Dear Somebody

Chapter Eight

    I look up at the sound of DJ giggling when Dalton fake tackles him to the ground. I can't help but smile, no matter how much this is breaking me, DJ is happy and that's all that I'll ever care about. I watch as Jackie walks out the back door and towards me holding two glasses of iced tea. She's smiling but I can tell it's not real.

    She's worried, just like everyone else.

    I'm sitting in the shade under the big tree in our back yard going through all the things I'll need to do tomorrow to get the bakery up and running in a week. The guys were nice enough to take the week and help, but I can't help but feel like this isn't going to work. There's just too many things that need to be done.

    Jackie stops and sits on the grass next to me, "How are you?"

    I take the offered tea and keep my eyes on my computer, "Have you come to tell me what a mistake this is too?"

    She sighs and I see her lift her head to look over at DJ, "He looks really happy."

    "He is really happy. It's all DJ has ever wanted."

    "I don't think this is a mistake Harley, not yet any way."

    "What does that mean?"

    "The only mistake I see happening here is you wanting to go back to him."

    "That wont happen."

    She gives me a sad smile, "Come on Harley. You may be able to lie to all the others but not me. I've been here longer and I know you better. Even when you were with Casey you still loved Dalton, you still do."

    I set my laptop on the grass and sip from my glass, "I can't change that, all I can do is not act on it. I can't go through anymore heart break. I don't think I'd be the same if I did."

    "So you're just going to be alone forever."

    I nod, "I've had two great loves in my life, what are the chances I would get a third Jackie?"

    "You can't give up."

    We both look over as the back door slides open and Casey toddles her way out, heading straight for Jackie and I. Landon chases behind her intent on getting her back inside. They didn't want Casey anywhere near Dalton and I didn't want anyone else watching DJ.

    "Let her be Landon." I call out smiling as Casey giggles her way to me.

    "You do know I share a room here with Rascal right?" Landon grumbles when Casey plops herself down in my lap.

    "Tell him to take it up with me," I pause. "What the hell happened to you? You like you got caught in the line of fire in a food fight."

    "Casey does not like carrots."

    I snort and wrap my arms around my little girl who reminds me every day who her father is. My genes must not be strong because both of my children are the spitting images of their fathers. It kills me a little on the inside, how much of a reminder they are, but I never hold it against them.

    "Did you give uncle Landon a hard time Case?" I say snuggling my face into her light blonde hair causing her to giggle.

    "Carrots gross."

    "They're yummy and good for you."

    "Don't lie to the child," Jackie says lifting Casey from my lap. "I agree with you bug, carrots are gross."

    "I will not have both my children be picky eaters, DJ already took that title."

    "Can't force food on a child." She chastises kissing Casey's cheeks while tickling her tummy.

    "There's no law that says you can't force a child to eat food Jackie. They are not living off of crap for the rest of their lives. I already have five adults that do that."

    Jackie gasps and pushes at my shoulder causing me to fall sideways into Landon's legs, "Did you just compare me to those neanderthals?"

    "Actually neanderthals ate better then you guys do. They were all about living off the earth and what it had to offer. You think they had processed sugars back then?"

    Both Jackie and Landon groan, "I don't need another lecture on good eat Harley."

    I shrug and pick my laptop back up, "I'm just saying, you might not feel like s**t all the time if you didn't eat all that garbage."

    "Says the sweets baker."

    "Just because I believe in being healthy doesn't mean I can't bake unhealthy things. Besides I have a few healthy options on the menu."

    Casey must finally notice DJ in the yard because she starts squealing and flapping her arms in her brothers direction. Jackie's hold tightens when she tries to get up to go to them, but Casey is stronger then she looks. If you don't get both legs and arms around her she's gone in seconds.

    "What do I do?" Jackie questions before she grunts when Casey's elbow connects with her gut.

    I shrug, "Let her go."

    I can tell they are both looking at me but I don't bother looking up at them. A few seconds later she's toddling over to DJ, who hands her one of the squishy balls we keep in the yard just for Casey to play with. She winds her arm back and lets the ball go, it flies clear over Dalton's head.

    Everyone watches as the ball rolls a few feet away from him, he smiles and turns back to the little girl. "Quinton must be teaching you to throw."

    I hear the harsh breath Landon sucks in, but to his credit he doesn't move. 

    The fact that Dalton knows so much about these guys must be really hard. Quinton has been teaching the kids to throw. DJ wants to go into baseball and football this year and the guys want Casey to go into sports that aren't just woman based which I am all for. The fact that Dalton can guess something like that must feel like a hit to the heart to Landon.

    "You're sharing your bed with Rascal tonight," Landon says finally sitting down and leaning against the trunk of the tree.

    "He'll get over it."    

    "You do know who we're talking about right? How long did he wait to get back at me for the stupid scare prank? I think I sat on the edge of my chair for at least three months before he finally got me back."

    I chuckle at the memory, "Nothing will ever top that Halloween. Who knew you had such a big fear of spiders?"

    He growls and yanks on my ponytail, "You knew!"