Seasons (38 page)

“You through with this scum, Cuz?” Buddy asked.

Jaci shook her head. “No. I need to finish what I was saying before we throw him out.”

Maxie jumped back up. “I’m leaving. I don’t have to stay here and take this crap.”

Dusty, wanting to get in on the action, pushed him back down so hard the chair almost tipped over. “My cousin has some more
to say to you. Since you presented your ignorant butt over here without being asked, you don’t leave until we say you leave.
Now sit down!”

Jaci struggled not to laugh at the expression on Maxie’s face. “You’ve been given a second chance by the grace of God. You
could have the love of your daughter and grandchildren. But are you grateful? No. Are you doing everything possible to gain
their love? No. The only thing important to you is the chase and the conquest of women. I’m just another challenge—one you
have to triumph over again. That’s all this is about. Whatever I thought I saw in you was never there. But I was in love with
that delusion. Did you cherish that love? No. You balled my love up like a used Kleenex and threw it back in my face. Now,
you have the audacity to stroll in here uninvited, expecting me to be the same stupid idiot I was then. I don’t think so!
This time you’re the crazy one.”

Maxie dropped his head, unable to look at her. “You see, Maxie, I’m abundantly blessed. I have a beautiful daughter and two
healthy grandchildren, for which I am grateful, and a wonderful man who loves and appreciates me. The only thing I can offer
you now is forgiveness and Jesus Christ. God’s been good enough to bring you through some health problems, but are you thankful?
No. While you still have time, I encourage you to grow up and find your way to a good church where Jesus is exalted and the
Word of God is taught. I forgive you for everything, Maxie, because I have to. But hear this well . . . there’s absolutely
nothing you can do for me but get out, and don’t ever come near me again.”

Maxie left the house and walked quickly to his car. Feelings of déjà vu reverberated in his mind. Another encounter with Jacetta
had left him reeling with humiliation and other undefined feelings. He got into his car and sat there for a long time, replaying
her coldly spoken words in his mind. For some reason he felt like crying. But naw! He shook his head in denial. That wasn’t
happening. He started the car and drove slowly down the street.

For reasons Maxie didn’t quite comprehend, he attended the funeral on Saturday. He needed to see Jacetta again—needed to hold
on to the last flicker of hope that she would see him and smile at him with the same loving expression he had seen her give
to others. Although the large church was crowded, from his seat in the balcony, he searched until he finally spotted her.
However, she was with the Gilmore guy, who had a protective arm around her, and the other two men who were at the house Thursday
night. If she saw him, she looked right through him as though he wasn’t there. He watched her circumspectly, trying to memorize
her beautiful face, before walking slowly to his car. Maybe he would call Randi and his other children. Maybe he could ask
his mother about a good church.

T
he following Saturday, Jaci wanted nothing more than to sleep as late as she could before getting started on her long to-do
list.

But she reluctantly agreed to meet a coworker for breakfast at the local New Orleans Poboy. The place was popular on any day,
but especially on the weekend.

Albert Michaels was a whiner, and some days she could take him, others she couldn’t. He was not only a coworker, he also happened
to be from Riverwood. Perhaps that explained why she often acquiesced whenever he begged to talk to her about his woman problems.

After they settled into a booth with their food, Albert started right in with, “I don’t know what to do Jaci. I love Wanda,
but I think I might be too slow for her. She likes the club scene and takes off to Vegas or somewhere to gamble every chance
she gets. And you know me, my money’s too hard to come by to throw it away like that. And my clubbing days are way behind
me.”

“Well, like I’ve told you before, Al, I’m not the one to be giving advice, but have you tried to talk to her? Maybe that’s
what you need to do, sit her down and have a serious conversation about what she wants out of life. Or better yet, tell her
what you want. Do you know what you want? You have to be clear on that. Maybe you all are incompatible.”

“I’ve tried, but . . . you know how hard it is for me to put what I really feel into words. I can’t seem to get my point across
to her.”

The two had their heads bent over large platters of pancakes and bacon. They were unaware that two men who had just come in
were now staring at them from across the room.

