Jax maneuvered his way through the crowded room, a dinner plate filled with lumpia and pancit in one hand. At the sound of running feet, he lifted the plate up. Five small, squealing children barreled past. He laughed and dropped onto the seat Matt’s mom pointed to while she chastised the retreating children in Tagalog.
“Did you get enough to eat?” she asked Jax afterward.
“Don’t worry, Mom,” Matt said, “Jax doesn’t hold back when he wants something.” He pushed his crutches aside so Jax could stretch out his legs.
“Good. Good,” she said before heading off to fill another guest’s plate.
Jax glanced at Matt.Most of the time, he thought.
Around the room, people were laughing, eating, and talking with each other. He’d been away for such a long time, he’d forgotten how good it felt to be in a family atmosphere. The magnitude of what he’d lost buried Jax in an avalanche of grief. On its heels rode a wave of bitterness.
Because of her.
His uncle had been good to him and Jax loved him like a father, but Uncle Sam’s long hours at the police department had kept him away a lot. Jax and his older cousin Amy had spent a good portion of their time with their housekeeper, Ellen Werther. But when his uncle had been home, their makeshift family spent time together at the house like Matt’s family. Until it had all been torn away again when Amy died.
“Jax?”
A punch to the arm brought his attention back to Matt, who stared at him, eyes brimming with laughter.
“Are you with us, buddy?” Matt leaned back in his chair and flicked his head to sweep the hair away from his eyes, readjusting the cast on his left leg.
Jax wished he could sweep away his thoughts that easily. “Yeah, I’m here.” He faked a laugh. It sounded stilted even to his own ears.
Matt paused for a second, then seemed to move past whatever he was thinking. “I’m waxing and detailing my car tomorrow. Wanna help?”
Now it was Jax’s turn to laugh. Matt was a nut when it came to his cherry red muscle car. The man cleaned, waxed, and detailed it more than any car should ever be cleaned, waxed, or detailed. “Sure, why not. If for no other reason than to watch you accomplish all that on crutches.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Matt said with a laugh.
A commotion at the door reached his ears. Seyla and her cousin Vanessa came through the doorway. He’d already seen Seyla’s mom, but assumed Seyla’s absence meant she wasn’t coming.
This was the first time since he’d returned he’d seen her in anything other than the tan work shorts and sanctuary-issued green t-shirt or coral tank top. Her long black hair hung down over one shoulder, with a white flower holding it behind her ear. The white boat-necked top she wore contrasted against her tanned skin, and the turquoise sarong skirt accented her slim figure.
One of her hands toyed with the necklace at her throat and her eyes darted around the room at breakneck speed, signifying her nervousness. Why? Mostly family surrounded her. Was she at odds with one of them?
Jax fought the urge to go to her.
Her cousin Vanessa pointed at him, whispered in Seyla’s ear, and poked her in the ribs with a sly smirk on her face. Seyla’s eyes went wide. Her attention flew to the floor, and her other hand took to fiddling with her purse.
Jax swallowed hard. He stole a glance at Matt, only to find his friend staring back at him, a frown in place.
“Sorry,” Jax muttered, dropping his gaze to the floor as well. A buzzing sensation in his pocket indicated an incoming call. He slid his phone out. Unknown number. “Hello?”
“Jax? It’s me. Mom.”
Jax stood up, knocking his plate to the floor. The action garnered the attention of several people, Seyla included. “How did you get this number?”
“I-I talked to your uncle. He said you were in town. I thought…I mean…I’d love for you to come to my place to visit.”
Jax glanced down to see Matt struggling to clean up the mess on the floor and mouthed, “Sorry.” He turned his attention back to the woman on the phone. “I’m not coming anywhere near your place.”
“Things have changed, Jax. I swear. I know I messed up, but—”
“I can’t discuss this right now. I have to go. Take care of yourself.” He ended the call, feeling lousy. Why did it still hurt to turn her away after all this time? He looked at Matt, now standing next to him, one crutch supporting his left side. “Sorry.”
Matt squeezed his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, man. Was that your mom? I didn’t think she had your number.”
“She didn’t. My uncle must have given it to her.” Jax rubbed his chin, but couldn’t rub away the sick feeling in his stomach. “I think I’m gonna head out. I’ll see you tomorrow?”