“Yeah, that would have been nice,”Blake said.
Jesse just clenched his jaw tighter.
“Jesse, can we talk?”She looked straight at those angry eyes.
“No.”He turned.“Come on, Blake.”He walked right past her toward the door.
“Um, bye,”Blake said as he turned to leave.
She reached out and caught his arm.“Happy birthday.”
“Thanks. And thanks for the birthday presents.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I…uh…I should go.”He glanced to where Jesse had already slipped out the door.
She nodded and watched as he hurried after Jesse.
She sank into a seat at the table.“Jesse is never going to talk to me.”
Her mom set the plates back on the table and sat down.“It will take time. He’s very angry right now.”
“I know.”She stared at the empty shake glasses on the table, incredibly and ridiculously jealous of anyone who’d had a meal with Blake. Even her own mother.
“But it looked like Blake was glad to see you. His eyes lit up when you came in. I bet he wants to get to know you.”
“If Jesse ever lets that happen.”Disappointment swept through her. She stood.“Here, let me help you clear the table. And then I think I’m going to get me one of those magical shakes.”Though she doubted that drowning her problems in chocolate was going to help much. But it couldn’t hurt either.
Jesse and Blake headed to The Destiny after buying enough groceries to feed a football team. Or maybe feed just Blake for a couple of days. Jesse had made healthy choices. Fruit, milk, cereal that wasn’t just all sugar, whole wheat bread, and organic peanut butter. That was all healthy, wasn’t it? He’d also gotten steaks, chicken, bacon, and eggs. Though bacon wasn’t really good for a person, but it sure tasted great.
At the end of the pier, he paused. The Jenkins twins were headed his way. He wasn’t exactly sure how to deal with this. He didn’t want to hide the fact that Blake was his son, but he didn’t really want the twins to broadcast the news far and wide, either. He needed time to get adjusted to it all and most importantly talk to the lawyer tomorrow.
There was no escape, though. They were headed directly for them. He glanced quickly at Blake, hoping this didn’t go badly…
“Well, Jesse Brown, there you are,”one of the twins said.
“What happened?”He pointed to the other twin who was walking with a cane and had one of her ankles in a walking boot.
“I wasn’t being careful, and I twisted my ankle. Have to wear this old thing for a few weeks.”
“Jillian always has been a bit clumsy.”
Ah, now he could tell them apart. At least for a few weeks.
“I am not clumsy. The step was uneven,”Jillian insisted, then turned back to look at Blake.“And who is this?”
“This is Blake,”Jesse said. Maybe that would be enough?
“Blake?”Jackie questioned, obviously wanting more.
“Yes, he wanted to see The Destiny, so I said I’d take him out on her tonight.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”Jillian raised an eyebrow, obviously wanting to ask more questions.
But he wasn’t going to let that happen.“Hey, we really have to run. Lots to do before we cast off. Hope your ankle gets better soon.”
“Nice to meet you two,”Blake said politely. Of course. His mother had raised him right.
