Authors: Lori H. Leger,Kimberly Killion
Tags: #Fiction, #Contemporary Women
Jackson remained silent, but nodded his head in agreement.
CHAPTER 4
Giselle made funeral arrangements, aided by Carrie. On the first morning of the wake, Carrie and Sam’s three daughters, all close friends of Giselle’s, joined forces and helped her to get through the first viewing without falling apart.
Around ten-thirty that morning, every female in the room turned to stare in unconcealed appreciation as Jackson and Bill Broussard walked into the funeral home. Jackson looked like a male model, handsome and sexy in his tailored black Ralph Lauren suit, with a dove gray shirt and dark gray silk tie. Bill looked equally handsome in a dark brown western cut suit, also tailored, and wearing a pair of immaculately clean high quality western boots.
There was half an inch difference in the heights of the two men, with Jackson having the slight advantage. Both men had dark brown hair and blue eyes with straight noses and clean shaven, angular jaws. Both carried themselves well on broad shoulders with lean, muscular torsos, tapering down to narrow hips. At fifty-seven, Bill Broussard was handsome and healthy, foretelling of Jackson’s odds of keeping his good looks and health for many years to come. They were the picture of rugged masculinity, resonating in sex appeal and quiet reserve.
Carrie watched the two men enter the room and noticed several women turn to stare at them. She smiled, knowing they had no idea how appealing they were to the opposite sex. She walked over and gave Jackson a hug. “I’m glad you’re here.” Then she turned to his uncle. “Bill, you look absolutely scrumptious,” she said, walking into the man’s big bear hug. “Honestly, you two boys have every woman in this room drooling.”
“Your ass,” Jackson whispered to her. “You look nice, though.”
“She sure does,” Bill commented, gracing her with a smile. “Where’s old Sam? Is he ready to turn you over to me, yet?”
Sam Langley walked up to the trio. He was an inch shorter than Bill, but just as broad shouldered and formidable of a man. He placed a possessive arm around Carrie’s waist. “It’s not up for discussion, Bill. Go find your own wife, this one’s mine.”
Carrie laughed. “It’s no use, Bill,” she admitted. “He’s spoiled me for any other man.”
Bill gave Carrie a wink. “If he ever stops spoiling you, let me know.”
The three men shook hands.
“It’s good to see you two. I wish it were under different circumstances,” Sam told them.
“How’d it go this morning?” Jackson asked Carrie.
“Our three girls were all here with her this morning, and I think that helped. They all had to go to work. They’ll be here on their lunch breaks. Are you ready, Jack?”
“Shouldn’t we find out first if Giselle wants me here?”
Carrie placed a comforting hand on his arm. “Don’t worry, she’s expecting you.”
They walked into the viewing area and stopped near the front. Jackson saw Giselle standing to one side of the casket, speaking with an older couple. As soon as they walked away, Giselle turned toward him and gave him a weak smile.
Jackson walked slowly up to her. “Giselle.”
Giselle wiped her palms on her dress, seeming unsure of what to tell him. “I’m glad you came, Jackson.”
“Are you alright with me being here? I don’t want to upset you.” He gazed anxiously into her eyes for signs of distress.
She bit her lower lip and nodded. “I’m sorry you overheard what I said yesterday. I honestly didn’t mean that.”
His head fell back in relief. “Thank you,” he murmured before facing her again. “How are you, physically, I mean?” He reached out to pull her hair back from her forehead. “You got a good sized gash.”
“The head is fine, but the rib hurts. I’m taped up and the pain killer takes the edge off.” She held up a braced right hand. “Guess I won’t be going back to work anytime soon.”
“Nobody expects you to, Giselle. Take all the time you need.”
“How about you? No broken bones?” she asked.
He shrugged it off. “A banged up knee and a few bruises.”
Giselle touched his arm. “I’m sorry about Chloe, Jackson. If you told me, I was too out of it to remember.”
“Not as sorry as I am about Toby. He was one of the best men I knew, and a damn good friend to me. I know for a fact, how much he loved his girls...All three of his girls.”
