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Jake swallowed the sudden emotion clogging his throat. His father had always believed in him, had always thought he was worthy of more than what he allowed himself.
Why had Jake not believed it?
He'd let himself be swallowed by guilt, paralyzed by cowardice, locked into his life by something he'd not had any control over. Even though he knew he'd created a mold and poured himself into it, he'd never been able to break free. There'd been no motivator, no good reason to want to be a better Jake.
But now?
Now everything had changed. And Eva had been wrong. Just because he had always messed up every relationship didn't mean he and Eva shouldn't try moving toward love. Didn't they owe it to themselves to test this thing they had? Not just sex... even though he knew it would be smoking hot between them. Couldn't not be. The kisses they'd shared told him all he needed to know about their chemistry. But maybe they needed to let themselves own what they felt.
It was merely a matter of convincing her. Today. Now.
He didn't want to wait another second. "I have to go, Dad.”
"Eva's in New Orleans today. Taking Charlie to visit Claren for the first time since she went into rehab. Might as well enjoy your mama's roast and potatoes. I'm starving, myself." His dad rubbed his belly and smiled. "Plenty of time for romancing pretty gals later. You, after all, don't need practice."
Jake shelved his disappointment at not being able to go to Eva that second and extended his hand to his dad.
Dan made a face before tugging Jake into a bear hug. Warmth flooded Jake at the comfort of his father's arms. Releasing him, Dan Beauchamp grinned. "You know you take after me, right?"
Jake shook his head.
"I didn't need practice, either."
And that made him laugh.
"Don't laugh. I got your mama on my first try. God is good, son," his father said, wrapping an arm around Jake and steering him toward the kitchen. "All the time."
EVA PULLEDINTO the driveway of Dan and Fancy's house and shifted into Park with a sigh.
The day had been exhausting, and the last thing she wanted was to make idle chitchat, but Charlie had left his backpack at the Beauchamps, and he had homework to do.
"Go inside and get your backpack," she said to Charlie, who'd remained quiet as a graveyard the entire drive from New Orleans back to Magnolia Bend. They'd spent the afternoon visiting Claren, and it had been... not exactly excruciating, but very close. The rehab facility where Charlie's mom was staying had the highest success rate in the area. The doctor and staff were first-rate, treating their patients with utmost respect and compassion. One would think Claren would appreciate the efforts made to help her fight the addiction that had already cost her so much.
But no.
Claren had spent the allotted hour with Charlie raging at the judge, at the medicines that weren't working, at Child Protection Services for giving Eva physical custody, and about the fact she couldn't go shopping for Charlie's birthday.
"I suppose he didn't even get a party," Claren had said, her eyes blazing.
"Of course we had a party,"she said in a fake chipper voice, patting Charlie, who had remained silent throughout the entire visit. He'd been so excited to see his mother, but as soon as he took one look at her, he'd clammed up, tolerating Claren's hug as if she were a stranger.
"Yougave a kid's birthday party?" Claren scoffed, pushing back hair seriously in need of a good coloring. Her eyes were ringed in darkness, her pasty skin holding two circles of color in her cheeks. "I would have loved to see that."
"Hey, I can host a birthday party," Eva said, keeping her voice light since the woman looked on edge. "I even got party favors."
Claren looked at Charlie. " Did you have fun, bull frog?"
Charlie nodded, as if in a trance.
"What's wrong with him?" Claren asked, lifting an accusing gaze to Eva. "What have you done to him?"
"Nothing," Eva said, giving Charlie a comforting pat before rubbing his shoulder. He didn't pull away. Just lowered his eyes to the floor. "He's readjusting. You know. It's a different place, and when he last saw you in court it was sort of traumatic.”
''Are you mad at Mommy, Charlie?" Claren asked, pulling her son to her, smoothing back the hair from his forehead. "Mommy is sorry. She'll make it up to you when she gets out of here. We'll go to the carousel and have sno-balls.”
Charlie merely nodded, and Claren pushed him away. "You've turned him against me. I can see that."
"No," Eva said, rising from the stiff pleather sofa in the clinic's receiving room. "He's just overwhelmed, Claren. This is all new to him."
