Page 17 of The Maverick’s Legacy

Before Jesse could talk himself out of it, he hit Dial on his phone. He walked down to the patch of grass in the front yard. He started pacing to let out some nervous energy as he listened to the phone ring. What if it went to voicemail? Should he leave her a message or send her a text? Maybe he’d message Amanda directly for more advice. He didn’t need to be Benjamin’s entertainment for the day.

Relief rushed through him when Carly finally answered. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Jesse. Jesse Abernathy. From the football game…and the pie.” He quietly smacked himself in the forehead. Why had he mentioned the pie? She’d brought it over as an unnecessary apology. He didn’t need to unintentionally guilt trip her. Would he always be a bumbling fool around this woman?

Carly let out a soft laugh, the sound turning him into liquid. “Hey, Jesse.” Her voice was light and airy. He wished he could record her speaking because just the tone of her voice relaxed him in ways he couldn’t explain. She paused for a second before she said, “I was wondering if I’d hear from you. You ran off pretty quickly the other day.”

Jesse closed his eyes briefly, remembering how she’d given him her number and he’d hurried away immediately afterward so he could get to Oscar. Had she thought that the way he’d hurried away was a sign he wasn’t interested?

“I’m sorry about that. My son—he has autism, and sometimes he can get overstimulated. I saw the signs, and I wanted to get to him before things turned ugly. I understand that that can be a lot. If you want me to lose your number, I get it.”

He hadn’t dated since MaryBeth died. That hadn’t meant he’d been living the life of a celibate either. He’d had some pleasant enough encounters over the years, and there was one woman he’d had a standing arrangement with for a few months. She’d been the mother of one of Oscar’s classmates and a recent divorcee. They’d met at a parent-teacher conference, both waiting in line to speak with their children’s teacher. They’d exchanged numbers that night, and she’d texted him the next day, explaining that she wasn’t ready for a relationship but she had needs. He certainly hadn’t been ready for a relationship either, his grief only a few years old at that time. They would meet up whenever her ex had their child during the weekend.

The relationship had been mutually beneficial, and Jesse enjoyed it for what it was. He hadn’t developed feelings for the woman. But unfortunately, she had. They’d been in bed together one night, seeking pleasure in one another, when his phone rang. The only person who would have called him at that time was Oscar’s babysitter, and he’d pulled away to answer the phone. When he’d heard that Oscar was having a bad night, he said he’d be right there. The woman hadn’t been happy. She’d told him the babysitter could handle it, but he’d left anyway. She messaged him the next morning and said that she loved him but she needed to come first. He told her Oscar would always be his priority, and she’d responded by telling him to lose her number.

“Why would I not want to go out with you because your son has autism?” Carly responded after a brief pause.

Jesse winced. It was barely there, but he could pick out that he had either hurt or offended her.

He began to pace around the yard. “Sorry…it’s just…it wouldn’t be the first time. I’ve found that…some people don’t want to be in my life when they hear my son is on the spectrum.”

“Oh, I see.” Carly’s voice was tentative. “I’m not that kind of person.”

Jesse grimaced. He was blowing this. “I know. I tend to be a little guarded, especially when it comes to Oscar. I’m sorry.”

“I get it,” she said after a moment. “Trust is a hard thing to earn, especially when so many people have broken it before.” He frowned at that, wondering who broke hers to make her sound so disillusioned. But before he could ask about it, she continued, “I’m still good with going out, if you’d like.”

His body loosened at that, the tension he was carrying leaving him. “Yeah, absolutely. That’s great. How about this Saturday? Can I pick you up and take you to dinner?”

“I’d like that.”

He fist-bumped the air. “That’s awesome. Okay. Good. I—I’ll see you then. Six o’clock.”

“Bye, Jesse,” she replied, sounding slightly amused. “I’ll see you on Saturday.”

He grinned. “See you on Saturday, Carly.”

They disconnected the call, and Jesse looked back at the house, taking in the two-story brick colonial that had been his home for so long. Saying goodbye to this house was finally closing a significant chapter in his life. He’d taught Oscar how to ride his bike on the sidewalk. His son had taken his first steps in the living room. They’d marked his growth on the inside of the hallway door. And then there were the memories of MaryBeth…

Can you believe it? MaryBeth said as he looked at the roof that needed to be replaced, the driveway that needed to be re-cemented.

A good starter home? I’m never going to leave. She turned to him, her long brown hair flying around her shoulders as she looked at him with those incredible green eyes—Oscar’s eyes. We’re going to be so happy here! Now carry me up the threshold, husband of mine, and let’s go christen every room in the house.

He’d laughed, pushing away the unsettled feeling he’d gotten when she mentioned it being their forever home. He hadn’t realized at the time how many times they’d fight over this very house—with Jesse wanting to move out to the country and MaryBeth being adamant that they stay right where they were.

He’d mourned her, holding on to his grief like a shield, but it hadn’t done him or his son any good. He’d closed himself off from others, and Oscar had copied him, doing the same thing. It was why he’d moved them to Tenacity. They both needed a fresh start. He hadn’t planned on dating anyone, but he wasn’t about to ruin this chance with Carly now that he had one.

He took a deep breath and stepped back into the house, his emotions swirling inside him. He felt sadness at having to let this connection to MaryBeth go, but he also felt hope for the first time in ten years…thanks to Carly. He went back into the hallway to pick up the box he’d been filling. He carried it out to his truck before going back into the house to look around one more time to make sure he got everything.

He stopped when he entered the kitchen. The appliances were outdated and the cupboards needed an upgrade. He wouldn’t be surprised if it was the first room the new homeowners ripped apart and renovated. Quite frankly, Jesse never really had time for this part of the house. He was a crap cook on a good day. But that wasn’t the only reason he’d avoided it.

This was the room where he’d found MaryBeth that fateful day. His memories played the horrific sound of Oscar crying hysterically as the little boy paced the floor next to his unconscious mother. Jesse could almost still feel the clamminess of MaryBeth’s skin when he’d hurriedly kneeled by her side and clutched her hand to his chest, screaming—pleading—with her to stay with them while the approaching ambulance wailed somewhere in the distance.

The aneurysm had been as mercilessly swift as it had been fatal.

Jesse blinked away the tears that tried to escape his eyes now. He pushed the moment out of his head, only to find himself staring at the spot on the faded yellow linoleum floor where he’d found his wife.

His hand held his phone in a grip so hard it ached. It suddenly felt like a lifeline. A connection to a second chance at happiness if he only reached for it. And maybe that was what this whole thing with Carly was. A second chance.