Rachel

I heard the front door open. I texted Katie earlier about picking up the ground chicken that Mama Jane wants. She loves tacos made with chicken. Hopefully, Katie got my message.

I went to the stairs to see if Katie had the meat.

"Hey Katie, did you get my message? Mama Jane's wants..." My heart stops when I see him standing beside Katie.

Jacob.

Jacob Bridgestone was back.

"SURPRISE!!! Katie shouts!!" Not Jacob or I could react. "What's wrong with you two? Did you forget each other?" Katie snaps, looking at each of us, insulted that her surprise didn't go as she expected.

"Hey," Jacob said first, in an awkward tone.

"Hi," I repeat still in shock.

"Ray, where's Declan? I need to talk to that kid?" Katie asks, looking around the two rooms on either side of the front door area.

I try to talk,  acting normal, "Ah, I sent him to the back to put the shotgun away and feed the chickens."

"God Rachel, why was he outside? He's supposed to rest. He's sick." Katie said leaving Jacob and I frozen in our spots.

"He's not sick, Katie. He's skipped school." I shout, feeling a sense of awkwardness between Jacob and I.

"Did you come to see Mama Jane?" I ask, feeling stupid, asking a very obvious question.
   
Jacob blinks his eyes back and focuses on me again, "Yeah. Ah, Katie called me saying Mama wanted to see me." He stutters.

I nod my head. Mama Jane didn't tell me this. Not sure who really wanted Jacob to visit. Maybe Katie was doing her big sister job and tangled her brother back home to see their mama. Mama Jane hadn't been feeling good for a few months. Mostly in a wheelchair now.

" Well, she's sleeping right now. I can wake her up and —,"

" No." Jacob jumps,  seeming just as uncomfortable as I was, " I mean, let her sleep. I'm going to stay for a few days. There's plenty of time to see her."

"What?"  I blur out.

Jacob looks at me surprised, " Wow. Katie didn't tell you I was coming?

I shake my head back and forth.

Jacob signs, " I guess Katie is still up to her surprise, just like when we were kids."

I swallow hard when Jacob mentions a memory from the past. Feeling uncomfortable now, I made my way down the stairs, "Can I get you a drink? I just made iced tea." 

"I can go and stay at the motel." Jacob blurbs out.

I stop in my tracks. It would be better. For me, for him. For everyone involved. But everyone will wonder why Jacob went to the motel and not stay at his mama's house. Small-town folks like nothing better than to talk about the happenings in town.

"No. It's not necessary. I'm sure we have all matured enough to get through the next few days." I replied, not looking back to see whether Jacob agreed or not. I'm not a kid anymore. I'm an adult and I'm going to deal with this situation in that manner. Hopefully, Jacob can too.

"Yes," Jacob says behind me.

I turn around apprehensively, questioning what his "yes" refers to.

"I'll have some ice tea." Jacob clarifies.

I turn and continue into the kitchen, feeling eery in Jacob's presence. I had a lot to say to him but none of it can be said right now. Maybe he doesn't even care about it or me. He never bothered to check in on me all these years. The last time I saw him was the night he left. We snuck to the barn out back, right here on Mama's property. It was the last time he kissed me. The only time he said sorry to me. The last time he told me he loved me. The last time we made love under the stars.

"Why are you here, Rachel?" Jacob asks in a weary tone.

" Katie told me about Mama Jane getting sick and limited in her mobility. Katie couldn't leave the floral shop to just Gilbert and a caregiver would cost too much, so I moved back to PineBrooke about six months ago."

I give Jacob his glass of iced tea. He takes a sip, "Mmm. If anyone knew how to make iced tea, it was you." He said, closing his eyes, and taking another sip.

"Jacob, why else did you come?"  I demand.

Jacob puts his glass down, not looking at me, pulling a chair out to sit. "Rachel, I had no idea that you would be here. I heard you got married and left town. I never heard about you from anyone. Not Katie or Mama Jane, so in my defence, I simply came to visit my mom."

