October 6. Pacey stood over the stove, flipping pancakes, when Gretchen joined him in the kitchen. They said good morning, and he watched his sister walk over to the counter and pour herself a cup of coffee.
"How was work last night?" he asked her.
"Good. Made decent tips. How about you?"
"Yeah, it was good. Armando is definitely not on my case as much since he's been back. I think pulling off the truffle dish while he was out might've proved to him that I'm at the very least competent."
"Well, that's something," she said with a yawn.
He watched her add cream and sugar to her coffee. "You're up awful early for someone who didn't get home until two in the morning."
"Yeah, I know." She carried her mug over to the island and sat on a stool. "What time you gotta go in this afternoon?"
He grinned. "I don't. The place is closed tonight for a rehearsal dinner. The son of some friend of the Moores is getting married. We're also closed tomorrow night for some private party. My services are not required."
"Wow. A rare weekend off. Got any plans?"
As he joined her at the island, setting two plates of pancakes down in front of them, he laughed and shook his head. "Apparently, there is some frat party at Boston Bay College that we are all going to."
Gretchen scrunched her face with disgust. "A frat party?"
"That's what I said, but Joey wants to hang out with Jen and Jack. And her roommate is always up for a party, and her friend Alan is always up for any chance to be anywhere in Jack's orbit. And since I have the night off… well, I'm just going to be the perfect boyfriend that I am, slap a smile on my face, and hang out with a bunch of frat boys. At least Andie and Will are gonna be there."
"What time is this party?"
"I think we're gonna head over there around eight."
His sister looked over at the clock on the wall. "What are you doing until then?"
He shrugged. "I was gonna do some work on the rooftop patio. You said you wanted to include that in the housewarming party, right?"
"Well, yeah, we should take advantage while the weather is still nice." She glanced at the clock again. "I don't suppose you'd want to come to Capeside with me today? I'm sure we'd be back in time for your party."
His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What's going on in Capeside?"
Gretchen sighed and drank from her coffee cup before answering. "We have to do something about Carrie."
"Who's we?"
"You. Me. Doug. Amy. Her flight gets in this morning. When she was up here visiting, she said Carrie was so bad. She needs to go a hospital, Pacey. Southcoast Mental Health Center will take her if we can get her to agree to go. But Mom and Dad are just… they don't get it. They think she just needs to snap out of it. She needs professional help."
"When did you guys decide this?"
"Yesterday when you were at work. Doug said to make sure we bring you along."
"The first ever Witter Family Intervention. I'm sure this will go great," he deadpanned.
"Yeah, well, I can think of a few other Witters who probably could use one," she snarked in return. "So, you'll come? We gotta pick up Amy at the airport on the way."
Pacey heaved a sigh and frowned. "Of course, I will. So, where is this intervention gonna be at?"
"The house. It's not like we'd be able to get Carrie to leave it. But hopefully by the end of the family discussion, we can."
The house. His frown deepened.
Up in his room, Pacey grabbed his cell phone and sat down on the bed. In less than a minute, his girlfriend's voice was in his ear. "Hi."
"Hey, Joey."
"Uh-oh. What's up?"
"Well, I kinda have to go to Capeside today. A family thing. We gotta do something about Carrie. Her depression is really bad. We need to get her checked into a facility… if she'll go for it."
"I'm sorry, Pacey."
"It's… it's okay. I mean, I am worried about her. I hope we can convince her to go. It won't be easy with my parents. They'll have to be convinced, too. Particularly my mother. She's very much against therapy and medication and all that, which is ironic because she could probably use it herself." He sighed. "Anyway, I'm going to try very hard to make it back in time for the party, but there's a very good chance I won't."
"Well, I don't really wanna go to some frat party if you're not gonna go."
"Yeah, but our friends are gonna be there, Jo. I'm sure you'll have fun. Alan and Audrey were gonna go, too, right?"
"Yeah." She paused. "Is this family meeting happening at your parents' house?"
He rubbed his hand across his brow. "You know, I'd vowed never to set foot in that house again, but… life is funny like that."
"Do you want me to go with you, Pace?"
Instantly, the tightness in his chest loosened. "You don't have to do that, Jo. You shouldn't have to spend your Saturday at the Witter House of Horrors."
"I'd be spending my Saturday with my boyfriend, who needs me."
He smiled. "Jo, you really don't—"
"Anyway, I'd be able to see Bessie and Bodie and Alexander. I haven't been home in over a month, and I'm shocked to report that I actually do miss them. And you have to be in Capeside on Monday to meet with Mr. Kapinos and Principal Peskin and Mr. Vantine, anyway. Why… why don't we just pack a bag and stay at the B&B, and then take the train back to Boston on Monday night, or Tuesday morning."
"Don't you have classes?"
"Pacey, did you honestly think I wasn't gonna be there with you? I can miss a couple classes for something important. This is important. So… what do you think?"
He couldn't deny what a relief it would be to have her there by his side. "Okay, I'll pack a bag. How soon can you be here? We're gonna have to leave in a bit."
An hour later, they were at the airport, picking up the second-eldest Witter sibling. Once they were out of the city, Pacey grasped Joey by the hand as he sat beside her in the back seat, and proceeded to tell his sisters all about his run-in with Tamara Jacobs at the restaurant, the complete truth of his involvement with her, and his eye-opening sessions with Mr. Kapinos.
His sisters were stunned into silence.
The silence lasted only a moment.
