Jenny was worried this conversation was spiraling in that direction, so she stuck her nose inside the book he gave her.
A few pages in and Grant's voice became a low, gravelly hum in the background, barely noticeable. Most of what he said had been heard time and time again. All of them felt sad, sometimes guilty because of Xavier's death, but it simply wasn't something that needed to be revisited in Grant's gloomy recollection. Her memories were all she had of Xavier. She didn't need them sullied by his constant guilt. It was too much, his constant attempts to make up for any shortcomings or slights from the past. To sprint down a path of what-ifs, only to end up with the same conclusion. Xavier. Was. Gone.
He cleared his throat and stood, wiping his eye. “Want me to leave it out for your next visitor?” Grant gestured toward the folding chair.
Jenny let the book fall to her chest. “No, I think I want to be alone for awhile.”
“Gotcha. No problem, girlie.” Grant folded the chair and slid it underneath the lounger. “I know how you ladies are with your alone time.” He gave a halfhearted chuckle, letting it trail off before he started again, “Thanks for listenin’ to this old man ramble on.”
“Anytime. You know that.”
He stepped into the adjoining room of her tent.
“Grant,” she called. The swishing of his feet over the nylon floor stopped. “I owe you.” His head poked back into the rear portion of the tent. From Jenny's angle, the lantern’s glow cast deep shadows beneath his eyes, a yellow tinge to his skin. He appeared sickly hunched over in the tent—his hands still quivering as it held back the door. “Me and Matt owe you our lives. You know that, right?”
“You two don’t owe me nothin’. I owe you.” He lowered his voice. “No tellin’ what the S.A. would’ve done with me. I knew too much. They might’ve just been toyin' around with me before they’d finally taken me out. Honestly, if it weren’t for you two talkin’ me into leavin’, I’d prolly be the next one out on the scaffolding. Just... just swingin' there.” His voice broke a little, and he scratched along the bridge of his nose. “Don’t ever think it no other way. I owe the both of you.”
“We'll call it even, then.” Jenny knew he meant it. His acts of kindness. His checking up on her. Grant's concern never crossed the line of overbearing, never gave the impression he helped because he felt she couldn't provide for herself. Never because she was just a girl. He was there because he cared, genuinely cared.
“Get some rest.”
After Grant left, she continued to read for another hour or two, anxiously biding her time before her inevitable conversation with Danny. He's going to sit me out. I just know it. Numerous times she had to go back and read entire pages. Too worried. Too distracted. Occasionally, the stamping of boots outside her tent gave her hope, then nothing—no Danny.
In between her thoughts and any passing commotion, the silence was driving her mad. All that anticipation. Not to mention the worry of her pregnancy and how she'd manage that. Plus, how Danny would manage her in that condition once he knew. How much longer could she hide it? She palmed her belly with both hands. Still flat. Once this gets out, I'm done… And I thought Matt and Danny were overprotective before. She set the book next to the lantern. There had been enough relaxing. I'm gonna go find him.
She slid her legs from the lounger and nearly knocked a canteen over that Grant had forgotten. May as well... A quick swig, refreshing. Thirst always seemed to sneak up on her, especially in the winter—the lack of heat and sweat gave her a false sense of being hydrated. It wasn't until she saw the canteen that her mouth felt dry and wanting for what was inside. She drew a few more gulps then put it on her side table. Much better.
Secretively, she squeezed her head from the tent, peeking in both directions before sealing it back up. Still no Danny... What's taking him so long? Jenny snatched her pants from atop a small trunk at the foot of her lounger. They were still cold from earlier, moist in some spots. She sighed, and with no other choice, began to jerk them on. But before she managed to get her second leg through, the tent's zipper shook, startling her. “I'm changing. Give me a sec,” she forced a loud whisper.
The rustling didn't let up.