R
on awakened J.P. with a phone call and badgered him into going to breakfast. He would rather have slept in, but got up, took
a quick shower, dressed in some comfortable jeans and a sweat shirt, and waited for Ron in the driveway in front of his house.

“I just want you to know, you’re buying . . . waking me up this early on a Saturday morning. And the only reason I’m going
is because I can really chow down on some of those big pancakes.”

“Hey, man, don’t get in here with all that yak. I need to talk to you. I got a little situation going with this girl, and
well . . .”

J.P. looked at Ron like he had lost his mind. “What’s wrong with you, Ron? What girl are you in trouble with now? Man, when
are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours that all you need is one woman—just the right woman. You getting
too old for the kind of lifestyle you leading.”

“I told you, I don’t want to hear all that. I don’t need lecturing, I just need you to listen and tell me what to do.”

J.P. released a long tortured breath. “I knew it! I should have stayed in bed.”

They reached the restaurant and continued the conversation while they stood in line to get their food, and were still talking
as they looked around for an empty booth. As usual, the place was packed.

Ron, who had forgotten to get cream for his coffee, went back to the counter. Returning to their table, he noticed the couple
in a booth across the room.

“J.P., is that Jaci over there? If that’s not her, it’s her twin.”

J.P.’s head snapped around to look in the direction Ron was pointing. Sure enough it was Jaci, in deep conversation with some
man. His face—his whole body—tightened as he dropped his fork and slid out of the booth.

“Now, man, don’t go over there and start nothing. You don’t know who that dude is, it could be her brother.”

“I know it’s not her doggone brother,” J.P. said as he started across the room.

“Oh darn!” Ron said as he slid into the booth. “Why didn’t I keep my mouth shut. I ain’t in no mood for fighting this morning.”

J.P. leaned over the booth and planted a proprietary kiss on Jaci’s surprised mouth, then turned to the guy, extending his
hand. “Good morning, J.P. Gilmore, Jaci’s fiancé. And you are?”

“Al Michaels,” the guy answered slowly. “I’m a coworker of Jaci’s. And a homeboy too. I hope you don’t mind, I coerced Jaci
into having breakfast with me this morning.”

“I can see that,” J.P. said, looking hard at Jaci. “Come on over when you finish, sweetheart. Ron and I are right across the
room over there.”

Jaci didn’t say a word, just sat there with an amused look on her face.

About twenty minutes later, Jaci stood beside their booth. “Good morning, Ron, how’re you doing?” She then turned to J.P.
and just looked, waiting for him to speak. When he didn’t say anything she asked, “Did you need to say something to me? I’m
getting ready to leave.”

She looked cool and collected in a red V-neck shell blouse and navy blue midthigh shorts. A pair of shades sat atop her head
amidst her beautiful reddish-brown hair.

J.P. stood up quickly and guided her into the booth before slipping in beside her. “I don’t have anything to say to you. The
question is, do you have anything to say to me?”

“No. I don’t. Why?”

“Well, if you walked in here and saw me in an intimate conversation with a woman, wouldn’t you want an explanation?” he asked
with agitation.

“No. I would just assume she was a friend or something and leave ya’ll alone.”

“You’re a liar. You would’ve been over there pouring hot coffee all over the woman.”

“Maybe. Let’s just hope we’ll never find out. It may not be the woman getting the hot coffee.”

Ron choked on his coffee and started laughing. “I like your style, Sis. If you ever decide to dump this guy for a real man,
give me a call.”

“In your dreams. Now butt out,” J.P. told him.

“Let me out, honey,” Jaci said. “I need to go. I’ve got lots of things to do today.”

“Like what?”

“Going shopping with C.J. for wedding stuff. And I promised to babysit for Randi tonight.”

“And where do you plan to fit me in?”

“Oh, come on! We talked about this yesterday, when we spent the
entire
day together. I told you then I was going to be running all day today.”

“You didn’t tell me you were having breakfast with another man.”

“I didn’t know it then. Al just called this morning. What is this anyway? The third degree? He is such a big baby,” Jaci said
to Ron.

J.P. shot an irritated look at her and stood. “Ready, Ron?” Jaci slid out of the booth behind him and they started toward
the door, Ron following close behind.

