23. Juno
23
Juno
Juno stood at her closet, considering her options. Casual but not sloppy. Comfortable but not frumpy. "Calm down," she muttered. "This is Alex Frampton we're seeing, not the Queen of England." And his parents, she reminded herself. It had been a long time since she'd seen Mr. and Mrs. Frampton; not since high school.
She finally settled on a sleeveless turquoise top that showed off her fit arms and a pair of cropped baggy jeans that would allow her to move easily. Alex hadn't mentioned they'd be swimming, so she didn't bother putting on a suit, although the evening was toasty enough that a swim would feel good. She hoped there was some kind of shade on the dock, and that the water was high enough to dangle her feet in. It had been a long time since she'd been at the Frampton's place, and she had no idea what to expect. She slid her feet into a pair of sandals that gave her sore feet good arch support, then twisted her braids into a loose updo, securing it with a decorative clip, and applied a touch of tinted lip balm.
The clock read 5:50 PM. In ten minutes, Alex would arrive to pick her up, and Juno was surprised at how giddy she felt. Her stomach fluttered with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness that reminded her of being sixteen again, and this wasn't even a date. In fact, this little outing was all about Lena, not the two of them.
But it didn't matter. Alex was inviting her into his life, and she was accepting. Things were changing, and she didn't mind in the least.
Her phone chimed with a text from Alex: Pulling up now.
She grabbed a light cardigan on her way out in case the evening turned cool. It was the middle of summer, and the sun would be in the sky for a couple more hours, but sometimes the lakeshore breezes could be downright chilly.
She found Alex waiting at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the railing with an easy smile that made her heart skip.
"Hey," he said, looking up at her. "Sorry I'm early. Lena's excitement is contagious."
Juno glanced at The Beast and saw it was empty. "She stayed behind?" She pulled her door closed behind her, then checked it to be sure it locked. Then she turned and headed down the stairs toward Alex.
"Yep. Couldn't drag her away." As she drew near, he ran a hand through his hair, looking a little nervous, which actually helped her feel more at ease. "She and my mom hit it off immediately. They're baking cookies and making lists of grandmother-granddaughter activities. I've been completely replaced."
Juno laughed. “Already? It's only been one day."
"I know, right? Apparently, I'm just the chauffeur now." His eyes swept over her, and his smile softened. "You look beautiful."
The compliment warmed her cheeks. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."
Alex wore shorts and a short-sleeved, olive green button-down that he'd left untucked, and he'd trimmed his stubble. He looked healthy and rested, despite the chaos of the past few days.
He offered his arm. "Shall we?"
The simple gesture felt both old-fashioned and intimate. Juno slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, acutely aware of the solid warmth of him beside her. As they circled the truck to the passenger door, she noticed that he was hobbling a little more than usual. “How’s the ankle?”
Alex let out a snort. "Just overdid it trying to keep up with old Ralphy and my eight-year-old daughter."
"Well, you'd better prop that thing up when we get back to your folks' place. You're going to be hurting tomorrow," she warned. "Where are you working?" The Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast was done, and Alex hadn't mentioned J they were scheduled to begin the first week in November.
He held the door for her as she got in, then moved around the hood to his side, his eyes never leaving her face, that grin making her stomach flip-flop. When he’d settled into his seat, he picked up with her question. “I’m taking at least tomorrow off, maybe the next few days. My dad made some calls, and I’m meeting with a family law guy tomorrow.”
“Oh, wow. That’s great, Alex.” She shifted in her seat as the truck roared to life, studying his profile as he pulled The Beast out of the alley and onto the main road. “So tell me about Lena meeting your parents."
Alex beamed. "They fell in love with her instantly. Mom's already planning sleepovers and baking sessions, and Dad's talking about building her a treehouse. It's like..." He paused, searching for words. "It's like she filled a space none of us knew was still empty."
The raw emotion in his voice touched something deep inside Juno. "I'm so happy for you, Alex. For all of you."
“She’s sleeping in Jason’s room tonight,” he said quietly. “With Ralphy.”
“And are you sleeping over, too?” Juno teased, hoping to bring things back to more comfortable footing.
“I am.” He shot her a sideways grin. “Mom is planning a Belgian waffle and bacon cook-off in the morning. Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Get this: Lena has never made a cookie in her life. Until this afternoon, with my mom.”
“My goodness,” Juno exclaimed. “So much has happened in the last two days. But you haven’t told me how you ended up with Lena. Last I knew you were waiting for Melissa to get home last night.”
Alex gave her a brief rundown of what had happened the night before, and as Juno listened, she got a new perspective on the situation he’d found himself in. Melissa didn’t sound like an evil person, but she certainly didn’t sound very motherly, either. “She leaves her alone on a regular basis?”
“Usually not completely alone. Only when the nanny has her days off and Melissa makes plans that she doesn’t want to change.” He spoke with heavy sarcasm, and Juno nodded slowly.
“I’m glad you’re getting an attorney involved, Alex. I have a feeling that things aren’t going to get any better as she gets older. An eight-year-old shouldn’t have to take care of herself. It’s fine that she knows how to do things like pack her own suitcase and use a keypad, but it shouldn't be expected of her. She’s not old enough to have to fend for herself.” Juno knew good and well how scary it was to wake up alone in the dark, especially after falling asleep with a full house. It was the most unsettling thing for a child, and Juno couldn’t imagine the sparkly Lena having to grow up so fast. “I’m proud of you.”
