Darling Jenny

by Janet Dailey

  She rose from the armchair and tiptoed quietly to his door to check on him. As her shadow filled the doorway, Eric turned his head towards her, a pair of wide-awake, questioning blue eyes studying her.

  'Can't get to sleep?' she asked softly, not wishing their voices to wake Cindy in the next room. 'Is something troubling you, Eric?' He still failed to reply. 'Sometimes if you talk about it, your problem doesn't seem as bad when it's shared.'

  He rolled over so that he was facing her as Jennifer walked over to sit beside him on the bed. She could tell he was mulling over her words, trying to decide if he wanted to tell her.

  'I'll be glad to listen.'

  He looked at her solemnly.

  'Does God really hear everybody's prayer? Even a little kid's?'

  'Most especially little children's,' Jennifer asserted with a smile.

  'Does He always answer them?'

  'Oh, yes. He always answers them, but sometimes, Eric, the answer is "no".' His shoulders drooped at her words, and his chin settled down on his chest. 'What was your prayer for?'

  Two very sad blue eyes looked up at her with a hint of rebellion lurking in the darkness of his pupils.

  'I prayed that Logan would marry Mommy.' There was no masking the defiance of his voice. 'And that Dirk would go away and never come back.'

  Jennifer managed to smother her exclamation of dismay and reply calmly. 'That wouldn't be very fair to your sister. She likes Dirk, you know.'

  'She's just a baby.' Eric's chin trembled at his effort to hold back the two giant tears that were forming in his eyes. 'The only reason she likes him is because he gave us Rags. He was just a dog that nobody wanted.'

  'That's not true any more. Rags has a very good home here. I know Cindy loves him dearly, and I think you do too.'

  'I do not! He's ugly and clumsy and a coward! I want a dog like the one Logan has at his ranch. He's got a job and he's important. Uncle Logan says he could never take care of all those cattle without Ranger!'

  'Logan again,' Jennifer grimaced silently.

  'St. Bernards are very brave dogs, Eric. They've been used for years in Europe to rescue people lost in the snow. You should be proud of Rags, because his ancestors saved many people from blizzards and avalanches.'

  'I guess I like Rags all right.' He admitted reluctantly. But the brief flicker of interest her words had sparked was replaced quickly by sullenness. 'But I still don't like Dirk!'

  'But why?' Jennifer cried in a puzzled exclamation.

  'Because the last time he was here, he made Mommy cry! And I don't want her to cry again.' His last words ended in a painful sob.

  'Oh, Eric,' she murmured, reaching out her arms to the tortured little boy as he hurled himself into them. Holding the sobbing small body against her breast, Jennifer wondered how she could possibly explain to her nephew that Logan was more capable of making Sheila cry, too. As his weeping subsided gradually, she smoothed the dark hair on his tousled head and began to explain, 'People cry for all sorts of reasons. Because they're hurt or lonely or even because they're happy. You mustn't be too hard on Dirk. He may have made your mommy cry, but he also could make her very happy. That's what you want, isn't it? For her to be happy?' His dark head nodded slowly while his little hand manfully brushed away his tears. 'So why don't we just wait and see what happens, okay?'

  'Okay, Aunt Jenny,' he agreed quietly, moving out of her arms and back on to his bed.

  'Do you think you can go to sleep now?'

  'Yes.' He snuggled under the covers. 'I do feel better, too.'

  'I'm glad,' Jennifer smiled, silently wishing that she did. 'Good night, then. Sleep tight and don't let the bed-bugs bite,' she teased, dropping a light kiss on his forehead.

  'Good night.'

  At the rap on the door, Jennifer removed the organdie frilled apron that she was wearing to protect her long green velvet gown. The slender flowing lines of the dress softly accented her youthful curves while the deeply cut V-neck showed off her swan-like neck. The long sleeves, fitting the upper portion of her arms before fanning out gracefully around her wrists, gave the gown a slightly medieval effect. She had coiled her hair into a coronet of curls on top of her head which added to the image.

  She opened the front door to admit Dirk, whose arms were laden with gaily wrapped Christmas packages.

  'Merry Christmas!' he smiled widely.

