A Daddy for Jacoby

Chapter Fourteen

“What?”

Gina realized she could’ve put that more tactfully. “I’ve decided to go back to school. To get my teaching credentials,” she continued, sitting forward on the bed, a surge of excitement filling her as she spoke her plan aloud for the first time. “I love working with the kids at the library. It’s fueled my desire to teach at the elementary school level.”

“That’s great. I’ve seen you during those story hours and I can tell you love it, but why do you have to leave town?” Racy asked. “Can’t you take classes at the University of Wyoming?”

Gina stood and walked to her dresser, mindlessly playing with her combs and hair clips. When her fingers inched toward the dried-up corsage sitting atop her jewelry box, she clenched her hands together.

Jacoby had handed her a brown lunch bag after a story hour last week saying it belonged to her. Inside was the corsage. No note, nothing but the dried flowers.

“I can’t stay in Destiny and not be— It would just hurt too much to see…”

“Justin?”

“And Jacoby.” Gina turned to face her sister-in-law again. “He is the sweetest boy and I love him to pieces. I know Justin is running scared at the moment, but deep down I believe he’s going to do the right thing for himself and his son.”

“The right thing?”

“Finding out about Jacoby’s mother and the Ellsworths has got Justin all twisted. He doubts his ability to raise Jacoby.”

“Do you— Did he tell you what the Ellsworths want?”

Gina nodded.

“I guess you’ve figured out Richard Ellsworth is in town again and Justin’s talking with him right now.”

Not trusting her voice, Gina again nodded.

“I’ve tried to get him to talk to me about this. I know he feels like he’s been handling things with Jacoby on a wing and a prayer. I’d hoped once he knew for sure Jacoby was his that would change.” Racy sighed. “Maybe it’s just made it harder for him because of the way we were raised.”

“He’s so scared he’s going to turn into your father.”

“As crazy as it sounds, I understand his fears. My dad was abusive, both verbally and physically. I don’t know how many times Justin stepped in front of me…” Racy paused and swallowed hard “…protecting me from our father’s brand of discipline. Billy Joe turned out to be just like him. It was me and Justin against the two of them. So many times he took what both of them dished out so I…I wouldn’t have to.”

Gina sat back down on her bed and hugged Racy hard. Having been raised in a strict but always loving family, she couldn’t fathom what her sister-in-law described.

Racy returned her hug, then pulled back and brushed tears from her face. “Maybe what Justin needs is professional help. I think I’ll suggest that tonight when he comes to dinner. Of course, what he really needs is a good lawyer so he can fight for his son.”

Gina thought both were great ideas. Not that coming to terms with his childhood would do anything to solve what was, or wasn’t, happening between them, but making things right between father and son was the most important thing at the moment.

“When I was working toward my degree I spent time with a counselor,” Racy continued. “She helped me so much. Like Justin, I never thought I’d have children of my own. I was so scared I’d repeat the same horrible mistakes my father did.”

“But you worked through it, right? Aren’t you and Gage planning on having a family someday?”

Racy offered a wobbly smile. “Maybe sooner than you think.”

“What?”

“Nothing. We were talking about you and Justin.”

“There is no me and Justin. My head knows that. My heart is going to take a bit longer to catch up.”

The words came so easy that Gina almost believed them.

Pushing her own issues aside for the moment, she focused on her sister-in-law. “Now, what aren’t you telling me?”

Racy pulled her oversize purse to her lap, took out a paper bag and offered it to Gina.

“What’s this?” Gina peeked inside. “A home pregnancy test?”

“Five tests, actually. I went to a group of drugstores in Laramie.” Racy shrugged. “I wanted to cover my bases, in case one of them is a dud.”

Gina let go of her worries for now and rejoiced in the exciting news. “Racy, this is wonderful! Does my brother know?”

“Not yet. Can you imagine if I bought these tests in town? News of a Steele baby would spread so fast they’d be betting on the arrival date before I’d even had a chance to tell Gage.”

Gina sighed, easily picturing her big, strong brother cradling a newborn in his arms. “He is going to be over the moon about being a daddy.”

“I hope so.” A sudden smile lit up Racy’s face. “Let’s do the test now.”

“Now?”

“Sure, we could use the distraction.” Racy rose from the bed and headed toward Gina’s bathroom. “I’ll be right back.”

