Chapter 178 - Pies
*We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses. – Alphonse Karr*
Jolene had not realized how much she had missed cooking with her mom for Thanksgiving. They laughed and joked as she did the prep work and Helen did the actual cooking. Cheryl and Dean helped where they could and Bunny sat at the kitchen island, taste testing everything.
Currently Jolene was cutting and peeling apples for her mother’s now famous apple pies. As the knife slid just under the green skin, she thought about how much she nearly lost. Nearly missed out on. Her baby siblings. Her niece. JD’s high school graduation. His graduation from Navy boot camp. Neo. Her mom finding happiness.
The apple in her hand blurred and her hands began to shake. The sounds of the other women around her laughing and talking slowly faded away. A warm hand gently took the knife and apple out of her hands. A ragged sob escaped her as she was pulled into a very familiar chest.
Neo lifted her off the stool and slid his arm under her knees, as her hands clutched his shirt between his shoulders. With her clinging to him, he returned to the couch and sat between Reese and Jaxon.
Her older brother reached over and brushed some of her shoulder length hair out of her face. The gentle touch had her sobbing harder. Unexpectedly, she threw herself at Jaxon who pulled her into his lap and hugged her close to him.
“I’m sorry.” She murmured over and over and over again between sobs.
As his own tears trekked down his cheeks, he smoothed back her dark brown hair and rubbed gentle circles on her back. The entire time, he whispered his own assurances and endearments, ignoring his tears and the giant lump in his throat.
Jaxon wasn’t sure how long he sat there with his sister in his lap. He didn’t care how long she sat there. She could stay as long as she needed. And maybe a little longer. He was just glad that she was still alive and could sit in his lap. It was not anything that they had done a lot of growing up, but he was determined to let his daughter and all three of his sisters sit in has lap as much as they wanted. Hell, his brothers too.
Slowly, the sobs subsided, and her breathing evened out. Her body relaxed, but his embrace did not. As her body slumped against her brother’s chest, his arms tightened.
Bunny walked over and lightly touched Jaxon’s shoulder. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly.
“Yes.” He whispered and then swallowed hard. “How can she forgive me? I let that bastard hurt her-“
“Stop.” Bunny ordered as she slipped into her doctor persona. “You didn’t let him do anything.”
“I sure as hell didn’t stop him either.”
“No, you didn’t, because you didn’t know. He knew what he was doing. He knew how to manipulate her, to control her. And to an extent, the rest of us too.” Leaning down, Bunny kissed Jaxon lightly. “You may not have stopped him, but when she needed you, you were there. And you’ve been there every day for the past year.”
“I should have-“
“You can’t change the past.” She smiled at her partner. “But you can choose how to influence the future.”
“I feel guilty.” Jaxon finally admitted.
“That’s natural.” Bunny assured him. “Why don’t you ask her about going to one of her therapy sessions with Olivia.”
“It helped JD.” Neo said with a little shoulder shrug. “He had to work through the guilt and fear. It helped Jo a lot, too.”
“Fear?” Jaxon asked as Dean settled in her uncle’s lap.
“Yeah.” Dean answered as Reese wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. It was a move that was so ingrained in both of them that neither even thought about it. That. That was what Jaxon wanted with his daughter.
Because of Reese's protectiveness, Dean considered her next words carefully.
“He was afraid that he would end up like your dad. That he would hurt me.”
Reese hugged her close as Helen sat on the arm of the couch and gently squeezed her arm. Jaxon looked at the teen in shock.
“When Bob showed up at the hospital and we disappeared for a little bit, we went to the hotel and used the indoor pool. He swam laps until he physically couldn’t anymore. Then,” she laughed nervously, “we were making out and he tried to go a little further than I wanted to at the time.”
“He got angry, maybe a little at me at first. But he was angry at himself. He didn’t want to be like Bob or Hank. I don’t remember if he was seeing Olivia at that point or not. After mom…” closing her eyes, she swallowed her tears and shame. “After mom died, I threw myself at him. Dropped towel and when he wouldn’t do anything, I told him that I hated him and wanted him out of my house.”
“God knows that he could’ve taken everything that I offered and never thought about the consequences.” Opening her eyes, Dean looked at Jaxon, ignoring Neo who was still between them.
“A few days later, he took me with him to see Olivia. We had a few couples sessions. I quit seeing her when school ended. She pointed out recently that it might not have been the best idea I’ve ever had." She smirked. "I nearly ruined my relationship with JD because … never mind.”
Dean shook her head slightly and Reese pressed another kiss to the top of her head.
“It’s okay.” Her uncle assured her.
Nervously she fidgeted with her ring, spinning it around her finger with her other hand. Neo reached over and placed his larger hand over her smaller ones. The eyes of Betty looked up at her.
“Breathe, love.” Neo told her as he squeezed her hands.
Dean drew in a ragged breath and then let it out with a small laugh. “Sorry….”
“Don’t ever be sorry for loving someone.” Neo told her.
She nodded slightly. “I miss him.” She whispered.
“He’ll be back before you know it.” Reese assured her. “And he’s a lot closer now.”
“I think we should give her an early Christmas present.” Helen smiled at Reese.
“NO!” Dean objected. “I like opening them on Christmas.”
Her uncle just laughed as he stood up and sat her on the couch where he had been.
“Miss Helen!” Dean objected as Reese walked out of the house and across the darkening driveway.
Jolene stirred and Jaxon soothed her to relax.
“The apples!” she said sitting up on her brother’s legs.
“I finished them.” Bunny said with an accomplished grin. “Not that I’m going to take up cooking.”
“Good.” Jaxon smiled at her as they linked their fingers.
“I like my men cooking for me.” Bunny admitted as she sat on Jaxon’s lap after Jolene shifted back to Neo’s lap. “Even more, I like my daughter knowing that she doesn’t have to cook.”
“Just don’t let Ty teach her.” Jaxon chuckled. “She’ll only be able to feed an army.”
“Or a firehouse.” Bunny grinned.
“Oh!” Cheryl gasped from her spot on the floor against the wall as movement in front of her caught her attention. Ariel was on her tummy and pushed up on her elbows to look around.
Ariel spotted two of her parents and smiled broadly before her arms gave out and she fell back onto the padded playmat. The adults laughed as Reese came back into the house and walked over to the couch.
“You do have to open this today.” Reese handed over the envelope. “And everyone else has to pretend to be surprised when they get theirs tomorrow.”
“I like opening them on Christmas morning.”
“If you wait, you’ll miss your gift.” Helen warned and Dean opened the envelope.
“This is a reservation for Gulfport, Mississippi.” Dean said after reading everything. Then she sat it on the couch and hopped up to hug both Helen and Reese. “You’re giving me JD for Christmas?”
“We’re going to see him for Christmas.” Helen laughed. “I guess he’s getting us for Christmas.”
“Look at that paper again.” Reese suggested.
Grabbing the paper, she looked at it again. “You bought a house!”
“I did. Main house has seven bedrooms and five full baths and two half-baths. The guest house has two bedrooms and one bath.”
“What are you going to do with a house?” Jaxon asked.
“Trust me, I can always make money with property.” Reese grinned. “Especially next to a military base and –“
“It’s on the water!” Dean exclaimed.
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