Chapter 33
Alice
J ake is working so hard to fix up the studio. I know this has been his plan for a while, and once the space was available, I think he just needed to hear someone tell him it was a good idea. I’m not surprised to see how much he has accomplished since the last time I stopped by, but there’s so much to take in, I’m not sure where to look first.
He tiled the wall behind the counter with thin bricks, and the grungy stained carpet has been removed. The exposed concrete floors have been stained and sealed, and now our business logo is painted directly in the middle. He designed it himself. The letter J is featured in bold print with a flowing cursive A overlapping slightly, and the words “Just Art” in an old-fashioned typeface underneath. The remaining walls are bright white, except for the mural that faces our front windows so it’s visible from the street. Jake painted hands in all different sizes and colors holding paintbrushes, cameras, and books.
There are long, family-style tables and an eclectic collection of mismatched stools and chairs. Hazel is snoring on an overstuffed dog bed in the corner. He brings her to work every day. I bend down and give her one of the homemade peanut butter treats I’ve started keeping in a little tin in my purse for her. When I stand up, my eyes are drawn to the empty wooden bookshelf that stretches up to the ceiling. A sliding library ladder is attached.
Jake walks over and lays a hand on the middle shelf, at eye level. “We’ll reserve this section for your stuff.” He wants my books to have prime real estate.
I go to him and wrap my arms around his waist for a quick hug. After denying what I wanted for so long, it still feels weird to be able to touch him whenever I want.
“That sounds amazing. It’s looking great in here.”
He smiles down at me. “You like it?”
“Jake, I love it. Seriously. I can’t believe how much you’ve accomplished by yourself. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help this week.” I stretch my neck to look up at him.
He shakes his head, refusing to hear my apology. “You were where you needed to be.”
I’ve been busy taking my dad to a few medical appointments. He’s doing really well. Honestly, Earl Caulfield’s like a new man. Or maybe more like the old version of him, the dad I remember from when my mom was still here. He’s still going to therapy, and I’ve even started going to family sessions with him. I’ve also had a few individual sessions of my own to focus on my grief and anxiety. I can’t believe I have Jake to thank for nudging us in that direction.
“I’m glad to finally have you back, though. I’m putting you to work today.”
“Oh yeah, Boss?” I smile.
He groans and pulls me closer. “Good thing I’m not actually your boss, because we both know you’d never listen, and then I’d have to fire you. Which would be awkward with you owning half the studio.”
“I’m not sure who taught you percentages, but five percent is way less than half.”
He smirks. “Someone didn’t read her contract carefully. We’re in this fifty-fifty, Ace. Your letter is the same size as mine.” He points to the logo on the floor, and I’m not sure how I didn’t realize until now that the Just Art logo is made of our initials.
“Jake.” I shake my head at him. There’s no way the tiny nest egg I invested was enough to cover half of the ownership in a company. He just smiles down at me and raises his eyebrows, waiting for me to say more. “I didn’t give you enough for that.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. And we both know how much I love it when that happens.” He chuckles and pulls me toward the chairs so we can sit and talk. “You’ve invested more time, energy, and support in me than anyone has in a long time. And, yes, you invested money, too. But you bring so much more to the table than your wallet, Alice. I couldn’t have done this without you. This place belongs to you just as much as it belongs to me. We’re in this together. You’re stuck with me now.”
“I can live with that,” I say as I lean forward to kiss him. “Although, it might’ve been fun to say I was sleeping with the boss.”
He hums into my mouth and says, “Is that your way of telling me we’re trying a little role-play tonight?”
“You wish. But I do have a surprise for you. Guess what came today?” I break away to reach into my bag and pull out the album I ordered from Elliotte. “Our boudoir photos are finally here.” I let out a little squeal when I hand it over to him.
His teeth skim over his bottom lip as he turns the pages. “This was the best idea I ever had.”
I nod. “It really, really was. Look at this one.” I point to the photo of him holding me on the bed. “That’s my favorite.”
Jake growls and sets the album down, then he launches into me for another kiss. My tongue has a mind of its own, and I’m practically levitating over him, pulling his face closer to mine, when we hear a throat clear.
“Hi, Mom.” Jake takes the time to drop one last kiss on my forehead before he stands to greet Shelia. She hums a note of disapproval that makes me bristle, but I plaster on a smile and turn to face her. Jake and I weren’t doing anything wrong by sitting here and sharing a kiss in the building we own, and I am not going to be shamed for being affectionate with her son. If anything, she should be able to understand why I fell for Jake.
“Hello.” She nods curtly to both of us. “I came by to deliver this. It came to the house, and I thought it might be of interest.” She hands Jake an envelope with his name on it that has clearly already been opened. There’s a straight slit across the top because Shelia Gibson is the type of person who uses an actual letter opener.
