Jackpot! Read online

  So incredibly original and refreshing, it has all the elements that make it a fabulous read including witty dialogue, romance, humor, a remarkably original plot and wonderful characters. Jackpot! is a novel that readers of authors like Emily Giffin, Sophie Kinsella and Jennifer Weiner will adore!

  -Danielle Smith, Chick Lit Reviews

  Jackie Pilossoph definitely hits the jackpot with her sophomore novel. With snappy dialogue and loveable personality traits, the two main characters will become your friends. Add in a heart clenching plot twist and plenty of scenes that will leave you laughing out loud!

  -Samantha Robey, Chick Lit +

  Copyright © 2010 Jackie Pilossoph

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 1461135079

  ISBN-13: 9781461135074

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-4392-9596-0

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. For information address: [email protected]

  This book is dedicated to my two little jackpots, Isaac and Anna

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  A big thank you to the following people:

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Epilogue

  A big thank you

  to the following people:

  Christine Reiter Salah for editing this book for me, Mia McNary for her amazing artistic ability, Dina Silver for giving me the guts to actually go through with this, Anne Paul Clarke for being my on-call attorney, Jackie Langas for becoming a PR agent for HOOK, LINE AND SINK HIM, Sandy Sroubek for schlepping to LA with me for the HOOK, LINE AND SINK HIM book launch, just to be by my side, Kathy Jeffery for attending multiple book events (and working booths) with me, Jamie Gelb and Ruby Kang for flying here to come to the HOOK, LINE AND SINK HIM launch party, the wonderful Glenview community who supported me and gave me an overwhelming turnout for the launch party, all the people who came to multiple book events for me just because they knew I needed a crowd, the editors from Make It Better and Patch for publishing my articles, Lisa Kappes for bringing her entire book club to the NBC 10 show to support me, Chris Blackman for getting me on the NBC 10 show, Mary Beth Wilkas for driving me to my book signings in Philadelphia, Mike Hamernick for the WGN appearance, Shana Drehs for giving me the confidence that Jackpot was a really great book, Matt Balson for building me an awesome website (really quickly), all the people who took time to read my manuscripts: Lynn Bruno, Jennifer Devine, Keri Williams, Melissa Uhlig, Laura Harris, Holly Hamburg, Susan Slutzky, Cindy Klaja McLaughlin, Melinda Boutsikakis, Alixe Small, Christine Reiter Salah, Anne Paul Clarke, Susan Palkovic, Liz Becker, John Fitzpatrick, Julie Kadish, Kate Weaver, Kristin Portolese, Mitch Galin, Sue Pilossoph, Frieda Pilossoph, Robin Pilossoph and Vicki Pilossoph, all the women who hosted me at their book clubs over the past year, the Cinnamon 7 whose friendships are so dear to me, my family who continues to stand by me and support all my nutty ideas, my dad for his everlasting encouragement and words of support, my mom for being my best friend, my boyfriend, Mark, who always makes it clear he’s rooting for me, and of course, my kids, who continue to give me overwhelming joy and happiness every day.

  Although I have problems and issues (just like everyone else), I truly feel like in life, I’ve already won the JACKPOT!

  From The Chicago Tribune obituaries,

  December 21, 1982

  Jacobson, Seth Alan

  Seth Alan Jacobson, 27, of Chicago, passed away on December 18, 1982. A funeral service will be held tomorrow at 12:15 at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1650 W. Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL. He is survived by his loving wife, Francine (Frankie), his son Danny, 5, and his daughter, Jamie, 3.

  Prologue

  The year 2011…

  Jamie

  “How much are these again?”

  The shoe salesman answered with slight annoyance in his voice, “Four ninety-five.”

  As Jamie Jacobson looked once again in the two foot mirror that was on the carpet of the Saks shoe department, she continued admiring the strappy gold Jimmy Choos on her feet. The thought of spending almost five hundred dollars she didn’t have for a pair of sandals was semi-ridiculous, therefore causing her major anxiety. On the other hand, she knew she looked hot hot hot!

  Jamie turned her right foot about 5 degrees to appreciate the side view. Then she did the same with her left foot. ‘I can think of at least five occasions I need them for,’ she sold herself.

  She could actually hear her mother’s voice inside her head. ‘No one looks at your shoes, they look at your eyes.’

  Jamie spoke to herself again. ‘I’ve had a rough week. These will really put me in a good mood.’

  Again she heard her mother. ‘You’re getting married soon. That doesn’t put you in a good mood?’

  ‘My feet look like Halle Berry’s,’ was Jamie’s best selling point. Her mother had no response.

  “I’ll take them,” Jamie told the salesman.

  “Very nice,” he responded, instantly perking up and transforming into a cheerful guy, “How are you going to pay for these?”

  Suddenly Jamie was offended. “What?” she snapped, “Do I look like I can’t pay for these?”

  “All I meant was credit card, cash or check?”

