Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Allison

I gave the girl my order and retrieved Jackson’s card, then went in search of him. He was seated at a corner table in one of the front rooms.

“So why is this your favorite table?” I asked as I dropped into the chair across from him.

“Because,” he said, lifting his hand to point at the wall behind him with his thumb. “I’ve got a wall at my back. I can see the side entrance from this window”—he pointed at the window to his right—“and when someone walks in the front, this wall pretty much hides me from their view. I can see them, but not vice versa. It’s a great tactical position.”

I stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter. “Wow. That’s definitely a cop answer. I thought it would be something like how it has the most comfortable chairs, or the best lighting, or how you always get lucky if you take a date to this table.”

Jackson winked. “I don’t need a special table to get lucky.”

“I bet you don’t. In fact,” I said, raising my eyebrows, “I’m pretty sure you could get lucky just by walking upstairs right now.” I laughed to let him know I was teasing, even though truthfully I was feeling an odd jealousy.

Odd because I had never felt any kind of jealousy when fellow residents would flirt with Mike. Jackson and I weren’t romantically involved, I definitely didn’t have the right to feel this way. But it had started the moment Luna had staked her claim on him, and this conversation was making it ten times worse.

Jackson had the decency to blush. “Just so you know, Luna and I have never—”

I interrupted him. “You don’t owe me any explanations. We’re friends, right? What you do is your business.” Even if it was making me feel something I had no right to feel.

“Right,” Jackson said, clearly uncomfortable as well. “But still. Luna and I have always just been friends. Completely platonic.”

“So no girlfriend then? I mean, clearly. That was a stupid question,” I stammered. “If you had a girlfriend, you wouldn’t be out with me. Plus, you already told me you don’t do relationships.” I felt mortified. Why was I suddenly acting so awkward? I needed to shake this off.

“No, no girlfriend,” Jackson said slowly. “What about you? Do you have someone back in Memphis?”

I bit my lip. “No. Not anymore.”

“What happened?”

I took a deep breath. “Well. We haven’t exactly talked about why I ended up here, but here’s the short version. I was up for a position with the hospital system where I did my residency. Only, the department chief expected me to sleep with him in order to get the job.”

“What?” Jackson’s jaw dropped.

“Yeah. Obviously, I refused. Then I made the mistake of threatening him with HR.” I sighed. “It was stupid. I should have known he had way too much power for that. He threatened to destroy my reputation and make me unhireable in Memphis.” I shook my head, still feeling the disbelief of how it had all worked out. “My boyfriend at the time—Mike—actually told me I should have just done it. He apparently knew what was going to happen at the interview and didn’t even warn me.”

Jackson blinked like he was having trouble comprehending my words. “I’m sorry, did you say your boyfriend actually wanted you to sleep with a superior to get a job?”

I nodded. “Yeah, he did. Turns out, the reason I only saw Mike once every couple of weeks was because he was also dating the daughter of a different department chief. I had no idea until that day.”

Jackson shook his head in disgust. “I’m so sorry.”

I sighed, then did something that surprised even me. I smiled. “It’s okay,” I said, meaning it for the first time. “It’s odd. We were together all through residency, but I don’t miss him at all. He didn’t love me, and I know now that I didn’t love him.” The certainty of it felt like a gift.

“Well, good. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“After that,” I continued, “I decided I was just…tired of it all. Tired of the politics, the striving, the cutthroat environment. I wanted a fresh start somewhere quiet and peaceful. I started sending out my CV that night, and Dr. Stone called about this job shortly after.”

“As far as the other guy goes, is there anything I can do? Are you still thinking of filing a report?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I mean, it’s just my word against his. I don’t have proof of anything. He, on the other hand, has people willing to speak out against me because of what he can offer them in return.”

Jackson put his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together, resting his chin against his knuckles. His eyes were thoughtful. “He’s probably done this to other women. If we found others willing to speak out, we might be able to do something about it.”

I smiled softly. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For believing me. For wanting to help. For not saying I was stupid about the whole thing. Everyone seemed to think I should have just done it. Small price to pay for a career, right?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “No, it’s not.”

“Exactly. Not to me, anyway. But.” I smiled, surprising myself again. “Other than having a receptionist who hates me and an incompetent nurse, I’m starting to think it all worked out for the best.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. I think I ended up exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Dinner was fabulous in every way. My irrational annoyance at Luna aside—how was it possible for a woman to be so insanely beautiful? And why on earth did she have to like Jackson?—I had to admit, she knew what she was doing when it came to her restaurant. The meal would have easily stood up next to some of the best award-winning restaurants I had ever been to. And sharing the meal with Jackson made it even better. I felt so comfortable with him, and it was lovely to have someone to decompress with at the end of the day.

