Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel) Read online

  Charlie is now a stay-at-home mom with our three-year old son. She’s also very pregnant with our daughter, Savannah. She’s got one more month to go, and she looks more beautiful than the day I first saw her on the dance floor at Texas Jacks.

  Charlie and I are as happy as we can be. Our relationship is strong, loving, and solid. We have our bad days, like any couple, and we have lots of good days. We live every day one at a time, and take what life throws at us—or blesses us with.

  As for the guys and I, we decided a couple of years back to try our hand at our own construction company. We got the business up and running, and things are going pretty smoothly. I love that I can be my own boss now, and that I’m home in time for dinner with my family.

  I pull in to our long drive thinking how nice it will be to see Charlie and her beautiful smile. I really love her and our growing family. I’m thankful every day for taking a chance with my heart and handing it to her on a silver platter. I will never regret the events that led me to this point in my life.

  I park the truck in the driveway and see that Charlie is sitting on the porch in one of the rockers. She’s watching Jack play in the yard, chasing our black lab, Lucky.

  I climb out of the cab of the truck and close the door. When I look over at Charlie, I see that she’s turned her eyes and her bright smile on me. That warms my heart, and the love that I feel from the look on her face sometimes chokes me up. I want nothing more than to go over to her, gather her in my arms, and hold her tight.

  I walk by Jack and Lucky first, so I stop and snatch Jack up and swing him around, which sends our little munchkin into a fit of laughter. Lucky runs around my legs while we spin in the yard for a few moments. I set Jack back down on his feet, but he’s a bit dizzy and falls on his butt. This sends him into more laughter as Lucky starts licking his face. I reach down and run my hand along Lucky’s black coat of fur before I take the porch steps two at a time to get to my wife.

  She’s still smiling at me when I reach her, and holds her arms out to me as I lean down and gently pull her up from the rocking chair. Charlie wraps her arms around me, as much as they will go with her belly in the way, and I pepper her face with sweet kisses before I gently fit my lips to hers. I pull away and look back at her with a gentle smile, and all the love I can possibly show her in my eyes. We hold on to each other and turn our heads to watch Jack and Lucky running around the yard, happy as can be.

  At this very moment, I know I’m exactly where I should be. I’m the happiest, luckiest man on the face of the earth, and I know my mother is smiling down on me.

  STAY TUNED FOR MORE OF THE TEXAS JACKS GANG IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

  Holly Lane

  EXCERPT

  3.5 years ago

  This is it. The big moment. All of the excitement and anticipation that has been building for months for this one day has finally arrived.

  Ava Walsh, Jenifer Gustafson, and I were finally leaving high school in the dust of our rearview mirrors and traveling towards our futures, with the exception of a pit stop for a bit of fun in the sun first.

  We’ve been the best of friends from kindergarten clear through high school, and now we have finally graduated together. Funny, crazy, and klutzy would sum us up in a nutshell.

  Graduation took place last week, and this week is our final nod to high school and the last time we will all be together for a long time. Ava and Jenifer have ambitions to get out of this jolly town of ours and hit some bigger cities. They want to travel and live it up before heading to college, getting as far away from the busy-bodies of Holly Grove as possible. Then there’s me, good old Hollie Reed, staying behind to attend a local community college and work at my parent’s pharmacy. Overall, I was okay with where my life was headed. I loved Holly Grove, and saw no point in changing who I was or moving far away to live out a dream. I was happy, end of story.

  But today… now today was something to be excited for. Today we were boarding a plane for the very first time in our 18 years of life. It feels as though there is a battle raging deep in the pit of my stomach, and my heart wants to jump right out of my chest. My brain wants to push its way into the fray, screaming at me, why did you pick a flight that’s over seven hours long to be your first flying experience? I know it wasn’t my brightest idea ever. But it is what it is, and it’s too late to chicken out now.

  The girls and I move up in the boarding line. It formed along the large glass window that allowed you to look out and see the giant airplane that will hold hundreds of people, flying over water for hours, and the vast majority of the flight. Who wouldn’t be scared?

