Chapter 4
Four
JAKE
“Five-minute warning!” Jake shouted up the stairs to Marley, who was doing God only knew what in her bedroom.
She was usually an open book, but lately, she’d become more private and nervous about certain things.
Jake didn’t feel equipped to handle the needs of a teenager, especially a teenage girl, who had practically landed in his lap.
“Okay! Almost ready!” Marley’s voice was muffled behind the door she’d started keeping shut about a year ago. He respected her privacy too much to insist on leaving the door open, but he worried about her sometimes. She didn’t have many positive female influences in her life.
Rolling his eyes, Jake took a seat in the living room. He knew she wouldn’t be ready for at least ten more minutes. She operated on her own time. They didn’t have a specific reservation at The Lotus, only their standing Sunday dinner routine.
When Jake and Thao were kids, they used to walk from school to the restaurant, often dragging a whining Gia behind them, who wanted to go cliff diving instead.
They’d claim the back booth to do schoolwork.
In truth, Jake did all the work while Thao copied his answers and Gia provided commentary.
Sometimes Thao’s parents let them help around the restaurant, washing dishes or taking out the trash.
Jake used to hate going home. He’d do whatever he could to delay the inevitable. Going back to a place that reeked of stale beer and old, painful memories was not his idea of home.
The sound of Marley coming down the stairs snapped him out of the past. He hadn’t thought about his parents for years. He checked the time. Nine minutes. A minute earlier than he predicted.
“You ready, kid?”
“Um… yeah.”
Jake glanced up to see her dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and pants, which was her usual outfit these days. She’d evolved from goth to grungy comfort. He made a mental note to talk to her about whatever she might be going through.
“All right, let’s go,” he said, jerking his chin to the door.
Summer had faded, and fall was in the air. A kaleidoscope of fall colors now framed the lake where the edge of his property ended. With the snow-capped mountains in the distance, it was a view he would never tire of looking at every morning for the rest of his life.
Though it was a short walk to The Lotus, Jake grabbed a light coat.
Experience taught him how mountainside weather could be unpredictable.
Brisk fall mornings could progress to balmy, sunny afternoons, with temperatures rapidly falling in the evening.
It was not unusual to experience all four seasons in twenty-four hours in Willowbrook.
Marley waited on the sidewalk as Jake locked the door.
He waved at their neighbors, Griffin and his wife, returning from an evening stroll with their oversized dog, Rover.
They passed the couple’s house on the way to Main Street, where The Lotus stood.
Occasionally they walked together, but Griffin and his wife preferred their alone time.
Jake noticed their fat cat lounging on the windowsill, licking its paw as though it owned the place.
“How’s school going?” Jake asked, keeping his voice casual.
“Good.” Marley’s quick reply deflated him. They walked in silence for a beat.
“They’re having a father-daughter dance at school next weekend.”
Jake’s heart stuttered. He kept his voice even. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. It seems lame. I don’t want to go.” She said it fast, but he noticed the blush coloring her cheeks.
“Yeah, okay. If you change your mind, let me know. Next week’s looking pretty slow at the office.” It wasn’t. He was perpetually behind, but for Marley, he’d make time.
“Okay, cool.” Marley tucked a stray hair behind her ear and stared at her feet. “Thanks.”
Jake suppressed a smile. He’d known about the dance for weeks. The flyers had been circulating all around town. He’d debated about asking Marley about it, but figured if it was something she cared about, then she’d bring it up.
He was glad she finally had. It made him feel proud that she felt safe with him in her life, to talk to him. While he didn’t have a clue how to be a father, he could at least be there when she asked. It wasn’t much, but it was a lot more than what he’d had growing up with neglectful parents.
The pain and humiliation of knowing your parents couldn’t be bothered to make time for you was not something he’d wish on anyone else—much less Marley, who had one of the biggest hearts he’d ever known, despite her penchant for trouble and mischief.
Jake asked Marley about her classes. He listened closely and watched as Marley relayed the latest biology assignment.
She was upset they were planning on dissecting animals in class soon and had complained to her teacher a few times.
Unfortunately, there was no opting out of the class, though she was welcome to observe.
The answer did not satisfy Marley, who lamented about how wrong it was to use animals as test subjects for a bunch of uninterested high schoolers.