Giselle blinked back the tears and wiped her eyes. “Thank you, I appreciate that.” She looked over at Bill and smiled. “I know you’re his uncle, but you must have been his dad’s twin, because ya’ll look so much alike. I’m Giselle Granger.”
Bill shook her hand. “I’m Bill Broussard, ma’am. No, Jackson’s dad, Jamison, was two years older. I’m sorry for your loss. Jackson always spoke highly of Toby. How are your girls?”
“I think we’re in shock. It’s difficult, because there’s no one but Carrie to help until I’m back to full speed. My girls are trying to be on their best behavior, but they’re both so active. Speaking of which...” she said, as the two girls ran up to her. “Girls, I’d like you to meet some people. This is Mr. Jackson Broussard.”
“I remember him, momma,” the younger of the two girls said, beaming at Jackson. “He was in that picture on our
fridgrator
until daddy took it down. He’s the tall man that works with you...except...” She scrunched up her face. “I thought his name was Satan.”
“Lexie!” Giselle whispered harshly, covering the child’s mouth, while the others attempted to smother their laughter.
Jackson chuckled. “It’s okay, Giselle.” He squatted low so that he was eye level with the tiny version of her mother, down to the curly brown hair and green eyes specked with gold. “Lexie, it’s true that your mom called me that sometimes, but I’m hoping that if I promise to be really nice to her, she won’t be mad at me anymore. Maybe if you just call me Jackson, your mom would too.” He looked up at Giselle.
Lexie turned a curious gaze up to her mother. “Momma?”
Giselle nodded sheepishly. “I think that’s a fine idea.”
“Okay,” Lexie said in acceptance. “You’re tall, Jackson. So is he!” she said, pointing at Bill. “They sure grow ‘em big where you come from.”
Jackson and Bill chuckled. “That’s my Uncle Bill, Lex, but he’s been like my dad for a long, long time.”
Her small face turned serious. “But why?”
“I lost both of my parents in a car accident when I was the same age you are now,” he said, placing a finger lightly on the tip of her nose. “I was lucky, because I had Uncle Bill.”
Lexie’s eyes grew large. “You lost both of them? That’s really sad. I know how sad I am that I don’t have my daddy anymore, but I still have my momma.”
Jackson looked up at Giselle’s trembling chin. “But you’ll always have him right here,” he said, as he pointed to her heart. “And your daddy sure loved his girls a whole lot.”
“Yeah, that’s what momma says, too, but it’s just not the same.” Something caught her attention and she ran off, her curls bouncing with each step.
Giselle wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and addressed the man who’d been her supervisor for the past five years. “Jackson, I’m really sorry about that.”
He straightened, grimacing with some discomfort. “Don’t worry about it.”
She placed her hands on the shoulders of a beautiful, female version of Toby. “This is Mackenzie.”
He gazed down at the six year old, with her father’s straight black hair and huge brown eyes. “Hello, Mackenzie. It’s nice to meet you.” He held out his hand and she shook it.
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Jackson. Everybody calls me Mac. I knew you weren’t Satan. My dad said you’re a good dude.”
Jackson beamed. “Thanks Mac, that means a lot to me.” He introduced her to Bill and she smiled shyly at the older man before running off to meet her sister.
“They’re beautiful, you should be proud,” he told Giselle.
“I am...Most of the time. Oh, but Lexie!”
“That child is your clone, Giselle. She even has your mannerisms,” Jackson told her, unable to hide the laughter from his voice.
Giselle groaned. “I guess so.”
Carrie turned to Jackson as she gently took his arm. “Are you ready?” she asked quietly.
He nodded. “I guess I’ve put it off long enough.”
Jackson walked up to the casket that held the man who’d been his close friend for the past year. He thought he was prepared. He wasn’t.
“Oh, man...Oh, Toby.” He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes. Jackson felt a light touch on his arm and turned to gaze down into Giselle’s tear-filled eyes. “Giselle, I’m so sorry. He was such a good man.”
“I know he treasured the time he spent with you, Jackson.” She stared at her husband, her face crumbling on a quiet sob. “I just have to figure out a way to live without him.”
