Chapter Fourteen
Jax hung up the phone and flung her arms in the air. “What is wrong with people?” she asked aloud.
Cheryl, busy hanging posters for story hour, glanced at her. “Talking to anyone in particular?”
“No.” She pointed to the phone. “Some reporter from the local paper called and asked if she could read a few diaries to find
out the secrets. She says she’s writing a human interest story and—” Jax made air quotes. “‘Promised not to use real names.’
I’m not going to let some stranger read the diaries. They’re locked away and that’s where they’re staying.”
“You go girl,” Cheryl told her.
Jax grinned. “Too much energy?”
“Just the right amount. You’re taking your responsibility seriously. That speaks well of you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate the support.”
Cheryl’s expression changed from friendly to confused. “There’s a lady waving frantically at you.”
At the same time Jax heard “Jax! There you are” from behind and turned to find Shawna’s mother walking through the bookstore.
Instantly her stomach tightened. Seeing Lindsey was not happy news, she thought grimly. No doubt the older woman had arrived
with too many questions and a list of rude comments to share.
As soon as the thoughts formed, Jax told herself not to judge. Maybe Lindsey had stopped by to buy twelve copies of some expensive
hardcover for her book club.
“Hi,” Jax said. “Nice to see you again. Lindsey, this is Cheryl—the store’s event manager and my right-hand person. Cheryl,
this is Lindsey. Shawna’s mother.”
Cheryl looked confused for a second, then smiled. “Oh, the fiancée. Good to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Lindsey turned to Jax. “I was hoping we could talk for a few minutes.”
Jax would really rather not, but couldn’t figure out a polite way to refuse, so she was stuck leading Lindsey to the coffee
bar where they each ordered a latte before sitting down at one of the tables.
“I thought we could have a little chat about your wedding to Harris.”
Jax hadn’t known what Lindsey would want to discuss but asking about her wedding wouldn’t have made a list of the top fifty
possibilities.
“Excuse me?”
The other woman pulled a small notebook out of her bag, along with a pen. She turned to a blank page, then clarified, “What
was it like? Big? Small? In a church? That sort of thing.”
The barista brought over their lattes. Jax clutched hers in both hands. “It was a long time ago and has nothing to do with
whatever you and Shawna are planning for her wedding.”
“It’s a second marriage for Harris,” Lindsey said with a sigh. “That means nothing will be perfectly new for my daughter.
That’s been difficult enough for me to deal with but can’t be helped. The heart wants what the heart wants.”
Jax wondered if Harris knew his future mother-in-law didn’t approve of his past. Not that her opinion would matter much to him.
“We don’t want to duplicate the event,” Lindsey said. “So if you could share the details, it would be helpful.”
“Isn’t this a conversation you should have with Harris? He’s the groom.”
The other woman brushed away the question. “He’s a man. I doubt he remembers your anniversary date, let alone what the bridesmaids
wore. You’re the one who knows.” Her tone softened. “I want everything to be perfect for my baby girl. As a mother, you have
to understand how important that is.”
Jax did and hated how she felt a little sympathy, even as she resented being put in this position.
“Not a church wedding,” she said, hoping her tone wasn’t too grudging. “We were married in the Calistoga Hotel and had the
reception there as well. The main ballroom opens onto the beach which can be lovely, but as our wedding was in January, we
didn’t use the outdoor space.”
Lindsey made notes. “How many people?”
Jax found herself struggling to remember. “Maybe two hundred. Our colors were ice pink and silver. The men wore gray tuxes.
It was a while ago. I really don’t remember all that much. It was a regular wedding with the usual stuff.” Flowers, a cake.
“And the menu?”
Jax held in a sigh. “I have no idea. It was a long time ago.” And an unimportant detail. “Is Shawna really that concerned?
Except for Harris’s family, no one who was at our wedding will be at yours.”
“Harris will.”
“As you pointed out, he’s not going to be concerned about the details.”
Lindsey’s mouth formed a thin line. “Very well. Thank you for the information. I was wondering about looking at a few pictures. I could come by and borrow your wedding album and—”
“No,” Jax said flatly. “I appreciate you want Shawna to have the wedding of her dreams and she should, but I’ve given you
enough information. You’re not going to look at the photos.” Not that she had many left from her post-divorce memory purge.
“Why not? It doesn’t seem like a very big ask. I assure you I’d be careful with them.”
