Faith and I would survive anything. My love was like the vineyards in the valley. It would weather any drought. The grapes were temperamental, the weather had to be just right, but the vines themselves were hardy. They’d never give up. They’d live for centuries. My love was like the ancient vines, the solid stone of the valley bed, the Rio Secco winding its way down to the ocean.

As I got into the hills, everything became more manicured and perfect. The roads were new and clean, with irrigated rows of palm trees along the sides. The houses were large and modern, with views over the valley to the south, or the ocean to the west. Hollywood actors, Bay Area tech billionaires, you name it. They all had weekend homes in the Hills.

It was a good place for Faith to be. A good place for her to raise my son. She’d chosen well and I loved her for it.

The town was idyllic, the way all American towns used to be. There was a real Main Street, with old fashioned stores that stayed open till late in the evening. You could still walk down the street and get a soda in the pharmacy, grab a burger in Harry’s diner, or catch a movie in the nickelodeon.

I pulled up outside the movie theater and remembered all the nights I’d gone there as a child to catch the feature. I used to go there with my daddy. I missed him. I hadn’t had much chance to dwell on it since his death, but I sure missed him. I loved him like the soil loves the rain.

I wondered what sort of father I’d make. What was in my blood? Did I have it in me to be a good daddy to Sam? Would I be able to show him the things he needed to be shown to become a man? Would he want to learn them from me?

I walked by the Dairy Parlor, another place that brought back memories, this time of my mother. I’d sit in there with her and eat ice cream while she watched me. Those were old memories, going right back to my youngest years. My mother had died a long, long time ago. I looked in through the glass, peering in as if I might still see my mother in there, sitting with me as a little boy.

But she wasn’t there. What I saw was another woman, another mother.

I saw Faith. She was sitting at a booth in the Dairy Parlor with a boy.
My boy
. It was the first time in my life I’d set eyes on Sam, and instantly I was filled with such overwhelming love for him that the rest of the world disappeared. My thoughts disappeared, my fears, my hopes, everything.
My boy
. My own boy. I couldn’t believe it. It was like waking up in winter to find spring had arrived. He was life, warmth, everything.

I didn’t waste a second. I couldn’t afford to lose another single one.

I walked right in. Like I said, if you’re going to do something in this life, you’re best to just do it right away. Don’t give yourself a chance to second-guess yourself.

“Faith, is that you?”

Chapter 39

Faith

T
HERE ARE MOMENTS IN MY
life I’ll never forget. This was definitely one of them. The entire time I felt I might cry tears of pure joy. Thankfully, I was able to hold them in.

Sam, for the first time, was setting eyes on his father. Jackson was setting eyes on his son. Words can’t describe the flood of emotions that flowed through my heart at that moment. It was terrifying, overwhelming, and at the same time, the most natural thing in the world. Anyone watching would have sworn they’d known each other their whole lives. It was surreal.

I’d introduced Sam to men before, random dates, and it was always really awkward. They’d try to be friendly to each other but it would come across as stilted, unnatural. This was anything but awkward. It was easy. I didn’t even have to do anything. Sam didn’t know Jackson was his father, but it was almost as if he didn’t need to know.

“Jackson,” I stammered, “fancy meeting you here.”

Fancy meeting you here?
What was I saying? I sounded like my mother.

“I come here all the time,” he said. “I’m an ice cream addict.”

I looked at him and felt my cheeks flush. Oh god. I wasn’t equipped for surprises like this. I glanced at Sam and prayed he couldn’t notice how hot my cheeks were.

“I see your friend is a fellow addict,” Jackson said, motioning to Sam. “What is that? Hot caramel fudge sundae with cream and a cherry?”

Sam’s jaw dropped. It literally dropped. I’m not exaggerating. It was like he’d lived his entire life on a foreign planet, and had only just for the first time met someone his own species.

“How did you know that?” Sam said.

Jackson shrugged. “Damn, kid. I’ve been having those since before you were born. I bet if I ordered one now I’d have it finished before you.”

Jackson ordered a sundae from the waitress.

Sam’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. Jackson swore in front of him. It was the last thing he should have done, but somehow, I felt that it wouldn’t do Sam any harm. He was going through such a hard time at school, seeing how a tough guy like Jackson acted might do him good. It might give him some confidence. Sam was excited. He watched the waitress making Jackson’s sundae. It was like he’d never had anyone else to eat ice cream with in his life.

“Why don’t you join us?” I said to Jackson, my cheeks hot with embarrassment.

“Oh, I don’t want to intrude. You two look like you’re having a nice evening. This isn’t a date, is it?”

Sam scrunched up his face.

“This is my son, Sam,” I said, looking into Jackson’s eyes. There was a tear in his eyes and it made me want to cry too. I looked at Sam before my emotions got the better of me. It was hard to speak without my voice breaking. “Sam, this is my
friend,
Jackson.”

Jackson squeezed into the booth next to Sam and shook his hand. I’ve never seen Sam shake hands with anyone in his life.

“Jackson Jones, at your service.”

“Sam Jones,” Sam said.

I could see the thought going through Sam’s mind. He and Jackson had the same last name.

“Sam was my father’s name,” Jackson said.

“My grandfather’s,” Sam said.

For a terrible moment I was afraid Jackson was going to cry, he looked overcome with emotion, but he held it together. He caught my eye and there was a look in it I’d never seen before.

Was it gratitude?