The Ballad of Digger Stiles

Jason ran along a tree lined trail, slowing to a walk when he reached a park. After sitting around his house wallowing in self-pity over the weekend, he needed to get out. And since he didn't have anywhere to go, he settled for a run. He hated having nothing to do. But he didn't have a choice until his court date with Richard. He had no idea what he was going to do after that.

Lorelai hadn't called him today, but he expected as much. After seeing her in a passionate embrace with the man who fed her every day, Jason was pretty sure it was over. He clearly didn't matter to her. There was nothing he could say to change that.

There was a lake in this park, which attracted several parents will small children who excitedly held bread out for the ducks. Jason kept walking along the paved trail that wound its way through the trees.

"Jason?"

He slowed down and looked around, finding a familiar woman waving at him. His heart gave a little lurch at the sight of a face he hadn't seen in a while. He waved back and approached her. "Jennifer, hi."

Her dark blond hair fell just past her shoulders, wisps of it blowing in the wind. She pulled her tweed blazer shut and crossed her arms. He noted she wasn't wearing a ring and wondered how busy she was today. He'd like to catch up. His mother had introduced them, and he liked Jenny a lot after he got to know her. She was enjoyable company at all the functions they'd attended together.

"You look good," he said, and he meant it. Her face was slightly thinner, making her look older, or maybe it was because she really was older. She was 30 now, if he wasn't mistaken.

"Thanks, you look . . . different."

Jason ran his hands over his bearded face and through his hair. "Uh, yeah. I tried a new look."

She nodded her head once. "I see. So. How are you?" She wasn't making small talk. There was concern in her light brown eyes.

He tilted his head and averted his gaze, choosing to look out at the children climbing on the playground equipment. Jenny squinted over too, her eyes roving. Her gaze lingered for a moment before she turned back to Jason expectantly.

He asked, "What have you heard?"

"How could I hear from the other side of the country?"

"By listening closely. You're the biggest gossip I know."

She smirked. "Thank you. It comes with the territory. And I have trusted sources."

"Oh, I'm sure you do." Jason went on, "I've asked all three of your brothers how you're doing and I always get this weirdly smug answer, that you're just fine. The youngest one, especially, gives me the stink eye every time I see him. I hear military school worked out for him."

"It did, he's okay now."

Jason shook his head. "You would think he'd have seen it coming after they shipped Spencer off," he said, speaking of one of Jenny's other brothers.

She shrugged. "Not everyone is as straight-laced as you. The boys in my family like to push boundaries." She sighed. "They aren't your biggest fans."

"Yeah, they hate me. Maybe you could remind them that you were the one to move. I was not the heartbreaker."

"Oh, ha," she said, smiling. "About that. Do you tell people your parents scared me off?"

Sheepishly, he said, "Sometimes. And that you went to Alaska."

"Alaska? Jason," she scolded

"You did move."

"To Seattle."

"And you went to Alaska around the same time."

"Just for a cruise with the family." She looked out to the children playing again. "It was terrible, I was sick the whole time."

"You have to admit, anecdotally it's amusing." He looked out at the playground. "Sorry."

"It's fine. Luckily you're so full of shit no one would believe it."

Jason involuntarily grinned. He remembered what it was that sold him on Jennifer Dugray. She was nice and polite for the most part, and then she'd say something blunt to your face, unapologetically. He supposed that also 'came with the territory.'

"My parents were awful to you after they found out I liked you. They thought you were perfect until then."

She turned a frown on him. "You think that's why they stopped liking me?"

"Yes," he said earnestly. "They hate every girl I've dated, which makes you a special case since they loved you before that."

She shook her head. "It wasn't you or me. Floyd and Carol thought I came from a good family, but then they got to know my family."

"And?"

"And they're nuts. Grandpa pointed out to Floyd the discrepancies between our respective family's money and image, outlining how unsuitable you are for our family."

Jason grimaced. "Janlen did? He's one of Dad's oldest clients. I can't imagine him saying that."

"Not that grandpa, the mean one. He has no discretion," Jenny said. "Floyd isn't the first person to hear it, and probably won't be the last."

"Huh," Jason said, shaking his head at the new information. "Dad kept sending me to the Chicago office for weeks at a time." But Jenny had called him when he was gone, which made him happy to get back to Hartford. "He kept me away from you, while Mom was busy trying to send you to an early grave. I'm sure they were in on it together."

Jenny smiled. "They're too passive to kill me. They probably wanted me to think they were trying to kill me to wear me down psychologically."

"That's a good point. You could be right." Oh, but for the simple days when his parents were trying to kill his girlfriend.

They were silent for a minute. Jenny's smile faded and she exhaled heavily. "I heard it's bad," she said, returning to the present.