“Hey!” No longer a whisper. “I'm changing. Give it up.” She hobbled toward the door, one leg still working to get inside a pant leg. “Stop, damn it!” Gripping the zipper, she managed to tear it away from the trespasser and seal it again. It seemed to be enough to deliver the message. “I'll only be another second.”
“Jenny...”
Who the hell is that? “Matt?”
Nothing.
No, Matt knows not to just barge in here. Annoyed, she called out again, “Who is it?”
“Let me in. Or I'll huff and I'll puff...”
Her heart sank. Griffin. Damn it. Why...? I thought he was supposed to be gone. “Almost finished.” Although she wanted to scream, tell him off, she couldn't, not with him. No one dared stand up to him. I've got to get out of here. “I'm heading out. We can talk outside.”
“That's no good.”
Now, only a foot from the door, Jenny stood frozen in place, unable to move as the small zipper swung around its track. Her breathing accelerated. The tent seemed to be collapsing on her. She retreated, but with nowhere to go, her feet moved back toward the front. When he opens it up, I'm going to squeeze right by him. Waiting. Breathing. Then, the zipper stopped short, and Griffin pushed his way through, sealing the tent behind him, leaving nothing to chance. “Anyone else in here?” His eyes were serious, brown and deep.
Jenny lifted the partition to the back of her tent. “No one. Go ahead. Take a look.” She held her breath, waiting for his feet to move, so she could escape. Or at least try.
“I trust you. No need for that.” He stepped toward her, shoulders stiff and broad—tribal tattoos ran the length of his exposed arms. “What took you so long?” he asked, eyes locked, his path aimed squarely at her. She had no choice, but to bury herself further into the tent. “You know I don't like secrets.”
“I said I was changing.”
“That should've been reason enough to let me in sooner,” he said, towering over her, barely a foot away.
She trembled down onto her lounger, her body folding inward, anything to keep him from touching her. It didn't work. He set his hand on her shoulder. Her gut twitched. “You—you shouldn't be in here,” she stumbled, managing something close to a whisper.
If Griffin had heard her, he didn't lead on as such, his thumb began along her collar bone, longingly. Slight pressure. Lust-filled. “Something very special about you, you know?”
“Please...” She turned her head from him. His words, his touch made her skin crawl.
“Heard you were hurt, so I came to check on you.” Griffin lifted her chin, trying to force her eyes to meet with his, but she kept them away. “Gotta check on my folks, right? Can't have people thinking that I don't care. Isn't that thoughtful of me?”
“Yes,”—she wriggled her face from his hand and tucked it into her shoulder—“very thoughtful.” She forced a hurt smile. “We all appreciate what you give us here.”
“I would hope so. Taking you three in out of the goodness of my heart. Who else would’ve done that?”
Jenny said nothing.
“Huh?” He grabbed her face, contorting it in his hand, leaning in toward her. “Who else would have been genius enough to see this place for what it is?” Spittle landed with his anger. “No one else had the resources to put this together. All this shit is mine.”
“I know it is.”
“You still owe me.”
Jenny gulped. “I—”
Griffin shoved her face. “And don't you forget it.”
“Jenny, you decent?” It was Danny.
“Yes. Come in!” The zipper couldn't make it around quick enough.
A sense of relief washed over her as she snatched the lantern and shot from the bed toward the front room. Griffin casually followed her, playing off
any hostility.
“Damn zipper,” Danny cursed.
“Need some help?” Jenny begged, inching her way to the side opposite Griffin, making it so when Danny entered, he'd be in between the two of them, unknowingly protecting her.
Griffin mouthed to her, “Not a word.”
She creaked a timid up and down with her chin, cowering in the corner, keeping watch of him. Why can't you leave me alone? The hate plastered across his face was unnerving. Everything about him was unnerving.
“Griff, what you doing here?”
Finally!
“Heard our little deer hunter wasn't feeling well, so I figured I'd come and check on her. Make sure she's alright.” His eyes never left her. “Isn't that right?”
Jenny nodded.
