On the Line (20 page)

“Another one? I thought you just hired one,” Mason said.

Jackson shrugged casually. “It didn’t work out.”

“So how long will you be in town?” Charlotte asked, the pitch of her voice somewhere
between Minnie Mouse and Frenchie from
Grease
. Nathan had always found her voice
amusing, but was glad he wasn’t the one having to live with her. As sweet as she
was, he didn’t think he could listen to her talk all the time.

“Don’t know, I guess it depends.” Jackson bit into his biscuit and quickly followed
it with a sip of water.

“Depends on what?” Mason gaze held a mischievous glint, and Nathan rolled his eyes.
“Are you going to try to see
her
this time? Is that what it depends on?”

Jackson’s look turned murderous. “Shut up, asshole.”

“Jackson,” Nancy said firmly. “Not at the table, please.”

He glanced at her for a moment then looked at his plate. “Sorry, Mom.”

“Mason, Kerri’s not home right now,” Nancy stated matter-of-factly. “And leave your
brother alone.”

Nathan pressed his lips together so he wouldn’t laugh. They continued to eat in relative
peace for a few more minutes. Nathan was in the middle of taking a sip of water when
his mother met his gaze.

“How’s Janelle?” she asked innocently.

Nathan nearly choked.

“That good, huh?” Mason chuckled as he slowly shook his head. “I’m guessing things
haven’t changed since the last time we talked about it.”

Nathan set his glass down and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “No, Mason, they haven’t,”
he grumbled. He looked at his mother. “I don’t know how she’s doing, Mom. I haven’t
had the chance to talk to her in a while.”

Nancy’s right eye narrowed slightly as she focused on her eldest son. “How long is
‘a while’?” she asked in a tone that meant she would tolerate
nothing but the truth.
And that she knew she probably wouldn’t like it.

“Three weeks,” Nathan said and picked his water up again. He held the glass to his
lips as he added, “More or less.”

“Da-yamn,” Jackson muttered.

“You’re one to talk,” Mason retorted.

“Shove it,” Jackson replied.

“Boys, enough.” Nancy’s green eyes bored into Nathan’s as he took a sip of water
he wasn’t really thirsty for. As he lowered the glass, she shook her head. “I don’t
believe you would do this to her.”

“I haven’t done anything,” Nathan said.

“Not recently,” Jackson coughed. “Ow! Did you just kick me?” He glared across the
table at Mason.

“No, I did,” Nancy stated and turned her attention to her youngest child. “If you
have nothing polite to contribute, please refrain from saying anything.”

Jackson pouted. “Sorry.” He laid his forearm on the table and with the fork in the
other hand he poked at the food on his plate.

“Mom, I don’t think we really need to talk about this.” Nathan stabbed a piece of
the ham and popped it in his mouth.

“Why haven’t you spoken to her in three weeks, Nathan?” Nancy laid her fork and knife
on her plate.

Nathan shrugged and picked up another piece of ham.

“He’s not allowed to,” Mason answered.

Nathan glared at him. “Stay out of it.”

“You’re an idiot,” Mason snapped.

“Why isn’t he allowed to talk to Janelle?” Nancy questioned, turning her attention
to Mason.

“Don’t answer her,” Nathan hissed.

“Captain Little told him not to. He said it might interfere with the investigation.”
Mason waved his hand in the air. “Or something like that.”

“Really?” Nancy’s gaze bounced between her oldest boys as if she was trying to decide
which one of them might answer her question. Mason beat her to it by telling her
the basics of what Nathan had told him. She nodded as she listened and sat quietly
when Mason was finished. She sat back in
her chair and folded her arms across her
chest, her lips puckered as she contemplated. “Well, I can see what Bruce is saying,”
she finally said, then looked at Nathan. “But I think he’s wrong.”

“Mom—” Nathan began until she held up her hand.

“Regardless,” she waved that hand as she lowered it to the table, “I think I might
pay my granddaughter a visit tomorrow.”

