Anchor of Hope (11 page)

“Jay,” Jane said. “I was going to call you this afternoon about the gazebo. Are you still OK to deliver it on Saturday morning?”

“Yes, that’s fine. What time do you need it?” Jay asked.

“Early if possible, so we can decorate it with flowers and some material. About eight, if that’s not too early.”

“Not at all. I'll be there at eight.” He smiled.

“Thanks, you’re an angel.” Jane smiled at him. She looked at her watch. “Oh, look at the time! I better get back to Karen. See you later, honey,” Jane called as she started walking away.

“Me too, if I want to make it in time for our mock-tails!” Grace said. “See you at dinner tomorrow night.” She also gave Ashley a hug and departed.

Ashley stood there with Jay, a little uncomfortable and unsure what to say.

“How is—” Ashley began.

“I just—” Jay said. They laughed, easing the awkwardness.

“You go first,” Jay offered.

“I was going to ask how your neck was. You know, after I almost killed you last night.” Ashley grimaced.

“It’s OK. Sore, but I think I’ll survive. You’ll have to try harder next time.”

“What? Oh yeah, very funny.” She shuffled her foot on the ground, shifting her weight. There was that uncomfortable pause again. Jay raised his arm and scratched the back of his neck.

Nervous
.

“So I—” Ashley began.

“Do you—” Jay interrupted again.

They laughed.

“I was going to get a coffee from Bryan’s, If you're not doing anything, maybe you'd like to join me?”

“Uh, yeah. Sure,” Jay said.

“OK. Great.” Ashley tucked her hair behind her ear.

They started walking side by side. Jay had his hands in his pockets.

“Have you finished work for the day?” Ashley asked. “It seems a bit early.”

“Yeah, I tend to start earlier in summer so I can finish earlier. It gets too hot otherwise.”

Ashley nodded, having a sudden unwelcome flashback to her thoughts about him working shirtless. She swallowed. “Do you like being your own boss?”

“Yeah, I get to set my own hours and make sure I go away on vacation each year, but I also have a lot of responsibility because I have to contract other workers. I have a few employees as well.”

“Well from what I've heard, you do an amazing job. Both Bryan and Mom are pretty impressed.”

“Well, I never was too good with words, but I do like to work with my hands.” He held up his hands.

Jay opened the door for Ashley and they stepped inside.

Bryan tried to hide his look of surprise, but failed miserably. “Fancy seeing you two here,” he said, leaning on the countertop.

“The
good
coffee shop around the corner was closed, so we had no choice but to come here instead.” Jay frowned.

“He’s a liar, Ash. Don’t listen to a word he says,” Bryan said, pointing at Jay.

“Hey, I was about to tell Ashley how you make the best cappuccinos in Oregon.” Jay held up his hands in front of him.

“He’s an honest man, Ash, speaks only the truth.”              

They laughed.

“So, two cappuccinos?” Bryan asked, straightening up and holding up two fingers.

“Yes, please,” Ashley replied.

They sat down at a table by the window. It was quiet in the cafe.

“I saw your dad in here the other day,” Ashley said.

“Did you?”

“Yeah, he looks well.”

“He is. He bought a little one-bedroom house on the other side of the lake, a bit closer to town.”

Bryan brought their drinks over. Jay eyed him suspiciously, as if expecting him to say something, but he didn't. He just kept a smug smile on his face the whole time and casually strolled away.

“Right. So where is your house? Now that you don't live in the old house.” She took a sip of the coffee.
Liquid Gold
.

“You keep following the road up from the old place, and it’s about two miles on.”

The cafe phone rang and Bryan answered it.

“Do you miss your old house?” Ashley asked.

“Not really.”

“I thought it might hold some sentimental value.”

“Nah, it’s just a house,” Jay said, matter-of-fact.

Bryan hanged the phone up, looking stressed. Again. “Ash, can you do me a huge favor?”

“Depends,” she said. She was a little wary after her last experience doing a favor for Bryan.

“Jess is at the hospital with Harley-”

“What? Is he OK?” Ashley’s mouth dropped open.

“Oh yeah, he’s fine; he stuck a pea in his ear and Jess couldn't get it out—”

“Again?” Jay asked, sipping his coffee.

“Yep, again,” Bryan replied. “The girls finish vacation care at the school at three and I'd pick them up myself, except I don’t want to leave Amanda here on her own.”

“I would, but I don’t have the car. Mom has it. I suppose I could race down to her work and borrow it.”

“I could do it,” Jay offered.

Bryan and Ashley both looked at him.

“Really?” Bryan asked.

“Yeah.” Jay shrugged.

“Thanks, man, you’re a lifesaver,” Bryan patted him on the shoulder. “Just drop them off back here and Jess can pick them up when she’s done. Didn’t I tell you he’s a good man?”

“Pretty sure you called him a liar.” Ashley cocked one eyebrow.

“That was in the past, Ash. Let it go,” Bryan said.

They quickly finished their drinks and took off.

Jay parked the truck on the opposite side of the street to the school. There were several kids coming out of the school, hurrying over to their parents. Jay and Ashley walked over together. As soon as Meika and Coco spotted them, they started smiling and raced over to hug them.

Ashley also spotted Nicole, the red-headed woman from the bar the other night. She was wearing a pretty little striped dress. She saw Ashley and walked towards her.

“Hi, Ashley.” She flashed a perfect smile.

“Hi. Nicole, isn't it?” Ashley asked.

Nicole nodded.

“Bryan asked us to pick the girls up. They’ve had a little medical emergency with Harley.”

“Oh no. Is he OK?” Nicole asked, raising a hand to her chest.

“Yes, apparently he put a pea in his ear or something.”

“Again?” Nicole asked.