I sit down on the chair opposite from Jacob, feeling confused and uncomfortable. I fidget with my fingers as I try to make this feel normal somehow. There was a time when I longed to be near Jacob. Now. I just want him gone.

"Today's kids think they know everything." Katie said coming in from the back door. She looks at Jacob and me smiling, "Did you guys catch up a little?" 

"Yeah. Lots sis." Jacob said sarcastically.

"Shut up. Rachel is family and always will be, remember that." Katie said, walking by Jacob and messing with his shaggy reddish hair. The Bridgestones have ginger-colored hair. Katie has a more sunkissed orange tint. Jacob is more of an orange colour like his mama. Jacob is about six feet. Fair skinned and his dark blue eyes that you would want to get lost in. His broad shoulders and arms have defined muscles, as can be seen through his tight-fitted t-shirt. Obviously, he must be working with his hands still. Katie had to lift her arm high to mess with his hair.

"God Katie, I'm not 12 anymore." Jacob pipes up swatting at Katie's hands in embarrassment.

Katie hugs him from behind, "I'm sorry little brother. I'm just so happy that you are home. We are going to have so much fun," Katie looks at me, "look at our little Ray Ray. "

I roll my eyes as Katie refers to me as little.
Jacob glimpses at me, making my cheeks feel warm and so uncomfortable.

"She's all grown up now," Katie says in awe.

Jacob stares at me longer this time, as if it was the first time all over again, " Yeah she is." He says, looking at me in a hypnotizing tone.

I get up nervously, " I'm going to give Mama Jane her medicine. Jacob, you can wake her up. I'm sure she will be happy to see you." I said walking to the counter to collect Mama Jane's medicine.

Jacob stands up. He picks up the three roses. I smile. Always a mama's boy. He follows me to the guest room near the front entrance. Mama Jane's been staying in the guest room. It's on the first floor. She moves around in a wheelchair so the doctor suggests for her to stay down here.

I decided at that time to update the house. Since we were moving sleeping arrangements. Mama Jane and I picked the colors for her home and I got the job done.

"Mama?" Jacob whispers.

"Is that my son?"  Mama Jane says, with her eyes closes and a big smile. I smile at her words.

"Yes mama, I reckon I am." I quietly giggle at Jacobs' poor attempt at sounding all-country. "How are you feeling?" He asks his mama.
   
Mama Jane takes a slow deep breath, "I'm much better now that you're here." She says with grace, as she pats Jacob's cheek.

I smile at the mother and son moment. I can't send him away. It will break Mama Jane's heart. She and the family have been so good to me. Katie babysat me often when I was younger. She would always bring me here to her house. Katie was like a big sister to me.

I have no siblings and as of two years ago, I have no parents either. Both my parents became sick. They were older and had difficulty having children. I was their miracle child. So the Bridgestones became my extended family and that's how I met Jacob. Mama Jane and Papa Joe were always very welcoming. That's how I got to spend lots of time with Jacob. He's Four years older than me. We would never have spent so much time together, but Katie loved me like a little sister and had me over all the time. Jacob was one of those teenage boys that your daddy warned you to stay away from. He got grounded a lot and we spent a lot of time together because of it.

"Hi, mama!" Katie said walking into the room.

"Hi, Katie. Did you bring the ground chicken?"  Mama Jane asks.

Katie looks at me, confused "Was I supposed to?" 

" I texted you. Don't worry,  I'll get some when I pick up the kids from school."  I said. I walk to Mama Jane, " Here mama Jane. Your afternoon meds."

Mama Jane sits up, " I don't know why I need so many." She says complaining, as she takes her pills. She smiles at Jacob and slides herself up the pillows, "Nothing can make me feel better than having all my kids here together."

Katie hugs me from behind as Mama Jane holds my hand and Jacob's hand with her other hand, "Now this is what family is about."

Katie grabs Jacob, hugging him from behind, "Come. Help me make the salad and get the taco condiments ready. Rachel's going to make her small-town favorite tacos tonight to celebrate my baby brother's return."

