“Yeah,” he said. “That’s the thing. And on Wednesday, those people who I thought were friends, they weren’t. But two guys I haven’t seen in over a decade, they were the same as when we were teens. I didn’t have to play nice, didn’t have to pretend, didn’t have to worry I’d ruffle feathers.”
“They just accepted you for who you were,” she said. “I know. I understand that. Maybe I’m lacking that in my life too. I did for years. Tucker never cared for any of my friends and I lost most of them. Then I didn’t feel right going back to them as ifmy tail was between my legs even though it wasn’t. Part of me was embarrassed my marriage failed and I didn’t see what was happening.”
He pointed his fork at her. “That right there. The embarrassment. I was cocky and bragged and then I wondered if I’d be judged for failing. Or not failing, that’s harsh, for not succeeding the way I boasted I was going to.”
“Making a career change for whatever your reasons are isn’t failing, Jayce. It’s looking at the bigger picture and doing what makes you happy.”
“And getting divorced because your husband cheated isn’t failing either,” he said. “It’s accepting that what you once thought was right turned out to be wrong. That’s why I’m home. Nothing more than that.”
Then why did she feel as if there was more going on?
31
KEEP SHOWING UP
“I’m back,” Archer yelled when he came in the front door at noon the next day. “Did you miss me, Mom? Jayce. You’re here. Can we shoot hoops?”
“There you go again, another question before the first is answered.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“Yes, I missed you.”
Farrah looked at Jayce. “Oh, it’s my turn to answer. Sure, we can shoot hoops, but why don’t I say hi to your grandparents first?”
“It’s so good to see you again, Jayce,” Holly Hughes said when she came in the front door after Archer. “My grandson was excited to come home. He hasn’t stopped talking about all the fun you two have. Archer, weren’t you going to show me this Lego thing?”
“Oh, yeah. Let’s go, you too, Grandpa.”
“I’ll be back and we can chat then,” Daniel Hughes said.
He turned when he heard Farrah laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“I think you’re going to get the father talk,” she said. “I’m so glad I’ve got a son.”
“Like you’re not going to do the mother talk?”
“I’m totally going to do it when the time is right. That’s my baby boy.”
He pulled her close and gave her a side hug.
The earlier conversation was done and over with. It’d come out of left field.
He wanted her to open up and ask him anything, but hated that she was so worried that he wasn’t being honest. Or that she had doubts about his intentions.
There wasn’t much he could do about it other than keep showing up and proving her wrong.
The loud voice and laughter of Archer upstairs said more than anything ever could. This wasn’t about him. It wasn’t about Farrah. Not even about him and Farrah together. It was about that boy who needed something in his life and Jayce wanted to be the one to provide it.
“Can we go shoot hoops now?” Archer yelled as his feet pounded down the stairs before his grandparents.
“Why don’t you go out and shoot and your grandfather and I can watch from a distance while we chat? Sound good to everyone?”
There were smiles around the room as he asked that question. There was no reason to avoid a conversation that he’d want to have if Farrah was his kid.
They moved to the side of the property while keeping Archer in view as he dribbled and tossed the ball up for an easy shot.
“My daughter seems very happy lately,” Daniel said.
