25
Jason allowed himself a brief moment of happiness as he walked back from the east pasture of the North farm—correction, soon to be his farm—and let the pride of ownership color his view of the land. The lush greenery, waving fields of wheat, and rich black earth provided a great backdrop. It reminded him of a landscape painting, except that he could smell the mixture of manure and earth in the air, feel the warm breeze in his hair, and the soft give of the dirt beneath his boots. He allowed his mind to wander for a minute, daydreaming of what else he could do with all this land besides giving a portion to the city for a fire station, which wouldn’t happen until he’d paid off the loan on the property.
Maybe he would run a small farm here as well. He could continue to grow the crops Charlie had started. Maybe plant a large vegetable garden. Keep up the chicken coop. A smile teased his lips at the prospect until he turned to look at the now-repaired homestead. The reality of just who he’d be coming home to each night slammed into his brain with the force of a fireman’s axe.
How could he face sleeping in the same bed as Gloria every night, having to make love to her, when he’d only be thinking of Maxi? The air squeezed out of his lungs, making it difficult to draw a breath. He shoved his fists into his pockets. He couldn’t think about that right now or he’d go crazy.
The sound of tires crunching over the gravel in the driveway filled the air. Who would be coming out here? The real estate agent? A hand over his eyes shaded the blinding sun, allowing him to make out the beat up Oldsmobile slowly approaching the house. He didn’t recognize the car. Curious, Jason walked toward it. He reached the steps to the porch as the car door opened. His father stepped out.
Jason’s stomach muscles tightened. He hadn’t seen Clint since the day at this hotel room, and he still wasn’t sure how he felt about him. The whole ordeal with Gloria had side railed his thought process.
Clint took some tentative steps toward him. “Hello, son.”
Jason dipped his head in silent greeting.
“Hope I’m not disturbing you. Peg said I could find you here.”
Jason thought about telling him to leave, that he was too busy right now. But he knew it would be putting off the inevitable. Might as well hear him out and gauge his emotions as he went. At least now he didn’t want to kill Clint the moment he saw him. It was progress of some sort.
“I can spare a few minutes. Come on up.”
Jason mounted the stairs to the porch and motioned to the wooden chairs. Clint seemed to hesitate as if he shouldn’t be there.
“Isn’t this the old North property?”
“Not for long. I signed the contract to purchase, and Mrs. North accepted it today.”
Clint’s eyebrows winged upward. “You’re buying this whole place?” His hand swept out gesturing toward the fields beyond.
“Yup. I hope to offer some of the land to the city—if they’ll agree to build a fire station on it.”
“A fire station?” Clint lowered himself slowly into the chair and smoothed out the creases in his slacks.
Jason braced himself for criticism.
Instead, approval glowed on Clint’s face. “That’s a mighty fine idea. God knows Rainbow Falls needs one.” He paused. “How are you going to manage all this?”
“I don’t have all the details yet. But the fire chief is helping me drum up funding and support. Have to wait and see how it all plays out.” Jason gave a rueful grin. “I’m also thinking about learning to be a farmer.”
Clint whistled. “You got gumption, boy. I don’t think I’d have the nerve.”
The note of pride in Clint’s voice gave Jason a warm feeling in his chest. He glanced over at his father. Clint had cleaned up quite well. Despite living in the fleabag motel, his hair was tidy, his moustache neatly trimmed. His clothes, though probably secondhand, were clean and pressed. “What are you doing for work?”
Clint looked out over the railing. “Mostly odd jobs for cash. Not too many places willing to hire an ex-con.”
Jason nodded, staring out over the acreage. “I can ask around and see if there are any handyman jobs or cleaning needed at the fire hall or the church. Can’t promise anything though.” He didn’t know where this offer had come from but found himself wanting to help his father. If Jason got him some legitimate work, it might help him get something better in the future.
“You’d be willing to recommend me?” The naked hope on Clint’s face made Jason cringe.
“Yeah, I could do that.” He paused. “If you’re willing to stick around a while.”
Clint bent over his knees with his arms resting on his legs and twisted his hands together. When he spoke, his voice was gruff. “I didn’t think you’d want me in Rainbow Falls. I planned on seeing you and then moving on somewhere else.” He glanced over at Jason. “You wouldn’t mind me living here? Working here?”
