Chapter Sixteen
Jackson
My dad pats me on the back after I close the tailgate on Dirk’s truck. “Jesse has lunch set up for us over at the house.”
“That’s okay. I’m meeting Daisy here for lunch, so I’ll just catch you guys when you get back. You don’t have too much more to pack up, do you?”
My uncle laughs. “Sure, if that’s what you want to tell yourself.”
Dad joins in his amusement. “Better tell Willow you’ll be late tonight.”
I wave them off because I don’t really mind helping, and I know Willow will just come here if I’m working late.
Daisy pulls in as they pull out, so I wait for her by the door. I watch as she walks toward me. She’s hesitant in her step, and a tight smile pulls at the corners of her mouth. Shit, something is wrong.
“Hi!” she says.
Her cheerfulness seems forced. I give her a side hug as she passes me.
“Is the patio crowded?” she asks.
“I don’t know. We can go check.”
“It looks like we have it all to ourselves,” she says as she peeks out the glass doors, waiting for me to open them.
“Everyone’s hiding so Jesse can’t put them to work helping her move their shit.”
Daisy smiles. Aw, there’s the genuine sweet smile of hers.
“I’m sure they don’t have too much stuff, do they?”
“Right? That’s what I thought, but Dirk acts like we’ll be here all night.”
She laughs, handing me a hamburger. “Is she moving the stuff in the studio?”
“No. She said she wanted to have a reason to come back over here.”
“That’s cool. I still like to come over and paint every now and then, even though I have my own space now.”
“Are you and Brody about ready to start filling all those bedrooms you added on?”
Her head drops, and her cheeks turn pink.
“Come on. Willow is due soon. You guys are next.”
She shakes her head. “I think it should be Kelsie or Lexie’s turn.”
I chuckle, because I know a little secret she doesn’t. “So, what did you want to talk to me about? You and Brody aren’t having troubles, are you?”
“No,” she assures me, placing her hand over her heart as if the mere thought pains her. “It’s …” She nibbles on a fry thinking about it. “Oh, I don’t know, Jackson.”
The distress on her face has me sitting forward and tipping her chin. “Hey, what’s this about? You don’t have to feel this way around me. We’re good friends, and we can be honest with each other.” She doesn’t look away when I remove my hand from her face. “Just say whatever you need to say.”
She takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. “Okay. So, I have some news for you, and it’s shocking.”
My eyebrows rise in surprise. “That sounds serious.”
“It is.” She turns away from me, blinking rapidly as she tries to reign in her emotions.
“I have a letter for you … two actually.” She rubs her finger over her eyebrow, and I can see she’s trying to choose her words carefully.
“God, I should have waited until we finished eating. Go ahead, eat. This can wait.”
I shake my head. “No. I’m going to need you to talk about this right now.”
“Right, yeah.” Her hands shake as she reaches across the table and takes mine in hers. “I received a letter from your mother. It asked me to be here when you open the one that she wrote to you.”
“That’s fucking weird, isn’t it?”
Her face pulls into a grimace. “Yes and no. Whatever is written in it, she thinks I’ll be able to relate.”
My stomach begins to knot. This is weirder than weird.
She squeezes my hands. “Jackson, Brody and I are here for you.”
“Okay.”
She leans away from me and pulls an envelope from her purse. “Just remember, everything is okay. Try to stay grounded.”
Jesus. This is straight up freaking me out, but I keep a calm aura about me for her sake. I’m the president of this club. I can handle anything. I have to.
I take it from her and see my name in my mother’s handwriting. Instantly, it makes me miss her. I lean back, running my finger under the seam. I pull out the letter and begin reading quietly. No use putting this off.
My sweet boy,
Oh, how my heart aches for you as I write this. That should really be no surprise. You are the best thing it’s ever known. My soul will miss you most.
I’ve tried to be the best mother, but I know I’ve fallen short. God, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. A mom should never turn their child’s life upside down, but I’m about to do just that.
I pause to look at Daisy. Tears are streaming down her face. Fuck. I don’t want to read anymore.
She shakes her head. “You have to keep going,” she whispers.
My head falls, and I reluctantly draw my eyes back to the words on the page.
Please, remember I love you. Please promise me that. I understand you might hate me after this but know that I love you.
I’ve kept a secret from you. I had my reasons, and she had hers …
but, god, I don’t know. Now that I’m writing this, it all seems so crazy.
A part of me believes all of this is my karma.
But this is my way of making amends. Please don’t blame her.
Give her a chance. I accept full responsibility for this.
