Chapter 2
Gio
Ihung up the phone with a smile at hearing Jasper agree to come.
I didn’t leave him much choice, but I had a feeling he would have backed out or talked himself out of it if he felt like he wasn’t expected.
Over time, I’d learned that for some people, the best way to ask wasn’t with a question.
From the short conversation with Jasper, I could hear how much he was trying not to sound like he needed an ear, even though he clearly did.
“Nicky, set another place at the table, and get an extra chair,” I called out.
I set my phone down on the coffee table and went back to the kitchen where the kids were getting everything ready. Frankie was at the stove, stirring the chili, and I clapped them on the shoulder. “Keep it on low, we’ll be eating a little later tonight.”
They looked over their shoulder at me. “I thought everyone was accounted for. Who’s joining us?”
“A friend. His name is Jasper.”
They waggled their eyebrows at me. “Oh? A friend, huh? Is this like a special friend?”
I shook my head with amusement. “Nope, nothing like that.”
Eduardo was placing a pitcher of iced tea on the table and looked up at me. “That’s too bad, Papa. In all this time, I’ve never seen you bring someone home like just to hook up. You know it’s okay if you do, right?”
“Right. If you wanna bang some dude, you just gotta let us know, and we’ll give you space,” Yahir chimed in.
I let out a laugh. “While I appreciate all of your support, and not that it’s any of your business, but I’m not really looking to bang anyone.
Hooking up, dating, whatever… it’s just not something I’m interested in, and I don’t really have time for it anyway.
Jasper is new to the area. I think he’s feeling a little lost, and he needs a friend. That’s it.”
Nicky walked over and squeezed my arm with a supportive expression. “Saying you don’t have time is a total cop out. You make time for the things, or people, that are important to you.”
I smiled and pulled her to my side for a hug. “When did you get so insightful?”
She leaned against me and said, “I learned it from a special guy.”
I pressed a light kiss to the top of her head. “I think I learned even more from you all.”
My heart felt full as I looked around the room.
My kids. The term wasn’t entirely accurate, but I’d taken to thinking of them in this way.
Nicky was the youngest at seventeen and Eduardo was the oldest at twenty-four, though there had been others before him.
They weren’t mine, per se, but they were in the ways that mattered.
Whether they stayed or not, I always tried to make dinner a time for us to come together.
The tradition began before I inherited the farm from the man who’d become like a father to me, and now I carried it on.
It wasn’t a quiet life, but I wouldn’t change a thing. And in memory of my ‘papa,’ my door would stay open and my table would always have room for those that needed it. Which, tonight, would include Jasper.
At the sound of wheels crunching on the gravel driveway, everyone looked to the front of the house, including the quiet Noah, who had been sitting at the table with his nose in a book.
Noah was Nicky’s brother. He was the older of the two, more reserved and shy, to Nicky’s need for affection and approval, but he’d been his sister’s rock when she came out and vowed to look after her when she was forced to leave her home.
Noah might not involve himself in conversation often, but the kid observed everything, even if it seemed he was lost in his book.
With the arrival of someone new, he set his book down, and positioned himself by his sister. The simple gesture made my heart warm, seeing how much he cared for his sister and was ready to protect her.
“Okay, everyone, be nice, please,” I said, as I walked to the front door.
By the time I opened it, Jasper was hopping out of his Jeep.
I meant it when I told the kids I wasn’t looking for anything, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate the view.
Jasper took his hair out of a band and shook it out, sending the wavy curls flying around him.
A smile stretched my lips as I took in his outfit.
The few times I’d seen him, he'd worn a completely different style each time, and nothing that could be bought out of a box store. It was refreshing to see.
Jasper hit the button on his key to set the alarm and sauntered over, wiping his hands down his jeans. When he came up to me, he greeted me with a sheepish smile below the septum ring that hung from his nose. “Hey. Thanks for this, sorry if I’m crashing.”
“You’re not at all. I’m glad you’re here. Come on in, and you can meet everyone.” I shook his outheld hand.
“Yeah,” Jasper chuckled awkwardly. “Everyone. Okay, I guess we’re doing this.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “It’ll be fine, I promise.”
