Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Jackson was in desperate need of a shower.
After moving all the boxes at the assessor’s office, dirt seemed to cover every inch of him, and his eyes were burning from the dust mites.
He pulled up next to a silver Escalade that was parked in his driveway and frowned.
His mother’s Ford Escort rental was still parked where she’d left it, which meant that one of them had company.
He stepped out of his truck and did a double take when he spotted his front porch.
In addition to the garland and wreath he’d hung a week earlier, there was now a fully decorated Christmas tree off to the side, fake frost on the window, and Santa and Mrs. Claus garden gnomes to the left of the door.
“What in the world?” he wondered to himself.
Where had that stuff come from, and more importantly, why did his mother feel it was okay to redecorate his home?
Dreading the confrontation, he walked into the house and came to a dead stop when the overwhelming scent of cinnamon hit him just as he spotted his mother climbing off the lap of a silver-haired man whose suit jacket was pushed off his shoulders, and his white button-down shirt was partially unbuttoned.
Jackson blinked at them, grateful that they were both still fully clothed even if they were a little rumpled from their make-out session.
The man quickly stood, and Jackson recognized him as the director his mother had been trying to cozy up to in the vision he’d had the night before. His stomach turned as he realized exactly what he’d just walked in on.
“Jackson,” his mother said with a nervous laugh. “I didn’t think you’d be home until later tonight after you got off work.”
He turned to stare at his mother, making a concerted effort to not grimace at her appearance. Her red lipstick was smeared, and her hair was mussed. “I don’t work until later this afternoon.”
“Hello, Jackson,” the man said as he held out his hand. “I’ve been anxious to meet you… though not quite under these circumstances.” He flashed a rueful smile. “You have such a lovely home. It’s going to be perfect for this movie we’re filming.”
“Movie?” Jackson blinked at him, ignoring his outstretched hand. “What movie?”
“The one I’m starring in, honey,” Eva said as she grabbed Jackson’s arm and squeezed just hard enough to indicate she meant business. “I told you about it last night,” she lied.
Jackson narrowed his eyes at his mother, but before he could question her, she continued.
“Larry has been kind enough to cast me as the Christmas Queen in his upcoming movie, and when he mentioned they needed a quaint farmhouse for the filming, I mentioned your place, and he loves it. It’s going to look fabulous on screen.”
“You want to use my house to film?” Jackson asked, ready to tell them both to take a hike. He wasn’t interested in having a bunch of strangers romping around his property.
“Of course they do,” Eva said, smiling at Larry.
Larry frowned at her. “I thought you said your son was already on board with this, Eva. You said it was a done deal. My crew already stopped looking for filming locations, and being that we’re supposed to start tomorrow, if that’s not the case, then I’m not sure the project can go forward at all.”
Panic flashed in Eva’s sky-blue eyes. “Don’t worry, Larry. I think there’s just been a slight misunderstanding.” She tugged on Jackson’s arm as she started to head toward the kitchen. “Give us just a minute, and we’ll have this all worked out. Wait here. We’ll be right back.”
“I’ve got contracts that need to be signed today, Eva,” Larry called after her. “And I don’t have all day.”
Jackson cast a side-eye glance at the man, disgust pooling at the back of his throat. Larry sure hadn’t seemed in a hurry when Eva had been straddling him a few minutes ago.
Eva walked through the kitchen and led Jackson out onto the back deck. Once the door was firmly closed, she said, “Jackson, please. I need this.”
“Need what? To sleep with the director so that you can get a part in a movie? How cliché of you.” He was furious and couldn’t find it in himself to temper his words.
“What? No. I already have the part. The contract is signed,” she said indignantly. “I’m an adult woman, and how I choose to spend my time and who with isn’t really any of your business.”
“It is when you’re doing it on my couch,” he shot back. “And when you’re promising my house for a film without ever even asking me about it. When was I going to find out? When they were setting up for filming?”
“No.” She glanced away, focusing on one of the large trees. “I was going to ask you last night, but then you were out and you left earlier than I expected this morning. Then Larry came over to get the contracts signed—”
“Larry brought the contracts? Isn’t that something a production assistant does?” he asked. “Aren’t most contracts sent through Docusign these days? It seems Larry wanted a lot more than just a signature.”
“Obviously we have more than just a working relationship,” Eva snapped. “That’s not what this is about.”
“Isn’t it?” he asked as he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her.
“Regardless, the answer is no. I’m not giving up my house and my space for some movie.
Haven’t you figured out why I moved to Christmas Grove in the first place?
It was for peace and quiet. Why would I want movie people crawling around my home? ”
She matched his stance with her arms crossed. “You haven’t even heard what they are willing to pay you.”
“I. Don’t. Care.” He stared her down.
“You will when you see the check,” she shot back.