  'You must be Santa Claus,' she teased as he managed to juggle a few of the packages into her arms. 'Eric! Would you come here? You have some more presents to put around the tree.'

  With the gifts safely distributed between Eric and Cindy, Jennifer helped Dirk off with his coat.

  'I kept expecting you to call me this afternoon and tell me not to come,' Dirk began nervously as he looked into the front room where the two children had engaged their grandparents' help in placing the packages around the tree. 'Where's Sheila?'

  'In the kitchen, as silent as a mummy.' She raised her eyebrow in an expressive shrug just as there was a knock at the door.

  'That'll be Logan,' said Dirk. 'They were just driving up when I knocked at the door.'

  Jennifer reluctantly opened the door and exchanged holiday greetings with Logan and the exceedingly charming woman who was his mother, before calling out to her sister.

  'Sheila, Logan and Mrs. Taylor are here!'

  There was a quick flurry of feet as Cindy and Eric descended on the pair, quickly relieving them of the burden of their packages. During that time, Jennifer had a few seconds to study Mrs. Taylor. She had half expected to meet an autocratic woman who doted on her son to the exclusion of everyone else. Her opinion was quickly revised when she looked into the crinkly brown eyes above the dimpled smile.

  But her inspection was halted by the sharp intake of breath from Dirk as her sister entered the room. The clinging knit pants suit with its widely belled legs was only a shade lighter than her brilliant blue eyes. Even her hair falling in a dark cloud around her shoulders glistened with a blue-black sheen. Jennifer couldn't prevent herself from glancing at Logan to see if his reaction to her sister was as marked as Dirk's, only to find him inspecting her. She took an involuntary step closer to Dirk in protection, hearing Logan's words of introduction of her to his mother in a muted fog.

  'Jenny Glenn. What an unusual and lyrical name!' His mother's voice called her back to reality. 'But it suits you perfectly. I look on your sister as an adopted daughter which makes you part of our family, too, so I insist that you call me Mandy.'

  It was impossible for Jennifer not to feel immediately warmed by this woman. In her own way, she was just as charming as her son, only instinctively Jennifer knew she was sincere while she still had many doubts about Logan's motives.

  Taking the fur-trimmed coat of Mrs. Taylor, Jennifer added it to Dirk's already draped over her arm and led the exodus into the living room. She was nearly to the hall doorway that led to the bedroom where they were keeping the wraps of the guests when she noticed Eric tugging Logan's arm insistently. Intuitively she knew his reason for whispering in Logan's ear had nothing to do with childish talkativeness. She and Logan simultaneously followed the path pointed out by the small finger, both pair of eyes coming to rest on the sprig of mistletoe dancing festively from a string above Sheila's head. Jennifer's lips compressed tightly. Her nephew was proving to be a very worthy opponent.

  'You have a romantically inclined son who believes in Christmas traditions being carried out,' Logan declared after he had walked over to Sheila, tapped her on the shoulder and pointed above her head. 'And I don't pass up any invitation to kiss a beautiful woman.'

  In the brief moment that Logan held Sheila's lips captive in a tender kiss, Jennifer was jolted by a never-before-known surge of jealousy. Amidst the teasing cheers that marked the end of the kiss, Logan's eyes met hers. All too aware that her emotions must be written on her face, she spun quickly away and hurried into the hallway and on to the bedroom. She dropped the coats quickly on the bed and clutched at the footb
oard to support her suddenly shaking legs.

  It was preposterous!, her mind sang out. That she could be jealous of Logan kissing her sister! It was out of the question! She despised the man, hated and despised him! It had to have been anger. Yes, anger—brought on by a combination of Eric's childish manipulations and Logan's natural Don Juan tendencies. Oh, God, please let it be anger! she cried silently to herself.

  'Is this where the coats go?'

  Still clutching tightly to the bed-rail, Jennifer pivoted swiftly around to face Logan. His glance flicked passed her to the bed.

  'I guess it must be,' answering his own question with a half smile. She watched him warily as he walked closer, stopping in front of her while tossing his coat past her on to the bed. She tried desperately to meet his gaze coolly. 'I had the distinct impression a few minutes ago that you wanted to scratch somebody's eyes out. Mine or Sheila's?'

