Christmas In Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries Book 4) (5 page)

“How about we refer to you as Uncle Jordan?” Tj suggested. “The girls have several honorary uncles in their lives, including Hunter. They understand that an honorary uncle is a special kind of friend who might not be family but is more than just a friend.”

“Uncle Jordan is fine. Do you have any questions for me?”

Tj considered the broad-shouldered man as she gathered her thoughts. She could tell by the way he held himself that he was used to being in charge of everyone and everything around him, including, she imagined, his own emotions. It was hard for her to imagine the man with her mother, who had always been such a mess. Tj loved her mother in her own way, but she had always realized that she’d never been one who’d been able to take care of her own needs, let alone the needs of her children, for long periods of time.

“Did you know my mother was married when you
. . . when Gracie was conceived?”

Jordan hesitated before answering. “I met your mother in a bar on the night before I was
about to ship out. We were both alone and got to talking, and one thing led to another. We didn’t even exchange last names. In fact, we barely spoke at all about our lives outside the bar. I’m not normally so casual in my relationships, but I was lonely and feeling bad that I didn’t have anyone to miss me while I was gone. My best friend had just gotten engaged to the girl I’d been in love with since high school. I knew she loved him and would never be mine, but while I was trying to come to terms with that, I guess I just wanted companionship for one night.”

“I’m sorry. That must have been hard for you,” Tj sympathized.

“It was, but I’ve dealt with it and moved on. After I heard about Gracie, I looked back on that night and regretted that things happened the way they did.”

“
But back then . . .?”

“I never heard from your mother
. Like I said, I didn’t even know her last name, and I wasn’t sure Trixie was even her real first name.”

Tj laughed. “Trixie was
her dog’s name.”

“I figured as much.”

Hunter got up and poured everyone a glass of water from the pitcher he kept on the sideboard. Tj smiled at him as he set a glass in front of her. He seemed content to allow her to continue with the interview now that the ice had been broken, yet she knew that if she needed him, he’d willingly jump in.

“You must have been shocked when you got the letter from
Mom’s friend.”

“I was more than shocked,” Jordan admitted.
“Initially, I figured it was a scam.”

“A scam?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time a woman claimed a man was the father of her child to extort money from him. After I looked into things a bit, I realized this child could actually be my daughter, so I contacted my attorney. He looked into it further, and eventually we contacted you. I realize there’s a chance I might not be Gracie’s father. What your mother and I had was very brief, and although I don’t claim to have really known the woman, it seemed as if entering into casual relationships was something she was comfortable with.”

Tj laughed. “You aren’t wrong. My mom was a very special woman in her own way
, but she liked variety in her love life. No offense, but you aren’t at all her type. She normally went for men who were as wild as she liked to be.”

“I suppose I must have caught her on a contemplative night. She seemed a
lmost sad. It was as if she was struggling with something in her life. It was her vulnerability that drew me to her in the first place.”

It was odd to think of her mom as having
real
problems. Tj’d never had much of a relationship with the woman who’d given birth to her. She’d left Tj with her dad when she was still a toddler and hadn’t spent much time with her as she was growing up, although she was apt to pop in from time to time, Tj suspected, to irritate her father. When she’d gotten older, her mom began coming to her for help with one crisis after another. Tj tried to be a good daughter, but other than sending her money or bailing her out of jail, she’d never had the real relationship with her she’d longed for.

When Tj found out she
’d been named Ashley and Gracie’s legal guardian, she’d been both thrilled and terrified. There had always been a part of her that wanted to save the sisters she barely knew from the life she imagined they most likely led. Her mother’s second husband, the girls’ father, was out of the picture, so there hadn’t been anyone to challenge her right to raise her sisters. Until now.

“If my mother had to have a child
as a result of one of her flings then I’m glad it was with you,” Tj informed the man. “Most of the men she dated really weren’t the type you’d want to father your child.”

“Did your mom’s husband know she spent time with other men?” Jordan asked.

Tj shrugged. “I’m not certain, but I imagine he did. My mom wasn’t one to be monogamous, and I’m sure all of her husbands knew that. I was only three when she left Paradise Lake, but I think she really tried with my dad. Staying in one place with one man just wasn’t in her blood. She was a free spirit who lived by her own code, and the men she hooked up with usually knew the score. I actually find it comforting that she found a different type of relationship with the man responsible for my baby sister.”

“
Thanks, I think. I know this may sound odd, but as terrified as I was when I initially heard that I might have a child, I find the idea has grown on me. The Navy has always been my mistress, but there are times when I wonder how my life would have worked out if I’d taken a different path.”

“You
’re younger than my mother was,” Tj guessed.

“I
’m thirty-eight.”

“Do you have plans to retire from the
Navy?”

“Not at this point.”

“If you were to retire, do you foresee a future where you might want to take over as Gracie’s guardian?” Tj asked.

Jordan frowned. It appeared as if he had
n’t previously considered the idea. “I want what’s best for my daughter, if she is indeed my daughter. At this point, it appears that living with you and your family is what’s best for her. And there’s the other sister to consider as well. I can assure you that I have no plans to disrupt what exists whether I’m at sea or on land.”

Tj looked at Hunter. “Okay?”

He smiled back. “Okay.”

Gracie loved Uncle Jordan from the moment she met him, which was odd because normally she was distrustful of strangers, especially men. Tj couldn’t help but wonder if there wasn’t a part of her that instinctively identified with a part of him. There wasn’t really any logic in that suspicion, but on the surface it really seemed to be the only explanation.

