respond. “Mama won a few beauty pageants when she was a teenager before she decided it was more cool to be anti-establishment.”
Jackson turned the frame over, inspecting the back. “Elise and Serenity. No year listed, but I’d guess you were about six or seven?”
“ Five, actually.” She ran one finger across the glass. “She always spoke in a firm voice, but beneath it all, she was very loving. Her skin was soft and smooth and smelled like honeysuckle. Sorry, you probably don’t care about things like that.”
“ Sure I do. You care about them, so that makes it important. Where do you want to hang it?”
S haking her head, a pervasive sadness settled inside her. “I don’t. I know it’s not the mature thing, but I can’t, Jackson. Seeing this only reminds me how much I miss her. My memories can’t bring Mama back from...wherever she is, and I’m not sure I could face this every day. It’d probably be counterproductive.” It was the first time she’d admitted to anyone else the very real possibility that her mother might be dead.
“ If you want to share more about her, I’m willing to listen,” Jackson said.
“ You don’t always have to play the psychologist role, you know.”
It was his turn to ignore her comment. “I’ll put it over here for now.” He propped the framed photograph against the wall. Picking up the pocket knife, he opened another box as she sorted through small containers of more miscellaneous desk supplies. When he asked her where to put certain items, she pointed to her office or Kelsie’s desk.
They worked in silence for a few minutes . Finally, she blew out a breath. “Okay, here’s something for you. Mama loved pears.” She hated using past tense, but it was becoming more natural. Pushing the thought aside, she focused on Jackson.
H is lips twisted in a grin. “Pears? You mean like the fruit?”
That made her smile . “No, like the basketball team. Yes, like the fruit. They were on her apron, bordering our dishes, painted on the drinking glasses, the clock... Everywhere you looked, there they were. Happy little pears with smiley faces, dancing pears, you name it.” Raising her hands, Serenity danced her fingers through the air. “They were ridiculous but still kind of cute. She limited them to the kitchen, thank goodness. I think Mama knew Dad would overrule them anywhere else in the house. Even though he’d never admit it, I think Dad found them sort of endearing, too.”
“ Well, everyone needs a...hobby.” Jackson’s grin deepened, and the hint of his charming dimple made its appearance. “Tell me now, do you share a similar fruit obsession?”
“ No,” she said with a return grin, “believe it or not, that’s one area of my psyche that’s remained remarkably sane.”
“ Now see? You’ve got to stop saying things like that.” Jackson surprised her with the sudden firmness in his tone. “You’re more well-adjusted than most people I know, Serenity. Trust me on that one.”
Dropping to the floor, he patted the carpet beside him. “Come and sit with me. If you have time, I’d like to hear more.”
She eyed him for a long moment. Revealing more of her life would strengthen the bond already developing between them. Surely Jackson must know that. It’s the way it always worked. Problem was, could she tell him about Mama without everything spilling over?
“ I don’t bite. Promise.”
“ Jackson, I…”
~ CHAPTER 9~
I have no willpower whatsoever.
Serenity sat facing Jackson, both cross-legged on the floor of Inner Serenity. “Mama was eccentric, but that was part of her innate charm.”
“ Exhibit A, a predilection for anything pear-related,” he said, chuckling when he caught her glance. “Sorry. Zipping my lips. I’m all ears. Speak to me.”
“ When all the other moms showed up at school in their normal mom clothes, Mama breezed in with her long, flowing broomstick skirt, halter top, flip flops and long, dangly earrings.
Jackson turned the frame over, inspecting the back. “Elise and Serenity. No year listed, but I’d guess you were about six or seven?”
“ Five, actually.” She ran one finger across the glass. “She always spoke in a firm voice, but beneath it all, she was very loving. Her skin was soft and smooth and smelled like honeysuckle. Sorry, you probably don’t care about things like that.”
“ Sure I do. You care about them, so that makes it important. Where do you want to hang it?”
S haking her head, a pervasive sadness settled inside her. “I don’t. I know it’s not the mature thing, but I can’t, Jackson. Seeing this only reminds me how much I miss her. My memories can’t bring Mama back from...wherever she is, and I’m not sure I could face this every day. It’d probably be counterproductive.” It was the first time she’d admitted to anyone else the very real possibility that her mother might be dead.
“ If you want to share more about her, I’m willing to listen,” Jackson said.
“ You don’t always have to play the psychologist role, you know.”
It was his turn to ignore her comment. “I’ll put it over here for now.” He propped the framed photograph against the wall. Picking up the pocket knife, he opened another box as she sorted through small containers of more miscellaneous desk supplies. When he asked her where to put certain items, she pointed to her office or Kelsie’s desk.
They worked in silence for a few minutes . Finally, she blew out a breath. “Okay, here’s something for you. Mama loved pears.” She hated using past tense, but it was becoming more natural. Pushing the thought aside, she focused on Jackson.
H is lips twisted in a grin. “Pears? You mean like the fruit?”
That made her smile . “No, like the basketball team. Yes, like the fruit. They were on her apron, bordering our dishes, painted on the drinking glasses, the clock... Everywhere you looked, there they were. Happy little pears with smiley faces, dancing pears, you name it.” Raising her hands, Serenity danced her fingers through the air. “They were ridiculous but still kind of cute. She limited them to the kitchen, thank goodness. I think Mama knew Dad would overrule them anywhere else in the house. Even though he’d never admit it, I think Dad found them sort of endearing, too.”
“ Well, everyone needs a...hobby.” Jackson’s grin deepened, and the hint of his charming dimple made its appearance. “Tell me now, do you share a similar fruit obsession?”
“ No,” she said with a return grin, “believe it or not, that’s one area of my psyche that’s remained remarkably sane.”
“ Now see? You’ve got to stop saying things like that.” Jackson surprised her with the sudden firmness in his tone. “You’re more well-adjusted than most people I know, Serenity. Trust me on that one.”
Dropping to the floor, he patted the carpet beside him. “Come and sit with me. If you have time, I’d like to hear more.”
She eyed him for a long moment. Revealing more of her life would strengthen the bond already developing between them. Surely Jackson must know that. It’s the way it always worked. Problem was, could she tell him about Mama without everything spilling over?
“ I don’t bite. Promise.”
“ Jackson, I…”
~ CHAPTER 9~
I have no willpower whatsoever.
Serenity sat facing Jackson, both cross-legged on the floor of Inner Serenity. “Mama was eccentric, but that was part of her innate charm.”
“ Exhibit A, a predilection for anything pear-related,” he said, chuckling when he caught her glance. “Sorry. Zipping my lips. I’m all ears. Speak to me.”
“ When all the other moms showed up at school in their normal mom clothes, Mama breezed in with her long, flowing broomstick skirt, halter top, flip flops and long, dangly earrings.
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