I force a smile, "I'll be back."  I say as I leave the room. I take my sweater and purse from the closet.

"I can drive you if you... need a ... ride." Jacob said following me. I catch my breath as I remembered how he used to offer me rides, except, back then, he would tease me that I had to pay him with hidden kisses and make out with him.

"No thanks. I have my car." I said as I quickly make my way out the door avoiding looking at him. I walk to my car, scared that he's watching me from the window.  I focus on my task of getting out of here for a while and not on the fact that The Black Beauty has returned with its owner and is parked beside my small car.

I don't think I can do this.

——————-

I pick up three packs of ground chicken. It's a favorite and I'm sure Jacob will eat lots too.

"Did you see who drove in earlier today?" I hear a woman behind me say. I cringe. It's Lily Jones. She's Jacob's age and an old 'wildflower' of Jacob's. God, I hate that reference. Once I hid in Jacob's closet to hear what he and his friends were talking about. Billy referred to me as a 'wildflower' once and Jacob freaked on him. Nearly punched him out. Of course, his friend got confused over Jacob's reaction. Jacob excused it as Katie would kill him if anyone called me that.

Jacob was known to flirt with all the young ladies and most of them were only Black Beauty-approved. I know this because I sneaked around him and his friends when they would talk about it.  Of course, I cried a lot too.  hearing about his adventures in Black Beauty, wishing then that I would be one of the lucky girls to be in the fields with him, even for one night.

"Jacob Bridgestone!" Lily whispers with excitement, "And he's driving the black beauty".

"Lily Jones. What's wrong with you? You're married!"  Lisa reminded Lity.

"true, but if Jacob invites me to ride his black beauty, you know I'm going to have to accept his invitation. It would be rude not to." Lily sings with a devious smile.

The two ladies giggle like love-sick teenage girls all over again. Rolling my eyes, I quickly move away from them. I didn't want to hear anymore. I got more than the black beauty treatment years ago. I got the real Jacob. The one who wanted out of this hell hole he would call it. The fights he had with his dad. The cries that Mama Jane would have. The fear they felt when Jacob wouldn't come home for a night or two because he was grounded. But I also saw the sweet Jacob who hugged and kissed his mama. The one who helped his dad build furniture and fix things around the house. The one who taught me their nighttime prayer. The one who asked me to help write his speech for his sister's wedding. The one who fixed my bike when I rolled down the hill, the one who let me practice kissing with him and the one who broke my heart.

My head spins as I process the past and the present as they collide together.

"Is it true?" someone asks behind me. Lisa and Lily are standing by my side. They notice me. I look at them confused.
   
"Is Jacob staying for a while?  Is he moving back?"

" I don't know. I haven't seen him yet. I've been out shopping." I lie as the two ladies stare at my cart with only three packs of ground chicken in it.

"Okay, well if you see him, tell him we say hi and here's our numbers, in case he wants to catch up, like old times." Lily gives me a paper. I put it in my pocket not looking at it. I don't want to stand here and witness two desperate women trying to find a quick ride on the black beauty for old time's sake.
   
I pay and quickly walk out of the store.

_________________
 

I park in the school driveway, looking for the three kids.

"Hi, Rachel," Charlotte said, climbing into the back seat of my car.

"Hi. Did you see Gavin and Matthew?"

"No." Charlotte quickly answers as she grabs her iPad from her backpack.

"Charlotte, you have to wait for the boys too." I remind her.

"How's Declan? Was he sick?"

"He's feeling a little under the weather," I said.

"You know he hates school right?"  Charlotte confirms.

I look around at the children walking out of the schoolyard. I see Gavin and Matty walking. I smile as I look at them.

"Hi, boys. How was school." I ask as they settle in their seats.

"Boring," Gavin says.

"I can't wait for the summer break," Matty says.
   
I smile at them all. " Well, I know what will make you guys happy. We're having tacos tonight!"

The kids cheer as I drive off.