  “Oh,” Jamie responded humbly, “Visa.”

  Jamie’s new Jimmy Choos sat in her closet for exactly two hours before she decided to wear them out for dinner with some friends that evening. Walking down Michigan Avenue, she felt confident in her slinky black halter dress, but it was the shoes that made her feel like a movie star. With her head held high and her shoulders back, Jamie strutted down the block like she owned it. Several men noticed her. She noticed them noticing, and smiled as she thought about how glad she was that she bought the shoes and didn’t listen to her mother.

  When she reached a stoplight, she stopped walking and waited to cross with a handful of other pedestrians. That’s when she heard something awful. It was a sound that actually made her cringe. A toddler was screaming and crying. Before Jamie even turned around to find out where the annoying noise was coming from, a baby stroller pulled up next to her and she saw the little terror. ‘Please God,’ she prayed silently,
‘make the light turn green quickly.’ Then she gave the kid’s mother a fake, sympathetic smile. The light remained red.

  “Here, sweetie,” said the brat’s mom to her son as she handed him the McDonald’s milkshake she was holding, “Will this make you feel better?”

  Jamie rolled her eyes and looked at the boy with disgust. ‘Thank the Lord this will never be me,’ she thought, as she saw the light turn green. Then, just as she was about to take her first step across the street, she felt it. Cold, thick, sticky liquid on her feet. She gasped when she looked down and saw the milkshake the toddler had just thrown on her sandals. All she could do was stand there with her mouth hanging open.

  Danny

  Outside a Lincoln Park Starbucks, a beautiful girl sat at one of the tables drinking a venti skim misto and reading the Chicago Tribune. She kept to herself until she saw a really good looking, dark skinned, dark haired guy come out of the store. They exchanged smiles, and then he approached her.

  “Mind if I sit here?” Danny asked.

  She answered amenably, “Not at all.”

  It took a mere ten minutes for both to decide there was enough chemistry between them to take things a step further.

  “What do you say we continue this little meeting on the patio of Que Rico?” Danny suggested, “A couple of margaritas, some chips and salsa?”

  Now the girl, whose name was Kate, seemed hesitant. “I’d love to but…”

  “Don’t tell me you have a date,” interrupted Danny, with his best puppy dog face, “I’m a pretty fragile guy.”

  “No, it’s just…”

  ‘What’s her deal?’ Danny thought to himself, ‘A second ago she seemed to be digging me. Why is she backing off now?’

  Then he heard, “Mommy!” and saw a little girl running toward them.

  “Hi, sweetie!” answered Kate.

  Now Danny realized the woman he was hitting on was a mom, too. He watched the little girl give her a tight hug. Boy, she was a cute kid, he thought. Looked just like her mom, in fact.

  “Danny, this is my daughter, Sophia,” Kate said proudly, “Sophia, this is my friend, Danny.” Sophia smiled shyly, which made Danny smile.

  “Hi Sophia!” he exclaimed.

  There was a moment of awkward silence, broken by Danny introducing himself to Sophia’s babysitter, who he thought was quite a looker, too. Then, a second later, the actor looked at his watch and began to act. “Hey, I just realized, I have a 5:30 audition,” he exclaimed with fake surprise in his voice. He felt guilty about the lie, but he had a policy, and that was never to date women with children.

  As cute and sweet as Sophia seemed, Danny always resisted getting involved with single moms and their kids. He actually looked up to the moms immensely, and had tons of respect for them, not to mention that 99% of the time they were smokin’ hot! But it was himself he doubted, because he knew he didn’t have the ability to make them happy.

  First of all, he could barely take care of himself, both emotionally and financially, let alone try to support a family. Then there was the commitment factor. Obviously, if a woman had a child, she had most likely been in a committed relationship at one point, and probably wanted that again. Danny was smart enough to realize that his picture should be next to the word commitment-phobe in the dictionary (if commitment-phobe was actually in the dictionary.) So, no offense to Sophia, or her gorgeous mom, but he had to bail.

  Before anyone could respond, Danny was already standing up. “It’s been really nice talking to you,” he said to Kate. “Nice meeting you, Sophia!”

  Danny never turned around to see the confused looks on all their faces, but he wasn’t confused. Things were very clear to him. It was clear that he was a huge jackass.

  Frankie

  The smile on her face was huge, but inside, Frankie Jacobson felt like crying. There she stood, holding a big plate of noodle koogle, watching yet another one of her friends’ grandchildren get circumcised. This was Marilyn Grazer’s third grandson, and the third briss of hers Frankie had been to in the last four years. It seemed like all of her friends’ kids were reproducing, while Frankie’s own two selfish offspring weren’t even close.

  When the Moyle performed the actual circumcision on poor baby Noah, the child wailed. Then everyone shouted “Mazol Tov,” and immediately afterward the contest began.