“Seems like you're feeling better.” Danny took hold of her shoulders and squared himself to her, giving her a once-over. “You're gonna—” He paused as if he knew she was in distress. Jenny had never been good at hiding her emotion, especially from Danny. His gaze narrowed into hers. She felt that her eyes bled with the anger Griffin bore into them just moments ago. Couldn't Danny see the redness along her jaw from where Griffin had nearly ripped it off? “Are you okay?” He took the lantern from her and hung it on its hook.
“Yes...” Jenny felt it sounded unconvincing enough to warrant a follow-up question, but none arrived.
“Good.” He offered a stern nod. “Now, I thought long and hard on it, and I know you're gonna be pissed, but you're gonna have to take a little break from training. Can't have you running around fainting on us again. House mouse duty it is for a little while.”
“Nice,” Griffin said. “It'll be good having Jenny around here on a more frequent basis. Things always run a little better with her around.”
Fuck you! She nearly broke down at the thought, but slammed her eyes shut, keeping her tears inside. “Can't I—” But she stopped herself, knowing a complaint would only piss Danny off, knowing it wouldn't change his mind, especially if she questioned his decision in front of Griffin. “Let me guess.” She stifled a sob. “I'll be doing the daily checks?”
“Just a time out. It's not the end of the world.”
But it felt like it was. You can't do this to me. It'll kill me to keep me bottled up in here with him. Without the outside world. I need that! I can't be here alone.
“Nothing to say?” Danny gave her a moment. “What if I try and assign you with Grant? Would that be better? Maybe learn someth—”
“I think I'd rather she be on the daily checks,” Griffin interrupted. “Grant has Lars to help him out. He doesn't need anyone else. If she's working the dailies with the other folks, they'll get done faster, and she'll have more downtime to get her rest, right Jenny?”
She said nothing. Her lack of response caused Griffin's jaw to bulge.
“It hasn't been that long,” Danny said. “You remember what you're doing, or do you need a walk-through refresher?”
“Actually, you know what”—Jenny shifted her attention back to Griffin—”it feels like it's been awhile. Probably wouldn't hurt to have a quick run-through.”
“Alright, after breakfast tomorrow, we'll handle it.”
Griffin smirked. She noticed his clenched fists down at his side, the knuckles flaring—a quick temper rose inside of him. Scowling, he made his way toward the door. “Just make sure she's ready to go by tomorrow afternoon. No mistakes!” His outburst seemed to shake the tent, but Jenny realized it was simply Griffin unzipping the door to leave. The thumping of his boots trailed off.
Once convinced he wasn't coming back, Jenny exhaled—her breathing, her pulse, everything began to normalize. Danny watched her unwind in front of him. “I still don't get why you like him so much.” Her words punched with hostility.
Danny cast a strange look across his face. “Old habits never die, I guess.”
“Who cares if he was your partner! You guys aren't the police anymore!”
“You done yet? You look done. Might want to take it easy before you pass out again.”
“Low blow, Danny.” Ass. “You want to know the truth, even though it's none of your business?”
He waited.
“I'm—”
“Pregnant.”
The word stunned her. To hear someone else say it made it much more real. She rested her hands lightly against her stomach and looked at him. He unhooked the lantern and gestured for her to follow him to the back. She followed him while her mind wandered. How does he know? Is it that obvious? Does Matt know? Danny seated himself on the lounger and patted the cushion next to him. Jenny took the spot, immediately bracing herself against his shoulder.
Silently, Danny stared at the floor.
“How'd you know?” Jenny begged. “How?”
“You don't have four kids yourself and not know when a woman's pregnant.” Wrapping his arm around her, he let out a quick laugh. “Oh, and there's this.” He set the pregnancy test into her lap.
“How'd you—?” She manipulated it in her hand. “How'd you find it.”
“Went to piss in the backyard. Must've still been warm ‘cause the snow around it was gone.”
“You're lying.”
“I know, I accidentally peed on it too.”
