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Amy knew he was back when his car disappeared from the driveway one morning. The long holiday weekend was over, and life had returned to normal. Or not exactly normal, since she hadn’t spoken to Jason in over a week, ever since she’d stormed out of his house Sunday morning.
Or maybe life was back to the “Pre-Jason” normal. It’s not like she’d spoken to him much at all when he’d first moved here. A wave hello here, a ‘good morning’ there. She could go back to that someday.
Maybe.
The snow had long since melted, and the kids had been bouncing off the walls on their first day back at school. So was she, truth be told. She felt anxious and antsy now that she knew Jason was back in town, and she was certain that she was bound to run into him at some point.
What was she supposed to say?
The hurt and regret she was feeling made just the idea of seeing him unbearable right now.
Amy turned her attention back to the classroom, saying goodbye to the students as the last parents and caregivers trickled in to pick them up. She had a lot to catch up on after the Thanksgiving holiday but was hoping she’d be able to get in a late afternoon run before heading home.
Her mind drifted, thinking ahead to the next few weeks. Before she knew it, Christmas would be here. Although the girls had gone out the morning after Thanksgiving, the malls had been so crowded, they’d shopped for only an hour or so before retreating to the safe haven of a restaurant for lunch.
Kara was excited for her twins first Christmas, and Beth was on cloud nine for the first Christmas she and Nick would have together in her condo. Amy and Melissa were the only ones not bursting with excitement. It would be nice to have someone to spend Christmas with, but for the first time in years, Amy would be alone.
Of course she’d go home to her parents’ house in Maryland, so it’s not like she’d truly be alone. Hopefully her sister would be there as well, but Amy never knew what her sister’s schedule would be like while she was completing her residency.
Amy changed into her running gear before heading out from school, slipping on a warm fleece over her tee shirt and pulling on a fleece headband and gloves. Carrying everything out to her SUV, she climbed in and drove over to the parking lot she preferred to use for running on the trails.
It was amazing how much the landscape had changed in just a few short weeks. The leaves had all fallen off the trees, the cold air had the smoky scent of winter to it, and even the sky was gloomy and gray as if announcing that winter was indeed here.
Although she didn’t particularly care for cold weather, she didn’t mind running in it. Running was a distraction and a way to clear her head of everything else. Nothing else mattered as she pounded on the trail through the forest.
Nothing and no one.
She smirked, realizing the last time she’d come here she was upset about Ben. How silly that seemed now. If Jason had done one thing for her, it was to help her finally get over her ex.
Now if only she could find a way to get over Jason as well.
***
Jason pulled his son’s suitcase from the trunk of the car the following weekend. The little boy stood beside him, glancing around and looking both excited and nervous at the same time. Although Jason’s enjoyment of Thanksgiving weekend had not been without a dark cloud hanging over him due to the way things had ended with Amy, his actual visit to California had gone off without a hitch.
He’d gotten to see his parents and brother, he and Kristin had finally reached a custody agreement without needing a court hearing, and perhaps best of all, she’d agreed to let Brian spend the two weeks before Christmas with him. He’d had to make arrangements at work to rearrange his shift, but it was all well worth it to spend quality time with his son. Now here they were, a week later, standing in his driveway together.
They’d always bonded when he’d gone out to visit, partly because he’d travelled to be with Brian so much. He’d also been lucky in that his and Kristin’s wasn’t a bitter divorce. She’d always allowed him access to Brian, even when she maintained full custody, and Brian had grown up knowing as much as he could of his father, even though Jason had been stationed on the other side of the world.
He still hadn’t seen Amy since he’d returned, and he hadn’t figured out the right way to smooth things over. Now that his son was visiting it would be even more awkward to go over there. He would’ve loved for Amy to meet Brian, but now certainly wasn’t the right time.
Not when she was still upset with him.
And hell, he still hadn’t even gotten to take her out on a proper date. No wonder she thought he was a first-class jerk. He hadn’t told her about Brian. He’d slept with her and then made her feel like he wasn’t interested in anything more by leaving town almost immediately after. By offhandedly saying she was a distraction.
He still felt crushed every time he pictured her face before she’d run out the door—the hurt and sadness had been unmistakable.
