“Jen!” Annie squealed and grabbed her hand when she reached her, “Oh, get ready! I’m going to teach you to line dance tonight!”
Jen looked at Zack for help but he just laughed.
“Uh, I don’t know, I have two left feet...” Jen started.
“I don’t believe you,” Annie said waving a dismissive hand at her, “With that body there is no way you aren’t good at dancing. Trust me, I know these things. I can spot a dancer a mile away even if they’ve never danced a step before. Besides, line dancing is easy as 1 2 3. You’ll have a great time I promise!” Jen laughed at Annie’s vigor and nodded in agreement.
Annie pulled Jen onto the dance floor and began showing her steps. At first, Jen felt as though she were a little kid learning to ride a bike again, but as the night went on, she slowly started to get the hang of it. Each dance was a new challenge and Jen felt herself enjoying every step. It was a warm night, and she finally ditched her denim jacket. She had no idea line dancing was such a workout! On and on she went, learning each new move. Soon, she was getting most of the steps right. The more she danced, the more she realized she was having the time of her life!
The night wore on and the music slowed down. Jen stood by a table with Annie, taking a break and enjoying some iced tea when Zack sauntered over to them.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked.
Jen thought the question was aimed at both of them, but it seemed that was Annie’s queue to leave. Suddenly, she was out dancing again before Jen could even answer the question. She rolled her eyes inwardly. “I’m having a great time,” she said truthfully.
“You seem surprised,” Zack observed
“I am a little,” she admitted. “I would never have thought that a country Fourth of July dance would be my thing but...” She shrugged her shoulders.
“I’m glad you’re having a good time.” He smiled at her and his dimple came through. It was so much easier to see without the facial hair covering it up.
Jen glanced at him, and then looked down at her drink, feeling unusually shy. She felt that funny twinge in the pit of her stomach again. Keep it together! she chided herself. The song ended and a new one began. “Dance with me.” Zack offered his hand.
“Oh I’m kind of tired, and a little sweaty because of the line dancing,” she fumbled her words. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to dance with him. She was afraid of what might happen if she did.
Zack laughed at her protests and grabbed her hand, “That wasn’t a question.”
He led her onto the dance floor. The song the band was playing was one she’d never heard. It was a typical western song; trucks, fields, beer and a girl in a red dress. Nothing new, but the beat was great. It was clearly one of Zack’s favorites because he started singing along, and he was good! He could sing too? Was there anything he couldn’t do?
She laughed as they moved to the beat. He was an excellent dancer; twisting and turning, his feet moving like he was born to dance. More than once he lifted Jen off the ground with ease and expertise, and then twirled her in a gentle but strong fashion. The song ended and Zack dipped her; his hand on the small of her back. They laughed as he slowly brought her back up to a standing position.
“You are amazing!” Jen exclaimed.
“I’m going to try not to be offended by the surprise in your voice,” he teased.
A new song started. Zack listened for a moment and then made a gesture like he’d been shot in the heart. “I love this song,” he stated dramatically.
“I can tell,” Jen laughed. “Are you always this affected by music?”
He gave a sideways smile, “Only the ones I really like.”
Without asking, he wrapped his right hand around her waist and scooped her hand into his. They swayed to the music and Jen caught Zack looking at her intently. She quickly laid her head on his shoulder, her face turned in toward his neck; the smell of his cologne and the sound of the music intertwining. He began humming along with the song and Jen could feel the deep rumble in his chest. She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. The lights from the pavilion were dancing in them. He shared her gaze and planted a small kiss on her forehead. Her heart was beating fast. The song ended with their gaze still locked. It was the moment; Jen could feel it. The moment where they would decide what happens next. What happened next could change everything, transform everything, ruin everything. The timing was perfect. He looked at her lips and leaned in. Jen closed her eyes. His hands tightened around her waist.
“Zack!” a high-pitched voice came from somewhere.
The moment was shattered; his hands left her waist, and Jen’s eyes opened to see a pretty dark haired girl walking toward them. Jen recognized her, she had danced with Zack several times throughout the night, not that she was keeping track.
“Hey I never got introduced to your friend,” the girl said with a smile as fake as margarine.
Jen, although somewhat annoyed, looked down at her feet and tried to hide a smile; she knew how this scene played out. This girl was in love with Zack LaFaye. Of course she was. There had to be at least one.
Zack cleared his throat, “Oh sorry, umm, Jen this is Melanie.”
“Hi,” she said as she shook Jen’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Jen said politely.
“Zack and I have been friends for a long time.” Melanie was quick to let Jen know.
“We went to high school together,” Zack countered. He was obviously uncomfortable with the situation before him.
“Oh Zacky,” Melanie cooed, playfully slapping his arm.
Jen had to force herself to not burst out laughing. This place truly was like being in high school all over again.