“Eww.” She dropped it.
“I'm kidding,” he laughed. “But seriously, with four kids, it wasn’t a secret. The test just confirmed it.”
“You never mentioned you had—”
“No one shares everything with everyone.” He licked his lips. “Right?”
“I was going to—”
“It's your business, not mine. You don't have to tell anyone, but eventually people are gonna know. You can only hide it for so long. Dressing for the winter weather will hide it for now, but once it's spring and you get bigger, you're not gonna want to wear all that shit.”
“I wanted to say something...” Tears began to well inside her eyes. “I'm scared.”
“We're here for you.” He squeezed her tightly against him. “You know we got you.”
“We? Did you tell Matt?”
“Not my place to tell him.”
“Thanks.” She nuzzled deeper into the crook of his shoulder, crying. “I still don't know how the hell to do this.”
“We'll get both of you through it.”
“Matt's gonna be—”
“Not talking about Matt. Talking about you and the baby.”
Jenny tried to smile but couldn't. “I know...” She drew back from him, tying her hair up, trying to distract herself enough to suppress the flow of tears. “Don't make me do checks.” A sniffle and she wiped her sleeve across her eyes and nose.
“We have to...”
“But what about my training? I've worked too hard.” Her crying deepened. “I can still do it. Don't—”
“I can't have you getting hurt, especially now that you're...”
Jenny scowled—angry this had become an excuse, a reason to exclude her. She bit hard into her lip, trying her damnedest not to snap. A deep breath then she eased into her argument. “I'm not feeble. Yeah, I know I passed out today, but I've been overdoing it, not eating. I won't do that again. If I'm with you, you can watch over me and make sure I take care of myself. Don't leave me here.” The thought of Griffin and seeing him every day caused her breathing to elevate. “Don't do that to me.”
Danny ran his hands through his hair and sighed before cradling his forehead in his hands. “I...” He drew his head back. The light from the lantern showed his deep thought—the back and forth within him.
“I'll listen,” Jenny urged. “I'll listen to everything. I can help. I shot the deer today. I'm not a child.”
“You need to get some sleep. Let me think on it, and I'll let you know in the morning.”
“It's not that—”
“Listening, right? To everything? It'd be good to start that right now.”
Jenny nodded emphatically, sniffing, drying a few more tears from her face. “Yeah, okay. Y
ou're right.”
Danny pitched her another granola bar that had been taken from the house earlier in the day. “Eat this and go to bed.”
“Right.”
Chapter Five
“So, it's Jenny, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, come on now, you don't have to be so formal with me. I know I'm in charge and everything, but most around here just call me Griffin. Maybe a few other things behind my back, but Griffin's what I prefer. That sir stuff went out the window a long time ago.”
“Griffin... Okay, I can do that. And just so you know, that's all I've heard you be called. I haven't heard a negative thing about you or anyone else since we've been here. This place is great. Everyone's been so nice and happy to show us around.”
“Well, that I'm glad to hear. We've done our best to be a beacon for others in the area. Quite a few people that've been lost or ready to give up have come to our door looking for a second chance. You three aren't the first.”
“Believe me, all of us appreciate it. You have no idea.”
“It's simple enough here. All I ask is you earn your keep by working hard and following the rules. That sounds reasonable, right?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“Good. So, let me think here... It's been about what, two weeks now?”
“I think that's right.”
“Did they assign you a job yet?”
“They—”
“Not a big deal if they haven't. Sometimes it takes awhile to find where you fit in. I know they assigned Grant over with Lars, seems like that'll be a good fit for the both of them. But where to put you...”
“They have me helping with the daily checks, little things like that.”
“Oh. Well, that sounds about right. It’s a good starter job for the newcomers. It'll ease you into the Depot, show you how things are done. But tell me, and be honest, what would you like to do if you could have your pick?”
Almawt Virus Series (Book 3): Days Since...Jenny [Day 986] Page 6