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I took a deep breath, turned around, and sat down at the table, sipping on my coffee, watching as Mom dumped another dollop of batter into the pan.
“So, you’ve been out and about a lot since you came home. Been doing anything interesting?” She questioned.
Guilt invaded me. “Yeah, I know, and I’m sorry about that. I promise it won’t keep up. After I had to go for my interview, I needed to get a few things. Cara wanted to have dinner, and I had to change my address on my driver’s license, but soon I’ll be around all the time, and you will beg me to go out.”
“Nonsense. That would never happen. I’ve missed having you home.”
Sipping my coffee, I checked my phone for any messages. I was reading an email from Justine when Mom’s spoke, causing me to jump.
“Mrs. Fisher said she saw you downtown the other day.”
“Oh?” I swallowed hard. “How is she? I haven’t seen her in ages.”
“She’s good. When Bill died, she had a hard time, but I got her into the support group I joined after Connor passed. She told me she saw you downtown, near the Sunset Cove Police Department.”
I looked down at the floor and closed my eyes for a second, then cleared my throat. “Yeah, so what?” I knew what my mother was hinting at. I could tell by the sound of her voice.
“Oh, nothing. I just thought it was strange you were all the way downtown.”
I looked at my mother, knowing full well what was coming. “Mom, just ask me what you want to know. You want to know if my being down there had something to do with Jackson?”
“Well, now that you mention it, I guess I was wondering if you went to see him?”
“Mom don’t do this,” I begged, letting out a huff. It was too soon to mention him to me.
“Do what, baby girl? It’s an honest question.”
“Do this! Exactly what you are doing. Jackson and I are over, and we’ve been over for five years. There is no more us, nor will there be any more of us.”
“Bailey, I just figured you would want to see him. I mean, it’s been a long time.” She set the plate of pancakes down in front of me along with the syrup, then looked at me. “Honey, I think it’s time you at least speak to him. He was your brother’s partner as well.”
“No, Mom, it isn’t time I speak to him. I closed that chapter on my life a long time ago. Please, respect that.” I picked up the bottle of syrup and drowned the hot pancakes in the sticky syrup.
“Bailey, I do respect that. Don’t think that I don’t.” She said, turning back to the stove. “I just thought it would be good for you both to sit down and talk, like adults.”
I looked down at the pile of food in front of me, suddenly losing my appetite. I was so lost in thought that I’d barely noticed she’d flipped the last pancake onto her plate and sat down across from me.
“Bailey, I’d have thought you’d already have sunk your fork into that fluffy stack of pancakes you coated in syrup already. Aren’t you going to eat?” she questioned, grabbing the bottle of syrup and lightly coating hers.
I shook my head. “No, I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.” I got up from the table and placed my partially full mug on the counter, and walked out of the kitchen.
“Bailey, you need to eat. You work today.” Mom yelled.
“I’ll grab something there.” I shouted and then stopped in the hall, pinching the bridge of my nose. I took a breath and then turned around and stepped back into the kitchen. “…and, just so you know, if you’re expecting Jackson and I to get back together, you can forget it. We are over. You can tell that to Mrs. Fisher, too.”
* * *
“Order is for table ten, Bailey!” Glenn yelled in my direction from where he was pouring a couple of beers for two men sitting at the bar.
I nodded and slid the tray of drinks onto the palm of my hand, carefully balancing it. I turned and began walking toward table ten when I caught eyes with Dave Specter. He and Ryan were seated in my section. I dropped the drinks off at table ten, quickly taking their food order, and then made my way over to the two men.
“Well, Bailey Scott, as I live and breathe,” Dave said, flashing me that sexy smile every woman in Sunset Cove loved.
“Hey, Dave, Ryan, how are you?”
“Good, love. Nice to see your pretty face back here. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again,” Dave said.
“Thanks. It’s a little surreal being back here, but it’s good to be back with Mom. What can I get for you guys tonight?”
