Angels In Red (24 page)

Jenna took a deep breath before standing. “Maybe it would be better for everyone if I just left. All I’ve done since walking into her life is cause her pain.”

She turned to the door, but hadn’t taken more than a couple of steps before Daniel spun her around to face him. He held her firmly until she looked into his eyes.

“I’m not going to let you take the easy way out. You owe it to Angel to at least stick around until she’s ready to talk.”

Jenna shrugged his hands away and started to pace. “Stick around? Why, so I can screw something else up and really hurt her?” She came to a sudden stop, her hands clenched at her sides. “I shouldn’t have disrupted her life.”
Oh how I wish Jack was here.

Daniel grabbed hold of her shoulders again. “Perfect. Angel went through hell when your mother passed. Go ahead and run off. I’m sure, after some major counseling and medication, she’ll come to terms with her sister abandoning her, too.”

Something inside of her snapped. All of the hurt and frustration since coming home rushed to the surface. Her knees buckled and she welcomed the support his arms offered.

Jenna wasn’t sure how much time passed. She opened her eyes to find Daniel sitting beside her on the sofa, stroking her hair down her back.

How did I end up over here
?

She pulled away and snatched a couple of tissues from the box on the table. “Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry.”

I’ve never felt so alone. What I wouldn’t give to have Jack here with me now. To wrap his arms around me...

He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and stroked the side of her face. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You’ve been through a hell of a lot these past few weeks.”

Jenna inched back, a little uncomfortable with the gesture.

Dare I hope? Maybe, with Daniel’s help, Angel will get through this unscathed. Maybe there’s still a chance she’ll see me as her sister.

He put a finger under her chin and tilted her face so she looked into his sky-blue eyes. “I’m just glad I could be here for you.”

Before she had a chance to react, his lips met hers.

Jenna put her hands on his chest and pushed him away. “Wh-what are you doing?” She swiped the back of her hand across her mouth as she scrambled to her feet.

“I’m sorry. I thought...”

“No, you didn’t think. If you did, you’d remember I’m in a relationship. You know, with Jack, whom you’ve already met?”

He stood to face her; she stepped back and eyed him quizzically.

“I know you’re with Jack,” he stated. “Honestly, Jenna, I just got caught up in the moment. I’m sorry.”

He seemed sincere enough, but she needed to put some space between them, still unable to wrap her head around what had just happened. “I’ve got to go.”

The memory of Daniel going into the young girl’s room earlier flashed in her mind. Uncomfortable with her thoughts, she hurried to fetch her purse and rushed to the door.

Daniel appeared, blocking her path. “I can’t let you go like this. Please, let’s have a cup of tea and talk.”

“Have a cup of tea? You can’t be serious.” She glared at him. “Step aside before I say or do something we both might regret.”

He stepped aside. “I really wish you’d stay.”

“I know, and I really wish I could turn back the clock and pretend that didn’t just happen, but I can’t.”

Jenna ran from the ranch house to where John leaned against the front grill of the limo reading a newspaper. 

He jumped to his feet and opened her door. “Is everything okay, Ms. Jenna?”

“Please just take me home, John.”

Jenna unplugged her cell from its charger, and turned it off and on to make sure it fully charged before taking a seat at the window. Her gaze travelled around the room, coming to rest on the crackling fire. She sighed.

I wish I was home, snuggled in front of the fire with Jack.

A shiver brought goose bumps to her bare arms. She got up and pushed the armchair across the plush white carpet to the fireplace, and returned to the window to fetch the side table and her phone, checking it once again for calls. She yanked the folded quilt off the foot of her bed and wrapped it around her on the way over to the fire.

Jenna tucked her feet up under her, the chill quickly chased away. She rested her head back and closed her eyes. The emotional upheaval over the past few days had taken a toll on her. Upon her return from the ranch, the solitude of her bedroom gave her time to reflect.

She’d always prided herself on being a strong, confident woman, but she’d somehow lost her way since returning to the estate, what seemed a lifetime ago. Her gaze dropped to the phone on her lap and she flipped it over and frowned.
Still no calls.
There was one thing she knew for sure…

I love Jack, and my future is with him back at the cabin.

All she had to do was figure out a way to mesh her world in Thunder Bay with the one just over the border in Minnesota.
There has to be a way to do it without anybody getting hurt.
Jenna rolled her eyes.
Good luck with that, sweetheart.

There was one thing in her favor…at least she hoped so. As much as it saddened her to see Angel so upset, the truth was out. Now all she had to do was gain her trust and garner a relationship with her.

Her “baby laughing” ringtone startled her. One hand flew to her chest and the other fumbled with her phone.

“Hello? Jack is that you?”

“Hey, pretty lady. It sure is nice to hear your voice.”

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.”

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?”