Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
JACE
I may not be allowed to love her, but that doesn't mean I'll let anyone hurt her.
Katja Millay, The Sea of Tranquility
I woke up agitated, having slept fitfully and waking well before sunrise. Something had spooked Polly last night. At first, I thought it was because we didn’t get anything done on her checklist, but then she got all nervous and cute, babbling about honky-tonks and moonshine, making me confused. It was all I could do not to wrap my arms around her, reassuring her that whatever it was, it was going to be alright. I’d stayed in my room the entire night, eating a protein bar I’d found at the bottom of my gym bag for supper. I’d listened to the sounds of Polly and her kids until they went to bed, then the silence that followed.
I’d purposefully come down to the kitchen early the next morning, not wanting to miss Polly before she left for work. Pale morning sunlight was streaming through the windows so I didn’t turn on the lights as I waited for my coffee to brew.
Polly rushed through the kitchen doorway as if on a mission, immediately walking to the table and to rifle through her purse, which must have been sitting there all night. Hair high up in a bun, her elegant neck was on full display. She was wearing earbuds, like in the library on Sunday night.
Curiosity had been playing like a song on repeat in my mind since that night, wondering what book she was listening to, because she sure as hell wasn’t listening to a medical journal. Maybe it was another quirky comedy about a group of drag queens that compete in drag races after their show. Or maybe it was something a little more suspenseful, a little grittier, like the American Tail bounty hunter series, of which she’d read two books that I knew of so far. When I’d learned about Polly’s upbringing, the sad story about her momma passing, the neglectful nature of her father, the undiluted anger I felt surprised me. It was no wonder Polly liked reading books about strong women. Because in the last two days, those little glimmers were there, peeking out of her. How dare her father take a woman as strong and bright as Polly and try to change her, forcing her to be anything else but herself.
If she were ever mine, I’d give her room to shine, hoping to bask in her light as long as she’d have me.
Polly was still rummaging through her purse, not having seen me standing near the back of the kitchen. I shifted my weight and took a slow step in her direction, holding up my hands so I didn’t startle her.
Polly gasped and before I could blink an eye, she pivoted toward me, grabbed her purse like a WNBA pro, and chest pressed it directly at . . . my man purse.
“Why,” I squeaked out, clutching my pocket-Jaces and sunk to my knees.
“Oh my God! I didn’t see you!” Polly yelled, rushing to me.
“S’fine,” I wheezed out.
“Are you sure?” Polly leaned over me, putting her hand on my shoulder.
I could only nod.
Polly sighed and looped her arm through mine. “Let me help you to the couch,” she said, helping me stand despite the deep pulsating ache in my groin. “Do you need ice?”
“Ice?!” I hollered, hitting an octave I’d not reached since the sixth grade.
Polly jerked back, holding up her hands. “That’s what you do for an injury! Would heat be better?”
My voice came out pained as I rasped, “I thought you were a doctor.”
“I don’t know! I don’t have balls!” Polly yelled, sounding flustered.
Two seconds passed until I smirked, which was followed shortly by a soft chuckle from Polly and then we were both laughing quietly, the tension between us finally breaking.
I managed a slow step backward. “I didn’t think it was possible to laugh after getting hit in the nuts,” I said, stifling a little groan with each step back.
She walked over to grab her purse from the floor, smiling apologetically. “Probably haven’t pictured being attacked with a purse while making coffee, either. Are you sure you’re ok?”
I nodded, finally able to lean back against the counter where my coffee had finished brewing. “I’m fine. It’s not the first time the Vargas jewels got hit.”
“When was the first time?” Polly busied herself, grabbing a tall, handled thermos and filled it with tap water.
“I almost don’t want to say.”
Polly looked over her shoulder at me. “Now I want to know even more.”
I groaned. “Fine. But don’t laugh. Sam convinced me to help him shear a herd of sheep once.”
Polly’s eye twitched, and she turned back to the sink.
“Oh.”
Her voice sounded strangled.
I sighed, acting disappointed, but I was secretly pleased we’d gone back to our easy banter. “Go ahead and laugh.”
Polly’s answering laughter filled the kitchen and my soul.
“Why on earth would you two shear a herd of sheep?” Polly grabbed a packet from a drawer in front of her, then held up a hand. “Wait, this is the same Sam who hired you as a clown when I wanted a magician, right?” She dumped the packet into her thermos and stirred it.
Ruefully, I shook my head. “One and the same. I did gain a healthy respect for sheep farmers that day. I try to appreciate their sacrifice every time I put on a wool hat.” I ran my hand back and forth through my hair to emphasize it.
Polly’s eyes moved to my hair and held there, my breath stalling as they remained fixed on my unruly curls for one beat, two beats . . . then, abruptly, wrenched her gaze back to mine.
My Vargas jewels gave a little throb. And not because they just got nailed with a purse. Maybe she wasn’t as immune to me as I thought.
“Got a big day planned?” I asked, hoping she’d share more about her day, like she had yesterday after she got home, just before everything went to hell.
