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I’d completely forgotten who was manning the stand until Mom stopped dead in her tracks.
Jackie looked up, her eyes going wide for a second before a smile made its way onto her face.
“Maribelle,” she said. “It’s nice to see you.”
“I didn’t ...” Mom cleared her throat. “You’re working here?”
“I’m helping out. I wanted Mollie to enjoy talking to people on her first day. I got to learn alotabout payment processing.”
“Sounds fun,” Mom said. “I suppose it makes sense that you would have met Mollie, considering you’re next door.”
“Oh ... that old house.” She shook her head. “It was sold a long time ago. I live in the square now. Above my shop.”
“But didn’t you marry that ass ...” She shook her head. “I mean, Donny?”
“I did,” Jackie said. “And ... he turned out exactly like you told me he would. It was a long time of misery. But ... he passed many years ago.”
Mom nodded. And I looked at Jackie. “Do you ... maybe have anything else you wanna say, Jackie?”
“Right. Um, Maribelle, I’m sorry about what I told the town. You were always right, and I should have listened rather than letting my pride get in the way. The gossip here can be fun, butnot about certain things. I learned that the hard way ... especially when I hid what Donny was doing. I ruined this place for you, and it’s one of my biggest regrets. Behind marrying an abusive asshole, of course.”
Mom’s eyes grew wide. “I ... thank you. I mean, obviously I moved on.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. “Did you?”
She crossed her arms. “Of course I did! I barely think about this town!”
“Ah, well. I’m happy for you.” Jackie smiled. “I’ll let you check out and get back on your way.”
Her voice was soft, and I wondered if she was disappointed by Mom’s stubbornness. I would have been.
Jackie grabbed the basket and weighed it before handing it back. We all lapsed into silence, broken only by the sound of small feet hitting the earth.
“I’m calling you Grandma now!” Eric’s voice yelled.
“I said to wait until you were away from customers!” Cain called as he jogged behind them. “Sorry!”
“These are my parents!” I called back.
Cain paused and his back straightened. I thought he might run, but instead he walked over. “Then I’m doubly sorry about that. I’m Cain.”
“Jim,” Dad said, shaking his hand. “Wow, that’s one powerful shake. You’re dating my daughter, right?”
“I am.”
“I hope you treat her right, but judging by what happened to the last one ... she would let you know if you don’t.”
“She would,” Cain said. “And this is my son, Eric.”
“Yourson?” Mom asked. “But he said he was calling Jackie Grandma.”
“Ah, yes. I took Cain in as a foster mom when he was a teen. I’m kinda like a mom.”
“Youarea mom,” Cain corrected.
She laughed, but there was a dusting of red on her cheeks. “He helped me see how awful Donny was. And your daughter helped me learn to admit it. So I suppose I have you to thank too.”
Mom looked between Cain, me, and Jackie. “I ... have so many questions. When did you take him in? How did he help you see it?”