CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Rebecca—
A strong wind ruffles my hair and cuts through my coat.
Thanksgiving is only four days away, and we open for business the day after.
I feel good that we’re ready. JJ and I went over our list, and we just have a few last-minute things.
Amanda and I got all the wreaths finished, and they’re loaded in the bed of the truck.
As soon as this lunch is over with JJ’s parents, he and I are planning to deliver them to city hall.
JJ parked a block away, and as we turn the corner, he catches my eye. “You ready for this?”
“Probably not, but let’s just make the best of it and try not to get in an argument, okay?”
“Not making any promises, but I’ll behave if they do.
” He holds the door for me, and we enter the small restaurant.
There are two rows of booths on either side of the narrow storefront and one row of tables in the middle.
The place is squeezed between the post office on the right and a hair salon on the left.
There are old-fashioned tiled floors and a pressed-tin ceiling. The beadboard walls are painted red, and the booths are red as well, with silver-trimmed Formica tables.
Cheery artwork of Santa and reindeer are displayed around the room.
An instrumental of Santa Claus is Coming to Town is playing softly in the background.
Our tree stands just inside the door with our sign. They’ve decorated it with a bunch of Santa ornaments of varying sizes and shapes.
“How cute is this?” I say to JJ, pointing it out.
“The tree looks great,” he murmurs at my back. It’s a seat-yourself kind of place, and he spots his parents. “There they are in the middle.”
They’re seated at a table in the center of the room.
As we make our way to them, JJ says hi to someone at a booth.
“Hey, Scotty.”
“JJ. How are you?”
We stop, and they chat.
“Good. Is this the fam?”
“Yep. This is my wife, Kelly, and my daughters, Mia and Evie.”
The children look about five and three years old, and I smile and waggle my fingers at them.
JJ puts a hand on the small of my back. “This is my sister-in-law, Rebecca.”
The couple nod and say hello.
Scotty lifts his chin toward the table in the center of the room and says quietly. “Your folks are here.”
Something in the way he says it makes me think he’s warning JJ, but JJ only grins and puts a hand on Scotty’s shoulder.
“Thanks, man, but we’re actually meeting them for lunch.”
Scotty’s brows lift. “Really? Good luck with that.”
JJ chuckles. “Enjoy your meal. It was nice to meet you, Kelly.”
We make our way to the table where Tom and Janet sit, watching us. The looks on their faces say it all. They are not happy to see JJ with me, and I’m glad I never mentioned he was coming.
When we stop at their table, JJ pulls a chair out for me, and I sit with his father on my left. JJ takes the chair to my right next to his mother.
I scoot in and smile. “Hello.”
They glare at JJ, and then Tom dares to ask his son. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here with Rebecca.”
“I asked him to come,” I defend.
“You should have told us, Rebecca.” Janet leans forward and hisses like she doesn’t want the other tables to hear her.
I grab a menu and study it, ignoring her. “Oh, look. They’ve got schnitzel.”
JJ leans toward me. “Where?”
“Here.” I point at it on the menu.
The waitress comes over with a smile, looking at JJ and me. “What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll have a cola. Thanks,” I reply.
“Apple cider for me,” JJ answers.
She leaves, and we continue studying our menus.
“We saw your ad,” Tom almost spits. “The one with you two acting like some happy couple in love.” He scoffs. “What a joke.”
JJ shoots daggers at his father, and his jaw clenches, but he holds his tongue. I can only imagine the willpower it takes JJ not to spit back a comment, and I feel the need to intervene.
“It was my idea, and it’s already made us over a thousand dollars in a city contract for wreaths, so I don’t need your criticism.”
Janet straightens, sucking in a breath. “Rebecca, what a thing to say.”
“No, Janet, maybe you should take offense at what Tom said, not my response to it. JJ and I are working really hard to make this work and get the farm up to speed. The last thing we need is snippy little comments cutting down our hard work.”
“Why, I’ve never heard you talk like this,” Janet says.
I shrug. “Maybe it’s time I stood up for myself.”
“What has gotten into you?” she says.
“I’ll tell you exactly what,” Tom growls and lifts his chin to JJ. “Her brother-in-law. He is your brother-in-law, you know? Or have you forgotten? That ad was disgusting to watch.”
The insinuation drips with condemnation, and my mouth drops open.
At this point, JJ’s chair scrapes across the tile, and he stands. “Let’s go, Becca. I’m not going to sit here and let them treat you this way.”
I stand, all too ready to join him in leaving. We make it halfway across the room, and Tom barrels after us, grabbing my arm and spinning me around. “It’s like you don’t give a damn about David anymore.”
JJ puts himself between me and his father, breaking Tom’s hold on my arm. “Shut your fucking mouth, old man, or I’ll shut it for you.”
Silence falls over the room, and every person stares at us.
“You’re acting like a damn slut, carrying on with JJ like that in that damn ad—”
That’s as far as he gets before JJ puts two fists in his father’s chest and shoves him back. Tom stumbles into a table and rattles the dishes as he catches himself. Everyone in the place gasps, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Scotty come to his feet like he’s prepared to back his friend.
JJ stalks toward his father, keeping him on his heels. “You say another fucking word, and I’ll knock your fucking teeth out.”
Tom has the good sense to keep his mouth shut, but he glares from his son to me, then pushes past us and out the door. Janet follows, glaring at us both.
JJ turns and cups my face. “You okay?”
I nod.
Scotty pats JJ on the shoulder. “Man, your father has deserved that for a lot of years, JJ. About time someone put him in his place.”
A couple of other people clap.
JJ digs his wallet out, returns to the table, and drops a twenty to cover the drinks we never got, then we head outside.
I stalk toward the truck, so upset I can’t even talk.
“Becca, stop,” JJ calls, jogging to catch up to me, but I don’t slow until I’m standing next to the truck door.
He takes my arm and turns me, concern on his face. “Are you pissed at me?”
“No. I’m angry, but mostly embarrassed and so humiliated. Everyone in there heard those awful words. Oh my God, JJ. I’ve never seen that side of your father. Of either of your parents.”
“That’s because I bet you never stood up to them before.” He unlocks the door and opens it for me.
I slide inside, and he leans over me to buckle my belt.
Something about the gesture makes everything hit home.
JJ defended me, he protected me, stepping between me and his father like he was a physical threat to me, and I know without a doubt JJ would do the same no matter where or who the threat came from.
It makes me feel safe for the first time in a long time.
He slides behind the wheel and starts the truck, then turns and studies me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. Thank you, JJ. No one has ever done something like that for me before.”
“Stood up for you?”
“Yes,” I whisper, staring at my lap.
“Not even David?”
I shake my head and feel his eyes on me for a long moment. “Well, get used to it. You deserve better. No one talks to you like that, not even my ol’ man. Understand?”
I nod, and he puts a hand on my chin, gently turning me to face him.
“Hey? Did you hear what I said? Because it’s important you understand. You deserve better, Rebecca. Don’t ever doubt that.”