“That was your doing, not mine.”
“And what choice did I have exactly? Tell me that.”
Jack looked away. “Okay, maybe you didn’t have a choice. But I don’t see your point now.”
“What if you get sick again? What if it comes back? And you die? Do you have any idea what it will do to them? A person can only take so much misery, so much sorrow. They’re only children; it will destroy them.”
“What do you want me to do? Give them back to you? Go crawl off in a corner and wait and see if I get sick again?”
“No, but you could come and live with us in Arizona. You and the kids. That way they can get into a stable routine. And if something does happen to you, we’ll be there to help you, and the kids will be used to living with us.”
Jack looked askance at her. “Are you telling me that you’re willing to take me and all three kids?”
“Yes. Even though Mother left you the Palace, she also left me quite a bit of money. We’re in a position to purchase a larger house and have the resources to support all of you.”
“I appreciate that, but I can support my own family,” he said firmly.
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Okay.”
“I’m just looking to help you.”
“I appreciate that.”
“So you won’t consider my offer?”
“No, I’m afraid not.”
Bonnie stood. “Well, I guess that’s that. Can I go and see the children now?”
“Absolutely. I can take you down there. And I want you involved in the kids’ lives.”
“I want that too.”
34
On Sunday, while Sammy took his motorcycle for a spin, Jack piled all the kids into the VW and drove into Channing. He’d been working hard at Jenna’s house and a few other jobs, and the kids needed a break from the Palace. Jack had gotten hold of Ned Parker, and he’d agreed to give the family a behind-the-scenes tour of the playhouse.
Parker met them outside the theater, and over the next hour he took them through the darkened spaces. He showed Cory how to manipulate the house lights, lift and lower scenery, move equipment on stage dollies, and work the trapdoor in the middle of the stage that would allow people to seem to vanish. Jackie in particular thought that was very cool.
They left the theater and walked along, looking at various restaurants. Someone called out to Jack from across the street. He looked over and saw Charles Pinckney hurrying over to them. He was dressed casually in khaki shorts and a short-sleeve button-down oxford shirt with a T-shirt underneath it; leather sandals were on his feet.
“Taking the Sabbath off to enjoy some sunshine and the pleasures of Channing?”
Jack nodded. “Get away from the house for a bit. See the town.”
“You hungry?”
Jack said, “We’re deciding where to go.”
Charles’s eyes twinkled. “Then there’s only one real option.”
“A Little Bit of Love,” said Mikki immediately.
Jack said, “We’ve already been there. How about another place? There’re three right here on this block.”
“But Jackie and Cory haven’t seen it.” She turned to her brothers. “It’s full of musical stuff; it’s so cool.”
“Cool,” chimed in Jackie.
She smiled. “You want a bit of love, Jackie, huh?”
He jumped up and down. “Bitalove. Bitalove.” He grabbed his dad’s leg. “Bitalove. Bitalove.”
Cory said, “That was, like, such a cheap trick, Mikki.”
“Jenna does the best Sunday brunch in town, actually,” advised Charles. “I was just heading there myself.”
“Okay,” Jack said in a resigned tone.
Jenna smiled when she saw them come in. The place was crowded, but she said, “I’ve got a nice window table. Catch some of the breeze from outside. Follow me.”
She seated them at the table, handed out menus, and took their drink orders.
“Is Liam around today?” asked Mikki.
“In the kitchen, grilling. He’s turned into quite the short-order cook.”
“We’d arranged that I could come by tonight to do a few sets.”
Jack looked at her. “You did?”
She stared back at him and said sharply, “Yeah, I did. Sitting home all day watching Cory and Jackie isn’t exactly how I planned to spend my summer.”
“You don’t need to watch me,” said Cory.
“Yeah,” said Jackie. “Not me.”
Jenna looked at Jack and, sensing his distress, said, “Well, your dad is working really hard on the soundproofing, but it’s not done yet. And while you guys sound great together, I do like a little peace and quiet in the evening. But I tell you what: Come by around eight. Liam will be home by then, and that’s when I take my walk on the beach. I’ll be gone about an hour or so. Does that work?”
“That’s cool, Jenna, thanks.”
Jenna looked at Jack. “And is that cool with Dad?”
“Yeah,” Jack said slowly.
“So where’s your Delta buddy?” she asked.
“Out riding his Harley,” answered Cory.
“Ah. Well he better watch himself. I know a few single ladies of a certain age in this town who will snap him up.”
“Snap!” cried out Jackie.
After Jenna left, Jack leaned over and whispered to his daughter, “This is strictly music between you and Liam, right?”
“Dad, please.”
“Just asking.” He turned to Charles. “Bonnie came by to see me.”
“She told me she was.”
“Did she tell you what about?”
“Yes. I saw her afterward too. She told me what you two talked about. She told me what you said. And I told her I agreed with you. I don’t think that’s what she wanted to hear, but so be it.”
Mikki, who’d been listening, said, “What didn’t she want to hear?”
“Another time, Mik; not now,” said her father, shooting a glance at the boys. Then he added, “Did you have a good visit with her, Mik?”
“She was more laid-back than in Arizona,” Mikki replied. “There she was like a control freak. Drove me nuts.”
Jack turned to Charles. “I checked out the lighthouse the other night.”
“Did you? And how is it looking?”
“Not great, actually.”
“It really was something in its day.”
“I bet it was,” said Jack. “I bet it was.”
35
After lunch they were walking back to the van when Charles pointed across the street and said, “Speak of the devil.”
Jack saw where he was pointing. Bonnie and Fred were just entering a gift shop. Mikki walked up beside him and said in a low voice, “Okay, Dad, what is going on with Grandma? Why is she really here?”
“She just came by to make an offer.” Mikki waited expectantly. “For us all to go and live with her in Arizona.”
“No way. You’re not thinking of doing that, are you?”
“No, I’m not.”
Mikki was about to say something else when she saw Blake Saunders coming down the street with two beefy young men. They were all wearing mesh football jerseys with CHANNING HIGH printed on the front.
“Hi,” said Mikki. Jack looked at her questioningly. “Blake and I met on the beach when I was going for a run,” she explained. “And we’ve run a few more times together since then.”
“Thanks for telling me.” He eyed Blake. “You look familiar.”
Blake looked embarrassed. “I was in the car that almost ran you off the road that day.”
“The girl’s name is Tiffany,” said Mikki. “And she’s superrich. What a shock.”
Blake said, “I told her to slow down, but she doesn’t listen to anyone.”
“Yeah, I bet,” said Mikki.
Blake turned to her. “Hey, we’re having a little party on the beach next Saturday. I was wondering if you’d like to come out and hang with us. There’s food, a bonfire, and we play some tunes.”