She wanted to laugh and cry in the same breath. “Oh, Jack, how I’ve missed you.” She put a hand over the phone and sniffled.
“Jenna? What’s the matter, babe?”
“I’m just so happy to be talking to you.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? How did it go yesterday?”
Jenna relayed the entire day’s events, minus the exchange between her and Daniel. No good could come of that, especially with Jack being so far away. At least for now.
“Well, nobody said the transition would be an easy one. I’m glad you’re staying positive.”
She shook her head. “How do you do that?”
He chuckled lightly. “How do I do what?”
“You have this uncanny knack of making everything seem less complicated.”
“I miss you.”
His sigh tugged at her heartstrings. “Do you know what I miss most?”
“I know it’s not my coffee...”
Jenna blinked away the tears threatening to fall. “I miss you in bed next to me.” She swallowed hard.
“Aw, babe. Me, too. I haven’t slept in our bed since you’ve been gone.”
She straightened in her chair. “Oh God, I’m so sorry, Jack.”
“Don’t be sorry. I can’t help it if I keep reaching out for you and you’re not there. I get a better sleep on the couch, lulled by the soothing serenade of Tito snoring.”
She had to laugh at the vivid picture his words painted.
“This whole ordeal is so not fair to you.” A deep breath kept her fragile emotions in check. She’d only make him feel bad if she gave in and cried like she wanted to.
“Don’t you worry about me, I’m not going anywhere. You just concentrate on Angel so you can come home to me.”
“I can’t even venture a guess as to how long this is going to take.” She chewed on her bottom lip.
“Listen, Jenna. The only promise I need from you is that you’ll stop worrying about me.”
She smiled despite the ache in her heart. “Okay, I promise...I’ll try.”
He laughed. “I love you, Jenna, but I kind of interrupted the chief and I told him I’d only be a minute.”
It was so much harder not to cry than she’d thought it would be. “I love you, too. When can you call again?”
“How about Wednesday, same time?”
“Okay. Try and get a good night’s sleep tonight.”
“You betcha. I’ll be dreaming of you.”
Jenna set the phone on the end table and got up to stand by the window. Gazing at a star-filled sky always made her feel connected to Jack, even though she’d never been so conflicted in her life.
Her sadness slowly gave way to a thought formulating in her mind. A slow smile spread across her face. Regardless of how things go this week, I’m going to surprise Jack with a visit for the weekend. She wrapped her arms around herself and smiled up at the sky.
“I’ll see you soon, my love.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jenna flopped into an overstuffed armchair on the back deck. The estate grounds were spectacular, changing from one breathtaking view to another with the seasons. They had every luxury imaginable: indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, and even a top of the line theater that seated twenty.
None of it meant anything to her.
“Hey there, kiddo. What are you up to today?” Charles stepped onto the deck and sat beside her.
“I have absolutely no idea. I think I’ll go crazy waiting for Angel’s decision to have me in her life or not.”
“Maybe you need to find something to take your mind off things for a while.”
“What exactly did I do around here to pass the time? I can count on one hand the times I remember actually swimming in our pools.”
“I seem to remember your favorite pastime was shopping. Why don’t you give Buffy a call? I’m surprised she hasn’t pinned you down since you’ve been back.”
Jenna winced. “Actually, she did leave a few messages. I haven’t returned any of them.”
He arched his brow. “There’s nothing stopping you from doing so right now. Why don’t you give her a ring and ask her to do lunch or something?”
“I think I will. What are your plans?”
He shrugged. “You know, I worked for your father for the past twenty years, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. That didn’t leave a whole lot of time for socializing.”
“Aw, that’s kind of sad. Do you want to come and have lunch with us?”
He shook his head. “Oh no. I love you, but spending the afternoon shopping with the girls...” He chuckled light-heartedly. “I think I’ll track down John and see what kind of trouble we can get into.” He stood and offered his hand to pull her to her feet. “Unless of course you were thinking of having John drive you around?”
“No, you go ahead and spend the day with John. I’ll get Buffy to pick me up with her driver.”
Charles kissed her cheek and went off in search of John.
Jenna went inside to phone Buffy. After a few minutes of catching hell for not returning her calls, they agreed she’d come pick her up in an hour.
Upstairs, she stood in her closet looking at the vast array of clothes.
I definitely won’t be shopping for something to wear. In fact, I can’t imagine ever wearing ninety percent of these clothes again. At one time they obviously meant a lot to me, but I’m not that girl anymore.
“I don’t want to be that girl anymore,” she affirmed aloud.
Jenna smiled at her reflection, opting for a white, sleeveless blouse and jeans. A messy updo and silver hoops in her ears completed her look; one vastly different from the ‘lunch with the girls’ ensemble she’d have chosen before the accident. Buffy would definitely have something to say about it.
By the time she reached the front door, her friend’s driver was just pulling the limo up. The car barely came to a stop when Buffy bolted from the backseat and practically threw herself at Jenna, knocking her back a few steps.
“Hey, easy girl.” She laughed, having missed her friend more than she realized.