Gretchen was in tears, and soon Amy was yelling. "I can't believe this woman. She must be sick in the head! Did she think you were gonna marry her and give her a bunch of babies, like she was Mary Kay Letourneau or something?"
"At least that woman went to jail," Joey said.
"Well, Dad better go after this Tamara Jacobs, that's all I can say," Amy fumed. "How stupid was she to pursue a relationship with the sheriff's son? I mean, is she crazy?" Then her eyes filled with tears as well. "Oh, Pacey. This breaks my heart."
"Please don't cry," he begged.
"How can we not cry?" Gretchen countered, wiping tears from the corner of her eye. "It's not fair, what she did to you. And of course, none of us were around. Did no one notice there was something weird going on with you? Not even Doug? He notices everything."
Pacey scoffed. "Dawson knew, but that's it. Doug even spent time with me and Tamara, and he didn't catch on. We were shut up in her house when that hurricane came through. If he hadn't been too busy pointing his gun at my face and trying desperately to prove how hetero he really is, then maybe he would've noticed something was going on between us."
Amy turned around in the front passenger seat, and stared at him. "What did you just say? Doug… pointed his gun at you?" she asked, speaking very slowly.
"Yeah," he sighed. "He used to do that sometimes when he got really pissed off at me."
"Oh, my God," Joey said, her eyes wide. "That is seriously unhinged."
"He's never done it since, though." Pacey tried to shrug it off. "In front of Tamara was the last time he did anything like that."
"He never should've done it in the first place," Gretchen told him.
"Just wait until I get my hands on him," Amy said furiously.
Pacey shook his head. "You guys, come on. He hasn't done it in years. This is not a problem that has to be dealt with. There's enough drama currently going on with the Witters without dredging up this ancient crap with Doug."
Two hours after leaving the airport, they arrived in Capeside. After deciding to drop Joey off at the B&B, Pacey not wanting her to have to sit through the family intervention, he and his sisters were pulling into the paved driveway off Cranberry Lane. His stomach in knots, the large house loomed in front of him as he stepped out of the Land Rover. They walked around the side of the house to the back porch.
They no sooner had set foot on the brick steps when the door opened, revealing their mother. Susan Witter yelped in surprise, happy and excited to see three of her children. She embraced her daughters before turning to her youngest son. They stared at each other a moment, an awkwardness filling the space between them.
Pacey reached out to his mother. She only hesitated briefly before she enveloped him in her arms. She'd hugged him back in June at graduation, but he couldn't remember the last time she had hugged him before that. Hugs had been a rare occurrence. The way his mother hugged him now, clinging to him like he could be lost at any second, Pacey wasn't used to.
Inside the house, his stomach clenched as he came face to face with his father. "Hi, Dad."
"Pacey," John Witter greeted with a nod as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "So, what brings this surprise visit?" he asked, turning towards Amy and arching his brows accusingly.
"Yes, Dad, it was my idea," she confessed. "We need to talk about Carrie."
"Ah."
Pacey walked into the living room, where his nieces were watching cartoons. Piper and the twins, Audrey and Maddie, jumped up from the floor and ran to him. "How old are you now?" he asked the oldest girl.
"You know I'm seven," Piper replied, rolling her eyes.
He chuckled, and then the sight of Carrie coming down the stairs with Gretchen distracted him for a moment. He turned back to the girls. "Why don't you show me your room?"
Excited, they grabbed him by the hand and led him upstairs to his old bedroom that they now inhabited. They gave him the grand tour of the bedroom they shared, pointing out all the new toys grandma and grandpa had gotten them. Wanting to keep the girls busy while the family talked with their mom, he picked the board game Sorry! He then returned downstairs.
Doug had arrived, and Pacey walked over to sit next to him on the couch. His brother clasped him affectionately on the shoulder. His parents and the rest of his siblings were soon gathered in the living room. Amy began the discussion about Carrie's mental health, bringing up concerns from when she had stayed there recently with her husband and kids.
The discussion was emotional for both Carrie and the rest of the family. She cried, yelled, and withdrew. Pacey watched his parents resist the idea of psychiatric help for their eldest child, and argue against it with their other children, but at no time was there a personal attack on the integrity of their motives, at least.
They went round and round, but after two hours, no decision had been reached. Susan Witter disappeared into the kitchen with the claim that she wanted to get started on supper now that she had a houseful to feed. Gretchen and Amy had gone quiet, giving Carrie some space and breathing room to think over everything they'd had to say. Pacey went up to check on the girls, who'd abandoned the board game for their Barbie dollhouse. They appeared to be fine, in cheerful spirits, and he soon returned downstairs.
As he walked out onto the back porch, Pacey laid eyes on his dad, standing over at the water's edge, hitting golf balls into the creek. With a sigh, he went down the brick steps and made his way across the wide expanse of the back lawn. He was soon standing beside his father, watching him tee up another plastic golf ball on the green square patch made of felt. They were alone for the first time today, and an awkward tension began filling the air around them.
"Hiya, Pop."
John Witter kept his eyes on the golf ball. "Hello, son." He swung and hit the ball into the water. "Brendan Callaghan left the department back in June. His father, Geoffrey Callaghan, is retiring as Chief of Police up there in P-town next month. He's, uh, probably handing things over to Brendan."
Pacey gave his dad a look. "Well, that's great for them. I'm sure when you retire, Doug will be more than happy to step in."
His father said nothing for a moment and teed up another ball. "So. How's work with you?"
"Good. Busy. You know."
