Chapter 43
“Come in, son,” Jack says when I knock on his door a couple days after Violette and Hollie’s bout with the stomach bug. Luckily, I do seem to be Super Rowan and I haven’t caught it yet. I have a million things to do before Troy comes to get Hollie at three. I’m finally taking Violette on that date we keep trying to plan but I wanted Jack to know I’m always available for him.
The Taylors’ house hasn’t changed in years. The furniture still sits in the same spot as it did when I was a kid. Their house isn’t unlike Violette’s, warm and comforting and full of a lot of love. It's just missing one thing and that still hits me five years later as I look around the room.
“Hey ya, baby.” Mae waves from the kitchen. She’s got country music going and it looks like she’s making her world-famous potato salad.
“Barbequing today?” I ask, trying my best to not let this visit be awkward as fuck.
“Yep, got the Smiths coming over,” Jack says of their long-time friends.
“Great day for it,” I answer, hoping he can’t tell how nervous this visit is making me.
I decide to just ask the question I’ve been dying to know since he asked me to come over the other day.
“I’m always up for a visit, but did you want to see me for something specific, some help with something?” I ask.
He nods and grins at me. “Let’s sit on the porch, you want a coffee?”
“Sure.”
Jack nods and pulls two mugs out of the cupboard, pouring us each a coffee.
“We’ll be out back, Mae,” he tells his wife. She doesn’t even look up; she just nods as he hands me my steaming mug.
I take a seat on one of the Taylors’ cushy outdoor chairs and look out at their swimming pool.
“Well, there’s no beatin’ around this bush. I’ve known you for a long time, kid.” He takes a sip, and I nod.
“We’ve seen some shit together,” I agree.
“We have. And that’s why I invited you here. I know Violette is a grown woman and you’re a grown man, and I know there’s always been some kind of tie or what have you between the two of you. I just want to be sure you understand what she’s been through.”
A little confused, I look and wait for him to continue.
I take a sip. Goddamn, that’s good. Mae always makes good coffee.
“Not just her divorce. I mean, that was a lot for her to go through, yes.” He leans forward a little. “But I’m talking about how she changed after losing Jacob.”
“I can understand that. We all changed,” I tell him, focusing on my mug.
He nods. “True.”
I wait as Jack thinks for a moment.
“Twins have a bond and losing him was like losing a part of her, she’s never really been the same since, but she won’t let herself recognize it. She was getting panic attacks before she left, she says they stopped when she moved home but now that she’s back and spending time with you…it might trigger some old, deep wounds.”
His words tug on my heart.
“I understand,” I tell him.
“I know you, King.”
“You do,” I affirm, taking another sip of my coffee.
“I just wanted to talk to you. Man to man. You care about her.”
I nod. “More than I think I’ve ever cared about anyone.”
“Then be patient with her, yeah?” He sighs. “She has walls around her, but she needs someone like you in her life, someone who will bring her out of her shell.”
I smirk at his words. I keep referring to her in the same way. Hiding in her shell.
“Violette has a way of keeping people at arm’s length since he passed.”
I nod because I’ve noticed it too. I watch Jack’s brow knot as he talks about his only son. I take another sip, swallowing the lump in my throat. I can’t even imagine the kind of pain he felt losing Jacob.
“Mae doesn’t think she was even in love with Troy, but he was safe, predictable,” he adds. “So, getting to the nitty gritty, I believe that you do really care about her, and I know that there’s no way if you’re spending time with her that you don’t care about Hols too.”
I grin and focus on the mug before meeting his gaze.
“It’s impossible not to care about Hols.” I set my mug down, just wanting to have an honest conversation with him. “If I can be as straight as possible, Jack, even after having her home for this short time, I know I’d wait as long as it takes where Violette is concerned. Vi, Hollie, the three of us together, it’s just comfortable and right. There’s no other way to explain it, aside from that. And Hollie’s definitely the coolest kid I’ve ever met,” I tell him, meaning every word.
“I’m sure you understand that being a hotshot brings up a lot of bad memories for Vivi. I always came home, just make sure you do too.” He nods.
“I’ll do my best,” I say. “Not planning on landing myself in the hospital again anytime soon.” I pick my mug up and take my last sip.
Jack takes the final swallow of his coffee and chuckles as he gazes out to the yard.
“Fucking prick!” Mae hollers so loud it makes both me and Jack turn toward the house where she’s coming through the back door, phone still in hand.
Jack makes a move to stand but Mae is outside before he has a chance, her eyes blazing not unlike the way Violette’s do when she’s angry.
“Troy canceled on Hollie. I have half a mind to call the asshole myself.”
I set my mug down on the table beside me and rub my temples with one hand as Mae starts to rant having just got off the phone with Violette. She fills us in. Troy isn’t coming to take Hollie to SuperPets . The poor kid has been looking forward to it since before I met her. I don’t think a day has gone by where she hasn’t talked about it.
I pull my phone out and text Opp. Fucking Christ, letting down Violette is one thing but letting down Hollie?
That’s just a hard fucking no.