Page 21 of Wed to You

“Great day, Mitch. What bee has buzzed up your butt?” Lexie’s green eyes flashed with annoyance.

Chelsea didn’t understand Mitch’s dislike of Jagger either. “I thought you were friends.”

“We won’t be if he’s messing with you.”

“First, you’re not the boss of me. And second, there’s no way Jagger would be interested in me.” She knew that firsthand after he’d used the excuse of getting her a glass of wine to leave her at Mitch and Sydney’s wedding.

“Just stay away from him.”

Chelsea turned back to the pan in the sink.

“Go away.” Lexie shooed him out of the kitchen. “By the way, you’re wrong about being frumpy. You’re just tired and don’t try very hard, which is nice of you because all the women in Charlotte Tavern, including me, would have to hate you if you looked any prettier than you already are.”

Chelsea laughed, feeling grateful to have a friend like Lexie, who could lift her spirits with a positive word, even if it wasn’t true. “Well, I’d hate for all y’all to hate me.”

There were a few minutes of silence and Chelsea wondered if she was going to continue to push her about Jagger.

Instead, Lexie picked up the final pan to dry. “Now that school is out, are you picking up more hours at the diner?”

“Yep. But I took off until the weekend, so I don’t start full-time until Saturday.”

“Chels?”

Chelsea knew that tone. The one that said Lexie pitied her and wanted to fix her life.

“I wish you’d let Drake and me help. We really want to.”

Chelsea set her hands on the side of the sink, inhaling deeply before turning to Lexie. “I know you do and I appreciate it. But I can’t take your money. We’ve been through that.”

“Great day, you’re as stubborn as a mule, you know that? And you have too much pride.”

Chelsea bit her lower lip. “Pride is all I’ve got, Lex.”

“Oh.” Lexie’s eyes watered and she pulled Chelsea into a hug. “I love you.”

“I love you too. And thank you. I just have to do this on my own.” She wasn’t sure how she’d do it. But she wouldn’t stop until she succeeded or failed.

Chelsea turnedher car toward downtown Charlotte Tavern, where her home sat in the oldest neighborhood. She was glad she was able to get Mitch and Lexie off her case about Jagger and her financial woes. Of course it wouldn’t last. At least their continued offer to help her financially wouldn’t. The Jagger issue would fade when they realized her contact with him was over now that Kaden was off to first grade.

Thinking of Jagger brought concern. Jagger had called Mitch because Kaden’s mom made a second visit. While she thought Jagger could have done better to get involved in school activities, it was clear from what she saw in her class that day that he was a good guardian. He wasn’t just committed to Kaden, he truly loved him. He’d changed his entire life to give Kaden a stable, normal home. He’d done it in a place that continued to hold preconceived notions about how Jagger lived his life. It made him an outsider who was unable to find acceptance. The thought of that renewed her guilt that she and her friends hadn’t done more to bring him in. She, Mitch, and Lexie had known him from his summer visits during their teen years. He shouldn’t have been an outsider to them.

Chelsea jerked out of her thoughts as she realized she’d passed her home and was heading out toward Jagger’s estate. With a shrug, she continued on. She was worried about him and wanted to help. She wasn’t sure what she could do, except be a friend.

As she turned up the long drive toward the Talbot estate, she felt like she was driving through history. Her home was old, but it sat near town, which had evidence of progress all around. Jagger’s home stood at the end of a long, tree-lined drive. Lights burning in the house were the only indication that the area had entered the modern age.

Because the home looked formal, she was surprised when Jagger opened the door instead of a butler.

“Chelsea.” His expression was startled, but not displeased or annoyed.

“I’m sorry to just drop in like this. I know it’s rude—”

“No. Please. I’m happy for the company.” He opened the door and stepped back to let her in. “Can I get you some wine? Seltzer water? Milk? I’ve got lots of milk.”

She smiled. “Water would be nice.”

“Come on in. I was just on the back terrace. It’s my bubble of solitude.”

“I don’t want to disturb you in your bubble.” She followed him, noting the clean, shiny white marble floors trimmed with black. Every doorway off the foyer was arched, the trim a crisp, bright white. The walls of the foyer were painted with murals of the Virginia countryside circa the mid-1800s. “Did you fix up the house?”

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