Page 33 of Life After

Suzanne spun around and smiled. “Yes, sweetheart?”

“Is Jen my auntie now too?”

Suzanne glanced back at Jen for some kind of assistance, but Jen had nothing to offer. This was Suzanne’s family. Jen refused to give her input on something she didn’t have the answer to herself. “Sorry, babe. You’re on your own with this one.”

“Jen.”

“Whatever you decide when it comes to a response, I’m more than fine with it.” Jen didn’t want Suzanne to think there was a right or wrong answer. She just wanted Suzanne to do whatever was best for her and her family. “Maybe you need to discuss this with your brother first. I haven’t been around for long, and I don’t want people to wonder what the hell is going on.” Jen didn’t know if Suzanne had even told her brother about their relationship. She probably hadn’t, but a conversation about this was probably the wise choice to make here.

“I, um…” Suzanne crossed the kitchen and sat facing Elsie. “Would you like that?”

“Oh my goodness, yes! Jen is so cool.” Elsie shot down from her stool and rushed up to Jen, wrapping her arms around her. “I like it when you’re here.”

Jen looked down at the body moulded around her, fully aware of the panicked look on her face as she glanced up at Suzanne. “I like being here, too.”

“Can we go to the park before Dad picks me up?”

“Sure. Of course.” Jen watched Elsie rush back towards Suzanne, her mind going over everything that had happened since Elsie arrived yesterday afternoon.

While she loved this, the dynamic was pretty great, Jen still had the small matter of her past to contend with. Once Suzanne found out, Jen would likely never see Elsie again. She would also receive the backlash of not being honest with Suzanne while her niece was in the house. It sounded ridiculous, but she couldn’t even spend time with her own nephew because of what people thought of her. Eventually, this would crumble and fall apart, too. It was inevitable.

Then there was the whole ‘lying about being a teacher’ last night. Jen could have opened up to Suzanne and explained everything, but it was never that simple. Jen knew better than to assume it would be. So, for now, she would just take this one day at a time…and then, she would retreat back into herself the moment the truth was revealed.

“Right, breakfast is ready. I hope everyone is hungry.”

Chapter 13

Jen pushed her plate away,stuffed from the huge dinner her mum had put down in front of her the moment she walked through the door. Work had been busy again, and her load seemed to be increasing weekly, but Jen couldn’t complain. Before Suzanne, she came home and wallowed around the house, but now… Now she had something to look forward to each night.

“How was dinner, love?”

Jen beamed a smile as she looked up from her plate. “It was great, Mum. It always is.”

“I was surprised when you told me you’d be home tonight.” Denise finished the last of her food and sat back in her seat at the dining table. “You haven’t been home for dinner in almost a week.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Jen reached a hand across the table and lay it over her mum’s. “I promise to be home more often.”

“Oh, Jen. I don’t want you to do that. So long as I hear your voice each day and I know that you’re safe, that’s all I can ask for.” Jen appreciated that, but she should still make an effort to be here for dinner. “Life is changing for you, and for once, it’s for the better.”

“It really is, Mum.” Jen couldn’t believe it had been six weeks since her first date with Suzanne. She’d lost count of how many dates there had been now, but that didn’t matter. They had so many more to come that she was happy to lose count. “Life is kind of crazy at the minute.”

Denise frowned as she clasped her hands under her chin and sat forward. “Why?”

“Just with meeting Suzanne and stuff.” Jen lifted a shoulder, knowing she could be vulnerable around her mum. “You know I met her niece a few weeks ago? Well, she keeps calling Suzanne to ask when she can come and stay with us again.Us, Mum. Not Suzanne.Us.”

“And what does Suzanne think of that?”

“Honestly, I don’t think she cares. She hasn’t tried to correct Elsie, and she hasn’t brought up any kind of conversation about it with me.”

“Then I wouldn’t worry about it. If you’re happy for her niece to see you as a couple and whatnot, then let it happen, Jen. Unless, of course, you’re worried about how fast this is moving.”

“It’s not that I’m worried about any of that, but Suzanne still doesn’t know where I spent part of this year and a lot of last year.”

“I think the time has been and gone when it comes to telling Suzanne about prison, my love. It’s not important anymore. Actually, I don’t believe it’s ever been important.”

“You’re not serious. I can’t keep it from her forever.” Jen wished she could keep it locked away, but it wasn’t possible. The longer they were together, the more likely it was that someone somewhere would blow it all up.

“Why not? Suzanne knows the real you. The very daughter I raised to be wonderful, loving, and kind. Isn’t that the only thing that matters here?”

---