CHAPTER 29
JAMIE
N othing could ruin Jamie’s mood as she stepped onto the bus the following day. After a rare night in a hotel she’d actually slept well for once. But now it was back to reality—her exams were coming up fast and she needed to study.
She’d barely cracked open her book when the others started boarding and a knock sounded at her door.
“Jamie?” Clayton’s voice came through, followed by two taps.
So much for a quiet morning.
“Enter,” she called.
Clayton strolled in, eyes flicking to the book in her lap. “What are you studying?”
“Language arts. What else?”
He ignored the sarcasm. “We have a day off.”
“I’m aware,” she said, turning a page. “What do you want?”
“I got us a little outing planned.” He leaned against the doorframe, that smug look across his face. “Now, don’t go getting all riled up, but Shorty went and hired a security guard. Freddy’s riding along with us. ”
“I can’t.” She held up the book. “My exams are in two weeks.”
“You’re going to want to make an exception for this.”
She raised her brow. “Why? Where are you going?”
“The happiest place on earth.”
She gripped the sheets, her breath unsteady. “You’re going to Disneyland?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He pointed at her watch. “The home of Mickey Mouse.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head as anxiety crashed over her like a wave. “Go without me.”
He sat at the foot of the bed, his brows knitting together. “Thought you loved Mickey.”
“I do.” Her voice wavered. “But I can’t go to Disneyland.”
“I’ll help you study when we get back.”
She shook her head more firmly. “It’s not that.”
His gaze softened. “What is it then?”
She sat in silence for a minute and debated whether to tell him. Normally she would have made up an excuse or lied her way out of it, but he deserved an honest answer.
She had to tell him.
“Disneyland is the last place I saw my mom.” She turned her wrist, running her fingers over the watch.
“This was the last thing she ever bought me.
I was eight. It was our first, our only trip as a family.
Three perfect days of rides, corn dogs, and walking around the park.
I really thought we were bonding.“ She let out a breath. “The next morning my mom was gone. At first I panicked. You know, I thought something had happened to her. Then AJ told me he’d only bought two tickets home. Turns out the trip was just a send-off. One last good time before she left for good. ”
She shook her head. “Looking back, that made it worse. Just when I thought we were happy, she walked out.”
“I’m sorry, darlin’.” Clayton hung his head. “Can’t imagine how that felt. I don’t understand how a parent can walk away like that.”
Jamie swallowed hard. “It kills me that your girls are experiencing this.” Her voice wavered as tears welled up. “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.” She reached for a tissue and dabbed at her eyes. With a shaky breath she let out a soft, bittersweet laugh. “Not even you.”
He scooted up on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. She clung to him, burying her face in his shoulder as sobs wracked her body. He held her close, one hand cradling her head while she let it all out—twenty-two years of disappointment spilling over.
“It wasn’t until a few years ago I found out the truth,” she said, her voice shaking between sobs.
“AJ finally told me why she left. She had postpartum depression after I was born and it turned into something chronic. She couldn’t cope with it and started using drugs.
” Jamie swallowed hard and pulled away, leaning back against the headboard.
“I wonder sometimes if Tammy went through something similar—not being able to look after the girls? Something mental?”
Clayton let out a slow breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, it’s entirely possible. I tried getting her help but she refused to see a doctor. And a therapist? No way in hell.”
She sniffed and wiped at her nose with the sleeve of her hoodie. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to project my issues onto her. And I didn’t mean to dump all this on you.”
“Hey, now.” His voice was soft as he reached out, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “I’m real glad you told me.” He hesitated, watching her carefully. “And I get it if you don’t want to go today. But maybe . . . maybe it’d do you some good to go with folks who’d never walk out on you.”
She blinked, not sure what to say. Their tour would be over soon, and after that she’d have to find somewhere to live—somewhere that wasn’t Nashville.
But he had a point. Maybe it was time to stop letting her past decide her future.
“Do the girls know they’re going to Disneyland?” she asked after a moment.
“Nope.” Clayton shook his head. “Wanted to surprise them.”
Jamie exhaled and nodded. “Okay. I’ll go. I don’t want to miss the look on their faces.”
The bus cruised south toward Anaheim, and the girls had no idea where they were going until they spotted the exit sign: disney way/anaheim blvd.
They screamed, bouncing on the couch, saying, “No way! No way! No way!”
“Actually,” Clayton said with a smirk, “Disney Way.”
