CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Tracy looked up and saw Jasper Jacks in his regular business attire.
"Just who I wanted to see," she spoke sarcastically.
"It's been awhile," he noted.
"Yes, it has," she responded almost coldly as if it were his fault that the two of them stopped being friends.
Jax didn't let that bother him. He took a seat next to her, "So, how is everything going with you?"
"Oh, I have a better question. How is everything going with ELQ?"
He knew she'd end up asking that, but decided to be glad that she at least was talking to him.
Jax answered, "Very well, but you should not concern yourself with that matter."
"Oh, I shouldn't?" she became defensive.
Jax clarified, "Considering your condition…"
"Ahem. My condition?" She should've figured he was going to respond something like that. It became everyone's excuse for everything.
"That is why you handed the company over in the first place, isn't that right?"
Tracy sighed. He was telling the truth, and if the company was doing as well as he insisted, then she really didn't have any reason to complain.
"So…," Jax wondered. "Are you going to answer my question?
"What?"
"How are you?"
"I'm fine, Jax. I'm pregnant. I'm not dying." She sighed heavily.
"Everything going well then?"
"As well as expected," she answered. She wish she knew why Jax was so curious.
"What about Luke?"
"We're veering into the 'not your business' category again," she said with a wink.
Jax swallowed. "Right., I…" He moved closer to her. "Uh, Ned told me Edward hasn't spoken to you in the last month," he whispered.
Tracy hid her sadness, "Yes, well…I don't need to speak to him about anything, so…" She desperately tried to pretend that it didn't matter.
"Come on, Tracy. I know that you are upset."
"I am not," she claimed.
"Are too."
"What are you? 5?" She paused.
"Tracy?" he whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Are you sure?"
She became frustrated, "Oh goodness, Jax! Of course I'm upset! But this most certainly does not concern you!"
He was sympathetic, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Did I NOT just say this doesn't concern you?"
He responded calmly, "You did." Evidently, reaching out to Tracy Quartermaine wasn't going to be simple. But then again, Jax didn't expect it to be.
Tracy stood up and yelled, "Then WHY on Earth would I want to talk about it?"
Jax placed a hand on her shoulder. "Will you please calm down? This isn't good for you or the baby."
Tracy lied, "I am calm. And I'm really tired of people using that excuse to get me to shut the hell up!"
"Please Tracy. Please. Let me help you to that bench," he said gently.
"I am ALSO tired of people wanting to help! I don't need it! I don't need it!" she repeated. Obviously, this wasn't the only thing that was upsetting her.
Jax pleaded, "Will you at least sit down and collect yourself?"
Tracy took a seat. "Satisfied?"
Jax took a seat next to her, and there was a long period of awkward silence.
Tracy finally spoke, surprising herself and Jax, "Do you know the last thing he said to me?"
"What?" Jax was confused.
"The last thing my father said to me," she paused. "He said 'You are a disgrace to your family.' Now perhaps he is right…" She couldn't believe those words just came out of her mouth. Of course Daddy wasn't right.
"No. Do not listen to Edward. You never believed that before. Why now?"
Tracy sighed. "I don't know. I just don't know."
Jax gently placed his hand on hers as a gesture of sympathy and nothing more, but she pulled it away quickly.
PREVIEW: Tracy has a word with her eldest son.
Happy Birthday, ILoveTracyQ!