Page 26 of Jackson's Redemption
More hot dogs on the menu, so I was happy.
He grunted in return. I translated that grunt to mean it wasn’t his best day, but it was pretty close. Which led me to the inevitable question.
“Okay, what was your best day ever?”
He took a bite of his dog and chewed it thoughtfully. When he was done, he looked directly into my eyes. “The day I got out of prison.”
It took a few seconds for that to process. Jackson.Jail. “Oh my,” I said, breathing slowly. “I think that’s probably something you should have told me up-front.”
“Yep. I didn’t. I was afraid if I did, you wouldn’t have come.”
“You have to tell me—”
“Drugs. Possession with intent to distribute. First time offense, pled guilty, was sentenced to three years, served two. I might have gotten out earlier, but I did a lot of fighting in prison. I was…angry.”
“How did you get into that life?” I asked him. I knew about the drug culture, the people who inhabited the life. It typically started at a young age. Sometimes it was a result of poverty. Sometimes it was a result of boredom.
“Would you believe me if I said I didn’t do it? That I was set up?”
I barked out a laugh. “Sorry, no I wouldn’t. I get it. No one gets it better than me. My dad was a dirty cop who set people up. But the reality is that ninety-eight percent of the people arrested and convicted by the court system are guilty.”
“Yeah. You’re right. It was a long time ago, fifteen years. I’ve managed to build a life since then. The only effects are the occasional nightmare when I think I’m back there.”
My eyes got wide. “Jackson, are you for real now? I can’t get you to laugh. My guess is that’s a lingering effect of what you went through. I was a cop. I know what prison can do to men and women. If you were angry going in, you were angrier coming out.”
“Maybe. Maybe your jokes aren’t that funny.”
My jaw dropped. “Are you saying I’m not funny?” I had no idea why, but suddenly, I was highly offended.
My offense was apparently funny to him because he actually chuckled. He got up from his spot and sat on the log next to me. Both of us now looking at the fire.
“Need to know if me being an ex-con is a deal breaker for you, Kate.”
“You said it was a long time ago,” I pointed out, deliberately hedging my answer. Because I didn’t want to think about the deal he was talking about. I felt his arm brush mine. His thigh brush mine. I didn’t move away.
“Doesn’t matter. It’s a stain I can never remove.”
“Deal breaker implies we have a deal. Are you asking me if I’m comfortable staying out here with you to hunt?”
“No.”
Hookay. He meant the other stuff. “You know…you know I can’t…I shouldn’t…”
“Need to take that pain away, Kate. You need to let me. The other night we didn’t have a chance to get into my past. Now, you can make your decision with that knowledge. I’m an ex-con. Always going to be one. You’re a cop.”
“Was a cop,” I corrected him.
“You never stop being a cop, Kate.”
I laid my head on his shoulder surrendering in a way I never thought I would. “You said it would be sweet.”
“The sweetest I can make it.”
I took a breath and decided to let go. “Okay, I want the sweet.”
6
Kate