A few minutes later, Racy emerged with her eyes trained on her watch. “Okay, I replaced the caps to cover the absorbent tips, yuck, and I’ve set my alarm. We need to wait at least five minutes, but no more than ten.”

Gina grinned. “Did you do all of them?”

Racy nodded and returned her smile. “Just to be safe.”

Time seemed to crawl as Gina and Racy waited. When Racy’s watch beeped, both women jumped.

Silencing the alarm, Racy glanced at the bathroom door. “I can’t look.”

“What? Why?”

“I thought I’d be okay no matter the results, but now…”

Gina squeezed Racy’s hand. “You want me to check?”

Racy nodded.

Gina entered her bathroom and eyed the five testers on her sink. The results were identical. She took the first stick and headed back into her room.

“Yeah! We have a baby on the way!”



Justin stood at the oversize window in his sister’s dining room. It looked out over a large yard surrounded by trees on three sides and Echo Lake on the fourth. The sun was just about gone, but it was another warm spring evening.

He’d shown up at Racy and Gage’s home in time to join everyone for dinner. Now that the meal was over, Racy and Maggie Stevens, one of his sister’s best friends, were in the kitchen cleaning up. Gage and Landon, Maggie’s husband of a few months, had disappeared in the garage to check out Gage’s new motorcycle.

Justin had waved off Gage’s offer to join them and instead watched Jacoby race around the yard, playing man in the middle, or more appropriately dog in the middle, with Anna, Maggie’s daughter. Jack, his sister’s golden retriever, was trying his best to get the ball the kids tossed back and forth to each other.

We want our grandson. We can provide him with a stable life filled with the best of everything.

Richard Ellsworth’s words, spoken during their meeting this afternoon, echoed in Justin’s head. The big house, private schools and summer vacations around the world. It all sounded perfect. Perfect for a little boy with loving grandparents.

There was no way Justin could compete. He wasn’t even sure he had the right to, even with the shift in people’s attitudes toward him lately.

During the two days before they left for Colorado and in the week since they’d been back, he’d been thanked numerous times for stopping the fight at the school dance, by adults and teenagers, whenever he ventured from the kitchen into the bar’s dining area or when out in town. He had to admit that when he’d told Jacoby why people were asking to shake his hand and offering their appreciation, it felt good when his son jumped into his arms and called him a hero.

But it couldn’t erase all he’d done in his past.

Richard Ellsworth hadn’t threatened outright to use his family history or prison record against him if it came down to a legal battle, but he made it clear that the court would do an extensive background check on all the parties involved.

He sighed and turned from the window, seeing his sister and Maggie had moved into the living room. Both women looked at him with expectant gazes.

“Do you want to tell us what happened today?” Racy asked.

“No.”

The one he really wanted to talk to was Gina, but after the way she walked out on him last week, and made herself scarce ever since, he doubted she’d be willing to listen to anything he had to say.

His sister tilted her head and Justin knew he wasn’t going to get out of this. He joined them, sitting on the end of couch. “I really don’t want to talk about this.”

“You need to,” Racy persisted, “and you need to let your family and friends help.”

“That includes me and Landon, too,” Maggie added when Justin looked at her.

Racy leaned forward. “So, how did it go with Richard Ellsworth?”

Justin gave in and told his sister and Maggie everything, from what it was like staying with the Ellsworths following the funeral, to the day Richard gave him the custody papers and the details of what they’d talked about today, minus the obscure warning about his past.

“So, now I’m trying to figure out if I should pack up Jacoby’s things.” Justin rose, unable to sit still any longer. He paced the area in front of the fireplace. “I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching since we got back from Colorado, but the bottom line is the Ellsworths can give him all the things in life I can’t.”

“You’re a great father,” Racy said. “And they’re damn lucky you are in light of the way their daughter just introduced you and Jacoby and then took off. To decide now they can raise him better—”

“They didn’t know Jacoby existed.”

“And that makes it okay?”

Justin sighed, crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t know what’s okay anymore.”

“You’re not our father.” Racy’s voice was soft. “You would never raise a hand to your son.”

He turned to look at his sister. “I’ve been thinking about that, too—Dad, our childhood—over the last week. Deep inside, I know I’m not like him. Having Jacoby in my life has made it confusing and frustrating at times, but I’ve never felt anything close to anger toward him.”

“So why are you thinking about sending him away?” Maggie asked.

