Page 82 of The Usual Family Mayhem

“They are.”

Okay, but did he understand the nuances of their relationship? I always wondered because we never talked about how much Gram and Celia meant to each other and in what way. Their love for me and each other was a constant that grounded me and a reality I never questioned. I wasn’t clear where he fell on this topic. His answer would impact how I viewed him.

“You know what I’m saying, right?”

His thumb rubbed the back of my hand. “About what?”

“They’re not just friends. Gram and Celia, I mean.” I shifted until I faced him, never letting go of his hand. “Yeah, they keep separate bedrooms but that’s just for their clothes. They’ve always slept in the same room.”

“Okay.” His expression didn’t change. His thumb kept drawing that lazy and very sexy pattern over my skin.

Everyone avoided clarity today. I tried to break that pattern. “Jackson, they’re a couple.”

His hand went still. “Do you really think I don’t know that?”

“You should see your face.” He looked miffed that I’d suggested he lagged that far behind. I almost laughed, not because I thought the topic was funny or didn’t take his reaction to what he clearly thought was an insult seriously, but from the relief shooting through me. It rushed to my head and made me feel... silly happy. For once in my life the description fit.

“I’m not clueless.” Now he sounded indignant.

I couldn’t blame him. I’d tiptoed into what shouldn’t be a difficult or uncomfortable topic but was for many people. Not him. “I wasn’t sure if you were ignoring the truth or if you, maybe, had problems with the state of their relationship.”

“Who other people love doesn’t affect me. I say the more happiness the better.”

Okay, yeah. I loved him. Not a crush. Not a teen love that never matured. Love. Like, I grumbled about not seeing him and claimed we had “unresolved issues” but, really, I just wanted to be with him. Which was going to make leaving and going back to DC really suck.

“For a very long time Aunt Celia has been the most important woman in my life. She supports me. Loves me. Even though she doesn’t think I know, she also advocates for me with Dad.”

Him. Harlan. The one thing—a six-foot-two annoying thing—that could be a problem. “Does he understand the nature of Gram and Celia’s relationship?”

“In public, he insists they are twovery good friendswho combined their money because it’s hard for single women out there.” Jackson lifted our joined hands and rested them against his chest. “That’s not a direct quote but close.”

“Wow.” At least Harlan was consistent. Consistently not great.

Jackson smiled. “You can’t possibly be surprised.”

Harlan thought he deserved a wife who waited on him and girlfriends who satisfied him, so no. “I’m trying to imagine someone at the club making an offhand remark and him giving a lecture about how very close older women can be friends without anything more.”

“I’ve heard it. It’s astounding in its lack of awareness.”

I looked at the way my hand fit in Jackson’s... who knew hand-holding could be so romantic?

“So long as he doesn’t bad-mouth them or act disrespectful,I let it go. Mostly because Celia told me, for her peace of mind, to ignore Dad’s views on this topic.”

That sounded like Celia. Gram would have taken a different approach, one a bit more hostile. Both worked.

All this talk about his dad made me anxious, a sensation I did not love. “Not to sound unappreciative, because I am grateful you suggested we give Gram and Celia a minute of privacy and come here, but is your dad going to pop up again? I don’t really have the energy for another run-in with him today.”

“We have a Dad reprieve.”

This time Jackson lifted our hands and kissed the back of mine, sending my ability to concentrate into a nosedive. “Is he out of town?... she asked hopefully.”

“He dropped off some paperwork earlier then left me a text, talking about an informal business meeting with a client from out of town that he couldn’t reschedule and saying we’d talk tomorrow.”

Don’t be here tomorrow.Check.“Lucky you.”

“I need to add the business issue and your boss, Brock, to my list of discussion topics with Dad. You can join us if you want.”

Nope. “I’d rather go running.”

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