Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Jack
“I’m glad you called and that we got to hang out today anyways,” Joanne says with a grin as the three kids run around playing tag.
“Me, too. I wasn’t expecting Sunday lunch to be a requirement.”
“It’s good for you. All of this is good for you. Especially that you’re finally back in Hicks Creek. I know you always hated it here, but…”
“I don’t hate it here. I hated the gossip that everyone always had to take part in. These small towns are just so… small-minded.”
“Maybe so.” She shrugs. “But I can’t imagine living or raising these babies anywhere else.
I’m glad that you were there for Tate. You’re fully responsible for how amazing that kid is, and I’m so damn grateful things worked out how they did that you’re now back here with us.
I’m thrilled that my kids are going to get to spend more time with you now. ”
“Kids weren’t…they were always a dream we had, and we never got one of our own.”
“As shitty as it sounds, maybe that’s for the best,” she says softly as she reaches over and squeezes my arm. “Can you imagine how far she would have gone over visitation and child support?”
“She already bankrupted me with alimony alone.”
“Yeah, well, you’re too nice, Jack. You could have denied all of that with the proof of her infidelity, and the fact that you didn’t speak volumes about how good of a man you really are.”
“No, it doesn’t. It makes me look weak, but I don’t care either. I wanted to be done with her, with all of it. I can’t stand the thought of seeing her and Dave together.”
“What a douche he is,” she says with a roll of her eyes. “The worst part is that Savannah will come crawling back to you at some point when she realizes just how much of a loser and a liar your best friend is.”
I know she’s right, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.
I shift uncomfortably. I can physically feel myself getting antsy and wanting to walk away from this conversation.
My sister knows all about what happened with my ex-wife and me, obviously, but she’s always wanting to discuss my feelings about it, and that’s not something I want to express out loud.
It happened. It’s done and over with; there’s no use in going back over it.
Joanne stands beside me, her arms crossed, watching the kids play with a soft smile.
“They’ll sleep well tonight,” she says, glancing at me.
I grunt in agreement. “They’ve been running nonstop since they got here.”
Joanne turns to face me fully, her expression shifting to something more serious. “You know, Jack, you could let your guard down a little with Brynn. I think it’d be worth it.”
I let out a groan, trying to quell the irritation that’s filling me. I shake my head, the words leaving my mouth before I’ve even thought them through. “Not interested, Jo. Letting any woman that’s not family get close again? No thanks. Savannah made sure of that.”
Her eyes narrow slightly, but there’s no anger there, just that quiet determination she’s always had. She steps closer and puts a hand on my arm. “Not every woman is like Savannah. You know that, right? And honestly, she did you a favor by showing who she really is.”
I stiffen under her touch, my jaw tightening.
We just went through this.
My little sister is always trying to help, and I’m not in the mood to argue. She sighs, giving my arm a gentle squeeze before letting go.
“This place is good for you,” she says, her voice softer now. “I think Brynn could be, too. Just think about it, okay?”
I don’t respond, and Joanne doesn’t push.
Brynn walks out of the house, and I secretly wonder if she knows that my sister is trying to push me toward her.
She’s a beautiful woman; there’s no denying that.
She’s also a stubborn and frustrating one who believes she’s always right.
I can’t deal with a woman like that, even if I hadn’t sworn them off.
My sister goes over to Brynn, and the two sit down on the porch swing while I approach the kids, who are playing. There’s a tennis ball on the ground, and I pick it up. The dog is immediately sitting at my feet, expectantly waiting, his bright blue eyes sparkling in the midday sun.
“Uh oh, Mr. Jack,” Olivia giggles. “You just made a new bestie. He won’t stop until your arm is ready to fall off.”
“Is that so?” I ask with a laugh.
She nods as she, Ava, and Bret race over.
“One time, I was throwing a stick for him at night, and it broke. He started bringing me back the tiniest stick, and do you know that he kept finding that little bitty thing?”
“Seems like a good dog,” I say with a smile.
“He’s the best. Little crazy sometimes. He didn’t like my Uncle Lane,” she says as her eyes dart away quickly.
“I heard,” I say.
I pull my arm back and throw the tennis ball.
The dog is off like a shot chasing it. The kids are laughing, all begging to be the next one to throw it for him.
He brings it back to me, though, and I make a game of it by keeping it away from the kids.
They’re wound tight still, but we’re all laughing. They run off to chase him.
Joanne calls for Ava and Bret, who come bounding over, their faces flushed and their hair wild from all the running around.
They each give me a quick hug before climbing into the car.
Joanne waves as she gets in, and I lift a hand in return, watching as they pull out of the driveway and disappear down the road.
The quiet settles in almost immediately, broken only by the soft chirping of crickets and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. I’m about to head back inside when Olivia’s voice stops me.
“Mr. Jack?” she calls from the porch.
I turn to see her sitting on the steps, her elbows on her knees and her chin resting in her hands. Brynn must’ve gone back inside.
“What’s up, kid?”
She hesitates for a moment before standing and walking over to me. “Can I ask you something?”
“You just did,” I say, smirking a little.
Her eyes roll, but she’s smiling too. “What was Texas like?”
“Hot,” I laugh. “It’s nice. Why do you ask?”
“My dad is there a lot,” she says with a roll of her shoulders.
“He doesn’t live here?”
“No, hasn’t for a while.”
“Well, you’re here in Hicks Creek, so I’d have to say that Hicks Creek is way better than Texas.”
She smiles softly and nods. Her eyes are out on the horizon as she messes with the sprig of a nearby bush. Barney, the dog, is lying as close to her as possible.
“I’m glad you’re here. Mom and Popo really needed help on the farm after Mr. Bill left.”
“I’m glad I’m here, too,” I say. “Mr. Bill was here for a long time, huh?”
“Yeah, almost as long as Popo. He sends me postcards every time he and Miss Lilly stop in a new state. They’re in Texas right now, I think,” she says with a broad grin. “They’re really nice.”
“Like another set of grandparents, huh?”
She nods. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“Why do you think your mom and Popo need help on the farm?”
She cocks her head to the side and eyes me carefully, one of those looks that says You know exactly why.
“It’s a lot. Popo hasn’t been the same since Grams died. He’s forgetful. But Mama, she needs sleep. I don’t know the last time she’s taken a day off. If we’re not at the flower shop, then she’s working on the ranch doing something. I’ve never seen anyone work harder than her.”
“She’s setting a good example for you, it seems.”
“But she needs a break. I asked Uncle Lane to help out, but he never did.”
Noted. Just racking up the reasons as to why it was right to fire him.
I nod slowly, not wanting to badmouth this little girl’s uncle, but it seems she’s incredibly perceptive for her age, regardless of what I say.
“Well, we don’t have to worry about that anymore. I’ll make sure that your mama can focus on you and the flower shop. I’ll take care of the ranch.”
“Thanks,” she says with a smile. “I should help Mama in the kitchen.”
She stands up, and she and the dog walk back into the house. I sit on the porch a bit longer, looking out at the expansive acreage that makes up the Castings Ranch.
It’s been one hell of a first day, that’s for sure.
No sooner than the thought fills my head do I hear a strange noise coming from the pasture where the horses are.
As I stand and walk over, I see one of the horses is out of the corral, and he’s whinnying and extremely agitated.
John is trying to calm him down, but the horse bucks, and John goes down.