Until Her

Chapter 4-2

"How's my ladybug?" Jackson rumbled like a beast as he picked his daughter up to swing her around in circles. She squealed excitedly, her laugh alone bringing him large amounts of joy. He looked over at Anna, who watched, her entire face alight with love and longing. She was happy for him. He wanted happiness for all of them. Even Vivian, he realized. He wanted everyone settled in their place and feeling nothing but what he was feeling in this moment. He didn’t know what Vivian’s happiness would be, but he knew it wasn’t him.

"Daddy, I'm dizzy.” Ava was out of breath as she tried—and failed—to make her best out of breath look. Jackson stopped spinning and waited until she could stand without falling before he let her go.

"You look good wearing a little girl," Pearl said with a knowing smile.

"Feels good.”

"Y’all gonna feed us or what? Bear and the kids are hungry," Lola called, peeking at the food underneath the foil.

"She's right. I'm starved. Let’s get this welcome party underway. I’m so hungry, I could eat little girls named Ava," Treat joked, making Ava giggle.

Jackson wrapped his arms around Anna as he watched friends and family gather and eat. They'd gone all out. There was everything from pecan pie to jambalaya and stuffed shrimp. Pearl had even made her famous lemonade and sweet tea. Anna made a point of making his and Ava's plate against everyone's wishes.

“When does therapy start?" India asked.

“Tomorrow, Beau will be here early, then I meet with my kidney specialist, and my therapist.”

"That's a lot of appointments. You need me to come along?" India asked.

"No."

“Yes,” Jackson said at the same time.

"Jackson, I'll be fine."

"Baby, who's gonna drive you?"

Anna’s shoulders sagged before she answered.

“Beau could take me.”

Not in this life or the next.

“Who’s Beau?” Lola asked, clearly interested in the drama she could feel unfolding. She was a magnet for anything drama related.

“He’s my physical therapist. He came by the house this morning to introduce himself. He was nice.”

“Oh. Girl…” Lola looked between Jackson and Anna. “’He was nice,’ means he’s hot.”

Jackson looked to Treat, who looked at him with a gleeful look in his eye.

"I don’t know if he was hot. I mean, I guess he's okay."

"That means hot. Right, Chanty?"

Now she was enlisting Chantelle’s opinion. That was even worse.

"Lo, shut it and eat, baby."

Lola looked to Bear and smiled before taking a drink of her sweet tea.

"Bear, it’s a good thing you're not my man. Anna, spill it. I want deets. Give me the description," Chantelle added.

Jackson was two seconds away from changing the subject when his cell phone started ringing. Not looking at the caller ID, Jackson answered.

"Storme here."

“You enjoy spending time with your family?"

“Who is this?"

"Don't worry about who I am. Just know that I have information you need. You want to take down the Perettis, and you want the man who stabbed Anna, you'll meet me in two hours."

Jackson stood from the table and made his way into the hall. His plane was leaving in a couple of hours.

"I'm on a plane in a few hours, there's no way I can meet you in two hours.”

"Make it happen, Jackson. They're not finished f*****g with you or Treat Cavanaugh.”

The phone disconnected, and Jackson cursed. He called out to Treat, who came to where he stood.

"What’s wrong?"

"Just got a call. Don’t know who it was, but they claim to have information on the Peretti family.”

"How the hell did they get your number?"

"No f*****g clue, but he called.” Jackson tried to withhold the curses, but they came anyway. How the hell did someone randomly call his number? It was private.

“You need to meet him, but don’t go alone. You need backup, and I can’t be there. I'm not ready yet.”

No s**t. But he didn’t trust anyone at this point. If someone was able to get his number, that meant there was someone on the inside.

“I know, man, but who else can we get? Tracey is back in New York.”

"No, not her, but maybe one of your deputies?"

That wasn’t going to work. His deputies were clueless to the real case. As far as they were concerned, it was a robbery gone wrong.

"They don't know about the case, Treat."

"s**t, man. We need this. It could be the break we need to finally get Peretti brought in on charges. Something that actually sticks this time."

Treat paced back and forth. Anna and Joey came into Jackson's line of sight.

“What are you two over here whispering about?" His sister waddled over to Treat, and Anna walked over to him, pulling him into a hug. He needed that. His nerves were shot. She always knew what he needed in order to calm him down and clear his head.

"Something’s wrong, what is it?"

Anna knew him, inside and out. He knew they’d avoided conversation about the case, wanting to stay inside their bubble of comfort. But they would never outrun this, not until the case was closed.

"Baby, I gotta go."

"It’s about the case, isn't it?"

''Yeah."

She stepped back, hugging herself.

"I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to expect or how to react. What if something bad happens to you?"

Jackson stepped forward. Aware of Anna's stomach, he gently pulled her into his arms, kissing her soundly. Against her lips, he whispered, "I'll always come back to you."

Jackson threw everything into the kiss, trying to instill all he was feeling. He needed her to believe he was coming back. Nothing was gonna stop him from returning. He knew this was all new to her. Nothing too dangerous happened in Beauville. That he was back on active duty with the NSA meant he was in danger. All the damn time. He’d put his ass on the line, and because of it, he and Treat had to disappear. He wasn’t entirely comfortable leaving Anna. Even if she was with Treat and Joey. Treat still wasn’t at one hundred percent, and wouldn’t be for a few more weeks.

His phone rang again, and Jackson pulled away from Anna, answering the phone.

"Storme."

"I'll meet you at the airport. Gate 7."

That was his gate. How did this guy know that?

"I'll be there."

"Good. Come alone."

