He stays in his chair, rocked by her words.
Is it that obvious? Is it written all over me? Do I really feel that way?
His eyes shift to the sound—trying to calm the war inside his chest.
Then, he looks over.
Sara is kneeling in the grass, picking up a rock that Jaq dropped. She flicks it out across the water—one smooth skip, then two. As she turns, wind in her hair, their eyes meet.
She brushes a strand behind her ear and gives him a small, hesitant smile.
Like she heard everything Catherine just said.
And for the first time… maybe she did.
66
Tide Between
Afteracoupleofhours of exuberant laughter echoing across the sound from them whimsically running around the yard, the four return to sit on the deck and catch their breath.
“Jaxon, what are we doing for dinner?” Catherine asks.
“Are you staying the night?”
“No, I plan on heading home a little later.”
“Are you sure? You can stay in my bed and I’ll take the couch.”
“I appreciate it, but I’ve got a few things to do in the morning.”
“Okay, well… what do y’all want?”
“Jaqueline, what would you like to eat?”
“Umm… pizza!” she says, grinning.
“Pizza it is! Jaxon, go ahead and order it. Then you can go pick it up,” Catherine playfully demands.
Sara laughs, “Go ahead and do that, Jax!”
“Really? Y’all are teaming up on me now?” he groans as he heads inside to place the order.
“Ten bucks says he’s calling Bennie’s.”
“I can’t take that bet—I know that’s who he’s calling,” Sara says through a laugh.
Jaxon comes back out. “I called it in. I won’t be gone long, I’m only going to Ben—”
“Bennie’s!” Catherine and Sara say in unison.
“Yep… time for me to go.”
“Daddy, can I ride?”
The word Daddy hits Jaxon like a punch to the chest wrapped in a hug. He freezes. Just for a second. Then turns, wide-eyed, the emotion sneaking up fast.
“Absolutely,” he says softly, holding out his hand for her. The two begin walking down the steps. He turns back toward the porch, shooting Sara a grin and a thumb up, silently mouthing she just called me daddy.
