Chapter 47
Jake
This game is aggravating. Why did everyone insist on playing kickball? Even the munchkins are playing. Whoever has one of them pretty much allows the little kid to play with the ball and then takes them around all of the bases? We have an understanding that no one gets them out. It is the battle of the sexes. But it’s clear that we’re letting the girls win. Dean is an all-state track star, why on earth is he running so slowly?
“When we lose, we have to watch Frozen,” Peter mutters. Peter said, “when” instead of “if.”
“Why did we agree to this?” I ask him.
“Because Chelsea thought it would be fun. Tomorrow, we’re playing either a board game or war. It’s supposed to rain,” Tiller says, ever the planner. The guy should be someone’s personal assistant. Instead, he is going to med school, which makes some sense. He does have a great memory. I wipe the sweat from my eyes. It’s my turn to kick. Maybe I’ll strike out. Carmen tosses the ball toward me, and I purposefully don’t kick it. She glares at me.
“Strike one,” Tiller yells and I pretend to look horrified.
“It’s almost as if you want to watch Frozen,” Maggie shouts to me. She’s standing beside Bella, who’s laughing. I wonder what’s so funny. Just when Carmen is about to toss the ball to me again, Tia shrieks. She’s hopping up and down covering her forearm. I have no idea what’s going on. But I’m confident that the woman is being over dramatic. Alec, who’s currently being entertained by Peter, begins to wail at the sight of his upset mother. This sucks. I push my hair off of my forehead and jog over to Tia. She’s being surrounded by all of the women minus Carmen who’s just shaking her head.
“It hurts,” Tia cries. “It really hurts!”
“Stop crying Tia, you’re upsetting your baby,” Grace snaps. It seems that the louder his mother cries, the louder Alec cries. I walk over to Carmen and gently pat her shoulder. She sighs.
“She got stung by a bee,” Carmen says, frustrated.
“Is she allergic?” Carmen shakes her head.
“Eli's deathly allergic to bees. She has her epi pen on her at all times.”
“Want to sneak away?” My question causes her to grin.
“And miss all of this? I’m curious of who’s going to tell Tia to shut up. The last time she pulled such a stunt, it took ten minutes for someone to get aggravated,” Carmen gossips. I’m highly disappointed that she isn’t flirting with me. But what can I do?
“Do you want to make out, darling?” I tease. Before she can answer Maggie loses her patience and shrieks, “Tia shut up!” And that’s how the drama queen is put back in her place.
“Do you think that the game will go on?” Carmen asks.
“No.”
“That’s too bad. I was looking forward to striking you out.”
“Why don’t you want to make out with me?” I ask Carmen. She looks up at me and chuckles.
“Because Tiller will fire up the grill soon. If I stay here any longer, I’ll be spoiled. Just think, a barbecue in the afternoons and waking up with you in the mornings, what more could I ask for?” Her smile is wide, and her eyes hold a secret hope that I hope that I’m not miss reading.
“Carmen Philips, do you want to sleep with me?” She looks down for a moment because she’s obviously embarrassed. I chuckle and tilt her chin up.
“No. I didn’t mean that kind of sleeping. I…”
“And what kind did you mean?” It’s funny to see her when she’s caught off guard. I make a mental note to do that often.
“I mean that it would be nice if you and I have a sleep over, sometime. Totally innocent and not… Um… Jake, seriously, stop laughing at me.” I can’t help it. She’s just so innocent. That’s one of the things that is so endearing about her.
“What are you two up to?” Alex asks as she joins us. I release Carmen’s chin and turn to the sister that I haven’t spoken to. Making things right with Maggie has been a relief. We aren’t best friends, and I’m not expecting us to be. But it’s nice to have her and her sister Nicky here. Alex, on the other hand, has been allusive. She hasn’t outright approached me. In fact, this is the first time that she’s even attempted a conversation with me. I have the suspicion that she’s talking to me for Carmen’s sake.
“We’re just talking about the kickball game,” Carmen lies.
“Oh, well, it looks like we are going to watch Frozen. It’s not like you guys put any real effort in,” Alex chastises.
“Dean is a track star and Matt played all-star soccer. If they tried, they would have creamed us,” Carmen points out. Alex places her hands on her hips.
“I still would have liked a workout. It’s like they handed the game to us, Carmen. That’s just not right.” My sister’s actually getting mad about this.