She was hurt and scared. I was too, but for entirely different reasons. Some that I’m not proud of.
“Who the fuck is she talking …” I say out loud more to myself than Daisy. My words stick in my throat as I catch a glimpse of her next sentence.
My heart stops for a full minute as I re-read her words.
Your angel mom is alive.
My angel mom is alive. What does that even mean? I scratch my head and look at Daisy. “I don’t understand.”
She places her hand over my heart, her eyes spilling over with tears. “Your biological mother is alive.”
“My biological mother is alive?” I ask, still confused. We buried my mom when I was little. Her grave is down the road from my house. I visit her there at least once a week. Always have. What the hell is she talking about?
“Jackson, I need you to listen to me. Rachel and your mother worked together to keep her hidden from the world. They did it to keep you both safe.”
My gaze drops to the letter in my hand, and suddenly it hits me. I jump from my chair. “My mom is alive!” I yell, jumping up and down like a damn little kid. “Oh my god. Please tell me this isn’t a joke?”
Daisy smiles at me and shakes her head. “It’s not a joke.”
I pace the patio, firing off several questions in a row not knowing if she’ll even be able to answer any of them. “Where is she? Is she close? Does she want to meet me? Oh my god, my mom is alive!”
The patio door slides open abruptly, and my dad steps out. “What did you say?”
Daisy stands, and I look at her. Oh. Oh shit.
His entire body is shaking. “I was upstairs. We came back for something.” He points to Dirk and Jesse’s open window above us.
“Dad,” I say, stepping toward him. I can’t read the look on his face.
He backs away. “Did you say your mom was alive?” he asks as if it’s the most ludicrous thing in the world to say.
My mouth falls open along with Daisy’s because fuck, what do I say? I’m sure my mom had a plan for this secret to come out, and I’m positive it did not include this.
Dirk walks out behind my father. “What the fuck, man? Why did you run out of the room like that?”
Dad turns toward him with a crazed look in his eyes.
“Why don’t we sit down and talk?” I pull out a chair for him.
His gaze snaps to mine. “Tell me.”
I sigh because fuck …
He steps toward the table and picks up the letter I left laying there.
“Dad, wait.” I try to snatch it from his hand, but he turns away from me.
Daisy is furiously typing on her phone as the door opens, and my sister joins us. “Sorry Dan and I are late, but we’re here to help,” she tells Dirk.
My dad spins on the group, glaring at her. “Did you know about this?” he asks, angrily waving the piece of paper in her face.
My sister takes a step back at his outburst.
Seconds later, my dad’s shirt is in Big Dan’s fist. “Don’t you come at my wife like that, brother. I’ll knock you into next week.”
Dirk tries to push between them.
“Oh my god. You all knew!” My dad yells pulling away from them. “Fuck you!” He shakes his head in disbelief. The sad look of betrayal on his face makes me double over. “Just … fuck!” He rushes past everyone, heading inside.
“Dad, wait!” I rush after him and everyone follows.
He storms through the warehouse, knocking aside anything that gets in his way. I’ve never seen my father like this. Never.
“Dad, please,” I beg as he slams the front door open and heads toward his bike.
Dirk pushes past me and grabs him by the arm, spinning him around. “Stop!” he barks.
My dad rears his fist back and pops my uncle right in the nose. Lily and Daisy both scream as blood pours down Dirk’s face.
Dad backs up, his expression falling as he realizes what he’s done. His head drops, and he looks at the crumpled letter in his hand, now stained red. He lets it fall to the ground, looking away from us. “Don’t follow me.”
And then he gets on his bike and speeds out of the lot.
It’s quiet except for the roar of his bike as it fades away.
Daisy is the first to jump into action. She places her hand on Dirk’s back, ushering him into the warehouse. “Let’s get you inside and get this stopped.”
For the first time in my entire life, I see my uncle drop his shoulders in defeat. He lets her lead him inside. When they pass me, she pauses. “He’ll be okay, Jackson.”
Honestly, I don’t know if that’s true.
She continues into the warehouse with Dirk. Lily walks over and picks up the crumpled piece of paper from the ground.
I place my hand over hers, stopping her. “You should sit down first.” I look to Dan for backup.
He takes the letter from her and hands it to me. “Inside, now,” he calmly orders.
She looks from him to me.
“Please. I can’t have you running out of here like Dad just did. I need you by my side,” I tell her.
Her face softens and she nods, letting Dan take her hand to lead her inside.
My head falls back, and I stare up at the bright blue sky. “Dammit, Mom, this is a lot.” I sigh, dropping my gaze back to the bloodied letter in my hands.