Page 127 of Timeless

My stunned expression disappeared and I smiled, while the boys laughed. Jack always took you by surprise.

“You know, Amber, I like his idea of burning Will’s things,” Jax encouraged Jack’s idea.

I took my eyes off Jack and looked at Jax. I couldn’t stop myself from nodding. “Yeah, it isn’t a terrible idea.”

“I love bonfires.” Jack pulled his hand from mine. “Is that why you were acting weird, Mom, because Will’s gone?”

“I was just worried about you. I know you like him.”

“He wasn’t family, Mom.” Jack rolled his eyes. “You told me that.”

“Yeah, I did.” But I never thought Jack remembered our serious conversations and was able to be attached to Will but not close enough that he wouldn’t be hurt when Will left.

Jack sat down on the chair, and I pushed it in.

“Dad, have you tasted Mom’s pie?” Jack was on his knees, leaning over the table.

“No, your mom never cooked for me,” Jax answered.

“Apple pie is one of my favorites but...” Jack was leaning right over the pies now, looking at them. “But Mom’s made a raspberry one.”

“What, you don’t like raspberry, Jack?” Cole asked before taking a sip of his beer.

Jack looked up from the pie at Cole. “Mom only makes that when something really,reallybad has happened.” He pointed to the apple pie. “That pie is because of Will left but this one…” Jack pointed at the raspberry one. He turned on his knees to look at me.

And I was frozen. Jack loved Tae. I knew that. He might have brushed off losing Will but I knew Tae was going to be harder.

I was just standing there staring at him, while he waited for me to explain.

Jax pushed away from the table, turned his chair to face Jack and then his arm was around me and he pulled me to him.

I was on Jax’s lap now and he had an arm around me. I wasn’t expecting Jax to help me out, especially when it came to anything to do with Tae. Jax did realize that was what I was about to tell Jack right?

Jack was sitting on the side of the chair, waiting for me to explain. Jax’s other hand was on my back.

“It’s about Tae, bub.” My voice was soft, so soft he might not have heard me.

“You only call me bub when you think I’ll get upset.” Jack swung his legs out and sat down, no longer on his knees investigating the pies.

I nodded. “Sorry, Jack. Habit.” I think everyone could hear the nerves and hesitation in my voice.

“Mom what’s wrong?”

The whole room was silent. I really wasn’t handling this well. My hand went over Jack’s.

He always knew when I was upset but I guess I wasn’t really hiding it right now. But I wasn’t upset because Tae was leaving our lives. I was upset, because I knew Jack was going to get hurt. At the same time, I was angry with myself for letting Tae be in Jack’s life.

I looked up, seeing Jack’s concerned face. “You know how we only count on family?”

Jack nodded.

“Do you know what Tae is to you?”

“A father.”

Okay, that wasn’t a great start. “Jax is your father.”

“Sorry. God. He is my godfather,” Jack corrected his mistake. “I know who my dad is.” Jack was getting anxious, his voice going up, because he had made a mistake. “Uncle Tae isn’t Dad.”

---