Chapter 16 #3
It was the first time he’d used a nickname for her. Chelsea didn’t particularly like the nickname Red, and yet, she felt a little warm and gooey inside that Jagger had given her one.
“She goes fast, Jagger. Did you see her?”
“I did. I didn’t know I married a fast woman.” The banter felt so normal and real. More and more she wished it was.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
He flashed her a grin. “Maybe during the winter we can fly down to the Caribbean. There are places there you can ride on the beach. In your swimsuit even.”
Her heart stuttered in her chest even as her stomach fluttered at the gleam in his eye.
They’d agreed this marriage would go as long as Kaden’s custody was up in the air, which could last beyond the winter.
It could go on for a year or more. But he couldn’t know how long the case would last. What if Kaden’s custody was resolved by the start of school?
Would Jagger still want to take her to the Caribbean?
His winter trip planning made her wonder if he saw their relationship as more than just a business arrangement.
“Mr. Talbot? The vet’s pulling up.” Denny pointed to a truck parking at the barn.
“I’ll be right there.”
Chelsea shook her head of fanciful dreams. He was just being flirtatious. “Hey, how about a snack, Kaden? I can make us some ants on a log.”
“Ewww.” Kaden scrunched up his face.
“You’ll love it. I promise.”
Back at the house, she and Kaden washed their hands, then she sent him looking for celery, while she went to the pantry to find peanut butter and raisins.
When she heard talking in the dining room, she initially ignored it, until she heard Miss Z say, “Have you seen how she eats? Some day that metabolism will stop, and she’ll get as fat as a pig. He won’t want her then.”
“She’s pretty active,” Mrs. Stanton said. “She and Jagger are newlyweds. Knowing Jagger, they probably burn calories in their private time.”
Chelsea’s cheeks burned. Was the staff really talking about her and Jagger’s sex life?
“No, ut-uh. I’ve changed a lot of Talbot sheets in my day, and I can say for certain, they’re not burning them up.”
Chelsea gaped.
“Miss Z.” Grayson’s voice sounded affronted.
“I’m just saying. There’s something fishy. I know you think it too. She doesn’t fit. She’s boyish. I think I can count on my hand the number of times I’ve seen her wear real shoes—”
Chelsea looked at her sneakers. Weren’t those real shoes? Normally she wore flip-flops. She supposed those weren’t real shoes either.
“She just doesn’t have the grace and sophistication of a Talbot.”
“Neither did Tanya,” Mrs. Stanton said.
“And look what happened there. I can’t imagine what he sees in her, unless this is all about Kaden’s custody.”
“Mr. Talbot wouldn’t do that.” Grayson’s voice sounded sure.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Mrs. Stanton said. “I think he’d do anything for that boy.”
“Well, if you ask me, he should have chosen someone else to play wife and mother. She doesn’t have grace or class.”
Normally, Chelsea could let such remarks roll off her.
Especially from snooty folks. In fact, she’d usually give them a piece of her mind.
But this time, humiliation struck deep. Did Jagger think she lacked class too?
She knew why he chose her. She was a teacher and had deep roots in the area.
He was attracted to her and enjoyed spending time with her, but did he think less of her because she didn’t have the grace and sophistication of Alexis?
If Mitch hadn’t intervened at the wedding, would Jagger have asked her on a date, or would he have thought as his staff did, that she wasn’t Talbot material?
“Miss Chelsea?” Kaden yanked on her shirt. “The peanut butter is there.” He pointed to the shelf.
“Yes. Thank you.” She grabbed the jar and closed the pantry. Today, they’d just have logs without ants.
She’d just scooped out the peanut butter to put on the first stick of celery when Miss Z walked in. Chelsea looked up, caught her gaze, and was sure Miss Z knew they’d been overheard.
“It’s impolite to eavesdrop.”
Chelsea laughed, because the alternative was to cry. Miss Z stared at her like she’d grown a second head and then left.
“Kaden, I just remembered I have something I need to take care of.”
“What about the ants?”
“I’ll find the ants.” Mrs. Stanton entered.
Chelsea hurried from the kitchen and rushed to her room.
Or actually Jagger’s room. It didn’t matter how much he’d done to make her feel at home, it hadn’t worked, and now more than ever, she needed out.
She took a quick shower to wash off the horse dust and threw on shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops, her own special “suck it Miss Z” outfit, and then made her way to the foyer.
She grabbed her purse from the hall closet, which was where it always ended up no matter where she left it.