  This is where the crazy comes into the group, because that’s what we are. Or at least I am. Why didn’t I start off small, selecting somewhere closer to home and over dry land? We inch our way along the window for a few minutes more until it’s finally our turn to hand over our boarding passes to the lady at the gate. She takes Ava’s ticket, then Jenifer’s, and finally mine, where she scans the bar-codes, electronically doing a roll call for all of the passengers. So why does handing over my boarding pass feel like I’m handing over my life?

  Passing the gate agent, we head down the ramp towards the plane in a slow-moving line, listening to excited voices and crying babies. I really hope I’m able to sleep through most of this flight. Not just because of the babies, but for my own sanity and nerves as well. Yes, my nerves were on pins and needles, and I hadn’t even set foot onto the plane yet. Will they go into hyper drive when I finally sit down? I may need a horse tranquilizer by the time this trip is all said and done with.

  It’s a miracle when we get through the line to finally step over the threshold of the airplane’s entrance. Ava, Jenifer, and I follow the other passengers like a bunch of lost sheep being herded into the cabin, and slowly make our way down the aisle to our seats. It’s a relief to see that we have a small row to ourselves on the right side of the plane, as opposed to a large one in the middle. There are way too many seats next to each other over there, with little to no real legroom. There’s no way I could last for seven-plus hours sitting next to some stranger, the side of my body pressed up against him. Then again, who wants to sit next to a nervous, freaked out 18-year-old on her first plane trip? I think that list would be two names long, consisting of my best friends.

  We find our seats, and thankfully Ava and Jenifer let me slide into the row first, firmly planting my rear in the seat next to the window. On the bright side, I can lean my head up against the side of the plane and rest. Granted, the window shade needs to be drawn. No way will I be looking out that window anytime soon. The last thing I want to think about is plummeting to my death and… Oh, great now that’s what I’ll be obsessing over next. Letting out a sigh, I grab my seat belt and buckle up. I lean my head back against the seat’s headrest, close my eyes, and grab the armrest, not even realizing at first that I’m white-knuckling it until Ava taps my left hand.

  “You know we won’t actually take off for awhile, right? We were some of the first to board, and there’s a ton of people left who still need to enter the plane and find their seats,” Ava helpfully points-out, like I didn’t know this information already. I look over at her and give her a tight-lipped smile before turning my face to look out the window. Okay, I take it back; I can at least look out the window now, as we haven’t actually left the ground yet.

  “I know. I’m just preparing myself now,” I tell both her and the window. “If I’m lucky, I’ll be relaxed enough to pass out before we take off,” I can only hope, while silently sending up a prayer to the heavens that this will come true.

  “The more you tense up, the harder it will be to relax. You know that, so why don’t you take one of the Valium’s that Dr. Peters gave you?” Jenifer reminds me, seeing as how I had forgotten I even had any with me. “You’ll definitely be sleeping, long before we even leave the ground.”

  I don’t necessarily know whether Jenifer’s statement is true or not, so I give a non-committal shrug, telling bo
th of them, “We’ll see,” before returning to facing forward. I know they won’t push me and will back off, giving me the space I need while they chat about the things they want to do and what to see during our week-long vacation.

  Other students that we know board the flight, saying hi to us as they pass. Eventually the airline attendants give their spiel over the loud speaker, then execute a quick safety check of the cabin doors, luggage compartments, and lastly, check our lap belts before heading to their own seats to secure themselves for take-off.

  The pilot comes on over the intercom and gives us an estimated time for our arrival to the destination, then gives additional instructions to the flight attendants. Next thing I know, our plane is moving, and I’m holding on steadfastly to the seat’s arm rests. I’ve never been one for roller coasters or big, scary, heart-stopping, stomach-dropping rides, so being on a plane worries me. I pray I won’t get sick, and that I’ll have a lovely nap that will last for the rest of the flight.

