Page 10 of Coming Home

“Good. Boo used to take us there on special occasions. Our birthdays. To celebrate a great, end-of-the-year report card. I think we should celebrate there.”

His words puzzled her. “Celebrate... what?”

His eyes shined at her. “Our new friendship. Dinner at eight?”

It took everything Ainsley had not to faint on the spot.

“Yes.”

“Great.” He removed his wallet and handed her a card. “My number’s there. You can text me your address. I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.”

“Okay,” she agreed, her voice trembling.

Jackson raised the basket. “We’ll see if this manages to put Clancy in a good mood. I’ll see you tonight at the Clarks’ house.”

“Bye,” she managed to get out as he left the bakery.

“Who was that?” Sheila asked, coming up behind Ainsley. “He’s the best-looking man I’ve ever laid eyes on. “And he asked you out, Ainsley! What are you going to wear?”

She wasn’t as worried about what she was going to wear.

Her biggest worry was staying awake until the end of their date.

CHAPTER 4

Jackson left Buttercup Bakery with the gift basket Ainsley had prepared for him. He had surprised himself by asking her out. He didn’t date because he had never had the time to do so once he left law school. If he needed his itch scratched, he would text Erin Oakley. The petite redhead had started at the district attorney’s office a year before Jackson arrived. Even after he left the DA’s office and went to what Erin termed the dark side, they still got together on an infrequent basis. Both spent most of their waking hours devoted to their jobs and although they liked one another, Erin had told him she wasn’t interested in anything long-term and had no plans to marry. She had aspirations to run for L.A.’s district attorney position one day and didn’t want a family holding her back. Erin said it wouldn’t be fair to have a husband or children because her heart, mind, and soul belonged to the law.

That had made her the perfect, occasional sexual partner. No strings attached. No commitment from either of them to the other. Just two busy, lonely people who made each other feel not quite as lonely every once in a while.

Now he was back in the Cove, however, he desired a more normal life, one not totally consumed by his work. He wanted a wife and children as he sank roots deeply into his childhood community. It was one of the most attractive reasons for returning to the Oregon coast.

The moment he had spoken with Ainsley Robinson this morning, Jackson knew he wanted to spend time with her. Willow had many favorable things to say about Ainsley, and he knew female companionship in the Cove would be limited. Most young adults left the Cove and small-town life, seeking big cities and new adventures. Because of that, he had known the dating pool would be slim. He might as well start with a friend Willow admired. It didn’t hurt that Ainsley was easy on the eye. She must be about five-seven and was surprisingly slender for someone who owned a bakery. He wondered if she sampled many of her products. What had drawn him to her, though, were her large, periwinkle eyes. The unusual color had captivated him. She also seemed a bit shy. Women in L.A. were much more aggressive, wanting to take the bull by the horns and run a relationship. Ainsley had piqued his interest, which was why he had decided to pursue a date with her.

He cut across the square in a diagonal fashion, skirting the gazebo in the middle, and arriving at Clancy Nelson’s law office. Opening the door, he saw the small waiting room. No receptionist was in sight. He figured Clancy did without in order to save money.

The man himself appeared, wearing his usual bow tie and jacket, and said, “Jackson Martin. I am glad you are finally here.” His eyes lit with interest. “I see you are bearing gifts from Buttercup Bakery. Do you want to try and soften me up?”

Jackson handed the basket to the old man and smiled. “If you think it will help.”

“Come on back,” Clancy told him, leading them past a room on the right lined with law books. A large mahogany conference table surrounding by several chairs sat in the center.

Jackson assumed this was where most meetings occurred in the office. On the left, they passed a small kitchen and a closed door, which he assumed was the restroom. Clancy pointed out another closed door on the right, telling Jackson it was the file room, which held current case files and those that went back for five years.

They passed a final door, and the older man said, “Stairs lead up to the room above. It’s large, the entirety of the bottom floor and all one space. I keep all my old case files there, organized by year and alphabetically by my client. The only furniture beyond the file cabinets is a large table. I use it to organize things before they go into the cabinets. On rare occasions when I’m up there looking at old files, I spread them across that table.”

At the end of the hallway was an open door, and they entered the room.

“Welcome to my office,” Clancy said. “Or I should say my sanctuary from the world. Have a seat, Jackson.”

Clancy went and sat in the tall, leather chair behind the desk, while Jackson sat in one of two leather chairs in front of the oversized desk.

Opening the bakery basket, Clancy sighed. “You must have spoken directly to Ainsley because some of my favorite things are inside here.” He closed it and met Jackson’s gaze. “You couldn’t do better than that girl. You’re a nice-looking guy. I don’t have to play Cupid for you, but Ainsley Robinson is a delightful young woman and would be quite the catch.”

He grinned. “I figured that out for myself, Clancy. I have a date with her tomorrow night.”

The old man beamed at him. “That’s fast work, my boy. So, tell me what brings you to the Cove before my summer deadline? I suppose you’re here to give me an answer to my very important question. Are you coming home for good?”

Jackson cleared his throat. “I am, Clancy. I’m thirty-three and have very little to show, other than my won/loss record as a prosecutor and then opposing counsel these past five years. I want a family. I need a sense of belonging to a community. I do want to take over your practice.”

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