Chapter 12 Silver Spoon
Silver Spoon
? Silver Spoon - Erin LeCount
Jaxon
I step inside the big house and kick my boots off on the welcome mat, following the sound of laughter all the way to the kitchen, where Olivia is seated at the island, making airplane noises with a spoon halfway to Gracie’s mouth. Across the island, Emmy giggles at something Wilder said.
Nobody acknowledges me right away, but that’s just as well. I’m only here because I didn’t want to throw Callie to the wolves. I wouldn’t put it past Mama to pull out an old family album or something equally embarrassing.
Pops enters through the back door with his cowboy hat in hand. He gives me a nod, and I return the gesture with a tight-lipped smile.
Like a moth to a flame, his attention goes straight to my mother.
His face breaks into a wide grin as he watches her.
She’s standing behind the stove, swaying to an old country song playing over the radio.
He tosses his hat onto the hook by the door before sweeping her into his arms, and she throws her head back, laughing like this isn’t a regular occurrence for them.
My parents have always made time to dance in the kitchen. They have one of those rare loves that only comes around once in a lifetime, or twice if you’re Wilder. By the way he’s looking at Olivia from across the room, I’d bet my last dollar he’s thinking the same thing.
As the song ends, Pops dips her backward and plants a rough kiss on her lips.
Once she’s back to an upright position, she fans her face with a dish towel.
When we were growing up, we’d all grimace and cover our faces.
Now, I see their easy affection through a different lens.
It’s something I want, to be gifted with a love like theirs.
Voices drift in from somewhere behind me, and my mind singles out the only one I give a damn about.
Callie.
“I’m already uncoordinated on solid ground. I’m not sure I’m cut out for horseback riding.” Callie gives me a tight-lipped smile. She fidgets with the bottom button on her sweater, nervous energy radiating off her in waves.
Griffin snorts. “You just need the right instructor. Give me a chance, Callie girl. I’ll have you ridin’ bareback in no time.”
Jesus Christ, he’s not even trying to be subtle. “Since when do we teach amateurs to ride bareback around here?”
“Why don’t you ask Wilder?” Griffin says.
Olivia’s cheeks turn a bright shade of pink.
“Watch it, dickhead,” Wilder says. “That’s my wife you’re talking about.”
“She’s not your wife yet. Still time to run for it, Livie.”
Olivia glances at Griffin with mock indignation. “I’m still waiting for a better offer.”
Mama cuts in. “Speaking of weddings. Do you have a date in mind?”
Wilder and Olivia exchange a suspicious look.
“We’re keeping our options open for now,” Olivia says. “Maybe in the spring.”
Mama pulls a pan from the oven and sets it on the counter. “Well, don’t wait too long or all the good vendors will be booked up.”
I glance at Callie standing a few feet away with her back pressed against the kitchen wall like she’s trying to disappear into the shiplap. She chews on her bottom lip as she watches the interaction, something almost sullen passing over her features.
Olivia waves across the kitchen. “Hey, Callie. Welcome to the chaos. You’ll get used to it, I swear.”
“It’s not so bad,” she says, shrugging one shoulder.
I lean in conspiratorially, closing the meager distance between us. I catch a whiff of her sweet scent and have to stifle a groan. The way she affects me is illogical. “I’ll cover for you if you want to fake an illness or something.”
She eyes me curiously. “What?”
“Just thought you might want an escape plan.”
“What are we, five?”
I shrug. “Suit yourself.”
“Dinner’s ready,” Mama says. “Callie, would you mind helping Jaxon set the table?”
I narrow my gaze at my mother. She gives me her most innocent smile and motions toward the stack of plates and silverware in the center of the island.
Callie follows me to the dining room and sets the dishes in the center of the table.
As she turns, her foot snags on the upturned corner of the area rug.
I drop the silverware to the table with a loud clang just in time to catch her in my arms. Her palms land flat against my chest, and her wide eyes meet mine.
Time slows to a crawl as I lose myself in those blue-green depths. Her gaze flicks to my lips, and she leans in the barest amount. One kiss. That’s all it would take to lose whatever’s left of my sanity.
I’m seconds away from giving in when she pushes me away.
A small smile breaks across her face as I help her regain her footing.
“Maybe you would be better on horseback,” I say teasingly.
She grimaces, running her hands over her skirt. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.”
I want to pull her back to me and savor the feel of her in my arms a while longer, but the moment has passed.
Soon, my family is gathered around the long table, passing around platters of food to fill our plates.
Callie sits quietly to my right, playing the perfect passive bystander.
I hope, in time, she’ll feel more comfortable here.
“You decide what you wanna do about the old distillery?” Wilder asks.
I lean my forearm on the table. “Hayes Brothers Bourbon has a nice ring to it.”
Griffin eyes me curiously. “You learn how to make bourbon when we weren’t looking?”
“I’m working on it,” I say. “It’s just a pet project for now. Might not come to anything, but I don’t wanna jump the gun and tear it all down if I can make something of it.”
“No offense, brother,” Wilder starts. “But where the hell did all this come from? Two months ago, we couldn’t get you to show up to family dinner. Now you’re out here planning a distillery.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Griffin says, gesturing across the table at Callie. “He’s got a girl he wants to impress and the Pythagorean theorem ain’t gonna cut it.”
