"Why don't we eat out on the back porch? It's gorgeous out and I'm tired of being cooped up inside." Bert sat in his wheelchair at the kitchen table as Jacqui chopped up green peppers for their salad. Sophia visited family and did personal things on Saturdays and Sundays, which gave Jacqui a chance to spend time with her father. At least, that was the goal. It didn't always work out that way, though. Work kept her busy far more than she wanted, but it was necessary. There were people hurting. She didn't want them to suffer simply because she took time off. Enough suffering had been caused because she had enjoyed herself too much.She didn't even glance at the back porch. "How about the front yard? We can make a picnic on the lawn. You're right; it is a lovely day out.""Front lawn? Why the hell would I want to sit on the front lawn? The back porch has tables, a view of the water, no nosy neighbors asking what I'm eating and making redundant statements like 'Having a picnic on the front
Jeannie had agreed to meet him at the park. It was always somewhere other than the house. Never the house. Since the divorce, he had never crossed the threshold of what was now his ex-wife's home. He doubted it had changed much, since it was the same house they lived in while married. Still, it was sad that he was no longer welcome in a house for which he was technically still paying. He just shook his head as he stepped out of his truck and into the April sunshine. No sense in drudging up my financial loss and her gain.The day was bright with a slight breeze keeping the sun from being unbearable. Winter never lasted long in Florida if it even showed up. April was back into the high seventies and low eighties, a perfect day for the park. Children were taking full advantage of the Saturday as they swung from jungle gyms and screamed down slides. Parents, mostly moms, sat on benches or stood at the edge of the playground, keeping an eye on their children, while chatting amongst themselv
He slipped his hands into his pockets and took a sigh. "Neal has me in Biloxi overseeing a new project and beginning a new office. I've rented an apartment. I came back this weekend to pick up some things and get stuff settled here. I'll come back to see Dustin as often as I can and I was hoping you'd be flexible on me seeing him. I'd also like to fly him out there to spend some time with me, maybe bring him up for a week. I don't want to disrupt his schedule too much, but I also don't want to go long periods without seeing him.""Then you should have told Neal no. I don't like the idea of Dustin on a plane alone. There's too many evil people these days.""Then I'd drive down and drive him back up. Biloxi is a nice area. I'd even bring you up and put you up in a hotel, so I could spend some time with him. You could have a small vacation." He kept his hands in his pockets, trying his best not to look argumentative. Jeannie never missed a chance to fight, no matter how hard he tried to a
"What are you working on now?" Jacqui's father sat in the recliner, staring at a newspaper that she doubted he even read. Still, he had held one every morning since she was old enough to remember. It was always the morning paper and a cup of coffee with her mother, the two of them so busy talking that neither would ever read the paper and the coffee always grew cold before it was sipped. Yet, they did it every morning—right up until the cancer claimed her mother's life four years ago.Her father had finally come out of his room after lunch, acting as if nothing had happened, grabbed the paper and slid himself out of his wheelchair and into the recliner. He didn't mention the earlier incident, only asked for a cup of coffee as he flicked the paper open. She had only rolled her eyes as she got out of her comfy spot to get him his coffee. It was better than listening to him grumble again.Jacqui glanced up from the stack of files she had been thumbing through. "The final notes for the com
Jacqui parked at the Biloxi Park right off Highway 90 and rolled her father in his wheelchair under one of the pavilions, so that together they could watch the beach. The sugar sand was crammed with beachgoers who had staked their umbrellas and spread their blankets, claiming their weekend piece of paradise. The tide was low and the waves barely a half foot, but that didn't stop the children from boogie boarding to their heart's content. The sky overhead was clear and sea gulls glided along looking for spare breadcrumbs and treats. College kids played volleyball and ladies laid out, trying to get a jump start on their summer tans. The traffic on Highway 90 was hustling as people made their way to and from the casinos as well as their weekend getaways. Everyone was taking a break from the work week and getting some much-needed relaxation. Yet, all Jacqui could think about was work.Well, that wasn't true. Her mind was on Vince, as well. And Morgan. She took a deep breath of the Gulf Coa
Morgan sat on the chaise lounge chair as Dustin jumped into the pool, only to climb back out again for another leap. With a Corona beside him and a Romeo and Juliet cigar between his fingers, Morgan just laid back, enjoying the late afternoon sun as he watched Dustin in the water. He still needed to pack, but that could wait until the little guy was in bed. He wasn't sure when he would get back to Orlando and didn't want to miss out on even a minute of time with his son if he could help it."Well, hello, stranger," a soft voice said from behind him.Turning, he saw Erin Reese sauntering over, a towel draped over her shoulder and her string bikini leaving very little to his overactive imagination. Her long, dark hair swished across her back in counter to the sway of her hips. Her breasts strained at the thin fabric and he was sure she bought it a size too small for that very reason. She was tall, with a figure that demanded to be squeezed and groped. He knew because he had squeezed and
Sitting in her car, she stared at the front of Starbucks, debating within herself if she should just start her car back up and get the hell out of there. She couldn't believe she had allowed her father to talk her into meeting Vince for coffee. There were so many other things she should be doing. To be honest, there were many things she would rather be doing. This was a mistake she had already made once. So, why was she making it again?God, she wished she knew.With a deep breath, she opened her car door and stepped into the past.She was crying, but then again when wasn't she crying. She had shed tears for the past year, ever since the plane crash destroyed her family. Vince Andrews had been there, a constant support for everything she was going through. He held her when she couldn't stand on her own two feet, physically as well as emotionally. With Brent and Lily's help, he kept the foundation running and oversaw the things she just had not been able to handle right then. She wasn't
Morgan paid the delivery man, tossing in an extra five for a tip, before shutting the door. As the door clicked, Dustin screamed out "Yay!" as he circled around the room in a sprint. Erin stood by the kitchen counter, pouring soda for everyone. As Morgan set the boxes down on the Formica, Dustin jumped up and down beside him. "I want cheese! Did you get me cheese?"Erin giggled as Morgan tried to get his son to calm down. "Yes, I got you cheese. Of course, I got you cheese. What else would a little squirt like you eat, huh?""I love cheese!""I never would have guessed." Erin laughed harder as she leaned on the counter beside the hopping body of Dustin. Morgan could only smile as he watched the others. Erin may not want children, but she always doted on Dustin when the little boy was around, and he always clung to her. For Morgan, it was almost as if he was able to play family for a while, a feeling he missed, even though he would never admit it out loud.With plates of pizza and cold