Page 31 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

“He already knowsI’mhis big sister,” Bella says, her eyes flashing.

Jax’s chubby little hands swat at Tallulah’s face and she laughs. He squirms out of her arms and toddles away, then picks up speed as he runs toward the French doors leading to the pool. Jackson strides across the room and sweeps himup.

“Where do you think you’re going, little man?” He laughs as he swings him in the air and the baby squeals with delight.

It’s surreal, standing here watching it all. To the casual observer we look like a happy, normal family, with Jackson the fun-loving doting father.

“Why don’t we take Jax and the girls down to the beach. I’ve set out chairs and an umbrella. There are tons of beach toys here, so I took a bunch of those down as well. Maybe Jax would enjoy playing in the sand.”

Jackson smiles. “Great idea. Amber keeps a suit and sun hat in the diaper bag.”

It’s the first time her name’s been mentioned, and at the sound of it I feel my stomach clench. I had hoped to never have to see that despicable woman again but that’s an unrealistic expectation now.

—

At the beach, Tallulah and Bella immediately kneel on the sand with Jax, vying with each other to show him what every toy does. He picks up fistfuls of sand, laughing, his arms bouncing up and down as he opens his fingers and lets the granules drop. I’m surprised at how much they’re enjoying him, and when I look over atJackson, I see a softness in his expression, and that surprises me too. His gaze moves from the children to me. “This is nice,” he says.

“Yes, the girls are really taken with him.”

“No, I mean this.” He sweeps his arm out. “All of us together.”

I shift uneasily in the chair and say nothing. Now I wish Meredith were here.

His eyes focus intently on mine. “Thank you for bringing the girls. You have no idea how much it means to me. I know it wasn’t easy for you.” He stops for a minute, and it looks as if he’s trying to maintain his composure. “I had a lot of time to think while I was locked away. Time to think about what’s important and what’s not. Time to think about the past and the things I’ve done. I wasn’t always good to you, Daphne, and I’m sorry.”

I’m stunned by his confession. “I…I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to know that I’m sorry.”

We sit in silence while the girls entertain Jax, running back and forth with buckets of water and building a drizzle castle with him. As the sun begins to lower in the sky, Jackson rises and stoops over his son. “It’s getting late, buddy. Time to go home,” he says, and picks up Jax.

The child starts crying, kicking his legs as Jackson lifts him up. “No. No.”

Bella jumps up and strokes his back. “It’s okay, Jax. We’ll play again tomorrow, okay?”

Jax cocks his head and looks at Bella, and for a moment I think he’s going to start crying again. Instead, he laughs at her, and Jackson says, “Wave bye-bye to your sisters.” He lifts one plump little arm and flaps his hand up and down.

“See you tomorrow then?” Jackson looks atme.

“We’ll talk,” I say, and he nods once, giving me an understanding half smile.

Later, after we’ve cleaned up, had dinner, and retired for the night, I lie awake and think about what Jackson said. What did hewant me to say when he apologized?Oh, that’s all right. I forgive you for putting me in an asylum, for abusing me, for trying to make me out to be a bad mother.My body aches with tension, like a cornered animal ready to pounce. Maybe he’s sincere, but my antennae are on high alert and standing at attention.

– 19 –

DAISY ANN

Each time the door to the bar and grill opened Daisy Ann looked up expectantly, but Martin still hadn’t shown. He was half an hour late, and she was getting worried. Maybe he’d figured out that the sweepstakes was a scam. The next time the door opened, though, a young guy wearing jeans and a leather jacket walked in. Thin brown hair hung limply at his collar, and part of a multicolored tattoo ran up the side of his neck. He stood there, looking around, and Daisy Ann realized it must be him. They made eye contact, and she waved him over. He walked toward her booth and stopped in front of her.

“Ms. Chambers?”

She nodded. “You must be Martin. Please, have a seat. Care for something to drink?”

He slid into the booth. “Nah, I can’t stay long. What do I gotta sign?”

“First things first.” She gave him a bright smile and pulled out an envelope. “There’s five hundred dollars in this envelope.” She opened the flap to let him see. “But I’m not exactly who I said I was.”

His eyes narrowed. “What is this?”

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