“Yeah. There’s some issue at his office.” Jamie had assured her this morning that she hadn’t been keeping him from taking care of the work he needed to do, but even with his reassurance, she still worried.
“The guy’s a jerk,” Bella said. “He came up a few years ago to meet with Jamie about something and he was like…I don’t know. He’s slimy. I don’t like him.”
“He’s an attorney. What do you expect?” Leanna sipped her drink. “They have to be cutthroat.”
“I met him,” Jenna said. “When he was down that time. Remember, Bella? He’s not cutthroat. He’s like a snake in the grass. He stared at my boobs the whole time, then sidled up to me and propositioned me with a no-strings-attached offer of the best sex I ever had.” She said the last part with air quotes.
“Jamie said he’s a close friend. It sounded like they’d been friends forever. Did you tell him about it?” she asked Jenna.
“Of course I did.” Jenna pointed to a little girl in a pink bathing suit running in and out of the water’s edge beside the pier. “Oh my goodness she’s cute. Anyway, Jamie kind of blew it off. Made a joke or something. I got the feeling Mark did that stuff all the time, and really, what could Jamie have done about it? I mean, if he had touched me, Jamie would have torn him apart, but a proposition?” She shrugged.
“Really,” Bella said. “They’ve been buddies forever. I think Jamie ignores how slimy he is because he keeps Jamie’s business in line. It’s probably a good tradeoff. You don’t want a wussy attorney. You want a snake in the grass.”
“I can’t even imagine Jamie around a guy like that.” Jessica’s cell phone rang while she was still processing the information about Mark.
“Five bucks says it’s Jamie,” Jenna said. “Oh, Jessie. I miss you so much. Please, please come back!” She burst into a fit of laughter.
“Actually, I don’t recognize this number.” Jessica put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hello. Is this Jessica Ayers?” Each word was pronounced with careful precision, with a shaky, elderly sounding voice.
“Yes, this is she.” She met the girls’ curious gazes and shrugged.
“This is Mr. Elliott. Steve Lacasse sent me a message and indicated that you were interested in the baseball that I won from him.”
Without thinking, she reached for Amy’s hand.
Amy exchanged a worried glance with the others.
“Yes, sir,” she answered. “I think…that’s my father’s baseball from when he was a little boy, and I was wondering if I could buy it from you. I’ll pay double whatever you paid.”
“Oh.” The man was quiet.
“It would mean the world to me. My father is a wonderful man. He’s done so much for me, and I want to do this little thing for him.” She realized she was rambling and cut herself short. “I’ll pay triple. Whatever you want. Please.”
“I’m sorry, Jessica,” he said.
Jessica’s heart plunged as he explained.
“I bought that ball for my grandson, and it’s already in his hands. I can’t very well take it away from him. He’s six and an avid baseball fan already. Why, it would squash his excitement.”
“No, I suppose you can’t very well do that. Thank you for calling, and I hope your grandson enjoys the ball.” She ended the call and sat in disappointed silence.
“Jackass,” Bella said.
“Jerk.” Amy patted Jessica’s back.
Leanna’s eyes went soft. “I’m sorry, Jessica. I know you were hoping to get the ball for your father, but maybe there’s something else he’d want instead?”
“Yes! I’m sure we can find something,” Jenna said with far too much enthusiasm. “Tell us what he does. We’ll figure out the best present ever!” She sat back down and leaned across the table. “I could paint a portrait of you. What parent wouldn’t like that?”
Jessica managed a smile. “Thanks, you guys, but it’s okay. He doesn’t want anything. He’s never asked for a darn thing. He puts up with my mother’s stoic personality, works his butt off to pay for everything she could ever want, and he’s never asked for one single thing.”
“He sounds like a good man.” Amy stroked Jessica’s back. “I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“Yes, he will.” Jessica rolled her eyes as if she weren’t heartbroken. “He always understands.” She hadn’t realized how much she wanted this for him. It was supposed to be a silly little diversion, and it had worked as just that. In fact, being with Jamie had distracted her even from her own diversion. But now, as that door shut, she realized that the only reason she’d seen it as a silly little diversion in the first place was because her mother’s voice echoed in her head. Remember, Jessica, nothing compares to what you are working toward. Sports, dances, and the like? Silliness. Sheer silliness. Where will that get those kids in ten years? But you…you’re going to be a star. The best cellist ever.