“Not once in all my years of running this ranch have I ever needed to calculate the dimensions of a triangle,” I deadpan.
Olivia pre-emptively covers Emmy’s ears.
“How about you calculate the dimensions of this dick?” Griffin replies.
I smirk. “If we’re having a dick measuring contest, you’ll lose.”
“It’s like I’m surrounded by children.” Wilder spears his fork into his lasagna. “Actually, I take that back. Emmy and Gracie are more civilized than you two idiots.”
“You’re getting boring in your old age,” Griffin says.
We each hand Emmy a dollar for her swear jar.
“Ignore them,” Olivia says to Callie. “They’re always like this.”
Pops chuckles. “Do you have any siblings, Callie?”
“No.” She moves some of the noodles around her plate with her fork. “It’s just me.”
My gut twists with an instinctual need to comfort her.
Without a second thought, I reach over and squeeze her hand.
I expect her to pull away. Instead, she flips her hand and laces her fingers with mine.
My body reacts like I’m a giddy teenager with his first crush.
I glide my thumb over the back of her hand and watch as the tension leaves her body.
Olivia gives me a look of understanding and swoops in with the save. “Emmy has not stopped talking about story time. Have you always wanted to be a librarian?”
Callie pulls her hand away and dabs a napkin at the corner of her mouth. “For as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved reading. There’s nothing like falling into a whole new world without ever having to travel anywhere. It’s like knowing no matter where you are, you can always go home.”
There’s a subtle upward tilt to her brow when she says this, like home isn’t a place, but a feeling. I want to show her it can be both.
Callie
Liv hands me a glass of wine as we sit side by side in the den.
Jaxon’s on the floor in front of the fireplace with a tiara on his head and a set of toddler-sized fairy wings on his back, while Emmy fans out a superhero cape and runs around him in circles.
Gracie’s sitting in his lap, giggling at her sister as she makes another round.
Liv sinks back into the couch with a ragged sigh. “Thank god for Jax.”
I smile and bring the glass to my lips. “He’s great with them.”
“They all are. I couldn’t have asked for a better family for my kids to grow up in.”
I love the way she says ‘kids’ without singling out Emmy. Emmy isn’t Liv’s biological child, but she doesn’t treat her any differently. I often wondered if Rodney would’ve been as harsh if we were his, but Rodney was a monster. I’m not sure anything would’ve made a difference.
Jaxon holds Gracie up in the air like an airplane, and she lets out a high-pitched squeal.
My chest aches. I don’t remember a single moment of pure joy from my childhood.
That’s the thing about trauma, I guess. When you block out the bad stuff, all the good memories tend to go with it.
Or maybe they never existed in the first place.
Jaxon’s gaze meets mine from across the room, and his crooked grin stops me in my tracks. All thoughts of anguish dissipate when he looks at me like that. I take another sip of the wine and hold the glass to my chest to dull the blooming heat.
“You guys bang it out yet?” Liv asks.
Wine spews from my mouth into my glass. “What?”
“He’s got it bad,” she says, drawing out the last syllable. “That’s the look of a man ready to beg for it.”
I dab at my chin with my sleeve. “You’re hallucinating. Maybe you should see a doctor.”
“Or maybe you need to upgrade your prescription lenses.” She pushes my glasses farther up my nose. “Wilder still looks at me like that sometimes. It makes my stomach all fluttery.”
A gruff voice comes from behind us. “Mm. Is that so?”
“You have a bad habit of sneaking up on a girl, Wilder Hayes.”
“Did I make your stomach all fluttery, honey?”
“Yes,” she says breathlessly as he kisses down the side of her neck. “Time to go home?”
“Fuck yes,” he whispers. “I have plans to make another part of you flutter.”
“Ok. I think that’s my cue to leave.” I down the rest of my wine and stand. “You two have fun with that. I have a date with a very nice bathtub.”
“And a shower head, I hope,” Liv says.
I purse my lips together to stifle a smile. “That is none of your business.”
But it’s not the worst idea, I must admit.
I stop in the kitchen where Evie’s finishing up the last of the dishes.
She takes the wine glass from my hand, rinses it, and sets it in the sink. “You heading out?”
“Yeah. It’s getting late.”
“Thanks for coming.” She dries her hands on a dish towel and pulls me in for a hug. “If you need anything, we’re just a phone call away, alright?”
“Thanks, Evie. Dinner was lovely.”
She laughs softly. “It’s always a full production with us, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re welcome here any time.”
She gives my hands one last squeeze, and I have to swallow down the emotions welling up inside me.
Evelyn is everything I wished my mother were: loving and kind.
She radiates warmth and light, when all I ever knew was darkness.
She’s the type of mother I want to be someday, if I’m ever lucky enough to have children of my own.
I often wished I could grow up in a home like this—not the size or scope or the impeccable decor, but the loving family. My life would’ve been so different.
I find Jaxon in the entry, slipping on his boots.
He holds out his hand. “Ready to go?”
My mind replays the feel of his palm engulfing mine at the dinner table. He comforted me before I had a moment to dwell on my sadness. He’s offering the same comfort now, and he can’t know how much I need it.
I slide my hand into his and let his warmth radiate through me.
“Let’s go home,” he murmurs.