Jaxon Page 3

  “Dad, I’ve got a class tonight.”

  He pursed his lips tightly and said, “Your mother and I agreed that you could keep up with your graduate studies on a part-time basis as long as it did not interfere with your swimming.”

  “It’s the last class of the semester. The final is next week and then I’m finished for the summer. It’s one friggin’ class, Dad.”

  “It may be the last class you take if you can’t make your goals. Do you understand me?”

  Blowing out her breath slowly, she nodded. “Perfectly, Dad.”

  He turned and walked out of the pool area and she sucked in a huge breath. With nothing else to say and no one to say it to, she walked to the locker room.

  4

  With the motorcycle roaring underneath him, Jaxon turned onto the residential lane. The neighborhood had managed to retain its appeal over the years, the houses still neat, young families buying the older ones and renovating them. Large, mature trees filled yards, many with picket fences surrounding the perimeters.

  Bicycles and tricycles lined the driveways, some with basketball hoops set up over garage doors. He pulled up to the house at the end. The two-story wooden house was freshly painted, thanks to him and his brothers who worked to keep Miss Ethel’s house in tip-top shape. The white planks with the dark green shutters and door, looked inviting as always.

  Unable to keep the smile from his face whenever he neared, he remembered when he and Jayden had come to live with her. They had just celebrated their sixth birthday with the only mom they had known, their Aunt Louise. She had kept them from the age of two, only saying that their mom and grandmother had both died. For the last two years that she took care of them, Aunt Louise had been dating a man that neither he nor Jayden liked very much because whenever he was around he told Louise to put them to bed. So, they spent a lot of time in their room. And when she was gone to visit him, she dropped them off at various friends. Never in one place too long, they had become preschool vagabonds, always on the move.

  The day after their sixth birthday, after they celebrated with cake and icecream, she loaded both them and their belongings into her car and drove down this very road. Curious, he and Jayden sat in the back while she got out to talk to a tall, thin woman with grey hair pulled back in a bun, and another woman with a large briefcase. They watched her aunt sign papers before she walked back to the car and said, “It’s time to get out, boys.”

  Used to staying with her friends, they dutifully climbed out and followed her to the front porch. He spied two little boys’ faces peering out from the door and he grinned. He elbowed Jayden to look as well. They particularly liked to stay with friends of their aunt who had kids to play with.

  Aunt Louise turned and introduced them. “This is Jaxon and this is Jayden. Boys, say hello to Miss Ethel.” She bent to give both of them a tearful hug. “I’m sorry. It’s just, Harry doesn’t want to start out as a dad.”

  He looked at Jayden, but his face showed confusion as well. They stood together and watched her jog down the porch to her car and take out their suitcases. Setting them on the porch, she hurried to the car and backed out. He had no idea it would be the last time they saw her as she drove down the street.

  “Zander. Rafe. Run and help these two boys with their suitcases, please,” the older woman, Miss Ethel, called out, and he watched as two big boys from inside the house came charging out, grinning as they grabbed the two suitcases. Zander and Rafe looked up to the older woman.

  She smiled and asked the other boys to play outside for a little while, promising that the two new boys would be along to play soon.

  “How come they look alike?” one of them asked.

  “They’re brothers, and they’re also twins. Now go on and let me talk to them first.” Doing her bidding, they left, and the two women led he and his brother inside.

  He looked to the right, seeing a large dining room table, much larger than any he had ever seen. Moving past it, they walked into a living room, comfortably furnished with a dark green sofa with colorful throw pillows against the back. The wooden end tables were covered in white, crocheted lace. A thick rug covered the center of the wooden floor. Two, deep cushioned chairs sat facing the sofa, one with a bag of yarn on the floor nearby. The walls on either side of the fireplace held bookshelves, filled with children’s books.

  He and Jayden settled on the sofa, their legs swinging in time with each other. The woman with the briefcase smiled at them as she introduced herself as Ms. Carswell.