He scratched his cheek and smoothed his hand over his beard. He looked back at the kids taking turns on the twisty slide. "It is." He added, "I can't work here."

She touched his arm. "I'm so sorry." She didn't offer a useless 'It'll be okay.' She wasn't big on lying just to spare someone's feelings.

"I'll figure something out." He cleared his throat. "What are you doing in Hartford?"

She glanced at the playground anxiously. "I came to see you."

He stared. "Why?"

Her eyes moved back to his. "Because I know your career is your life, and it's over. That's serious."

Jason looked down.

"I wanted to make sure you're okay."

He lifted his gaze to her. "You flew across the country to check up on me? Why?"

Her eyes darted to the kids again. "Because—I care."

"Still?" He was touched, but it'd been a little over three years ago since they dated.

She frowned. "Is that so hard to believe?"

It was. Her genuine concern for his well-being gave him a warm feeling inside. Even though she didn't sugar coat his situation to make him feel better, her presence was still comforting. He really did like her. Why did they breakup? Oh yeah, she moved for a job. She was young, it would have been dumb not to take it.

"You haven't been pining for me, have you?" he half-joked, not sure which answer he preferred.

A boy who'd just slid down the slide called to his mother. Jenny looked over.

"That isn't what I would call it," she said. "But I definitely didn't forget you." Her eyes darted again. "You should sit down."

"Why? Are you okay?" She was dodgy all of a sudden.

"I'm fine. But there's another reason I needed to see you. Sit down," she repeated, firmer this time. She pulled on his arm to lead him to an empty bench, and she sat down.

To Jason's surprise, she held out her arms to the little boy who'd just called out for Mommy. It appeared that Jenny answered to the name. Jason felt an unpleasant twinge of disappointment somewhere in his chest as the little boy climbed onto her lap. With a slight frown he glanced at her left hand again. He hadn't seen wrong, she wasn't wearing a ring. He wouldn't have pegged Jennifer as a single mother. Maybe she was divorced.

He joined them on the bench—not too close. "Who's this?" he asked, hoping to sound friendly rather than thrown off guard.

She told the boy on her lap, "This is my friend Jason. Can you tell him your name?"

The boy had dark brown hair and greyish blue eyes. He looked at Jason to say, "Zavier."

She glanced over to say correctly, "Xavier."

Jason nodded. "X's are tricky."

She nudged the boy and whispered, "Xavier what?" She eyed Jason timidly.

"Zavier Stiles." He didn't quite land the L, but it didn't render the last name unrecognizable.

Jason numbly stared for a few seconds while the blood drained from his face. He blinked and opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

Jenny said, "Show him how old you are."

Xavier held his middle finger down with his thumb, in an odd way of leaving up three fingers. She suggested he go play some more, and he climbed down to run over to the swings. She looked anxiously back to Jason. "He's mine," she said unnecessarily. "And yours."

Jason leaned over and rubbed his face in his hands. "I need to sit down."

"You are sitting."

"I need to sit down more." He sat up straight, concerned. "Oh my god, I'm Forrest Gump. Jenn-ay," he drawled. He went on hurriedly, "Are you sick? Are you dying? Am I going to have to raise him by myself? I'm not a kid person."

She shook her head. "No, calm down. I'm fine."

He faced her helplessly. "This is a really bad time for me."

"I know, I'm sorry. But I had to stop putting it off and tell you." She checked her watch and bit her lip. "I have to go. I'm in town a couple more days. Can we get together for dinner—to talk more?"

"I guess you have a lot to say," he said wryly.

"Yes." She pulled out a business card from her pocket. "Here's my number. We're staying at my parents' house."

"They'll be thrilled to see me."

"Don't worry about them. They're out of town." She put the card in his hand and closed hers around it. "Tomorrow?"

XXX

Jason sat at a table for two in a swanky restaurant the next night. It was the kind of place he'd bring a woman for a date back when he was successful at life. Tonight was the first time in weeks he'd had a reason to wear a suit, like he had somewhere to be.

Jenny sat across from him now, on what was not a date. Under different circumstances, it would be. They spoke little, and only commented on the menu items. He didn't have anything clever or witty to say. It wasn't like he was trying to get her to like him.

After they placed their orders, Jason poured himself a generous helping of wine and looked over at Jenny. "Why didn't you tell me three years ago?"

She reached across the table for the wine to pour herself some. She took a sip before answering, "I was already moved when I found out. You would have tried to do the right thing. We both know you weren't—and probably still aren't—ready for that."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do. You were looking at cars and your mother suggested you get a Volvo."

He protested, "A Volvo is a family car, I'm not—." He stopped.

Dryly, Jenny said, "Not ready for that yet?" She nodded. "That's exactly what you said back then."

