Chapter 14

His mind was reeling.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

That had never happened before; even with his ex-wife, he’d worn condoms even after she assured him she was on the pill. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he always wondered if she would try to trap him even further into her web by getting herself pregnant. But with Jamie Lynn, he hadn’t even thought of it. He had wanted to press his body on top of hers so badly. Show her he was safe. That she was safe with him, that it had slipped his mind. Now he was freaking the hell out. Not the thought of having a baby with Jamie Lynn…well, that made him a bit anxious, naturally, but more because she was so wary as it was, that she’d surely use this to push him completely away.

He knocked on the bathroom door before opening it to find her sitting on the edge of the tub, her head on her palms slightly rocking back and forth. When he got closer she looked at him, her eyes rimmed with tears.

“Come here,” he said as he lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the room. “Let’s talk about this. I’m so sorry I didn’t—”

“I’m a big girl. It was my responsibility too. It takes two and all that shit, right. Shoulda realized—”

“Shh, baby. Calm down,” he said as he kissed her forehead. “Let’s get one thing out of the way. I’m clean. I get tested at the Academy.”

“I’m clean too. I haven’t been with anyone in over a year and I got tested after that.”

“Okay, that’s good,” he said as he caressed her hair. “Listen, if you’re pregnant you’re pregnant, okay? I’m here. We’ll deal. We’re not teenagers. We’re employed adults in a relationship. You told me you wanted kids and I did too. This may not be ideal, but it’s not going to break us.” He wasn’t sure what else to say. “Okay?”

If there were ever words to soothe a fucked-up situation, those were it, she thought. “Yeah, okay.” She sucked in a breath to calm her nerves.

After a few moments of silence, she murmured, “Enzo, that was amazing. If it weren’t for the scare we’re about to go through for the next few weeks, I’d say that it couldn’t have been better.”

He pulled back so that she could see his face. He wanted to say that it was perfect even with the lack of condom, but instead he kissed her cheeks and nose and then brushed her hair until they both fell asleep.

The next morning, JL sat on the bathroom counter, her legs swinging, while she watched him shave. “I was wondering. Do you use a measuring tape to make sure the sideburns are perfectly even?” Other than those four days when he didn’t shave, she’d never seen him in the last year with a nick, a missed hair, a five o’clock shadow. This morning he was perfection with his parted thick black hair and perfectly smooth face.

“I remember the first time I asked you out, you looked at my face and hair and called me stuffy and boring.”

“I was stupid back then.”

“That was less than a year ago.”

“I’ve really matured since then,” she said with a wink.

He lifted her off the vanity and slapped her butt. “Yes, I see how mature you are. Did I find a box of Oreos without the white cream on my nightstand? Must have been that other mature woman I’m dating.”

“I’ll have you know, crazy neat freak, I had planned on cleaning that up before you woke up. I like the entire Oreo, but I had already eaten so many that I couldn’t fit one more cookie.” She patted her stomach. “And I was too tired to go throw away the cookie part. You weren’t meant to see that.”

“See it?” He guffawed. “I felt them! I had cookies in the crack of my ass when I woke up.”

“No eating cookies in bed—noted.” She slapped his ass this time.

“And pick up your clothes from the floor,” he yelled playfully.

“You’re too neat.”

“You’re too messy,” he retorted as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Doesn’t actually bother me, though. It feels good to know you’re here.”

“So messy is okay.”

“Yeah, but not cookies in bed.”

She laughed. “I’m all about compromise, sugar.”

“Glad to see you more like yourself,” he said. “Are we okay?”

“There’s nothing we can do until we know whether I’m pregnant or not. No sense in freaking out just yet, right? So, yeah, we’re cool.”

“I’m glad. I wasn’t sure where your head would be at this morning.” He kissed her cheek. “By the way, I have a thing to go to on Saturday night. A business thing,” he said as he buttoned his crisp white shirt. “It’s a gala. Black tie. Boring.”

“Okay.” She sat up on the bed.

“You want to go with me? I have to make an appearance. Do you have enough time to find a formal dress?” He knew that he probably shouldn’t be inviting her because the topic of the Design District could possibly come up. But he didn’t want to go without her. He didn’t want to lie to her anymore. Today, in the office, he’d resolve this problem once and for all. Once it was resolved, he’d explain things to her, and it wouldn’t really be a thing because it was resolved. Right?

“Uh, yeah. Sounds fun.” She pulled the sheets higher. “How fancy are we talking here? Fancy-fancy or fancy-shmancy?”

“Which is most fancy?”

“The latter.”

“Then the latter.” He pulled out his wallet and took out a black credit card. “For the dress.”

