Runner Up (20 page)

“Of course, Hannah.”
* * * * *
Three more days of shooting photos and working magic on my laptop and I had some ideas to run by
Jackson. The visit went well and Ruby’s whole family was there. I got to meet Kyle’s sister Tina too, she was quiet
and small for her age, but her eyes took in everything around her. She was twelve and getting her own ideas about
things, Ruby had shared. She was a reader and seated herself in the favorite red chair with a book within minutes
after dinner. She had good taste, it was my favorite spot too.
I met Ruby’s husband, Carl, and he was a gentle giant. His trimmed beard looked ruggedly handsome. He
was a few inches shorter than Jackson but still very tall. I was enjoying this family dynamic.
“I would love to do a family portrait of you before I leave.” I said while the adults sat around the table.
“Something outdoors and a bit more spontaneous than a studio shot.”
“Leaving?” Ruby said loudly. “Not allowed… I like you too much.” She made a comical frown face.
“I have a job in Alaska in a week. I’ll be gone a few weeks then I have to go back to my apartment in New
York. I still pay half the rent, and all my good computer stuff is there.” I grinned as I shared, but I saw all the faces
fall around the table. Ruby tried to smile but it failed to be honest.
“I think my wife had grand schemes of having a new best friend nearby.” Carl said, the gentle giant speaks.
“I am sorry sweetheart. I do love it here but I don’t actually have a home here unfortunately. I have
trespassed on my parents’ golden years too much already. The stress from the paparazzi is showing around the
edges for both of them. I think they deserve to have a little peace.” I saw Jackson trying to smile too. We became
fast friends. I would miss him. I would miss all of them.
“I know, Hannah.” Ruby said, “I just like you a lot. You bring a spark to all of us, I think. I may have to insist
you fly out and see us sometimes, we may even let you visit with your folks too.” We all laughed. It broke the
heaviness from the conversation.
“I do love to travel. My roommate will be getting married in a few months. I may need an escape
afterward. She is on obsessive shopper and I may be shopped-to-death and need a vacation afterward.”
“And there is always Facebook.” Jackson said with a wink. We saw each other nearly every day this last
week and still we messaged each other often. I could not see that habit ending any time soon.
Chapter 20

My flight was leaving tomorrow. I was packed for the trip but my heart was still lingering here. I had to say
goodbye to my new friends. I finished all my work for Jackson’s website and book cover. I even had a chance to get
a family portrait of the Pearson family by the lake. Kyle was able to hold still, surprisingly.

‘Come to dinner tonight. Let me thank you properly for all your hard work.’ Zee's message made my
heart thump a bit; this felt somewhat like a date.
I replied with a ‘Yes’ and hit the send button before I changed my mind.
Was I ready? I asked myself. I wasn’t ready to get my heart involved again. I still held a few secret hopes

I wanted to give Jackson the present I bought him. It was silly really. Just a painting I saw in an art shop. A
young man in the Victorian era bent over his desk with a quill furiously writing by candlelight. I thought it would fit
well within his taste, and add some life to his office. The colors were bold and earthy. I was hoping he would like it.

