Jacob

"Hey Rachel!" I said following Rachel to her car, . "What time does Matty go to bed?" trying to sound casual, but I'm really baffled by today's events.

Rachel smiles at me, looking confused, "the same time he has been going all week."

What a stupid question to ask, "Oh Yeah. About 8:15. Right. Ah, another thing, "do I put the dinner left overs in the fridge?" Another stupid question.

Rachel looks at me like I lost my mind, "yes Jacob. You know you do."

I really want to tell her to not go out. To stay home with us. I want to be selfish and keep Rachel the way she was. But she's grown up.  "okay. That's everything. Oh and be safe, okay. Guys are different these days. They can be forceful." 

"It's Hayes and in a small town." She answers back, in a pissy tone. 

"Statistics show attacks on women are rising in small towns" I desperately add.

She rolls her eyes, "And fiancés get in trouble when they're away form their other halves for too long."

I nod my head in understanding, "Have a good night." I surrender, walking back to the house.

"Thank you." She says opening her car door.

I have to say it. I might risk everything, but I can't end the night without her knowing, I turn around "Hey Ray?" Rachel freezes and looks at me ready to say something, "You look really pretty in that yellow dress." I say and turn around and make my way inside the house. I smile, maybe that will stick to her head while she's on her date.

"Hey hon, where did you go so quickly?" Zoe asks me,  walking  out of the kitchen.

"Oh I had to double check with Rachel what time Matty goes to bed."  I say.

"Oh sweets she told us, about 8:15."

"Yeah. That's what she told me." I said feeling stupid again.

"Come. We're making cream cheese and jam sandwiches. Your mama says it almost tastes like cheese cake." Zoe says, kissing my lips and pulling my arm to follow her in the kitchen.

Mama and Matty sit at the table. Mama mixes the cream cheese and jam together in a small bowl, "okay Matty, do you want more jam?"

"Yes please." Matty answers, licking his lips, as he digs a spoon into the jam and pulls out a fairly large amount of strawberry jam.

"Atta boy Matty!" I cheer.

Mama laughs, "Yes. Matty loves his jams." Mama says, " Matty, Do you know who else loves jams as much as you do?"

"Who?" Matty answers, trying to not drop the jam from the spoon in the bowl.

Mama looks at me with a smile, "Jacob." 

"Really hon. I didn't know you like Jam that much." Zoe answers, grabbing herself two slices of Rachel's homemade loaf.

"Yeah I do. I mean better is homemade. Less preservatives and sugar, but yeah." I shake Matty's hair on top of his head, "but that's cool. I don't know many people who like jam." 

"He will eat it out of the jar straight to his mouth." Mama continues looking at Matty with sweet glowing eyes, "just like my Jacob John did." 

I grab a plate and pick two slices of bread, "well I'm convinced. I'm having a sandwich too." I make my own concoction of black berry and strawberry jam mix with cream cheese and mix it."

"I hope Rachel's having a great night, " Zoe breaks the silence.

"Where did mama go?" Matty asks, then takes a bit of his sandwich.

"Out with friends,"  Mama comments, quickly shaking her head to Zoe.

Mama's all about respect and protocols and if I know mama, she's going to maintain it even if it means letting Zoe know.

"But we're her friends here."  Matty answers.

"Sometimes we have to share our time, Matty." Mama says, pulling back his long bangs from his sticky mouth, " and sometimes we have to let our loved ones go and explore." 

I look at the time. It's about quarter to eight. "Hey Matty, after you're done eating, it's time for bed." I say, surprisingly sounding like a parent.

"Can you read me a story?"  Matty asks.

I look at Matty smiling. A warm feeling comes over me. Different from any feeling I've had before, "yeah sure." I say.

Zoe washes the dishes and cleans up the kitchen after I give her some instructions on how to. I love her. She's trying so hard to fit in. Connecting with Rachel and Mama. And now helping with chores.

"Okay little man, what book do you want to read?"  I said as I cover Matty with his blanket.

"Make up a story."  Matty says.

"Make up one?" I question as I find myself with a blank mind, "I don't know Matty, a human's mind starts to lose its ability to be creative after a certain age." I tease.

"Please. Please. Please." Matty begs with his hands together.

"Okay. Okay. Now that you've begged me." I laugh, "okay. One day there was a princess."

"As petty as mama?"  Matty intrudes.

I look at him for a moment, " yeah. As beautiful as your mama." I take a deep breath, as I move Matty's hair back from his face, "she's a beautiful and smart princess and very caring. She made sure everyone in the castle was taken care of and was happy." I said laying down beside Matty looking out, " one day a Prince came along. And he was selfish. He wanted the princess all for himself."

"That's not nice." Matty says.

"No it's not. In fact, he kidnapped her and took her away from her castle and family."

"Oh no." Matty says jumping up from bed.

"Her people were so sad. They didn't know what to do. But a farmer's son, who secretly loved the princess, wasn't going to let this happen, so he went to the castle and told her family that he will find the princess."

