by Ashlee Price
Jenna didn’t dare move out from behind the bar as Tanner approached her with a scowl on his face. “So you’re back? Why do I have to find out like this? Well, I guess it figures. You left without saying goodbye, why would you tell me you’re back? Anyway, it doesn’t matter.” He produced an envelope from his coat pocket. “I just came in to give this to your dad, but since you’re here I’ll give it to you.”
Slapping the envelope on the bar, Tanner turned on his heel and walked straight back to the door.
“Tanner, wait—”
The only response was a blast of snow and the bang of the door as Tanner walked out of The Wheel for what looked certain to be the last time.
Hannah had watched the scene unfold in silence, her face falling as she realized that the storybook reconciliation she’d hoped for wasn’t in the cards. Now she stood up and approached her friend with her arms open, pulling her in for a hug. “Jenna, I’m so sorry. Are you going to read that letter or what?”
Jenna sighed. “I want to read it later. If it’s anything like my mother’s letters I don’t have the energy for my ugly cry face.”
“Okay then, what else do you want to do?”
“I’m pregnant and I don’t drink, Hannah,” Jenna said matter-of-factly. “I want to eat.”
“Let me see what I can find in the kitchen.”
As the kitchen door swung closed behind Hannah, the front door swung open again. Jenna thought it would be Tanner, back for another round of yelling, but it turned out to be someone she wanted to see even less. A familiar face still, that broken nose unmistakable. Jenna wished she’d never come into work with her dad for the night.
Sean Hannity walked around The Wheel with a giant smile. Paul was the first one to greet him, leaning over the bar to shake his hand. Grabbing an envelope, he handed it to Mr. Hannity with a smile. Jenna was so mad she was shaking. Her heart felt like it had risen to settle inside her throat. Her eyes welled, but she refused to let tears fall. Anger radiated from every pore of her body, and she couldn’t wait for Mr. Hannity to leave so she could unleash her fury.
“You are looking very well, very healthy these days,” Mr. Hannity said to Jenna with chuckle.
“Please, just take it and go,” Paul told him with a slight nod to the door.
“I don’t want to start any trouble,” the gangster smiled, “I’m just here to collect what’s mine. See you next week, Paul. Nice doing business with ya.”
And just as quickly as he’d come in, he walked out. Jenna was certain that smoke was billowing out from her ears. “Are you nuts?!?” she cried out.
Paul grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the office. Once they were inside, he closed the door behind them. “I’m not back in business with Hannity. I’m doing a favor for a friend, and that’s all I can say about it right now. Please understand that I know what I’m doing. Trust me, okay? There’s no way in hell that I’d let us work as hard as we did to pay it all off just to go back under.”
Jenna forced herself to take a few deep breaths. She nodded. “Okay, but please don’t lie to me. I’m going to tru—”
That was when the layout of the office caught her attention. It was rare that she went back there. What was even rarer was when her father implemented change, especially when it came to her mother’s belongings. Her desk was gone.
“Where’s Mom’s desk and all of her things?” she said, clutching her chest.
“I’ve been doing some cleaning. I decided that your Mom’s stuff, the big items, could be used elsewhere instead of just sitting here like an exhibit in a wax museum.”
“Elsewhere like where?!?” she questioned, fanning herself to prevent the oncoming panic attack.
“Like your new office at the house,” he said.
“What?”
“It was supposed to be a surprise. I guess it was; you look like you’re about to go into early labor. I took the desk and your mother’s furniture and put it in the house. I keep telling you to answer the sticky note questions, because once you pick the colors they’re going to paint and refurbish the old stuff to make it like new but with a piece of your own history attached to it. I wanted to have it done by Christmas, but you’re so doggone stubborn it’s probably going to have to be a late Valentine’s Day gift,” he laughed.
“Aw, Daddy! That sounds like a great Christmas present!” she cried and rushed into his arms, hugging him tight. Even though she was a few months away from becoming a single mother, even though she’d made a complete mess of things with Tanner, even though she was worried about Hannity—she knew she had at least one person she could count on for Christmas and for always.
