Or, Barbara could leverage her relationship with Rodney to ruin the company.
Jaxon should've done something about it a long time ago, but his attempt to manage the company from a distance had allowed his absence to be manipulated. Darling may not have had anything to do with it, but if she stayed, this would definitely become more about her than anything else.
CHAPTER SEVEN
D arling sat in the coffee shop of the bookstore people watching. The older gentleman that eased onto the bar stool beside her glanced at the menu briefly before ordering. Darling couldn't take her eyes off the man and not because he rivaled Sean Connery. His tight thin lipped expression as he sat stiffly reviewing the menu gave him an unapproachable air. As he read the menu, his eyes darted across everyone at the counter, not long enough to establish contact with anyone, but as if searching for something—someone.
God, was that going to be her life, now? Would that be her future? Would she turn into him?
While he waited for his food order, he shoved his hands into his pockets and ambled through the aisles. Now and then, he'd pause to read the back cover copy of books.
Although her own marriage had been a failure, her parents had been together forever. Her parents lived their own lives, but spent as much time as possible together too. Maybe there was no reason for her sadness over the jacket-clad older man. Maybe his wife waited at home for him to return.
Darling closed her eyes to block out the sight of him. When she opened them, he stood next to her checking out his order: one pork chop and a side of greens with a roll. Definitely not enough to share.
Would she one day, at sixty-five or seventy, stroll through the aisles of bookstores or order lunch or dinner dressed in her afternoon best because she had no one to go home to? Would strangers become her only friends?
The weeks since his conversation with his mother passed with a blur. He didn't know if his time in Memphis moved quickly because of the work he was doing, or if it was because he tried to squeeze every moment out of every day he spent near Darling.
The forty-five minute flight to Nashville didn't give Jaxon enough time to catch a nap before he met his mother. He raced from the plane straight to the car waiting for him. There hadn't been much need to bring any luggage since he was hopping right back on a plane to Memphis when the event was over. He might not be able to be with Darling when he returned, but he could be near her.
He had no idea how long he could stretch out his stay in Memphis, but he'd done a good job of it so far. Something about Rodney and Barbara convinced him that as soon as he was out of sight, Darling might have more problems than she could handle. Of course, if she knew he extended his stay because of her, he felt sure she would be irritated.
The driver dropped him at his condo, then he jumped into his car and kept going. He knew his phone would ring soon, because his plane arrived a little late, and Elaine Slater was always punctual. As he swiped the card to open the gate to his mother's community, his phone rang. He smiled as he answered it.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Honey, where are you?" his mother asked.
"We won't be late." He knew that was her unasked question. "Pulling up in a minute."
"Well, don't park, I'll be right out."
"Okay."
The retirement community where his mother lived provided everything she could possibly need. Landscapers cared for each lawn, a community organizer arranged neighborhood events and his mother had regular engagements with neighbors. The neighborhood resembled any other affluent Nashville community, except you rarely saw children during the week. Grandchildren usually only visited on the weekend.
As he navigated the winding well-loved streets, he wondered how his mother managed the twists and turns in the darkness when he had problems himself. He turned
Jaxon should've done something about it a long time ago, but his attempt to manage the company from a distance had allowed his absence to be manipulated. Darling may not have had anything to do with it, but if she stayed, this would definitely become more about her than anything else.
CHAPTER SEVEN
D arling sat in the coffee shop of the bookstore people watching. The older gentleman that eased onto the bar stool beside her glanced at the menu briefly before ordering. Darling couldn't take her eyes off the man and not because he rivaled Sean Connery. His tight thin lipped expression as he sat stiffly reviewing the menu gave him an unapproachable air. As he read the menu, his eyes darted across everyone at the counter, not long enough to establish contact with anyone, but as if searching for something—someone.
God, was that going to be her life, now? Would that be her future? Would she turn into him?
While he waited for his food order, he shoved his hands into his pockets and ambled through the aisles. Now and then, he'd pause to read the back cover copy of books.
Although her own marriage had been a failure, her parents had been together forever. Her parents lived their own lives, but spent as much time as possible together too. Maybe there was no reason for her sadness over the jacket-clad older man. Maybe his wife waited at home for him to return.
Darling closed her eyes to block out the sight of him. When she opened them, he stood next to her checking out his order: one pork chop and a side of greens with a roll. Definitely not enough to share.
Would she one day, at sixty-five or seventy, stroll through the aisles of bookstores or order lunch or dinner dressed in her afternoon best because she had no one to go home to? Would strangers become her only friends?
The weeks since his conversation with his mother passed with a blur. He didn't know if his time in Memphis moved quickly because of the work he was doing, or if it was because he tried to squeeze every moment out of every day he spent near Darling.
The forty-five minute flight to Nashville didn't give Jaxon enough time to catch a nap before he met his mother. He raced from the plane straight to the car waiting for him. There hadn't been much need to bring any luggage since he was hopping right back on a plane to Memphis when the event was over. He might not be able to be with Darling when he returned, but he could be near her.
He had no idea how long he could stretch out his stay in Memphis, but he'd done a good job of it so far. Something about Rodney and Barbara convinced him that as soon as he was out of sight, Darling might have more problems than she could handle. Of course, if she knew he extended his stay because of her, he felt sure she would be irritated.
The driver dropped him at his condo, then he jumped into his car and kept going. He knew his phone would ring soon, because his plane arrived a little late, and Elaine Slater was always punctual. As he swiped the card to open the gate to his mother's community, his phone rang. He smiled as he answered it.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Honey, where are you?" his mother asked.
"We won't be late." He knew that was her unasked question. "Pulling up in a minute."
"Well, don't park, I'll be right out."
"Okay."
The retirement community where his mother lived provided everything she could possibly need. Landscapers cared for each lawn, a community organizer arranged neighborhood events and his mother had regular engagements with neighbors. The neighborhood resembled any other affluent Nashville community, except you rarely saw children during the week. Grandchildren usually only visited on the weekend.
As he navigated the winding well-loved streets, he wondered how his mother managed the twists and turns in the darkness when he had problems himself. He turned
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