“I’m Annie’s best friend,” Melanie added as if that gave her more claim to Zack.
Jen nodded but didn’t comment. She looked at Zack with raised eyebrows that said ‘Wow, how did you end up with this one’? The look on Zack’s face was one of annoyance and frustration. Jen took advantage of the awkward silence that followed. “Well, it’s getting late. I’m gonna head home.” She waved at Melanie as she backed away. “Melanie it was nice to meet you.”
“Oh you too Jen,” her fake smile returning.
“Zack,” Jen began, “thank you for the dance.”
It was all she could get out. She was done with this night. The entire scene that had just transpired was so comical she couldn’t even be upset about it. She only wished Aunt Gabby had been there to see it. She would have laughed.
Jen walked about two blocks before a truck pulled up beside her with Zack in it. “Get in,” he ordered.
“No thank you,” Jen smiled sweetly.
“Jennifer, don’t do this. Get in the truck. I brought you; I’m not going to let you walk home.”
“Really Zack, its fine. I’m from New York, I can walk home.”
“I’m not questioning your capabilities of taking care of yourself,” he said, following her as she walked, “it’s a matter of principle; it wouldn’t be gentlemanly to let you walk home.”
“I’m letting you off the hook,” Jen said confidently. “Besides I need my exercise. Aunt Gabby always says you should walk at least three miles a day and I haven’t been walking near that. I have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Well that explains Aunt Gabby’s excellent health and I can appreciate you wanting to be like her but you don’t have to take on her stubborn behavior, now please Jennifer.”
Jen stopped and looked at him. Clearly he wasn’t going to give up. He tilted his head to one side, the puppy look, as Jen had come to call it.
“Please, get in the truck?”
The puppy face worked its magic and Jen got in. Aunt Gabby’s house was only another three blocks. She very easily could have walked, but she’d noticed something Zack had said and was ready to question him about it.
“Do you really think Aunt Gabby is so healthy because she walks all the time?” Jen asked, trying to make the question seem natural
.
“She takes care of herself; I’m sure staying active helps.”
“You mentioned that she’s like a mother to you. Do you ever worry at all about her health? About her getting sick? I worry about her a little.” She looked at him sideways, trying to gauge his reaction.
“Not really. I mean, she’s seventy-five so I worry about her falling sometimes, but as far as health goes she’s probably healthier than either of us.”
Jen was shocked. Zack didn’t know about the cancer. She briefly wondered if she should tell him.
“It was hard going through my mother’s illness,” Zack interrupted her thoughts. “I think that’s when Aunt Gabby really started taking care of herself. She always says she’s going to live till she’s a hundred,” he laughed, “and she probably will!”
Jen didn’t know what to do. Her mind was racing. Only two things were possible at this point. Either Aunt Gabby didn’t tell anyone about her illness except Roger, or she wasn’t really sick! If she was sick, why wouldn’t she tell Zack? Of all people it seemed she would tell him. If she wasn’t sick, why had she lied to her father about having cancer?
They reached the house and Jen thanked Zack for the ride. He acted as if he had something to say to her, but Jen cut him off and went inside quickly. Her mind was too caught up in the cluster of Aunt Gabby’s ‘illness’. She simply couldn’t focus on Zack and what had passed between them that night. Not right now. She had to think. She needed to ask Aunt Gabby if she had cancer. But how could she do that without damaging their relationship? She was a lawyer. She had been trained to ask people the right questions to get an answer. It was time she found out what was really going on. She had to know the truth. Someone was lying to her, and she wanted to know who.
Chapter 11
“Good morning Aunt Gabby,” Jen smiled at her as she entered the kitchen.
“Oh Jenny honey, I wasn’t expecting you to be up. It’s still early.”
Jen knew exactly what time it was. She had already been up for an hour, waiting for Aunt Gabby to wake so she could ask her some questions. Questions that had plagued her dreams all night.
“I’m really starting to enjoy the mornings,” Jen said as she poured herself some coffee.
“Well come on out here on the porch and we’ll gossip.” Aunt Gabby whispered the last word and winked at Jen. Jen laughed and followed her out the sliding door and onto the porch swing. They sat a few minutes taking in the morning air, listening to the birds as they chirped and the rooster crowing in the distance. Jen finally broke the silence.
“I could enjoy mornings like this for a long time.” It wasn’t a lie. She really was enjoying it.
“Mornings are my favorite time of day,” Aunt Gabby said with a smile.
“We don’t get mornings like this in New York.” Jen looked down at the cup of coffee in her hands. “I love the clean air here; it really makes a difference.”
“Oh yes,” Aunt Gabby said emphatically, “clean air and clean living will help you live a hundred years.”
Jackpot.
“One hundred? That’s a long time. You plan on living that long?” She said it in a teasing manner but eagerly waited for her aunts’ response.