"I do. I do. Had the Sheriff's Association Golf Tournament back in August. We raised a helluva lot of money. We're building another sheriff's barracks up in Wellfleet."
"Congratulations."
John stopped hitting golf balls for a second. He paused, thinking, and then looked up at his son. "I could really use your help here, Pacey."
"Dad. Please. I'm in Boston. Joey is in Boston. She has college, I have a job. We have a life there."
"I know, I know. It's just…"
Pacey stared. "It's just what?" he asked challengingly.
"You're only a cook."
Anger began to churn the pit of his stomach. "Again with the cooking thing! I like it! And I'm good at it! I could actually become a chef and own my own restaurant someday, you know."
"And even if someday you can call yourself a chef, it doesn't mean you're not really just a cook."
"Well, if I'm 'just a cook,' why would you want me down here working for you, anyway? Sounds like you're doing just fine without me."
"It's not like that, and you know it. We both know you'll never wear a badge and a gun, Pacey. You don't have it in you. You never have. I accepted that a long time ago. That's not what I'm talking about."
Pacey scoffed. His brother was a police officer, as was their father, and his father, and his father before him. No, he didn't have law enforcement in him. He'd grown up the black sheep of the family. Always different and separate from those who were supposed to love and care for him. "Oh, yeah? Then explain it to me."
John glanced around as if to make sure they were alone. "Last week, a man stuck his finger up my ass—"
"I sure hope this man was a doctor."
"—and it got me thinking about you."
"I don't think this is coming out right," Pacey deadpanned.
"Would you shut up for a second? When I'm gone, someone is gonna have to be the head of the family. Your sister and her girls… they need to be taken care of. Carrie can't even get herself out of bed most days. Your mother and I are raising these girls, and it's not easy."
A frown tugged at one corner of his mouth. "Especially since I know how much you and Ma just loved being parents the first time around."
His father sighed deeply. "The point is, Pacey, is that when I'm gone, the man of the family will have to be you. Doug makes an admirable deputy, don't get me wrong, and I'm sure that someday he'll make a damn fine sheriff, but he doesn't have a clue what it takes to take care of this family. He doesn't even know how to take care of the house. Your brother wouldn't know a wrench from a tampon. The house means something—the house that I built for your mother and you kids. It's gotta be you, Pacey, but I'm running out of time to show you things."
"Stop being so dramatic, Pop."
"I'm not being…" His mouth formed a hard line. "I need you to stop dicking around up there and get serious for once in your life."
"So, this is all about what you want?"
"That's not what I said, Pacey."
"And me in Boston with Joey? That isn't serious?"
"Joey Potter. One day she's the Wicked Witch of the West, and the next she's the love of your life."
"It wasn't like that, Dad. It didn't happen overnight. If you'd taken any sort of real interest in my life, you would've known that."
"Well, what I do know is you're a couple of kids just barely out of high school. Tell me, how is that serious?"
"You and Ma were kids just barely out of high school," he retorted indignantly.
"But we got married, son. We were having babies. Setting down roots. Building a home. What the hell are you doing with yourself other than wasting your time cooking in some restaurant, waiting for your girlfriend to finish college? What about your life, Pacey? What are you doing for yourself?"
Joey was his life, but the thought of speaking that out loud to his father only made him feel foolish, so he said nothing.
"Son, you can cook anywhere, if that's truly what you want to do. Although I have no idea how you're ever gonna make enough money to support a family, you can certainly cook in Capeside."
"I don't exactly have great memories of this town, Pop. This isn't where I want to be."
"Whether you like it or not, your roots are in Capeside. When I'm gone, your mother is gonna need you. Your sisters. Your nieces and nephews. This house is the family's foundation. We need you here."
"Why didn't you think of that the first eighteen years of my life? You know, shockingly, all those times you were beating the shit outta me, it never once occurred to me that you actually wanted me around."
"Oh, come on. I just smacked you around a little."
"You broke my arm when I was twelve and I had to tell everyone I fell out of a tree. Remember that, Pop?"
John closed his eyes and sighed. "I admit I took it further than was necessary sometimes when I drank too much. But… I don't anymore, Pacey. The doc told me to put down the booze and cigarettes, and I have."
He gave his dad a deadpan look. "You were literally drinking a beer an hour ago."
"Beer doesn't count. I haven't touched an ounce of liquor in over sixty days."
Pacey scoffed bitterly. "Beer doesn't count. This scar on my face begs to differ."
John's posture became defensive. "Look, I was trying to make a man outta you. You were such a sensitive boy. You needed to toughen up. And look how well you turned out. You graduated high school. You're employed. You're a man who obviously knows how to keep a woman happy. You know you're not half bad now that you've grown up a bit," he said with a grin.
"Yeah, and no thanks to you. If you think you can take any sort of credit—" Pacey shook his head. He didn't want to argue.
"Is this because of what happened in court back in June? Is this why you ran away? Why you refuse to set foot in the house? Why you won't speak to us? You have no idea how much this is upsetting your mother."
"I'm here now, aren't I?"
"For a few hours, Pacey. Then God knows when we'll see you again. You just can't get over it? Can't forgive and forget and move on?"
"Are you asking for my forgiveness?"
"Pacey, I warned you. I told you that if you ever did anything like that again, I'd make an example of you to the community. And I am sorry that it had to happen the way it did, but I sure hope you learned a valuable lesson."
What that lesson was, he wasn't sure. Stay the hell away from Drue Valentine? Don't trust cops with an agenda? Don't count on his father to ever have his back? Lesson learned.
