Blue Skies, Season 2, Episode 8 (Rising Storm) (12 page)

The senator and his mother had left town. Simply pulled up stakes and moved to Austin. Well, they still had the house here, but thankfully, they’d moved on to greener pastures. At least for now. It made life easier for Jeffry, who was talking to Scott and Max. He waved when she caught his eye, looking more happy and relaxed than he had in years.

Chase and Anna Mae were holding hands while Rita Mae was deep in conversation with Tate, Mary Louise Prager, and Tate’s dad, while Tate’s brother Tucker was totally absorbed in Hannah Grossman.

Seemed like there was a rash of domestic bliss in the air. Lacey felt a little twinge of envy, and then shook her head. She was way too young to worry about settling down. As if to underscore the point, or maybe just the opposite, Max Marshall chose that moment to send her a wolfish grin. Maybe there was something to all this boy-needs-girl stuff after all. Her lips curled up in an answering smile.

“You ready?” Sara Jane said, interrupting her flirtation with Max, the pastor just finishing the invocation.

“Yeah,” Lacey said, smiling at her sister. It was time. Time to honor her brother. Time to recognize all that he was. Time to let him finally rest in peace. She moved to the podium and looked out across the gathered group of people. Friends, acquaintances, and family. She’d lived here her whole life. And seeing everyone come together to honor her brother, she realized just how lucky she’d been to grow up in a place like Storm.

“Thank y’all for coming. I’d like to think that Jacob can see all of you and know how very much he was loved. He wasn’t here with us for nearly as long as we would have wanted or he deserved, but the time he was with us…” Her gaze moved to Ginny. “Well, he made it count. He was a loyal friend. And a wonderful son. And the best brother ever. And if he could have been here now, I know he’d have made an amazing father.”

She swallowed, tears pricking the back of her eyes. “But I also know that even though he’s gone, he lives on in each of us. He will always be a part of the fabric of Storm. He’ll live on in our memories. And we’ll see him in Jake’s smile. And when we sit here on this bench, we’ll think of him. Of all that he was. And all that he gave us.”

Lacey smiled through her tears, her gaze moving from her sister to her father and finally to her mother. “And so I give you my brother Jacob’s bench. And I ask you to remember him always.”

Everyone clapped and smiled, and Lacey stepped away from the podium, her mother waiting for her off to the side.

“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. And Jacob would be proud, too.” Her mother had come so far from the day she’d found her in the cemetery. “It was a lovely thing to do.”

“I just wanted everyone to be able to remember him.” She hugged her mother and then turned to the other people waiting to commend her on the presentation of the bench.

Finally, everyone made their way to the parish hall where Tara and the other ladies of the church had laid out a fabulous spread.

Ginny stopped Lacey as she walked into the vestibule. “It was really nice what you did today. Jacob would have loved it.”

“Well,” Lacey grinned, “maybe on the inside, but you know on the outside he’d have been embarrassed by all the attention.”

“True.” Since the birth of the baby, the two of them had made their peace. Lacey was still ashamed of the way she’d treated Ginny, but the older girl seemed to have totally forgiven her, going so far as to ask her to be Jake’s godmother. It was a huge responsibility and it made Lacey proud to think that Ginny trusted her with the job.

Patrick, Logan’s brother, was standing in as the godfather.

“Where’s Jake?” she asked, pulling her thoughts to the present. The baby was never very far from Ginny’s side.

“With your mom and my sister.” She nodded to where the two women stood cooing over the baby. “He’s just over three weeks old and they’re already spoiling him rotten.”

“It makes her really happy,” Lacey said, watching her mom’s look of unadulterated delight. “Thank you for letting her be a part of his life.”

“Of course,” Ginny was quick to assure.

“I don’t know. Considering the way we both treated you after the truth came out, I wouldn’t have blamed you for not letting anyone from our family within fifty yards of Jake.”

“We all made mistakes, Lacey. Me most of all. And Jacob would want you guys to be a part of Jake’s life. And honestly, I do, too.” She paused for a moment, and then continued. “How are things with your dad?”

“Different. And difficult. And better, too, if that makes any sense.”

