MORGAN FLEW OUT of the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport at five that morning. He could have taken a later flight, but he was eager to get to Dustin for their overnight visit. He wasn’t sure when he’d be able to see his son again and wanted as much time with him as possible.
Morgan’s back ached from being on the plane for over three and a half hours. He would have slept if he could, but a single mother of three had taken the same flight and little children don’t do well on planes, at least not the ones on which he was a passenger. Of course, he didn’t do well on planes either. He much preferred his truck and a road trip as opposed to being cooped up with a bunch of strangers who wanted to be nice and make small talk. He hated small talk. The only plus side to a plane trip was the female passengers, if he was able to get near one, that is. This trip, luck had been against him and he had to sit next to an obese man who didn’t believe in deodorant. Or soap.
At 9:30, the cab dropped him off at his apartment and he was breathing in the familiar scent of home. Dropping his briefcase on the counter along with his keys, he walked to the back porch. It was his favorite part of his apartment, overlooking a man-made lake, the reason his rent was a little higher than the people on the other side of the building. He had two hours until he was to pick up Dustin. Stepping back into his apartment, he pulled a Rocky Patel from the humidor on his coffee table and returned to a small recliner on the porch. With a cut and a strike of a match, he was pulling in the calming smoke, relaxation soothing his sore muscles. Blowing the smoke out between his lips was like releasing the tension of the past week and preparing him for what was to come.
He was looking forward to spending some time with his son before he had to get things ready for the move to Biloxi. Dustin truly was the bright spot in his life. What he wasn’t looking forward to was talking to Jeannie. His ex-wife never made it easy to discuss things and his temporary move was going to be a big discussion. He wished that Jeannie was as easygoing as his first wife, Melissa. Melissa was as wild as he was. His only mistake there was being wild without her. She didn’t care if they slept with other people. She just wanted to know about it. Jeannie cared, which was funny considering she was the one he had been secretive with behind Melissa’s back. Jeannie knew how fast his pants came off from experience and, in his mind, she shouldn’t have married him if she couldn’t handle it. Two years after the birth of Dustin, she had caught him sleeping with one of the girls in the Orlando office and had quickly made her move to jump ship—with all of his possessions.
And his son.
He didn’t really care about losing Jeannie. The sex had been hot as hell, but that’s all they had between them. While the sparks flew every time they ground against each other, they had no real connection, no depth in the relationship. Until Dustin was born, that is. He had only married her because of Dustin, truth be told, and was actually surprised it lasted the three years it did. It was his son he cared about losing and Jeannie used that against him every chance she could. Where Melissa walked out quietly, only taking out of the marriage what she had brought to it, Jeannie went out like a hurricane, leaving massive destruction in her wake. She had even tried to sue Rutherford Construction for ruining her family by having slutty secretaries. Neal’s lawyers joined Morgan’s and together they made Jeannie see how ridiculous she was being, as well as offered her a nice piece of change to stop her rampage. In the end, Morgan retained every other weekend and alternating holidays due to his traveling schedule. He could live with that. While Jeannie was a bitch toward him, she was a decent mother, and Morgan knew his job forced him to be on the road too much to bring stability to Dustin’s life without her. While that wasn’t something Morgan liked to admit, it was still the sad truth.
Jeannie had tried her best to make life as complicated as hell for him that first year, running her mouth off to their friends and family, not being where she was supposed to be when it was time for him to pick up Dustin, and then not dropping their son off on time when it was her turn to switch. Eventually, she calmed down, but not by much.
He sighed as he watched a mallard float across the top of the lake. He really hated talking to Jeannie. He took another deep pull from his cigar.
His mind needed a change of subject, he decided, sliding his cell phone from its clip at his waist. He searched his contacts for the number he needed and pressed the call button. While he promised Jacqui that he wasn’t going to hire from outside the area, he still needed help getting his office set up according to Rutherford’s specs and he knew the perfect person for the job—if she would agree to it, that is.
“Morgan? I’d ask if you missed me, but it’s only been a week and you calling me on a Saturday cannot be good.” Faith Greer’s voice sounded happy, which was good considering everything she had been through lately. He could hear music and laughter in the background.
“Hey, Faith. How’s it going in Melbourne?”
“Not bad. Jed is settling into Edwin’s spot pretty well. He’s hired a new girl to replace Nessa as temporary help and moved Nessa up to my spot. He fired Grady, thank god.” Grady Parish was a waste of payroll, but Edwin Coldwell had kept him around for the dirty jobs that no one wanted. Jed, Edwin’s replacement, must not have wanted the convenience. Morgan was glad to hear it.
