Chapter 62 More than Memories
More than Memories
Jaxon spent the afternoon cooking and thinking—something he always did when his thoughts wouldn’t settle.
Chopping, seasoning, stirring—it was the only therapy that ever worked.
By the time he finally paused, his fridge was practically empty and every counter was covered in dishes.
He looked around, let out a low whistle, and laughed.
“I think I made enough food to feed a damn army.”
With a grin, he rolled up his sleeves and started cleaning, humming to himself as the house filled with the warm, savory smell of roasted vegetables, seared steak, and garlic butter bread.
At 6:15, Jaxon began setting the dining room table for five. Just as he placed the last fork, he heard the crunch of gravel outside. He walked to the front door, heart beating a little faster than it should’ve.
Through the glass, he saw the familiar older man from Lotus Prime stepping out of the car, followed by a warm, smiling woman, Sara, and Jaqueline. He opened the door, extending his hand.
Before he could say a word, the man pulled him into a hug. “Son, you’re practically family. No need for a handshake. You can call me Charles.”
Jaxon chuckled, awkward but touched. “Thank you, sir. I wasn’t sure how this introduction would go.”
Charles clapped him on the shoulder. “We weren’t either, at first. But the more we learned, the more we realized... none of this is on you. You can’t blame a man for not showing up to something he didn’t know existed.”
Jaxon nodded, humbled. “Well... I’m here now. Y’all come on in.”
As they stepped inside, Charles took in the house with a slow nod of approval. “Now this is a home. Sturdy. Classic. Comfortable.”
“You have a lovely home, dear,” Linda added, her voice sweet and sincere.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Linda,” she corrected gently. “We don’t do ‘ma’am’ around here.”
Jaxon smiled. “Well then, Linda, you and Charles are welcome to look around. I’m sure Sara wouldn’t mind giving you the tour while I finish up.”
Sara rolled her eyes with a grin. “Can I show them the view?”
“The best part of the house,” he said with a wink. “Have at it.”
“Mom, Dad, Jaq—follow me.”
While they explored the upstairs, Jaxon transferred dish after dish from the oven and stovetop to the dining table, the spread slowly becoming a small feast. He stepped back, admired the work, and called them in.
As everyone took their seats, Linda reached for a cloth napkin and smiled wide. “Jaxon, your home is absolutely beautiful.”
“Took some work to get her back to this point,” he said, his voice proud. “But she’s worth it.”
“Sara told us the story,” Charles said, then paused. “She also told us about your bedroom.”
Jaxon nearly choked on his drink. “Oh no. Here we go.”
Sara shot him a death stare. “Don’t you dare.”
Charles laughed. “She said it’s her favorite spot. Something about how the sun hits the windows just right—”
“She’s exaggerating,” Sara cut in, cheeks flushing.
“Please, tell them the story,” Jaxon teased, already grinning.
Sara sighed, surrendering. ““Back when we were in town, Jaxon had to take a trip to Denver for work. Claire wanted to go and Jaxon got her a ticket. She was so excited that when she packed her suitcase, she also packed the keys to the beach house. Only to find them when they landed. Jaxon told me where the spare key was and let us stay here. Luckily, I had the car keys with me.”
“She said it was like a five-star Airbnb,” Charles said, laughing.
“Aunt Sara, you stayed here before?” Jaqueline piped up.
“Yes, baby. And Jaxon was nice enough to let us. Even though we kinda invited ourselves.”
“Wow. That was nice.”
Dinner continued with more laughter and easy conversation. The room buzzed with a warmth Jaxon hadn’t felt in a long time. He looked around, his heart full. This. This is what he’d always dreamed of—a table full of stories, laughter, and love.
As plates emptied, Charles leaned back in his chair. “Jaxon, that’s twice now you’ve treated me to one hell of a meal. Next time, I’m returning the favor.”
“I’m always ready for good food, sir.”
Sara chimed in. “Why don’t you take Mom and Dad out back to see the sound while I clean up?”
Jaxon nodded. “I’d be happy to.”
He led them through the kitchen and out the back door. With one flick of a switch, the soft glow of outdoor lighting illuminated the path to the deck and dining area. Linda gasped.
“Jaxon… my God. This view.”
“Wait until we get to the dock,” he said.
At the end of the dock, Sara and Jaqueline emerged from the house. As they joined the others, Sara looked around, eyes wide.
“When did you expand the dock? And get all these chairs?”
“Few months ago. I’ll explain later.”
Jaxon reached for a switch mounted to one of the dock posts. “You ready?”
The moment he flipped it, the outdoor lights shut off. Darkness fell—but not the kind that swallows you. The kind that reveals. The moonlight exploded across the sound, scattering across the water like glittering diamonds.
“Jaxon,” Linda whispered, breathless. “Just when I thought this couldn’t get any better.”
“You’re right,” Charles said, rubbing his hands together. “All that’s missing is a fire.”
With perfect timing, Jaxon hit the button on the gas fireplace built into the edge of the dock. A soft flame roared to life.
“Ask and you shall receive,” Charles muttered, clearly impressed.
“Jaxon,” Linda said with a playful smile, “if my husband weren’t right here, I’d ask to marry you myself.”
“Mom, please,” Sara groaned.
“Well, now I know where you get your sass,” Jaxon grinned.
They all laughed and settled in. Conversation drifted from memories to what the future might look like. Jaxon watched Jaqueline curl up next to Sara, her laughter mixing with the sound of the tide. It felt... right. Like all the broken pieces had been rearranged into something better than before.
Eventually, Charles stood. “We should probably head back. Still have a few things to pack.”
“When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
They made their way back to the cars, and Charles lingered as the others climbed in.
“It was good to finally meet you, Jaxon. After everything we’ve heard… it feels like we already knew you.”
“It was great meeting y’all too, sir. Can I ask something?”
“Shoot.”
“Do you know why Claire never told me?”
Charles looked away for a moment, then met Jaxon’s eyes.
“I wish I had an answer. At first, she was scared of how you’d react.
But later… I think it was guilt. The longer she waited, the heavier it got.
But I’ll tell you this—she never stopped loving you.
And you’re a good man, Jaxon. You’re going to be a damn good father.
Truth be told, I’d have been proud to call you my son-in-law instead of that jackass we got stuck with. ”
Jaxon laughed, surprised by the tears that suddenly burned the backs of his eyes.
“Thank you, sir.”
Charles patted his back. “We’ll see you soon, son. And next time, you’re not cooking.”
With one final wave, Jaxon stood alone in the driveway as their car disappeared into the night.
Only this time, the silence wasn’t lonely.
It was peaceful.
Home wasn’t just a house anymore.
It was a feeling. A flame. A family.
And he finally had one.