Calumet, page 27
could see Margot’s face. “I have you here, and that makes
anything that was bothering me more than bearable.”
After her talk with Iris that afternoon, all she’d wanted to
do was talk to Margot. She’d needed the connection they
had to center herself. “One of the things I learned about
myself in the last few days is I need only one woman in my
life.” She kissed Margot’s forehead and went back to
speaking softly into her ear.
“That’s good to know, but it doesn’t answer my
question.”
“I had a lot thrown at me, but it doesn’t really make a
difference in the realm of what’s important in my world. Just
like two guys stomping around the forest with cutouts on
their feet didn’t make me stop believing in mythical
creatures that live in the woods.”
“You do have a way with your imagination, honey, but
you suck at answering either yes or no.”
“My brother got my old girlfriend pregnant, never told
me, and I’m okay with that. If not completely okay-okay, I
will be eventually. I’m not okay that he never took
responsibility, but that isn’t going to keep me from helping
Sean.” She pressed Margot closer and bent her head to kiss
the top of her ear.
“I’m proud of you, and you can count on me to help you
through all this.”
“The most important thing to remember is that nothing is
going to change anything when it comes to you and me. If it
bothers you, then I’ll find someone else for Sean to talk to.
There are enough counselors out there, including Eugenia,
that can help her make the right decisions when it comes to
her college and life choices.” She moved back so she could
caress Margot’s cheek, liking that she leaned into her touch.
“And if you’re wondering, I do have fantasies, darlin’, but
they all center around you.”
Margot locked her hands behind Jax’s neck and gazed up
at her. “Roy was a good choice, but he wasn’t her first
choice. I watched Iris from the door after asking someone to
point her out, and I’d say he still isn’t her first choice. She
might be married, but her eyes follow you around the
room.”
“It doesn’t really matter what Iris’s choices are. She was
my first love, and I learned plenty from the experience. The
most important lesson was what I wanted when I ever tried
again.” She placed a quick kiss on Margot’s lips. “The most
important person in my life is you. I love you, and you make
me happy that I took the chance again.”
“Then would you mind if I talked to Iris?” Margot winked
at her and smiled. It was the type of smile that meant
trouble.
“Sure, I’m sure she’d be thrilled to meet you. I’m curious
as to why, though.”
“Come on, honey. If Sean looks like you, it means she’s
perfected the making of little Jaxon Lavignes, and I might
want access to the information in the near future.”
That made her laugh, and Margot joined in. The song
ended, and they headed back to the table, where they found
Iris and Daniel waiting for them. “Margot, I’d like to
introduce you to Iris and Daniel Gravois.”
“It’s nice to meet you. Jax tells me the decorations and
planning were all you, so congratulations. The place looks
great,” Margot said, offering each of them her hand. “I
haven’t seen much of the town, but I’ll have my big bear
take care of that tomorrow.” Margot put her arm around her
waist and did her best to keep her voice light.
She’d been around Margot long enough to know when it
was the actress doing her part to make the people around
her feel at ease. It wasn’t exactly a complete snow job, but
Margot never opened up around people she didn’t know.
“The place isn’t that big, but I’ll be happy to play tour
guide.”
“How did you and Jaxon meet?” Daniel sounded like a
police officer, and Margot smiled at the question.
“I took an English class with Dr. Lavigne in my senior
year. I saw her in the student union working while downing a
huge cup of coffee and nothing else. It took a moment for
me to know she was the woman I’d not only marry, but
would be ecstatically happy with for the rest of my life.”
Margot leaned in to her and kissed the side of her neck. “My
father never got over it, but I was right.”
“You were her student?” Daniel asked in a way that
reminded her of Wilber.
“I sure was, and she gave me hell in the classroom,”
Margot said and laughed. “She also wouldn’t go out with me
until I graduated. Believe me, I tried everything to get her to
change her mind, but she wouldn’t bend.”
“She’s always been honorable,” Iris said, and Daniel
grimaced.
Jaxon noticed how hard Iris had pinched the top of his
hand. “If you two will excuse us, I think they’re playing our
song,” she said, taking Margot’s hand.
“‘When the Sun Goes Down’ is our song?” Margot
laughed when she walked her to the other side of the gym.
“I’m not voting for that at our wedding.”
“Did you want to stay over there and talk to Barney Fife
and his bride?” She found another empty table and sat
down, shaking her head when Margot sat in her lap.
“What I want is for you to introduce me to some of your
classmates and then take me back to your grandmother’s.