“Is he our real uncle or our pretend uncle
, like Uncle Kyle?” Gracie asked Tj later that evening as she tucked her into bed.

“He
’s an honorary uncle, like Uncle Kyle.” Tj had decided to keep her answer simple.

“He said he lives on a big boat.”

“Yes, he’s in the Navy. He lives on a huge ship with hundreds of other men.”

“Wow.” Gracie looked impressed.

“Uncle Jordan is going to teach me to sail when he comes to visit this summer,” Ashley informed her. “He said he learned to sail when he was even younger than me.”

“That will be fun.
”

“Is Uncle Jordan going to be here for Thanksgiving
and
Christmas?” Gracie asked.

“I believe that
’s his plan.” Tj tucked Gracie’s bunny under her arm.

“We
’ll need to get him a sock,” Gracie decided.

“A sock?” Tj asked.

“To hang on the fireplace. Me and Ashley each have one. You and Papa and Grandpa have one. Even Echo, Cuervo, Crissy, Midnight, and Snowy have one. If Uncle Jordan is going to be here, he needs one too.”

“Yes,” Tj realized
, “I guess he does. But since he just got here, how about we see how the visit goes?”

“Okay.”

“Ash, why don’t you grab Snowy and head into your own room? I’ll be there in a minute,” Tj said as she got up from the bed and began straightening up the room. She hung up Gracie’s kitty sweater and folded the clothes she’d worn for only a short time that evening.

“Okay.”
Ashley got up from the bed and picked up the pure white cat that had been one of the two kittens Crissy had delivered shortly after she’d come to live with them. “Don’t forget the book,” Ashley reminded her.

Ashley could read better than other
kids three or four years older than she was, but she still enjoyed having Tj read to her as she fell asleep.

“I won’t forget,” Tj promised as Ashley
trotted out of the room.

“Can you leave the nightlight on?” Gracie asked as Tj began turning lamps off.

“Absolutely. We have a busy day tomorrow, so I need you to go right to sleep.” Tj kissed Gracie, tucking the covers around her like a cocoon. Crissy curled up on the pillow next to her and began to purr.

“Can Crissy have turkey?”

“I guess a little turkey would be okay. But just a little. We wouldn’t want her to get a tummy ache.”

“Okay.”

Tj tucked Gracie’s hair behind her ear. She loved her sister so much. In spite of Jordan’s assurances and his seemingly sincere intentions, Tj couldn’t help but feel a level of fear.

“Are you worried
about something?” Gracie asked.

“No, I’m not worried. Why do you ask?”

“Your face is all wrinkly, like it gets when you’re worried.”

Tj smiled. “I guess I’m just tired. We have bunches of people coming for dinner
, so I might be worried about getting everything ready in time.”

“Maybe we should just have hot
dogs for dinner,” Gracie suggested. “Hot dogs are easy. I can make them in the microwave all by myself. If we have hot dogs for Thanksgiving, I can help you and you won’t have to be worried.”

“Hot
dogs are a very good idea, but I already bought four turkeys. Maybe we’ll have hot dogs next year. Besides, I think Aunt Jenna is going to help me, so I’m sure I’m worrying for nothing.”

Gracie smiled. “I love you bunches.”

“I love you bunches too.”

By the time dawn arrived on Thanksgiving, the storm that had been leaving small amounts of snow for the past several days had come in with a vengeance. Tj settled Ashley and Gracie in front of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the TV with a plate of cinnamon rolls Ben had made earlier that morning before she quickly showered and dressed for the day ahead. If today was anything like yesterday, they were in for more than one kind of storm.

“Is Uncle Jordan coming to dinner?”
Gracie asked after Tj returned to the room.

“He
is
coming to dinner,” Tj informed her.

“I’m glad. He’s really nice.”

“Yes, he is. Now finish up your breakfast and get dressed. Jenna and the girls will be here any time to help us set up.”

Ashley got up from the sofa and took her plate into the kitchen
, with Gracie following behind. “I’m supposed to tell you that Papa is out plowing snow and Grandpa, Doc, and Bookman are over in the restaurant getting things ready,” Ashley informed her. “Grandpa said we’re in for a hell of a storm and we should wear warm clothes if we go outside.”

“Grandpa was right about staying warm
, but I really need you to stay in the house and direct people over to the activities center when they arrive. Kristi and Kari can help you when they get here.”

“Can Uncle Jordan stay here
and help us?” Gracie asked.

“If he wants to,” Tj answered.
“I’m going to head over to the restaurant to check in with Grandpa. If Jenna gets here, send her over. I think Uncle Kyle might be coming early as well. Oh, and don’t forget to feed the cats. If you need anything, call my cell.”

“Okay
.” Ashley settled back down in front of the parade.

Tj bundled up in a heavy coat and snow boots
, called to her dog, Echo, and headed out into the storm. While guest number one had so far proven to be a likeable and trustworthy sort, guest number two, Bonnie’s fiancé, Bob King, was another thing entirely. Tj could tell Jenna had hated him on sight, which didn’t bode well for Dennis’s opinion of the man. Tj had to admit that the man had a dark aura about him. She couldn’t pin it down exactly, but the charming, smooth-talking, and apparently wealthy gentleman seemed to be just a bit too slick to be real.

“Mornin
’, darling,” Doc, aka retired coroner Stan Griffin, kissed her on the cheek as she walked into the restaurant, where all three men were mixing up batches of rum punch.

“You haven’t been sampling e
very batch, have you?” Tj asked.

“Just the first one,” Ben assured her.
“Do you want a taste?”

Tj did. “This is good
,” she complimented. “Did you do something different?”