Pacey then made a decision. He thought back to his counselor's words of advice about how to proceed regarding Tamara Jacobs, about it being best not to blindside his parents. He now couldn't imagine his father reacting well if he had to hear the information for the very first time in a room full of people, especially with Principal Peskin and Mr. Vantine staring him down.
"Uh, well, speaking of me being an example to the community…"
John's brows furrowed. "Yes…?"
"Dad, there's something I gotta tell you. This thing with Carrie isn't the only reason I came home this weekend…"
His father eyed him appraisingly. "What's going on, Pacey?"
And then Pacey told the whole sordid affair with a candid honesty that surprised himself. His father was speechless for some moments. "Mr. Kapinos has no choice but to report it, but I thought you'd want to hear it straight from me."
"That's not what you told the school board three years ago," John said after finding his voice.
"No, it's not. I cared about her, and I didn't want her to get in trouble. But things change."
"Things change. That's your explanation? I think you had some silly crush on your teacher and you banged her. Some sorta mommy complex. But now that you're in love, I bet your little girlfriend doesn't like that, so now you gotta turn things around like it's this woman's fault, that's what I think. And now, once again, the Witter family name is gonna get splashed across the papers because of your stupidity. I can't believe this. I never had these kinds of problems with your siblings."
Pacey could only shake his head. Had he been expecting anything different? "Nice, Dad. We really should have these Cosby family moments more often. This is great."
Without another word, he turned and walked away from his father. Back inside the house, he came face to face with his older brother.
"You all right, Pace?"
"Never better," he snarked.
Doug studied him for a moment. "Come take a ride with me."
Feeling desperate to get out of the house, Pacey agreed. It wasn't long before he was in the front seat of his brother's Toyota, driving away from the creek and towards downtown Capeside. They soon arrived at a gated, fenced in property not far from the sheriff's station. On the other side of the fence was a lot with rows of cars.
"What are we doing here?" Pacey asked curiously as they pulled off the street and drove onto the property.
Doug chuckled and shifted the gear into park. "You know what this place is, don't you?"
He stared out the window at the cars and the chain-link fencing. He'd never actually been here before, but over the years, he and Dawson had been by the place enough times to know this was where the police stored confiscated vehicles. In case the word 'vehicles' had ever sparked their interest, the explosion of feral barking that started the second they touched the fence had quickly sent them on their way.
"This is the police impound lot, right?"
"Yep," Doug answered with a smile.
Pacey looked around. The impound yard was where the sheriff's department stored cars that had a large number of parking tickets or were abandoned on the side of the road or confiscated from drivers under the influence or towed from no parking zones. People who tried to reclaim their car had to pay immediately for the parking violation, the tow and storage fees, which were set by the hour instead of by the day. It was a real cash cow for the town. Cars that weren't claimed eventually went to auction. "Okay, and what are we doing here, Dougie?"
"There is a car that's been sitting here for three months. Supposed to go to the auction in November, but I talked to Dad, and he said I could have it."
"Getting rid of your trusty Corolla, huh?"
"No. The car is for you, little brother."
He blinked, taken aback. "Me?"
"Yes, you."
"You're… giving me a car? Why?"
Doug smiled. "Well, for starters, Gretchen is getting tired of you borrowing hers all the time."
Pacey chuckled knowingly.
"And Mom really doesn't like the idea of you riding the bus to South Boston so late at night after work."
He sighed and nodded his understanding.
"And… well, most importantly, I wanted to apologize for how I behaved when we came up to the city to visit you at the restaurant."
Frowning, Pacey stared down at his lap. "It's okay, Doug."
His brother shut off the engine. "Look, I know I was hard on you over the years. I was a real jerk sometimes. Just know that it was more about me than you. I've always been… a little envious of you and your ability to just… be your own person regardless of anyone's expectations. You were never one to conform to what anyone wanted you to be. And the harder people tried to make you conform, me included, the harder you bucked against it. You call yourself the black sheep. But you're a daring original, remember? You weren't born to conform. And I admire that. I really do."
A sheepish smile played about Pacey's mouth.
"And I should never have talked about that Tamara Jacobs stuff and embarrassed you like that while in mixed company. Especially when that company was your boss, and I'm sure making a good impression with him was important to you. I really am just… ashamed of myself that I did something like that to you. I wasn't thinking. I'm very sorry.
"I don't think you're a joke, or a screwup, Pace. You've grown into an impressive young man. You're up there in the city, working hard, taking care of yourself, looking after Gretchen, looking after Joey…" Doug sighed. "And not just that, but… you're a really good guy with a big heart. You always have been. I do love you, Pacey, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you that as often as I should have. I truly am proud of you. I'm proud to call you my brother."
Looked over at him, Pacey swallowed against the lump of emotion forming at the back of his throat. He couldn't speak.
When Pacey finally found his voice, he figured now was as good a time as any. "Um, Dougie, about Tamara Jacobs…" His mouth had gone dry, and he swallowed before clearing his throat. "I have to tell you something. And I need you to believe me."
The impound lot attendant had started to approach the Toyota, but Doug held up his hand, signaling him to wait. Brows furrowing with concern, he placed a soothing hand on his little brother's shoulder. "Of course, Pacey."
He drew in a deep breath and eased it out on a heavy sigh. The floodgates opened and Pacey poured out his heart to his older brother. He detailed the whole sordid tale of his involvement with Tamara and the realizations that Mr. Kapinos had helped him confront.