  It’s our turn to leave the runway now, and it’s finally hitting me completely, like a ton of bricks. There’s no turning back now. I’m stuck right here, in my seat on this plane, with hundreds of people for the next seven or so hours. This isn’t a dream anymore; it’s definitely real. I can’t believe I’m about to fly over an ocean, leaving Holly Grove behind me for a week. This will be the longest and furthest trip away from home for me, and hopefully also a memorable one that will last a lifetime.

  Here we go. Our plane is starting to pick up speed as it heads down the tarmac, preparing for take-off. Everything feels surreal at this very moment, and I know that my adventure is just beginning.

  Hawaii, ready or not, here we come.

  Present day

  It’s that wonderful, magical time of year, where anything can happen, and children’s dreams come true. It also happens to be my most favorite time of the year, but maybe I'm a little biased, since I was born only a day before my favorite holiday, Christmas.

  Since I had the day off from work, I decided to take a stroll down Holly Lane, the main street in Holly Grove, before I met with my friends. The air is cool and crisp; people are trying their best to stay warm, bundled up in sweaters, scarves, hats, and gloves. The sidewalks and streets are covered in snow, while the sun hangs low in the sky this late morning. Everywhere you look, you can see Christmas decorations in the window fronts of the town’s shops, and in the middle of the town square, there’s a very large, decorated Christmas tree, ready and waiting for the annual tree lighting ceremony to take place.

  Holly Grove is a small town with a slower pace of life, not in a hurry to catch up with the rest of the world. My love for this town has grown over the years. While the rest of my classmates and friends were eager to get out of this town and explore the world, I was content to stay here. I’ve never felt that strong need to leave, so here I am. This is where I’ll stay.

  I continue my walk towards Noelle’s Café, where I plan to have brunch with my two best friends, Ava and Jenifer. They both came home this year for the holidays, and I can’t wait to catch up with them. It’s been nine months since we’ve seen each other last. They’re so busy with their own lives that communication has become like an art form these days. Both girls are still in college, have boyfriends, and work odd jobs in the summer.

  As for me, I’m currently single, and mostly content with life, living in my own apartment, and still working at my family’s pharmacy. Sure, I’d love to have someone special of my own to be with. I miss the hand holding, shy smiles, the kisses, and just being around the one you truly love. It’s been a year since my last relationship, and my heart still hasn’t picked up the pieces of its shattered self. I know it’s going to be a long time before I’m ready to find someone again, so I just take every day one step at a time. Eventually the pain will lessen, and I’ll finally get to the point where I can actually move on. It doesn’t mean that it will hurt any less than it does now, but I know that I can’t dwell on the sorrow of my loss forever. It’s best that I get off this topic, or I’ll be in a melancholy mood for the rest of the day, and who wants that when I have a brunch date with my two best friends to get to?

  Pushing my thoughts to the side, I enter the café where the girls and I are meeting. This month it’s decorated with a Christmas theme. Noelle, the owner of the café, has hung decorative ornament balls in the front window, with white lights lining the outside of the window, which will be turned on later in the evening. There’s also an elaborate-looking holly wreath hanging on the door, with a giant red bow at the top in the center, with little berries, ribbons, and gold jingle bells intertwined throughout the wreath.

  Inside the café, there’s a small Christmas tree sitting in the corner. Every year, Noelle puts the tree up and adds name tags to the branches. This tree represents the giving tree. Everyone is encouraged to draw a name tag and buy a present for the unknowing recipient who is in need of some help during the holiday season. Usually the names are of children whose parents can’t afford much, or the elderly in our town who have little to no family around to give them something to put smiles on their faces. I can hear faint Christmas music playing through the speakers in the ceiling as I survey the tables, where Mason jars are filled with colorful candy canes sitting joyfully in the center. The jars all have garland bunched up around the bottoms, with little red bows attached in a few places.