So when Luna swept over to our table in her long red dress—placing a hand on the back of Jackson’s chair—to ask how everything was, I told myself the reason I found it annoying wasn’t because I wanted a romantic relationship with him. It just reminded me of the reality that our friendship had an unknown end date. He was an attractive, popular man. Despite what he had told me, he wouldn’t stay single forever. Someday, some girl would convince him to give a relationship a try, and he’d be so in love with her that he would say yes.

And then our dinners would be over.

The thought nearly broke my heart. But it was just my personality, I assured myself. I was a woman of routine. I got into habits and then struggled with change. Dinner with Jackson had somehow already become a regular part of my new life, and of course it would be difficult when that routine had to change.

Difficult? my inner voice whispered, mocking me. Don’t you mean it will rip your heart out and shred it to pieces?

I sighed. It was true. I’d been attracted to him from day one, and we had gotten way too close. I was playing with fire. Maybe it would be better to end our dinners now, before I lost my heart completely.

No. I would not fall in love with him. We had an agreement.

And if the sight of Luna looking down at him with adoration in her eyes was making me crazy, it was only because it was rude of her to intrude on our date.

I mean, our conversation.

Okay, maybe I did need to take a step backward.

When Luna finally left and Jackson apologized, I did my best to be totally cool. “Don’t worry about it,” I said, waving him off. “Seriously, I can be your wingman. I’m good here with this fabulous meal. Do you want to be alone with her? It’s fine.”

“No,” he said, looking at me like I was crazy—which, admittedly, I was feeling. “I told you. There’s nothing whatsoever between us.”

“She’s gorgeous,” I said.

A funny grin spread over his face. “Maybe you’re the one who wants to go chase down Luna. Is there something you’re not telling me, Allison?”

“What? No!” I sat back, shocked, as he died laughing.

“I’m teasing you,” he said. “But seriously. Let’s drop it, okay? I’m not sure why she’s being so friendly tonight, but I’m not interested. Now, what were we talking about before she came over?”

“Movies,” I said. “Specifically how you’ve never seen any films based on Jane Austen’s novels, and how I need to remedy that.”

“Oh. Right,” he said with a look of regret. Or pain. Or both.

“I own all of them,” I said, enjoying the distress on his face. “We could get takeout and start with Pride and Prejudice tomorrow night. Or Sense and Sensibility, which is my personal favorite.”

“Actually,” he said before clearing his throat as a look of relief flashed across his face. “I have plans.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling an unwelcome disappointment. “No worries. Some other time.”

“Yeah. Rain check on the movie. But listen, I meant to talk to you about tomorrow. Sheriff Morrison and his wife, Janet, are hosting their monthly dinner party. He asked me to invite you.”

“Really?” I was surprised. “Why? I haven’t even met him.”

Jackson moved his head back and forth like he was trying to figure out how to explain. “Sheriff Morrison—Greg—is kind of a mentor. Almost like family. He knows you’re important to me and also that you haven’t had a chance to make other friends here yet. Plus, you can meet Daphne and Willa. They’re both really sweet. You’ll love them.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling a little uncertain. Big groups of people were never my thing.

On the other hand, Jackson would be there, and that felt safe. Comfortable. And tempting.

“It’s a small group,” he said, almost like he could read my thoughts. “Some of the best people you’ll ever meet. Oh, and Fiona will be there.”

My breath caught. “Fiona? You mean Fiona Flanagan?”

“That’s right,” he said, grinning.

“Oh my goodness.” I felt my whole face light up. “I haven’t thought about her in years. She has to be getting on up there in age.”

“Early seventies,” he confirmed.

“Wow. That’s hard to imagine. I can only think of her as the vibrant, eccentric woman she was.”

Fiona had practically been a legend. Herbalist, midwife, mountain woman, and one of the biggest personalities in town. I had been half afraid of her as a kid, thanks to the rumors that circulated around school about how she was a witch who knew black magic and could turn you into a frog with just a few words and a point of her finger.

But she had always been very kind to me, especially when my mother got pregnant again and then miscarried. It was a horrible day that stood out in my memories, a day when my mother cried so hard I worried she would die from the grief. I would never forget how gentle Fiona was with her, how she wouldn’t leave even after everything was done. She stayed for three days, sleeping on our couch and taking care of everything, until she knew my mother was going to be okay.

“Oh,” Jackson said, interrupting my thoughts. “She’s still as vibrant and eccentric as ever. Maybe even more so.”

“She has to be getting frail though, in her seventies.”

He scoffed and shook his head. “Not a bit. Emerson—you’ll meet him if you come—likes to say she’s too damn stubborn to grow old and feeble. I think he’s right.”

The thought made me smile, and suddenly I wanted very much to go to the dinner party. “I’d love to come,” I said, “if you’re sure the sheriff doesn’t mind.”

Jackson grinned. “It was his idea. They’ll be disappointed if you don’t.”

