Rough Drafts (12 page)

Michelle
laughed. “Works every time!”

May 15
^th

“What
did Jonah say when he called earlier?” Jameson asked Candace.

“Not
much. Laura’s parents are not coming to the ceremony. That much I do know.”

Jameson
was disgusted. “I don’t get that. How can you just abandon your kid? What the
hell is wrong with people?”

Candace
smiled at her wife. Jameson was fiercely protective of all three of Candace’s
children. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Some people just see the world
differently,” Candace said.

“Or
maybe some people are just selfish assholes,” Jameson replied.

“Or
that,” Candace chuckled. “I think what Jonah is the most worried about right
now is a job,” Candace said. Jameson nodded and began to focus on buttoning her
blouse. “Jameson?”

Jameson
sighed and looked at Candace. “Okay, I’ve been thinking.”

“Should
I be worried?” Candace joked.

“I
don’t know. You can tell me after I tell you what I have been thinking about.”

“I’m
listening.”

Jameson
sat down on the edge of the king sized bed in their hotel room and pulled
Candace to sit beside her. “I think we both know that none of your kids want to
ask you for help.”

“True.”

“And,
I think we both
know that sometimes
they
all need it.”

“I
agree.”

Jameson
took a deep breath. “Candace, Laura’s parents have all but disowned her. You
and I both know that is going to just get uglier in the coming months.”

Candace
nodded. “That’s probably true.”

“Jonah
and Laura don’t want to get married, at least not yet. I think we both support
that.”

“Agreed,”
Candace said. “I’m not sure I am following where this is going.”

Jameson
shrugged. “I could use a good civil engineer at the firm.”

Candace’s
surprise was evident as she tipped her head in questioning. “You want to offer
Jonah a job?”

Jameson
nodded. “It wouldn’t be charity. I could
really
use him. Besides, his lease is up at the end of next month. They need a place
to live, Candace.”

“Uh-huh?”

“I
think they should move into the house,” Jameson said. She quickly continued.
“We have the room. And, frankly, I think it would be good for them both.
Besides, when you win the election, we won’t be there as often.”

“If
I win the election.”

“You
will,” Jameson said confidently.

“Jameson,
have you really thought this through? What if I don’t win?”

Jameson
shrugged. “Then, I guess we have to share that big house with Jonah and Laura
for a while.”

“Yes…and
a baby,” Candace reminded her wife.

Jameson
shrugged again. “If you don’t win, and you are going to win—you’ll still be in
the
Senate
.”

“Your
point?” Candace asked.

“If
it gets to be too much, we’ll just spend a little more time at the townhouse.”

Candace
smiled. “What if Jonah doesn’t accept?” she asked.

“He
will,” Jameson said.

“Pretty
confident,” Candace raised her brow playfully.

“It’s
not that,” Jameson said. “He’s a smart kid, Candace. He wants to be a good
father.
We both
know that. He loves
Laura. That’s obvious. He’ll hate that he needs to accept any help, but he will
know it’s the best thing. And, anyway…I think Laura could use the support.”

Candace
leaned forward and kissed Jameson lovingly. “You’re sure about this?”

“Yeah,
I am.”

Candace
nodded. “When are you going to talk to him?”

“I
thought maybe
we
could talk to them
tomorrow
after the graduation festivities have
subsided. Celebrate tonight, talk tomorrow,” Jameson explained her idea.

“You
know, he will think I talked you into this,” Candace said.

“Maybe.
That’s why I think we should talk to them both—together.”

“You
never cease to amaze me,” Candace said.

Jameson
was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“I
think you know.”

Jameson
placed a soft kiss on Candace’s lips. “Don’t underestimate my selfishness,” she
said.

“Jameson,
you are anything but selfish.”

“I
sort of like Jonah being around,” Jameson told her wife.

Candace
smiled at the admission. Jonah was often a bit reserved. He did possess a sense
of humor that was infectious. He also
worshiped
Jameson. That had not escaped Candace’s notice over the last few months. She
and Jameson had flown out to California in April to meet the mysterious Laura
not long after Laura had broken the news of her relationship
to
her parents. To her surprise, Candace had
immediately bonded with her son’s girlfriend. Laura was bright and engaging.
Candace found herself musing that the young woman would be suited to politics
in the future. She was outgoing and opinionated, a contrast to Jonah. It
delighted Candace.

Candace
was also moved by the relationship she witnessed that had grown between Jameson
and Jonah. It differed
significantly
from
the friendship that Jameson shared with Michelle or even with Marianne and
Rick. It was clear that Jonah looked up to Jameson. Candace listened to the two
as they bantered and talked, and felt her heart swell. She hadn’t been
certain
how Jameson would interact over time
with her children. She was sure that they would develop friendships, she had
not imagined the bond that she saw being forged between her son and her wife.
Jameson’s suggestion that Jonah move home took Candace by surprise for less
than an instant. The sincerity
of
the
proposal
and the sentiment behind it assured
Candace that Jameson felt strongly that this is what she wanted to do.

“You
know, Jonah looks up to you,” Candace said.

“I
know,” Jameson said with a bright smile. “You do realize that Laura has you on
a pedestal?”

“You
think so?” Candace asked.

Jameson
kissed Candace’s cheek. “In a big way. And, who could blame her? You couldn’t
ask for a better mom,” Jameson said honestly.

“I’ve
made more than my share of mistakes,” Candace said. “Not the least of which
were two failed relationships that deeply hurt all of my children.”

“Cut
yourself some slack,” Jameson said. “I had a great mom. I know one when I see
one.”

“Your
bias,” Candace said.