Jake nodded in agreement. She wasn’t wrong.
They reached The Lotus in record time. The familiar bell chimed as they entered, the aroma of Vietnamese food wrapping around them. It reminded Jake of happier times—before that fateful summer.
He gave Minnie a nod where she stood behind the register.
Marley led the way as they headed for their usual booth in the back corner, away from the other diners and closest to the kitchen.
When he arrived at the booth, a grinning two-year-old double-fisting crayons already occupied it.
It looked like some crayons were also being used as a snack, judging by the ring of purple around her mouth.
Jake couldn’t help but smile at Tuy?t Mai’s bright brown eyes as she chortled excitedly.
“Hey, Princess Snow White, whatcha got there?” he said, gently pinching her cheeks and gesturing at the crayons. She’d clearly been coloring the paper placemat, but also her mouth. Jake wasn’t sure if crayons were toxic, but he doubted Minh wasn’t aware her child liked to chomp on colored wax.
Tuy?t Mai squealed and bounced in her seat. Her chubby hands flailed excitedly as she greeted Jake. His heart squeezed at the pure joy on her face. Jake had just moved to grab her out of her high chair when she looked past him and shrieked, “Auntie! Auntie!”
Jake froze.
“Hey, cutie. Did you miss me? I was only gone for a second.”
His body stiffened. That voice. It had been years, but he’d recognize it anywhere. His breath caught. The hair on his neck stood on end. He didn’t dare move. Was he hallucinating?
“Auntie! Auntie!” Tuy?t Mai clapped excitedly, her crayons forgotten as she attempted to climb out of her seat.
Jake turned his head slowly. A petite figure entered his peripheral vision as if stepping out from his dreams. His heart pounded loudly as he held his breath in disbelief. Surely, it couldn’t be her. There was no way it could be Gia.
It wasn’t until she stood directly beside him that he finally exhaled slowly, as if afraid she’d vanish like smoke if he breathed too hard in her direction.
His eyes scanned her from the top of her head to her feet, hungrily taking in her sharp jawline, perfectly pink pouty lips, and button nose.
She had on an oversized sweater, her petite frame drowning in the stylish garment.
Despite it covering nearly every inch of skin, he still remembered how she looked beneath the layers.
Finally, when he was sure she wouldn’t vanish, he brought his gaze back up. When their eyes collided, shock hit him like a truck.
Recognition dawned in her brown eyes. Jake watched as emotions flitted through her gaze. Shock morphing into horror, then settling on raw hatred. He probably deserved it.
If he hadn’t been sitting, he might have fallen.
Gia.
She’s really here.
His brain scrambled, offering no coherent thoughts except one.
Why is she here?
“You?” she hissed, her tone venomous enough to kill.
Jake’s mouth opened, but no words came. What could he say to the girl whose heart he’d shattered?
Nothing. Nothing would undo the pain.
He’d dreamed of this moment for years. Dreamed of the chance to make amends and earn her forgiveness. Maybe now the universe was giving him a shot.
Clearing his throat, he angled his body to hers, heart sinking when she flinched away like he carried a deadly disease.
“Hi, Gia.” He cringed at his own lameness.
Gia only glared. He watched with fascination as her jaw tightened.
If looks could kill, he’d probably be dead three times over by now.
She didn’t bother responding to his greeting.
A part of him withered at her animosity.
He’d hoped time would have at least dulled the hurt he caused, but it seemed the only thing it did was amplify her hatred for him.
“Auntie, how do you know Uncle Jake?” Th?y Mai asked, her innocent eyes looking from one adult to the other.
Jake’s gaze shifted to another dark-eyed girl standing beside Gia. He hadn’t even noticed Th?y Mai had also arrived. He gave her a small smile in greeting.
“Your auntie and I were friends when we were kids,” he said to the precocious eight-year-old when it became apparent Gia had no intention of answering.
Gia scoffed loudly, her expression screaming disbelief. Th?y Mai slid into the booth beside Marley. The two of them were already forming a bond despite the age gap. Jake appreciated how welcoming the Lien family had been to Marley when he started bringing her around.
“Ladies first.” Jake gestured for Gia to have a seat.
She gave him a wide berth as she rounded the booth and sat down. The only available seat was directly across from Gia. When he slid into the booth, Gia made a point of keeping as much distance between them as possible in the cramped space.
