I pulled up to the house, and then walked slowly to the door, finding it pulled open before my boot hit the first porch step. I gingerly met Jan’s eyes, and she let out a quiet cry, opening her arms which I walked into without hesitation.
“Beckham Cahill, as I live and breathe, what are you doing here?”
“I came for Katie, Mom.”
“Ooph, kid, have you seen her yet?”
I grimaced. “Yep.”
“And?”
“I’ve got a bruised ego and sternum for the trouble.”
“Come in, honey, I’ll make coffee,” she said, closing the door behind us.
“How are you feeling?” I asked as I sat in one of the stools at her kitchen island.
“I feel pretty much the same.” Jan grabbed a filter, filling it with coffee, then prepped her machine and hit ‘brew.’ “Chemo’s gonna be a bitch, I’m sure. But that doesn’t start until Wednesday.”
“I’m stickin’ around, so whatever you need.”
“You’re really sticking around?” she asked.
I nodded.
She smiled. “I’m so glad, honey. Katie’s been a complete mess, you know?”
“Yeah, Mom, I know. Me too.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand. “So, am I the reason you came back so soon?”
“Kind of.”
“Kam,” she admonished. “I’m gonna be just fine.”
“I’m sure you are, but it lit a fire under my ass in a way. I’ve been gone long enough. I guess I needed a reason to fight my way back. I was gettin’ complacent.”
Jan gave me a gentle smile. “But she’s angry and hurt, and now she’s digging in her heels because she’s angry and hurt?”
“Pretty much.” I sighed. “I want to marry her, Jan. Do you think there’s even a chance?”
“Oh, my sweet boy, there’s a chance. You’ve just got your work cut out for you. My daughter’s a lot like me, but she’s more like her father, may he rot in hell.”
“Whoa, let’s not go disparaging my woman there, Jan. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’m not gonna listen to anyone say anything negative about her. Especially her mother.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. Sorry.He’san asshole, not Katie,” she rushed to explain. “What I meant was, that in the ways that my ex was stubborn and set in his ways, she is as well, and that has served her well in being tenacious with her career change and her loyalty. For her dad, the flipside made him a piece of shit. I’m sorry. I should have clarified.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Jan grinned. “Wowzer, Hatch really raised you and Billy to protect their woman above all else, huh?”
“It’s not like you didn’t have a hand in that raisin’. You did save my life, after all.”
“You’re sweet, honey, but I have made my mistakes, especially with Grace, and I’ll regret those for the rest of my days.”
“I think you’ve made up for those. At least, I get the impression from both Flea and Grace you have.”
A sad smile formed on her mouth. “Probably because she’s extremely gracious, but I watch my son sometimes and he’s still a little leery.”