Shock filled his brother's expression, but to Pacey's relief there was no judgment. He hastened to continue. "And so, on Monday, Mr. Kapinos is going to call Mom and Dad to his office to talk about it. The principal and school board president will probably be there. And I think Amy and Gretchen said they wanted to come."
"Well, you can bet your ass I'm gonna be there, too. To think, there I was at her house, and you were there, and the entire time… you were having sex with this woman? Your teacher, for crying out loud! And she apparently had no qualms about committing a felony with the son of the sheriff! And right under my nose, a deputy! Does this woman think she can just flout the law?"
Pacey almost laughed. "Calm down, Dougie."
"I will not calm down. This woman… molests you—"
"I wouldn't go that far. I mean, I'm not completely innocent. I… I wanted to have sex, and she was the first person to come along who was going to give me what I wanted. She played this little game, lured me in, and I fell for it because I wasn't thinking. Well, not with my head, anyway."
"Yeah, because you were just a horny kid. A kid who had no business having sex in the first place, not even with someone your own age, let alone an adult."
He sighed. "No one regrets this more than I do, believe me."
Doug patted him on the back of the head. "I know, Pacey." He grasped the door handle. "Now let's go get this car of yours."
After speaking with the attendant, they walked around to the other side of the small office building. There, parked to the side, separated from all the other cars in the lot, was a shiny, cherry red 1965 Ford Mustang.
Feeling giddy with excitement, Pacey could only laugh. "Holy shit."
"Vintage, but runs like a charm," Doug told him. "And she's all yours, little brother."
Reality then sunk in. "Are you sure you want me to have it? I mean… I imagine it could go for a lot of money at the auction."
"True. But like I said, I talked it over with Dad, and… well, I wanted someone who deserves it to have it, and I know you'll take good care of it."
Pacey shook his head, speechless. "I… I don't know what to say. I can only say thank you."
"Works for me," Doug said with a smile.
He slowly walked around the car, taking in every gorgeous inch of it.
"So, you gonna plan anything for your first foray into taking this beauty out on the road? Maybe drive down to the beach? Take it for a joyride around town?"
An idea sprung to his mind, and a wide grin spread across his face as he looked up at his brother. "You got a suit I can borrow?"
"A suit?" Doug asked, laughing. "Uh, yeah. I got a suit."
Pacey rubbed his hands together. "Excellent."
Joey sat at the dining room table with Bessie and Bodie, drinking from a cup of coffee. It was a beautiful, sunny day. The grass was still bright green and the sun shone over the creek, but the air was crisp. She could smell the scent of fall descending upon them.
"Well, you sure picked a good weekend for a surprise visit," her sister said with a disappointed frown. "We don't have any guests, so we're taking the ferry over to the Vineyard to visit Bodie's mom. We won't be back until Monday afternoon."
She lowered her cup to the table. "A whole weekend without guests?"
"It's the calm before the storm," Bodie quipped.
"Starting next week, we're booked up every weekend through Christmas," Bessie explained.
Bodie drummed his fingertips on the table. "So, is there any particular reason you came home, other than you missed us terribly?"
Joey gave him an indulgent smile. "Pacey has some family stuff going on." She hesitated, unsure whether she should say anything, knowing it wasn't her secret to tell. But then again, it was possible that practically everyone on the Cape would find out in a matter of days. "Pacey has a meeting at Capeside High on Monday with his parents and Principal Peskin and the school's child psychologist, Mr. Kapinos."
"Wasn't Pacey meeting with him back in the spring?" Bessie said.
"Yeah. A condition of his punishment for getting in that fight with Drue in the cafeteria. I think he saw Mr. Kapinos for like twelve weeks or something. Maybe a little longer."
"Why does he have to go see him now?" Bodie asked curiously.
"Do you remember the, uh, scandal—for want of a better word—involving Pacey and his English teacher? Sophomore year? Ms. Jacobs? She was only here for a few weeks before she left Capeside."
Bessie and Bodie exchanged a look. "Yes, we remember," her sister replied. "But the whole thing was just a rumor, right?"
Joey chewed on her bottom lip as she tucked her hair behind her ears.
"It wasn't just a rumor," Bodie surmised.
"No," she answered with a shake of her head, and leaned over the table. "Ms. Jacobs showed up in Boston, came to the restaurant. It kind of messed with Pacey's head. He confessed the whole thing to Mr. Kapinos, and… well, it's an issue that is now going to be addressed. I think the school board is gonna get involved again."
"They'll probably have another hearing," Bodie said, looking at Bessie. "This is a serious matter."
"And what good will that do? They didn't get it right the first time."
"Pacey told them he made it all up," Joey reasoned. "He took all the blame to keep her from getting in trouble."
"And then they dropped it without doing a proper investigation because the woman left town of her own volition," Bessie criticized. "How convenient for them. They could just sweep it under the rug and pretend there wasn't anything to be concerned about."
"You'd think knowing who Pacey is—who his father is—they would've done their due diligence," Bodie said.
"Well, if Sheriff Witter himself treats Pacey like a joke who should never be taken seriously, everyone else is gonna follow suit," Joey seethed, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms in front of her chest.
Frowning in sympathy, Bessie reached out to squeeze her arm reassuringly. "Well… then let's hope, if there is another hearing, Pacey will get the justice he deserves."