“That’s all right. You ladies can let us win at darts later,” Peter interjects as he joins our circle. “Besides, Tia wouldn’t have had it any other way. She hated being out here.”
“She hates being away from the mansion. I swear she’s complained about not having a maid and chef.” Alex says these words as if she’s judging us for growing up with money. Her judgment makes my skin crawl. Who does she think she is?
“That’s just what Tia is use to,” Carmen replies, beginning to get defensive. Alex sighs.
“I'm not used to this, Jake. Maybe if Dad stayed instead of being with someone else, I would have lived like her.” Alex looks smug, as if she has made a good point.
“Your father didn’t know about you,” Carmen tells Alex. The girl looks confused, as if Carmen had gotten something obvious, very wrong.
“What did you say?”
“Your father never knew about you. Jake only found out because your mother wrote Eli a letter two years ago. She talked about how my family was keeping her away from her. She told my cousin that she would like to keep in contact with her. My uncle Ben was never to find out.” Peter looks uncomfortable, but he doesn’t ditch me. A whole lot of girl drama is about to go down.
“Carmen, what letter?” Alex asks slowly. “Can I see it?”
“Eli ripped it up. She didn’t want her mother finding it,” Carmen responds.
“So, Mom wrote Eli a letter because?”
“She’s your sister,” I fill in, which makes Alex sigh.
“Right. I forgot. Okay, so Eli is the daughter that Mom always talked about missing. This is all starting to make sense. Apparently, Mom gave Eli up because she was an unfit mother. That doesn’t surprise me because my Aunt Ruby raised me.”
“Even after she stole your mother’s husband?” Alex laughed.
“Even after she hooked up with my stepfather. But you’re telling me that my father never knew about me?” Alex seems skeptical.
“If he had, he would have taken you with him when he left,” I say. A tear rolls down Alex’s cheek.
“Why would anyone ever deprive a child of their father? My mother did a lot of selfish things in her life. Lying to me about my father was just cruel. She told me that Dad never wanted me. She said that he found another woman and took Jake from her only because he had better lawyers. I…”
“Dad paid her two million dollars to give up her rights to me, and she did it, willingly.” I had to interrupt Alex. She needs to know what kind of woman her mother really is. Maybe then, she’ll believe that I only want the best for her. But she’s taken as much as she can handle.
“I’m going to take Bella to the bathroom,” she says before rushing off. I stare at Carmen who’s wiping away a few tears. Peter looks ill.
“Why does she suddenly want to be in Eli’s life?” My best friend asks me.
“I’m not sure. My guess is that she’s hoping that Ben pays her off. I wonder what Eli will be worth?” My question makes Peter wince.
“I don’t understand people. Why sell your child? I could never imagine doing that,” Peter says.
“Of course not. You’re a good man,” I tell him. Peter
shakes his head and I don’t pus the point. Then, his weary eyes land on Chelsea.
“How is she?” I ask, only to be polite. Peter takes in a deep breath then lets it out.
“She’s distant. I think that she’s blaming me for her mother’s predicament. I don’t blame her. I just couldn’t allow someone to mooch off of Chelsea like that, not after she stole from her.
“I’m tired of all of the drama. I think that we all need to do something fun,” Carmen randomly declares.
“Like what?” I’m cautious only because the kickball game didn’t turn out so well.
“I think that we should have Thanksgiving dinner. Just think about it, Jake. We all can make a dish, dress up really nice, and eat. It will take everyone’s minds off of the trials. What do you say?” Carmen asks.
“I’m not eating anything Tia makes,” Peter announces. “You can forget that.”
“You can’t cook,” I remind Carmen, who glares at me.
“I can follow a recipe,” she argues.
“You should make a Caesar salad,” I offer. She pouts.
“Really?”
“Carmen, cooking isn’t simple. You have to work with sharp objects and fire.” I’m teasing her, and she knows it. When Carmen giggles, joy swells up in me.
“Tiller will want to cook the entire thing,” Peter interjects.
“Maybe. But we won’t let him. Jake, we can go grocery shopping. We can peel apples and bake apple crisp, which is the only thing that I know how to make. What do you say?” Carmen’s pleading with me and I nod to make her happy. But we both know that neither of us are going shopping. Tiller And Maggie will probably have to get the supplies.