  “Jaxon, Jayden, your aunt is unable to keep you anymore and she has signed her rights over to the state. As your social worker, I am having you come to this lovely home and having Miss Ethel take care of you.”

  Staring, unspeaking, he cocked his head and asked, “Are we staying here for a few days?”

  “Sometimes Aunt Louise has us stay with some of her friends,” Jayden finished.

  “Well, this isn’t going to be a temporary stay,” Ms. Carswell began, but Miss Ethel interrupted.

  “Boys,” she said, her smile warm as she focused on them, “I have a big house with a big yard that is just begging to have little boys who like to play. I’ll introduce you to my other boys in a bit. You see, I have the special honor of taking care of boys who need someone to look after them. You’ll stay with me for as long as you can.”

  He glanced to the side, seeing Jayden turn his head as well. They did not speak but, then, they rarely needed to. Understanding passed between them and he looked back to Miss Ethel and said, “We stay here? We won’t go back to Aunt Louise?”

  She nodded, her hands resting on her knees. “Yes, that’s right. Ms. Carswell will continue to check on you and if we find that you are completely unhappy with me, or with living here, then we can talk to her about it. But, it is my dearest wish that you will be happy.”

  “What’s that smell?” he asked, sniffing appreciatively.

  “Chocolate cookies I baked this morning,” she said, her blue eyes twinkling. “All my boys like my cookies. Would you like to have some?”

  As he nodded enthusiastically she stood and, turning to Ms. Carswell, said, “I think that for now, we’re fine.”

  He watched as Ms. Carswell smiled and said, “I’ll be back next week to check on everybody.”

  Miss Ethel walked her to the door and then turned back to him and Jayden. “Come. Let’s go into the kitchen.”

  Before she had a chance to move, the other two boys came barreling into the house. “We saw her leave. Can we play with them now?”

  Laughing, Miss Ethel said, “Let’s get the introductions complete first.” She walked over to the tallest, the one with blond hair, and said, “This is my oldest, Zander. He is nine.” With her hand on the other, dark-haired boy, she said, “And this is Rafe. He’s eight and has been with me for just a few months.”

  She lifted her hand to Jaxon’s shoulder and said, “This is Jaxon—”

  “Uh uh,” he said quickly. “That’s Jaxon and I’m Jayden.”

  She raised her eyebrow. “Now Jaxon, don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes. I can already tell you apart.”

  He and Jayden looked at each other before starring up at her in awe. Even Aunt Louise could not always tell them apart.

  “I value honesty, boys. Please don’t feel like you have to lie in this house. I never want you to be anything other than what you are.”

  “Sorry,” he mumbled, truly hoping she was not angry.

  She patted his shoulder and said, “Now, I think it’s time for cookies and milk.”

  At that, he followed her eagerly into the dining room where he and Jayden and the other boys settled quickly around the table. In a moment, she entered with a platter piled high with homemade cookies and five glasses of milk.

  By that evening, he and Jayden were snugly ensconced in a bedroom with Zander and Rafe across the hall. Before bed, they had been allowed to sit in the older boys’ room and listen as Zander read a story to them. Aunt Louise had neve
r had time for such indulgences and they loved listening to fairy tales.

  Once in bed, Miss Ethel came in to tuck them in. Sitting on his bed, she said, “I’m so glad you came to live with me.” She smiled as she added, “Your names are so meaningful. Your mother must have loved having you.”

  Scrunching his face, he said, “We didn’t know our mother. Aunt Louise never talked about her and the man she’s marrying said she wasn’t a nice person.”

  Jayden added, “He called her a crack wh—”

  “Oh my,” Miss Ethel hurried and said, her eyes wide. “You just forget all about what he said. Whatever problems your mother may have had, she gave you beautiful names.” Her face softened, and she explained, “Jaxon, your name means God is gracious, and Jayden, your name means thankful. I think she knew that God had given her two precious gifts and she, in turn, gifted you with those names. And now, I get the honor to have you live with me. Aren’t I lucky?”