Shaking her head, she spun the cap on her thermos. “Nothing too big. The kids are still sleeping. I’ll be home by three so I can take them to Max’s therapy appointment this afternoon. You’ll have plenty of time to get to Young Wills. I’m still not sure about Ryla trying another new thing. A few weeks ago she got kicked out of the YMCA swimming lessons. Maybe Ryla could go on Thursday, but I’m on call so I don’t know. Or maybe it’d be better in the fall. I have to think about it. If you have any questions, it’s all in the—” her eyes darted to Barry on the island next to her—“schedule.”
Shoot. It was what I said about the schedule that spooked her last night. “I’ll make sure the kids are all ready to go when you get home. And we’ll get everything on the checklist done, don’t you worry!”
With a thin smile, she turned to walk down the hall, her long legs eating up the floor until she was out of sight.
My Vargas jewels gave another little throb.
Yeah, you and me both .
* * *
When I pulled into the high school parking lot for Young Wills practice that night, I spotted a familiar forestry truck. The truck’s tailgate was down and Jethro Winston, Sienna’s husband, was attempting to unload a large tribal mask that looked similar to the mockup we’d designed for our set. The kids were putting on The Lion King Jr. for their end of summer performance and having a blast.
“Hey, Jethro,” I called out as I walked up next to him.
“Jace.” Jethro nodded.
“Whoa, get a look at these.” I shook my head, studying the masks in the truck bed. At least three feet tall and two feet wide, the three masks appeared to be made from solid wood. Each was decorated with metal pieces soldered together in an intricate tribal pattern. These were clearly a work of art; being more fitting for a museum rather than a set piece for a kids’ musical.
I glanced up at Jethro. “Is that real metal?”
“Yup. We got an artist in the family. Shelly said to tell y’all that she saw the design and made some improvements on it.”
“It looks better than anything I could do. Seems heavy though. Want some help?”
“Nah, I got it.” Jethro grunted when he tried to lift one of the masks, then set it down. “Actually, if you wouldn’t mind picking up that side, Jace,” he directed as we went about buddy lifting it. The mask had to weigh at least a hundred pounds. And there were two more in the truck.
We were breathing heavily, having just gotten the third and final mask through the entrance, when I heard a familiar voice from the hallway behind us.
“Well, if it isn’t two of my favorite men.” Sienna, lovely as usual, walked over to us. “Look at that thing. The picture did not do it justice. How many did Shelly make?”
“Three of ’em.” Jethro pointed to the two masks we’d set in the corner already.
“Jace, thank you so much for helping.” Sienna flashed her typical dimpled smile at me, then patted my cheek. As she bent to study the masks more closely, Jethro cleared his throat. Sienna turned her head to him, a wrinkle in her brow.
“Didn’t carry it all by himself, did he?” Jethro grumbled, toeing the ground. Sienna laughed and went over to him, giving him a quick kiss, stroking his cheek. “Thank you, my love.”
Looking appeased, Jethro rubbed his hands together gesturing to the masks. “So, where do you want ’em?”
Sienna, who’d gone back to studying the masks, waved her hand toward the auditorium. “On the stage. Wow, she really outdid herself.”
I cleared my throat. “Has uh, this artist ever made a set design piece before?”
Sienna looked up at my question. “I’m not sure, why?”
“Well, this weighs, what would you say,” I looked to Jethro who scratched the back of his head, “a buck? Maybe a buck ten?”
Jethro nodded in agreement.
Sienna narrowed her eyes, understanding the problem. “Oh.”
Jethro looked between us. “What is it?”
“They’re too heavy for the kids to move on and off stage between the scenes,” Sienna answered, pointing at the masks.
“Can they stay onstage? Like permanent set pieces?” Jethro asked.
Sienna and I shook our heads. We all looked at the masks for another minute, then I snapped my fingers. “Wheels. You think we can put these things on a dolly?”
Sienna crouched down, inspecting the base of a mask. “Probably. It’s flat enough. Good thinking, Jace.”
Jethro clapped me on the shoulder, then addressed his wife. “Y’all sure about keeping the boys here with you? I can take ’em.”
“We’ll keep them. But do you mind stopping at home to pack some overnight things for them? I just talked to Rae, and she and Jackson offered to keep them at their house tonight for a little ‘auntie and uncle’ sleepover.” Sienna slunk closer to Jethro, going on tiptoes to whisper in his ear, causing the tip of it to flush pink.
I pretended to look in the other direction until I heard Jethro cough and say in a very animated tone, “I’ll head right home.” He nodded to me. “Jace.” Then he winked at Sienna, who blew him a kiss as he walked out the door.
Sienna and I started toward the auditorium when she asked, “So, what’s this I hear about you being a nanny?”
My steps faltered for a beat. That answered the question I’d had since Sunday—if Rae had filled anyone in on my new job. I’d been so distracted these last few days that I was only now skeptical why neither Rae nor Sienna had dropped by Polly’s house under the guise of being neighborly. And while I usually admired their generosity and tolerated their questions, I didn’t want to get into it today.