Nathan felt the air escape his lungs, blindsided by that simple statement. He’d been
so hung up on wondering how he could fix things with Janelle that he’d almost forgotten
Zoe entirely. He’d almost forgotten that she was his, and as a result, his family
was hers.

But still, that probably wouldn’t be a good idea.

“I don’t think you should,” Nathan said.

“And why not? Bruce said you shouldn’t see her, but he didn’t say I couldn’t,” his
mother argued. “And poor Janelle probably needs to know that she has others in her
corner. Lord knows her mother isn’t.” Nancy shook her head sadly.

“How can you be sure of that?” Nathan questioned.

Nancy’s eye narrowed again as she pressed her lips together. “Do you know why I started
visiting her all those years ago?”

“It wasn’t that long ago, Mom,” Nathan answered as he tried not to laugh. Even though
it felt like ages, it had only been four years.

“Whatever,” she stated dismissively. “I went to visit her because of her mother.”

“Why?” Charlotte chirped.

“Because, Mary always made it known how proud she was of Richard’s accomplishments.
Of how successful he was in his new position and how quickly he was moving up the
corporate ladder. She bragged about how much the company needed him and the long
hours he was putting in at work. She expected he would make CFO within ten years,
if not sooner.” Nancy shook her head again. “But not once did Mary say anything about
either of her girls. I figured if she was behaving like that in public, her private
behavior couldn’t possibly be any better, so I paid Janelle a visit.”

“That’s so sweet of you,” Charlotte interjected.

Nancy smiled sorrowfully as she continued. “The poor thing was trying so hard, but
I could tell she felt very unappreciated.” She sat up and placed both
forearms on
the table. “It wasn’t the typical ‘new mom, this is harder than I thought it would
be’ unappreciated, it was the ‘utterly defeated, nothing I do will ever make this
better’ unappreciated. So I continued to visit her so that she would know that she
at least had me in her corner.”

“That was nice of you, Mom,” Jackson whispered as he took her hand in his and squeezed
it.

“I’ve always thought the world of those girls. They were always so kind and caring
to everyone they met. I don’t know if you boys remember, but George and his kids
were some of the first visitors we had after your father died.” Nancy fell silent,
and Nathan watched the memories dance across her face. After a while, she shook her
head and looked at him. “I don’t know why she did what she did to you, but I can
guarantee she probably thought she didn’t have a choice. And I’m going to see her
tomorrow so she knows she still has my support.”

“I’m coming with you. I’d love for James to meet his cousin,” Charlotte said with
a fond glance at her child as he scooped mashed potatoes into his mouth with his
tiny fingers.

Nathan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He was so touched that his mother would
still want to support Janelle, despite what had happened between them. She was right;
Janelle needed everyone she could get in her corner. He’d heard the whispers that
followed him through town. He could only imagine Janelle was experiencing the same
thing, if not worse. The fact that his mother and sister-in-law wanted to welcome
his daughter into the family, regardless of how things ended up between him and Janelle,
moved him deeply.

“Okay, you can go,” Nathan said quietly.

Nancy laughed lightly. “Oh, honey, I wasn’t asking your permission.”

Fourteen

Through the bay window in the living room, Janelle watched the car slowly approach
the house. She had no idea who it might be, but a knot began to form in her stomach.
Her mind ran down a checklist of possible visitors then organized them from least
welcome to most welcome. Her mother was of course at the top of the list—Nathan,
a surprising second. That saddened her a bit. But when the car stopped and the passenger
climbed out, Janelle panicked. She mentally rushed through the list to see where
she had placed Nathan’s mother.

She hadn’t even been on it.

Janelle cursed silently, glanced at the top of Zoe’s head as it was bent over in
coloring concentration at the coffee table. What could Nancy Harris possibly want?
Did she want to fuss at Janelle for what was happening with Nathan? Did she want
to yell about Janelle keeping Zoe from her? Did she want to berate Janelle for her
irresponsible behavior?