I dressed carefully for dinner went over my checklist a few more times while waiting to leave. I had a bad
habit of getting ready too quickly then had to sit around and wait. I ran into my mom in the kitchen.
"You heading out to see Jackson again?" She asked with a certain look in her eye. She had met him a few
days ago. She was very impressed. She also was a fan and had him sign her books. It was fun to see my parents
with Jackson. He praised me in front of them and I must say I was flattered.
My mom had a few comments after he left. "He is starting to care about you." She told me that day. "I can
see it when he looks at you. He is very protective."
I agreed.
"I care about him too. He saw me through a few rough patches in the last week and I think we bonded. I
consider him a very close friend now. I already have a Christmas invite for a family party." I said with a smile. My
mom laughed and patted me on the behind, as I walked past her.
"Well, you do hob-nob with the rich and famous now don't you?"
Tonight she gave me that look again, the one that spoke volumes about Jackson and his intentions.
"It’s just a goodbye dinner, nothing to get your apron in a knot about." I said to her squinty look. I patted
her fluffy hair and stole an orange slice off her plate.
"I will leave you be, I am hoping he can be patient with you. You have had a rough year." My mom stood
and kissed me on the cheek.
"I hope you guys have a great trip next week. You deserve a getaway after all I have put you through." I
could see my mom had dragged the luggage out from the closets. The living room seemed to be the command
post for “Operation Hawaii.”
"I just hope your father can relax and enjoy being still for a full two weeks. We have big plans for island
hopping. I am gonna make him swim with dolphins, you watch and see." My mom’s smile was infectious. She had
shared that prediction already but I didn't care, I loved the happy look on my Mom's face.
"I will need a picture of that. I have an inexpensive waterproof camera I can loan you. No worries if it gets
lost, it was a refurbished find. You know me, addicted to camera shopping." I ran to my room and grabbed the
waterproof camera from a backpack of things to go to New York.
I came out of my room and showed her the camera with a flourish. Within a minute she had a grasp on its
mechanics. It's a simple camera without too many bells and whistles.
* * * * *
I arrived at the cabin of bliss and marched up the gravel driveway in my heels. It was a bit dangerous. I felt
a bit nervous and jumpy. Not sure why, perhaps because I was leaving. Back to New York after my trip to Alaska
seemed so foreign to me now. I couldn't imagine being able to get away from the crowds or paparazzi in the Big
Apple.
Hearing the crunch of my heels through the gravel was a sweet sound as I catalogued the memory of the
warm glow of lights pouring through the windows. He went all out and lit candles on the fireplace and the place
looked like a postcard.
Come to Michigan
, it would say, making a pretty good advertisement.
"Hello Hannah." Jackson said in a low voice as he opened the door and settled his hand on the small of my
back to guide me in.
I peeled off the shawl that was unnecessary in the warm room. I was wearing a dress I salvaged from the
show. It had no memories with it of anything special. I wore it to a date ceremony. It had a low back that made me
feel a bit dangerous, I thought at the time I chose it.
"I am honored, you got dressed up for little ol' me." Jackson took the wrapped gift, set it to the side, as he
grabbed my arm and lifted it high, and with a deft move that I would never understand, gave me a twirl to see the
full extent of the dress.
"Devastating!" He said simply.
"You do flatter me." I said trying to ease my discomfort. He was stirring me up in his all black attire. He
cleaned up nice, too. Just dress slacks and a pin-striped button down shirt, but he wore it well.
"I have a gift." I said awkwardly. This was feeling a bit like a date, a real one without cameras or a crowd of
people.
The idea had merit.
I said to myself.
"You did not need to get me anything. This is supposed to be my official ‘thank you for all you did for me’
dinner." Jackson gave me a scornful look for a moment then gave me a kiss on the cheek.
I picked up the gift and handed him the wrapped frame awkwardly. He opened it and he caught the card as
it fell.
"You can read the card later. It is just... thanking you for the other day." I was suddenly embarrassed about
the things I wrote. I didn’t want to appear too clingy, ‘would you be my friend’ in it. I was an idiot of the highest
degree.
"Whatever you say, Hannah." He leaned against the couch and finished unwrapping. He held out the frame
as the wrapping dropped to the floor.
"This is wonderful." He smiled sincerely and took it over to a brighter light. "This is just the sort of thing I
love." He said, his smile getting wider.
"I do hope so, I looked around at what you have, and well I thought this would blend in nicely. It said
volumes about you too. I can see you in the midst of a scene writing just as feverishly as this young man in the
painting." I smiled back warmly. He set the painting down on the counter and approached me for a hug. For the
briefest moment I thought he was going to kiss me but was glad for the hug. Not ready for romantic stuff...
yet
.
"We have known each other long enough and I am blessed to have you as a friend Hannah." His hug was
brief and warm. He smelled of a musky cologne. I could have melted into him for at least a minute more.
* * * * *
"I will give you your present after dinner." Jackson said. "For now get over to the table and I will serve
you."
I could see he had made an effort the dining room was transformed with a tablecloth, crystal and
expensive china set out perfectly. I had a strange feeling that he was trying to impress me.
Suddenly I had a thought, on the Soulmate show, every date I had fifty or more people orchestrating
everything, the food and the decorations. It took very little effort on my part, or on the part of Anthony to do
anything for each other. I never got to be impressed by how hard Anthony worked to impress me. I was just happy
to be chosen to have another date, which was really quite pathetic. Isn’t love sometimes the sacrifices you make
for each other? Going out of the way to do something special for someone?
I had been thinking too hard because I heard a harrumph coming from the kitchen.
"You have a very serious face, you don't like my granny's China?" Jackson asked with an eyebrow raised.
I grinned and shook my head, no. "Just thinking too much. I am very pleased by all the hard work you did
tonight. The table looks beautiful." I said but my words came out stunted. I know I didn’t sound sincere.
Jackson had a salad bowl and a caddy of dressing headed over to the table. He had a calm look on his face
but I thought he must be wondering why my mood has shifted so fast.
"Are you alright Sweetheart?" Jackson sat down and served some salad on plate number one.
"Yes, please forgive my tone, I am just a little angry with myself. I was so impressed with your thank you