“What time and what’s the address?” I asked.

He hesitated. “How about I just pick you up? They live in the valley, outside of town. We can ride together.”

“Okay.” I fought back a smile, reminding myself that this would not be a date. We had made a pact, for goodness’ sake! No matter what feelings I was having, I had to stick to our agreement.

As I walked through my front door that night, my cell phone rang. When I pulled it out and saw Mama’s name on the caller ID, my face lit up—until I remembered our last conversation. To say she had been against my move to Rosemary Mountain was the understatement of the year. We hadn’t spoken since I had told her it was my life and I couldn’t talk to her until she accepted that. It was the longest we’d ever gone without speaking. So I was a bit nervous when I answered.

“Hey, Mama.”

“Hi,” she said in a measured tone of her own. “I was just calling to see how things are. It’s been a little while since we’ve talked.”

“Yeah,” I said, unable to stop from sighing as I put my purse down on the entryway table and locked the front door behind me.

“I guess you’re pretty angry at me?”

“No,” I said, feeling instant guilt. “I’m not angry. I just wish you understood that I’m capable of making my own decisions, and this was the right one for me.”

She was silent for a moment. “Are you lonely out there?”

“No,” I said. The answer came quickly, and it surprised me how true it was. Despite everything, I felt less lonely here than I had in Memphis, surrounded by people.

“Are people being nice to you?”

I hesitated, unsure of how much to tell her. Of course she would be worried. She had endured my father’s reputation, and she worried it would be the same for me, even after all this time. I wasn’t about to let her know she was right.

“Yes,” I said, giving her a half-truth. “The director of the clinic has been great. And I went to the town dance last week and reintroduced myself to a lot of people. Some of them said to tell you hello and that they hope you’re well.”

“Sure they do,” she laughed, a trace of bitterness marring the words. “I can’t believe they’re still having town dances. I guess they’re stuck in the last century.”

“I guess so,” I said, trying to keep my voice light. “But it was fun. You remember Jackson from next door? He’s a detective now, working for the sheriff. Can you believe it?”

Mom paused for a minute. “That cute little blond boy you ran around with?”

“Yes,” I said, laughing. “I’ll have to tell him that’s how you referred to him.”

“Do you…see him often?”

“Pretty often, yeah. It’s been a blast catching up with him.”

“Allison.” I could hear the warning in her voice.

“What?”

“You have absolutely no business cozying up with a man like that. You know how his father was. And after all these years, Jackson’s still living in that awful town. Detective or not, that tells me all I need to know.”

“Mama, we’re just friends,” I said, shocked by her outburst.

“You better be.”

I closed my eyes and pictured her face, the same one she used to scold me as a child. Eyes narrow, lips in a tight line, her face white with anger.

Jackson didn’t deserve that.

“He’s a good guy,” I said, wanting to defend him. “He’s nothing like Russell. He was adopted a few years after we left town, and he only came back a couple of years ago. And did you not hear the part about him being a detective? He’s practically the town hero.”

“That’s not saying much.” Disapproval seeped through the phone’s connection. “But, changing the subject,” she said, brightening her tone. “Guess who called me today.”

“Who?”

“Mike.”

My alarm bells instantly went off. “What? Why did he call you?”

“He said you’re not answering his phone calls. You two were so great together. I think you’ve taught him a lesson. Why don’t you call him back?”

“Why don’t I call him back?” I asked, raising my voice. “Mama, he cheated on me and said I should have slept with a superior to get a job. I don’t really ever want to speak to him again.”

She let out a breath. “He’s sorry about the other girl. It was a mistake, Allison, and one you should forgive him for. He was only trying to get a better position so he could take care of you.”

I shook my head, dumbfounded. “Are you hearing yourself right now?”

“And he never said you should have slept with that man,” she continued, ignoring me. “You completely misunderstood him. He explained everything to me. He loves you, and he’ll be an excellent provider.”

“ I will be an excellent provider for myself, ” I said, unable to keep the edge out of my voice. “Or did you forget that I have a medical degree, too?”

“What I know is that you have a lot of student loans,” she said. “He comes from money. No student loans for him, and he’ll earn far more in his specialty than you ever will as a mountain town family doctor. He wants to give you everything, Allison. Why on earth would you throw that away over a misunderstanding?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “So you’re taking his side? Over mine?”

“There’s no need for sides,” she said, soothing. “He just wanted me to talk to you. Tell you to come back. He’s worried about you, and he misses you. I’m worried about you too. You don’t belong there. Mike said he’ll use his connections to get you something in Memphis.”

“I’m not going back.” My tone made it clear there was no room for discussion.

“You will,” she said, like a promise. “You can be as stubborn as you want right now, but you’ll see. That town has a dark side. I only hope you get out before you get hurt.”

With that, she hung up the phone.