Matty snuggles into my arms and lays his head on my chest, " I'm scared for mama princess."

I take that moment to enjoy this connection Matty and I have. He's adorable and sweet and loving my poor Pathetic story I'm creating, "don't be because the farmer's son had an idea and he sneaked into the mean prince's castle pretending to sell his horse. When he got into the castle he dressed up as one of the king's soldiers. While he walked around he found the beautiful princess and rescued her."

"How,". Matty asks.

"Oh." I said thinking of how to rescue the princess."  He pretended that he was moving her to another donegan. He tied her up. And they walked out. When they got out they took the horse and rode back to their village.

"Yeah!!!" Matty cheers."did they get married?" Matty asks.

I look at him, "well I don't know. Should they get married?" I ask Matty.

"Yes." He smiles at me, "He saved her. He must love her so they should get married." 

I smile at Marty's innocence. If only life was that easy. . "Okay little man. Time for bed." I say rolling off the bed and tucking Matty in again.

"Wait. Prayers!" Matty jumps up again. He sits up and puts his hands together and closes his eyes.

I hadn't said prayers since I left home. I smile and put my hands together and close my eyes too.

"Thank you God for today, for our food, for school and my friends. For mama, granny Jane, Katie, Gilbert, Declan, Charlotte, Gavin, uncle Jacob and Zoe." I smile, "and to my daddy wherever he is that he's safe." My heart crushes. Anger builds inside me. Rachel didn't deserve to be left alone to raise her child, but Matty definitely didn't deserve to be abandoned by his father .

"Uncle Jacob, can you tell me another story tomorrow?" 

I open my eyes and smile at Matty, " anytime little man." The moment calls for it and I can't leave without giving Matty a kiss on his forehead, "good night Matty."

"Good night Uncle Jacob."

*****

"What the hell Mama!"  I try to keep my voice down but I'm livid, "Rachel deserves better in life then a deadbeat dad as Matty's father."

"Hush Jacob. It's not our business."  Mama answers sitting at the kitchen table having her tea.

"So what? We sit and watch this poor boy rote without his daddy?!" 

"No. We support Rachel and Matty by being their supportive family and help both of them grow." 

"Mama. Rachel's merely a child herself. Going out with Hayes whom she doesn't really know. And Matty praying for his daddy to be safe wherever he is." I was frabagaetive at the situation.

"Now you listen to me Jacob John Bridgestone. First of all Hayes is a wonderful young man. His mama and I have been friends for years. Second, Remember you once were like him. Rachel is old enough and wise enough to know what's best for her and Matty. Lastly, you have a fiancé upstairs taking a shower. Why don't the two of you go out in town for a walk? Show Zoe around. ".

Thinking about what mama said. A walk around town?  Mama always knows best! "Great idea Mama." I said and quickly went upstairs. I slowly open the door so as not to scare Zoe, "Hey sweets."

Zoe's drying her body, smiling at me, " really Jacob. You couldn't wait until later."  She teases.

I smile, wiggling my eyebrows, "although that's a great idea, I wanted to see if you wanted to go on an evening stroll in the center of my old town. Mamas idea."

"Wouldn't we bump into Rachel and her date?"

"The town's not that small Zoe. It's possible, but I'll take us to the back paths. The area where no one could find me when I didn't want to be found." I smile with my teeth showing.

"Sounds romantic. I'm yours to take."  Zoe says, "Give me Ten minutes."

I make my way downstairs to meet with Mama in the kitchen, " you're sure it's okay." I double check realizing mama would be alone with Matty.

"Not a problem. Mrs. Gordon call and I invited her to come over for pie and tea."

I smile at my mama, "are you sure." I check with mama again as Zoe walks in all dressed in a black long dress.

"Yes. Yes, I'm sure. Go and enjoy the night."  She gives me and Zoe a kiss each on our cheeks. I grab my keys off the counter and Zoe and I walk out of the house.

"Jacob, is that you?"  Mrs Gordon says walking slowly to the stair. She's... petite. short curly black hair. Round rosary cheeks and a big smile. Billy looks a lot  like his mama.

"It sure is Mrs. Gordon." I say in a small town accent, hugging my second mama.

"And who's this beautiful darling you're hiding behind you?" Mrs Gordon asks, smiling from ear to ear looking at Zoe.

"This, ma'am, is my beautiful fiancé, Zoe." I say pulling Zoe in front of me.

"Hello Mrs. Gordon," Zoe greets her.

"Wow. Look at you. Doesn't your mama have such beautiful ladies in her house this summer." Mrs. Gordon looks at me, " where are you all going this evening?"

"We're going for an evening stroll in town." I said.

"We'll have a wonderful night."  Mrs Gordon says, patting my cheeks, "It's so nice to see you again." 

I help Mrs Gordon to the door and take my fiancés hand and walk to black beauty.