"Thanks. That means a lot to me." He glanced her way briefly, then back at the road in front of him. “It's been a whirlwind, but a good one, you know? Weird to think that just three days ago, I was sitting in my truck outside your place, wishing I could tell you about her."
“We’ve come a long way since then."
“We have indeed,” he agreed. “Thanks for giving me second chance to explain, Juno. Not everyone would have been so understanding."
"I believe in second chances," she replied, thinking of her father eating a sandwich at her coffee bar just a few hours earlier. "Maybe more than I should."
Something in her tone made Alex look at her again. "Everything okay?"
Juno considered deflecting, but decided against it. If they were going to build something real—friendship or more—honesty had to be part of it.
"My father showed up this morning," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions the memory stirred. "He was waiting for me in front of my shop when I got home from church.”
"Your father?" Alex's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. "What’s he doing here?”
Juno snorted. “That’s what I asked him, too.” She shook her head, still hardly able to believe it. “The one and only Leonard Thomas in the flesh, looking considerably worse for wear but claiming to be sober and wanting to make amends."
Alex was quiet for a moment, processing. "What did you do?"
"Well,” Juno hedged. “I kinda gave him a job. Custodial work at the coffee shop."
"You gave him a job," Alex repeated, as if making sure he'd heard correctly. "The man who hit you, who dragged you away from everything you cared about, who—"
"I know what he did, Alex." Juno's voice was sharper than she intended. She took a breath. "Sorry. It's just... it's complicated."
Alex made a visible effort to soften his reaction. "I'm sure it is. I'm not judging, I'm just surprised."
"So am I, honestly." Juno looked out the window at the familiar landscape of Autumn Lake sliding past. "Pastor Darren's sermon this morning was about forgiveness—how it's not about changing the other person, but about freeing yourself. It resonated with me more than I expected, and the timing was eerily providential. I mean, of all things to talk about on the day my father shows up acting all repentant and wanting to reconnect."
Alex nodded slowly. "I get that." He glanced at her. "It means the world to me, reconnecting with you."
The simple admission hung in the air between them, honest and vulnerable. Juno felt her heart expand with hope. "I feel the same way," she said softly.
They drove in comfortable silence for a while, the radio playing quietly in the background. As they turned onto the lakeside road that wound around to the Frampton property, Juno spoke again. "It’s a big risk for me, trusting him," she admitted. "I mean, I don’t trust him, but I feel like I need to give him a second chance, so maybe it’s me I’m trying to trust."
Alex reached across the console to take her hand, squeezing it gently. "If you need anything—someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, or just a friend to keep an eye on him—I'm here."
"Thank you." Juno squeezed back, grateful for his steadiness.
As they pulled into drive of the Frampton home, Lena burst out of the front door before Alex had even put the truck in park. She raced down the steps and across the lawn, Ralphy loping at her heels.
"Juno!" Lena called, skidding to a stop beside the passenger door. "You’re here!."
"Of course I came," Juno replied, climbing out of the truck. "I wouldn't miss a picnic with you two."
Lena beamed up at her, then gestured to the dog. "This is Ralphy. He's my grandma's dog, but he loves me the most now."
"He has excellent taste," Juno said solemnly, crouching to pet the friendly retriever. "It's nice to meet you, Ralphy."
"We’re staying overnight with Grandma and Grandpa," Lena announced proudly. "And Ralphy's sleeping in my room with me. It's really Uncle Jason's old room, but I don't think he'll mind."
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind at all," Juno assured her.
"Come on! Grandma made the picnic basket already. It's huge!" Lena grabbed Juno's hand and tugged her toward the house, where Roxanne Frampton stood on the porch holding a wicker basket nearly as large as Lena herself.
"Juno, dear, it's good to see you again." Roxanne's greeting was warm, genuine, if a bit reserved.
"Hello, Mrs. Frampton," Juno replied, suddenly feeling sixteen again, nervous about impressing Alex's mother. "Thank you for letting us use your dock."
"Of course. You're welcome here anytime." She handed the picnic basket to Alex. "We packed everything you might need. Lena helped make the sugar cookies—her first baking experience."
"I used the mixer all by myself," Lena declared, bouncing on her toes.
Dwight Frampton emerged from the house, carrying a blanket and what looked like bug spray. "Good to see you, Juno," he said, handing the items to her. "Been too long."
After a few more minutes of pleasant conversation, Alex turned to Lena. "Okay, Lena-bug, are you ready for our picnic?”
Lena grabbed Roxanne’s hand. “I’m having supper with Grandma and Grandpa so you and Juno can have a date.”
Juno looked between Alex and his mother. Alex's cheeks reddened. "Uh… it's a picnic, Lena."
"That's what a date is," Lena informed him matter-of-factly. "It's when two people who like each other spend time together. And you do like Juno, right? You said she was pretty and smart and—"
"Hey now," Alex interrupted. He reached over and tugged on one of Lena’s curls, then cupped a hand at the side of his mouth, and in a mock whisper said, "That's top secret intel there, missy."
Juno bit back a laugh, touched by Alex's embarrassment and Lena's innocent candor. Roxanne wasn't even trying to hide her amusement. “Okay!” she said, poking Alex in the arm. “I guess it’s just the two of us, then.” She wasn’t exactly disappointed, if she were being honest.
"Come on, Lena," Roxanne said, taking her granddaughter's hand. "Let's go see if those cookies have cooled enough to decorate."
Lena squealed with delight, her attention successfully diverted. But before she followed Roxanne inside, she darted back to throw her arms around Alex's waist.
"Have fun, Daddy," she said. Then she skipped away, leaving Alex standing there looking like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.