Later that night, as Jenna got herself ready for bed, she left Tanner’s letter on top of the blanket as a reminder to read it before she dozed off. Cracking it open, she got a whiff of his scent, and it made her heart swell. She missed him so much now, but his letter shredded any hope she had of seeing him again:
Jenna Marie Ferris,
I don’t know what I did to you, but whatever it was, I’m sorry. I don’t like apologizing for stuff in writing, but you’ve given me no other option. I feel like you’re hiding something from me, and the way we feel about each other, the least you could do is be honest. When I knew we were going to lose touch, I told you and I told you why. I always hoped that you’d show me the same respect I’ve given you.
If you had another guy waiting for you, then you should have told me. I don’t want to find out when you come home for Christmas and you’re engaged or something like that. I just needed some answers. I think that for all we’ve been through, I deserved that much, right?
I just wish I knew what I did or didn’t do. When you said you weren’t coming back to Doveport, I knew you were serious. But you neglected to mention that you were cutting me off, or why. I put up with Brandy’s drama for far too long, but at least I finally learned my lesson. I’m not going to put up with yours for another minute. We’re done.
Goodbye, Jenna Marie Ferris.
Love always,
Tanner D.
That night, Jenna cried herself to sleep wondering what Tanner would think of her once he found out why she had stopped talking to him. She didn’t deserve him. She didn’t deserve the way he loved her—or had loved her.
Chapter 23
“Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock,” Hannah sang. Her raspy voice carried around the bar over every note of music playing through the speakers. She’d drunk a little bit of the spiked eggnog and could barely contain herself. Jenna kept herself behind the bar, refusing to let people rub her belly for good luck in the New Year. She wasn’t a Buddha statue, and the best way to avoid it was to stay behind the bar. So that’s what she was doing at the holiday party.
Paul was making his rounds, mingling with other business owners from the community. He’d look over to Jenna every few minutes just to be sure she was okay. So long as she gave him the thumbs up, the party could carry on. And so it did as the music played, people danced, and everyone had a great time even though it was winter in Western Pennsylvania.
The wind whipped continuously outside. Jenna was surprised it didn’t blow the doors down. Every time someone walked inside, it would push and shove its way in behind them. Brock had to lean against the door just to get it shut.
The next time the wind blew someone in, she was unpleasantly surprised to say the least. But she’d told her dad she trusted him. So when Sean Hannity stepped inside the bar with a group of guys, she shook her head and pretended to be busy on the other side of the bar. He sought her out anyway, following her newly wide hips to the other end.
When she turned around he was standing there with a goofy grin on his face. He would actually have been kind of cute if she hadn’t known he was a sociopath at heart. She also knew that he wasn’t going away, so she decided to wait on him. “Okay, Mr. Hannity, what can I help you with today?”
“I need the back room for my poker game. Our deal’s still good, right?”<
br />
“No! Absolutely not! Our debt is paid, and we’re not getting involved in any more of your business. You’ll be lucky if my dad doesn’t get audited this year!”
“Ooh,” he mimicked ghost noises, “the IRS. Relax and just let me host my game in the back. I’m feeling lucky tonight.”
“Let him go, Jenna!” her dad shouted from a few tables away.
She hated letting Hannity in the back room, but if her dad was okay with it and he said he had the situation under control, she had to trust him, right? She had a bad feeling about this, but there was nothing she could do. Her father refused to kick Hannity out, and perhaps he had good reason not to, but until he was ready to spill the beans, Jenna simply complied.
As usual, Hannity and his party ordered several bottles of whiskey at the bar and carried them to the back room themselves. Watching Hannity’s stupid smile as he closed the door was beyond irritating. She walked away, hating that the man always got his way, but was pleasantly surprised when the door opened and the men filed out just half an hour later. It seemed the poker game had wrapped up early.