“Because I want to do what’s best for him. Richard and Elizabeth can provide him with a loving and stable home—”

“So can you! Jacoby has family here, too.” Racy stood. “Gage and I love him to pieces and he’s already calling Gage’s mom Nana Steele.”

That surprised him. “He is?”

“Justin, I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds, but I know how important grandparents, or great-grandparents, can be in a child’s life,” Maggie spoke up. “I’m thankful every day that Nana B. found me and is here for Anna. She’s a wonderful influence and has helped me tremendously in raising my daughter. Being a single parent is hard, but you aren’t alone. We are all here to help and the Ellsworths can, too, as his grandparents.”

“Do you love Jacoby?” Racy asked.

“More than my own life,” Justin replied without hesitation.

“Do you want him to stay?”

He placed his hands on his hips, pulled in a deep breath and went with what was in his heart. “Yes, but—”

The sound of Maggie’s daughter calling for her mom had him cutting off his words. The little girl raced up the stairs from the lower level, a frown on her face.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Maggie asked.

“Is Jacoby up here? We were playing hide-and-seek and he told me to count to two hundred because he had a really good hiding spot, but I’ve been looking and looking and I can’t find him.”

Alarm crawled into Justin’s throat, making it impossible to speak. Gut instinct told him this wasn’t good.

Stay calm. Just stay calm.

Maggie looked at her daughter. “When did you last see him?”

“A while ago,” Anna said. “When we came inside to go to the bathroom.”

“Isn’t Jack with him?” Racy asked.

“Nope. He kept giving away our hiding spots, so we put him inside. He’s lying under the pool table.”

Justin swung around to look out the windows. The sun was gone and it was growing darker by the minute. He looked at his watch. Had he really been talking for forty-five minutes?

Talking— Dammit, had Jacoby overheard their conversation?

“We’ll all look for him.” Racy stood. “Justin, check with Gage and Landon. Maybe Jacoby is with them looking at the motorcycle.”

A silent prayer winged its way heavenward as Justin headed for the stairs. He burst into the garage, his stomach dropping to his feet at finding only the two men there. He quickly relayed what had happened. Gage grabbed a couple of flashlights from a nearby workbench. The three men went outside to search the woods while the women searched the house.

Justin stomped through the woods calling out his son’s name, but all he heard was Gage and Landon doing the same. There was no sign of Jacoby. They met back at the stone patio outside the lower-level family room.

“Where the hell could he be?” Justin spat out the words, shoving the panic down hard into his gut. “Where could he have gone?”

“His pillowcase is missing,” Racy said, stepping outside to join them. “He left it near the front door when we came in.”

Locking his knees to keep himself standing, Justin pulled in a deep breath through his nose.

Jacoby had run away. But where? And why?

“Okay, this is what we’re going to do,” Gage spoke with quiet authority. “Maggie will stay here with Anna in case he comes back. Justin, go to the cabin. Maybe he went there. Racy, Landon and I will take separate vehicles and check in town, covering the diner, the library and the playgrounds.”

“Do you really think he’s made it to town?” Landon asked.

“It’s been roughly thirty minutes since Anna last saw him, closer to an hour since Justin watched the kids through the window,” Gage said. “We’ll meet at my office. If anyone finds him, call me, and I’ll call Justin.”

Landon and Racy left, but Justin grabbed hold of Gage. “You haven’t asked me about my meeting with Richard Ellsworth.”

“I figured we’d talk about that after Maggie and Landon headed home. Do you think he might have something to do with Jacoby taking off? Does Jacoby know they want custody of him?”

“He might have overheard us talking about it.”

Justin told his brother-in-law what he’d shared with Racy and Maggie. “I thought the kids were still outside, but maybe Jacoby came back in and heard me.”

“And he’s gone to find him?”

The thought of his little boy out in the dark was killing him. That he might be trying to get to his grandfather made him feel like someone had ripped open his chest and torn out his heart. “I don’t know. Should I check at the Destiny Inn, too?”

“Not yet. Chances are Jacoby hasn’t gotten that far, but I’ll cover that end of town. We don’t want to give Ellsworth any reason to doubt your ability to care for your son.”

“Any more than I doubt it myself?”

“Don’t worry.” Gage clapped him on the back. “We’ll find him.”

Justin raced to his truck and headed home. The cabin was dark, but he forced himself to go inside and check anyway. No Jacoby, but there was something missing. The new bike. He got back in his truck and headed into town, calling Gage in the process.