  Jaxon snuggled under the covers, strangely warm, thinking that Miss Ethel seemed to mean what she had said. He had never had someone tell him that they were lucky to have him. After she kissed their foreheads, she left the room, leaving the door cracked so the nightlight in the bathroom could guide them if necessary.

  With a full belly, he and Jayden did not talk long that night, as sleep claimed them quickly. It was the first night he felt truly cared for.

  Now, as he pulled the motorcycle behind Jayden’s in the driveway, he saw the other cars parked on the street. His brothers had all joined the military when it was their turn to leave Miss Ethel’s house at the end of high school, but each came back, considering her a mother and each other the brothers they would always have. Zeke had come to Miss Ethel when they were teens and stayed with her as well while they all finished off high school. There were a few others that were also younger than them that stayed for a bit, but it was Zeke who stayed the longest, eventually graduating while still under her roof. She built familial ties that were unbreakable…along with frying the best chicken he had ever had.

  Grinning, he hopped off and strolled into the house. He was hit with the scent of her signature dish, his mouth immediately watering. Hearing the commotion from the kitchen, he walked past the empty dining room, knowing the gathering would be in the back. Stepping from the hall into the large kitchen, he observed Miss Ethel, her hair, now white, still pulled back in a bun, standing at the stove. Her tall, thin frame was covered in a striped, blue shirtdress with a slender belt. Her eyes, now more grey than blue, were just as sharp as ever. She was placing the freshly fried chicken from the pan onto a platter.

  Looking out the back door, the guys were in the back yard, placing chairs around the large picnic table. His gaze landed on the women that now increased their family. Zander’s wife, Rosalie, a high school English teacher, was mixing a salad. Eleanor was carrying a tray of drinks, handing them off to her husband, Rafe, to place on the table. And Cael’s fiancé , Regina, had her head thrown back in laughter, cuddling Zander and Rosalie’s new baby girl, Charity, in her arms.

  As soon as they saw him, they called out greetings, but before he could head outside Miss Ethel left the chicken and moved to him. He wrapped her in his arms, pulling her in for a hug, feeling the thinness of her frame even more. She patted his back and he leaned down so that she could place a kiss on his cheek.

  “My boy, how are you?”

  “Doing well, Miss Ethel.”

  “Saving lives as usual?” she asked, her voice gentle.

  Chuckling, he said, “As many as I can, but none as pretty as you.”

  Slapping him playfully, she clucked as she moved away. “Get on out, you rascal, and hang with your brothers. We’ll call you when we need help taking the food out.”

  Nodding, he moved through the back door, passing Eleanor and smiling at her as she headed back inside. Smiles and handshakes greeted him, but it was Charity he really wanted to see. Just four months old and she already had them all wrapped around her finger.

  It did not take long for the gathering to settle around the table, food being passed around. Miss Ethel had instilled table manners in her young charges, something that they maintained as adults. Making sure everyone had food on their plate, they sat, heads bowed as she prayed a blessing. With Amens all around, the eating and talking ensued, the group happy to be sharing a meal as they caught up on each other’s lives.

  Usually the loudest member of the band of brothers, he found himself watching the couples carefully. Zander, normally taciturn, smiled more often as his eyes drifted to Rosalie holding Charity in her arms, affection evident in every glance. Rafe’s attention was riveted on Eleanor, never noticing the burn scars that covered one side of her face from her time in the military. And Cael’s face gentled when he smiled at Regina, whose reddish-gold hair was growing back from her previous chemo treatment. She once more glowed with a healthy aura.

  Normally joking, words stuck in his throat staring at the three women who had become sisters to the group of close brothers, which was not an easy feat. But, simply by being themselves, they had managed to become as important to them all as the other members of their family.

  “You coming to Grimm’s this weekend?” Jayden asked, drawing his attention back to his brother.

  Nodding, he replied, “Yeah, time to blow off a little steam before the long week hits. I’ve got five straight days on duty.”

  Once the picnic was cleared away, he drifted into the kitchen, seeing Miss Ethel pulling out plastic containers filled with homemade chocolate chip cookies.