She dropped me off, so I need a ride.”
“I’ll be happy to, and I’ll teach you all about parking in a
cane field.”
She hadn’t talked to that many people, but this trip had
been worth every minute she’d spent in this town. One thing
she hadn’t realized before coming was that she’d had her
own questions about her past, and the only way to get the
answers meant having to face the people she’d tried to
ignore. The not knowing had held her back from Margot, her
life, and herself. She still didn’t have everything she wanted,
but the lightness of letting go made her want to embrace
whatever came next.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
As the night progressed—well, after Bert came over and
gave her a big hug—more of Jaxon’s old classmates felt
comfortable coming up to Margot and asking for autographs
and pictures. They shared a few more dances before she
and Jaxon were ready to head back to the house. The
evening wasn’t as horrible as she’d expected it’d be, and
she was looking forward to spending the night in Jax’s arms.
After dropping Bert off, Jax kept a running commentary of
the houses they were passing and who they belonged to.
She asked questions, and Jax answered them without
hesitation, a new and welcome change. She was enjoying
the stories, and it seemed every family had a tale of the
entertaining drunk, as well as touches of insanity that were
more eccentricity than something ugly. Margot listened,
enjoying the way Jaxon’s hand felt holding hers as they
drove down a road where the houses got farther and farther
apart.
“Are you going to admit that you’re glad you came?” She
pulled on Jaxon’s fingers when they turned onto a smaller
road and she recognized it wasn’t much longer to Birdie’s.
Jax’s grandmother had picked her up at the airport and
taken her home to change.
Jaxon stayed quiet until she turned onto her
grandmother’s driveway that led to the house. She put the
car in park and cut the engine. All they could hear was the
wind and the rustling of the cane that was blowing on both
sides of them. Margot went willingly when Jaxon pulled her
closer and kissed her like it was the first time in months. It
was something she’d been wanting all night, but she also
hadn’t wanted to freak out the locals. As always, Jaxon
holding her left her heart full of the sense of belonging.
“Can I think about that for a bit before I give you an
answer?” Jax asked when they pulled apart.
“Are you still upset about all this?” She ran her fingers
along the side of Jax’s neck.
“I’m still trying to wrap my brain around all that’s been
thrown at me in the last couple of days. It was enough to
make me punch-drunk.” Jaxon kissed her again and smiled
when Margot bit her lip before she could retreat to the
driver’s seat. “My new reality is both familiar and strange,
but I’m looking forward to it.”
“Honey, you know what I love about you?”
“My uncanny ability to remember and recite love poems
on command?” Jaxon wiggled her eyebrows, and Margot
started laughing.
“Besides that, lover.” She pointed to the keys and made
a circular motion with her finger. “Let’s get going so we can
finish this. You have much better ways to be spending time.”
When they reached the house, she didn’t let Jax stop
anywhere but the bedroom. She’d already been there briefly
when Birdie led her up after her flight, but now she knew
this was Jaxon’s room. Birdie had told her she’d moved all
Jax’s stuff from her parents’ home when they’d turned their
backs on her and had made it Jax’s room in case she ever
returned. Surrounded by Jaxon’s history, she stopped and
took a look around. This was one of the reasons she’d
wanted to come with Jax in the first place. There was so
much of who Jax still was wrapped up in all the ribbons and
trophies that lined the shelves along with the books.
“You were saying,” Jaxon said when Margot fell silent as
she touched some of the books that seemed more handled
than others.
“Do you remember when we met?”
She stepped closer and started unbuttoning Jax’s shirt.
With two undone, Margot slipped her hands in and ran her
fingers lightly along her soft skin. She laughed along with
Jaxon when she started squirming. That Jax was so ticklish
was one of the things she found absolutely adorable about
her.
“I remember it took quite a few dates before we got to
this part,” Jax said. More of the buttons popped open under
Margot’s agile fingers, and her belt came next.
“Not because I didn’t work on you, honey. I set my sights
on you from that first time I saw you, and I’m glad you gave
in before I had to sic Daddy on you.”
“Baby, if you want to get any farther than this, you might
not want to mention Willy when we’re getting naked.”
“Ooh, you’re afraid of Daddy?”
“I’m not afraid of your father.” Jax took a step forward to
keep her balance when her belt came off in one good pull.
Margot stood with the belt in her hand holding it like a whip.
“Maybe I’m a little afraid of him, but have you seen how
many notches the man has in that gun?”