“At least!” Aunt Gabby giggled to herself, “I’m too busy to die.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I am so glad that I was able to come out here and get to know you. I’d hate for our time to be cut short; I mean, now that you’re a part of my life.” She smiled and Aunt Gabby patted her hand.
“Don’t you worry child. I’ll be sure and tell you when my time is getting short. But it won’t be soon so I wouldn’t fret.” Her blue eyes sparkled with life and Jen knew that Aunt Gabby would indeed be around for some time.
Jen excused herself and went in the house. She had to get her thoughts together. Aunt Gabby wasn’t sick. She didn’t have cancer. And knowing her aunt like she did now, Jen was certain that she did not call her father and lie to him about her health. A fire began in Jen’s heart as she came to the stark realization; her father had blatantly lied to her. She checked her watch, 6:03. Her father should just be getting up. She would give him an hour. One hour, and then he had some serious explaining to do.
Jen was upstairs in her room an hour later. She held the phone to her ear and it began to ring, one, two, three; she knew it was still early in New York but like Aunt Gabby, her dad was an early riser; yet one more characteristic they shared. On the fourth ring Roger answered the phone.
“Dad…” Jen’s voice was low.
“Why, Jenny honey! How is Ohi…”
“Dad, Aunt Gabby is not sick!” She had planned on being a little more tactful but her rising anger took over all sense of reason and rational thinking.
“Wait... what?” Roger stumbled on his words, “What do you mean?”
“You told me that Aunt Gabby called you and asked you as her dying wish to come out to Ohio and see her. Do you remember that conversation Daddy? All that crap about her time running out and wanting to see us before she goes? Do you remember?” Jen was all but shouting.
“Jenny calm down, I remember.”
“Well, she isn’t sick. She doesn’t have cancer. As far as I can tell she is going to outlive you. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? Why the hell did you lie to me?”
There was a pause, then a deep breath. Jen waited for her father’s explanation. “Jen…” another pause, “I did lie to you about your aunt being sick.”
Confirmation. Jen let out a breath she hadn’t noticed she’d been holding. “Why?” she asked, trying to hide the hurt in her voice, “You promised you’d never lie to me.”
“I know, I know I did honey but if I told you the truth you would never have gone out there. And you needed to go Jenny.”
“Why wouldn’t I have come? What is the truth?” Jens heart was beating so hard it hurt; she suddenly realized that the truth might be bad.
Roger sighed heavily on the other end, “Honey,” he started, “honey, the truth is… we’re broke. We’re broke Jenny. We have no money.”
Jen was stunned. “What do you mean, broke, Daddy?” she whispered, “What does that mean?”
Roger sounded defeated, “I made a few bad investments in the last five years; investments my broker promised me would be great. Then the economy crashed and screwed us all.”
“The firm is doing fine,” Jen tried to believe her own words. “I run the office, I see the bank account, and we are doing just fine.”
“No sweetie, we’re not.” Jen had never heard her father sound more forlorn. Suddenly she remembered why they were having this conversation in the first place.
“What does all this have to do with Aunt Gabby?” Jen cringed; she didn’t want the answer anymore than she wanted to ask the question. It had to do with money, which was never a good thing.
There was another pause on the line as Roger breathed heavily; it was clearly hard for him to confess these things to her. “Your aunt is a very smart woman as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
Jen nodded as if her father could see her. Roger continued, “She has, like me, made some investments in her lifetime. But unlike me, hers have seemed to have paid off.”
“Oh good Lord,” Jen let out a breath. She felt sick. “Daddy,” she swallowed, the feeling of nausea growing, “please, please don’t tell me you sent me out here for Aunt Gabby’s money.” Even though Jen wanted to hear Roger say that wasn’t the case, she knew it was. Her heart felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.
Roger sighed again, “She needs someone to leave all her money to Jenny. It might as well be you.”
Jen collapsed on the floor next to her bed, “You sent me here to CON your sister into leaving me her money when she dies!” She was sure she was going to vomit.
“Jenny, don’t be so dramatic,” Roger said defensively, “I didn’t send you to con anyone. You genuinely care for her, correct? That’s why I didn’t tell you. If I had, the feelings you have for her now would b
e fake. But they aren’t. You truly care for her and she cares for you. If she, of her own free will chooses to leave you some sort of inheritance why should you feel bad about accepting?” Jen despised her father’s manipulating tone, as if he was trying to make a bad deal seem better than it was.
Jen put her head in her hand as she listened to her father. She was ill; absolutely sick at the thought of Aunt Gabby thinking the only reason she came here was for her money. She knew her father was a coercive man, but she never imagined pulling a stunt like this.
“How much?” Jen managed to squeak out in between bouts of nausea.
Love is Thicker Than Blood (Country Romance Series) Page 7