“Guilty,
but that doesn’t make it any less true,” Jameson responded. She stood up and
held out her hand to Candace. “Come on, Nana. Let’s go drop a small fortune on
the graduates.”

“No,
I have a better idea. Why don’t we let my ex-husband pay for this one?” Candace
suggested.

“I
like that plan,” Jameson chimed.

“Me
too!” Candace said.

“Think
I’ll have the filet
mignon
…with lobster…Oh,
and a nice bottle of
Dom Perignon!
”

Candace
laughed. “I really do love you.”

“Hey,
when in Rome.”

“We’re
in Pasadena,” Candace said.

“So?
Close enough. They have a
colosseum
.”

“Certifiable,”
Candace laughed as Jameson led her through the door.
“Completely.
”

***

July 4
^th

Jonah
moved behind his girlfriend and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you doing
okay?” he asked.

Laura
collapsed against him. “I don’t know. What if they all hate me?” she asked.

The
insecurity in Laura’s
voice prompted
Jonah to turn her to face him. “No one I know hates you.”

“You
do remember my parents, don’t you?” she asked.

Jonah
let out a heavy sigh. He made a concerted effort not to show his disdain for
Laura’s parents. The rift that her relationship with Jonah had caused with her
father
pained
Jonah deeply. The truth
was, Jonah had no use for Lawson Klein at all. Laura’s father’s group had made
some of the cruelest and most vicious comments about his mother over the years
that he had ever heard. Lately, their rhetoric had come to include both Jonah
and Shell. For Jonah’s part, it bothered him very little what anyone said about
him. What bothered Jonah was the way the comments often affected Laura and his
mother. He held little hope that there would be any reconciliation for Laura
and her parents as long as Laura chose to remain with him. Jonah hoped that
their relationship would be a permanent situation. That meant that Laura would
need to let go of her parents.

“I’m
sorry about your parents,” Jonah said sincerely. “I realize it’s not the same.
You know my mom loves you and so do J.D. and Shell,” he said. “Even my dad
likes you!” Laura nodded apprehensively. “You’re worried about Marianne,” he
surmised the problem. Jonah chuckled. “Her bark is worse than her bite,” he
said. “Besides, Pearl adores you and no one—I mean no one messes with Pearl,
not even Marianne.”

“Glad
you are so sure,” Laura said tentatively.

“I
am. Marianne pulled some serious crap the first time Mom held this barbecue,”
he said. He watched Laura’s nervous expression mix with curiosity. “Just
believe me, Pearl ended it,” he laughed.

“Jonah,
Shell even said…”

“Forget
Shell,” he dismissed the thought before it could take shape. “Ask Mel or J.D.
Hell, ask Mom if you don’t believe me. Shell loves to torment Marianne any way
she can. It’s like her favorite pastime. Marianne loves to torture Shell. Used
to drive Mom nuts.”

“Used
to?” Laura asked.

“Well,
Marianne is in Texas, so Mom doesn’t have to deal with them on a daily basis
anymore,” he chuckled. “They can be exhausting when they are around each other
too long.” Laura put her head on Jonah’s shoulder. “Just relax, it will be
okay
—I promise. If it gets to be too much, go
hide with Pearl and J.D.’s mom,” he suggested.

Laura
laughed. “Maureen is great,” she said. “You’re lucky, Jonah. You know that,
don’t you?” Jonah nodded. “Your family is…”

“My
family is your family,” he told his girlfriend.

“Not
really,” she said.

“Yes,
they are. You don’t need a ring around here. Mel is part of the family too, and
Grandma Pearl. Mom is not like that,” he said.

“I
just…your mom and J.D. have done so much for me already —for us,” Laura said.

Jonah
nodded his agreement. He looked out the bedroom window and caught sight of
Jameson kissing his mother by the pool. “Yeah…Mom and J.D…. Well, Mom is still
Mom, but she’s different with J.D.”

“How
so?” Laura asked.

Jonah
looked back out the window. “She’s
happy.
”

***

“The
kids seem to be settling in,” Pearl commented to Candace.

Candace
looked out the kitchen window and nodded. “I think so.”

“Worried?”
Pearl asked.

Candace
shrugged noncommittally. “It’s not her family,” she said.

Pearl
nodded. “It isn’t yet,” she said.

Candace
rolled her eyes. “After this weekend, she might not want it to be.”

“If
Marianne behaves, we should all be fine,” Pearl laughed.

“And,
if she doesn’t?” Candace wondered.

“She’s
your daughter, send her to her room!” Pearl suggested.

Candace
snickered. “That never works,” she rolled her eyes. “Heard from Jeffrey at
all?” Candace asked.

Pearl
smiled. “He called the other day, but you already knew that I suspect,” Pearl
pursed her lips. Candace shrugged. “Seems you two have patched things up
finally.”

“There
was nothing to
patch
up,” Candace said.
“You know him, he thinks he is my protector.”

“I
do know. I remember the time you brought that boy from high school home. What
was his name?”

“What
boy?” Candace asked.

“You
know, that mop top that played on the football team,” Pearl explained.

Candace
groaned. “Jeremy Borne.”

“Yeah,
him.”

“Oh,
God that was a lifetime ago,” Candace mused.

 
“He had you out on the swing your granddad had
in the yard,” Pearl recalled. Candace grimaced. “All I remember is Jeff running
in here, his face looked like a tomato he was so mad,” Pearl laughed heartily.
“I asked him what was wrong and he just stormed off.”

“Why
don’t I remember this?”

“Maybe
because you were lip locked with the mop top,” Pearl continued to laugh.