After seeing her sister and Bodie and Alexander off, Joey spent the rest of the afternoon out back, looking out over the creek. She'd carried her easel and her paints, and seated herself in an Adirondack chair. Feeling the wind in her hair and the sun on her face, she painted for hours. Her thoughts often turned to Pacey, wondering how his day spent at the Witter family home was turning out. She hoped not too terrible.
When it was close to four o'clock, her cell phone rang, pulling her from her trance. She lowered her brush from the canvas, and then pulled her Motorola from her jeans pocket. The name on the I.D. screen made her smile. She flipped the phone open.
"Hi, sweetheart."
"Hey. What'cha doing?"
"Sitting out by the creek and painting. What are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm hanging out at Doug's apartment."
"Really?" Her brows knitted and she chuckled with surprise, wondering why Pacey seemed to be in such a good mood after spending the day at the Witter House of Horrors, as he so deemed it.
"Yeah. So, uh, there's this girl I like, and I kinda wanna ask her out on a date."
She smiled as color warmed her cheeks. "A girl, huh?"
"Yep. See, there's a beautiful tomboy who lives on the other side of the creek, and she would never presume to look my way, but I have a hunch she's been harboring a secret crush on me for years. I also heard there's this fancy French restaurant downtown that happens to be her favorite. And I'm thinking I should ask her out. What do you think?"
"Well, I think if you showed up with her favorite flowers and knocked on her door like a perfect gentleman, she'd probably go out with you."
"I can do that. And if she were to put on a dress and heels, I'd even show up in a suit."
"I'm sure that can be arranged."
"Eight o'clock?"
Joey grinned, giddy with happiness and anticipation. She was going to spend a wonderful evening with the man she loved. "I think she could be ready by then."
After hanging up, she retreated inside to her bedroom, opened her closet, and saw the only dresses hanging there were her junior and senior prom dresses. She frowned. This was clearly a fashion emergency, and there was really no doubt who she should call.
Twenty minutes later, Gretchen was outside the B&B, honking the horn. When Joey walked out the front door, she was pleasantly surprised to see Amy had come along. They drove downtown to one of Gretchen's favorite clothing shops.
It wasn't long before Joey was standing in front of a large mirror, studying a fitted, knee-length dress from every angle, trying to work out if it showed any humiliating bulges or gaps. With the Witter sisters' encouragement, she soon decided that the sleeveless drop waist dress was both concealing enough not to embarrass her and sexy enough to make Pacey's mouth fall open.
"That's definitely the one," Gretchen said.
"The rose color looks great on you," Amy added, and her sister agreed. "It looks so good with your dark hair."
Joey smiled at her reflection, but she had her doubts. This wasn't a color she normally would have chosen for herself. Then her gaze locked in the mirror with the younger Witter sibling. "How was the, uh, thing with Carrie?"
"Emotional," Gretchen replied. "She cried, shouted at us, accused us of trying to send her to a hospital so we could take away her kids. We promised her that no one was going to try to take custody away from her, and the girls would stay right at the house with Mom and Dad. I mean, it's Mom and Dad who take them to school and pick them up from school. Feed them, bathe them. Help them with their homework. Well, Piper, anyway. Carrie doesn't take care of them. She can't even take care of herself."
"She needs to get better so she can take care of herself and take care of her kids, and that's what we told her," Amy said. "It's too much for Mom and Dad, honestly. Anyway, after a lot tears and angry words, Dad finally caved to our side of the issue. But Mom… she is adamantly against psychiatrists and medication. Dad overruled her, though, and as soon as Dad starts getting on Carrie's case, it's only a matter of time before she'll give in and do what he tells her to do. So, we'll see. She may need help to physically leave the house. When I was there, some days she seemed practically catatonic."
"Is this… all because of the divorce?" Joey asked.
"She really loved Jerry," Amy sighed. "Even though he was a jerk who didn't deserve her. He cheats on her, she finally leaves him, but he makes no effort to keep his family together. He wants nothing to do with her or the girls. She's… devastated. They were together for twelve years, since she was eighteen. He was her whole world. She doesn't know how to live without him."
Frowning, Joey stepped away from the mirror and disappeared inside the changing room.
It was approaching eight o'clock, and she had checked her hair for at least the fourteenth time. She gazed at herself in the mirror, her eyes traveling up and down her dress. She couldn't remember the last time she'd dressed up to go out with her boyfriend. It had to have been their senior prom. A mere four months had passed since then, but it felt like a lifetime ago. If she were to guess his reaction, she would say this dress would make Pacey very happy.
At least she hoped so.
Not that she should doubt that.
But this dress was, of course, pink.
Maybe she should've gotten something in a different color.
Joey forced herself away from the mirror and out of her bedroom. Second-guessing herself wasn't doing her any good. She'd bought this dress specifically for their date tonight, and any minute now Pacey was going to show up to take her out, and, in any case, she didn't have anything else to wear. She stopped in front of the hallway mirror near the front door. Maybe if she put on a different shade of lipstick her dress wouldn't look quite so pink. She dug in her small handbag to find some lipstick.
Other than the phone call earlier this afternoon, she hadn't seen or spoken to him since this morning when he'd dropped her off home. He'd said goodbye with a warm smile and a kiss on the lips that was equally warm, but over nearly as soon as it begun.
Joey pursed her lips in the mirror to check the effect of her lipstick. It had been a brief kiss, but an effective one. She'd seen it register with his sisters.
It had certainly affected her.
She'd missed him all day. Missed his kisses. Missed the way he casually draped his arm around her waist while speaking to her. Missed the long looks he'd give her with those deep blue eyes.