When they got to Jaci’s Jeep, J.P. said to Ron, “See you later, man.”

Jaci looked at him in surprise. “What are you doing? I told you, I have things to do.”

“Is it asking too much for you to drive your fiancé home?”

“Yes. I didn’t bring you here.”

“Well, you’re taking me home. Let’s go.”

“Jaa . . . son!” she said in exasperation.

“Well, we won’t have this problem after we get married. I’ll probably be pushing you out the door. Oh no. Wait a minute. Not
to go meeting some other man.”

Jaci laughed. “You can’t have it both ways, babe. And you keep acting this way, we might never get married.”

He looked at her with a frown. “Don’t even think about it. Come on.” He took her keys, opened the passenger door of the truck,
and motioned for her to get in. Then he went around and got behind the wheel.

“I’m not going in,” Jaci said as they pulled up in front of his house. “I’ll be late getting to C.J.’s.”

“Call her and tell her you’ll be late then. We need to talk.”

“Talk about what?”

He walked around the truck and opened her door. “Come on in for a few minutes.” Jaci groaned as she reluctantly climbed out
of the truck. They entered the house and sat down at the kitchen table. He went to the refrigerator to retrieve two bottles
of water.

“Do you realize that in two weeks, you’ll be my wife?”

“Yes, I do. I guarantee you, I don’t need to be reminded. There’s so many things I have to get done between now and then that
I can’t forget.”

“I’m reminding you because frankly, I think you do forget sometimes. My point is, how do you think I felt when I walked into
that place this morning and found you sitting there with another man? I’ll tell you! I didn’t like it one bit. We need to
come to some kind of understanding.”

Jaci heard a tinge of anger in Jason’s voice and knew he was upset. She honestly hadn’t thought about her upcoming marriage
when she agreed to meet Al. She suddenly realized she had a lot of adjustments to make in her thinking. Everything would have
to be considered in a different light. She was about to become somebody’s wife. “Jason. I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t even think
about it in those terms.” She spoke softly. “But don’t you trust me?”

“Yeah. I trust you. But I think you’re too naïve sometimes. I don’t know what kind of bull that guy was laying on you, but
from the way he was looking at you, I’d say it was all about you . . . and him!”

“Aha! You’re jealous! That’s what this is all about.”

“Doggone right, I’m jealous! I know what I have, sweetheart.”

“Jason,” she sighed impatiently. “I think the fact that I’ve lived all these years without even a serious prospect for marriage
should tell you something. Think about it. Remember our first serious conversation? What did I tell you then? I don’t play
games, and contrary to what you think, I can easily tell when someone is trying to run a game on me. There was nothing like
that going on with Al. He just likes to talk to me when he’s having woman problems. I love you. I wouldn’t do anything to
hurt you or destroy what we have between us. Trust works both ways, honey. You know how I’ve had to struggle with the trust
issue. Because I know if we don’t trust each other, it’s over before it even begins, and we may as well call everything off
right now.”

“We’re not calling off anything. But . . . Okay, so I let jealousy kind of cloud my vision. I do trust you, sweetheart. But
that’s not to say I appreciate seeing you out with another man. I’m never going to like that. And like I said before, you’re
too naïve. Remember, I told you Maxie was going to try something when you went to Dallas. But you didn’t believe me, did you?
I know how men think, sweetheart. ’Cause I’m one.”

Jaci smiled. “Yeah, you did. But I handled it, just like I said I would. And if you think I’ll appreciate seeing you in the
company of some other woman, you should think again. But realistically, it’s something we’re both going to have to deal with.
We both work with the public and interact regularly with the opposite sex. I guess we need to set some ground rules and agree
on what’s acceptable and unacceptable. I’m not going to be nothing nice if you ever step outside the boundaries, I’m telling
you that right now. And I know the same applies to you.”

Jason grinned as he grabbed her hands, squeezing them. “You better believe it.”

Jaci looked down at their entwined fingers, thinking now was as good a time as any to approach her job situation with him.
Jason kept putting her off, but she had already kept Ed Shannon waiting too long for her answer. “Jason, while we’re having
this talk to settle some things, we need to talk about my job. I have to give Ed Shannon an answer on his offer.”