Liz posting on instagram about taking a weekend trip to the exact area where this story takes place AND eating at a restaurant that will be mentioned in Chapter 17? We love to see it.
"I think karma has finally come back to bite me in the ass." Jade says as soon as her mother answers the phone
"Well hello to you too, Jade." Her mother, Kaitlyn, laughs "To what to I owe the pleasure of your call?"
"Beck is here filming a movie in Charleston." Jade explains "And I didn't find out until I had already given signed permission for the diner to be used as a filming location."
"Beck...Oliver?"
"Is there another one?" Jade sighs, leaning against the doorframe
It's her day off from being at the diner and Avery is off at a friend's house, so Jade had decided to take advantage of her alone time and call her own mother for some advice. The entire situation has left her head spinning, and she barely slept the previous night.
It isn't that she's trying to hide Avery from Beck, she just never told him about her pregnancy or that she kept the baby. Avery is all over her social media, and the rest of her high school friends know about her and are very involved in her life. It probably wouldn't be hard for Beck to figure out that the teenager is his, at least if he paid close enough attention. Jade is guessing that he isn't paying attention, because if he had figured it out he would have definitely come looking for her by now...and he hasn't.
"So, just...don't be around the diner while they're filming." Kaitlyn suggests "Take Avery into the city for the day, or go visit Cat or Tori. Come here even."
Cat and Robbie reside in New York most of the time, when Cat isn't touring, and Tori and Andre are in Nashville now. It wouldn't be that hard to book a plane ticket to go and visit either couple for a day or two. It would definitely be easier than trying to plan a trip all the way back to Los Angeles.
"I thought about that already..." Jade admits "And we can't. Legally, Grandma or I or both of us have to be on the property while they're using it."
"So let Grandma handle it."
"Even if I do, don't you think he'll recognize her?" Jade is growing more and more anxious with each word that leaves her mouth "We spent close to two weeks here with her and Grandpa that one summer. We helped them paint the diner! He helped Grandpa install the sinks in the bathrooms!"
"Alright, alright..." Kaitlyn tries her best to comfort her daughter "Take a deep breath, no use in getting worked up right now."
"Mom, I'm worried!"
"And I understand that." Kaitlyn assures her "But-"
"Grandma couldn't stop laughing at the 'irony of the situation' last night when we found out." Jade tells her mother "She said I might have to tell both of them the truth."
"Well, I told you fifteen years ago that the truth was probably the best option..."
And she had. Both Kaitlyn and Jade's father, John, had tried to convince their daughter that honesty was the best policy in this situation. John had told her that if the roles had been reversed, Jade would want to know that she had a child out there in the world somewhere. In the end, they both understood why she never reached out to Beck but part of both of them wished that she had if for no other reason than not having to carry the burden of the secret.
"I don't need the 'I told you so's right now, Mom..."
"I'm not trying to come across that way, I'm sorry." Kaitlyn apologizes "I know that you did what you thought was best back then. If you had told him and he chose not to be involved, it would've broken your heart and if he did choose to be involved...well, he might've ended up breaking your heart and Avery's at some point with his behavior."
"I've never tried to hide her from him..." Jade admits "I didn't tell him I was pregnant, but she's all over my socials. She's all over Cat's. I've dedicated books to her..."
"Something tells me he hasn't read any of your books, sweetheart."
"You're probably right." Jade smirks but then turns serious again "Mom, I don't know what I'm going to do. I didn't think I was ever going to see him again."
"It seems inevitable that you're going to have to interact with him at some point." Kaitlyn admits "But I think as a mother...you need to be protective of Avery. I can't tell you to tell them both the truth or not to, you have to make that choice for yourself, but either way...you need to be in control of the interactions. They can't just bump into each other, you need to decide when and if they meet."
"Alright..." Jade nods "Alright, thank you...I need to do some thinking."
"Yes you do." Kaitlyn agrees "I'm here if you need me."
"I know." Jade smiles a bit "Thanks, Mom. I love you."
"I love you too." Kaitlyn tells her "Give my granddaughter a kiss for me."
"Hey..." Jade knocks gently on Avery's bedroom door later that evening "You have a second?"
The door had been left slightly ajar, the teenage girl sprawled across her bed with her nose in a book and Willie curled up beside her. It makes Jade proud that in an age of constant exposure to social media, her daughter still chooses to read for fun. Her taste in books is very similar to her own, so every so often they'll be able to have conversations about novels that they've both read...which is something else that Jade loves. Her one stipulation is that Avery isn't allowed to read any of the novels she has read until she's eighteen, because some of the content is a bit mature.
"Sure." Avery nods as she sticks her bookmark between the pages and sits up
"What are you reading?" Jade asks her
"Good Girl, Bad Blood." Avery tells her "It's the second in a series."
"Hm, I haven't seen this one." Jade admits as she turns the book over in her hands to read the summary on the back "Would you recommend it?"
"Definitely." Avery nods "Although...it might be a bit...young...for you. It's definitely geared towards people my age."
"I don't mind that." Jade smirks "Helps me keep in touch with you and the rest of the younger demographic. Maybe I'll pick up the first one at some point and see how it goes."
"Did you come in here just to talk about books?" Avery asks
"No." Jade admits "No, I didn't..."
"What's up, Mom?"
"So, next week they're going to start filming that movie...at least the part they need to use our diner for." Jade explains "And I know that's exciting but I wanted to tell you...I don't want you to be anywhere near the property while they're filming, at least not at first."
"Mom!"
"I know, I know. I'm the worst." Jade sighs "It's just...they're Hollywood people, Avery. They could be really nice and really great, but they could also be the total opposite. Until Grandma and I can figure out if they're okay people for you to be around, I want you to steer clear."
"They're just actors, Mom."
"There's actors yes, but there's also a whole crew that will be with them too." Jade explains "Maybe there's a sleezy lighting guy who likes to make inapporopraite comments to every woman that he sees, regardless of how old she is. Or the director is a total diva who screams at us just for being there and accidentally standing in the wrong spot. I don't want to subject you to that."
Or maybe her biological father is literally the star of the movie, and she doesn't want her around until she's sure he won't ask any questions.
Jade had run through a variety of different scenarios in her head about how everything could go down. Maybe Beck still holds a grudge about their breakup and doesn't want to talk to her at all. Fine. Maybe his wife, she thinks he's married still, wouldn't want him talking to an ex so he avoids her completely. Also fine. Maybe they do talk a bit and he finds out that she has a daughter, so she lies and says Avery is fourteen instead of fifteen so that the math doesn't work out. Also fine...probably.
"Okay, fine..." Avery sighs "I get it."
"Thank you for understanding." Jade says as she brushes a strand of hair behind Avery's ear so she can see her eyes better, eyes that look just like her father's "And I promise if day one goes well, you can absolutely come for day two. Fair?"
"Fair."
"Alright... are you at a good stopping point in that book?" Jade asks "Because if you're not, that's fine. But if you are...I was going to see if you wanted to walk with me to get some ice cream."
"I can stop for ice cream." Avery grins "Just let me go to the bathroom first?"
"Fine, if you must." Jade sighs with a smile "Meet me at the front door in five."