That’s where she was dead wrong. Jackson didn’t need the money.
He’d made enough in his previous career to set up a decent retirement, and when he’d sold his fancy penthouse condo to move to Christmas Grove, he’d paid cash for his house.
His job at Sleighed was more than enough to keep his bills paid with plenty left over for ski trips and home maintenance and any other thing he needed.
He started to shake his head, but then the image of Felicity searching through all that paperwork earlier flashed in his mind.
What if the money from the filming could help her with that lien?
He’d happily hand it over if it meant her land wasn’t yanked out from underneath her due to something she had no control over.
Though he had serious doubts she’d accept it.
“If you don’t allow them to film, then they likely won’t film at all,” Eva said in a small voice.
“I didn’t want to say anything because it’s embarrassing, but if I don’t work, I won’t get paid, and then I’ll be evicted from my apartment in LA.
Times are tight, Jackson. I need this. If the movie does well, there’s a good chance Larry will cast me for more of his feel-good movies, and I’ll be able to stand on my own two feet again.
If not, I’m afraid I might have to beg you to let me move in here. ”
There was so much to unpack from her plea that Jackson wasn’t even sure where to start.
He’d almost shut her down the minute she’d said she might become a regular in Larry’s movies.
Since he filmed a lot in Christmas Grove, it meant Eva would be around more often.
Not something he wanted to encourage. However, if she was serious and she really was on the verge of being homeless, he had no doubt that she’d beg to stay with him, which was a hard no.
He could not have Eva living with him full time.
One of them wouldn’t survive it. The threat of her moving in, along with the idea that he could have the extra money available to help Felicity, was enough for him to ask, “How much is the rental agreement?”
A brilliant smile appeared on her lips as she pulled out her phone and tapped a few buttons. “I just sent you a copy of the proposal. It’s very generous. Larry is anxious to get moving on this, and he offered an amount that is very hard to turn down.”
Jackson checked his email and pulled up the paperwork.
The amount to use his house until just before Christmas had five zeros behind it.
She was right. It was the kind of money that most people wouldn’t turn down.
“I’ll have to read the contract first, but if they are out of here by Christmas Eve, then I think maybe we might have a deal. ”
She bit down on her bottom lip. “There’s just one thing.”
He ground his teeth together and waited.
“We’ll both have to move out for the next few weeks.”
Jackson blinked at her. “If you’re on the verge of being homeless, where do you plan to stay?”
“In the trailer that production provides,” she said, once again giving him an apologetic smile. “I’d invite you to stay there with me, but I can’t. Only the crew is allowed on set where the trailers are.”
There was no way in hell he’d stay with his mother in a small trailer anyway. “I’ll figure something out.” He turned and walked back into the house.
Larry was standing in the kitchen door. “Do we have a deal?”
“Let me read the contract first,” Jackson said. “But as long as it’s acceptable, I’ll pack a bag and be out of your way by tonight.”
“Good man!” Larry said, clasping him on the back. “You’re a lifesaver. A lot of people are going to be very happy we don’t have to shut down production.”
Jackson wasn’t born yesterday. He’d been a player in big business long enough to smell a bluff when an executive was full of crap, but that didn’t matter.
He had his own reasons for saying yes, and neither the director nor his mother needed to know that their manipulations hadn’t been the major driving factor in his decision.
Once Jackson was upstairs in his office, he printed off the contract, read every word, and then signed it.
Ten minutes later, he walked downstairs with two bags and handed the signed contract to Larry. “Good luck with the movie. I’ll be back on Christmas Eve. If the house isn’t in the same or better condition, rest assured I will be in touch with my lawyers.”
“Don’t worry about that, Mr. Bell. My crew is the best. Check with other residents we’ve leased from, and they will assure you that we take pride in our work and making sure we’ll be invited back next year.”
Jackson just nodded at him and then strode out the front door.
His mother followed him out. “Jackson?”
“Yes,” he said as he loaded his bags in his truck.
“Thank you.”
He glanced back at her, noting that her expression seemed more sincere than it had before. Now that she’d gotten what she wanted, she truly was grateful. “You’re welcome. I hope the movie turns things around for you.”
“Me, too.” She ran off the porch and threw her arms around him. “You’re the best boy a mom could ask for.”
Jackson awkwardly patted her back with one arm as she held on tight. It wasn’t until he cleared his throat and dropped his arm that she finally took a step back.
Wiping at her eyes, she said, “Can we get together for lunch or dinner sometime this week?”
“Breakfast would be better,” he said. “I can meet for coffee one morning. Text me with what day is good for you.”
“Okay. I’ll try,” she said.
Not caring one way or another, he nodded and climbed into his truck. As he drove away, he realized that renting his house out for film production also had the added benefit of putting space between him and his mother. That alone was almost enough to make it worth it.