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“Don’t sound so surprised. I can cook,” he said.
“Really? I would never have figured that,” Callie said.
“My mama taught me to cook when I was ten years old. She said that there was no sense in counting on a woman to cook for me when God gave me two hands and a bright mind for learning.”
Callie let out a hoot of laughter. “That sounds like your mama. She sure is a pistol.”
Jax felt his smile tighten. “Less so lately. The stress of my father’s woes have gotten to her. It’s hard keeping your head held up high in a town like Savannah, especially when the media has taken such a delight in archiving my father’s fall from grace.”
“I’m sorry,” Callie said, her expression rueful. “Trust me. I feel very fortunate that nothing about Mac or my father’s deception has popped up in the scandal rags. They would love to feast on that particular bone.”
Jax rolled up his sleeves and began washing vegetables in the sink.
“Wow. You really are cooking for me, aren’t you? How can I help?” Callie asked.
“You could get me a cutting board, a few knives and some mixing bowls, olive oil, as well as a skillet. I’m making stir-fry for you.”
Callie rubbed her stomach. “I’m really famished. This afternoon was pretty all-consuming.”
“I’m dying to hear all about it,” Jax said, taking the cutting board from Callie as soon as she pulled it out of the cupboard.
Callie quirked her mouth. “I’m sorry, Jax. I can’t really give out any details, but let’s just say that I got a lot more than the pearl necklace I thought she’d left me.” Callie graced him with a full-out, spectacular, pearly smile.
“Seriously? You can’t leave me hanging like that. That is pretty cool,” Jax said, feeling happy for whatever items were making Callie so bubbly. He liked seeing her this way. Content. Joyful. There was nothing better than seeing her smile. As of late she had been somber. Her parent’s betrayal had hurt her deeply, despite the immense joy she had experienced after being reunited with Mac. Mac had been the silver lining in the clouds. He thanked the Lord for bringing Mac back into Callie’s life.
“All will be revealed in time,” she teased. “What I can tell you is that I saw Hope today and Charlotte. We were all back together again…except for Fancy.” Callie’s face fell.
“Hey, that’s great news. And who knows? Fancy may come around.”
Her face brightened. “I pray you’re right. Then the circle would be complete. We have work to do with our friendships and figuring out what forces splintered us apart, but I’m willing to do anything to make things better.”
Jax focused on cutting the vegetables. It was nice to know that, for the
most part, the girls had reconciled. For most of his life they had been the most tight-knit of friends. Loyal and loving. Protective of each other and supportive. He couldn’t imagine one without all the others. Their friendships needed to be mended. Completely. Thoroughly. Life was way too short to be at odds.
Ouch. He felt a pain in his chest at the knowledge that he had been at a standstill with his father for way too long. How could he dole advice out to others while maintaining this stalemate with his father? He needed to think about this, long and hard. He was still furious with him, but he loved him. And he missed him terribly.
“You look serious,” Callie noted. Their eyes met and he found himself getting lost in her brilliant green eyes.
“Truthfully, I was thinking about my dad. I’ve been hard on him. Why is it so easy for me to extend grace to others, yet when it comes to him I’m as hard hearted as a miser.” Jax shook his head as shame threatened to swallow him up whole. “He’s sent me dozens of letters, placed collect calls to my phone and pretty much sent up smoke signals. Why can’t I forgive him?”
“Probably because he’s your father and you expected better of him,” Callie said. “I know how it feels. My father was always my hero. Smart. Resourceful. Patient. Of course I always knew he was competitive and ruthless in business, but he was always as gentle as can be with me.”
“You’re his princess,” Jax teased.
“And I guess he’s always been my King. Until recently,” she said with a sigh.
Jax moved toward the stove and began putting olive oil in the pan. “I think both of us are going to have to figure out how to work toward forgiveness. I don’t want to live my life holding on to anger.”
“I don’t either,” Callie said in a small voice. “I just haven’t figured out how to forgive him.”
“Neither have I. But my grandmother used to always tell me that sometimes you just need to take a step in the right direction.”
Callie smiled. “Your grandmother was one wise woman.”
“Yeah, she sure was. Did I ever tell you that Grandma Jean thought I was the best looking boy in Savannah?” Jax held up his hand. “Scout’s honor.”
Callie threw back her head and laughed. “I thought you were kicked out of the Scouts.”