“It’s so good to see you.” Stepping back, Buffy put her hands on her slender hips. “I should be mad at you.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. Once we’ve had a chance to catch up, you’ll understand why I’ve been so distracted.”
Buffy tilted her head sideways. Her brow creased as she stroked her chin. “There’s something different about you?” She hmmed and hawed. “Are you actually going to leave the house without any make-up on?”
Jenna scowled at her childhood friend. “I’m wearing mascara…and lip gloss. What’s wrong? Are you saying I need more makeup that badly?”
Buffed put her hands up in T formation. “Time out. Of course not. I’ve just never known you to leave the house without...more.”
She shrugged. “I guess there’s a first time for everything then.”
Her best friend linked arms with her and led the way to the limo. “I made reservations at The Hub. We can catch up there.”
As always, her girlfriend’s upbeat personality and zest for life was highly infectious. They laughed and carried on like they’d never been apart, arriving at the restaurant in no time at all.
The Hub was the place for the elite. The dining area was almost filled to capacity with college students home for the summer. The maître d' led them to a window seat with a curved bench padded with plush velvety fabric.
“I forgot how beautiful this place is.” Jenna slid over to the middle of the bench from one side and Buffy from the other end. Beautiful, maybe...but she’d never been more uncomfortable with such over-the-top extravagance.
“Margarita time?” Her friend rubbed her hands together. The sunlight caught the rings she wore on every finger, setting the diamonds and other gems alight.
Janna shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
Buffy ordered their drinks, flirting with the waiter as she did everywhere they we
nt. Her friend was one of the most generous, fun-loving people she knew. Her silky blonde hair and long eyelashes attracted the attention of most men. She stood just over five-feet tall with killer curves; her short skirt and tight shirt left little to the imagination.
“So, tell me what’s kept you so busy the past few months.” Buffy took her hand in hers. “I’m so sorry to hear about your father. I would have been there for you, but I didn’t hear about it until a couple of days after the funeral. How come it was kept so hush-hush? I thought your father would’ve wanted to go out in a big way.”
Jenna heaved a sigh. “Oh, he went out in a big way all right.” She shifted uncomfortably.
Her friend scooted along the bench to sit beside her. “What happened?”
“I got home literally minutes before he passed.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Do you know what his last words to me were?”
Buffy shook her head, her eyes filled with worry.
“He said, ‘you are dead to me.’” Jenna sniffled, not wanting to give her father the satisfaction in knowing how deep his words had cut.
“Oh no! What an awful thing to do to his only child.” Anger tightened her delicate features. “The monster!”
Jenna welcomed the waiter’s timely interruption. Once gone, she raised her glass. “I don’t want to waste another second talking about him. Here’s to best friends.”
Buffy laughed. “I’ll drink to that.”
What she saw in a booth across the floor caused the tart drink to catch halfway down her throat, and she sputtered into a napkin.
Her friend patted her back. “Go down the wrong way?”
Jenna sat in stunned silence at the occupants of the booth at the back wall as Buffy turned in her seat to find whatever had caused her reaction.
“What is it?”
Jenna pulled on her arm. “Don’t look,” she whispered as loud as she dared.
Her friend’s brow creased as she searched Jenna’s face. “What the hell is going on?”
She glanced over once again to where Daniel Meed sat with a girl practically in his lap, his hand up the front of her barely there top. On the other side, Howard Meed’s hands roamed another woman’s body. The lecherous drunk, who so desperately wanted to marry her, smiled devilishly at the woman before soundly kissing his more than willing date.
The threat of puking right then and there became very real. “I have to get out of here. I’m so sorry, Buffy, but we need to be anywhere other than here…”
“What? We’ve barely touched our drinks.”
Jenna had already grabbed her purse and slid to the end of the bench. “Pay for the drinks. I really need to go, now.” Without waiting for a response, she rushed away, not stopping until she stood in the lobby, well out of sight of the bar.
Apparently, Daniel did know Howard Meed. What the hell is going on?
Buffy burst into the lobby. “Holy woman! Do you mind telling me just what the hell is going on with you?”
“I will, but let’s get out of here first. It’s kind of a long story.”
Her best friend grabbed her hand and pulled her out the front doors. “If it’s going to take a while, I’m definitely going to need another drink.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
The bright sun shot daggers through Jenna’s skull, and she pulled a pillow over her face. It had been quite some time since she’d had so much to drink. Now she remembered why.
They’d ended up going back to Buffy’s house, where margaritas flowed endlessly. Once she got started sharing all that had gone on in her life, it was like the dam burst. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed having her best friend to talk to.
After spilling her guts, she still had no idea what the hell she was going to do next. The Daniel at The Hub that afternoon was the polar opposite of the man who cared so gently for his wards and adamantly stated to both her and Jack, he knew no Howard Meed.
Despite this latest revelation, it didn’t change the fact the ranch was a beautiful haven for people like her sister...
Or is it?
Was the picture perfect setting a facade, like the ruse Daniel pulled off about his character? Had she made a huge mistake writing that check?