Leading him into my home, the crew were lined up along the kitchen, conspicuously waiting to meet the person I’d just invited in. It really shouldn’t be so unusual for them to see someone new, it happened often here, but they were all acting like this was some big deal, which it wasn’t.
“Oh. Uh, hi,” Jasper said and gave a little wave when he saw the waiting group.
“Hey.” “Yo.” “Sup.” Voices replied all at once.
I placed my hand on Jasper’s lower back, gently urging him forward.
“This is everyone, who, for some reason, are acting like they don’t know how to greet guests.
From left to right, we have Eduardo, Frankie, Yahir, Nicky, and Noah.
” Turning toward the group, I gave them a pointed look and they laughed, breaking apart to go sit around the table, leaving the chair at the head of the table and the one next to it open.
“So, this is your…family?” Jasper leaned close and whispered.
“Yup. Here, have a seat.”
Jasper bobbed his head, his eyes glancing around the table and he sat next to me.
Frankie brought the pot of chili to the table and set it on a trivet.
They enjoyed cooking and it had been nice to have someone to share the burden with.
They pointed a spoon at Yahir. “Can you grab the potatoes out of the oven, please?”
“We’re having chili cheese potatoes. The chili does have beef in it, though, so if you prefer meatless, we have plenty of other fixings. Just help yourself.” I waved to the table covered in food.
Jasper watched with an awed expression as the food frenzy began with everyone passing bowls and plates around until each person had exactly what they wanted.
Jasper finally put a foil-wrapped potato on his plate and opened it carefully.
It seemed like he wasn’t sure what the proper etiquette was, except everyone else was digging in, and conversation grew around the table between bites of food.
It was noisy and chaotic, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The man next to me leaned a little closer. “Is this a special occasion or something?”
I shook my head as I cut a piece of chili-smothered potato. “Nope, just a Tuesday.”
“So, you do this every Tuesday?” Jasper asked.
“We do this every night. With the exception of when Heartcraft does the night markets during the summer, of course. Sometimes there’s more, sometimes less, but dinner happens no matter what.”
“Wow.” The word came out quietly as he slowly took a bite of food.
“How are you doing? How’s the glass business going?”
Jasper breathed in deep and turned his chair toward me.
“It’s not, really. That’s the problem. I keep hitting walls trying to get it up and running.
Again, I’m sorry for calling out of the blue.
I was just really in my head about it and didn’t want to go home and be stuck with my thoughts, you know? ”
His eyes locked onto mine for a moment with that same lost and hopeful expression I’d seen on all my kids and it tugged on my heart. I patted his hand and offered a smile. “I get it. I’m glad you called. Do you want to talk about it?”
A burst of laughter sounded from the other end of the table drawing Jasper’s attention. One side of his lips tugged up and I could see him relax slightly. “Maybe later. I don’t want to take away from your time together.”
Before I could respond, Eduardo, who sat across from Jasper, spoke. “Did I hear glass business? What does that mean? Like windows? Car windows? Home windows? I got a buddy who’s been working for an auto glass guy.”
Jasper smiled and shifted in his seat. I gave Eduardo a wink of thanks for drawing him into conversation.
“That’s cool. I’ve watched a bunch of videos of people installing auto glass.
It’s oddly satisfying, watching them sink into place, like watching those carpet-cleaning videos.
But, no, it’s not quite the same. I do glassblowing. ”
“No shit! That’s sick! What kind of things do you make with that?”
A light gleamed in Jasper’s golden brown eyes.
He pulled out his phone and opened his Instagram account.
“I started with some basic vases when I was learning, but I’ve been able to make some statues and art pieces as well.
I’ve also done a bunch of smaller, more delicate lampwork stuff, sort of like the little crystal figurines you see at Disneyland. ”
Eduardo took the phone and scrolled through the pictures, oohing and awwing at each one.
I admitted I was anxious to see them myself, but I was glad for the exchange which had now piqued the interest of the entire table, and the phone was passed around.
I met Jasper’s gaze and gave him an apologetic look for losing his phone.
He simply smiled and shrugged, but he seemed a lot lighter than he had when he got here and that made me happy to see. Of course, seeing the faces around the table always made me happy.
“Oh my God! I love this one, is it intentionally trans colors or were you just going for a pastel look?” Nicky exclaimed from the other end of the table.