11. Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
S he was worried.
Carrie had been distracted all morning as she replayed the events of the prior evening in her mind. Had she made the right decision to hold Jackson at arm’s length?
The younger version of herself would have jumped on the opportunity to be held in Jackson’s strong arms and to feel his lips pressed to hers. But her more mature self knew what it was like to have a long-term relationship end. She knew what it was like to have her heart broken. That reminder strengthened her resolve. They’d been friends too long to mess it all up now.
As though her thoughts of him conjured him up, Jackson appeared at the back door. “What are you doing here?” The spontaneous words passed by her lips before she could filter them. Immediately regretting them, she said, “I’m sorry. I’m just surprised to see you. I thought you’d be busy next door.”
“I had some business to deal with first.” He held out a latte. “This is for you.”
His thoughtful gesture brought a smile to her face. “Thank you. That was kind of you.” Then she stepped back and allowed him inside the kitchen. “Come in out of the cold.”
As he passed by her, he handed her the coffee. When she took a sip, she was once again surprised. “You remembered my favorite coffee order.”
He turned to her and smiled. “Why does that surprise you?”
She shrugged as she led the way into the heart of the kitchen, where she’d been creating chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks. “It’s just been a long time since we had coffee together.”
“Perhaps too long. We’ll have to work on it.”
She hesitated. Was he trying to fix things between them? If he was, she wanted to help him.
She took another sip of the creamy coffee. “I’d like that.”
His gaze met hers. “I’m sorry about last night.”
His words were like a prick to her heart. Why did his apology bother her? It was what she wanted, right? She wanted them to go back to just being old friends again. This is all for the best.
Not wanting to dredge up last night, she said, “Shouldn’t you be working next door?”
“Now that the crew has taken over, they don’t really need my help.” He stepped farther into the kitchen and glanced at the chocolate-covered pretzels on the work table. “What are you doing?”
“I’m supposed to be coming up with a menu for Happy Hearts.” She paused. “I can’t remember if I told you that Brittany changed her mind and included Totally Chocolate. Anyway, I ran out of ideas, so I decided to make some items for the shop.”
“Are you and Brittany friends now?”
Carrie let out a laugh. “Really? You thought that was possible?”
A lazy smile pulled at his lips. “You never know.”
“Jackson, some things change but that’s an impossibility.” Not wanting to discuss the one person in the town who could get under her skin, she said, “Do you want to hear my menu?”
“Sure. But I’m certain whatever you picked will be delicious.”
“If only it was that easy. So, to start, they can have chocolate-covered pretzel squares.”
“That sounds good.”
Good? It wasn’t exactly the word she was hoping for but she’d take it. “And that will be followed by strawberries with chocolate fluff, and champagne truffles. I was also considering dark-chocolate-dipped candied peaches, but I don’t know. Maybe that’s too much.”
“All of those options sound amazing. I think whatever you decide on will win them over.”
“And for the finale, we’ll serve them chocolate cake with chocolate-dipped cherries.”
“Wow! That is an impressive menu.”
She searched his gaze. “Are you being serious?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Carrie worried her bottom lip. “I just don’t want you saying that stuff to be nice.”
“I’m not. I swear.”
She nodded her head. “I hope Brittany agrees with you. She’s stopping by this afternoon for the menu. She says it has to be extra special.”
“Stop worrying. That menu would impress the King of England. Well, as long as he loves chocolate, which I have no idea about.”
Maybe the best thing for her to do now was to change the subject. “So, what are you doing to keep busy?”
“I’ve started cleaning out my mother’s attic. You wouldn’t believe the amount of stuff up there. And I came across all of these old photos of the restaurant that used to be next door.”
“That must be exciting. When we were doing renovations over here, I wondered what it must have looked like back in the day.”
“You should come over this evening. You can look at the old photos.”
She hesitated. She wondered if it would lead to another kiss. Then she told herself that she was being silly. It was just a moment that got away from them. After all, Jackson was now acting like the friend that she’d always known.
“I would like that.” And then she had a thought. “And I could bring over a taco casserole.”
His warm-brown eyes widened. “Like you used to make when we were kids?”