Jax’s mild annoyance grew. “No,” she repeated more loudly. “Stop pushing.”
“What did I say?”
“You’re being intrusive. Shawna’s wedding isn’t my responsibility. If you want more details, ask Harris. If you want to see
pictures, ask Harris. Otherwise, I would appreciate you leaving me out of this.”
Her voice rose a little with her words.
“I see.” Lindsey closed the notebook. “Harris won’t say much about why the two of you split up, but I’m starting to understand
the reason.”
Jax stood. “That’s enough,” she said sharply.
From across the store she heard a squawk. Ramon flew toward her, howling like a wild dog as he came. He landed on the railing
separating the coffee bar from the store and glared at Lindsey.
“Big bad wolf! Be gone!”
The other woman stared at him warily. “That is a very large bird. I can see why Shawna’s concerned. I don’t understand why
you let him fly around the store like he does. He could frighten off customers.”
“Some people don’t need to be here, so I’m fine with that.”
They glared at each other, then Lindsey slung her bag over her shoulder and stalked away. Ramon hopped on Jax’s shoulder.
“Thank you for protecting me,” she murmured. “You’re a good man.”
“Charlie Brown.”
Jax laughed. “Yes. You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.”
Sunday afternoon, while she prepared for the weekly handoff, Jax made a mental list of things she would be discussing with
Harris after he arrived. When it reached three items and continued to grow, she pulled out her phone.
We have some logistics to work through, she texted her ex.
I’d like us to talk before Ryleigh’s barbecue.
She paused and thought about potentially awkward moments if he didn’t show up alone.
Is Shawna coming over with you?
A few minutes later, he answered.
It’ll just be me. And I need to talk to you.
She would guess he wanted to finalize the details of the road trip he would take with the kids. Which added another question
to her list. Was Shawna going to join them on the trip? In the past he and the kids had always shared a room with two double
beds and a rollaway cot when on the road and then had rented a VRBO for their destination. But with Shawna in the mix, things
got complicated. Jax couldn’t see the four of them sharing a hotel room, and Gentry and Xander weren’t old enough to have
their own room in a hotel.
They agreed he would arrive at two thirty instead of three, then she told the kids they would be getting an extra thirty minutes
of screen time.
“Is Dad in trouble again?” Gentry asked.
“No. We just have to work a few things out before we go to the party. Summer’s coming up soon and I have some questions about the road trip.
” Not to mention her plan to tell him he had to get Shawna and her mother to back off.
His engagement shouldn’t be creating work or problems for her and it was doing both.
“No fighting,” Xander said earnestly. “It makes the transition yucky.”
“No fighting,” she promised. “I’m not mad and your dad isn’t, either.”
The kids exchanged a look that that reminded her that they’d been scared by the arguing—a truth that still made her sick to
her stomach. She wanted to reassure them that she and Harris wouldn’t start yelling but decided it would be better to show
them.
Their father pulled into the garage right on time. Jax pushed the start button on the electric pressure cooker. The chicken
seasoned with Mexican spices should be done about the time she and Harris wrapped up their conversation. She would leave him
with plenty of shredded chicken for tacos and enchiladas later in the week.
She followed the kids out to the garage and watched as they raced toward him. He hugged them, keeping his arms around them
as they walked inside.
“Hey,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Thanks for letting me come over early.”
“Of course. We have a lot to get through.” She pointed at the stairs. “We’ll call you two when we’re done.”
Gentry and Xander raced up toward the second floor. Gentry paused on the landing.
“No fighting,” she called. “You promised.”
“I did and we won’t.” She waited until she heard them thunder into the family room, then turned to her ex. “Apparently they’re
concerned we’ll start yelling at each other and according to Xander, that makes the transition yucky.”
She expected Harris to make a joke, but instead he seemed concerned. “You’re mad about something?”
“What? No. Like I said in my text, I have a list of logistics we need to work through.”
They settled at the kitchen table. Jax opened her phone and studied the items she’d typed. Best to save the Shawna issue for
last, she thought, as she passed over several emails she’d printed out.
“Summer camp,” she began. “We have confirmations on all the sessions they wanted to take but Xander’s baseball practice ends
an hour before the weeklong cartoon drawing class. It’s not much time to get him from the baseball field to the community
center, and he’s going to need lunch. Technically that happens during your week, but I can help out a couple of the days so
you’re not stuck the whole week.”