“I thought about law school at one point,” he said.
“And you chose piano instead?” Maddie asked with a condescending edge.
“In college it’s called music, but I didn’t get a degree in music. It’s just a hobby. If you don’t have passion about your pursuit in life, it will never take you where you want to go.”
“Pfft … if I followed my true passion I would be in medical school at Harvard.”
“Why aren’t you?” Jackson looked at her in the rearview mirror.
“My dad won’t pay for my college because somebody pissed him off. But I’m not mad at him … my dad’s the best and he still sends me a nice allowance for other things.”
Another dig at Ryn. Jackson rested his hand on her leg, she returned a weak smile. Just because she’d learned to tolerate it, even expect it, didn’t make it hurt any less.
Seeing the restaurant parking lot filled to capacity, Jackson let the ladies off at the front door and searched for a parking spot down the street.
Ryn’s parents were already seated.
“Happy birthday, baby girl!” Her mom hugged her and so did her dad.
“Thank you.”
“Where’s this mysterious guy?” her dad asked.
“Oh my God.” Maddie plunked down in her chair and rolled her eyes. “Wait until you meet him. He’s so out of her league. No offense, Mom. But seriously, guys like him don’t date women in menopause. There must be something wrong with him … like maybe he just got out of prison and he has mommy issues or—”
“Madison!” Ryn warned and Maddie jumped. “That’s. Enough.”
She wasn’t in menopause yet, even if her hormones hadn’t received that memo.
Maddie sank in her chair while messing with her phone. “Christ, Mom, you don’t have to reprimand me like a child.”
“Then stop acting like one.”
“Okay, this is supposed to be a celebration. Let’s all calm down a bit.” Ryn’s mom smiled as Jackson approached the table.
The birthday girl staving off anger to the point of near tears, forced a smile. The knowing look on Jackson’s face confirmed she wasn’t hiding it well.
“Jackson, these are my parents, Ryan and Lynn.”
“Bet you can guess how my mom got her name,” Maddie mumbled, still staring at her phone.
“Nice to meet you.” Jackson offered his hand as both of her parents stared.
“Mom, Dad!”
They shook their heads. “Sorry, uh … nice to meet you too. Thank you for inviting us to dinner,” Lynn said as they took their seats.
“My pleasure. I’m quite fond of your daughter.”
They nodded. Of course they wouldn’t be as bold and inconsiderate to ask why, but Ryn could still see that question on their faces. In all fairness, she still pondered it too.
“We just want her to be happy.”
“Done.” Ryn smiled, looking over her menu. “Maddie, your friends can wait. Please put your phone away.”
Maddie rolled her eyes again. The waitress took their drink orders, ending with Maddie.
“I’ll have your most expensive scotch.”
“Madison—”
“What? I’m twenty-one and Jackson is paying so …”
Jackson grinned. “Absolutely. As long as you drink every last drop.”
Maddie smiled, batting her eyelashes. “Of course.”
The waitress brought their drinks and took their dinner orders. Maddie grimaced, taking a small sip of her Scotch. She might as well have ordered a glass of gasoline.
“I’m impressed a young girl like you enjoys Scotch. It’s usually an acquired taste.”
She took several big gulps of her water then cleared her throat. “Well I’m a lot more mature than what I’m sure my mother has led you to believe.”
“Clearly.” Jackson took a long pull of his beer then smiled at Ryn’s parents. “Are you both retired?”
“Ryan is, he retired from Kiewit as a civil engineer. He worked there in Atlanta then transferred to Omaha when Ryn…” Lynn’s eyes shifted to her daughter’s “…needed us. I still work twenty hours a week as a pediatric nurse.”
Ryn needed her parents when she decided to leave her abusive husband. It took an army of support to find the courage to leave the man who threatened to kill her.
“Look, it’s Dad!” Maddie jumped out of her chair.
Ryn looked over her shoulder and froze. Jackson turned to watch Maddie run into the arms of a tall man with copper-blond and gray hair, a custom-tailored suit, and a gold Rolex.
“He can’t be here,” Lynn whispered to Ryan.
“I see my lovely wife is celebrating her fortieth birthday.”
The hair on the back of her neck stood erect. Would she ever hear his voice and not tremble?
“You look amazing, Ryn … you always did,” he whispered in her ear.
“Can he join us?” Maddie beamed, but Ryn knew his being there was not a coincidence.
“No. He can’t and I have a restraining order to prove it.”
“Jesus, Mom, it’s dinner. Not a reconciliation.”
“Yeah, Ryn … we both know the restraining order is because you can’t control yourself around me. After all, that’s why Maddie was conceived.”
“TMI, Dad.” Maddie rolled her eyes.