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"Jackson? Jackson, are you there?"
Doug Witter heard giggling coming from the den. Sighing, he grabbed the phone and started to walk down to the basement.
"Just a minute, Pace," he spoke into the phone.
Opening the den door Doug saw a young dark-haired girl lying on the old sofa underneath his nephew being tickled mercilessly.
"Help me!" She cried out in between her giggles. "Oh, Officer Witter, please – I'm being tickled to death!"
"Your father is on the phone, Jackson," his Uncle told him.
"Oh, alright," Jackson climbed down off of Beth and went to pick up the phone from Doug. "You hold her down till I get back," he said as he took the handset. Doug looked down at Beth and then looked so uncomfortable that she burst out laughing. Jackson grinned at her as Doug hurried out of the room.
"Yo, Dad!" he called into the phone.
"Jackson?" He heard his father's voice down the line. "You're not too busy for a word with the old man?"
He could tell his dad had heard much of what had just gone on.
"Nothing that I can't finish later," he said grinning. Beth threw a cushion at him. Jackson made his way back up into the main house. Doug had retreated to the kitchen.
"You know when you'll be coming down here yet?" he asked his father hopefully.
"Well, boy, today is your lucky day. I just finished my last job this morning, so I should be in Capeside in a couple of days. We can get in some recreational sailing before the big race."
"That's great dad, really. I can't wait to see you. And it's about time I got out into a boat again. Dougie really doesn't know the first thing!"
"Yeah, son, I know," Pacey laughed. "But are you sure you're going to have time for a bit of father-son bonding? Sounds like you've been pretty busy with this new girl? Doug says you haven't had any time for decoupage for ages!"
"I know. What have I been thinking of?" Jackson pretended to sound remorseful. "Spending time with a beautiful girl, or making homemade handicrafts with Uncle Doug? Why, oh why did I choose the girl?"
His father laughed at the other end. "What did you say her name was again?"
"Beth. Beth Andersson. I want you to meet her, Dad. You'll like her, I know. You always like my girlfriends," he added.
"Hey, what can I say? You inherited my great taste in women!"
"Yeah, whatever, father. Just don't do anything that'll end me up in therapy, okay? But anyway, I had to tell you something. Beth's been getting at me for forgetting to tell you."
"Nagging already, huh? You really are caught. So what's the big news, junior? You're not engaged already?"
"No, something you might find more interesting. Turns out you knew Beth's mother pretty well."
"Knew her? Or knew her?" Witter Sr asked.
"Oh, the latter, I think. Her mother is Joey Potter. Dad?"
There was no reply from the other end of the phone for a few minutes. Jackson guessed that maybe he should have been less flippant with his information giving. But why?
"You still there, Dad?"
"Er … yeah, son, sorry, that was kind of out of nowhere there."
"I didn't mean to shock you, Pop. I figured it wouldn't be that big a deal now. Uncle Doug said you went out together in high school."
"Yeah, yeah we did," Pacey pretended to laugh. "Why would it be a big deal? It all happened years ago. So… is Beth in Capeside with her mother or… "
"Oh no, no. Her mom's back in Boston with her dad."
"Right, yeah, of course. With her dad. Okay then, well no problem. I'll see you in a couple of days, I guess, Jackson, take care of yourself."
"Yeah see you soon, Dad."
"Bye son."
Weird, Jackson thought as he hung up the phone.
------------------
"In what way weird?" Beth asked as she mixed up salad for Doug.
"He was acting funny, that's all. As soon as I mentioned your Mom."
Beth shrugged. "Maybe he's still not over her yet,"
"Oh pleeease," Jackson begged. "This is years ago. Before he even met my mom, or your mom met your dad."
"That's it!" Beth suddenly lit up. "Maybe our parents had one last fling and we're really brother and sister! That would make your dad act weird."
Beth was grinning evilly. Jackson just laughed nervously. "That couldn't be true, could it? Uncle Doug?"
"Well, I guess it's plausible I suppose.." Doug mused. Then, seeing the look on his nephew's face added, "And a hundred per cent wrong, Jackson."
"But how can you be so sure?"
"Because my mom was in Europe for two years," Beth told him.
"And Pacey wasn't. Don't panic, Jackson – you two are NOT related!"
"Yeah, chill, bro!" Beth slapped him on the back.
"I hate you!" Jackson said, turning round.
Beth laughed.
"Aww, diddums!" She kissed him on the nose.
"Get off!" he mumbled, trying not to grin.
--------------------
Jackson handed Beth her coffee.