“Did you know about him and Kristin?”

“No. I didn’t. And now it doesn’t really matter. It’s time for him to find his own way, you know?”

“Yeah, I do. Anyway, I’m glad your mom’s better. And I’m glad we’re friends again.”

“Me, too.”

Ginny gave her a quick hug and moved over to Celeste and Marisol, clearly ready to retrieve her son.

“Hey, you ready to jet?” Jeffry asked. “I know it’s kind of your party, but we were all thinking of heading to the lake.”

She glanced over to where Mallory, Luis, Scott, and Max were waiting.

From across the room, her mom nodded, telegraphing her approval with the gesture. Lacey returned her mom’s nod as she linked arms with Mallory. Life in Storm might be different now, and in all honesty her family would never truly be the same, but Lacey finally had her priorities straight. And thankfully, she had her friends back. And somehow, in the moment, that’s the only thing that truly mattered.

That and knowing that wherever he was, Jacob was smiling in approval.

* * * *

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Dakota looked up from her seat on Jacob’s bench to see Patrick standing over her. Most everyone had either headed for home or was still inside the parish hall. She’d made an appearance at the dedication, feeling like she owed Jacob that much, but she could only stand the whispers and sideways glances so long.

“I was thinking about Jacob. And Storm.” She shrugged. “About my family. All of it, I guess.”

“I’m glad you came. It was good that you were here.”

“I suspect you’re a party of one then. Most everyone in there wishes I’d stayed home. I’m not sure they’re ever really going to forgive me for what happened on Founders’ Day.”

“I think you’ll be surprised. It just takes time.” He sat down next to her on the bench, his large frame filling the space, the heat of his body comfortable against her side. Patrick Murphy was a good man and she was lucky to be able to call him a friend.

“Maybe so. I suppose we’ll see.”

He took her hand in his. “It’ll all come right, eventually. I promise.”

For a moment they just sat there in silence, the soft shadows of the evening falling around them. Fall had finally come to Storm, the temperature dropping as the light faded. Dakota shivered, and Patrick slipped his arm around her.

It would be so easy to lean back into his arms. To let him make her world okay. But if she’d learned anything from her mother, it was the importance of standing on her own two feet. Of believing in herself and not counting on someone else to fix all her troubles for her.

“I want to thank you for standing by me,” she said, needing to at least let him know how much he mattered. “I don’t think anyone outside of my family has ever done that before.” She frowned into the shadows. “I think given the chance, you could become really important to me.” She shot him a shy smile, her heart stuttering at the look in his eyes.

“I think you already are important to me.”

God, she wanted to give in. To stay here with him forever. But if she did, well, she’d never know what life held in store for her. And now more than ever, with everything that had happened, she needed to find out. It was important. Her mom was right.

She blew out a slow breath, wondering if she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life. “I’ve decided to leave Storm.”

Patrick frowned, his expression confused. “I don’t understand.”

“I told you about Amanda and College Station when we were at the lake.”

“That she’d asked you to come visit. So you’re going to take her up on the offer?”

“Well, actually a little more than that. I’m going to stay with her. At least until I get my feet on the ground and get settled.”

“I’m not following.” If the situation weren’t so serious, she’d have laughed at the confusion playing across his face.

“Last week I ran into Milton Waters.” Mr. Waters ran the Storm newspaper. “Did you know he owns the Bryan-College Station paper too?” She paused, grateful that he still had his arm around her. “Well, anyway, I told him about going to see Amanda. And about the trouble I’ve had finding a job here in Storm.  So he offered me a job at the paper there. In sales. It’s just an entry-level position, but it’s a start. And right now, I think I need a new beginning.”

“I think it’s fantastic,” Patrick said, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “You’ll be good in sales.”

She swallowed a bubble of laughter. “Yeah, pushy broad that I am.”

“No. I mean it. I think you’ll be great. And I understand why you need to go away. To start over somewhere else.”

“It’s not like College Station is on another planet,” she offered, not really wanting to end things before they’d even begun.

