Page 121 of Timeless

“It wasn’t your mom’s fault,” Jax answered him. “She didn’t need to be punished.”

I shook my head. He was seriously going to start twisting shit on me?

“No. Mom said it was her fault.” Jack wasn’t letting Jax get off the hook with that one. “She told me. Mom never lies.” He glanced back at me and moved closer into Jax. “Unless if it is about Grandpa.”

“Well, your mom isn’t lying but she is telling the story different than how it happened.” Jax didn’t seem upset about Jack moving closer to him. “Your mom likes to think she is always right.”

Oh! He did not just say that!

“I know.” Jack nodded.

“She was wrong to tell you I went to prison for her.” Jax’s eyes went off Jack and onto me. “It was always my problem.”

I crossed my arms. Would he never accept the fact it was my fault! Here Jax was correcting what Jack was brought up knowing.

Jack went quiet and I knew why. He was having doubts. Jax had no idea what he just did to Jack’s mind if Jack thought that I hadn’t told him the truth. Jack would now be thinking, what else did Mom get wrong?

Okay, damage control. Jax didn’t realize what he had just done to Jack.

“Jack, I know what you are thinking.” I had been keeping my distance. But right now, my son was questioning everything I had ever told him. Jack was staring down at his lap. I knew his little mind would be in overdrive right now.

I shot a look at Jax. Why couldn’t he just stick to what I had told Jack! When it came down to it, the reason he went to prison was my fault! But right now, who was in the right and who was in the wrong didn’t matter.

What Jack was thinking mattered.

“Jack, you need to stop it.” I was standing behind Jack now.

Jax glanced up at me. In fact, my brothers were staring at me, too. They didn’t realize Jack was having a meltdown.

I sat behind Jack and wrapped my arms around him. “Jax and I have different views on that but I’m telling you that is the only thing.” I needed to reassure him. “You know how we disagree on things sometimes? Well, Jax and I disagree on the subject of prison.”

Jack kept quiet.

I glanced up at Jax. Well, he had caused this. He could help. “Jack is now worried that I’ve been wrong on everything to do with you.” I glanced down at the top of my son’s head. He was being very silent. “Jack, why don’t you just ask Jax whatever has got you so quiet?”

I glanced up at Jax. I may be throwing him in the deep end now.

Jack turned to look up at me. “I don’t understand.” He frowned. “I don’t understand.” He started shaking his head.

“All right, Jack, why don’t you just tell us what you don’t understand?” I gently tried to encourage him to open up. “Jax and I are right here, and we can help.”

Jack turned in my arms. “That’s what I don’t understand.” He had a frown on his face.

Was he trying to say he didn’t understand why Jax was here?

Okay. I could answer that.

“I told you Jax would come see you one day. I know I said you would have to be older. But Jax really wanted to see you.” I ran my hand through his black hair. “As much as you wanted to see Jax, that’s how much he wanted to see you.”

“That’s what I don’t understand!” Jack shook his head, his voice going up with panic.

“Jack, calm down. What is you don’t understand?” I took his hands, which he was clenching. “Come on, we always talk our problems through. So, tell me what’s the problem.”

“I don’t know Jax.” Jack looked upset. “I only know Dad. Why do you keep calling him Jax?”

And that was the problem. “Jax and Dad are the same person, bub. I call him Jax, you call him…” I glanced at Jax and then back at Jack. “Well, you can call him Jax, too.”

Jack’s face twisted in more confusion.

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