“Are you sure this is Virginia?” Brian asked, glancing up at him questioningly.
Jason laughed as he looked down at him. “Of course I’m sure. What makes you ask that?”
“Well, it doesn’t look any different from California.”
“Maybe not,” Jason agreed. “What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know. Maybe some different trees and grass.”
“Different trees and grass,” Jason chuckled. “These do look pretty much the same,” he said, glancing around. He noticed Amy’s car was gone from the driveway and wondered if she was out running errands this morning. The last Saturday he’d been in town, Amy had come over to see the painting and spent the night in his bed.
In a single moment, he’d managed to screw things up so badly she wanted nothing to do with him. Now there was a definite possibility that he’d run into her since he’d likely be in and out all day with Brian. He was nervous to see her again, not knowing how she’d react.
Jason had gotten up early this morning to drive to Reagan National Airport to pick up Brian. Jason’s brother had been home on leave over Thanksgiving and was able to accompany Brian on the cross-country flight. It had been good to both pick up Brian and give his brother one last goodbye before he returned to duty. R&R was never long enough, but it had been nice that his brother had been able to make it all the way home this year.
“What do you say we head inside? I’ll show you the tent I set up for us to camp out in the living room.”
“With sleeping bags?” Brian asked excitedly.
“Yes, two sleeping bags. One for me, and one for you, buddy. Next time I’ll have a bed set up for you—promise.”
“No, sleeping bags are better!”
“High five?” Jason asked.
“High five!” Brian shouted, jumping up in the air.
At that exact moment, Amy’s SUV came driving down the street. Jason cringed slightly at the bad timing. She’d obviously seen him standing in the driveway with Brian, and now here he was just staring at her.
He felt a slight twisting in his gut as he caught a glimpse of her behind the wheel. This wasn’t the right time for him to rush over there and convince her they needed to talk. It would be rude of him to not at least wave hello though. As her car approached, he raised a hand and waved. It was a friendly, neighborly gesture, if not exactly the way you’d want to greet the woman you’d just slept with.
The woman who’d stormed off in tears.
Hell, maybe he should’ve sent her flowers and written a note of apology. Tried harder to get her to talk to him.
But now?
He was standing here with his son, left to do nothing but watch her return home.
Her car pulled into her driveway and she stepped out, wearing those running tights again and a fleece jacket.
“Who’s that?” Brian asked. “Do you know her?”
Jason realized he was still staring, and Amy glanced over in their direction, her brown ponytail bobbing with the turn of her head. She had dark sunglasses on, so Jason couldn’t see her eyes, and her mouth was set in a tight line. She nodded ever so slightly at him as she went to the back of her SUV to retrieve her grocery bags from the trunk. If she hadn’t needed to walk in that direction, Jason had a feeling she wouldn’t have even acknowledged him at all. Not that he deserved any different.
“Why didn’t she say anything? I saw her looking at us.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said, putting a hand on Brian’s back to guide him inside.
“Why?”
“It’s just grown-up stuff.”
“Like what?”
“She’s mad at me right now. Now come on.”
“Are you mad at my Dad?” Brian shouted across the street.
“Brian,” he said firmly, giving him a stern look.
Amy looked back at them, startled, her rosy lips forming a perfect “o.” Jason felt his chest clench as he looked at her. Hell, he wanted nothing more to go over and take her into his arms. Beg her to forgive him. Apologize for making her feel the way he had.
Now wasn’t the time for any of that though.
“Sorry,” Jason called over, his voice gruff. He was still holding Brian’s suitcase, and Amy had two bags of groceries in her arms. He knew Amy wouldn’t yell or get mad at him in front of his child, but this wasn’t exactly the way he planned to smooth things over.
He needed to look into her eyes and apologize, not call out from across the street.
“I have to put my groceries away,” she said, her voice halting. She bit her lip and turned, walking quickly toward her front door.
Jason felt his heart breaking all over again. “Let’s go inside, buddy,” he said, looking down at Brian.
“I don’t think she likes you,” he said in his little four-year-old voice.
“You know what? I think you’re right. I made a mistake and need to apologize. But right now, we’ve got to get you settled in.”
He led Brian toward his front door, grumbling under his breath. Amazing how he could be elated to finally have his son here and so damn sad at the same time.