The phone disconnected. Jackson looked over at Treat and grimaced. He really didn’t want to leave. But he had no choice.

''All right, darlin’, I gotta go. I'm gonna go say bye to Ava. Remember to take your meds. Listen to your doctors. And if Beau makes you uncomfortable, you tell Treat."

"Right."

She was smirking. Actually smirking.

"What's so funny?"

"You are. I think someone's jealous."

As if. He wasn’t a jealous man. There was no reason to be. What he was, though, was not blind. He knew Beau was waiting for his window of opportunity. It was an opportunity the man would never get.

"No, darlin’, a man doesn’t get jealous.”

"Sure they don't."

“If the man-child makes you uncomfortable, you let Treat know.” He said again, this time more forceful.

“All right.”

“I’m not f*****g around, Anna, he makes you feel even a little bit edgy, you let Treat know.”

“I said all right.”

“Good girl.”

Several thoughts go through my mind as I watch Jackson leave. He looks so serious. Focused. It’s like he’s two different people. There's Sheriff Jackson, and then there's Agent Storme.

“Anna, you have time to talk?" India walks over, a smile on her face, and I know she wants to talk shop. Maybe the distraction will be good for me.

"Sure, what do you have for me?"

"Well, I met with the designer. We had some ideas, and I need your input."

"Sure. I'm excited to see what they've planned.”

I know India wants to start as soon as possible, and I don’t blame her. We go over the initial design; a 3D model that is like a walk-through. We go through it several times, and I try to stay focused, but I drift back to Jackson. India breaks into my thoughts when she says excitedly, "I love what they have planned for my studio loft."

"I know, right. It’s perfect. Now we just have to find the right builders."

“True.”

It really is perfect. We laugh and do our girly screams. My squeals aren’t as convincing, but I try and maintain my composure. Ava comes barreling down the hall and almost runs into the sofa.

"Slow down, Ladybug."

She is breathing deeply, a huge smile on her face.

"Nana's here. She brought me some cupcakes to share with Auntie Joey and Uncle Treat.”

''Okay, sweetie, go share."

"What is Jackson's mom doing here?” India asks.

"No clue."

But I have my own ideas. His mother is nosy and resourceful and…speak of the devil, there she is, standing in the doorway in a twinset and high-heel sandals, diamonds in her ears and around her neck. She's come to gloat. I can see it in her eyes. I wonder if she knows Jackson works for the NSA?

''Mom, what are you doing here?" Joey asks Corrine.

Joey's mother has a look of despair on her face. It’s the first time she’s shown any real emotion.

"Where's Jackson? He must come quickly."

“What's wrong?" Treat walks into the room where India and I are sitting with Ava.

“There's been an accident,” Corrine says, her lower lip quivering. My stomach knots and I become physically ill. I know nothing is wrong with Jackson; otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked for him. The only other reason she’d come here is because of Vivian.

"Is it Vivian?" I ask.

Corrine's eyes rake over me with such hate I inwardly flinch.

"Well, Corrine, what is it?" Treat asks again.

"Vivian's locked herself in the restroom. She's not answering. I'm concerned."

She does look worried. Lola grunts, and Chantelle stifles a giggle. Ava is the one whose eyes have gone wide with worry. The little girl turns to me, her precious mouth puckered in concern.

“I'll go to the house, Corrine. Jackson's left for New York."

"She needs Jackson. Only he can help her."

"Sounds like she needs to be put in the nuthouse is what it sounds like to me," Chantelle says.

"Mind your mouth," my mother says in a hushed tone. I reach for Ava's hand and do my best to reassure her.

"I'm sure your mother is fine, Ava."

"Okay." Her tiny voice is smaller, and I can hear the beginnings of tears. I try and take Ava's palm, but she doesn’t want my hand. Instead, she jumps into my lap, making me wince in pain. I bear it because it’s what she needs.

"Bear, can you come with so we can see what’s going on?" Treat asks.

"We should all go," Lola shares.

"No one is going anywhere except my husband and Bear. Mom, why didn’t you call 911?” Joey says.

"Because Jackson is 911."

"Mom, that makes no sense!”

''It makes perfect sense."

I can’t believe I'm hearing this. Corrine can't be that stupid. Ava is in my lap, nuzzling my neck as only little girls do. She's sniffling and making hiccup noises.

"Corrine, Jackson can't help Vivian," I say, rocking Ava back and forth.

"Yes, he can. As soon as he realizes you and he are not gonna work."

I'd like to say there is some civility still left inside of me when it comes to handling situations, but it’s not true. I can’t stand Vivian, and I really dislike Corrine. I'm about to open my mouth, but Lola beats me to it.

"Now, hold the f**k on. You're not about to come up here in Joey and Treat’s place disrespecting Anna like that, you dried up hag. Treat, you gonna let this woman disrespect your sister like that?"

“Your sister?" Corrine says in a whisper.

“Yes, Corrine. Anna is my sister. And Lola is right. You can’t come into my home, disrespecting my family.”

“Amen,” my mother seconds. If I had my camera, I would have taken several pictures of Corrine's face. But I don’t and must commit it all memory. It’s too priceless not to. There are equal amounts of confusion, surprise, calculation, and anger. Corrine is up to something. I can feel it.

"She's The Mayor's daughter, everyone knows that."

"No, she’s my cousin’s daughter, I just so happen to love her mother, kind of like how you love your gardeners and pool boys, only my affections for Pearl are real,'' The Mayor tosses out, pulling my mom in for a tight hug.

I just can't deal anymore, and with some effort and pain, I stand with Ava in my arms and leave.

Let them work all that s**t out. It's not my concern.