Chapter 3 Jack
JACK
Jack had just come back from jogging with Holly, and the tension still sat heavy in his chest like a weight he couldn’t shake off.
The morning run had been awkward and uncomfortable, nothing like their usual easy companionship.
Holly had been preoccupied the entire time, her responses to his attempts at conversation clipped and distracted.
Her mind was clearly somewhere else, and no matter how hard Jack tried to draw her out, she remained distant.
Usually, their morning jogs were the highlight of his day.
They’d fall into an easy rhythm, their footsteps syncing on the beach path while they talked about everything and nothing.
Holly’s laughter would ring out over the sound of the waves, and Jack would find himself smiling for no reason other than being near her.
But this morning had been different. Holly had barely spoken.
When he’d asked her questions, she’d answered with one or two words, her gaze fixed somewhere in the middle distance.
Jack entered the house kitchen through the side door, still thinking about Holly’s behavior.
He was trying not to read too much into it, but his mind kept circling back to her silence, her distraction.
Had he done something wrong? Had he said something to upset her?
Or was it simply the stress of Simon and Terry showing up at the inn last night?
“Good morning, sweetheart.” His mother’s voice cut through his thoughts.
Jack turned to see Julie already dressed for the day in one of her elegant outfits, looking impeccable as always. But there was unmistakable disapproval written all over her face, and Jack braced himself.
“The Viper called,” Julie announced without preamble, her voice dripping with disdain.
Jack sighed. He didn’t need to ask who the Viper was. His mother had been calling Pamela that since the day they had started dating.
“She woke me up at six this morning on the landline in the house hallway,” Julie continued, crossing her arms. The phone got diverted there at night from the inn’s main line.
“She wants you to call her back immediately.” Julie’s expression shifted into something that was almost a smile, but not quite.
“I told her that it was going to take longer than immediately for a certain warm place to freeze over.”
Despite everything, Jack felt the corner of his mouth twitch. His mother had never forgiven Pamela for abandoning Jane, and she made no secret of it.
“Thanks, Mom,” Jack said, but the humor faded quickly. He remembered he still hadn’t had a chance to speak to Jane about Pamela’s call. Days had passed since Pamela first contacted him, but with the renovations and everything going on, Jack had been so busy that he’d kept putting it off.
He needed to catch Jane now before the day got away from him again.
Jack headed down the hallway to Jane’s bedroom and knocked on the door. He waited, listening for movement inside. Nothing. He knocked again, a bit louder this time. Still no response.
She was probably still painting on the boardwalk.
Jack decided he’d catch Jane at breakfast instead. Right now, he needed to shower and change. The morning jog had left him sweaty, and he had a full day of renovation work ahead.
He headed back to his room, took a quick shower, and changed into his work clothes. Jeans and a flannel shirt. Practical and comfortable for the physical labor ahead.
Moments later, Jack walked into the main inn through the connecting door from their private residence. His mind was already running through the day’s renovation schedule. They needed to finish the crown molding in the ballroom and still had work to do on the second-floor guest rooms.
“Jack.” His mother’s voice stopped him in the hallway.
Jack turned to see Julie holding the cordless phone from behind the reception desk. “It’s for you,” Julie said, her tone flat.
Her voice told him everything. It was Pamela. Again.
Jack took the phone from his mother, not bothering to hide his frustration. “What do you want now?” he asked without bothering to say hello. There was no point in pleasantries with Pamela.
“To talk to Jane. This is serious, Jack,” Pamela’s voice came through sharp with impatience. “Think about our daughter.”
The words hit Jack like a slap. “My daughter,” he corrected immediately, his voice firm. He would not allow Pamela to claim Jane after 30 years of absence. “I will tell her as soon as I can.”
“Today, Jack!” Pamela demanded. It was not a request. It was a command, delivered in that tone she used when she expected immediate compliance. “This cannot wait any longer.”
Jack rubbed his free hand over his face, feeling a headache forming behind his eyes. “Yes, today,” he said, sighing in agreement. He knew he needed to talk to Jane regardless of Pamela’s pressure. “I’ll let you know.”