Her jaw fell open, and she crossed her arms indignantly.

“You’re not going to take this, are you?”

She grunted in response.

“It’s my fancy party and you are doing me a huge favor by coming with me. Please, take it. Indulge me.”

She grunted again. Being the smart man that he was, he put the card back in his wallet and then the wallet back in his pocket. He smiled, kissed her cheek, and left.

After lying around in the bed for the better part of the morning, JL got up, showered, and dressed. She made an attempt to make his bed, but she knew he was just going to make it again later. He wasn’t an asshole about it, which she appreciated, and she was trying to do it the best she could, but the man was obsessive about cleanliness and neatness. She stepped back and looked at the bed. Good enough, she thought.

Her phone rang in her purse, and after empting the contents on the floor in order to find it, she saw it was her mother, who’d been calling her nonstop for days. She hadn’t wanted to take it with Enzo around. But since she was alone…

“Hello, Mama.”

“JL. Glad you answered, honey.”

Honey? “What’s up, Mama?”

“I, uh…I wanted to see if you wanted to have lunch with me.” Her voice was soft yet steady. This was not Rita’s familiar tone.

“Why?”

“You’re my daughter.”

“I’ve been your daughter for thirty years, Mama, and we’ve never had lunch. What do you want?”

“I know you think I’m up to something. I don’t even blame you. But I’ve been sober for two days. I know that’s barely anything, but—”

“But it’s a start. That’s good. Real good.”

“Yeah, and you know I wanted to—”

“Make amends. Don’t forget we’ve been through this before, Mama.”

“Yes, but this time it’s for real. I ain’t getting any younger, JL. I’m all alone. I’ve pushed everyone away. One chance. One final chance is all I’m asking for.”

JL was pacing the room. There was a fifty-fifty chance she could be pregnant. She didn’t want aggravation or stress in her life generally, but especially now that she could possibly be pregnant. She wanted happiness and a relationship with her mother. A normal relationship. It was all she’d ever craved. She absentmindedly placed her hand on her belly. “Lunch. I can give you lunch, Mama.” They made arrangements, and then JL headed out to meet her mom.

EE’s Diner was a local spot owned by an older couple who’d been living in Tarpon Springs for ages. If you needed gossip, Esther, the owner, could tell you. If you wanted information spread, she could help you with that as well. And if you wanted great pie, EE’s was the place to go. “JL, how’ve you been?” Esther said.

“I’m good. How’ve you been?”

“Couldn’t be better,” Esther replied. “Just you today?”

“Meeting my mama here.”

Esther screwed her face up as if she’d just bitten into something sour.

“I know, I know. But she sounded different on the phone.”

“It’s your life, honey,” Esther said, leading her to a booth and placing two menus on the table.

The waitress walked over to the table and without looking up said, “Can I get you some—” Then she saw who her customer was. “JL! What are you doing here?”

“Penny? Are you working here now?”

Penny’s shoulders bowed. “I’m working here too.”

“But you’re working full-time at the Pier. You must be dead on your feet, honey.”

“Need the money. I’m only here part-time.”

“What’s going on with you, Penny? You don’t ever want to talk.” The diner was relatively empty. “Sit.” JL pointed to the booth.

“No, I can’t.”

JL reached for Penny’s collar and pulled something off. “Is this…” JL squinted. “A Cheerio?”

Penny brushed it aside and her cheeks reddened. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Change of subject. Got it. Well, one thing before you leave,” JL said. “You don’t have friends in town. At least not that I’ve seen. I’m a real good friend. Ask anyone. I can listen and not give my opinion if that’s what you want. I can get shit-faced drunk with you one night, if that’s what you want. Or I can hug you while you cry. Up to you. Just know that this is a good town. Good people. Just let us in.”

Penny’s eyes watered. “I wish I could, JL. I wish I could.”

“JL?” It was the voice she’d been hearing her entire life.

“Hi, Mama.” Her mother came around and sat on the opposite side of the booth, Penny shifting to let her through. “This is my friend Penny. Penny, this is my mother, Rita Calhoun.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, darlin’,” Rita said.

“Likewise, Ms. Calhoun. What can I get you to drink?”

“I’ll have sweet tea,” her mother said.

JL was dying for coffee, but she’d heard caffeine wasn’t good for the baby—if there was a baby. Until she could do some research she would be careful. “Water for me, and a slice of lemon pie.”

“Oh, I’ll have one of those too,” her mother added, knowing that JL didn’t share food.

“What’s going on, Mama? You look better than I’ve seen you in a long time,” JL commented. Rita’s hollow cheeks were a little more filled-out, and she had some color in her face. Her lifeless hair was brushed and neatly pulled up into a ponytail.