  'I think your ego is showing,' Jennifer retorted, fighting the breathlessness in her voice.

  'Could be.' His head moved to one side indifferently, but his gaze remained on her pale face and trembling lips. 'I had decided you were too shy to share the chaste pleasures of a kiss under the mistletoe in a room full of people, and were seeking a more private place.' At her angry indrawn breath, he added, his tongue very definitely in cheek, 'But I dismissed that idea as being too inviting a suggestion from such an inviolate maiden. Did you know that shade of green makes your hair seem more red than gold?' he commented with a lightning change of subject.

  'I'm sorry you don't like it,' Jennifer retorted sarcastically. He was going too fast for her and she was too weak to keep up with him. No longer capable of meeting his gaze, she turned her back on him.

  'I like it.' His low voice had a smooth seductive quality to it now. His hand suddenly began caressing the back of her neck lightly. 'I've heard that near the base of the neck is the most vulnerable place to heighten a woman's desire. Is that true?'

  His fingertips were leaving a trail of fire that was rapidly beginning to course through her body.

  'Stop it!' she hissed, spinning quickly around to face him before she lost control. His hand rested now alongside her throat.

  'Your pulse is racing,' he drawled with the most irritating calmness considering the massive turmoil Jennifer was in.

  She stared into his mocking brown eyes. He knew exactly what he was doing to her and the knowledge that he knew infuriated her.

  'I despise you!' she sobbed as she shoved his hand away. 'You're…you're everything that's loathsome in a man. Every woman you meet must become a trophy for your ego!'

  'It's amusing how righteously sure of yourself you are, and still you're attracted to me.' His whole demeanour was quietly composed as he gazed down at her in fascination.

  'Attracted!' Jennifer cried. 'Repelled is a better word.'

  'I can see we're going to have a very stormy relationship,' Logan laughed.

  She spluttered angrily for a moment before flouncing out of the room. By the time she reached the living room, her temper was under control and only her hands clenched into tight fists betrayed her inner fury. She quietly shifted Cindy from her seat on the sectional couch beside Dirk to her lap, avoiding Logan's amused glanced when he followed her into the room after a discreet pause. The soothing sounds of 'Adeste Fidelis' and other Christmas carols that Sheila had placed on the record player eventually calmed her to the point where she could join in with the rest of the festive group. Sheila and Dirk, although seated across the room from one another, were on speaking terms.

  'Peace' had always been Christmas's theme, she thought, casting a thankful glance at the lack of hostilities between her sister and Dirk. She glanced resentfully towards Logan, who was listening very attentively to Mr. Jeffries, Sheila's father-in-law, but she certainly didn't feel any 'goodwill towards men' tonight.

  'Ithn't it time to open our prethents?' Cindy asked for the sixth time.

  'I agree with Cindy.' Mrs. Taylor spoke up from the chair on Jennifer's right. 'It's time to end the suspense.'

  'All right, all right,' Sheila laughed after being beseiged by two concurring children. 'Grandpa Paul, will you do the honours and distribute the presents?'

  As the gifts were passed around, the small living room became a chaotic confusion of brightly coloured wrapping paper, ribbon bows, and a babble of laughter and delighted voices. Jennifer's hand closed on the square package from Logan to her. After a brief flare of curiosity, she buried it beneath another from Sheila.

  'Oh, Jenny, thank you!' Mrs. Taylor exclaimed exuberantly, her fingers caressed the book fondly 'Someone must have told you of my obsession for books.'

  'Yes, they did,' Jennifer admitted.

  Then Jennifer's attention was drawn by the excited voice of her sister. She was holding aloft a beautiful turquoise and silver necklace.

  'It's magnificent, Logan,' Sheila breathed softly, as she hurriedly clasped it around her neck and lovingly fingered the delicately stamped silver chain.

  Logan was gazing at her with undisguised tenderness and admiration. 'The Navajo Indians believe that happiness and good fortune come to all who wear the turquoise stone. I hope you'll wear it as a symbol of all the things I wish for you.'

