Calumet, page 31
never turned your back on her, and it’s been too long since
you’ve visited, so don’t wait any longer to rectify that.”
“I promise, and I expect an invitation to the wedding.
That ring looks good on you.”
They talked for another few minutes before it was time
for them to go. Roy, Birdie, and Eugenia walked them to the
car and promised to see them soon. She’d opened Margot’s
door when another car drove up, and her father hesitated
before stepping out. He was holding a small box and headed
to Margot.
“I thought you might like these,” he said, handing it over.
Jaxon recognized the old photo albums as well as her
baby book.
“Thank you, Mr. Lavigne.”
“It’s my way of saying that there might be some more
memories we can put in there, but no pressure.” He took the
box from her and placed it on the back seat. “And please,
call me Gene.”
“Thank you, Dad,” Jax said but couldn’t force herself to
hug him.
“The day you were born was the second happiest day of
my life. The first was when Roy was born, and I loved you
both the same. Becoming a father took precedence over
everything else in my life,” he said, glancing at Margot.
“Your dad’s right about that.” He turned back to her, and
Birdie put her arm around his waist. “It hadn’t been long
after we lost Dad when you were born, and I wanted to
honor my new love with the name of the greatest man I’ve
ever known.”
“You don’t have to do this,” she said, and Birdie glared at
her.
“I do. You’re the best legacy he could’ve hoped for, Jaxon.
If he was still alive, he would’ve kicked my ass until I bled
for what I’ve done to you. That I’ve tarnished who he was as
a father and all that he taught me shames me deeply.” He
cried again and let the tears fall unacknowledged. “I love
you, and I want you to try to remember the father I once
was in those pictures. I’d like to be that guy again.”
If Margot pinched her one more time, she was going to
go home with a slew of bruises. “I’m not running off because
I don’t want that, Dad, but we really need to get going. How
about you call me, and we’ll start finding some middle
ground?”
“Thank you.” He lunged forward and wrapped his arms
around both of them.
It was amazing. He still smelled the same, and he still felt
like a warm blanket when he put his arms around her. The
memories came like traitorous bastards until her eyes
watered. She’d missed him, and the embrace made her
realize how much. “Thank you for trying. It means a lot.”
“Until next time, then,” he said, wiping his face.
“Until then.” She started the car and drove away,
watching them in the rearview mirror. She allowed herself to
ponder the things she’d write down later.
Yes, time taught valuable lessons, and one of them was
that forgiveness had to be felt as well as given. The past
wasn’t a scary place any longer, and she was glad not to
look back at it in horror. She realized now that if given the
chance to do it again, she wouldn’t change any decision
she’d made. Doing that would mean Margot wouldn’t be
sitting next to her, ready to get on with what was in store
for them.
“You okay, my love?” Margot asked.
“I am. Right now, I have every single thing I need and
want. Actually, there’s one thing I’m missing.” She looked at
Margot and smiled.
“I’m not having sex with you in the car in broad daylight,
so forget it,” Margot teased.
“Not that, I’m talking about a ring right here.” She
pointed to the ring finger of her left hand.
“Ah, don’t worry, Dr. Lavigne. I’m rectifying that before
Daddy sends you running into the night. I love you and I
can’t wait to marry you.”
“Let’s go home.”
EPILOGUE
Two years later
“Remember, people, midterm assignments are due on
Friday. That means if you haven’t read the book, I’d suggest
you crack the thing open instead of whatever mindless
activity you had planned.” A groan followed Jaxon’s
statement, making her laugh. “And I suggest you actually
pay attention to what you’re reading. This paper’s worth a
little less than half your grade, so if you mess up, it’ll be
hard to recover.” There was less groaning this time, and she
guessed it was the people who hadn’t done a damn thing.
“Now I’m going to be nice and let you go fifteen minutes
early, so you can get to work. Good luck, and try to show
me the English language isn’t as dead as the eight-track
tape.”
Jax walked out, surrounded by students asking her about
the book she’d asked them to read. It was like they were
looking for pointers to put in their essays. Her experience in
the classroom made her realize students didn’t change
much through the years, but every so often one of them
surprised her. They came to class, paid attention, and didn’t
ask her to do their thinking for them. They just did the
assignments and turned them in early, like the essay sitting
on her desk, which she’d already graded.