Jake rolls his tongue over his teeth and pauses to take a deep breath. “Thanks.” He takes the envelope from her and puts it in his back pocket without saying another word. He clearly wants her to go. Unfortunately, Shelia doesn’t take the hint.
“Would you care to explain why an Explanation of Benefits for services provided by a mental health therapist was delivered to our house, Jacob? After all, you are still listed on our health insurance. Your father and I have a right to know what we are paying for.” She waves a hand in my direction. “If you and this girl are already in need of professional counseling, I have my reservations about this business venture, and I have a responsibility as your mother to speak up.”
Jake turns a chair to face her and sits back down, leaning back with his arms folded across his chest. “Do you really want to know, Mom? Because it sounds like you think you have it all figured out, and maybe you’d prefer to carry on believing your own version of events. Do you actually want me to tell you what I talk about in therapy alone ?” He pins her with his stare.
I’m so proud of him for finally sticking up for himself, but this is uncomfortable to watch. At least, for once, I know this has nothing to do with me.
I feel like I’m intruding, so I start to take a step, but Jake’s hand comes out to grab mine and keep me next to him. He wants me here.
He’s calm as he tells his mom, “If you must know, most of my sessions are spent discussing what it’s like to bend over backward for parents who don’t return the same level of respect and refuse to acknowledge my effort. We talk about separating my own needs from your unrealistic expectations. We talk about what it was like to grow up in an environment short on affection but abundant with criticism. And we talk about what a pleasant relief it has been to find a partner who treats me like an equal and challenges me in new ways. Which is refreshing after spending a large chunk of my life being manipulated by the people who claimed to love me.”
I squeeze Jake’s hand. I know that was hard for him.
“Well. I see there was a misunderstanding about the letter, and you seem to be having difficulty managing the stress of this new…business.” Again, Shelia waves one hand in the air, dismissing all the hard work Jake put into the remodel while she attempts to downplay her earlier accusations. “I’ll come back when you’ve had a chance to get your emotions under control.”
Jake scoffs. “Right. Sure. My emotions are the problem here. Did you hear a word I just said?”
“My ears work perfectly well, Jacob. To think I spent twenty-three years raising a young man who would stand here and call his own mother manipulative and uncaring.”
Jake manages to keep a neutral expression on his face, but my heart cracks in half hearing his mother talk to him like this.
He stares back at Shelia. “I see. Once again, this is all about you. Look, Mom, if you don’t want me on your insurance anymore, that’s fine. I’ll figure it out on my own. We’ve been looking into small business options anyway. But what we are not going to do is have you walking into our business and publicly questioning me about my medical records. You’ve chosen to cross a boundary. That’s on you. Now I need you to leave.” Jake’s voice is icy and hard.
Shelia’s eyes grow wide. I think she expected him to cave and apologize. Even I didn’t expect him to kick her out. She’s obviously not used to hearing him talk to her this way. Maybe he never has. If that’s the case, it’s been a long time coming.
I squeeze his hand again and try to show him with that small gesture that I’m right here and I’m proud of him.
“Shelia,” I address her. Her eyes shift to me briefly, then she looks back to Jake. I know she thinks this is my fault somehow, like I’m stealing her baby boy right out from under her. She doesn’t even want to look at me. Well, too bad. She can think whatever she wants. Jake and I are a team now. I know she has too much pride to leave just because Jake said so, but no good will come from having her try to stay right now, so I say, “I think Honey was looking for you. She was at The Blue Crab during the lunch rush. I bet you can still catch her.”
Shelia nods once, then accepts my offer to save face and turns to go. Nothing is more important to Shelia Gibson than her pride. Even her own son, apparently. It’s infuriating, but if we might be family one day we’re going to have to find a way to understand each other. I can try to be the bigger person and model what that looks like.
Jake clings to my hand as we watch his mom walk away. Then he turns in his chair to lean his head against my shoulder. I rub my free hand up and down his back, trying to comfort him. He pulls me into his lap and holds me against his chest while he buries his face in my hair. He clutches me like he’s drowning and I’m the life raft keeping him afloat. We sit quietly, and I let him hold me for as long as he needs. Hazel comes up and lays her head on his leg to let Jake know she’s here for him, too.
I’m the first one to speak again. “That was intense.”
He nods and sets me down gently so he can stand. He looks so drained. “I’m sorry, but I think I need to get out of here for a while. Come on, Hazel.” He pats his leg, and she stretches and yawns before sauntering over to him.
“Don’t apologize. Take some time. I’ll stick around here for a while. Call me later?”
He nods once more and kisses my forehead, then Jake and Hazel leave, and I’m alone in the empty studio.