“How’s your family? Things settling down there?”
“Cherish has been MIA since I returned. Glen left her, as you know. Selby and I are doing well. It’s been a great week of reconnecting after all the chaos.” The chaos was Edwin Coldwell sleeping with both sisters, who also happened to be his employees, and causing all kinds of company drama in the process. Luckily, the Brevard office was strong enough to handle the turmoil without missing a beat. Morgan knew that had been because of Jed and Faith. Morgan was sad to hear about Cherish, but, as he knew from experience, it was the chance you took when you slept somewhere other than your own bed.
“Good. Glad to hear things are going well. You deserve it.”
“Thanks. How are things in Biloxi?”
He gave her a rundown of how things were going and how he had gambled on not bringing in Rutherford’s own people. “And that is why I’m calling.”
“I figured it wasn’t just a social call.”
“I need your help. Now, before you say no right off the bat, hear me out. I know you said you didn’t want to travel after all of that mess, but it won’t be long. I promise. Three days. Tops. I’ll fly you in on a Tuesday night and send you back home Friday morning. I really need your help. The girl I hired doesn’t seem strong enough to set up an office and you did a great job in Tampa. I’ll make it worth your while. Promise.”
“I remembered how you made it worth my while last time,” she laughed.
He found himself grinning. “Well, that can always be on the table if you want, but I meant paycheck-wise.” Edwin had told Morgan that Faith liked to be controlled and while they were in Tampa together Morgan could have his way with her. Sadly, their evening had been interrupted by Selby, Faith’s husband, calling to check in on her, but it was a good beginning. He hoped he’d get a second chance to finish their little tryst.
“Not sure I’ve done it on a table, yet. Might be fun. But no, I’m quite focused on what is happening here at home right now.”
“Then extra pay and a bonus. Faith, I really need your help. It won’t be for a couple of weeks, yet. I still have to hire a few more people and remodel the office.”
Silence for a moment filled the distance between them. While Faith had been caught up in Edwin’s stupid game, she was still one of the best employees Rutherford Construction had. Morgan could see her replacing Barbie for Neal one day.
“I’ll talk to Selby and call you later. No promises, though. And I don’t want this to be a permanent thing.”
“I’ll do my best.” He smiled. It wasn’t going to be him that tried to get her to make it a permanent thing. It would be Neal. “And thanks.”
“No problem. Talk to you later.”
He closed his phone and stared out at the lake as a tendril of smoke from his cigar curled its way to the railing. Now, he needed to decide what to take back to Biloxi? Three months was not exactly an overnight trip. He was going to need boxes. And tape. And… And I really don’t want to move.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Why don’t we eat out on the back porch? It’s gorgeous out and I’m tired of being cooped up inside.” Bert sat in his wheelchair at the kitchen table as Jacqui chopped up green peppers for their salad. Sophia visited family and did personal things on Saturdays and Sundays, which gave Jacqui a chance to spend time with her father. At least, that was the goal. It didn’t always work out that way, though. Work kept her busy far more than she wanted, but it was necessary. There were people hurting. She didn’t want them to suffer simply because she took time off. Enough suffering had been caused because she had enjoyed herself too much.
She didn’t even glance at the back porch. “How about the front yard? We can make a picnic on the lawn. You’re right; it is a lovely day out.”
“Front lawn? Why the hell would I want to sit on the front lawn? The back porch has tables, a view of the water, no nosy neighbors asking what I’m eating and making redundant statements like ‘Having a picnic on the front lawn, huh?’” She heard him shifting in his chair. “Jacqui, there is nothing wrong with the back porch.”
She smiled up at him, the smile forced and strained. “I didn’t say there was. I just don’t want to sit out there.”
He stared at her with narrowed eyes and a frown. She had to look away. She knew what he was thinking. The conversation had become a common one. Yet, it was not going to change anything. “Jacqui, sweetheart, it’s been over two years. If you aren’t going to use half the house, why keep the damn thing? I sit out there all the time. The breeze is great, and the sun would be good for you.”
She slammed down on the vegetables, slicing them with hard, sharp strokes. “Because it’s my house and I don’t have to use parts of it, if I choose not to.” She dumped the chunks of green peppers along with the vegetables into a large white bowl on top of the romaine lettuce and spinach. “So, front lawn or the table. Which is it?”
“I’m not sitting on the front lawn like some idiot. Why are we eating here anyway? You don’t cook.”
“I can make sandwiches.” It’s about all she could make. She hadn’t cooked since she had been married and even then she burnt most of what her hands touched.
