Page 3 of Life After

“Yeah. Mum said you want me to bring Toby over at the weekend.”

“I’d love to see him. He’s what? Four months now?” Grace gave birth to Toby a few weeks before Jen was released from prison. “So…could I see him?”

“I’ll tell Dan I’m going over to see one of the girls.”

Jen sighed. She didn’t want her sister to lie to the man she would marry next year. Another thing Jen wouldn’t be a part of, more than likely. “If it’s going to be too much trouble for you, don’t worry about it.”

“I… No. It’s not too much trouble. Dan won’t know where I am.”

“But I don’t like the idea of you lying to him, Grace. He’s your fiancé and your baby’s dad. I don’t want him to hate me any more than he already does when he finds out you’ve been sneaking to Mum’s.”

“That’s the best I can do right now, Jen. He’s not having a great time at work, so I really don’t want to mention it to him and put him on the spot.”

Huh. Put him on the spot?Perhaps Grace could have her back instead and explain that Jen wasn’t some evil ex-con who couldn’t be trusted around children. Fuck, she’d been a primary school teacher before everything happened! “You know what, don’t worry about it. I don’t want to cause any friction in your relationship.” Jen sighed. “Just…I opened a savings account for Toby a few weeks after I was released. There isn’t much in it, but I’ll keep adding to it as and when I can. Maybe he’ll know I love him when he’s old enough to understand and know the truth.” Jen cleared her throat, determined to have a day without tears. “I am sorry everyone hates me. If it helps, I hate me, too.”

“Jen,” Grace paused, and then Jen heard Toby crying in the background. “Nobody hates you.”

“Look, I should go. I’m still working.” Jen shook her head slightly and turned onto Mrs Dixon’s road. It was lined with huge oak trees and Edwardian houses that sat back off the street. “I’ve reached the fancy part of town, and it’s a narrow road. I’d better concentrate so I don’t get myself into any more trouble.”

“Fine, okay. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.”

Jen smiled. “Yeah. Love you, too.”

She cut the call and the engine, then exited her van. One more package down and a mile or so closer to home. Once she’d rummaged around for the package she needed, she locked the van up and approached the front of the gorgeous house she desperately wanted to see the inside of. It had to be spectacular. The privacy hedges were trimmed to perfection, not a leaf out of place, and the front of the house looked as though it had been freshly painted since last week.Probably the husband.

Before she had taken on this job, it had been a long time since Jen had ventured over this side of town. If she had to guess, she would say it was back when she was still working in her teaching position. Ruby’s mum only lived a few streets away, so this area had been familiar to Jen once upon a time.

What do you have in store for me today?Jen grinned as she pushed through the garden gate, eyeing the brand new Range Rover Sport that sat on the drive. It was definitely Mrs Dixon’s car. Jen could tell by how pristine it looked. A little like the owner, only the owner was far more beautiful than any luxury car.

Jen’s lips parted as she heard the lock disengage on the back of the door, but she chose to focus on the package in her hand. She needed to get the important stuff out of the way before they locked eyes. Jen lost her train of thought when that dark and intense stare landed on her. “Package for Mrs Dixon,” Jen said as she scanned the box in her hand. “Just the same as usual. A signature and I’ll be out of your way.”

She did look up this time, her smile widening when Mrs Dixon gazed back at her, that gorgeous dark hair flowing over her shoulders.

“Nice to see you again.” Mrs Dixon rested against the doorframe, folding her arms across her chest and revealing her cleavage a little more. Today, she wore a sheer white blouse with several top buttons open.

“Y-yeah.” Jen cleared her throat, wishing she was wearing sunglasses right now. It was hard not to look at the obvious, but she suspected this woman knew what she was doing. “Always a pleasure delivering to you.”

Mrs Dixon cocked her head, those huge brown eyes gazing back at Jen. “Am I on your round permanently now?”

“Looks like you’re stuck with me, yes.”

“Perhaps I should put in an extra order each week.” Mrs Dixon pushed off the doorframe and reached towards the package Jen held. Their fingers brushed, and if Jen wasn’t mistaken, Mrs Dixon appeared to be lingering longer than usual.

Jen’s palms grew clammy. This was a new development. Still, she had to remember that this woman was married. “I’m sure I could drop any package you need whenever you need it.”

“Is that so?” Mrs Dixon smirked, both of them still holding onto the package. It seemed Jen was frozen where she stood. “I had no idea couriers around here were becoming so…accommodating.”

Heat crept up Jen’s neck and onto her cheeks. She had to admit that this felt pretty good. It had been a long time since she’d flirted. Jen was surprised she remembered how. Knowing that this woman had no idea who Jen was or where she had been recently, it certainly made her feel better about herself. Even if only for a few minutes. She would take it, and maybe she would bite back, too. “I had no idea some of the houses I’d be delivering to could be so charming.”

“Since you’re going to be here weekly, I should know your name.”

Jen held out a hand and smiled as Mrs Dixon took it. “I’m Jen.”

“Suzanne.” And there it was. A name to put to a beautiful face. “Forgive me if this seems very strange, but you seem like the kind of person who knows what they’re doing when it comes to tech.”

“I’m sorry?” Jen’s brows drew together. Had Mrs Dixon just flirted with Jen to get some sort of assistance with her computer? She was impressed if that was the case. Though Jen wasn’t sure how much use she would be. Technology hadn’t exactly been something she’d had much experience with over the last few years. “Tech?”

“Mm. My internet is giving me the runaround today. I’d be very grateful if you could take a look at it.”

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