“The exact same.” She glanced down at his loose-fit jeans. “It looks like you could use some home cooking.”
“If it’s my favorite meal, I’m all for it.”
“Well, I have to get back to work,” she regretfully said. She was enjoying his company.
“And I should be going. I’m off to see my mother.” He hesitated, as though he was going to say something else but then changed his mind.
“What?” Carrie couldn’t resist knowing what he was thinking.
He glanced back at her. “I was going to invite you to come with me. I know my mother would enjoy the company. She was always fond of you.”
Carrie was touched that he’d invited her. She wanted to go with him. She wanted to be there to support the woman who had been like a second mother to her. But she couldn’t leave Totally Chocolate, especially since this was their opening week, and business was steady with all of the curious people checking out the newest business in town.
Then she had an idea. “I could go with you on Sunday. The shop will be closed, and I don’t have any other plans.”
He smiled and nodded. “It’s a plan. I think I’ll mention it to my mother. It’ll give her something to look forward to.”
“Tell her I said hi.”
He nodded. “I’ll see you later. Looking forward to the taco casserole. I’ll make the guacamole to go with it.”
“Yum. Can’t wait.”
And then he turned and walked away. She tried to tell herself that things were back to normal. But were they? Only time would tell.
This place made him uncomfortable.
Even though the treatment center was newer and nicely decorated, Jackson couldn’t relax when he was there. He paced back and forth in the visitors’ area. He’d been waiting for his mother for ten or so minutes.
He had some big decisions to make. He rubbed his hands together. He wasn’t used to being in a place of indecision. Normally, he was the one everyone came to for answers. Now he was the one with questions, but he didn’t have the answers.
He couldn’t let his mother see he was feeling off kilter. He had to be strong for her. After all, she had always been there for him.
His mother was the strongest person he knew. She might have stumbled and fallen, but she was picking herself up and dusting herself off. This time she wouldn’t have to struggle with her addiction or depression alone. He would be there for her just like she’d always been there for him.
“Jackson?”
His mother’s voice drew him from his thoughts. He turned to find his mother standing there, smiling at him. It was a real smile that made her eyes twinkle. Her genuine happiness lifted some of the weight resting on his shoulders.
He approached her and gave her a hug. When he pulled back, he asked, “How did you sleep?”
“Good. I’m starting to get used to this place.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Did you give the house papers to Brittany?”
He nodded. “I did. But I can call her and tell her the sale is off.”
“Why would you do that?”
He thought that was obvious. “Well, since you’re feeling better, you’re going to want to come home.”
“Jackson, one of the things I’m working on while I’m here is figuring out the changes I need to make in my life. If I go back to the same house, the same routine, the same thing will likely happen. I don’t want that. I don’t want it for me. And I especially don’t want it for you.”
It made sense what she was saying, but the thought of her selling the family home was still tough to digest. And then he had a thought. “Does this mean you’re reconsidering my offer to move to London with me?”
His mother was quiet for a moment. She reached out to him, cupping his cheek with her hand. “You’re so sweet, but the last thing you need is your mother hovering over you.” She withdrew her hand. “I’m proud of you. I probably don’t say that often enough. You’re an important man over there, with an entire office to run. I don’t want to distract you. Speaking of which, you should get back to London, not here fussing over me.”
He shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
His mother’s face creased with worry lines. “You can’t stay here forever. You have a job to do.”
“And I have a lot of saved-up vacation time. Besides, I’m overseeing the renovations on the building.”
“I thought we agreed to sell it.”
“We did. But the side that once held the family restaurant was in such poor condition that we couldn’t get any interested buyers.”
His mother nodded her head. “I’m sure you’re doing the right thing. I’m just sorry you have to deal with all of this.”
“It’s okay, Mom. It’s what family is for. Isn’t that what you used to always tell me?”
She smiled at him as tears shimmered in her eyes.
“Mom, don’t cry. Everything is going to work out.”
She swiped at her eyes. “I know. I’m the luckiest mother in the world to have you as my son.”
Jackson felt the same way about her. She was the best mom. And he was going to do whatever he could to help her reclaim her life.