  I immediately recognize Ava and Jenifer, and make my way further into the café toward them. They both have big smiles on their faces, and quickly get out of their seats for a round of hugs. It’s so good to see their beautiful, happy faces, and to hear their voices again.

  “Hey! It’s good to see you ladies. I was beginning to think I was Casper the Friendly Ghost these days,” I joke.

  “Yeah, sorry about that. I’ve been so busy with school this term, then finals, and finally meeting Jay’s family. Life has been such a whirlwind lately,” Jenifer says with a dreamy look. Just seeing her face brings a slow smile to my own. She’s happy, content with what she’s doing, and more in love than ever.

  “Well, it looks as if this relationship just got more serious if you’ve already met Jay’s family. Does that love struck look on your face and all of the stars in the universe shining from your eyes mean that you got the stamp of approval from his parents?” I tease her.

  “Yes! They were great, and we had a wonderful visit. I can’t wait to go back up to their home and spend some more time with everyone. I feel like I really fit into his family. Jay will be here in a couple of days to meet my family next. Since we did Thanksgiving at his house, we decided he would come here for Christmas. My parents are eager to finally meet him, and I feel like it will go smoothly. You know how laid back my family is,” she gushes at us. I think someone is on cloud nine, and the high she’s on isn’t just sugar, but bona fide love.

  “Well, this is good news, then. Maybe we can have a get-together with all three families before you leave. I think maybe we should have a birthday bash for Hollie. Let’s keep up with the Christmas Eve birthday party tradition, but invite all of our families to come.” Ava says, overly excited. I want to join her in that feeling, but I don’t know if I’m happy about it. Celebrating just isn’t the same anymore, not ever since—

  “Oh, that’s a great idea, Ava!” Jenifer exclaims, jolting me out of my thoughts. Turning toward me now, she continues, “We can coordinate with your mom.”

  Sighing, I say, “Yeah, sounds like a plan. Just tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.”

  Yeah, right.

  Hmm, it looks like it’s time to turn the spotlight toward someone else.

  “And what about you, lady?” I eye Ava with a quirked eyebrow. “What’s your lame excuse for the lack of communication? Other than you leaving a voicemail telling me that you two crazies were coming home for Christmas.”

  “Well,” she says slowly, with a grin, “I’ve got some important news I wanted to share, and I knew if I called you, I wouldn’t be able
to tell both of you at once.”

  “You’re pregnant! I knew it. Of all of us, it had to be you.” I throw out at her with a grin on my face.

  “What? No!” she feigns exasperation, but laughs right along with Jenifer and I, knowing it’s the furthest thing from the truth. “And keep it down. We don’t want the town gossipmongers out spreading that to my parents before I even leave the café. Yeesh! Can you imagine?” she laughs, and sadly, we can all imagine. This is a great town that we love dearly, but there really are some incredible gossipers around here.

  “You’re getting married. Are you trying to beat me to the altar?” Jenifer punches Ava in the shoulder.

  “Okay, Miss Violence. And no, it’s not that—well, at least not yet. I do have my suspicions that Sean is planning something before the year is out.” I just hope she isn’t getting her hopes up too high if it’s not what she’s expecting from him.

  “Anyway, what I was trying to say when you two chatty Cathy’s couldn’t put a cork in it, was that I have some exciting news. I wanted to tell you both in person. Sean got a job offer from Mentor Graphics!” she excitedly shares with us. “And guess what?” she asks without waiting for our reply. “It’s here, in Oregon. Isn’t that exciting?” She beams at us.

  She’s extremely happy, but I don’t know why she couldn’t share that with us over the phone or individually.

  “Okay. And what does that mean exactly?” Jenifer asks.

  “It means that Sean has asked me to move back to Oregon with him, and I’ll be semi –closer to home. I’ve already checked out the schools where he’ll be located, and I can transfer all of my credits to one of them. He made a trip out to meet the team of people he will work with, and has already found us a nice apartment close to his job. Isn’t that exciting?” Okay, maybe the girl does know what she’s talking about, and Sean will be proposing sometime soon.