Jason pondered his question for a minute but knew in his heart what felt right. “I’d like you to stay. To see what kind of relationship we can figure out. I haven’t had a father most of my life. I used to hate you for that.” He swallowed hard. “But I’ve realized in recent days that everyone makes mistakes. I hope someday I’ll be forgiven for mine. The least I can do is try to forgive you yours.”
Clint swiped a hand over his eyes. “You’ll never know how much that means to me, son.”
Jason fiddled with the keys in his pocket. “Now that I’m going to be a father, it’s changed my perspective on things.”
“A father? You’re kidding. With that cute little red head?”
A spasm of pain hit Jason in the stomach. How he wished it were he and Maxi, married and having this baby. “No, another girl.” He took a deep breath. “I hope you’ll come to the wedding. It’s going to be a simple ceremony in the next week or two.”
Clint didn’t reply, and when Jason turned to see why not, his father’s stare bored right through him. “You don’t love this girl, do you? You got her pregnant, and now you feel you have to marry her.”
A flash of the old anger rose in Jason’s chest. “It doesn’t matter how it happened. My child will have a real family. He won’t be a burden on his single mother, with no male role model in his life. If it kills me, I’ll give him a normal family.”
A mixture of sadness and what seemed like chagrin crossed Clint’s face. “I know you’re trying to do the right thing, son. And I admire you for that.” He reached over and patted Jason’s knee. “Whatever you decide, I’m happy to be part of your life. It’s more than I deserve or expected.”
Jason cleared the blockage in his throat. Every time he wanted to be mad at his father, Clint came up with the words to make him stop in his tracks.
Clint stood, stretched his back and smiled down at Jason. “I only hope I can make up for being a lousy father by being a terrific grandfather.”
****
Maxi sat in the late afternoon shadows on the Johnson’s wrap-around porch, partially obscured by the draping foliage of a large weeping willow.
The Johnson home had always been the envy of most of the town’s residents. The stately structure reflected the prestige and position of the bank manager. Maxi remembered the late Mrs. Johnson had enjoyed playing hostess for many social functions at the estate while she was still alive, functions that Maxi and her family had never been invited to attend.
Now as she waited for Gloria, Maxi wondered what it would’ve been like to grow up in this beautiful house, pampered by two adoring parents, given everything she’d ever wanted, instead of living on a farm, largely ignored by her father and tormented by three brothers. Was it any wonder Gloria felt entitled to receive her heart’s desire when she’d been given it her whole life?
Maxi rose from the white wicker chair, setting her jaw to remind herself what she was here for. She looked at her watch, then wiped her moist palms on her brown suede pants. She hadn’t changed out of her best suit, vowing for once not to be intimidated by Gloria’s wealth and air of superiority. She didn’t expect Gloria to roll over and give Jason up. That was never going to happen. But Gloria’s actions would reap some negative consequences, even if it only meant she’d find herself on the receiving end of Maxi’s sharp tongue.
Just as Sierra had been today.
Maxi smiled to herself, recalling the brief moment of satisfaction when, intimidated by the presence of the lawyer Maxi had brought along, Sierra had been forced to admit she’d ”mistakenly” included Maxi’s pictures in her portfolio. The disapproval on Philippe’s face had not matched his calm tone when he apologized to Maxi for the confusion and requested to speak to Sierra in private. Maxi wished she could’ve eavesdropped on that conversation.
She pulled out her cell phone to check for messages, hoping Philippe had come to a decision by now, but no messages appeared. Returning her phone to her purse, Maxi resumed her seat in the shadows of the porch. No matter what action Philippe now decided to take, at least she’d stood up for herself and hadn’t allowed Sierra to get away with the fraud she’d intended.
Maxi drew in a deep breath, focusing her thoughts on another, more personal fraud she needed to deal with.
Fifteen more minutes passed, and she was about to give up her vigil when Gloria’s BMW finally pulled into the long driveway. She screeched to a halt and got out with a swing of her long, blonde hair. Humming off-key, Gloria grabbed her purse and bags from the backseat and practically skipped up the stairs to the front door, her yellow skirt blowing out behind her. Maxi waited, motionless, while the woman fumbled with her keys to unlock the ornate front door. When Gloria bent to retrieve her packages, Maxi rose on silent feet, stuck her hands into her pockets, and stepped out of the shadows.
“Hello, Gloria.”