"You owe me 50 cents." He told her.
"You're going to make me pay the difference? Man, and they say chivalry is dead!"
"Guess they're right," Jackson smirked, holding out his hand for the change.
She slammed it into his palm.
"If you do come and visit me in Boston like you say, remind me not to pay anything for you. Not so much as a cup of coffee. When does your Dad's train get in anyway?"
"About twenty minutes. It was delayed at the airport. Thanks for coming with me to meet him."
"That's okay," Beth sipped her coffee, smiling to herself. "It's a good opportunity to meet my real father at last."
"Shut up!"
They leaned against the car, side by side.
"Do you realise what day it is today?" Jackson asked.
Beth thought for a minute.
"Wednesday?"
"No-oh – "
" – It's not Wednesday?"
"Yes, of course it's Wednesday," Jackson said impatiently, "but it's also our anniversary."
Beth nearly choked on her sip of coffee. "Anniversary? We've only been going out five minutes!"
"Three weeks," Jackson corrected her. "It's three weeks today actually."
"Oh," Beth said off-handedly. "Where's my present then?"
"Huh?"
"My anniversary present, where is it?"
"Oh, um, here – " Jackson leaned across and kissed her sweetly on the lips.
"That's a pretty crappy present," Beth said afterwards. "Not exactly a necklace from Tiffany's was it?"
"Tch!" was all Jackson said as he leaned back against the car.
Then Beth reached up and put both hands around his face, drawing him to her.
"Happy anniversary!" she whispered, pulling his lips down to meet hers.
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"Jackers!"
Pacey Witter pulled his son into a bear hug as they met outside Capeside station.
"God, have I missed you son! Though I have to say, I've had more freedom in the fridge of late, without you around!"
Jackson grinned broadly at his father. "I've missed you too, Dad, it's great you could get down here at last!"
"I was afraid at one point you wouldn't make it through the summer but you seem to be enjoying yourself more these days!"
Jackson grinned, "And I want you to meet the reason why. Beth?" She shyly walked over to the two of them, "Beth, this is my father, Pacey Witter, Dad, this is Beth."
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Witter!" Beth held out a hand.
Pacey shook hands, looking carefully at the girl. Joey's daughter of all people.
"You too, Beth. I've heard so much about you, it's good to finally meet you."
He was staring, and he knew it. Suddenly, realising the strange looks he was getting, he smiled at his son and Beth.
"I'm sorry, Beth, don't think I'm some lecherous old man type – not yet anyway! It's just that you do look so very much like your mother! Apart from your eyes… But … wow."
"Okay, Dad thanks for freaking us all out there!" Jackson patted his father on the back.
Pacey grinned at his son, back to his old self immediately. "Apologies, Jackers! I'm just so proud my little boy has found himself a itle witle girlfriend at last!"
Pacey pinched his son's cheeks. Jackson tried to push him off. Beth smiled at them both.
"C'mon guys, I'm starving. I hope Dougie's been slaving away all morning on the stove in honour of his little bro!"
"You know Dougie!" Jackson grinned. "Any excuse to wear an apron!"
They walked together to the car.
-------------------
"Welcome home, Pacey!" Doug Witter hugged his brother affectionately. "Boy, am I glad you're here! It's about time you stopped leaving your responsibilities at my door!"
"What do you mean?" Pacey exclaimed. "Jackson's no trouble. He's just like his father!"
"Exactly," Doug replied sarcastically.
"Pacey!" A woman's voice came out of the shadows.
"Bessie?" Pacey asked surprised.
"You got it!" She smiled, coming over to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I came over looking for Beth, and Doug said she went with Jackson to meet you. So I thought I'd wait and see you too!"
"Well thanks, Bessie, I appreciate the gesture! How's the family?" Pacey added uncertainly.
"Oh, you know, much the same as ever. Alexander is doing great at his new job, Bodie … well, Bodie's been watching a lot of sports," Pacey grinned, "and Joey is doing really well, she's got another book out in the fall. She and Erik are going over to Europe to promote it…"
"Ah, Erik, that's Joey's husband?"
"Yep. Beth's father. Where are Jackson and Beth anyway?"
Pacey looked around then looked at Doug in surprise.
"They were right behind me!"
Then suddenly the three heard noises from the porch.
"For God's sake, Jackson!"
"What! I didn't do it on purpose. And stop laughing! If you'd spent as much time watering and weeding and pruning those plants as I have this summer then you wouldn't find this very funny!"
