Always for You:Jack(8)

       
           



       

From the way Ricky was clutching that pencil with a white-knuckled grip,  Jack was wrong about that. For the kid, it was obviously a big deal.  Damn it, didn't he know he deserved a pair of jeans that didn't have  holes in the knees and a shirt that wasn't worn so thin that you could  see through it? Jack leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over  his chest.

"So, Ricky, I'm guessing we're back to the whole ‘I don't take charity'  bit. Believe me, I get it. Been there, done that myself back in the day.  However, you can't expect my mom to keep doing laundry every day just  because you only have one pair of socks."

The kid shrugged, his face tight with frustration. "Fine. I can do my own laundry. I never asked her to wait on me."

Okay, that had obviously been the wrong argument for Jack to try. "She's  only been doing your laundry because of your broken arm. Believe me,  once your arm is healed, you'll be washing your own clothes. Mom has  always been clear about the fact that she isn't here to provide maid  service for any of us."

At least that had Ricky smiling a little. "Yeah, she may have mentioned  that when she spotted the dirty clothes and wet towels on the floor of  my room."

Jack thought of the similar pile in his own room. At least he had his  own washer and dryer in the garage apartment, so his mother had no  reason to come snooping around, looking for clothes to wash. Still, he'd  better do a bit of picking up when they got back from shopping.

He hadn't missed the fact that Ricky had used the subject of laundry to  redirect the conversation. Jack dragged them both back to the matter at  hand. "So why don't you take a break from your homework and come  shopping with me?"

Ricky's smile disappeared as quickly as it had come. "Like I said, I don't need more clothes."

"And we both know you do." Jack held up his hand to put a halt to  whatever Ricky was about to say in protest. "If you want, we can keep  track of what we spend, and I'll deduct it from your wages once you're  able to start working for me again."

Okay, evidently that idea had worked, although Ricky still didn't look  convinced or all that happy about the prospect. He set down the pencil  harder than necessary and slammed shut his math book. "Just remember  that I still have more work to do before Caitlyn gets here. I'll tell  her it's your fault if I don't get it all done."

Jack pulled out his keys. "Fair enough. I'll talk to her if it looks  like you won't get finished in time, but we won't be gone all that  long."

Not that he'd mind the excuse to talk to Caitlyn. Since that first  meeting when the two of them had exchanged a few teasing remarks, she'd  been nothing but professional. He supposed that was how it should be,  but her bright smile still haunted his dreams. More than once, he'd lain  awake during the night wondering if her lips would be as soft as they  looked. Even if she were willing to let him find out, it wouldn't be  right. She was there for Ricky, not to fulfill Jack's fantasies.

Once they were in the SUV, Ricky asked, "Any chance we can snag some  burgers for lunch? Your mom is a great cook, but I've never eaten so  many salads."

Shooting the kid a sympathetic grin, Jack nodded. "Yeah, I get that. If  you let me buy you some new shoes without bitching about it, I'll even  let you pick which fast-food joint we hit on the way home."

Ricky's enthusiasm for a couple of burgers faded a little, but then he nodded. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."

Ten minutes later, Jack pulled the SUV into the busy parking lot of a  discount store. "We can do this one of two ways. I can go with you to  help pick out what you need, but without going into the fitting room  with you because neither of us wants that. The other choice is that I  can wait in the coffee shop in the front of the store. You can come get  me when you're done, and I'll pay our way out of here."

"I can handle shopping for myself." Then Ricky hesitated and then  slightly lifted his broken arm. "Well, maybe except for the shoes."

"Fair enough." Jack pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. "Mom made  this list of stuff you should get. I know it's probably more than you  want, but I'd suggest you do what she says. Otherwise we'll both be  right back here tomorrow to finish the job."

Ricky scanned the list and then stuffed it in his pocket. Instead of  complaining, he surprised Jack by grinning. "Do the guys you served with  know that a big tough guy like you is still scared of his mother?"                       
       
           



       

Okay, that was funny, not that he was going to let the kid know that.  Instead, he gave Ricky the evil eye. "No, they don't, and if you ever  meet any of them, I'd appreciate it if you kept your mouth shut on the  subject. Besides, she's only going easy on you because of your broken  arm, and she's trying to fatten up that skinny ass of yours. She'll quit  treating you with kid gloves after you've put on a few pounds and that  cast comes off. Then we'll see who is scared of her."

Right now Ricky looked more worried than amused. "How about your  brothers? When they were kids, did they live in fear of her, too?"

Obviously Ricky didn't realize that Jack was only joking about Marlene.  "We aren't afraid of our mom. Not in the way I think you mean, anyway.  For sure, she never put up with any crap, but neither she nor Dad ever  lifted a hand to hurt me or my brothers. After some of the shit we'd all  been through, none of us were given to trusting anyone, but it didn't  take long to realize that we had it good with them."

By that point they were walking into the store, so Jack let the subject  drop. He grabbed a cart. "Do you want to look at shoes first? Once  you're squared away with those, I'll let you take care of the rest while  I have some coffee."

Ricky didn't answer, but he headed toward the back of the store where the shoes were.

-

Jack was on his second cup of coffee by the time Ricky came looking for  him. After tossing the rest of his drink in the trash, Jack followed the  teenager up to the front register. It was tempting to do a spot check  to make sure Ricky had gotten everything on Marlene's list. However,  there was a big enough pile of clothing in the cart to make Jack think  the kid had done his best to follow her suggestions.

The checkout line was surprisingly short, and it didn't take long to  ring up a total that had Ricky swallowing hard. He gave Jack a panicky  look. "Shit, man, I didn't think it would be that much. I'm going to put  some of it back."

When he started to grab one of the bags, Jack stopped him as he handed  the clerk his credit card. The total had been impressive, but it  wouldn't break the bank. "Nope. Like I said, if we don't get it all now,  Mom will send us right back here tomorrow."

Actually, it had been his suggestion that she be the one to write out  the list for Ricky, figuring he'd take it better coming from her. She'd  written down the basics and added the few extra suggestions that Jack  had made. Ricky might need a few more things before school started, but  he'd be well situated until then.

When everything was bagged and ready to go, they headed back outside to  Jack's car. After they stowed everything and returned the cart, Jack  started the engine. "Okay, you earned your lunch. Where do you want to  go?"

Ricky looked around at the various fast-food restaurants lining the  street. He pointed to the closest one. "They have the best burgers and  fries."

"Do you want to go in and eat or get it to go and head back to the house?"

"Will your mom care if we bring it home? I really need to get back to doing that math."

Interesting that Ricky was so intent on getting his assignment done.  "She won't care as long as we bring her lunch, too. I happen to know she  has a weakness for their chocolate shakes and double cheeseburgers."

When they pulled away from the drive-up window a few minutes later, Jack  decided to find out a little more about Ricky's assignment. Even though  he was lagging behind in some subjects, math was the one thing where he  was at or even above grade level.

"What kind of math does she have you working on?"

Ricky turned his head to stare out the side window. "Algebra 1."

"Do you like math? Because from what she told us, you have a talent for it."

"It's okay, I guess. Besides, this is all review for me."

Well, this wasn't getting Jack anywhere. "As I recall, geometry is normally what comes next. Was it that way for you?"

The kid shot him a dark look before once again turning away. "It would've been."

What the hell was that supposed to mean? Unfortunately, they'd already  reached the house. Ricky shot out of the SUV before Jack had even had a  chance to set the brake. He picked up the bags of food and the tray  containing the milkshakes and headed toward the front door.