dinner set up, it got me to thinking." I admitted.
"A dangerous past-time." He grabbed my hand across the table, he urged me to keep going with a squeeze.
"I realized how much I allowed my emotions to get involved on the show when certain things had never
been there." I swallowed my pride. "Like consideration, patience, and generosity, when everyone on the staff did
everything for us, when did we ever go out of our way for each other? The only thing Anthony ever did for me
was pick me for a date. In a relationship that should be a given. After dating for a week you should know whether
or not you are going to be chosen for a date, if you aren't, any sane person would just assume they weren’t
interested." I laughed a little at the thought. Standing around in a ball gown waiting for cards every week seems
really stupid.” I realized I was talking too much about myself and gave Jackson an apologetic look.
I picked a salad dressing from the caddy and dove into my salad. It was good with tons of veggies and all
the good stuff mixed in.
"You make a good salad Zee." I said softly.
"You know, I don't mind you sharing your thoughts. You know they will never leave this room. You have
been through a pretty extreme situation. When you come to a light bulb moment of clarity, I know from personal
experience, it helps to talk it out. I care about your friendship and I truly hope you never feel like you have to
pretend with me. I can be your pretend-free-friend, okay?" His smile was my undoing. I felt a tear escape, but I
laughed a little at the pretend-free-friend comment. I was not sure if I had met anybody like Zee.
"Okay, I have to admit you started the whole problem tonight Zee." I gave him a fake glare.
"Muah?" He asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yes, it made me realize that a real relationship is based on more than the external stuff. I think I just
shook another layer off my break up woes. Thanks I needed that." I said sincerely and gave him a real smile.
"Well I say we get all our tears out over salad because I want you to cry over my creation for its own
merits. Prime rib coming right up." He jumped up and kept talking as he took long steps into the kitchen. "This bad
boy has been slow roasting all day. I was certain I was going to die earlier from longing to dive into the juicy meat. I
think I did a good job hiding the teeth marks, I must say."
I couldn’t help but giggle.
"How did you know that Prime rib was my favorite of all things?" I asked, “I adore it.”
"I didn’t know, but seriously, it's my specialty. My father taught us boys, but I know mine is the best. I may
have surpassed the teacher." He lifted a cocky eyebrow, as he brought out the carving board loaded with a nice
portion of meat that smelled heavenly.
"You brought enough for an army. I have an appetite but ummm, this is a bit much." My eyebrows were
locked into a shocked position over the platter of prime rib.
"Well because I do adore prime rib so much, I always make a heap of it when I do. I have three days of
amazing sandwiches. I have a writing spree to do when you leave." He pouted momentarily. "I figured I will need to
cheer myself up once you are gone, the best way to do that is a murder mystery. It's all your fault, someone has to
die." Jackson gave me his cop face and it scared me just a little bit.
I cringed while laughing.
"I hope the blood on my hands will be someone that deserved to die." I stated, still giggling.
He started carving the prime rib, it was perfectly done. I could not wait to taste it.
"Actually I am so upset by your leaving it will probably be something devastating, like a little old lady or
something dramatic like a minister."
Jackson handed me the plate, He went to the kitchen and brought out a bowl of mashed potatoes and flaky
crescent rolls. He served us both quickly and sat down so we can dig in, finally.
"Well I guess a murder mystery has to have someone die and I read every book you write. I will feel so
guilty reading this book until the killer is caught." I said as I was cutting up a piece of prime rib, ready to enjoy it.
The flavor overtook me as it melted in my mouth. I thought I might have groaned out loud.
"Okay, that is the best prime rib I have ever tasted. How often do you make this? I am flying back every
time." I took another bite and was slightly mortified when I groaned again. It was too good.
"You keep complimenting me, while looking that beautiful and I will make it every week for you." He said it
to be funny but something in his eyes looked a little more serious than he meant to be.
I smiled at him to thank him, and kept eating. His garlic mashed potatoes were the perfect compliment to
the prime rib so I was quiet a few minutes while we enjoyed our food.
Something about Jackson tonight scared me a little; maybe scare was the wrong word. He had intensity
about him. He was doing everything for me, with no expectations. It was a little unsettling, knowing he cared about
me like that. For some reason I wanted to put him in the friend category and my heart was telling me something
else. Right now I needed to keep a cool head and get back to living normally. This was too much to think about. I
couldn’t have two guys bumping away in my heart. It was bruised enough already.
After we each finished our first serving he carved a bit more. I nodded and handed my empty plate over
and he gave me a few more pieces to enjoy before I felt the need to explode.
"So are your parents all packed for Hawaii?" Jackson asked.
"Actually no, my dad has been working at the office like a fiend this week and my mother is horrible at
packing. She forgot to pack our underwear one year for a family vacation. After a few days we had to find a store
near Disneyworld because we couldn’t stand it anymore." I shared.
Jackson nearly choked, he tried not to inhale his prime rib while gasping. I enjoyed seeing him laugh at one
of my jokes.
"I am glad I can make you laugh, Zee, you amuse me all the time, I guess it was my turn. I guess I had to
resort to bathroom humor at the table. Slightly bad form on my account, I do apologize." I grabbed my napkin and
used it for a fake bow before actually using it for its intended purpose. I plopped it on the plate afterward. "I am
done – full. That was a fantastic meal, Zee. I cannot say when I have enjoyed a meal more than that."
I leaned over to kiss his cheek. I was slightly shocked when he actually blushed a bit. I was torn between
teasing him and letting it go. I dropped it and looked away.
"I am done too, Hannah, let’s leave the dishes here and go sit by the fireplace."
I agreed and found my seat on a comfy couch, I suddenly felt overwhelmed. I was starting to have feelings
about Jackson.
Just the beginnings of a crush,
I was certain of it. I had absolutely no intentions of doing anything about it but,
wow, at this moment, I couldn’t think of anywhere else I would rather be.
"I can already hear your complaints about my gift but I warn you. It is a thank you gift and you cannot turn
it down." Jackson sat next to me, a long thin box was in his hands.
I took the box and gave him a look. "What did you do?"