Page 33 of Steel & Jenna
Mr. Zarin put the truck into park. He turned, and for a moment Jack thought he was going to push. Instead, he nodded. “All right. Do you want me to pick you up at a certain time?”
Jack shook his head. The Zarins’ house was only a few miles. “I can walk.”
Mr. Zarindidargue that time. “We’re six miles from home and it’s fucking cold out. Either Jenna’s sister comes and gets you, or I will. Choose.”
Jack didn’t know what Jenna’s plans were or if her sister was even available. “Let me figure out what we’re doing and I’ll call you.”
“That’s fine but call before twelve-thirty. Mrs. Zarin and I usually go grocery shopping after lunch. I assume today is going to be no different. Do you have our number?”
Jack nodded. “Mrs. Zarin gave it to me on our first day of school. I memorized it.” Then added more quietly, “Just in case.”
Mr. Zarin clasped him on the shoulder. “Good lad.”
The man’s praise made Jack feel lighter inside. Jack got out and then reached for the cardboard box that had been at his feet.
“You can leave that unless you need something. I can put it in your room or give it to Lilly.”
Jack hesitated. It would be nice not to carry it around, but he also didn’t want to leave his money inside it. Not that he thought Mr. Zarin would take it. Not intentionally, that is. More of, he just felt better if he kept it on him. “Would you… Can you close your eyes for a second?”
Mr. Zarin raised an eyebrow. “Depends. Is what you’re going to pull out of there in any way illegal?”
Jack’s back straightened. “No, sir.”
Mr. Zarin studied him another moment before closing his eyes and facing forward.
Jack quickly opened the cardboard box. Mixed in with his clothes, Lilly’s books, and the legal documents that Jack had stumbled upon a few months before was a holey sock filled with his entire life savings.
While he knew it made his jacket bulky, he still zipped it up at his chest. Then he put the box back. “Thank you,” he said to Mr. Zarin. The man opened his eyes and looked down at Jack. “For everything.”
Mr. Zarin gave him a sincere smile. “You asked me last night if there was a catch to coming to live with us.” Jack stiffened when Mr. Zarin said, “There is. One day, Jack, when you’re grown and on your own, you’ll see a kid in need. It’s a sad fact about the world that there’s no shortage of them. I hope when you do, you’ll pay it forward. Givethatkid a chance at a better future.”
Jack felt his chest get heavy. “I promise.”
“That’s all the thanks I’ll ever need. Don’t forget to call when you’re ready for a pickup.”
Jenna’s headpicked up when she saw Jack exit the old light blue truck ahead. Carolyn hadn’t even pulled over completely before Jenna had the window rolled down and her head out of it. “Jack!”
He turned—and smiled.
“Yeah, that boy’s got it bad for you.”
Jenna sat back down as Carolyn braked. She put the window up and turned to her sister. “Thank you for the ride.”
“Think about what I said,” Carolyn prompted. They’d stayed up most of the night chatting like they had when Jenna was a little girl. While Carolyn’s appearance was drastically different, it had felt comfortingly familiar.
“I will,” Jenna promised as she unlocked the door. Jack was right there to open it for her.
The cold breeze should have affected her, but her entire body was heated at just the sight of him. Jack held out his hand to help her out of the low car.
He kissed her cheek in greeting before turning to Carolyn. “Good morning.”
“Morning, Jack.” Carolyn lifted two fingers in the universal sign for peace. “Jenna said this is routine for the two of you, but I gotta saybeing woken up at seven in the morning on a Saturday to give my little sis a ride to the fucking library is probably one of the lamest reasons I’ve ever gotten up.”
Jack chuckled. “We’ll try to come up with a different meeting spot in the future.”
“You do that.” She looked to Jenna. “You good?”
Jenna nodded. “Thank you.”