Jackson led her to a chair in the corner of the room.
Giselle dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “We were so happy, Jackson. I feel like God said ‘Okay, time’s up...It’s someone else’s turn.’ I know I have my girls, and I’m thankful, but how can I be happy without him?”
Jackson sat in the chair across from her and leaned forward. “I know you two had something special, but I believe God will be generous enough to send happiness your way again.” He looked into her eyes and continued. “In the meantime, you have your friends, and I hope you consider me one of those friends, because I’d like to help. Anything you need done around the house, or help with the girls...I mean it, just ask.”
“I appreciate the offer, but you have your own problems.”
He straightened, and looked away from her. “What I have is a lot of free time on my hands now.”
She twisted the tissue in her hands. “I know Chloe was demanding. She seemed...you seemed...you didn’t seem happy.”
Jackson sighed. “I was miserable with her. The fact is, I’m just finding out how disturbed she was. It’s a long story, and we don’t need to talk about it here.” He stood and helped her to her feet. “People are starting to come in now.”
Giselle scanned the room. “I don’t see my girls. I hope they’re not up to anything.”
“I’ll find them and try to keep them out of trouble for you.”
She thanked him and left to greet a group of visitors.
Carrie walked over and hugged him. “Thanks for talking her through that one. I’ll be a basket case before this is over.”
“Yeah, well thank you, too. I don’t mind telling you, I was dreading seeing her.”
“All I did was tell her you’d overheard her yesterday. She already knew you weren’t to blame.”
“That’s good to know.” He searched the room, looking for Mac and Lexie. “I told her I’d keep an eye on her girls.”
Sam leaned toward him. “They’re in the kitchen with Bill. The bakery just delivered donuts.”
Jackson made his way to the kitchen. As he got closer, he could hear the giggles of two little girls. When he walked inside, he saw his Uncle Bill sitting at the table with Giselle’s daughters. Mackenzie was telling him about the latest teen diva, while Lexie ate jelly donuts. Jackson walked over and poured himself a cup of coffee before joining the other three occupants at the table.
Lexie grinned up at him, her face covered in raspberry filling. “Hello Jackson!”
“Hello Lexie.” He got up and dampened a napkin at the sink then lifted her chin to wipe her face free of all traces of donut. The sweet smell of glaze and raspberries, mixed with the scent of little girl, was completely new to him. “I can’t let your momma see you like this, Lex. She’ll think I’m not doing my job and fire me.”
Mac looked up at him, wide-eyed. “Momma gave you a job? Is she
your
boss now?”
Jackson grinned at her. “I told her I’d find you two and keep you out of trouble.”
“Huh!” Mackenzie snorted. “Good luck trying to keep Lex out of trouble. Daddy says she’s a trouble magnet.” She frowned before continuing. “Daddy said a lot of things that made me laugh, and he made mom really happy. She said so all the time, and that she thanked God for him. Maybe God will send her someone else so she can be happy again.”
Lexie turned innocent eyes on the older man. “What about you, Bill? You seem nice and you said you don’t have a wife.”
Bill looked at the child and grinned. “I think I’m a little too old for her. Most men my age have children the same age as your momma. She may need someone a little younger.”
Lexie suddenly turned toward Jackson. “How about you? Do you have a wife? I didn’t see you with one.”
“No, not anymore,” he answered.
“Shhh!” Mackenzie hissed. “Don’t you remember what Carrie said? His wife died in the same accident as daddy.”
“Oh I forgot,” Lexie said. “Sorry Jackson.”
“That’s okay, Lex.”
“Were you and your wife as happy as momma and daddy were?” Mac asked him.
Jackson shifted uneasily in his chair. “Not really.”
She gazed up at him with Toby’s piercing eyes. “Why not?”
Lexie answered her sister’s question. “Because she was a piece of work’ wasn’t she? I heard Daddy say once that ‘Jackson’s wife is a piece of work’. What does that mean?”
Jackson smothered a laugh. “It’s kind of hard to explain.”