“But I look forward to going out to eat. Sophia never takes me out. Let’s go eat at that burger joint out by Ten.”
“I have work to do. We’re eating here. Now, where do you want to eat?”
“You’re as bad as Sophia.” He turned and started rolling himself into the hallway. “I’ll just eat in my bedroom, or rather, my prison.”
“Dad, don’t be like…”
He didn’t stop. She watched as his back disappeared around the corner. Leaning on the counter, her hands holding her up, she let out a heavy sigh. He had a right to be pissy. He was cooped up way too much, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it at the moment. The community center was taking up quite a bit of her time and she was sure after watching who Morgan Brewer hired yesterday that she was going to have to keep a close eye on the man.
Letting out a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves, she glanced up at the wooden French doors that led out to the back porch. Her father was right, it was a beautiful day outside and it would be great to sit out there and enjoy their lunch. Two years, Jacqui. It’s been over two years. She left her spot at the counter and walked around to the back doors, glancing out at the porch she hadn’t stepped foot on in over two years. The afternoon sun beat down on the concrete as a slight breeze rustled the oaks that surrounded the west side of her home. To the right of her back doors was a vine-covered wooden canopy with a hammock beneath it. On two sides, the walls they had made out of rustic stucco protected the hammock from outside weather as well as prying eyes. The pool sat in the middle of the porch, eight feet at its deepest end, with succulents and palm fronds surrounding it and a giant waterfall under a gas fireplace to the west of the pool. To the left, was a giant grill and kitchen area with refrigerator, sinks, and a bar fully equipped with a television for important games. Tables large enough to sit ten people rested to the west of the bar area with a staircase leading down to the backyard and the boat dock along the Bayou Laporte. It had taken them half a year to get it the way they wanted it, but in the end, the back porch area was their sanctuary, and they were always entertaining friends and family. Yet, like the master bedroom, it had become a place of ghosts she was not ready to face.
Yet, her father had been right. Two years was a long time to avoid her memories. She glanced down at the doorknob, reaching out, gripping it with determination. She slowly turned the brass knob.
“Mommy, Daddy says he’s ready for the pork chops.” A four-year-old Maggie ran up to Jacqui as she sat on the edge of the pool. “Is that what they make chopsticks out of?”
Jacqui laughed as she tousled her daughter’s sandy hair. “I hope not. We’d get splinters in our teeth if we tried to eat them. Go tell your daddy I’ll get them and tell him Mommy is in need of one of his famous drinks.”
“Can I have one too?”
“Of course. Tell Daddy you deserve a Shirley Temple for being such a good messenger.”
“Yay!” Jacqui watched as Maggie ran off towards her father, her tiny four-year-old legs pumping fast on the concrete. Jacqui knew she should yell at her daughter not to run, but she was smiling too much to say anything.
With a push, she lifted herself off the side of the pool, grabbing the towel behind her to dry off her legs before going inside. The July sun beat down on her as a steady wind blew in off the Bayou Laporte. She heard the sound of a small speedboat as it coasted along the water on its way to Mullet Lake and then probably out to the Back Bay of Biloxi. She didn’t blame them. It was a beautiful day to be on the water.
She retrieved the bowl of pork chops marinated in some Jack Daniels sauce from the fridge and carried them to the kitchen area out back. She glanced over at her father and mother playing a card game with Maggie at the giant table. She couldn’t help but smile. This was life. Relaxing and enjoying the day with those you love.
“And just what is that silly grin for?” Marc took the bowl of meat from her hand as with his other he handed her a fruity mixed drink. His emerald eyes sparkled with playfulness as he set the bowl on the beige marble counter.
She walked up behind him, setting her drink on the counter as she passed, and wrapped her arms around his waist. As she laid her head against his back, squeezing him tight, she said, “Just that I never want this to change. I love our life. It’s perfect.”
Marc turned, wrapping his arms around her. She always felt safe in his arms, like nothing could ever go wrong. He kissed her forehead, his lips soft, warm. “I couldn’t agree more, sweetness. I love our times on this porch more than anything.”
She leaned back, gazing up into his eyes, a smirk on her face. “Even with my father here?”
He laughed. “Well, Maggie keeps him well entertained, so it’s not too bad.”
“Good.” She looked up into his smiling face, his dark bangs falling across his eyes slightly. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers as she squeezed him tighter.
Jacqui released the doorknob, a catch in her throat as a lonely tear fell from her lost eyes. No, two years had not been long enough, not with so many memories haunting the porch.