Chapter 4
Francesca
“Oh honey, you look so thin! What have you been eating? You need vitamins.”
“I’m fine Mom.” She’s got a death grip on me. “You just saw me a couple of months ago.”
“I know and you’re wasting away now!” she cries dramatically.
“Janet, honey, leave her alone.” My dad comes over and pries my mom’s arms from around my neck and pulls me into his side. “Thanks dad,” I whisper. He chuckles and kisses the top of my head. “Good to see you home, sweet girl.”
“God! No one makes this big a fuss over me when I show up!” Billy yells.
“That’s because you never leave! Can’t miss what’s always eating your food and sleeping on your couch!”
Billy scoffs. “Whatever. You’d miss me if I was gone.”
“You should go and let us find out,” Tom jibes.
My mom smacks the back of his head. “Leave your brother alone.”
“Thanks, Ma,” Billy says as he falls into the couch with a bowl of chips. He mouths, ‘I’m the favorite’ to Tommy, to which Tommy answers with a flip of the bird.
I laugh, taking it all in. I missed this.
The banter, the closeness, family. Life was never dull, growing up with three older brothers, two of which are twins.
Thomas, first, then William, a.k.a ‘Billy’, two minutes and thirty-two seconds later.
He has totally lived up to the younger, wild brother status, while Tom has fallen into the stoic, quiet brother.
Though none beat out Adam; he’s the epitome of the protective older brother, especially when it comes to me.
Back then, I couldn’t wait to get away from it.
Now I see, I was extremely lucky to have them.
“Everyone, come sit. Dinner is just about ready.”
We all grab a seat at the table, dad at the head and Adam next to him.
They talk business, as usual. My dad started House O’Love Construction way back when.
A play on words from our last name—Casanova—our town was newly founded, and he paved the way to develop it.
Christmas, a typical small town with roughly fifty-five hundred people, is a family in itself.
Everyone knows everyone else; they are always ready to help and always ready to lend an ear, and unfortunately, a tongue.
Your business is town business, which is one reason I ran for the city.
After so many years of it, I just wanted to blend in, not stand out.
I wanted to be a number, not a first, middle and last name, shoe size, GPA or whatever other information they needed.
The town has grown and continues to grow, thanks to my brother, Adam. He took over when our dad retired but still defers to dad and asks his opinion. He’s on payroll as a consultant, which cracks me up because he just can’t let it go, no matter how much my mom pushes him to fully retire.
Adam has done a great job, though, taking the business into the next era.
He’s not the only construction company around, but he’s the best by far in the surrounding towns and county.
He’s put us on the map and has made this town fruitful, playing off the Christmas name and attracting tourists to keep businesses plentiful.
Jackson helped with that, too. He quickly became a household name when he entered the NFL, making our small town an even bigger tourist trap.
My mom walks out with a pork roast and places it in front of my dad to slice. “No business tonight. Don’t you two ever have anything else to talk about?”
“Yes dear,” my dad says and winks my way. My mom runs her hand across his shoulder and looks lovingly at him. I want that. I want that silent, loving look that conveys so much meaning between only the two that share it. If I was to blame someone for my unrealistic expectations, it'd be these two.
Dad carves and the rest of us pass dishes. “So, Francesca, not that I don’t love having you home, but what are the plans now that you are back here?”
I was afraid of this question. “I don’t know yet dad, I’m still just trying to unpack and get a grip on being back here.” I grin lightly and stuff veggies in my mouth, hoping to delay the inevitable.
“You can always come to House O’Love. We could use your marketing and public relations knowledge to market the town.”
“Frank, leave her alone,” my mother snaps. “Stop forcing the construction business on her.”
“I’m not forcing it. She’s good at what she does. Adam could use some fresh new ideas. An update on the website and social media wouldn’t hurt. You can never have too far of a reach.”
I look at Adam, and he’s giving me a sympathetic smile. “You know I’ll always hire you, but do what makes you happy first, Chess,” he replies lightly.
“Thank you,” I mouth back to him.
“You aren’t happy in the big city, sissy?” Tom asks, “I thought you loved it there? Even though Nick was a tool, I thought you enjoyed being in that hustle and bustle?”
“Tommy!” I laugh and continue scraping my plate. “I did like it there, but things didn’t pan out how I thought.” I see all my brothers making eyes at each other. “You guys can stop that right now. I’m fine. I’m going to be fine. Just let me get my bearings back here at home, okay?”
They grumble a little but keep eating. “We can rough him up for you. It’d be fun actually,” Billy says. I give him the eye again and thank God for dad, he changes the subject.
“Have you been down to the field to watch Jackson's team, Adam? They’re looking good early on,” Dad asks Adam. I’m grateful for the subject change, but the subject matter is still emotional. Jackson is a Cinderella story gone bad. A rise to the top only to crash before it was time story.
“I saw them the other day, got some big boys, fast too. Jackson knows talent and knows how to train a team. I can’t believe he can’t get picked up by a college yet,” my dad says.
I can’t help myself. I’ve followed his career quietly, over the years, but I know nothing about a college team. “He wants to work with a college now?”
“Yeah, he’s been trying to get on as a head coach, anywhere, really.”
“Fat chance. No one wants a playboy leading their college team anywhere,” Billy guffaws.
“Billy!” my dad chastises. “It shouldn’t be about that. If the kids got a winning record, that’s what the colleges should be after. His personal life has nothing to do with it.”
“Well, would you want a renowned playboy showing up at your door, talking drafts and college preps with your son at age eighteen?” my mom raises a brow. “I love Jackson like he’s my own, but sometimes things just don’t work out. He’s doing well here; he should concentrate on that.”
My dad makes a little remark under his breath and when my mom clears her throat, he speaks up. “I’m just saying the guy made some mistakes. Those mistakes shouldn’t hold him back from spreading his talent.”
