Hometown Healing. Jennifer Slattery
Jed laughed. “Peekaboo, huh?” He played along, revealing one goofy expression after another.
Ava giggled and snagged the brim of his hat, making it sit cockeyed. He plunked it on her head. Everyone laughed when it practically swallowed her. Everyone except Paige. She wasn’t sure how she felt seeing the man who’d broken her heart connecting with her little girl.
Jed chuckled and put his hat back on. “Gonna have to watch you, aren’t I?” He poked her in the stomach, eliciting a giggle, and then faced Paige. “She need a car seat?”
“Oh. Right. Hold on.” She paused. “Actually, how about we just follow. It’ll be easier.”
“Nonsense. I’ll grab it.” Her mom dashed to her car before Paige could argue.
Paige hadn’t seen her move that fast since...ever.
This was not how she’d planned to spend her first Sunday back in Sage Creek. But she couldn’t back out now, not without looking like an idiot.
So instead, she offered her widest smile, did her best to make small talk until everyone, Ava included, was settled, and slid into the passenger’s seat—Mom and Mrs. Tappen conveniently occupied the back. So they could sit near the baby. Allegedly.
Frowning, she swiveled and looked at each of them in turn, noting the sparkle in their eyes.
They were up to something, and it didn’t take a psychology degree to figure out what.
They could play matchmaker all they wanted. Paige and Jed were not getting back together. Even if she thought they held the slightest chance of starting over, which she didn’t, she had a kid. What man wanted a ready-made family?
He eased into the street and then headed toward the church. “What’ve you been up to? Feel good to be home?”
She cast him a sideways glance, wishing she hadn’t when her heart gave a lurch. “Haven’t been here long. But so far everything’s the same as when I left.”
Stopped at a red light, he looked her way and held her gaze. “Maybe not everything.”
What did that mean?
The conversation between her mom and Mrs. Tappen stilled, making Paige uneasy. Like they were all in on something and she was the odd man out. Or the target. Probably both.
Could Jed sense the tension? The not-so-subtle conniving the two older women were engaged in?
Paige watched houses blur into streaks of tan and blue outside her window. Until the uncomfortable stretch of silence became unbearable. “What about you? You working for your dad at his law firm?”
A tendon in his jaw twitched. “Nope. Got my business degree instead.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Really? What’d he say about that?”
“He wasn’t too happy about it. Still isn’t, but I couldn’t see myself sitting in a courtroom all day, helping people fight each other. Besides, I’ve never been a bookworm or an orator. Seems a man needs to be both for lawyering.”
“That’s good. That you figured out what you wanted, I mean. Stood up for yourself.” He’d always said he felt forced into a mold three sizes too small.
Mom and Ava began singing the alphabet song in the back. Jed joined in for a few lines. He shot her a goofy smile with his eyes crinkled, like he had countless times before, whenever he was on the cusp of a prank or about to share a joke. He’d always been quick to embark on some adventure, one he often tried to finagle her into.
“Are you happy?” The question came out before she could censor it, before she realized how much she longed to know his answer.
“I’ve been making out all right. Staying busy.”
“He bought half my business.” Mrs. Tappen reached forward and gave his arm a squeeze. “We’re partners now, isn’t that right?”
He nodded with his grin widening as his deep brown eyes swept in her direction.
“Speaking of—” his grandmother strained forward so her head poked between their seats “—didn’t you want to talk with her about something?”
Jed sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. He gave another nod, slower this time. “Been meaning to—ah—to finish the conversation we started the other day.”
She tensed, anticipating where the discussion was headed, as they pulled into the church parking lot. Women in pastel and floral dresses walked between the cars with their shiny-faced kiddos in tow. She recognized almost all of them.
Jed parked and swiveled to face her. “About that job... Have you given it more thought? We’d love if you’d write our scripts, press releases and other marketing stuff.”
He went on to tell her about his plans to turn his grandparents’ old theater, the one they’d poured their hearts into for decades, into some sort of Wild West–themed dinner theater. What did Mrs. Tappen think about all of that? If his plans failed, she’d lose her business, her husband’s legacy.
“Can’t pay a whole lot, but the hours would be flexible.” Jed tugged at his earlobe, a nervous habit she remembered well. That was how she knew when he was about to ask her something, or to do something. Like before he’d kissed her that first time. “Imagine nothing near what you’re used to. The turnaround would be pretty quick, but the work would be steady enough. We’d like to keep our shows new, fresh.”
“Least it’d be something,” her mother chimed in while unbuckling Ava from her car seat.
Paige winced inwardly. As true as her mom’s statement was, it only reminded her of how broke and unemployed she was. But she tried to maintain a strong, confident smile.
“I appreciate the offer.” She grabbed her purse from off the floorboard. “But I’m a journalist. I really doubt I have the skill set you’re looking for.” She reached for the door. “We ready?”
“Absolutely.” Mom exited the vehicle. “Come on, pumpkin.” She scooped up Ava and then lingered near Paige’s door.
Jed and Mrs. Tappen got out at the same time, and the latter rounded the front of the truck.
“Just mull it over, sugar.” She squeezed Paige’s hand. “No need to answer today.”
“I’ll do that.” She could think about it all day, all week for that matter. Her answer wouldn’t change. If anything, the notion made her all the more determined to find another journalism job.
As much as she loved Mrs. Tappen, and as kind as her offer was, Paige refused to be anyone’s rescue project.
* * *
In church, Jed tried to concentrate on the message, but his thoughts kept shifting to Paige, who was sitting between Grandma and her mom. Underneath her firm smiles and curt replies sat a deeply wounded woman, one who, if he were to guess, probably felt as if life were stacked against her.
Hadn’t he said she wouldn’t go for the writing gig? If not for Grandma’s prodding, he never would’ve asked. But he’d hoped she would, if only to spend time with her. To catch a glimpse of the sweet, tenderhearted girl that chased after lightning bugs and spent hours watching for shooting stars.
He knew things had been rough after her dad had left. Her mom had slipped into a scary depression, but Paige had acted like Jed was the enemy. Or had she simply grown leery of all men, marking him guilty by association?
Didn’t matter. She wasn’t interested. From the sound of it, she didn’t plan on sticking around Sage Creek long enough, nor could he offer her a financial incentive to stay. Not to mention she had a kid. As adorable as little Ava was, Jed wasn’t ready to be a dad.
The pastor closed in prayer, and everyone stood.
“Guess that’s it, then.” Jed grabbed his