I underplayed my response. “Just that, I suppose. I’m watching two kids, having some fun, making some money.”
Sienna, not one to be deterred, eyed me with suspicion. “What brought this on? I’ve never known you to accept a babysitting job for anyone but me or Charlotte, and I know you’ve gotten a lot of offers.”
“Why Miss Diaz, are you feelin’ a little jealous?”
Sienna laughed. “Oh, don’t try that tone on me. I have three boys and can smell evasion a mile away.”
Switching tactics, I decided to go with a simplified truth. “There’s no conspiracy. The woman I nanny for is a single mother. She and her two kids live in a house up near the Donner Lodge. Her daddy’s a judge in Knoxville. She doesn’t have much help. And with my parents planning on moving, I needed a place to stay. Simple as that.”
I did not add, unless you count that she’s incredibly beautiful and the more I talk to her, the more I like her, even though it’d take ten lifetimes traveling at light speed for me to be in her same galaxy.
A look of surprise came over Sienna’s face. “Your parents are moving? Since when?”
I opened the auditorium doors, allowing her to pass. The sound of kids running and playing onstage before practice filled the cavernous space. “It’s a new thing.” I shrugged my shoulders as we walked down the aisle, past the rows of seats. “Pop’s arthritis is getting worse and there’s a condo in Florida for sale near my brother.”
Sienna reached out and touched my arm. “I’m so sorry to hear about Nick’s health. You let us know if they need anything. And you know you’re welcome to stay with us anytime. I’m sure Rae and Jackson feel the same.”
“That’s kind of you. And I’m flattered y’all are worried about me, but really, I’m fine.”
“I do worry about you, suddenly moving in with a family no one knows. And it’s not just me. Rae’s worried, too.”
Speaking of the devil, we’d just reached the front of the stage when Rae materialized out of thin air. Standing shoulder to shoulder, Rae and Sienna fixed their gazes upon me.
“You get anything out of him?” Rae asked Sienna out of the corner of her mouth, even though her eyes remained on me.
“Single mom. Two kids. Doesn’t want to talk about it. You didn’t tell me she was a single mom.” Sienna also spoke from the corner of her mouth, clearly talking to Rae, but looking at me the whole time.
I rolled my eyes.
“I thought I told you that?” Rae murmured to Sienna
“You did not,” Sienna answered.
“I swear I did.”
“I think I’d remember if I?—”
I cleared my throat. “Ladies! As entertaining as y’all think this is, what do you say we start rehearsal?”
Rae turned to Sienna. “I remember coming to town, barely knowing anyone. It would have been lonely if I didn’t have you.”
“And with two kids? I can’t imagine all the things she must have on her mind. She must be exhausted. What about bringing her a welcome basket? Jen would probably contribute a cake or two, Cletus is usually all too happy to share his sausage, and Charlotte?—”
Rae nodded excitedly. “Oh! Charlotte could . . .”
Their voices dimmed as Sienna’s words resonated. All the things she must have on her mind.
I thought of Polly’s schedule. She was likely just trying to keep her head above water. I understood that families had important dates and times they needed to keep track of somewhere. As far as I was concerned, Polly was a super-hot, supermom of two, and it didn’t matter what I or anyone else thought. But I could imagine how it felt, having someone like me come in and feel like I’d judged how she kept it all together.
I snapped back to attention when I heard Rae and Sienna discussing some sort of meal schedule. These two quasi older sisters/aunts of mine would not be showing up at Polly Alberton’s house, meal schedule or otherwise.
“You two really don’t need to do that. She’s fine. She has a friend in town.”
“Then why all the secrecy?” Rae crossed her arms, looking put out that I’d shot down their plan. “No one knows anything about her, and there’s a big gate across the front of her driveway, which, is so tall you can barely see the house except for some big stone columns and the roof.”
Sienna and I slowly turned our heads toward Rae.
Rae simply looked down to examine her nails. “I might have done a ride-along with Jackson when he checked out her place.”
I sliced my hand through the air, causing both women to jump. I felt a little bad, but I was getting frustrated. “No more checking out her place. No welcome baskets. No meal schedules. She’s a private person. And she’s a doctor. Of course she doesn’t want her personal information spread around town.”
“What kind of doctor is she?” Naturally this is what Sienna picked up on out of everything I just said.
I blew out a breath, answering in a flat tone, “A pediatrician.”
“That’s great! We needed a good pediatrician in town!” Sienna exclaimed.
Rae looked side to side. “I thought you were going to bring kids along today?”
I sighed. “They were busy tonight. But they might come on Thursday.”
Rae clapped her hands as Sienna burst out, “Tell her to come along, too!”
Resigned, I replied, “If she’s on call, she won’t be able to come. But I guess I could ask.”
“Perfect!” Sienna beamed, then cupped her mouth and turned to the stage. “Ok everyone! Who’s ready for some warmups?”
Rae patted my back, then leaned in to whisper in my ear. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”
I shook my head.
I’d been bamboozled. Again.