The name of the student didn’t surprise her, since the kid
was as punctual as she was earnest. She’d found herself
running her finger down her freshman class roster at the
beginning of the semester to the Gs after Sean and Adeline
had spent a couple of weeks with them before the fall
semester. She and Margot had shown them around town,
and she’d given them the tour of campus before their dorm
room was ready.
The softball coach had sent her and Margot a basket of
flowers for the great find they’d come back with from a little
town in Louisiana, a great athlete the coach figured would
elevate their program substantially. With her softball
scholarship and the scholarship Roy had funded, Sean, as
well as Adeline, would be fine.
The relationship she and Sean had started at the café
and cultivated through numerous phone calls had grown
into a friendship they both treasured. Sean had turned to
her when Iris had finally told her the full story, and Sean
finally learned about Roy. The initial anger was something
Jax could understand, but with her help, Sean finally
understood her mother’s choices.
Sean had not only forgiven Iris, but the truth had also
given her a newfound respect for Daniel. In Sean’s eyes he
was an honorable man who’d given her a good life even if in
Iris’s mind Sean belonged to Jax. The other bonus was Roy
was finally able to fulfill his role as Uncle Roy and often
visited Sean and Adeline with Birdie. The whole new side to
her family had made Sean happy, and Daniel and Iris had
also taken it well.
Once they’d graduated, Sean and Adeline were both
anxious to leave home, but the first couple of months away
had been tough. Their bravado had withered some in the
face of homesickness, but she and Margot had done their
best to combat it by inviting them over for dinner and for
swims on the weekends.
When the crowd around Jax thinned, she found Margot
with her arms crossed, leaning against her car, talking to
Sean. Whatever she said sent Sean off with a smile before
Jax made it over to them. Margot was running her thumb
along the bottom of the rings on her left hand as if trying to
convince herself they really had gotten married.
“Hey, pretty lady. You’re early.” Margot had driven her to
work because of a rare day off, and now she was here to
pick her up.
“Daddy called and asked us over for dinner, so I came
before I had to interrupt the faculty meeting.”
“Wait,” she said, squinting. “Wilber called and invited
us?” She pointed between them. Wilber loved her, and his
gruffness now was more teasing than serious.
“Yes, he did, and he made it clear it was for both of us.”
Margot reached for her hand and pulled her closer.
“What’s the occasion?”
“Nothing special, but he did say he wanted to talk to
you.” Margot put her arms on Jax’s shoulders and kissed her
chin when she put her bag in her new Yukon.
“Talk to me alone in his study?”
“I believe so, since he didn’t invite me. He did ask if we’d
stop at the grocery on the way over and pick up a few
things.”
“Pick up what?” Wilber still invited her into the study
every week, but they mostly talked about sports and books
after his prerequisite threats to keep treating Margot right.
“I believe diapers, formula, and cigars were the top
things on the list.”
Jax laughed so hard she had to lean against Margot to
keep from doubling over. Wilber, as always, got his point
across in the most Wilber way possible. At least this time
there’d be no milk and talk about buying the cow.
The passage of time was the subject of the book she was
writing thanks to Margot’s encouragement. The last few
years had been memorable, and she was glad her father
had been right. There’d been plenty of other memories to
add to the pictures he’d given Margot. He, Roy, Birdie, and
Eugenia had come to the wedding and were genuinely
happy for them. Her mother had decided not to bend on her
feelings, and she was okay with that. The family she had
was enough.
“Granny and your dad confirmed they’ll be here at the
end of next week, and he said he’s looking forward to
meeting up with Daddy.”
“With those two together, I’m sure they’ll buy me a nose
ring you can lead me around with.” She opened the door for
Margot and kissed her when she was seated. Now that they
both knew the paparazzi photos of them in this position
bothered her mother, the invasion of privacy didn’t seem so
bad. A little petty never hurt anything.
“I already have one of those, thank you.” Margot
laughed, and Jax started for her in-laws. “I also invited
Adeline and Sean over tomorrow for movie night. The studio
gave me a preview copy, so you all can tell me the
unvarnished truth.”
“Are you kidding me? Baby, you still have the most
popular hair in America. There’s no way your adoring fans
aren’t going to love you.” Margot had gotten the lead role in
a romantic comedy but was still doing the show.
“Enough from the peanut gallery.”
It took them another thirty minutes to get to Margot’s
parents’, and as usual Wilber was waiting outside. He went
to Margot’s door and pulled her into the bear hug Jax had
seen for years and smiled when he finally put her down and
glanced her way. “Well?”