“Where should I tell Mr. Talbot you’re going?” Grayson’s monotone voice echoed through the room.
Her mind wasn’t nimble enough to come up with an answer, so she simply walked out the front door.
A small wave of relief washed through her as she exited the driveway of the Talbot estate and headed toward town. She had no idea where she was going but didn’t really care as long as she was away from snooty, snootier, and snootiest.
She really wanted to talk to Lexie but didn’t know how she could get the help and comfort she needed without telling her the truth about everything.
Since she’d promised Jagger she’d keep their secret, seeing Lexie wasn’t an option.
The other choice was to go to the only place that had ever been a comfort and sanctuary: her home.
As she drove down the tree-lined street of historic homes, she relaxed even more. Soon she’d be in her own home. The place she’d had love and support and a real sense of family.
When she pulled in her driveway, though, she stopped and double-checked the house number. Why was a work truck sitting in her driveway? She pulled in beside it and got out. Going to the side door, she called out, “Hello?”
A young man opened the screen. “Chelsea Beemer...or should I say Talbot?”
“Earl?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He pulled his ball cap off.
She’d gone to high school with Earl and, while she’d gone to college, he’d gone right into his father’s home renovation business.
“Where’s Mr. Talbot? I told him to give me another week before giving you your surprise, but I guess he was too eager.”
Surprise? “He’s not with me.”
“Oh. Well, uh-oh then. But hey, it’s not my fault you showed up.”
“Can I come in and see what’s been done?” She was having a hard time wrapping her mind around Jagger renovating her home in secret.
“Well, all right. But you act surprised now when he tells you.”
“Yes, I will.”
She walked through the door Earl held open for her. “We’ve done all your rewiring and you’ll be happy to know you’ve got a circuit box. None too soon, either, because your fuses were as old as dirt. We put in new HVAC and fixed up your plumbing.”
Stunned, Chelsea walked into her kitchen, with refurbished cabinets, new flooring, and new appliances in the vintage style she’d wanted.
“I hope you like it. Mr. Talbot was adamant we follow the specifications in your book.”
“Book?”
“Yes, ma’am. That one there.”
She looked to where Earl pointed and saw her house scrapbook sitting on the counter. “The upstairs is done, but we still have to do a little more down here. Mostly painting and trim.”
“It’s wonderful.” She hadn’t left the kitchen yet, but if it was representative of the rest of the house, it had to be perfect.
“Everyone else’s cut out for another job. I was just putting in the new faucets in the kitchen. Looks right nice, if you ask me.”
She looked at the kitchen sink with the Victorian-style faucet. “Yes.”
“I’m gonna head out now. Maggie Mae’s folks are stopping by for dinner on their way to Hilton Head, and she’ll skin me alive if I’m late.”
Chelsea checked her watch, seeing it was just after noon. “You better get going then. Thank you for this, Earl.”
“Why, you’re welcome, Miss Chelsea.” He took his hat off and gave her a slight bow.
“Say hello to Maggie Mae for me.” Chelsea had gone to school with her as well.
“Yes’m, I will.”
Once the door shut behind Earl, Chelsea stood paralyzed in her kitchen.
It was like a dream. And Jagger had given it to her.
But why? Their agreement was that he’d pay her debts.
So why had he done this? How had he known?
With the completion of the work only a week away, he had to have arranged for it weeks ago. Shortly after their marriage.
She propelled herself forward, touring the dining and living rooms, admiring the chandeliers, the crown molding, and the beautifully refinished pine floors.
She made her way upstairs and found her black-and-white bathroom tile scrubbed to a bright shine and the claw foot tub looking brand new in the center.
In the master bedroom, her furniture was still covered, but the window seat had been cleaned and painted, and new pillows offered an inviting place to read.
Wanting to see the full effect, she removed the sheets covering her bed and other furniture.
It was like walking back in time to when the house was new.
Whirling with emotion, she sat in the window seat.
How would she ever thank Jagger for this?
Sure, he had the money and so it hadn’t been a big deal on his end.
But for him to think of it. To follow through as a surprise gift to her. That was something else entirely.
It made her feel inadequate and petty even.
She’d withheld so much from him. Not just sex, but herself.
She couldn’t hide her attraction to him, but she was constantly pushing down the emotions that ran deeper than lust. She couldn’t do something as significant as this, but there had to be something that would mean as much to him as this did to her.
She didn’t know what it was, but she’d figure it out and, hopefully, he’d feel the belonging and gratitude he deserved.