The other woman gave a squawk of surprise and dropped one of her shopping bags. Her startled expression twisted into one of extreme displeasure. “You’re trespassing on private property.”
Maxi chose to ignore the remark. “I have a few things I need to say to you. I’d appreciate five minutes of your time.” How did she manage to sound so civilized when her insides rolled with a mixture of nerves and anger?
Gloria stepped away from the door and set the rest of her belongings on one of the wicker chairs. She straightened and crossed her arms over her chest. “I take it you’re not here to congratulate me.”
“Not quite.”
“I didn’t think so. Jason and I are expecting a baby and getting married in less than two weeks’ time. Nothing you do can change that, so go ahead. Say what you have to.”
Maxi’s stomach clenched as though someone had punched her. Hearing Gloria say it out loud felt like someone had rubbed vinegar into the raw wound of Maxi’s heart. She took a deep breath and blew it out. “You’ve always been a bully, Gloria. All through high school, I suffered through your cruel jokes, your lies, and harassment. I guess I was as much to blame for keeping the game going. Until you did the meanest thing of all.” Maxi’s voice cracked. She stopped to shore her courage again. She would not break down in front of Gloria, no matter what it took.
Gloria at least had the grace to look embarrassed.
“Your article in the school newspaper was unforgivable. At the time, I was too grief stricken to do anything about it. Maybe I even believed it somewhere deep down. It’s taken me years to forgive myself for that night, and now that I have, I want to tell you what a lowlife you were to print those lies about my brother’s death.”
Maxi had the brief satisfaction to watch Gloria pale beneath her fake tan.
“Is this all you want to do? Dredge up the past? I haven’t got time for this.” She made a move to open the door.
Maxi stepped in front of her, blocking her way.
“I’m not finished yet.” She met Gloria’s furious glare with a steely gaze of her own. “All those so called ‘pranks’ pale in comparison to what you’re doing now to Jason.”
Gloria’s mouth fell open. “What I’m doing to him? He got me pregnant, and somehow I’m the villain?”
She was a good actress, Maxi had to give her that. Playing the outraged victim to the hilt. “You can drop the act with me. You may have Jason fooled, but I’d bet my entire savings account you’re not pregnant at all. Or if you are, it’s not Jason’s baby.”
Fear leapt into the other woman’s eyes. “You can’t prove any of that,” Gloria sputtered. She pushed Maxi aside and went to grasp the door handle.
“You’re right. I can’t prove anything. That doesn’t change the truth though. And the truth will come out eventually. It always does. I just hope you care enough about Jason not to ruin his life in the process.”
For a moment, Maxi let herself feel the rage she’d kept under such tight control. She grabbed Gloria by the upper arm and jerked her around. “I’ll be watching you. And if you hurt Jason, you’ll regret it. That’s a promise.”
They stood nose-to-nose, anger and hatred mixing in the air between them. Maxi fought the urge to smack the lipstick off Gloria’s smug lips. In an effort to regain control, she took one long step back.
“What’s going on here?”
The loud masculine voice made her jump. Jason stood at the foot of the stairs, a thunderous expression darkening his face. How had she not noticed him arriving? Heat rushed into Maxi’s cheeks, blood pounding in her ears. She wished the floorboards on the porch would part and swallow her. She hadn’t wanted Jason to know she was back in town, let alone overhear part of her conversation with Gloria. Retreat became her only option. With one quick motion, she jumped off the porch to the grass below.
“Ask her.” She jerked her head in Gloria’s direction. “I’m sure she’d be more than happy to tell you all about it.”
In two strides, Jason caught up to Maxi and grabbed her arm, halting her departure. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in New York.”
She could smell the fresh scent of his soap, feel the warmth of his breath on her face. She struggled to maintain her composure and not throw herself into his arms. “I finished sooner than I expected and came back to help Mama finalize the sale of the house.” An evil urge took hold. “Tell me, does your future wife know she’ll be living on my farm?”
The shocked expression on his face told her exactly what she needed to know.
He ignored the question as she guessed he would. “Stay out of this, Max. It doesn’t concern you.”
The harshness of his tone tore a strip off her already bleeding heart. “You’re right. I am so done with this whole situation. You can save yourself a stamp, and don’t bother mailing me an invitation to the wedding.”
She ripped her arm out of his grasp and took off at a run.