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IT WAS AFTER MIDNIGHT by the time Jesse took a beer out onto the deck of his home. He’d called Lexie three times already, and wasn’t surprised when she didn’t pick up. He probably wouldn’t pick up either, if the situation was reversed. He stared at her name on the display and wondered how things had gotten so out of control... how he could have messed up so badly with the one person he wanted more than any other. He tried once more, but there was no response. It was obvious he wasn’t going to get any farther tonight. He’d try again tomorrow.
* * *
JESSE WAS STILL IN bed when Luc padded into his bedroom the next morning.
“We could go out for pancakes,” Luc suggested hopefully, “since Maggie is still at her sister’s place.”
“Good idea, but after that I have to do a charter run at eleven o’clock. One of the pilots called in sick.” Jesse swung his feet out and dropped his head into his hands.
“I miss her, Dad.” Luc had crossed the room to stand beside him. “When I saw her last night I thought maybe she wasn’t mad at us anymore.” He watched his father for a reaction. “She was holding the keychain I made for her.”
“Really?” Jesse brushed the hair back from Luc’s eyes. “Well, it’s a fine key chain.” He paused to gather his thoughts. “Lexie and I had a bit of a misunderstanding last week and I think she came back last night so we could become friends again. But when she saw Sylvia kiss me – at least that’s what she thought she saw – it hurt her feelings and she left.”
“I think she was crying. Why don’t we go look for her, Dad? We could go to her house and tell her the truth. After pancakes.”
“I’m not sure if going to her house is such a good idea, but we could check with the fitness studio she goes to. I bet she’ll go there today, and it’s near the dock.”
“Okay.” Luc nodded confidently. “We’ll find her.”
* * *
JODI’S EYES WIDENED slightly when Jesse and Luc appeared in the reception area. She turned her attention to Luc. “I bet you’re Luc. Lexie has told me about you.”
The youngster grinned. “She’s my friend,” he said, edging toward the workout space. “Is she here?”
“I’m afraid not, but you’re welcome to look around if you like. Just don’t touch the equipment.”
“Okay.” Luc wandered off and Jodi watched him for a moment before turning to Jesse. “You’ve got your nerve coming here today,” she spit out, keeping her voice low. “What kind of a show was that you put on last night?”
Jesse held up a hand. “I know what you’re thinking –”
“No you don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t show up here, let alone bring your kid.” She’d been coming out from behind the counter as she spoke and now she prodded him in the chest with a forefinger. “She went to that auction last night to bid on you, and what do you do? Kiss your girlfriend in front of everyone.”
“I didn’t – wait a minute, did you say she came to bid on me?”
“You don’t need to look so happy about it. What kind of a creep are you, anyway?”
“Please,” he said, trying to speak calmly. “What’s your name? Jodi?”
She nodded.
“I’ve screwed this up so badly I don’t know where to begin to make it right, but I did not kiss Sylvia last night. I know it may have looked that way, but we are definitely not together.”
Jodi’s gaze wavered. “She’s really broken up, Jesse. She called me this morning and I don’t think I’ve ever heard her like that.”
“I’ve tried to call her a dozen times.” Jesse held up his cell phone. “But she won’t answer.”
“I know. She told me.”
“And now I have to fill in for one of the pilots so I’ll be gone for most of the day.” He searched her face. “Can you at least tell me if she’s in town?”
“I don’t know why I’m trusting you, but yes, she’s still here.” She grinned. “It’s probably that kid of yours.”
“Thank you Jodi. If you talk to her again, I’d appreciate it if you could tell her I’m busy today but I’ll call her tonight. Maybe she’ll answer then.”
She gave him a fierce look that didn’t fool him. “All right, but don’t hurt her again, or you’ll have to answer to me.”
Jesse pretended to shudder. “Yes, ma’am. Or should I say no ma’am, I wouldn’t dream of hurting her.”
“Okay, then. Now get out of here.”
* * *
“YOU’RE SURE YOU’LL be okay waiting here for me? It’s going to be a few hours, Bud.”
“I’m cool, Dad.” Luc pointed to his backpack. “I brought some games, and there’s always the aircraft to watch.”
“All right, then.” Jesse made eye contact with Dave in the office, who nodded his understanding. “See you later.”
* * *
“HI!”
Jodi looked up from the printout she’d been studying.
“It’s me.”
“What the...?”
“Down here.” Luc took a few steps back so Jodi could see him beyond the counter. “Fooled ya,” he said, his eyes sparkling.
“You certainly did.” She glanced around, but the child was definitely alone. “Where’s your sidekick?”
“He’s on a charter over to Powell River, so I thought I’d come and visit you.” He dug in his pocket for some coins. “I told Dave I was coming up here to buy a soda from your machine, but that’s not really true. I came to see you.”
Jodi held back a smile. “Are you hitting on me, young man?”
“Uh, no, but I was hoping I could borrow your phone.” He went up on his tiptoes and pointed to the cell phone on the desk. “That one.”
“Your Dad should buy you a phone of your own. I thought every kid had one these days.”
“I do,” he said amicably. “But I’d like to use yours. Please.”
“I don’t see why you... Oh, I get it. You want to phone Lexie and you think she’ll answer if she sees my name.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re a very sneaky young man.”
Luc’s poise cracked and he became a young boy again. “Please, Jodi. My Dad really likes her.”
“He has a strange way of showing it sometimes.”
Luc nodded. “He says he really messed up.”
“That’s true.” Jodi studied the boy’s face. “What are you going to say to her?”
He brightened. “It’s my birthday on Sunday and Dad says we can fly up to Arbutus Cove for lunch. I thought I’d invite Lexie to come.”
“You’re not just making this up?”
“No. I’m serious.” He pulled himself up proudly. “I’ll be nine.”
“Well, happy birthday Luc.” She shoved the phone across the counter.
* * *
LEXIE DIDN’T FEEL LIKE talking, but she couldn’t ignore her friend. “Hi Jodi.”
She heard fumbling on the other end. “What’s going on there?” she asked, trying not to sound cranky. She’d just fallen asleep after a long night.
“Lexie?”
She bolted upright in bed. “Luc?” She held the phone away, checked it, then brought it back to her ear. “What are you doing on Jodi’s phone?”
“I saw you last night,” he said, ignoring her question. “I was hiding on the stage.”
Lexie closed her eyes and fell back on the bed. Could this possibly get any worse?
“We miss you, Lexie. My Dad misses you.”
“He sure has a strange way of showing it.” What was she doing, discussing her broken heart with an eight-year-old? “Luc, I shouldn’t be talking to you about this.”
“But Dad says you don’t answer when he calls.”
He had a point.
“Lexie, that television lady isn’t my Dad’s girlfriend. He was really mad last night when she went on the stage. I was there, remember?”
“But... but I saw him kiss her.”
“He didn’t kiss her.” He lowered his voice. “He doesn’t know I heard, but I was hiding behind the big fern and I heard him say that if she ever tried something like that again, he’d make sure she lost her job.”
“He did?” Tears spilled out of Lexie’s eyes.
“Are you crying?”
“Yes, but because I’m happy. Thank you for calling to tell me, Luc.”
“Wait! I also called to ask you to come to my birthday party.”
“Your birthday party?”
“Yes. On Sunday, up at the diner. Dad asked me what I wanted to do, and I said have lunch at the diner. Can you come?”
“Yes, Luc. I’d be very happy to come.”
“Can it be our secret?” he said. “I’d like to surprise my Dad.”