Doug had rushed out the front door. Bessie and Pacey following him saw the unfortunate sight of Doug's prize flowerbed thoroughly crushed by what looked like Pacey's suitcase.
"What the hell happened, Jackson?" Pacey asked, trying unsuccessfully not to laugh.
"I was trying to bring in your bags, but then I was … ah, distracted by Beth and I accidentally dropped the suitcase over the steps onto – "
"My flowers!" Doug said miserably from the bed, holding up a crushed rose head in his hand.
"And how exactly did Beth distract you?" Pacey asked his son innocently.
Jackson looked at his feet. Beth looked at the sky. Pacey simply chuckled loudly.
"Don't worry, Doug!" Pacey called to his brother. "You can't let a few geraniums stand in the way of true love!"
"Humph!" was heard from the flowerbed.
"It's like history repeating itself, isn't it?" Bessie said to Pacey as they walked back into the house. "Those two out there could have been you and Joey that time I caught you … "
The rest of the words were lost as the door closed behind them. But Jackson saw, turning to Beth, that she had a frown on her face.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said.
"You two!" Doug called from below. "Down here. NOW."
-------------------
"I like your dad," Beth said as she and Jackson walked along their favourite stretch of beach at sundown that evening. "He's cool, laid back. It's always been just the two of you?"
"Pretty much. I don't remember when my mom was there. I've had the odd birthday card but she's not really a factor in my life."
"That must be strange."
"Not really. That's just my life. My dad's great – we're a team."
"You're very similar."
"You mean those rugged Witter looks?"
"Not exactly," she smiled. "You do look kinda similar, but it's something else. You're just … I don't know, alike."
"Great definition," he grinned.
They walked along in silence for a while, hand in hand.
"You know, my dad once told me about his first boat." Jackson began, looking out across the water. "It was just some old heap of junk that he got cheap, and spent months doing up. When he finally finished it, he sailed it the whole way down to Key West, with the girl of his dreams, he said."
Beth stirred slightly. "Down to Key West?" She asked.
"Yup! Right the way along the coast. Three months at sea with your favourite person in the world. How good does that sound?"
"My mother said she did something like that once too," Beth said, almost to herself. "Went sailing for a whole summer, risked all her friends by taking off with this guy she fell in love with. The boat, what was its name..?"
"The True Love," they both said at once.
They stood and stared at each other for a minute.
"Our parents..." Beth whispered.
"Let's go find it," Jackson said suddenly.
"Huh?"
"The True Love, let's go looking for it. My dad said he lost it some time afterwards. It went down in a storm around here somewhere. We could go looking for the wreck."
Beth had pulled her hand away from Jackson. "No, Jackson, no."
"Why not – so we might not find it, but it'd be fun to try!"
"I said no!"
"What's the matter?" Jackson asked confused.
"It's too much! I can't handle it all. Now you want to go looking for their boat! First it was the photos of our parents. You said it yourself, Jackson, they looked just like us! Then I start finding out all about this great love my mom once had that she never told me about. Then your dad weird's out on the phone when you tell him about us. Then Bessie starts saying we're just like Joey and Pacey. Joey and Pacey! That's all I've heard this summer, Jackson! Never you and me! Jackson and Beth, not once. Just Joey and Pacey did this, your parents did that."
"And so what? This is our parents' hometown! No one knows us here. Of course they're going to talk about them."
"But it's getting in the way of us, Jackson! Don't you see?"
"No," he said, "I don't see that. We're fine, we're great."
"My mother's coming down next week, Jackson. What's going to happen then? She'll have to meet your dad. What if they still have feelings for one another? What if that's why they are acting so strangely?"
"That's a lot of 'what if's', Beth," Jackson said steadily. "And all that stuff doesn't matter. We've got a good basis for us, that's what matters."
Beth laughed derisively. "Oh yeah, a great basis. We live on opposite sides of the country and our parent's used to be in love with one another. It's every teenager's dream."
"How about that we make each other happy? That we make each other laugh? That you're the first person to put a smile on my face since – "
" – Don't, Jackson, just don't," Beth pleaded. "I can't do this right now."
"What does that mean?" he asked angrily.
"I need time to think, Jackson. I need time to see if this is going to work out. Let's not see each other for a few days. Spend some time with your dad."
She was walking away.
"Beth, please, let's talk about it first!"
She kept walking. She looked like she might be crying. Good. Jackson watched until she was out of sight completely.
"Crap!" he said, kicking a hand pebble with all his might.
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To be continued… Please read/review dear readers!