“Not as many as I have in mine, so you might want to
cooperate.” Margot stood there tapping the folded belt in
the palm of her hand. “Now do you remember when we
met?”
“Yes, baby, I do.” Since her shirt was now unbuttoned all
the way, Jaxon took it off and threw it on the end of the bed.
“It’s a time in my life I cherish because I got to learn so
many new things about you. I’m not supposed to notice my
students, but it was impossible not to notice you.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Margot turned around
and presented her back so Jaxon would unzip her. “I loved
that you wanted to learn about and get to know me. That no
matter what was going on in your life, it was something you
went out of your way to do. It made me feel so special.”
“I love you, so of course I went out of my way to do
whatever it would take to make you happy.” Jaxon kissed
her shoulder after moving the material out of the way. “And
you’re the one special thing in my life. That’s not something
that’s going to change.”
Margot stepped out of her dress and placed it over
Jaxon’s shirt on the bed. In just her underwear she faced her
and smiled at the desire in Jax’s eyes. They had only been
apart a few days, but she wanted nothing more than to
press against all that delicious skin and reacquaint herself
with this part of Jaxon that belonged to only her. As soon as
she did, Jaxon kissed her like she wasn’t interested in any
more talk.
Her mother had always told her to wait for the person
who spoke to you like a poet only you understood. Jax had
done that from the very first day she’d met her even if she
swore at the time she wasn’t interested. The hours she’d
spent in Jaxon’s classroom were the best of her college
career, and all the times that came after cemented in her
mind the life they’d have together.
“That’s what I remember too about that time. That part
of you that never stops asking the why of everything. You do
it because it’s in your nature to want to know, and it’s the
reason I’m glad you came.”
They were standing in the middle of the room, and Jaxon
picked her up and carried her to the bed. Margot rolled on
top and straddled Jax’s hips. “What do you mean?” Jaxon
asked.
“From our first date, there were certain things I
expected.” She threaded their fingers together and gazed
down at Jax. “I wanted you to love me, want a life with me,
and be happy with what we have.”
“If I’m falling short in any area, you know you can tell
me, right?” Jax sat up and kissed her. “I don’t want you to
think I don’t care about your happiness like you do mine.”
“That’s not it at all. What I mean is that you’ve always
been a caring soul. I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you if
you weren’t. You might grumble about your students
sometimes, but you always go beyond what you need to do
to make sure they’re successful.” She let Jax’s hands go so
she could run her fingers through Jax’s hair. “I love that
about you, and it makes me dream about having a family
with you.”
“On top of having the best hair in America, you’re a
romantic at heart, my love.”
Margot slapped Jax’s shoulder and laughed. “You shit. I’m
trying to be serious. I’m glad you came because it was time
for you to meet Sean. She needs you, and she’ll be in good
hands. Do you think you could introduce me before we go?”
“I thought we were leaving tomorrow.”
“Judith gave me until Tuesday morning, so you’re stuck
for another day. I also promised Birdie that we’d have
breakfast with her and Eugenia in the morning, so they can
tell me stories about you.” She leaned in and bit Jax’s
shoulder. “Now do you think you can be quiet enough to
make love to me?”
“I’m not the noisy one in this relationship,” Jax said as
she rolled them over. “Is this new?” Jax put a finger under
the strap of the black silk bra she’d picked out the night
before when she’d gone on a quick shopping trip.
“I got the set for your birthday. Do you like them?”
“My birthday isn’t for three months.” Jax lifted her up a
little and snapped the bra open with one hand.
“Think of how good you’ve been this year, then.” She
laughed when it didn’t take Jaxon long to get her completely
naked. She stopped laughing when Jax put her hand
between her legs and spread her sex open. “Can you tell
I’ve been thinking about you for days?”
“What exactly were you thinking about?” Jax asked
before licking her nipple to life.
“I’ll be happy to tell you every nasty thought if you get
busy with that hand.” She sucked in a breath when Jax wet
her finger and flicked it over her clit. The delicious contact
made her lift her hips, wanting more. “Baby, if you make me
wait, I’m going to torture you in ways…fuck,” she said loudly
when Jax followed the move and kept going.
“You want me, love?” Jax’s voice was slow and full of lust.
It was the way she loved her in the bedroom.
“Always, but it’s not the time for slow.” She held Jax’s
head when she sucked her nipple in and moved down her
body. “That mouth is one of my favorite things about you.”
Jax sucked in her clit and put her fingers in at the same