  She turned and smiled, handing one to him. Patting his shoulder, she said, “You know, I’m so proud of you. I never doubted you would find your place in the world as someone who saves others.”

  He stared into her warm eyes. “I don’t know how you figured that. I seem to remember our high school principal taking bets on whether Jayden or I would end up in trouble first.”

  Laughing, she agreed, “Oh, you did used to give Mr. Tolliver fits, didn’t you? But you were never bad, just fun loving.” Her mirth slowly faded, and she added, “One day, you’ll meet the right one, but until then, have your fun.”

  Shaking his head, he said, “You know me so well. Thank God you never gave up on me.”

  “It was your names, remember? God is gracious and thankful. That says everything about you to me.”

  Pulling her into his embrace, he kissed her soft cheek before heading out for the evening.

  5

  Morgan walked into her parents’ house, knowing her dad was not there, hoping to spend a few minutes with her mother and grab some things from her old room.

  “Hey sweetie,” her mother called out from the kitchen. “Do you need a protein drink?”

  “No, Mom, I’m good.” She walked into the large, sunny room, and breathed in the scent of brownies, fresh from the oven. “But one of those I will have.”

  She reached for one on top of the pile and immediately felt the sting of her mother’s hand slapping hers. “Mom! What the—seriously? I’m twenty-four years old.”

  “Yes, and you’re a swimmer that does not need the empty calories while in training.”

  Her hands clutched the edge of the kitchen counter so tightly her knuckles were white. Her mother, tall with an athletic build honed from daily tennis practice, was dressed in yoga pants that fit her frame perfectly paired with a designer shirt with little embellishment. Her hair, sleek and neat, hung in a chin-length bob.

  Her mother turned her gaze toward her and said, “What?”

  Sighing heavily, she shook her head. “Nothing. I just came by to say hello and to grab a couple of things from my old room.”

  With narrowed eyes, her mother perused her from head to toe. “Are you getting enough rest? Your father is concerned about your time—”

  “My time is fine, Mom. I’d just like to do something occasionally besides swim.”

  “Honey, you know I’m just concerned.”

  “I know, I know,” sh
e interrupted. Seeing her mother’s hurt expression, she walked over and offered her a hug. “I’m good, Mom. I’ve got somewhere to be tonight, so I’ll pop up into my room and then head on out.”

  Leaving the kitchen before her mother had a chance to offer a rebuttal, she hurried back down the hall and up the stairs to her former bedroom. Raised in a large home in a nice residential area, she had shocked her parents when she moved out after college, but she could not wait to get out on her own.

  It had taken her five years to get her undergraduate degree because of swimming on the university team as well as on her own. Now, finishing up the first part of her master’s degree in education, she had managed to score a cheap apartment, sharing it with a roommate. Pinching her lips together, she knew with her roommate getting married, she needed to find another person to share the cost. Blowing out her breath, she pushed those thoughts from her head.

  At the top of the stairs, she moved to the door on the left, opening it and sucking in a fortifying breath before she entered. Despite her protestations that her parents update the room and turn it into a guest room, they left it as a shrine. A shrine to her. Well, her and swimming.

  The shelves were filled with trophies, medals, and ribbons. So many it was hard to distinguish one from the other. Silver, gold, bronze, glass—all shiny trinkets of days gone by. Posters of Olympic swimmers from previous years adorned her walls.

  She walked over to her dresser and stared at more trophies. Freestyle. Breaststroke. Butterfly. Relays. Backstroke. She whirled around, her gaze drifting over the entire room. Plopping down on the bed, she remembered the few times she was allowed to have a sleepover with a friend and how amazed she was at their rooms.

  They were real childhood rooms filled with stuffed animals, dolls, books and toys. Pre-teen rooms covered in boy-band posters. Adolescent rooms filled with clothes, makeup, and even one friend’s room filled with political activism posters. She would go around and touch the various items, marveling at the difference between their simple bedrooms and her own. She had envied each and every one of them, longing for a day when she could break free and live her own life.