He took a large gulp of wine. "You don't know that I would have done the right thing. I might be a colossal jackass."

"You're not. Unbearably ingratiating at times, but not a jackass." She looked at him thoughtfully. "People warned me about you."

He drank more wine and glared at whoever those people were. "What about me?"

"You're a runner. You date a girl for a few months, and then you end it."

"Okay, yes, that is my pattern. But you don't know that I would have with you," he said. "For your information, I was just in a relationship that I stayed in even though my brain said it was time to go."

For the briefest second, he thought he saw disappointment in her eyes. "Oh really?"

"Yes," he said. "When the time came, I couldn't think of anything that bothered me about her and the relationship, so I knew I shouldn't run away. I think that's real growth for me."

Jenny closed her eyes for a second and slightly shook her head. "I disagree." She took a deep breath. "So are you still with her?"

"No, that ended a couple weeks ago."

"What happened?"

"I was in business with her father, and he went back to Floyd with all our clients," Jason explained. "Then he ruined my reputation, so I have to sue him. That is apparently a turn-off for her." He added, "I couldn't have predicted it, since it's the opposite reason she agreed to date me in the first place."

Jenny frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"Her mom hates me."

"And that was a turn-on?"

"Yeah. I tried to woo her for a month and failed. Then she got in a fight with her mom and changed her mind."

Jenny's expression indicated she was less than impressed, but she uncharacteristically didn't say anything. Flatly, she said, "I'm sorry." It was more pitying than sympathetic. "Did you consider dropping the lawsuit?"

Their waiter returned with a basket of bread and a plate with oil.

Jason tore off a chunk of the small loaf and dipped it in the oil. "No. I have to work. You understand that."

"But maybe she'll continue to date you if you drop it."

Jason shook his head. "I can't, Richard destroyed me. It's business, and sometimes in business we have to go to court." He waved his hand. "It doesn't matter. I can't stay here and Lorelai moved on with another man."

"In just two weeks? That was fast," she said. "I'm sorry about your breakup."

He took another drink. "I'm fine. It doesn't seem as significant now, compared to other things." He turned serious. "I would have helped you."

"I don't need your money."

"Right, mine doesn't compare to yours," he said dryly.

She pursed her lips. After a pause, she said, "Here's the deal with that. When I went to tell Grandpa he was wrong for what he said to Floyd, I learned some things."

Jason's eyes softened. "You went to talk to your mean grandfather about me?"

"Yeah. They're so out of line, those people," Jenny said. "And I'm being generous by calling them people."

"When did you do that?"

"The next time I saw him, at some party my aunt and uncle hosted," she answered with a shrug, like it wasn't a big deal, when it was. "I found out that the grandchildren at the top of the succession line get more scrutiny."

"How close to the top are you?"

She held up two fingers in a peace sign. "And Number One took a break from life this year."

"Isn't he in college now?"

"Yes."

"He needed a break from college?"

She nodded and shrugged. "Yeah."

"I don't recommend working for family. In my experience it doesn't mix well."

"I'm not working for them. I'm just on standby in case my cousin completely flakes out," Jenny said. "I was flattered, and surprised the family was overcoming generations of sexist ideas about women and work. But it actually means he wants me available to them, not you."

Jason's brows furrowed.

"You were your dad's heir, so I'd be tied down to you if we got married," she explained. "Heaven forbid we both work. Who would send out the invitations to the cocktail parties?" she asked in mock horror.

"I actually make corporate wives obsolete."

"Really? That's terrific. I told Grandpa we weren't ready for marriage. And then I cried."

"Because we weren't getting married?"

"No, I was hormonal." She chuckled. "But you should have seen his face. He did not know what to do."

"So it wasn't because of money?"

"Oh no, he still thinks yours is chump change."

Jason took a drink. "I can't believe you confronted him."

"What else was I supposed to do?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, ignore it."

"That's not my style." She asked, "Is that how you've handled Floyd since you quit? Ignore him?"

"No, we saw each other a couple times. But it was in public, so we were civil. We don't have anything to say to each other." Jason casually took a drink.

She looked at him thoughtfully as she chewed a hunk of bread. Her lips stretched into a smile. "Yes you do. You just don't know how to say it. It's that patented Stiles passive aggression." She drained her glass and held it over for him to pour more. He did, and then poured himself more, too. "That's enough shop talk. You have a kid and I took three years to tell you. Will you forgive me?"

He considered her for a moment and delayed his answer by drinking more wine. "Can I have some time to think about it? I'm still in shock."

"I understand. Take as long as you need."

He lifted his glass. "The wine is helping."

Jenny rested her arms on the table in front of her. "Do you want to know more about Xavier?"

Xavier. His son. He had a son. Unbelievable. "Okay, yeah. Tell me about him."