“He wasn’t at the cabin,” he said when his brother-in-law answered. “But the bike and helmet the Ellsworths gave him are gone. He must’ve come back for it.”

“Racy and Landon are still looking. I’ll head for the inn,” Gage replied. “Racy said you might want to check my mother’s house next.”

“Your mother’s?”

“I guess Racy and Jacoby were there earlier today visiting Gina. Your boy seems quite attached to my sister.”

“Would he even remember how to get there?” Justin asked.

“In a town the size of Destiny? Besides, he could ask anyone for directions.”

Justin remained silent.

“Hello?”

“Ah, yeah, you’re right. Jacoby really likes Gina.” Justin pushed the words past his dry throat. “I’ll go there now.”

He tried to call Gina’s cell phone, but she didn’t pick up. Moments later, he pulled up to the curb and raced to the front porch. He knocked loudly and waited.

Gina opened the door, surprise on her face. “Justin?”

He could already tell but he asked anyway. “Is Jacoby here?”

“No, why would you think—”

“He’s run away.”

His words changed the surprise on her face to shock and she reached for him. Justin backed away. He couldn’t let her touch him. If she did, he’d shatter into a million pieces.

“Please, come in.” She stepped back and opened the door wider.

“I can’t.” He started to back off the porch. “I need—I need to find him.”

“Let me help,” she said. “I’ll go with you.”

He stopped. “You don’t have to do that.”

Gina grabbed a jacket off a nearby hook and stepped across the threshold. “Of course I do.”

“Hey, sis,” Garrett appeared at the door as Gina started to close it. “Did I hear you say Jacoby’s missing?”

Gina and Justin turned in unison. “Do you know anything?” Justin asked.

Garrett shrugged. “It might be nothing, but I was just in the kitchen and I thought I saw a flash of light coming from the tree house in the backyard.”

Gina went back inside and Justin was right behind her as they crossed the living room and headed for the dark kitchen.

“How would Jacoby know about the tree house?” Gina asked.

“I told him,” Garrett said, joining them at the back door. “See? Right there.”

Justin saw the quick beam of light reflecting off the newly budded tree branches. He reached for the doorknob, but Gina stopped him, covering his hand with hers. His skin tingled with awareness at her touch, and they both sprang apart.

“L-let me go first.” Gina’s voice came out a shaky whisper. “We don’t want to scare him, if it is him.”

Justin nodded and stepped back.

Gina went outside first, crossed the large back deck and hurried down the steps to the grass. The tree house was among a cluster of trees in the corner of the yard. She reached the wooden ladder that rested against the base of the tree, then turned and waved at him.

His heart in his throat, Justin bolted from the house and was by her side seconds later. She placed her fingers to her lips and started to climb the ladder.

“Hey, there,” she said when she reached the top, her head and shoulders now inside the wooden structure. “Do you have the secret password to be in the Steele family tree house?”

Justin held his breath. Then he watched as she maneuvered one hand back down to her side and gave him the thumbs-up sign. Slumping against the rough bark of the tree, he pressed his fingertips hard against his closed eyes.

Jacoby was up there.

He wiped at the wetness on his face and dug out his cell phone. Stepping away, he called Gage and passed along the news, catching him before he pulled into the inn’s parking lot. Gage promised to let Racy and Landon know.

Justin ended the call and moved back to the ladder, listening to Gina talk to his son. He couldn’t make out her words, but her love and concern for the boy were evident.

From the first moment she’d met Jacoby, she’d always put his needs and wants first, whether it was making sure he washed his hands or finding out the real reason he was scared to sleep in his new bed.

How could he have accused her of not understanding—

He looked up when the ladder creaked. Gina started to climb down and his hands itched to circle her waist to guide her to the ground, but he doubted Gina would welcome his touch.

Not anymore.

She stepped off the last rung and turned to him. “He’ll talk to you now.”

“I don’t know what to say to him.”

“Yes, you do.” Gina laid her hand on his chest. “Just listen to him and tell him what’s in your heart.”

Justin clenched his hands into fists to keep from reaching for her. He settled instead for the warmth of her touch through his shirt before she suddenly dropped her hand and stepped away.

He climbed the ladder, his shoulders a tight squeeze as he made his way through the opening. He found his son sitting in the far corner on a sleeping bag, his pillowcase at his feet and his teddy bear clutched to his chest.

“Jacoby? Can I come in?”