“True enough. And it is my alma mater. I’ve been known to attend a game or two or three.” He smiled, pushing the hair back from her face. “I’m really proud of you, you know. You could have used your father’s death as an excuse to spiral out of control. But you didn’t. Instead you’re trying to take responsibility for your life. That’s not an easy thing to do.”

“No. It isn’t. But it’s easier when I can see that my family is going to be okay. Mom has your brother. And Marcus has his new ranch and Brittany. And Mallory has Luis and Lacey.”

“When are you leaving?” he asked.

“Later tonight. I stayed until the dedication. But I figure if I don’t go now, I might not go at all…” Her throat tightened and her heart started to pound.

He pulled her to her feet, this time his lips finding hers. For a moment, she just let herself enjoy the kiss. Let herself soar away on the rush of emotion. But then she pulled back, needing to distance herself—for once to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground.

“I’m going to miss you,” she whispered.

“I’ll miss you, too.” His smile was tender. “But like you said, it’s not like you’re going to the moon.”

“Exactly.”

From across the parking lot, Patrick’s parents called his name.

“Go on,” she said, giving him a little push before she sat back down on the bench.

For a moment he stood there looking at her, and then with a quick smile he turned to walk away, and Dakota sighed. Tomorrow would mark a new beginning, and somehow that fresh start would mean more because she might actually be leaving something behind.

* * * *

The evening was winding down. Only closest family were left. Celeste, Payton, and Francine stood talking in one corner. Marisol and Ian were deep in discussion with Marcus and Logan. Logan had Jake parked on his shoulder, the baby looking so tiny and thankfully, sound asleep.

Ginny couldn’t resist a smile. It had only been a few weeks since her disastrous encounter with the senator. But her world had done a complete one-eighty since then, everything turning out like some kind of fairytale. She still wasn’t sure she deserved the happy ending she’d gotten, but she wasn’t foolish enough to turn it down.

One night with Jacob had changed everything. Not in the way she’d expected, surely. But definitely in a way that was infinitely good. Her heart flooded with love as she thought about her best friend. He’d left her with the most beautiful of gifts.

His son.

Fighting tears, she walked from the parish hall out into the chill of the evening. Live oaks arched over her head, streetlamps flickering against their dark leaves. She walked toward Jacob’s bench, needing for a moment to be closer to him. But as she moved through the gathering gloom, she realized the bench was already occupied. The fading light gleamed against the bent blonde head, her face buried in her hands.

Dakota.

Ginny almost turned and walked away. And then she thought about all that she’d been given. All that she’d been
for
given, and she knew she couldn’t leave without at least acknowledging the other woman.

“I see we had the same idea.”

Dakota jerked up, her face wet with tears. “I’m sorry, I’ll go.”

“No.” Ginny shook her head, lifting a hand. “I think it’s fitting somehow that the two of us are here together at Jacob’s bench.”

She sat down beside Dakota, staring up at the shivering trees. “He’d have liked this bench.”

“I remember how much he liked the square,” Dakota said, her voice quiet—pensive. “I haven’t had the chance to talk to you. But I want you to know that I wasn’t trying to blow up your life.” She paused, sucked in a breath. “Well, maybe I was. I was always so jealous of what you had with Jacob. And then what you have with Logan. So when I found out that you’d been with Sebastian, too. And when he…well, you know what he’s capable of. Suffice it to say I didn’t take his rejection very well. I was so hurt and angry that I just lashed out the only way I could. And hurt you in the process.”

“I made my bed, Dakota.” Ginny looked at her and smiled. “Literally. So my pain might have been at your instigation, but it was my own fault, pure and simple.”

“But it’s all okay, now, right?”

She looked so needy that Ginny didn’t have the heart to do anything but reassure her. “It is.” She reached over to squeeze Dakota’s hand. “And what about you? Are you all right? I mean, so much has happened.”

For a moment she thought that Dakota wasn’t going to answer. And then she shrugged. “To be honest, most of it really sucks. I mean my father turns out to be a bigger bastard than people always tried to tell me he was. I realized that my actions might actually have made my mother’s life worse. And that everything I thought was true about myself was basically bullshit.”

“But you’re getting a second chance. Just like me.”