“I didn’t stop for diapers, but I did buy you something the
other day that I think you’ll enjoy,” she said to him as she
handed him a gift-wrapped box. “Wait to open that until
we’re inside. The study can wait for a few minutes.”
Patty Sue was checking something in the oven, and from
the aroma of the kitchen it was either carrot or spice cake.
After years of lemon, she’d decided to add some variety into
their dessert lives. Whatever it was, Margot went a sickly
shade of green.
“Oh my God, it’s about damned time,” Patty Sue
screamed as Margot ran for the bathroom.
“What in the hell is going on?” Wilber demanded as Patty
Sue ran after Margot.
“Open the box, though this wasn’t exactly the plan for
breaking the news,” she said, pointing to the seemingly
forgotten item in his hand.
It was a box of cigars with a note on top. Congratulations,
Grandpa! The writing was Margot’s, and she almost left the
room when Wilber started crying. Granted, it was the same
reaction she’d had when the doctor had told them they’d
finally succeeded in getting pregnant, but it was a strange
thing to see tears on Wilber’s face.
“Really?” he asked.
“Really, and you might want to open a few windows and
the back doors to air out this room. Either that or we have to
go out to eat. Grilled cheese seems to do the trick.” She
hugged him, and he surprised her by giving her a Margot
hug. “I’ll be right back.”
Margot was brushing her teeth when she got to the
bathroom, and Patty Sue seemed to be vibrating she was so
excited. “I’m so happy for you both,” Patty Sue said.
“Thank you, and we’ll be right out.” She rewet the towel
at the back of Margot’s neck and wiped her brow. “Are you
okay?”
“This kid had better be cute,” Margot said when she spit
the toothpaste out. “And did you have Daddy air out the
kitchen?”
“Their mother is beautiful, so of course they’ll be cute,
and yes. I’m sorry you’re still having trouble with this. The
six weeks are up, so calm down in there,” she said to
Margot’s stomach.
“No need to apologize. Morning sickness my ass, though.
But I guess it’s not so bad. I’m getting the other thing in life
I’ve always wanted.” Margot rested her head on her
shoulder and sighed.
“What’s that, my love?” She kissed Margot’s forehead
and held her.
“A little Jaxon Lavigne of my very own. I’m thrilled, even
if you can’t see it when I’m hanging my head in the toilet.”
Margot laughed and whatever had triggered the nausea
seemed to have passed. “I love you, and seven months is
going by at a snail’s pace.”
“I love you too, and I think your father is as happy as we
are. I can’t wait either, and I’m going to enjoy every single
minute.”
“You’ll be too busy to do anything but have fun,” Margot
said as she led them back to the kitchen.
“What do you mean?”
“You have another three years to get me pregnant two
more times. After all, you have to have something to brag
about at your twenty-year class reunion,” Margot said and
winked at her.
“That’ll be something, but I’m married to the most
beautiful woman I know, and there’s that hair thing. No one
I went to high school with can top that.”
Margot laughed with her, and she let her go so her father
could hug her again. He was a lot gentler this time, and she
smiled at the sight. She felt incredibly light, and it stemmed
not only from Margot and all their blessings, but from letting
go of all those things that had held her back for so long.
That had been one of the things time had taught her.
Given enough of it, she’d allowed herself to face what
had happened and admit with conviction that she’d survived
it. She was who she was because of all that and so much
more, and she deserved to be happy. There was Margot, a
new baby, and hope for the future. It was the simple truth.
Happiness was a choice, and all you had to do was accept it.
And she had.
About the Author
Ali Vali is the author of the long-running Cain Casey “Devil”
series, the newest being The Devil Incarnate, and the
Genesis Clan “Forces” series, as well as numerous
standalone romances including three Lambda Literary
Award finalists, Calling the Dead, Love Match, and One More
Chance.
Originally from Cuba, Ali has retained much of her family’s
traditions and language and uses them frequently in her
stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before
bed every night as a child infused her with a love of reading,
which she carries till today. Ali currently lives outside New
Orleans, where she enjoys cheering LSU and trying new
restaurants.
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
Calumet by Ali Vali. Jaxon Lavigne and Iris Long had a
forbidden small-town romance that didn’t last, and the
consequences of that love will be uncovered fifteen years
later at their high school reunion. (978-1-63555-900-2) Her
Countess to Cherish by Jane Walsh. London Society’s
material girl realizes there is more to life than diamonds
when she falls in love with a non-binary bluestocking. (978-
1-63555-902-6) Hot Days, Heated Nights by Renee