  “Guess who’s expecting number three?” Sheila Katz beamed to a circle of women standing around eating lox and bagels.

  All of the women turned their attention to Sheila, already a grandmother of seven.

  “Joshie!” she exclaimed.

  “Oh my God, Sheila!” responded a woman.

  “Honey, that’s wonderful,” said someone else.

  “I wish you the best, Sheila,” replied Frankie, who wanted to scream with frustration, but instead continued to eat, while mingling with the other grandmothers.

  Sheila’s announcement caused all of the women to quickly put down their plates of food and begin digging through their purses, pulling out baby pictures, and showing off the grandchildren.

  “Look, here are David’s kids, Lilly and Jeffrey,” Marcy Rothberg proudly declared.

  “Very nice,” faked Frankie.

  A woman leaned over to have a look. “Absolutely gorgeous!” she exclaimed.

  As the contest of who had the most grandchildren continued, Frankie looked across the room at Marilyn, who now had baby Noah contented in her arms. She thought about Marilyn, how her kids had married well and had given her so much joy with the births of their babies. Didn’t every mother deserve to be a grandmother? Wasn’t it one of the only benefits of getting old? Now on the brink of sixty, Frankie felt like she was getting up there. She also felt she deserved grandchildren more than any woman here, simply because her husband had died when she was so young, robbing her of so much happiness. Frankie wasn’t bitter, though. She had ended up living a good life, thanks to her two children, who had both given her great joy when they were younger.

  Jamie and Danny were both healthy, beautiful, smart and driven, all the characteristics for which a parent hopes. Frankie was proud that both of her kids graduated college, were registered voters, and even managed to donate blood every six months, which they knew pleased their mother. Somewhere along the line, though, Frankie’s son and daughter had lost all sense of what was important in life; family. Neither was interested in long-term commitment or babies. All they cared about were their careers, which according to Frankie were self-serving narcissistic ones.

  True, Danny was a teacher and a basketball coach for one of the Chicago Public Schools, a very noble and selfless profession, but his first love was acting, and thirteen years after college, he was still modeling for print ads with hopes of getting discovered. Her daughter, Jamie was the lottery number picker for WGB. Frankie didn’t understand this. Didn’t she want more out of life than being an on-air celebrity? Where had her kids gotten the desire to be in the limelight? Certainly not from her.

  As she continued to glance at all the grandmothers in the crowd, Ester Cohen must have been reading her mind. “Is Jamie still dating that lawyer?” Ester asked her.

  Frankie gleamed with pride. “Oh, yes! I’m waiting, any day for their engagement,” she answered. Frankie wondered if she sounded convincing enough. She knew in her heart her daughter would probably never go through with a wedding to her current boyfriend, Max, even though Frankie adored the boy. Still, she could dream, right?

  “Mazol, Frankie” replied a woman.

  “Yes, honey. You deserve some good news,” added Marcy Rothberg.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” the woman asked in Frankie’s defense.

  “I just mean,” said Marcy, “it’s her turn. You know, for marriages…” she hesitated, “and babies.”

  “From your lips, Marcy,” said Frankie.

  At that moment, Marilyn Grazer walked up to the crowd, proudly holding sleeping Noah in her arms. “Sid says he looks exactly like me. What do you think
?”

  All the women responded on cue and made a fuss once again over Noah. Frankie couldn’t muster up the strength for more fake praise, so she opted for the job of photographer, grabbing a disposable camera from a nearby coffee table. “Let me get a picture, Marilyn,” she called out as she focused in on grandma and baby.

  “How’s that gorgeous son of yours, Frankie?” yelled out Sandy Greenberg.

  “Danny? He’s fine,” replied Frankie, who spoke of him as if she barely cared. She did care. She was just irritated and frustrated because she knew her son was a playboy who could not have been further from diaper changing and bottle feeding.

  “Is he seeing anyone?” asked a woman.

  “I really don’t know,” replied Frankie.

  All of a sudden, the earth shattering scream from across the room could have given any one of these woman a heart attack. “Guess who’s engaged?” the screamer screamed, “Neil!”

  Dramatic gasps could be heard from all the women, staging their responses as they congratulated the screamer and talked about it amongst themselves. All except for Frankie, whose smile returned but whose insides were burning with envy. Three of her friends watched Frankie while they talked about her.

  “Poor Frankie” said Sandy Greenberg, “Lost her husband at such a young age and now all she’s got is a divorced daughter…”

  “And a son who will never settle down,” finished Marcy Rothberg. Marcy looked at Sandy and another woman, who didn’t know Frankie very well. “He dated both our daughters,” she said.

  Sandy validated the statement with a firm nod.

  They all knew how badly Frankie wanted babies. But they also knew her children, and it was a well-known fact that Jamie and Danny Jacobson were about as far away from marriage and family as the earth was from the moon.

  “I’m sure Frankie will have grandchildren someday,” the woman added, “Eventually, everyone settles down.”