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She could defend herself. She could cite all the things his sister had done to set up this confrontation, but what good would it do? She was stepping aside, a role she’d taken twice before. Addie was more important than her feelings and far more precious than her pride. “I’ll stay out of your way. You stay out of mine.”
He pulled back, surprised.
She waved a hand toward the restaurant. “My space. I’m working here, there’s no reason for you to be here. Goodbye, Jacob.”
She walked by him, into the restaurant and kept her head held high.
She would not lose it here, in public. She’d handled heartbreak before. Correction: she and God had handled it before. They’d do it again. Addie was safe, sound and, most of all, happy. She was beloved and treasured, and that’s all Josie had ever wanted.
She didn’t look back. She didn’t care if Jacob went north or south around the complex, but she meant what she said. He had no further business being in her restaurant, her space. She’d declared it off-limits. She understood her choices better than anyone else. She’d made them long ago. But if he thought he could intimidate her or thrash her self-esteem any more than he already had?
He was wrong.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sleep evaded him that night. When he showed up at his parents’ cottage the next morning, concern darkened his father’s gaze. “You look terrible.”
“Jacob.” His mother moved toward him while Addie gathered things from the back seat of the car. “Are you ill?”
“No, just a rough night. Not much sleep. Hey, listen, about this week—”
“I just paid the McCauleys another week’s rent,” his father cut in. “The people who’d booked had a sudden illness, and she was thrilled that we wanted to stay on. That will give us time with Addie while you look into this job arrangement you told us about.”
“I never thought a child of mine would be comfortable living up north,” Sheila added. “And yet, this place is so very charming, Jacob, and folks around here just love the way I talk. I do find their reactions positively refreshing!”
“I’m so glad Daddy is looking for a job up here!” Addie’s excitement made his decision even harder to face. “It’s like the best place ever, and maybe we can go shopping for a house and a cow!”
“Let’s not rush things.” He kept his voice calm on purpose, but while Addie seemed okay with his tone, his parents’ expressions showed question. “You have fun with Memaw and Pawpaw today, and we’ll figure things out later this week.”
“Okay, Dad!” She hugged him, peppered his face with kisses when he leaned down, then slanted him a saucy look, half sweet, part sass. A look that had Josie Gallagher stamped all over it now that he knew the connection. “We’ll have fun today. We’re going to the air show!”
“I haven’t been to one in years.” His father smiled at Addie, but he raised a brow of concern to Jacob. “We can talk later, son. Unless you want to talk now.”
And ruin their day? No. He just needed to keep Addie busy and away from the resort. Away from Josie. “Just some work stuff, Dad. No big deal.”
Bob Weatherly hadn’t raised two kids and run a multistate restaurant chain by being obtuse. “We’ll talk anyway. Kid, let’s go feed the gulls before we take off, okay?”
“Yes! I love the way they squeal and screech!”
“Are you all right?” His mother wasn’t fooled, either. “Jacob, if you need help with something, I’m here. We’re here,” she corrected herself. “What’s wrong?”
He couldn’t do this to her. She’d lost enough, and he wasn’t about to layer all this grief on her now that she was just getting better. He hadn’t seen her this relaxed since Ginger’s death, and the last thing he wanted to do was lay more heavy stuff at her door.
He’d handle this himself. He was a smart, educated, successful man. Surely there was some way to defuse this whole mess. Oh, sure, Josie had said she’d back out of the picture, but he had no reason to believe her. Not now, when he realized their budding relationship had been based on a network of lies. “Just end-of-job stuff, Mom. And wanting to make the best possible choices for all concerned.”