  Embarrassed to be unwillingly listening to Logan's declaration, Jennifer turned frustratedly to his mother, hoping to relieve the pain that was now gnawing at her breast. Mrs. Taylor was gazing at her son with a light of dawning wonder in her eyes. Quickly she glanced at Jennifer with the most absurdly bright twinkle in her eyes and a tremulous smile of pleasure on her lips. Jennifer suddenly realized that there was some significance to the necklace that Sheila had received. That smile on Mrs. Taylor's face had a knowing look to it that had nothing to do with the mere exchanging of Christmas gifts.

  Jennifer felt suddenly confused and helpless. Things were happening too quickly for her to have any control in shaping her own plans. She turned to Dirk, whose mouth had twisted into a grim line as he left the couch to help Cindy assemble one of her toys. He had noticed it, too. What was she going to do? she thought as her hands fumbled with a package.

  Logan slid silently into the seat beside Jennifer so recently vacated by Dirk. In his hands was her present to him, still wrapped.

  'As big and heavy as this is, I wonder if I should dare open it,' he mocked her.

  All of the impish pleasure that she had known when she had purchased his present was gone. She would have given anything to be able to snatch it away from his hands. But there he was busily unwrapping the paper. It was only a matter of seconds before the contents were revealed to Logan. Jennifer nearly cringed, awaiting his reaction, feeling none of the malicious amusement she had anticipated. After staring at it almost incredulously, Logan threw his head back and roared with laughter. Every person in the room turned their attention to him as Jennifer coloured furiously beneath his laughing eyes.

  He tore away the rest of the paper to show everyone the large basket of fruit. Since no one else had taken part in their conversation that day of the sleigh ride, they did not see the humour of the gift and stared in puzzlement at Logan.

  'Only you would think of this, Jenny Glenn.' Deep amusement rimmed his every word as his gaze shifted from her to his mother. 'I once told Jenny of my habit of sampling different "fruit",' he explained, 'so here we have everything from oranges to the proverbial apple of temptation.'

  Mrs. Taylor's melodic laugh joined in with the more hesitant ones from the rest of the group. Gradually everyone's attention was diverted back to their own gifts, allowing Jennifer's complexion to return to its normal colour. After unwrapping her present from Dirk and inhaling the scent of the expensive perfume, she was left with only one package, Logan's. She was reluctant to open it with him sitting right beside her. At that moment Sheila enlisted his help in the kitchen and Jennifer was able to open it without his embarrassing presence.

  A black, rectangular jewelry case gleamed out to her from the partially removed paper. Cautiously she opened
it and barely stifled a gasp of surprise and pleasure at its contents. On a cushion of white velvet rested two strands of delicate gold chain holding a cabochon-cut jade stone encircled by antique filigree work with brilliants of diamonds dotting the corners. She didn't know too much about gems, but this was obviously a very expensive piece of jewelry. She closed the lid quickly on the exquisite work of art, knowing she should refuse it yet longing to see it around her neck.

  'Jenny, would you give me a hand with the eggnog?' Sheila requested as she passed a tray to Mrs. Taylor, oblivious of the stunned silence of her sister.

  'Of course.' Jennifer was all too glad to put Logan's present down. Her hand was practically on fire just touching it.

  She escaped as quickly as she could into the kitchen, avoiding any contact with Logan's searching eyes as she darted past him. But minutes later, his footsteps muffled by the clinking of crystal glasses, he entered the kitchen.

  'Sheila makes awfully good eggnog,' he remarked as he halted beside her.

  Jennifer's hand paused midway between filling another glass. She tried to breathe naturally while smiling in agreement with him.

  'You're not wearing the necklace,' glancing casually at her unadorned neck. 'I thought it would look nice with that gown.'

  Jennifer placed the ladle back in the bowl and turned towards him with a determined lift to her chin.

  'It was very beautiful,' she said sincerely, 'but I just can't accept it.'

  He lifted an eyebrow at her as the small smile died on his face. 'Why not?'

  'It's much too expensive.' She suddenly found it difficult to explain why she wanted to refuse it. 'It just wouldn't be right for me to.'

  'We can hardly be considered strangers—after all, we spent a night together in the same bed. I would hardly think a piece of costume jewelry could be classified as a compromising gift after that.'

  'Costume jewelry?' Jennifer whispered in an astounded voice. 'I thought it was jade.'