Honey

How was I supposed to feel? Jamie’s mother, Jake’s ex, was here after all this time. I glanced over to see Jake crouched in front of Jamie looking as serious as Jamie’s rigid stance.

Then my eyes dropped to Tara’s, Jamie’s mother, hand hanging midair, and it got awkward.

So I took her limp hold in mine and cordially said, “Hi, I’m Honey.”

Her smile was as warm as the day and her voice was sugary sweet.

“Nice to meet you. I’m glad Jake has help with Jamie.”

I was about to correct her, but I caught Ford’s eye. Before I could interpret what his look meant, she continued.

“I’m hoping to take that responsibility off your hand and spend time with my daughter.”

It felt like a slap in the face, though her words were as nice as could be. My grandmother taught me how to play nice. The truth was this woman left her child at birth. What gave her the right to think she could just walk right back into their lives?

I couldn’t stop what came out of my mouth next.

“That will be good. You should probably meet her first.”

I breezed by her as if the indignation of her showing up out of the blue belonged to me. And immediately I hated myself for being so snippy. There were two sides to every story. Maybe her reasons for leaving weren’t as selfish as they appeared. And maybe the real reason I was pissy with her was because she was beautiful in every way I wasn’t.

She was what guys would call a tall drink of cold water on a hot day like this. Her hair shined like she was a model in a shampoo commercial. Her body was toned and slim with gentle sloping curves all in the right places.

More importantly, I’d grown close to Jamie in the short time I’d been at the farm. Quite frankly, I would have loved to call her mine. But now her mother was here and it wasn’t my place to stand between them.

So I left the family reunion and hid in the only place I could. My room. It felt small when I made it inside. Though I didn’t want to face anyone in the family, I should cook dinner.

After several cleansing breaths, I left the room for the kitchen where I chopped, I diced, I did everything I could to stay busy. No one had come inside until I placed the chicken in a cast iron skillet. The potatoes were roasting and I had veggies ready to blanch.

The door swung open and Jake held it as the women in his life strolled in. Jamie’s tiny hand was in her mother’s and the resemblance between them was clear.

Tara never once looked my way. She settled in the living room with her daughter at her side. Ford sat in his normal weathered leather chair. I couldn’t meet Jake’s eyes. I was a chicken shit, afraid of what I might see there.

I turned to the stove and continued my tasks as if I were the hired household help as Tara suggested. As soon as the sizzle died down, it was quiet enough for me to hear the muted conversation and my blood went cold.

“What was that, honey?” Though I snapped my head up, Tara wasn’t talking to me. Her focus was on her daughter. “Jake, what’s wrong with her.”

Jamie hopped off the couch and ran to her dad with tears streaming down her face. My little darling clutched at her father’s legs and Jake wasn’t the least bit pleased.

“There’s nothing wrong with her,” he declared in a way that broached no argument.

“But—”

Jake silenced Tara with a hand. “If you’d been around, you’d know.”

She’d either figured it out or she knew better than to ask. She walked over to him and bent down with a hand on Jamie’s back.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Jamie’s eyes were red and my heart broke into a thousand pieces. There were so many things I wanted to say. It took everything I had not to go over there. Knowing it wasn’t my fight made me feel so out of place.

I put that wasted effort into finishing up the meal. I set the table and laid the food out like a Thanksgiving meal, which was months away. By then everything between mother and daughter seemed patched up.

“Oh, she cooks for you guys too?”

Tara spoke to Jake like I wasn’t two feet away. Mind your manners, I chanted in my head. What was that saying, if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all. So I turned away, prepared to eat in my room. I had to be the bigger person if for no one else but for Jamie. This was her mother. I was just a stranger, the help who’d moved into the house.

“She’s more than that,” Ford piped in.

There was a bit of snark in his voice, but I’d closed my door to my room before I heard any more. If Jake said nothing, it would break me. So I ate alone, stewing and not enjoying a single bite. I pushed the food around on my plate more than I actually ate anything.

Nothing seemed to go right and it continued with my timing, which was totally off. When I came out, the family looked cozy around the table. My heart ached like wearing heels and standing up in them all night. I walked into a discussion I would’ve rather not heard.

“I was thinking maybe I could stay here. That way we have more time together,” Tara said.

“The house is full,” Ford snapped.

Clearly, he didn’t like her.

Tara glanced at Jamie before turning her attention to Jake as she spoke. “I thought I could bunk with your dad.”

I jerked my gaze in his direction, though he wasn’t looking at me.

“If Jamie wants you to stay, you’re welcome to Honey’s room.”

My jaw dropped as a million things crowded in my head.

Tara turned a flirtatious smile on him. “I wouldn’t want to put her out. Besides, where would she sleep?”

For a second I wanted to high five her, until I remembered she was my archnemesis after only knowing her less than a day.

“Honey can bunk with me,” Jake said.

My mouth snapped closed and I wanted to kiss the man. Tara aimed furious eyes at me. It was the first time she’d acknowledged my presence. I would’ve preened, but that would have been rude. Jake had said all that needed to. My heart lifted from where it had sunk in the pit of my belly.

Then I remembered Jamie. Jake and I hadn’t exactly been open about our relationship to her or anyone for that matter. Ford grinned. Either he’d figured it out or was happy about the news. Jamie wore a mix of happiness and worry that I wasn’t sure what to make of.

Tara swallowed audibly. “Something going on between you two? Is that something our daughter should see?”

Jake’s jaw clenched and I saw the muscles working.

“If you would like to have this discussion, we can do so outside.”

Tara placed a hand on her daughter’s. “Daddy and I need to talk. I’ll be right back.”

Then she glared at me a second before following Jake outside.

I went over to Jamie and smiled, hoping to put her mind at ease. “Would you like dessert?”

“Ye-sss, ma’am,” she stammered while glancing at her mom.

“It’s just Honey.” It felt like she was being put in the middle, so I added, “You’re as pretty as your mom.”

She grinned and I could almost feel her relief.

“Do you want to help me with the dishes after?”

It had been our ritual, so I said nothing when she nodded. She followed me to the kitchen and sat on a stool. I cut her a piece of pie and scooped on some ice cream. I had neither, but got to work clearing the dishes.

Jamie wolfed it down and came over to help. We’d just finished our last plate when Jake and Tara walked in.

Jake’s hair was mussed like hands other than his own had been in it. The final plate slipped from my hand as I spotted the remnants of lipstick on his mouth.