Jake couldn’t help himself. He soaked in every detail of her in the dim lighting. She was skinnier than in the photos of her he’d seen recently. Her cheekbones looked too sharp and angular. It made him wonder if she was trying to lose weight for her next role or if something else was at play.
He delayed looking into her dark eyes, once so vibrant but now seeming dulled.
Her eyes had always been one of his favorite things about her.
He used to figure out all of her emotions as they flickered through those depths, but now he couldn’t really read her.
Besides the blatant hostility aimed at him, he couldn’t garner a sense of what her true feelings were.
It didn’t help that he could see the thick layer of makeup covering her swollen, red-rimmed eyes.
His hands clenched under the table. She was hiding something. Jake was sure of it.
“What are you doing here?” Gia whispered through gritted teeth.
He raised his eyebrows, pretending the answer was obvious. “Having dinner, obviously.”
She didn’t respond. Instead, she huffed and crossed her arms.
A sudden gasp redirected their attention.
“Wait. Did you say Gia? Like, the Gia? The one from the new Marvel movie?” Marley asked, her voice full of awe. She looked at Gia as if she were meeting a superhero in the flesh.
“The one and only,” Gia replied dryly, though her tone softened when addressing Marley.
“Oh my God. I’m Marley. I’m, like, one of your biggest fans.”
“Um, hi, Marley. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Jake watched with fascination as Gia blushed. It was oddly endearing. He would have thought she was used to this by now.
“How do you… uh… know Jake?” Gia asked. The sound of his name on her tongue made a shiver race up his spine. The last time she’d said his name, it had been under vastly different circumstances.
“Oh, he’s my dad.”
Jake choked on his water.
Gia’s eyes bulged in shock.
“Well, he’s not, like, my dad-dad,” Marley clarified quickly, glancing at Jake nervously. “More like a father figure.”
Jake reached out and gripped her shoulder gently. “I’m proud to be your dad, kiddo.”
He wasn’t ready to be someone’s dad. Not really. But the title filled him with a warmth he hadn’t expected.
“Oh. That’s… cool,” Gia said softly.
“Yeah… So, have you started filming yet? Or are you, like, under a strict contract and can’t tell me anything?” Marley’s excitement was adorable. She was practically vibrating in her seat.
Alternatively, Gia fidgeted uncomfortably in hers.
Her demeanor changed almost instantly with Marley’s questions.
Gone was the hostile and feral cat who had been practically hissing at him.
In her place was a woman who had lost all of her color and seemed more like an abused kitten, ready to flee with the smallest provocation.
Unease crept up his spine. Brows furrowed, he studied Gia as she floundered for a response, seemingly at a loss for words.
“You getting the usual, Marley?” Jake turned his attention to the teenager. Marley seemed taken aback by the change in topic, but astute as she was, she picked up on his cues and reached for the menus resting in the carousel.
“Um… actually, I wanted to try something new,” Marley mumbled in response. He was grateful she dropped her line of questioning, though he wouldn’t be letting the topic rest as easily. Obviously, this new role of hers had something to do with Gia’s sudden reappearance in Willowbrook.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gia deflate as the attention moved away from her.
It seemed odd to him that someone who lived in the spotlight reacted so viscerally to an innocent question.
His fists clenched tightly in his lap. Twice now, he’d felt rage and a desire to battle whatever demons had chased her back to Willowbrook.
Back home, where she belonged.
Whatever it was, Jake vowed he would help her realize she needed her home and family as much as they needed her. She’d left a deep gouge in the heart of Willowbrook when she went chasing after her dreams. Now that she was back, the hole she’d left behind had a chance of being filled again.
Jake pretended her departure hadn’t been personal, though he knew by her reaction to seeing him he had been a fool to think so. If the memory of what he’d said to her made him feel like he had heartburn, no doubt she was feeling the same way, if not more so.
She took a piece of his heart with her when she left, and he’d been walking around half dead.
It seemed the universe was granting him an opportunity to make amends. One he’d be a fool not to take up.
He’d fix what he’d broken between them and give Gia a reason to stay. Even if it meant pretending to be only her friend, he’d do it for the rest of his life to prove to her she didn’t need to chase the spotlight anymore.
Home was here in Willowbrook.