“Jade really needs to see her mom.”
That was the last thing he expected Logan to say. “What?”
“I take it she didn’t tell you about Lydia.”
He shook his head.
Logan filled him in on how and where he met Lydia, and that they had been in touch since they were discharged from rehab.
As Logan told his story, Seb tried to remain impassive. But hearing about his and Jade’s relationship, their time in foster care together, the kid’s struggle with drugs and alcohol, and how Jade had bailed him out until she refused to do it anymore was shocking. She’d never said a word about any of that when they were together.
“She tried to adopt me,” Logan said. “Right after she moved to Atlanta.” He looked at Seb, his dark brown eyes full of somber appreciation. “When it didn’t happen, I was really angry at her. She’d given me hope and then let me down. I went off the rails even more after that.”
Seb was stunned. “Do you know what happened?”
He shook his head. “She’s never said, and I don’t want to ask now. I love her. We’re family no matter what. But I have to repair our relationship. I want to prove to Jade that I’m a better man now.”
Seb could see that he was, despite not knowing him well.
“I didn’t mean to dump all that on you.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not sure what to do anymore. I just know that if Jade doesn’t talk to Lydia soon, she’ll regret it, possibly for the rest of her life.” He paused. “I don’t suppose... Forget it.”
“Go on,” Seb said. “Say what you want to say.”
Logan turned to him, hope in his eyes. “Could you talk to her? Tell her how important it is that she see her mother?”
Seb exhaled. He easily read between the lines—there was something seriously wrong with Lydia. Possibly fatal. Logan didn’t seem inclined to elaborate, and Seb would respect that. The kid also seemed desperate. “What makes you think I can convince her?”
“I don’t know if you can.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t involve you in this. I just thought you might have some sway.”
It dawned on Seb that Logan still knew very little about his relationship with Jade. “Do you know why she’s in Clementine?”
“I figured she was here visiting you.”
So she hadn’t told him about the Harrington deal. And Seb didn’t think he needed to know. “She is. But we’re not close.” They never had been. Today had proven that.
“Oh. I guess I got the wrong impression. I thought you two had been...”
“Together?”
He nodded, looking a little sheepish. “My girlfriend tells me I can’t pick up signals for squat, so there’s that. Forget I said anything. I’ll figure something out.”
Seb didn’t respond and the conversation switched to benign topics—whether the Razorbacks would have a good football team this fall, how they were both looking forward to seeing Matt Damon again in the upcomingThe Bourne Supremacymovie, and Logan filled him in on a couple of new restaurants that had recently opened in Little Rock. Since moving back to Clementine, Seb rarely went to Arkansas’ capital city. Like Buford had always said, the less hustle and bustle, the better.
Shortly before sundown, Seb had to call it a day. “Early morning at the paper,” he said.
“But it’s Memorial Day.”
“And a Monday. Our hoedown special goes out tomorrow.”
They both stood, and Logan shook his hand. “Thanks again,” he said, appearing less melancholy. “For the cabin, and for listening.”
“Glad to do both.” He started to head inside, then paused. He’d been fighting the idea ever since Logan had brought up Jade and her mother, hoping it would go away. It only intensified. He turned around. “I can’t promise anything,” he said, “but if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll talk to her about Lydia.”
Logan broke into a huge grin. “You will? Whoa, man, thanks so much.” He pumped Seb’s hand again. “Seriously, thank you!”
Seb was gratified that he could give Logan a little hope, even though it would probably be fleeting. He had no influence on Jade. She hadn’t even trusted him enough back then to tell him about her family. Ten years wasn’t going to change her decision.
He made his way down the mountain road, his promise to Logan still on his mind by the time he reached Clementine. He wouldn’t see Jade until Tuesday, so there was no reason for him to keep thinking about a possible conversation concerning Lydia. What he needed to do was turn his place upside down and find that ledger. He’d already searched his car. It wasn’t there, and he’d upended all the clutter in his back seat—something he had to address soon. But the ledger came first. Flora would be back at work on Tuesday, and she would rightly read him the riot act if he didn’t find it by then.