Jamie rolled her eyes but the girls were too excited to notice his joke.
“Are we really going?” Emily asked, her voice full of hope.
“We really are,” Clayton confirmed. “Go on and get ready, now.”
The bus steered into a lot reserved for oversized vehicles, and Gus parked near Disney California Adventure Park, which was brand-new when Jamie had visited .
“Hopefully the lines won’t be too bad since it’s a Wednesday,” Jamie said.
Clayton leaned in. “I got us Lightning Lane Passes—shorter wait times.”
From the front of the bus Ruth crossed her arms. “ Who got them?”
Clayton sighed. “Fine. Ruth did.”
They all stepped off the bus—except for Gus. Clayton had invited him but he’d declined, saying he could use some peace and quiet. Jamie figured spending a day with ten-year-old girls wasn’t exactly his idea of relaxation.
“I bet even Satan’s sweating today,” Clayton said, wiping the back of his hand across his brow.
Jamie put on her sunglasses and borrowed one of Clayton’s ball caps. “I’m literally melting.” The pavement shimmered under the relentless sun and the scent of churros and sunscreen thickened the air.
A woman with a nancy nametag greeted them at the entrance, handing out passes—though not before asking Clayton for a selfie. The twins doubled over in laughter, whispering something to each other that probably wasn’t flattering.
Freddy hung back, keeping a watchful eye as they entered the park. Jamie thought it was ridiculous that Shorty had hired a security guard. It wasn’t like Disneyland was prime territory for an ambush—too many cameras, too many witnesses.
Charlotte clutched Jamie’s hand while Emily stuck close to Clayton, and Ruth walked with Nolan. Jamie had been meaning to corner her assistant for days, but ever since Nolan showed up the two had been glued together. She had no idea if it was getting serious but she planned on finding out .
Jamie barely remembered the park’s layout so they started with the Red Car Trolley, but all it did was circle back to where they started.
The girls were all about the thrill rides—the scarier the better—and Jamie was more than happy to join them.
She loved fast rides. It had been over five years since she’d been to an amusement park, mostly because Derrick hated them.
For all his on-screen bravado, the action star was terrified of rollercoasters or anything that moved too fast. At first Jamie couldn’t believe it.
Then, as she got to know him, it made perfect sense.
First up was Goofy’s Sky School, a jerky rollercoaster known for its sudden turns and whiplash curves. Clayton and Emily took the front seat while Jamie and Charlotte settled into the back. Ruth and Nolan stayed behind with Freddy, who stood with his arms crossed, looking unimpressed.
“I’ll film it,” Ruth said, holding her phone.
The lap bars locked in and with a sharp jolt they were off.
The track twisted and dropped unpredictably, sending Charlotte shrieking as she latched onto Jamie in a full-body grip.
Jamie, half laughing, half gasping for air, slid an arm around her in reassurance.
Up front Clayton and Emily threw their hands in the air, leaning into every hairpin turn with reckless excitement.
Show-offs.
The adrenaline junkies rode three more coasters before finally admitting defeat—not by fear but hunger. They wandered into Disneyland Park, settling at an outdoor table under the shaded gazebo of the Carnation Cafe.
Freddy, however, didn’t sit. He stood outside the structure scanning the crowd, his posture alert. Even at Disneyland he was on duty.
“Come with me to the restroom,” Jamie whispered in Ruth’s ear.
Ruth turned her head and asked, “Is it that time of the month? ”
“No, I just want to have a chat.” Jamie stood from the table and her assistant followed. Freddy clocked them immediately and started after them.
Jamie turned with a smile. “We’re just going to the restroom.”
“I’ll wait by the entrance,” he said with a nod.
Inside Jamie washed her hands—a habit she’d picked up after living with a germophobe. She had to admit that she hadn’t been sick in a while, so it seemed like a good one to keep.
Ruth joined her at the sink and cracked her gum. “What’s up?”
“I feel like we haven’t really talked since Nolan and the kids arrived.”
“Sorry, I’ve been spending all my time with him.” She met Jamie’s gaze in the mirror. “Do you need me to do something?”
Jamie shook her head. “No, not at all. I’ve been busy studying.”
Ruth smiled. “It was sweet of Clayton to arrange this trip. I think he did it more for you than for the girls.”
Jamie shrugged. “What’s going on with you and Nolan? Anything you want to tell me?”
Ruth glanced over her shoulder as if someone might be listening before turning back with a sheepish grin. “I think I love him.”