“He always does it,” Meika said.

“That's because he’s a boy and boys do weird stuff.” Coco was balancing on one foot.

Nicole turned her attention to Jay. “Jay, I was wondering if I could have a quick talk to you. If you’ve got a minute?” She ran her tongue along her lower lip.

“Uh, sure.” He glanced at Ashley to check that it was OK. She smiled and gave a little nod, uncertain why he felt as though he needed her permission to talk to Nicole.

“Come on, girls. Let’s get you in the car.” Ashley smiled. “I'll see you later, Nicole.” She gave a small wave and took the girls’ hands, leading them across the road over to the car. She helped them up into the back seat and buckled up their seatbelts. She couldn't help but notice Nicole talking animatedly to Jay. She was laughing and playing with her hair and kept on touching his arms.

Ashley climbed into the front seat and tried not to pay attention. But curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't help but notice he had his mobile phone out and Nicole appeared to be giving him her number. Something stirred inside her and she swallowed.

Where had that come from?

She had no romantic feelings for Jay whatsoever, and that unwanted tinge of jealousy left her feeling confused, and even angry with herself.

“Aunty Ashley, can you come to my assembly?” Coco asked.

“When is it?” Ashley turned to look over her shoulder at Coco.

“Next month.”

“Oh honey, I won't be here then. I have to go back home in a few days.”

“Why?” Coco's eyes looked sad.

“Because I have a job I need to return to in New York, and that’s where I live,” Ashley said.

“I wish you could stay here forever,” Coco said softly, lowering her head.

Even though Ashley hadn't been frequently present in her nieces and nephews lives they had already formed a strong bond. Ashley's heart ached with the thought that she wouldn't be able to attend their school concerts and birthday parties.

Meika spoke up. “Miss Davis is my favorite teacher.”

“Who’s Miss Davis?” Ashley asked “Is that your teacher? The one talking to Jay?”

“Yeah,” Meika replied. “She is nice. She doesn’t yell at us.”

“That’s good. It’s good to have a nice teacher.”

“Yeah, but she has a really big bottom.” Meika giggled.

“Meika!” Ashley tried to keep a straight face, although she felt like laughing at Meika’s honest remark. “You shouldn't say that.”

“Why not?” Meika asked.

“Maybe she's having a baby,” Coco said.

“Dummy. You get a big tummy when you’re pregnant, not a big bottom!” Meika said.

“Mommy had a big bottom when Harley was in her tummy,” Coco said.

“Girls, girls. Let’s change the subject,” Ashley said.

“Was Miss Davis your teacher, Aunty Ashley?” Coco asked.

Ashley laughed. “Sweetheart, I think Miss Davis is a bit younger than me.”

“So . . .?”

“No. She wasn't. I had a teacher named Mrs Gibson. She had curly grey hair and a big pointy nose and glasses—and she was cranky.”

Jay opened the door and got in, starting the engine.

“Hey Aunty Ashley, did you know your name starts with an ‘A’?” Coco asked. “Can I call you AA?”

“Well, I guess so,” Ashley replied, hesitant.

Jay laughed quietly to himself.

“Uncle Jay,” Meika spoke up. “Today we learnt about different countries and we all had to pick a place to do a talk on and I chose Afghanistan. Where you went.”

Ashley noticed Jay tense up as he drove.

He cleared his throat. “Did you?” 

Ashley was puzzled. When did Jay go to Afghanistan? He did say he managed to get away on vacation every year, but Afghanistan didn’t seem like the ideal holiday destination.

“Can you help me with my project?” Meika asked.

“Yes,” he said, nodding slowly.

The girls sparked up a conversation in the back seat as they continued along on their drive but Ashley had noticed the discomfort Jay had experienced at the mention of Afghanistan. He seemed to be deep in thought. Ashley didn't know what those thoughts were exactly but she got the general impression that it wasn’t pleasant. He didn't offer an explanation, so she didn't ask.

Ashley held the girls’ hands as they walked into the café, and Jay carried their school bags.

Bryan came around the counter to meet them, giving both girls a hug and a kiss.

“How was school, girls?”

“Good,” they replied in unison.

“It’s not school, Dad. It’s vacation care,” Meika corrected him.

“You want to head out the back and I’ll bring you both a hot chocolate and cupcake?”

Their eyes lit up. “Yes, please,” they called as they ran off.

“Bye girls,” Ashley called.

“Bye AA!” Coco called as she disappeared through the rear door. .

Bryan looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “AA?” He frowned. “What have you been teaching my children?”

“She's decided that’s my new name.”  Ashley laughed.

“Kids are so weird.” Bryan shook his head slowly.

He walked back around to the other side of the counter. There weren't as many customers in the café now, and Bryan began making the girls a hot chocolate each.

“I thought they weren’t allowed sugar?” Ashley asked.

“Don’t tell Jess,” Bryan said, and looked outside the windows in case Jess was approaching. “You guys want anything?”

“No, I'm good.”

“Jay?” Bryan asked.

Jay was still quiet. “Hmmm? No, I'm all right.”

“Are you thinking of going to the Jamboree tomorrow?” Bryan asked Ashley. A bus drove past, probably full of concertgoers arriving in town.

“I wasn’t planning on it. Why?” Ashley asked.

“I think Jess was hoping to take the kids, but she might need a hand looking after them as I’ll be running the food truck.”

“If she needs a hand, tell her to give me a call. I don't have anything planned.”

“You going, Jay?” Bryan asked.

“Me? Nah. I think I’ll give it a miss.”

“Well, I should probably head off,” Ashley said.

“Where are you going?” Bryan asked.

“Home. Well, Mom’s house.”

“Walking?”

“Yeah, it’s not that far.”