Pamela rattled off her phone number quickly, speaking as if Jack might forget it if she didn’t say it fast enough. Then she hung up without saying goodbye. Typical Pamela. She always had to have the last word by ending the conversation.
Jack handed the phone back to his mother and rubbed his temples, where the headache was definitely forming now. Between Holly’s distance this morning and Pamela’s incessant pressure, the day was already exhausting, and it had barely started.
He headed toward the dining room. He needed coffee desperately. Needed food. Needed to find Jane and have that conversation he’d been putting off.
Jack entered the dining room and immediately scanned the tables.
Holly was not there, and disappointment settled in his chest like a stone.
He’d been hoping to sit with her at breakfast, maybe figure out what was bothering her.
Maybe bridge whatever distance had opened between their dinner last night and their tense morning jog.
“Morning, Jack.” Isabella appeared beside him, her warm smile a welcome sight. “Looking for someone?”
“Holly,” Jack admitted, then caught himself. “And Jane. Have you seen either of them?”
“Jane is at her usual table.” Isabella’s expression turned sympathetic. “Holly is having breakfast with Trinity and Charlie this morning in their suite. She asked me to let you know she’ll see you after breakfast on floor one to go over the renovations for the day.”
Jack tried not to show his disappointment, but he knew it was written all over his face anyway. “Of course. They need family time.”
“It’s tough being a parent,” Isabella said gently, patting his arm, then she headed back toward the kitchen, leaving Jack standing in the dining room doorway.
Jack turned to scan the dining room again, this time looking for Jane. He needed to talk to her about Pamela’s call, and he might as well get it over with now.
He spotted her at a corner table and paused. Jane was having breakfast with Gabe. Both had plates of food in front of them, mugs of coffee, and they were deep in conversation. Jane was leaning forward slightly, listening intently to Gabe, her expression focused and engaged.
Jack started toward their table. He would join them, have breakfast together, and then maybe talk to Jane about Pamela afterward. But he’d only taken a few steps when he felt a presence behind him.
Jack turned to see Logan standing there, his friend looking well-rested and cheerful in a way that Jack envied at the moment.
“You also single for breakfast this morning?” Logan asked with a grin, gesturing toward the empty tables around them.
“Seems that way,” Jack admitted, trying not to sound as disappointed as he felt.
“Well, I’m free,” Logan said, his grin widening. “How about we suffer through breakfast together?”
They walked to a table on the other side of the dining room, far enough to give Jane and Gabe privacy but close enough that Jack could still keep an eye on them. Old parental habits died hard.
“Charlie, Holly, and Trinity are having a family breakfast this morning,” Logan explained as they sat down. “Charlie wanted some sister time, apparently.”
“They all need to spend time together,” Jack said, trying to sound reasonable even as disappointment gnawed at him. “It is their vacation after all, and we’ve been monopolizing their time.”
“Yeah,” Logan agreed, but his voice dropped lower. “And I think Charlie wants to ensure that Holly’s ex hasn’t contacted any of them. She wants to make sure they know not to talk to them without her present.”
Jack nodded slowly. That made sense. Charlie was being the protective lawyer sister, making sure her family understood the legal boundaries. He could not fault her for that, even if it meant missing breakfast with Holly.
Mrs. Hurling appeared at their table, her warm smile a comfort in the midst of everything. “What can I get you, gentlemen, this morning?”
Jack ordered his usual. Scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. “There is fresh coffee on the side table.” Mrs. Hurling pointed and then bustled off toward the kitchen.
They got up to grab coffee from the side table while waiting for their food. Jack wrapped his hands around the warm mug, letting the heat seep into his palms. He took a long sip, savoring the rich flavor and the jolt of caffeine.
As he started back toward their table, that’s when he heard it.
A sound that made him freeze mid-sip. A sound that made his heart lurch in his chest and his breath catch in his throat.
Jane was laughing.
Not a polite chuckle or a small smile. This was full, genuine laughter that rang out across the dining room and lit up her entire face. She was still listening to Gabe, but now her eyes were bright with humor and her smile was wide and unguarded.
Jack stood there holding his coffee mug, unable to move. Unable to do anything but stare at his daughter in complete awe.