Hannity had a smug expression on his face as he dropped a hundred-dollar tip on the counter. “What’d I tell you, darlin’? My lucky night.” Making his way to the door, he turned back to the room at large with an ironic grin and yelled, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” before finally stepping outside.
Jenna sighed. What a jerk. But least he was gone. She grabbed a tray and a rag and headed toward the back room intent on cleaning every trace of him out of her father’s bar.
There was a thin layer of smoke coming from under the door.
Jenna began to panic. Hannity’s crew often lit up when they were back there, but there was no way that amount of smoke was coming from the remains of their cigars and cigarettes. She grabbed the doorknob, but it was so hot she pulled her hand away quickly. Before she could say anything the door itself burst into flames and a large explosion sent the fire shooting up to the ceiling. Jenna began shouting, “Everyone out! Everyone get out, Now!”
The people packed into the main bar area rushed for the front door. Jenna saw her father duck into the kitchen to warn the cook, and her mind jumped to the bathrooms in the back. If there was anyone in there, she had to get them out.
Clutching her stomach, she jostled a few people fleeing towards the rear exit as she raced down the hall to the bathroom. When she got inside, she found that it was empty—and realized that it abutted the back room’s other wall. It was already hot inside, and she saw smoke creeping out from one of the stalls.
“Damn it Jenna! That was stupid! Get the hell outta here!” she scolded herself. She was too late. The door, which had automatically closed behind her, had already swelled into the frame from the intense heat. She pulled desperately at the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. She was stuck, scared and didn’t know what to do. She retreated to the sink and cowered underneath it. She could hear footsteps outside the door, so she called out, “Help! Someone help me!”
But no one said anything she could hear and it was getting hotter and hotter in the bathroom with every passing minute.
The sound of sirens was one that Jenna had never thought she’d love until that night.
“Okay, Jenna, someone’s coming. Someone’s coming to get you,” she murmured to herself.
It was as if her words made her wish come true when she heard a forceful knocking on the door. “Is anyone in there?”
“Yes! Please!” she cried out.
The voice yelled back to her, “Back as far away from the door as you can!”
“Okay! I’m back!” she called out.
The door splintered as the firefighter’s ax split it from its hinges. A few whacks later and the door was out of the way—but the firefighter who came to save her had a set of eyes she couldn’t deny, and she had a pregnant belly she could no longer hide. Scooping her up into his arms, Tanner carried the very pregnant mother of his child out of the burning blaze through the bar’s back entrance. Jenna could feel the baby kicking against her belly the whole way, and she knew that Tanner felt it too.
As soon as they were outside, Tanner took his mask off to look Jenna in the eyes. “Ma’am, I need you to answer some questions for me, okay?”
Jenna was so rattled, so full of worry for her baby and her father’s bar, that it was all she could do to nod.
“Are you experiencing any difficulty breathing, headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea, weakness or chest pain?”
Jenna shook her head weakly. “No, I don’t think so.”
Tanner narrowed his eyes and leaned closer. “Jenna, is it mine?”
Staring into his eyes, trying to imagine what he was feeling, she nodded once.
Tanner let out a long breath. “Okay. Let’s try this one more time.” Holding both of her hands in his, he dropped to one knee.
“Jenna Marie Ferris, will you marry me?”
Epilogue to My Protector
In Doveport news, organized crime figure Sean Hannity and his mother, Margarette Hannity, pled guilty today in federal court on a slew of tax evasion and money laundering charges. This follows guilty pleas last week to state charges of arson, extortion and insurance fraud. Prosecutors in both cases were quick to credit an unnamed Doveport business owner for the successful conclusion, saying that his or her participation in a months-long sting operation was instrumental in securing the evidence that convinced the Hannitys to drop their initial Not Guilty pleas and cut a deal. The exact terms of that deal haven’t been announced yet, but are expected to include at least 20 years’ imprisonment to be followed by deportation to the Hannitys’ native Ireland. It’s always a good day when justice is served, and a special thanks goes out to the anonymous community member who helped bring this criminal enterprise down. Doveport is in your debt, sir or madam!
