Page 47 of Second Chance

22

The Trouble With Kids Is…

Kids Can Be Troublesome

[Mati]

I’ve tried to call Jax over the last couple of days, but it’s clear he’s avoiding me. Instead, I call Jordan. Of the two twins, he’s more like his father, not only in that he’s a lawyer but in his mannerisms. He’s conservative, meticulous about details, and structured to a fault. It’s one reason Maggie and he don’t have kids. He wanted to wait, while she wanted to take a chance. Putting off trying has only prolonged the heartbreak for Maggie as pregnancy hasn’t happened in five years of marriage.

“Hey, Mom,” Maggie says immediately upon answering Jordan’s phone. She’s called me Mom from the beginning, and it warms my heart as I don’t have daughters. Her own parents were thrilled she married Jordan but remain distanced as they live in South Carolina.

“Hey, Maggie. Have room for old Mati at supper?”

“You’re not old and no need to ask. You’re always welcome.” Maggie sounds tired when she speaks to someone—presumably my son—and returns to me.

“Jordan says how about if we meet you at the pub?” The pub is the last place I want to go, but I agree because I suggested dinner. The other restaurant options in town include The Patio steakhouse or the diner, which isn’t an option tonight. I accept the invitation and fifteen minutes later pull into the alley, find the employee spots directly behind BRMP full, and circle back for the public lot to park.

Crossing the alley and walking around the side of the pub, I see Roxanne outside the bookstore across the street. She’s eclectic, a bit eccentric, and a whole lot of au natural, but as I’ve said before, I like her. I wave, and she waves back. I see nothing wrong with her.

When I enter the pub the first person to accost me is my brother Billy.

“Did you see that…that…urg…outside?” He nods toward the window facing the direction of the bookshop, and I admit I’ve never seen my brother so flustered. “She put in for a permit. She wants to host some kind of Booktober thing, selling books on the sidewalk.” Billy’s aghast at the thought, but I like the idea.

“So? Sounds fun.”

“Fun? Fun! She wants it for the same weekend we have the Oktoberfest.”

I shake my head, not understanding why we can’t share the space. We don’t want the sidewalk, we want the street.

“What am I missing here?” I ask, my eyes narrowing at my brother as he swipes a hand through his hair and tugs at the top. He’s been acting strange the last week—distant and distracted—and I worry it has something to do with Kristy Moseley.

“Nothing. Just ignore me,” he huffs, spinning away from the window. Now, I know something’s wrong as he never wants to be ignored. He loves attention. But he takes a deep breath and asks, “What can I get you?”

“I’m meeting Jordan and Maggie here,” I call to him, as I follow behind him while he walks the length of the bar.

“They’re in the back corner with Jax and Hollilyn.”

I stop. This should be interesting. Stalking to the farthest table in the corner, I slow my approach and swallow the lump in my throat. My boys are laughing. Their girls each slapping at them. Jax and Jordan tap beer mugs and then take a sip of their beverage. They look happy, healthy and whole, and I want to feel like them again. Chris and I would have completed the party—a six pack. Now, I’m a party of one.

“Mom,” Maggie says, noticing me first and standing from her seat. She steps around the table to intercept me with a deep hug. “Don’t be upset.”

I don’t know what I’d be mad about until I see the sullen expression fall across Jax’s face.

“Hello, family,” I say, trying to keep my voice chipper and my hurt down.

“Mom,” Jordan says, standing to drag a chair from another table for me to join them and sit next to him. He’s making a statement. He’ll play mediator. Hollilyn sits on the other side of me.

“Hello, baby.” Jordan doesn’t flinch when I call him the endearment, even at twenty-six. “Jax,” I say a little sterner, twisting my lips as I speak to my other son. Here’s the thing about Jax. He’s totally opposite his twin brother, and a little too similar to me—stubborn to the core with attitude and conviction rolled into one.

“You look sexy.” Hollilyn compliments me, meaning well to loosen the tension, but Jax spits out his beer and Hollilyn turns back to him to mop at the table.

“Are those leaves in your hair?” Maggie asks, a smile curling on her pretty face as her brows rise. Maggie is a brunette, with soft waves and an even softer face, flawlessly natural in comparison to Hollilyn. Her brown eyes give away her emotions, and she looks both pleased and surprised as I tug at my wild hair to find pieces of foliage I missed.

“Oh, I was at Magnolia’s today. Yard work.”

“How’s your back?” Hollilyn asks, and Jax scowls at her.

“Was Denton there?” Jordan asks, and now it’s my turn for surprise. My eyes shift to Jax and back to Jordan.