The anticipation of having a romantic dinner together, and then coming back to the B&B later, the anticipation of seeing Pacey naked, of being naked with him, drummed through her body, warming her blood.
Joey found a tissue in her bag and wiped off the lipstick and put the first one back on again. She didn't think either one of them made any difference: her dress was still the pinkest thing she'd ever worn and she was pretty sure she looked like a stick of cotton candy.
There was a knock on the back door. Quickly she stuffed her lipstick and tissue back into her handbag and went to answer the door. Pacey stood on the porch. And for a moment, all she could do was stare.
He wore a black suit and a crisp light blue shirt and brighter blue tie, but on Pacey these articles of clothing stopped being merely clothes and were vehicles for his gorgeousness. His suit emphasized his broad shoulders, his lean waist; his shirt and tie made his eyes even bluer. He had gotten a haircut and his messy curls were gone. His hair was combed back from his face, and even that showed off his perfect features, his cheekbones, his large nose, the shape of his jaw.
And, as always, he smelled of warm cotton and something uniquely Pacey, familiar and comforting, yet sexy and alluring.
"You look wonderful, Joey," he said, and only then did she realize that he had been staring back at her. His mouth had definitely fallen open.
"You don't think it's too pink?" she blurted, because that was the only thing she could think to say. Her brain appeared to be entirely muddled by the idea that the man she loved, the man who loved her, who wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, looked and smelled—and felt and tasted—as incredible as Pacey did. The unluckiest girl in the world had somehow gotten everything she'd ever wanted. How was that possible? Dreams weren't supposed to come true for impoverished girls from the wrong side of the creek. But between Pacey and Worthington, every dream she'd ever had was coming true.
"I don't think anything could possibly be too pink," he grinned. "It's a good color on you. I don't know why you don't wear it more often, Jo."
"It's very girly."
"Which fits, because, last time I checked, you were definitely a girl."
His mouth curved into a suggestive grin as his eyes glinted playfully. With that, her circulatory system, which seemed to have been on pause since she'd opened the door, started up again and she felt the blood rush to her face. She chewed her lip, fighting a smile.
From behind him, Pacey revealed a bouquet of yellow roses. "I was informed that a gentleman knocks on the door and also brings flowers."
"Oh, Pacey. They're beautiful. Thank you." She took the bouquet from him, kissing him lightly on the lips, and he followed her into the kitchen.
He glanced at his watch. "We gotta go soon. I made reservations for eight-thirty."
"Isn't this a little late to be eating supper?"
"Not in Boston, it isn't," he replied as she placed the bouquet inside a vase on the kitchen counter.
"Oh, I forgot," she teased. "We're big city kids now."
After Pacey helped Joey with her jacket, they were out the back door.
Hand in hand, they walked across the grass towards the driveway. "So," she said, looking at him curiously. "You mind telling me why you're in such a chipper mood after being in John Witter's company for hours?"
"I don't have to tell you. I'm gonna show you," he grinned.
They rounded the corner, and there in the drive parked behind the old blue truck, was a shiny, red Mustang.
She gaped. "Oh, my God."
"I know."
"Did you rent it?"
"Nope. It's all mine."
"Pacey… where'd you get it? How much did it cost?"
"I didn't have to pay a thing. Well, other than insurance and registration, but that's par for the course." He let go of her hand and went over to the passenger side door, opening it for her. "Madam?"
With a giddy smile, Joey walked over and got into the front seat. Pacey shut the door behind her.
They were soon walking through the doors to the French restaurant. A hostess offered to check Joey's coat. When she removed her black jacket, revealing the light pink dress that clung to her in all the right places, Pacey ran his eyes down her figure.
"You shouldn't stare at a girl," she scolded playfully, her lips forming a suggestive smirk.
He shrugged. "I can't help it. You look beautiful."
She blushed and tucked her hair behind an ear, hiding a smile.
The maître d' then showed them to a small table by the side wall and near the piano. A middle-aged waitress in a starched white button-down shirt and a black skirt with a long black apron tied around her waist arrived and offered them menus. The interior of the dining room had dark wood paneling set off by the pale light of three chandeliers, and most of the tables were filled with patrons. It was very intimate and romantic, with low lighting and plenty of tables for two.
As they looked over their menus, the maître d' glided over with breadsticks in a wicker basket, set it on the table, and asked, "Are you ready to order?"
Pacey and Joey exchanged a look, shrugging. "I think we'll need a few minutes," he replied.
"Not a problem, sir. Can we get you any drinks to start with?"
"I'll have a Coke. Jo, you want something?"
She shook her head. "Water is fine."
"Very well, madam." The maître d' bowed pompously and turned from the table.
Pacey snorted, shaking his head as the man walked away. He watched as Joey studied her menu. "You really look…" He stared, mesmerized. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on."
"Oh, stop it," she giggled, a flush rising in her cheeks. Joey took a sip of water and changed the subject. "So, are you going to tell me about this awesome new car of yours?"
"It sat in the police impound in Capeside for three months. And my brother just gave it to me. He said that he wanted someone who deserves it to have it. And he actually told me that he loved me and was proud of me. It's the first time in my entire life I have ever heard him say those words. He's proud of me."
Joey sensed something. "But…?"
Pacey sighed. "It was touching to hear that from Doug, and it meant a lot to me. But… you think I'll ever hear those words from my father? I doubt it. Even if he did say that to me, how long could it possibly last?"
