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Her hand brushed through his tousled hair, a tender gesture meant to soothe him. “I'm here, Jackson,” she murmured softly, her voice a gentle promise amid the uncertainties. “I won't let you get hurt.”
Liv snuggled closer to Jackson and slept.
* * *
Jackson slipped from Liv’s arms and made his way to the office. He pulled out a legal pad and began to put together his thoughts. Was there a surviving branch of the Ashcroft family? If so, both families could have motives for the arson attacks.
But there were also other possibilities. An unknown individual or group could have a grudge. It might not be related to the old feud. Could it be a firestarter? Some arsonists loved the flames. Could it be someone with interests in the valuable land?
“Good morning?” Liv stood in the doorway.
“Hey.” He looked at his watch. It was 11:30.
She wiped the sleep from her eyes. “You okay?”
“I’ve been better. Livvy, we need to sort through this.” He shared the possibilities he was thinking about. “All I know is this has to be solved.” He looked at her, sitting up tall in the chair.
Liv walked over and sat in his lap, pulling his head to her chest. “We’ll get through this together.”
His thoughts raced as he fought to find the words. “I can't ask you to do this, Livvy. I feel like everything I've known about myself has been turned upside down. I don't know who I am anymore. A Waverly, an Ashcroft, a Reynolds... I can't shake this feeling that I'm somehow the cause of everything that's happening in our town.”
“Jackson, look at me. Your genes can show you are an Ashcroft, Waverly—one, both, or neither—but you are a Reynolds, son of Martha and David. Hold on to that,” Liv said. “We'll figure it out. You're not alone in this.”
“You’re right. You’re right.” His smile faded. “But we have to stop this craziness.”
* * *
The smell of breakfast rose in the air as Jackson’s mother called to them from the kitchen, “Good morning, you two. Breakfast is ready.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Jackson and Liv joined her.
Martha placed a hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “I owe you an apology, son. I'm sorry for keeping things from you. No matter what, you're a Reynolds. Your father and I loved you just as much as any biological child.”
Jackson’s voice cracked. “I know, Mom, and I’m sorry if my hunt to know more has hurt you. I think if I understand where I come from, the whole truth, it may unravel the arsons.”
She closed and opened her eyes. “I know. We should have told you earlier. It's just... complicated. We didn't want to burden you with all that.” When she reached out, he took her hands and squeezed them tightly.
“Jackson, you're my son, no matter what your DNA says. You're a Reynolds, and that's what matters. But I'll support you in finding the truth, whatever it may be. I'll help however I can, but remember, no matter what you find, you're loved, and you belong here.” Martha blew out a wistful breath.
“You’re right. Livvy reminded me of that too. I was a fool to forget it.” He got up and hugged her tightly.
He pulled his mother down into a chair beside him and took her hand. “I've been wondering about Dad's time on the town council. He never really talked much about it, but I’m curious about what really went down,” he managed to get the words out.
Martha sighed. “Oh, Jackson... Your father... he was a good man. He did his best to shield us from the ugly side of politics.”
Jackson looked alarmed. “What do you mean, Mom? Was something going on?”
“Well, your father started to suspect that certain members of the council were holding separate meetings, excluding him and Chuck Everhart. He thought they were trying to control things behind closed doors. He wasn’t wrong. Your dad and Chuck were two votes out of eleven. A couple of other members voted with them on occasion. David thought it was to look good.” Martha swallowed hard.
“That's messed up. Why would they do that?” He looked at Liv.
“Power, Jackson. It's always about power and control. Your father believed in transparency and fairness, but not everyone shared his principles. Olivia, your father believed that too.”
“Did they ever confront them about it?” Olivia asked.
“I think when he was first elected. But as time went on, it grew harder. The council members knew how to play the game, and they weren't afraid to play dirty.”
“Dirty?” Jackson asked.
