She could outright ask Jonas if that’s what they were doing, but putting the question into words could spook either of them. She preferred to simply enjoy the dim lights, the delicious food, and the sight of the man across from her.
They’d decided to share a generous slice of Black Forest cake when Daisy’s phone played its tuba sound. She quickly dived for it in her purse. When she brought it out to the table, she could see Jazzi was calling.
“It’s Jazzi,” she said to Jonas.
“Go ahead and take it. I’ll save you plenty of whipped cream and cherries.”
“I appreciate that,” she teased, but she really wasn’t in a teasing mood. If Jazzi was calling her, then something was wrong.
“Are you at home, Mom?” Jazzi asked, her voice a bit shaky.
“No, I’m at a restaurant with Jonas.”
“Sarah Jane’s?”
“No, a restaurant in York. He’s treating me to candlelight, chandeliers, and white tablecloths. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know if you want to take this call where you are. Can you go somewhere to talk freely?”
“Sure. There’s a glassed-in porch. I’ll go out there. Talk to me while I’m on my way.”
“Don’t you have to explain to Jonas?”
“He understands.” When she pointed to the enclosed porch, Jonas nodded.
“I’m sorry I’m ruining your dinner.”
“Honey, you’re not. We’re almost finished. Now tell me what’s wrong.”
She opened the door to the glassed-in porch and stepped down the two steps onto the flagstone floor. A wrought-iron bench sat on one side and she settled on that, looking out into the night through the big windows across from her.
“Colton and I haven’t clicked. He’s trying and I’m trying, but it’s like there’s this tall wall between us.”
Listening was the best thing she could do for Jazzi. “Go on,” she advised, knowing there was more.
“Portia thought it would be a good idea if Colton and the girls and I all went to the mall.”
“Does Colton like to go to the mall? Most men don’t particularly like shopping.”
“I don’t know if he likes shopping, but he enjoys being with his daughters. They often end up at the video arcade.”
Daisy could see a dad liking that part of the activity. “So what happened?”
“One of his daughters, Missy, wanted to go into a jewelry boutique. You know, one of those cute ones where everything’s affordable. They have barrettes and makeup and bracelets and necklaces that really show up.”
Immediately a store in the Park City Mall came to mind. Daisy knew what Jazzi was talking about. “And what happened?”
“Trying to be helpful, I said I’d take the girls in and he could go into another store if he wanted. But he got all huffy. He said we should all stay together. He didn’t want his daughters spending all of their allowance on junk. He called it junk, Mom. That pretty jewelry enhances clothes, and I don’t think it was the jewelry or his daughters spending their allowance. He just doesn’t like me. I don’t know what to do, Mom. What can I do to make him like me?”
Whoa. Thoughts like that could get Jazzi in trouble. But what should she say that would make a difference? “Honey, Colton is Colton, and you are you. Do you remember when Dad would bring home business friends, and you just didn’t like them? You’d go up in your room after dinner and find something else to do. But then there were others that you enjoyed talking to. They’d play a board game after dinner, and you didn’t mind staying with us old folks.”
“Aw, Mom. That’s not the same.”
“It is in a way. You and Colton are in an awkward situation. Maybe he doesn’t want anyone to influence his daughters except for him or their mother. Maybe he thinks you’ll encourage them to buy Goth jewelry.” Daisy’s voice was filled with a bit of amusement.
She heard Jazzi sigh and knew her daughter was probably rolling her eyes. “Mom, you know I wouldn’t do that.”
“Sure, I know you wouldn’t. But he doesn’t. See if this blows over. What did you do after the kerfuffle?”
“One of his daughters suggested we get gelato so we went to a stand that sells it, walked the mall some more, and then went home.”
Home. Daisy didn’t want Jazzi thinking of Portia’s place as home. “There’s something you could do.”
“What? Leave?”
“No. You could try to talk to Colton about what happened.”
“I can’t do that. It would be too embarrassing.”
“Maybe, but if you push past the embarrassment, just doing it might show him how adult you are. All I’m saying is think about it, and don’t expect all good or all bad to happen this weekend. You both need some time, Jazzi. You can’t get to know a person in a day.”
“I suppose not,” Jazzi admitted. “Thanks, Mom, for listening. I hope I didn’t ruin your romantic date.”
“It’s early. We still have time to be romantic.”
“Mom.” That frustrated drawl was in the word again.
“Be kind, stand up for yourself, but most of all, just try to listen. You’ll learn about Colton that way.”
“Good night, Mom. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night, honey. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
After Daisy returned to the table, Jonas studied her. “Trouble