“Dad! Shut that TV off and let’s go! We’re going to be late! Besides, haven’t you gloated enough by now?” Jenna shouted as she rushed out of the back office into the bar with Hannah carrying the train of her wedding gown behind her.
“No, I have not! It’s not every day I get to be a town hero,” Paul laughed. “I always told you to trust me about the Hannity situation, and now you know why, even if nobody else does. Besides, the place is right down the street, and Tanner’s waited this long for you, an extra few minutes won’t kill him.”
“No, but I don’t want to be even a few minutes more pregnant when I’m standing at the altar,” Jenna snickered, taking a look around the bar. The exposed wood beams and rafters were restored, good as new. The flooring and walls had been replaced. Everything that the last fire had touched had been taken out. The memory of those charred pieces of material would never vanish, but The Wheel’s renovated glory more than made up for the loss.
And it was especially glorious today. Jenna was in awe at how Lucky Llana had transformed the place for her. The room was decorated with blue, white and gold. There were tall bouquets on the tables, white flowers sprinkled with gold flecks and sitting in small gold vases with navy blue ribbons tied around them. The bar itself had been transformed, hiding the copper behind several sheets of chiffon and lace. The place had turned out spectacularly. Llana was rushing to and fro bossing the caterers around, and Mr. Donner was just coming out of the kitchen area, showing a pair of servers where to place the wedding cake. Everything seemed to be under control. It was going to be a beautiful reception.
But first things first. Jenna had to walk—or more likely waddle—down the aisle. The only reason she’d stopped was to admire the setup and check in on the progress. Seeing it, she had no doubt that it was going to be ready on time. A soft smile spread across her face as worry fled from her mind and she thought of nothing but Tanner waiting at the altar for her. They needed to go!
“Okay, I’m ready. I’m happy this turned out the way it did, but now we need to go or I’m going to go crazy!”
“Then let’s get this show on the road!” Han
nah shouted with delight as she picked up Jenna’s train once again. It was attached to a beautifully lace-embroidered wedding gown. The bodice accentuated her full breasts, while the skirt opened up into flowery layers of ethereal elegance. Between them was nearly eight months’ worth of pregnant tummy, and Jenna would be eternally grateful to the skilled seamstress who’d made it all work. She didn’t wear a veil. A simple crystal hairpiece held her brown hair in place and out of her face.
Paul let a tear fall, one he suspected would be the first of many that day. “You are far too beautiful to marry that guy.”
Jenna laughed. “Tanner’s not even here, Daddy and you’re still taking shots at him.”
“He’s lucky those are the only shots I’ve taken,” Paul grinned through the moisture in his eyes. “Listen, I know I gave Tanner a hard time and all, but when it comes down to it, I’m sure he’s going to be an excellent husband. And father. And if he ever isn’t, well, just remind him that I’ve still got that rifle in the basement.”
“Dad!”
“Okay Mr. F, that’s enough joking around at the groom’s expense. Let’s go!” Hannah practically pushed them out the door.
They finally arrived and lined up outside the church doors waiting for their signal to come inside. Jenna caught a glimpse of the guests as Hannah stepped inside to meet the rest of the wedding party, and then it was only Jenna and her dad standing there.
This day might have come quickly, but it hadn’t come easily. She’d had a scant six weeks to plan the wedding, and even with all of Lucky Llana’s help it had been a photo finish. It was an amazing day, though, warm for Valentine’s Day in Doveport, with the sun shining bright and high above the clouds. Her wedding day was shaping up to be everything she wanted and more. And she couldn’t wait for the honeymoon.
Taking a deep breath, Jenna heard the music start. She looked over to her dad. Another tear was falling down his cheek as he smiled down at her. “You look stunningly beautiful today, Jenna Marie Ferris.”