"I take it things didn't go so well for you at home today? Prior to getting the car?"
Their waitress appeared and set the glass of Coca-Cola down on the table. "Ready to order?"
They glanced over their menus again. Pacey looked up and grinned. "I'll have the Crêpe Josephine with the Truffle Frites. My personal favorite."
His girlfriend shot him a knowing look across the table.
"Very nice, sir," the waitress replied, smiling down at him. "And you, miss?"
"Um… the Seared Scallops Niçoise," Joey stated.
"Excellent choices," the woman said, before taking their menus and departing the table.
Joey looked across the table at Pacey until he met her eye. "How was it with your dad?"
"I don't know. I mean, he thinks I should just get over everything that's happened, just forgive and forget. But I'm still so… mad. I'm mad at him. As much as he wants me to just get over it…" He shook his head. "Look, I know I messed up. I should never have gotten mixed up with Drue. But… my dad wouldn't even fight for me. Not only that, he purposely railroaded me with that judge."
She frowned and reached across the table, wrapping her hand around his wrist, rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand in soft circles.
"And I certainly don't expect him to have my back in there with Mr. Kapinos on Monday. You should've heard him today…" He scoffed. "I told him about Tamara. And of course, the situation is my fault because I'm the perpetual screwup. And all he cares about is whether or not I'm gonna make him look bad. I don't know why I'm upset at that reaction because I shouldn't expect anything different.
"But in the same conversation…" He sighed deeply. "He wants me to be more involved in the family. He wants me home, in Capeside. He seems to want me around. I almost got the impression that my dad… might actually like me. Not that he'd ever say it. But then I have to go and ruin it by making a bunch of trouble for him with the whole Ms. Jacobs thing.
"Parents are strange creatures."
"Don't I know it," she replied with wide eyes.
"Good lord," Pacey said, rubbing his hand across his brow. Then he remembered something and eyed her. "Sunday is visiting day up at Concord…" he said hesitantly.
Joey's stomach fluttered with nerves. "Yeah…"
"When's the last time you saw your dad?"
"It's been months. Not since before the summer. The last time I went to see him was with you."
"That long? Well, you wanna go see him tomorrow? We don't have any plans. We can take the Mustang. It'll be a nice drive. You're probably not gonna get another chance before Christmas. Well, if you want me to come along, that is. You can certainly go any weekend you want to. But I don't have to work this weekend, so I'm free to go…"
She played with her fingers in her lap. "Can I think about it, Pace?"
He smiled warmly. "Of course, Jo."
The waitress soon arrived with their dinner. They finished their meal with light chit-chat over their siblings, the B&B, and the local Capeside gossip. The waitress returned to take their dessert order. They agreed to share the Chocolate Tart with Mint Chantilly.
The air changed while they ate the chocolatey treat and the space between them became charged with energy. In the warm light, her brown eyes seemed quite large. Pacey met her gaze steadily, feeling the subtle change between the two of them. Joey's breathing increased as she felt the undercurrent of tension start slowly building.
Their eyes often met across the table, as well as their hands, fingers touching, then entwining.
They enjoyed the view outside the restaurant as they finished their dessert. Neither of them spoke until Pacey paid the check, leaving more than a generous tip. When they stood and he moved behind her, Joey could feel the heat of his body along hers. Once she had retrieved her jacket, his hand on the small of her back propelled her forward and out the door to his new Mustang.
He walked her to the passenger door, but instead of opening it, he turned her to face him. Searching her gaze for a moment, he cupped her face in his hands, sliding his fingers into her hair and anchoring her in place. The kiss started out soft, the brush of his lips over hers, but before she could remind herself that they were in public, Joey parted her lips and let her tongue dart out to trace the curve of his mouth.
"You are so sexy," she whispered against his lips.
It was if the dam broke and all the heat and hunger that they'd been feeling poured out of them. Pacey's passionate kiss left her lips swollen and her body wanting. Her hands fisted in his black suit jacket and she hauled him closer as he pushed her back against the car. She wanted him. She wanted all of him everywhere, doing anything he wanted to. Joey didn't stop until she parted her legs for him, fitting him against the V of her body. Shaking in the cool night air, she suddenly remembered herself and where they were.
"We should take this somewhere else," she said as she panted for breath. Then her lips curved into a smirk. "Like my bedroom." Her mind now made up, she felt her face flush with heat. "And I was, uh, thinking that maybe tonight we should… you know, try having one of those new experiences you've been talking about."
He stared. His mouth went dry, and he swallowed. "You mean…?"
She chewed on her bottom lip, trying in vain to stop the embarrassed smile from spreading across her face. "Yeah."
His heart was pounding. "Are you sure you're ready for that, Jo? We don't have to if you don't—"
"I'm sure." She could hardly breathe. She couldn't think. Couldn't imagine wanting anything more than she wanted Pacey.
"You do amaze me, Joey Potter. It's the car, isn't it? Or the haircut? The suit?"
Shaking her head, she smirked and tried not to roll her eyes. "Maybe all three."
His lips curved up in a wickedly adorable grin. "I'm gonna owe Doug big time."
She smiled and wrapped her arms around him. Pacey's mouth came down on hers, searing her with a kiss full of erotic promise. His tongue was hot and hard as it thrust through her lips, curling around hers and urging it into a sensual dance that was totally irresistible. A deep ache of longing pulsed deep in her belly, the feel of his aroused length pressed up against her, increasing her desire to a point where Joey completely forgot they were standing on a public street where anyone could see them.