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“I’d offer to pick you up, but thought Alex might be uncomfortable if I come by the house.”
Now he learned discretion?
Aware that DeeDee had come into the room, Kayla restrained the tart response that popped into her mind.
“You’re probably right,” she said. “Name the place.”
“How about Simpson’s Deli? We could get sandwiches and go to the county park. It’s quieter than the one downtown.”
And more private, Kayla added silently. Unlike the anonymity of city life, everybody in Schuyler seemed to know everybody else’s business. She didn’t want inquisitive ears to overhear them any more than Jackson did.
“Sounds fine,” she told him. “I’ll be there at half past noon.”
“Great.”
At exactly twelve thirty, Kayla arrived at the deli. Jackson was already there, waiting outside the door.
“Hi, Kayla. We don’t need to go in, my housekeeper packed a meal.”
Whatever speeded things up sounded terrific. Insisting on driving her own car, Kayla followed Jackson to the pleasant park at the edge of town. They found a picnic table in the shade and he handed her a foil-wrapped plate holding a selection of sliced meats and salad.
“This looks good,” she said, “but I don’t want to pretend it’s a social occasion. What’s your idea?”
“Well, I usually take Morgan on a vacation this time of year, and since you mentioned Alex wants to see Yellowstone National Park, I thought I could take her there with Alex. It would be neutral territory and we’d have an opportunity to get acquainted.”
Kayla dropped her fork and stared. “What makes you think I’d let you take my son to another state?”
“Right, that won’t work,” Jackson said hastily, his expression almost comical as he regrouped. “Perhaps we could all go together—you and DeeDee, and maybe your grandparents. Alex would feel he’s got plenty of support.”
She frowned. The last thing she wanted to do was spend time with Jackson, but there were aspects of the idea that might work. DeeDee and Alex enjoyed camping and they’d been bugging her about wanting to visit Yellowstone and see the Old Faithful Geyser. It would mean more time away from Seattle, but it was feasible; a friend was checking the house and feeding the cat, and her business manager was top-notch. Roger could easily keep things going in her absence. Besides, she had both a smartphone and computer, so she was available if needed.
The big question was whether Alex would be interested. But at least Jackson was asking instead of trying to give orders. Considering his temperament, she’d expected a list of demands that would tempt her to kick him where it would hurt the most.
* * *
JACKSON WATCHED KAYLA’S FACE, hopeful she was considering his hastily revised proposal. In the early a.m. hours he’d once more come to the conclusion that insanity must be an inevitable outcome for parents of teenagers.
In his case, being a jackass hadn’t helped. He should have thought everything through before contacting the Garrisons. Instead, he’d made matters worse. Again. Of course, the situation was only worse if Kayla was being up front about Alex’s reaction. No matter what she said, he didn’t have any particular reason to trust her word for anything.
Shortly after 4:00 a.m., the possibility of taking Alex and Morgan to Yellowstone had occurred to him. Getting Morgan out of her routine for a while might be helpful, and a fifteen-year-old boy would surely enjoy a camping trip. He should have realized Kayla wouldn’t let Alex go alone.
Come to think of it, what had made him think Alex would be okay with the idea?
“So?” Jackson prompted. “What do you think?”
Kayla ate a bite of the chicken. “I’ll talk with him. He wants to see Yellowstone, so he might be tempted.”
Suddenly Jackson had an appetite, and he dug into his potato salad. He wasn’t accustomed to waiting—usually there wasn’t time on a ranch to sit around and weigh the options, so he just did whatever had to be done. Planning a trip to Yellowstone might not be action, but it was a step in the right direction.
CHAPTER FIVE
ALEX STARED IN amazement at the fish he’d just landed.
Grandpa chuckled. “What’s the matter, son?”
“Nothing.” Alex carefully removed the special catch-and-release hook so he could toss the fish back into the water, glad Uncle Pete and Grandpa didn’t want to eat what they caught that day. “I just didn’t know what fishing was like.”
“I told you,” DeeDee said, rolling her eyes. “You put a worm on a hook and try to see if there’s a fish too dumb to know there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