Is my sister’s existence basis for blackmail?
A sudden rap at the door mimicked the merciless pounding in her ears.
“Jenna?” Edna’s familiar voice called out to her from across the room.
She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the day to rewind an hour or two so she’d still be fast asleep.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Jenna, but I thought you’d want to know you had a call just now from the ranch.”
“Angel?” She tossed her pillow aside and bolted upright, immediately regretting doing so. Her stomach churned precariously; she put her head in her hands and lowered it to her knees until the urge to vomit passed. “Oh, my god. Somebody shoot me.”
Edna chuckled. “Angel is fine. Daniel asked if you would come out to the Ranch sometime over lunch hour for a chat. If that’s not a good time, just call and reschedule.”
Jenna groaned.
“I’ll be right back with my special remedy. You stay put in that bed until I get back.
As curious as she was about a call from the ranch, she had no alternative but to stay in bed. In fact, at this precise moment, she doubted standing on two feet was an option.
Edna stepped back into the room with drink remedy in hand. “Remember, drink it all in one go.”
Her hand trembled as she took the glass. Edna’s remedy consisted of Gin, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce and a slice of chili pepper. The first time she awoke with a hangover, her caregiver suggested her special remedy. Jenna had thought it might be a shot of what she’d drank the night before, but it was actually the name she’d given her concoction.
Memory of how it tasted sent a shiver through her. Jenna closed her eyes and counted to three before bringing the glass to her mouth and tossing back the fiery liquid. Beads of sweat covered her face as the mixture blazed a trail to her stomach. “Wow.” She squeezed her eyes shut and fanned her open mouth.
Edna giggled and took the empty glass from her. “Don’t try and get up for at least five minutes.” She waggled her finger at her on the way out of the room.
Jenna waved a hand and flopped back on her pillows. As promised, five minutes later, the fog lifted and she felt remarkably better.
Once showered and dressed, she went in search of coffee, only to find Charles sitting in the breakfast nook overlooking the grounds.
“Good morning.” He raised his cup.
“Good morning. I’m so glad to find you here.” She filled her mug and joined him.
“What’s on your mind, kiddo?”
Jenna groaned. “I don’t know where to start. What I do know is I need your help.”
Over several cups of coffee, she brought him up to speed with what happened the last time she saw Angel, and the dilemma of seeing Daniel and Howard Meed at The Hub, having their own private orgy in the back booth.
Charles shook his head. “So, the guy has a social life outside of the ranch…”
Jenna cut him off, unable to believe what she was hearing. Her temper flared. “When I was upset, Daniel kissed me. His hands were all over me. Do you not see a problem with that?”
His eyes grew big and his hands clenched. “He did what?”
“You heard me. I was beside myself, and he totally took advantage of my vulnerability, even knowing I’m with Jack.”
Her mentor wiped the sweat from his reddened face. “You didn’t give me a chance to finish. Daniel being with Howard and what you’ve just told me changes everything.”
“We need to get to the bottom of this. Something isn’t right. I have to know Angel is safe there.”
He arched a brow. “You don’t think...?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know what to think.” She laid her hand over his. “Will you help me?”
“Of course I will.”
> “Daniel called this morning and asked to see me. Will you come with me to the ranch today? I don’t know if the news is good or bad, but no matter what Angel decides, I owe it to our mother to make sure she’s going to be okay, and safe, when I go home.”
What she wanted to do was take Angel away from the ranch, but witnessing her meltdown with change of any kind, it could do more harm than good. In spite of everything, her sister did seem very happy living there.
“Maybe I should pay Howard Meed a visit?” His hands clenched to fists.
“Listen, neither of them knew I saw them together...maybe we should leave it like that for now.”
Charles let out a long, slow breath. “I know you’re right. That doesn’t change the fact I’d like to deflate not only his bulging belly, but the asshole’s swollen ego.”
Charles enlisted John to drive them to the ranch. Based on facts alone, there wasn’t enough dirt to bury the guy. However, coming on to Jenna when she was in an emotional state warranted a foot up his ass. Adding Howard Meed to the mix had him seeing red. His gut told him all wasn’t as it seemed at the Rolling Hills Ranch. For Jenna’s sake, he’d curb his anger. It wouldn’t be easy, but he’d do it.
“Do you want me to go in the office with you?”
“I thought it might be the perfect opportunity for you to take a look around while he’s busy with me.”
He didn’t blame her for being worried about him losing his cool. To be quite honest, he didn’t trust himself being that close to the man. “I’m not crazy about leaving the two of you alone,” he said.
“Look, your number is right here, all I have to do is push this button for you to come running, okay?”
John turned down the long stretch of entryway to the ranch. Charles watched Jenna tug at the bottom of her lip with her teeth, something she’d done when anxious since she was a little girl.
He put his arm across her shoulders and pulled her to his side, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t worry, kiddo. Remember, you’re not alone in this. I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure Angel’s safety.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I love you, you know that, don’t you?”
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