Page 97 of Elling & Jackie

Chapter 37

Walking back from visitingthe clubhouse, Jackie crossed the bridge over the creek and stopped to look down at the trickling water. As a child, she used to think she would get carried away by the current if there were no adults around.

It was the fear put on children by parents to keep them safe. In her child's mind, the warning always made her more curious and drawn to the creek where frogs and crawdads played.

Now, she knew it would only get her feet wet. She wasn't going anywhere.

Raised on Brikken land, the land where her grandfather, Rollo, had lost the love of his life when an enemy burned down the cabin with her inside had given her the freedom to explore what she wanted in life. As a child, she had no idea the man she always fantasized about marrying would come in the form of a tall, sexy Norwegian.

Unconventional love stories that defied unimaginable obstacles ran in the Stanton family. Her mother was kidnapped as an eight-year-old child by Chief and raised by his first wife, until—in her mom's words—they couldn't live without each other.

Somehow, she couldn't quite believe that her parents would see her and Elling's relationship as something sacred and part of her fate.

She stretched her arm out and plucked a maple leaf off the nearest tree and dropped it into the creek, watching it float slowly away.

Her fear of losing her father before she was at an age not to need him fed into her fear of talking to him about Elling.

"Jackie," called her mother.

She brushed off her hands and continued over the bridge, walking the path to her parents' house. Her mom stood on the deck, waving to her.

Her chest warmed even with the heaviness slowing her steps. "I'm coming."

"The cinnamon rolls just came out of the oven. You don't want to miss having one when they're warm. That's when they taste the best." Her mom grabbed her hand the moment her foot hit the deck.

Her stomach was too tied up in knots for her to eat. She needed to sit her mom and Chief down first and talk.

"Mm...it smells good in here." She went into the kitchen and washed her hands.

"Chief's in the living room. You can take him one. Do you want a cup of coffee?"

She dried off her hands. "No, the roll is fine."

Juggling two plates and a mug, she hesitated. "Mom?"

"Yeah, honey?"

"Can you come in and sit with us. I need to talk to you both." Her mouth dried. "Please."

Her mom frowned before covering up her concern and nodded. "Of course."

Together they walked into the living room where Chief sat in his chair looking out the window. His head turned as they approached, and he looked at his wife, his gaze softening before he took in Jackie delivering his breakfast.

Her dad's gaze always went to her mom first as if to assure himself she was there with him. That's the kind of love she wanted in her life.

"Finally." He set the plate on his thigh and lifted the mug to his mouth, drinking through the burn of the first sip of coffee. "I've had to put up with the smell of those rolls all morning. It's taking longer to bake them lately. I think something might be wrong with the oven."

Her mom rolled her eyes. "It takes the same time as always."

Chief grunted and took a bite. "Damn good, bug."

Her mom sat beside him on the footstool and reached over and put her hand on his leg. Jackie sat on the couch, putting a little distance between her and her parents. She needed to stay strong and make sure she explained herself before Chief had a chance to respond.

"How's work going?" asked Chief.

There was the icebreaker she needed. She inhaled deeply. It was now or never, and Elling meant too much to her to make him wait any longer.

"It's going good. I've hired new employees in the housekeeping department, and I think that will improve some of the frustration I was feeling." She set her plate to the side. "A lot has been happening at the hotel, a-and with me."