Janelle’s mind raced through numerous worst-case scenarios as she pulled her shoulders
back and walked toward the front door. She opened it as Nancy held her hand up to
knock.

“Nancy,” Janelle greeted her with a wide, slightly unstable, smile. “What a surprise.
What brings you here?”

Nancy lowered her hand and placed it on the handle of a basket hanging from her arm.
“Janelle, sweetie,” she replied with a grin. “Since when does a grandmother need
a reason to visit her granddaughter?”

Janelle’s smile faltered slightly as she fell back a step. That wasn’t quite what
she’d been expecting. Maybe Nancy hadn’t gotten warmed up yet. Or maybe Janelle hadn’t
heard her right. “What?” she practically whispered as she inched toward the door
again.

“Hi, Janelle.”

That chirpy voice could only belong to one person, and Janelle peeked around Nancy.
Her daughter-in-law, Charlotte, stood behind her with her son on her hip. Her long,
dark-red hair was pulled into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck, her brown eyes
sparkled, and she wore a large smile.

Janelle’s equilibrium took another hit.

“Can we come in? I really need to change James’s diaper,” Charlotte asked as she
stepped closer to Nancy.

Janelle automatically pushed the screen door open for them. “Sure, come on in.” She
stepped against the door as they pushed past her and entered the house. “Kelsey’s
in the office, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you changed him in there.” Janelle
motioned toward the door under the staircase.

“Great, thanks.” Charlotte walked in the direction of Janelle’s wave.

Janelle watched Nathan’s mother warily. “I haven’t told her yet,” Janelle whispered
when she noticed Nancy’s gaze had fallen on Zoe.

Nancy turned to Janelle and gripped her forearm. “That’s fine. I’d just like to meet
her and get to know her so it’s easier when you do.”

“Really?” Janelle asked before she could stop the words and Nancy laughed musically
as she turned away. Janelle continued, “I was just about to feed them lunch and send
them to their rooms for naps.”

“Perfect timing, then.” Nancy held up the basket she was carrying. “I brought sandwiches,
potato salad, and cookies.”

Tears instantly filled Janelle’s eyes. “That’s very kind of you.” She took the basket
from Nancy.

“Nonsense,” Nancy said. “It would have been rude to come otherwise. Now, can I meet
her? It’s Zoe, right?”

“Yes, it is.” Janelle said proudly. “Zoe, come here for a moment please.”

Zoe looked at her mother and promptly stood and walked toward her. Janelle saw Zach
poke his head up above the armchair then sink down until just his eyes and forehead
were visible. She motioned for him to come over too, but his eyes slowly lowered
behind the chair.

“Give him time, sweetie,” Nancy said as she patted Janelle’s arm.

Janelle nodded and tried to smile at Nancy as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
She looked down at Zoe, standing before them with her hands
clasped in front of her.
Her aqua eyes were wide and focused on Nancy, who grinned down at her.

“Zoe, I’d like you to meet Officer Nathan’s mother, Mrs. Harris,” Janelle made the
introductions and was surprised to see Nancy squat to Zoe’s level.

“Hi, Zoe.” Nancy held out her hand and grinned in delight when Zoe took it. They
shook hands a couple of times, then Nancy placed her other hand on top of them. “It’s
such a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you from Officer Nathan.”

Janelle did a double take and her heart skipped a beat. Nathan talked about their
daughter?

“Is he coming too? I miss him,” Zoe said innocently, tearing at Janelle’s chest.

“I think he misses you too, but he can’t make it today.” Nancy held Zoe’s little
hands in hers as Zoe pouted. “Were you coloring a picture?”

Zoe’s face lit up. “Yeah. Wanna see?”

“I would love to.” Nathan’s mother looked up at Janelle and grinned. “If your momma
can help me up.” Janelle took her outstretched hand and helped the older woman to
her feet. “I think I’m getting too old for that.”

Janelle laughed and promptly covered her mouth with her fingers. It was the first
time she’d laughed since the kidnapping. And it felt surprisingly good.