Returning Hearts

Chapter 18: Family Time

Jackson stands waiting with white daisy flowers just outside the restaurant Isabelle picked for lunch. He feels nervous but excited as he finally sees her walking towards him looking picture perfect in a red dress suit. She smiles as she notices him making him relax a little. He hands her the flowers as she leans in to kiss him, which he gladly receives. "Hi. You look beautiful." Jackson says as they move back from each other's lips.

"Thank you." Isabelle's confident white smile is ever present. "For the compliment and the flowers."

"You're welcome." Jackson opens the door for her to enter the restaurant and the aroma of fresh baked bread fills his nose.

A waitress guides them to their table and Jackson pulls Isabelle's seat out for her as she sits. He is surprised to hear August's laugh behind him causing him to turn around. He spots her in the corner looking beautiful in a green top and grey dress pants. Her smile appears flirty towards the man she is with in a blue striped suit. Jackson feels surprised by his pain and cannot pin point if it is because of the way he feels towards her or because she is here with another man. He tries to hide his surprise of seeing her as he walks around the table and sits down across from Isabelle noticing August is in plain view.

"I love this little place." Isabelle smiles as she starts looking over the menu. "The seasonal fish is my favorite."

Jackson looks over to the left of Isabelle's head wondering who the man is with August as he sees her talking with her hands and appears to be having a good time. "I will have to try it." Jackson quickly moves his eyes back to Isabelle as she looks up at him and he smiles. He looks down at his menu trying to understand what he was feeling as he blankly looks at the page not even reading it.

The waiter arrives at their table and Isabelle places her order first. Jackson realizes he doesn't even know what is on the menu. "I will have the same please." He smiles politely at the waiter as he hands him his menu glancing quickly at August before he turns his head back towards Isabelle. "So how is your day going?" Jackson tries to not be annoyed by August's presence as he forces himself to look at Isabelle.

"My whole week is going good since Florida State won Sunday."

He had forgotten how into sports she is and he hasn't even watched a game in a week to be able to talk to her about it. "So, you're a Florida State fan?"

"It is where I went to school." She sits up straight in her chair as she raises her eyebrows at him. "Who do you root for?"

"Michigan." Jackson looks at her with interest waiting for her reaction to his favorite team.

"That is a good team." She shakes her head. "I don't know if we can be friends though."

Jackson smiles at her. "Well, maybe they won't have to compete against each other this go around since Florida State is going to lose their next game."

Isabelle's jaw drops in fake shock. "How dare you insult my team?"

"Well, if they do make it past the next game, Michigan will mop the floor with them, so I am not even worried." Jackson sits back smugly in his chair.

Isabelle squints her eyes in flirtation at him. "Why Michigan?"

"I lived there until I was in ninth grade. It is my home state." Jackson sees August move from her table towards the restroom out of the corner of his eye as he looks at Isabelle. He wants to follow her and ask her about her date, but he refrains deciding to pretend he hadn't even noticed her as he thinks of how mad he is at her.

"What did your family move here for?"

"My mom is from here and my grandmother was sick so we moved here to take care of her."