Hell And Back(22)

In the middle of the kitchen is a high, square brown table with eight chairs around it. He pulls out one, throwing himself into it, reaching for the basket I’m still holding in my hand.

“Oh, sorry, here it is. We baked. Well, actually I baked them this morning when I couldn’t sleep, but Lilah did help with the cookies.” I laugh nervously as I babble. “Although she ate more cookie dough than she actually got on the baking sheet.” I shake my head, thinking of her face with her eyes practically popping out of her head at the sweetness of cookie dough batter.

“Why couldn’t you sleep?” he asks me as he pulls a muffin out and eats half in one bite. He chews and sips on the coffee as he waits for my reply.

“I had a nightmare.” I shrug. “I kept waking up, and when I’d fall back asleep, I’d go right back to it. So I just got up and baked instead.”

“Sit down, Bella.” He motions to the chair.

“I really shouldn’t. Brenda is with Lilah, and she might need me.”

“She knows you’re here. If she needs you to come back, she’ll just come and get you. Besides, you left the door open so she wouldn’t even have to knock.” He finishes one muffin and starts on another.

“How did you kno—”

“I’m a detective, Bella. It’s my job to notice everything, but most especially the things other people don’t notice. Like the fact you’re scared.” He leans back. “I won’t hurt you or Lilah, not now, not ever. You have my word on that. So, since you woke me up, you can sit down and keep me company while I eat these muffins. Hopefully, that little girl of yours wants her mom and comes over, so you can relax and enjoy getting out of the house. Besides, I have a play set in the backyard, which by the way, you’re welcome to use.”

I look over his shoulder at the window behind him. I see a huge play set with a slide, a couple of swings, an obstacle course, a climbing wall, and a sand pit. I walk farther into the kitchen, stopping beside him to stare at this playground Lilah would love.

“You have children?” I ask him, not sure why this bothers me so much.

“Nope, not yet. It came with the house when I bought it. I never had the heart to tear it down.”

“Heeellllloooo, is anyone home?” The unfamiliar female voice has me jumping in response, and Jackson reaches for my hand to calm me down.

“It’s just my mom.” He pulls me close to him and whispers in my ear. With him sitting on the chair and me standing, we are almost the same height.

“Jackson, you left your front door wide-open.” I hear the voice entering the room. “Oh, dear, I had no idea you had company! I’ll go. I just came to drop off—”

“Mom, this is my neighbor Bella. She’s Nan’s granddaughter,” he says while I eye this beautiful lady.

She has short, silver gray hair perfectly styled. Startling blue eyes just like her son, she stands at about five foot five and is wearing a pretty, white summery sundress with a royal blue, short-sleeved cardigan. Her sandals are low-heeled, strappy wedges. She looks like she stepped out of a catalogue.

“Oh my goodness, aren’t you beautiful.” She comes over and hugs me tightly. Jackson never lets my hand go. I don’t know why, but I squeeze it just to make sure he’s still there. He reassures me by squeezing my hand gently in return.

“I’ve heard so many stories about you. I feel like I know you already. You’re all Nan spoke about!” She lets me go long enough to take in my appearance. I’m sure it isn’t lost on her that her son’s fingers are intertwined with mine.

“Um, thank you, ma’am,” I answer her.

“Oh, none of that ma’am crap, you can call me Nancy.”

“Is anyone home?” Brenda’s voice echoes through the house.

“What is this? Let’s visit Jackson day?” His frustration makes me giggle.

I finally let go of his hand when Lilah runs into the room yelling, “Momma.”

“Hey, love bug, I see Ms. Brenda let you eat more cake batter,” I say as I eye some of it dried up on her nose.

“No,” she says while nodding yes.

“You little devil, I said secret,” Brenda says from the kitchen entrance. “Oh, Nancy, I thought I saw you coming in here.” She goes right to Nancy and greets her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Hey, baby girl, thank you for making me cookies.” Jackson leans in and says to Lilah, who has her face buried in my chest. “Did you eat pizza yesterday? I ordered the biggest pizza for you and told them it was for a special girl.”

“I hab two pieces,” she says on a nod while she holds up her hand, showing five fingers.