“I’m in NA. After you refused my calls and Billy left me—Billy left me, by the way. Did you know that?”

“Mama, I don’t even know who Billy is.”

“Oh…uh…well, doesn’t matter anymore. Anyway, I decided it was time for a change.”

“Do you think you should be doing it for a man?”

“It’s not. I’m not, I mean. I’m doing it for myself. For my children. Travis won’t even acknowledge me, you know?”

“Yeah, I know. He’s got good reasons. So do I,” JL said.

“I know, honey. I want to tell you how sorry I am for everything. I’ve been a terrible mother. The worst. But I want to make up for it.”

Penny dropped off their order, and JL took a bite of her pie as she contemplated what to say. On one hand, by making selfish and toxic decisions Rita had changed the course of JL’s life forever. It would be understandable for JL to hold a grudge against her mother forever. On the other hand, it sometimes took more energy to hold a grudge than to forgive.

“Don’t know, Mama. We’ve been here before. I’m not going to make light of the situation by saying that you haven’t been that bad. You have. The things you’ve made me go through…” She shook her head as if that would get the thoughts out of her head. “But I’m willing to give you a chance, a very arm’s-length chance.”

Rita’s eyes shimmered. “Thank you, Jamie Lynn. I promise I won’t let you down.”

At that moment JL’s phone chirped, and she looked down and smiled at a text from Enzo that said, Miss your face. Then it chirped again. I’m lying. I actually miss your naked body lying on a bed of Oreo crumbs. She chuckled before slipping it back in her purse.

“Who’s the guy? Same one who answered your phone the other day?”

JL hesitated a moment. In the past her mother would put her down whenever she was happiest, and she didn’t want anything to ruin her mood.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Rita went on. “None of my business. But whoever is making you smile is someone I’d like to meet one day. You look happy, honey. I’m real glad for you.”

“It’s nice to see you sober, Mama. I hate to cut this short, but I have to work tonight and I have to go buy a dress before then.”

“A dress?” Her mother’s eyes lit up. “Maybe I could go with you?”

“I…uh…”

“Come on, honey. You need another set of eyes while you’re choosing, and someone to help zip you up.”

JL closed her eyes and hoped she wasn’t making a mistake. When her mother was concerned, she usually was, but…“Yeah, okay.” JL signaled for the check. “I’ll drive.”

“I’m so damn tired,” JL groaned four hours later as she dropped Rita off at EE’s to retrieve her car.

“I can’t remember having a better time. Your man’s going to love the dress,” Rita said.

“You think so? Is it bold?”

“No. Not at all. It’s beautiful. I hope it goes well at the party, darlin’.” She leaned over and kissed JL’s cheek. “Can I call you Sunday to ask how it went?”

“Yes. Keep it up, Mama. I’m proud of you.”

Her mother got out of the car, and JL rushed to the Pier. It had been a surprisingly wonderful and eventful day. Her mother had been remarkably helpful and surprisingly uncritical. She walked into her shift with an extra skip in her step. Life was good.

It had been nonstop for Enzo for the last two days. He’d made calls and conducted meetings and written proposals until he’d finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. One of the investors, Luis Rommel, a laid-back San Diego native, loved Enzo’s new progressive plan for the Design District. Instead of a big commercial mall, his new idea was to build small cafés and mom-and-pop-inspired shops centered around the Walls—basically rejuvenating the area using what was already there instead of destroying it, and making the Walls the central focus of the area. It would cost a fraction of the price of a mall, and it would allow for a different market, one more in keeping with the small Florida town. Once he had Luis on his side he had no doubt the other investors would fall into line, and Luis was as excited about the new project as Enzo was.

Enzo had done all of this without contacting his father. He wanted to have everything in order before he had that conversation, because at the end of the day, his father and his father’s business partner, Marianna’s father, only cared about the bottom line, and if the bottom line was millions in profit, they wouldn’t care if it was a surf shop or a Walmart.

Truthfully, Enzo had done so well during the last seven years that his father couldn’t steamroll his ideas anymore. These last two days had taught him that he had enough influence on his own that even if his father fired him, he would be fine. Or so he hoped. Regardless, he had other deals on the back burner all over the nation, and he needed to discuss those with the investors going to the gala that evening, or at least schmooze enough that if the Design District deal didn’t end well, they’d still be onboard for his other projects. He didn’t want to be completely shunned if his father pulled the trigger and fired him.

That evening he walked into his house to get dressed for the gala with a little extra skip in his step. Things were looking as if they would all work out. Life was pretty damn good.