“Seems he can spread his talent really well!” Billy busts out laughing and tries to get Tommy to fist bump him, but Tom just leaves him hanging. “Damn, touchy.”
I’ve read about Jackson's escapades, but I know firsthand a lot of what you hear and read is fabricated. I really hope he didn’t do all they’ve said he’s done over the years.
It would hurt every time I opened a magazine to see him with a different woman on his arm.
Or at another party with girls hanging all over him.
I had no right to be jealous, but he felt like mine.
Since I was a little girl, I had crushed on him and that never went away. In fact, seeing him earlier today has rushed those same old feelings back to the forefront. With all the transitions currently happening in my life, it’s not something I know how to deal with right now.
“Hey maybe you could help with his image, honey? You’re versed in public relations; you know what it would take to get him looked at again. It’s been a few years since he’s been in the eye of the media. Maybe you can rebuild his brand,” my dad offers.
Adam catches my eye and I’m sure mine are like saucers.
“Oh, uh, dad I don’t think that’s a good idea. I know nothing about his career that’s a lie or what playboy actions he’s made that I’d have to correct there’s another lie. I’m not even represented by a company anymore.” Oh God, work closely with Jackson. I don’t know if my heart could take it.
“So? Go into business for yourself. Start your own PR firm. ‘Love relations!’ I can see it now!” My dad slashes his hand through the air like he’s Vanna White.
“Dad!” Laughing, I say, “I don’t think that would draw the type of clients I’d be looking for.”
Adam chuckles but joins in. “It’s not a bad idea, Chess. Be your own boss. You’ve got plenty of help here to get you started and you have the knowledge.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t want your money, Adam,” he makes a face at me. “And I just said to you earlier, I’m not sure I even want to stay in this line of work.”
My mom stands and starts clearing plates. “Lots to think about, honey. But save some time for me. I need your help with the annual Almost Christmas festival this year. I’m heading the committee and would love you to head it with me.”
The Almost Christmas festival is a huge tourist attraction in our town.
As a kid, it was the best time of year, second to Christmas of course, and as an adult, it was even more special.
The town turns into a winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights and all the special magic Christmas holds.
The entire towns population jumps in, and the parade showcases the school teams. It’s a big tourist draw and tremendous boost for the local businesses in town.
“I’d love to mom. Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve been back for the festival.”
“Your new neighbor is the Grand Marshall!” mom replies.
My heart flutters again at the mention of him. I’ve been back for 24 hours and already I can’t escape his name.
“Jackson? Really?”
“Oh God, here we go; just another thing to inflate his ego.”
“Don’t be jealous Billy. This may be the exposure he needs to get himself noticed for something good.”
“I thought you liked Jackson, Billy?” My brothers and he were always tight.
“I love the guy but I just have to bust his balls. I want what’s best for him, but he’s not doing anything to help himself either. I mean, just last night he was out until after one in the morning.”
“You’d know that how?” my mom asks, with a slight tone in her voice.
Billy looks triumphant. “Because I was with him!” he yells, and we laugh.
God, my brother is the ultimate playboy.
He’ll never settle down and brags about avoiding it.
My poor mother is dying for grandkids and at the rate all her kids are going, Frosty will be nothing but a few drops of condensation by the time it happens.
This time it’s Adam who knocks Billy around. “Stop encouraging the guy. Let him go home when he wants. I think half the time it’s town talk making up these ghost stories. When’s the last time you saw the guy leaving a bar with a girl? Huh?”
I’m taking this all in. I’ve read the gossip magazines and columns, all flaunting Gage and his latest conquest. The parties, the events, of course, being top pick in the NFL opened new doors for him and behind those doors were easy women. I guess I can’t blame the guy.
Coming from a small town and then being thrust into a world of glamour and booze, and women…
he was a nineteen-year-old kid. No one guided him, except my dad, but I think he was too late by the time Jackson came home and they had a chat.
It’s why I studied sports management in college.
He could have used me for PR back then. Maybe I could have kept him on the straight and narrow.
But if my brother is saying all the talk lately is just that, talk, then maybe I should change my view of Jackson. The rag mags have been slow with his stories lately. Maybe he is lying low, trying to change his ways.
“Whatever. Gage is my hero,” Billy says.
I roll my eyes and gather my stuff. “Mom, thanks for dinner. Let’s talk tomorrow about the festival, okay?” I lean in and give mom and dad a kiss, then for each of my brothers. “Love you guys.”
Adam walks out with me to my car, Billy and Tom still inside grabbing the leftovers. “Why did we take two cars?” I laugh. “We live next door to each other.”
Adam smiles. “I love that block. Everyone’s so close. You get to talk to Britt yet?” Britt is Jackson's sister, my absolute best friend from the time we were in grade school. She’s the only one I kept in contact with after all this time. It’s like we couldn’t shake each other if we tried.
“We keep missing each other, but we made plans for tomorrow night. Wine night at my house,” I smile.
“Just keep the noise down. I heard your landlord is a real asshole,” Adam laughs.
“No way, he’s the best big brother anyone could have!” I jump on his back and hug him, making kissy noises.
“Ugh gross, get a life!” he yells. “Jesus, I definitely didn’t miss that!”
“Ha, yeah right, you love me and I’m your favorite.”
He opens my door for me, and I slide in and start it up. “Remember what I said? A locked door keeps Jackson away.”
“Why are you so worried about him sneaking in my house, big bro?” I raise a brow. “Does he think I’m pretty?” I flutter my eyelashes.
“He thinks everyone is pretty. That’s the problem.”
Laughing, “Relax Adam, I’m a big girl.” I close my door and he shakes his head whilst walking away, but not before I hear him say, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
What does that mean? What does my brother think he knows?