Chapter 48

Faith

“I don’t know how to thank you for this,” I said to Jackson when I finally got home.

He and Sam were on the sofa watching UFC. It wasn’t something I’d usually allow Sam to watch, but he obviously needed a male influence in his life, and men liked UFC.

“Don’t mention it,” Jackson said, eyeing me up like I was his prey.

It made my heart flutter. Just the thought of the things I’d allowed him to do to me made my stomach do backflips.

“Lacey really needed me today.”

“Any man that would cheat on a girl like Lacey’s an idiot. She’s better off without him.”

“How do you know about it?” she said.

“We all know.”

“Well,” I said, “I hope she’s able to bounce back soon.”

Jackson nodded.

“So how was Sam?” she said.

“We had a blast.”

“Did he eat?”

“Chicken and fries,” Jackson said.

Jackson took a step toward me. “Listen,” he said, “Sam and I talked about a few things today.”

“What things?”

“Everything.”

I wasn’t sure what Jackson meant.

“And what I said last night, I meant it. I love you, Faith.”

My heart pounded in my chest. It was overwhelming to hear those words. I thought back to last night. I’d had so many orgasms my body was begging for mercy, but the thought of Jackson inside me again made me dizzy with desire.

Sam was in the living room and Jackson went in to say goodbye. I was touched that he didn’t just forget about Sam as soon as I was there.

“Hey, buddy. I’ve got to go see my brother, but I’ll be seeing you again real soon. Remember everything we talked about.”

“I will,” Sam said, and straightened himself up. He’d been slouching but now he looked tall and confident.

“That’s it,” Jackson said.

Then he kissed me on the cheek, right in front of Sam, and was gone. I stood by the front door, even though it was shut, and listened to the big engine of his truck as it fired up.

A moment later my phone vibrated. I picked it up. It was a text message from Jackson. ‘You’re mine, and I want you all the time.’

I couldn’t have been happier. It was strange. Jackson was exactly what I needed. I’d spent years looking for a stable, respectable, dependable guy who’d be a good influence on Sam. Then Jackson came along, the kind of guy women fight to keep away from their children, and Sam was so comfortable with him. It was a miracle.

I went into the living room to check on Sam.

“How was school today?” I said.

“Good.”

I looked more closely at him and it was only then that I saw the bruising, the swollen eye. I’d been too distracted to notice.

“Sam,” I cried. “What happened to your face?”

“Those jerkoffs at school beat me up,” he said.

“Jerkoffs? Who taught you to speak like that?”

He shrugged.

“We’ve got to go speak to your principal,” I said.

“No,” he said. “I can handle this.”

“Sam, they’ve hurt you. They can’t just do that.”

“Mom, I know what I’m doing. I’ve got a plan now.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m going to show those boys they can’t mess with me anymore.”

“How in God’s name are you going to do that?”

“Attitude, Mom.”

“What?”

“It’s all about attitude.”

“Sam. You’re just a kid.”

“No, Mom. I’m not. I’m getting older by the day, and if I don’t learn how to handle this, I’ll be dealing with guys like these for the rest of my life.”

I hugged him and held him tight. “Are you sure you’re all right, baby. Can I put some ice on your face, at least?”

He nodded.

I went and got an icepack and pressed it against his eye. He’d been punched in the face. I couldn’t believe it. And I couldn’t believe how helpless I felt. On the one hand, I agreed with him that he should learn how to handle this himself, but on the other, I knew it was my job as a mother, and his school’s job too, to protect him from this sort of thing.

“Sam,” I said.

“Yes, Mom.”

“What was it like having Jackson pick you up from school today?”

“Good.”

“You didn’t mind?”

“He told me this morning he might be there.”

“And that didn’t upset you?”

He shrugged. “Why would that upset me? He’s my dad.”

I froze. My face went pale. I thought I might faint. But Sam was looking at me as if he’d said the most natural, normal thing in the world.

“Did Jackson tell you that?”

“We talked about it, but I already knew.”

“You knew?”

Sam nodded. I took a deep breath. I didn’t know what to do. What was the textbook approach for this situation? How was I supposed to react? I presumed I was supposed to stay calm. If Sam was comfortable with it, then I should be too.

So I did what mother’s have always done in difficult situations. I changed the subject.

“What did you do together, after school?”

“Grabbed a bite to eat.”

“What did you talk about?”

Sam shrugged.

“You can tell me, honey.”

“We talked about the bullies at school.”

“Really?” I said. I was surprised. Sam was so secretive about it. Even I had a hard time getting information out of him.

“It was no big deal.”

“What did Jackson have to say about it?”

“Well, he told me he’s been through similar stuff. He’s gotten into fights that were very difficult to get out of.”

“I know,” I said, thinking of Los Lobos.

“Yup. And he knows how to make guys steer clear of you.”

“How?”

“Attitude,” Sam said.

“Attitude?” I said.

Sam nodded. “If other guys know I’m steady, if they know I mean business, they’ll stay out of my way.”

“Is that so?” I said.

“Yes, and then the only problems I’ll have left will be lady problems.”

“Lady problems?”

Sam nodded.

I laughed.

“And how do you feel about the fact he’s your father?” I said, carefully testing the subject.

“I love it,” he said. “I always wanted him to come back. He’s exactly what I hoped.”

I smiled. I refused to allow myself to cry. If Sam was happy, that was a pretty good indication that things were going all right, and that everything was going to be okay.