Page 46 of Steel & Jenna
Jenna’s chin trembled as she came inside. “Jack, I am so sorry! My mom?—”
“Is a bitch,” Jack finished for her. “Yeah, I know. I’m just grateful you didn’t inherit that trait because I wouldn’t want to be saddled with that for the rest of my life.”
The sound that came out of her was a mixture of a sob and a laugh. “You forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Jen. I told you that. I’ll keep telling you that. Now get over here and kiss me. My pride’s wounded and I plan on milking the hell outta this.”
That time she laughed. Jenna went around the bed to his right side, opposite of where Mrs. Zarin was standing. Looking down at him, she frowned. He could see tear tracks on her cheeks and felt awful that he couldn’t clean them away. “I don’t know where to kiss you. I don’t want to hurt you more.”
Feeling something at his feet, Jack glanced down the length of his body to where Lilly was poking his feet. “What are you doing?”
“Seeing if this hurts. If it doesn’t, Jenna can kiss you here.”
Everyone laughed, even Jack. Though his turned into a hiss of pain very quickly. “Lillypad, don’t make me laugh! It hurts.” He smiled at his sister to let her know that he wasn’t mad at her for her joke.
Mr. Zarin grabbed a visitor’s chair from the window. He brought it over for his wife to sit on Jack’s left side. Then he went into the hall and came back with another chair for Jenna on Jack’s right side. She sat and took his hand.
Jack couldn’t ask Jenna about what happened to the sock of money with the Zarins around, but he desperately wanted to know. As if sensing what was on his mind, she squeezed his hand to reassure him. That was good enough for him for now.
A knock on the door drew their attention to Chief Cunningham. The Chief of Police had been in and out of Jack’s room since he’d regained consciousness. Jack’s heart rate spiked, which unfortunately showed on the monitor. He had an IV and a lot of wires attached to him, too.
Mr. Zarin moved to place himself between the Chief and Jack’sbed. He crossed his arms over his chest and there was a defining protectiveness to his stance. “Timothy.”
The Chief looked relaxed but not happy as he came into the room. He nodded to the Zarins. “Arnold, Daphne.” Then he looked at Lilly. “You must be Lilly.” He held out his hand to the little girl. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Chief Cunningham.”
Lilly’s hand was dwarfed by the massive policeman’s. “Are you going to arrest my brother?”
Jenna stiffened next to Jack at Lilly’s bold question.
There was a definite pause where everyone seemed to be holding their breath before Chief Cunningham answered, “No.”
Lilly dropped her hand. “Good. Then I like you.”
Cunningham chuckled, shaking his big belly. “Good to know I have your approval. I want you to know I spoke with your father.” This time it was Jack’s turn to stiffen. His shoulder and ribs protested at the involuntary action. Jenna squeezed his hand as the Chief turned his attention to Jack. “He’s still the piece of work he was in high school.”
Jack got the distinct impression that the Chief wanted to use different words to describe his father but censored them for Lilly’s sake. The Chief looked older than his dad, which made Jack think that they hadn’t gone to school together.
“I knew your mom too.” The Chief put his hands in his uniform pockets as he stared down at Jack with knowledgeable eyes. “Are you anything like her, son?”
Jack knew in an instant to what the man was referring. With Mrs. Scanlon’s accusation about him dealing drugs, he should have expected it. But he appreciated the Chief’s discretion. Lilly knew nothing about the baggie of white powder their mom had come back for the day she’d returned for her things and abandoned her kids. If Jack had his way, Lilly would never know.
“No, sir,” Jack answered as sincerely as he could in his condition.
The Chief nodded once. “Good. I’m sorry to say I didn’t realize how bad it was at your father’s, Jack. You were so good at taking care of yourself and your sister that the two of you stayed below my radar.I’m proud of you for that,” the man added, not breaking eye contact with Jack. “But I also owe you an apology for it.”
Not knowing how else to respond to that, Jack answered, “It’s okay.”
“It’s not,” the Chief insisted, “but that’s a talk for another time.” He looked to Mr. and Mrs. Zarin. “Is this what you want? To stay with them? You have other options.”
Jack’s good eye volleyed between the couple. Mrs. Zarin looked like she was holding her breath. It was the understanding in Mr. Zarin’s eyes that was the deciding factor. Like he was silently trying to tell Jack that no matter what he decided, he had his support. There was no pleading on his or his wife’s behalf.
Jack looked to the Chief of Police. “Yes. I want us to stay with them.”
Cunningham nodded once. “Now,legally, I can’t allow that. Your father still has rights and that’s a whole other process to strip them.However,” he added pointedly, “as far as I am concerned, Mr. and Mrs. Zarin are merely babysitting the two of you this weekend. So long as you stay out of trouble and I don’t have to get your father involved in any future situations, I don’t need to get the law involved. Are you understanding me, son?”
Jack nodded carefully, his head not appreciating the movement. “Yes, sir.”
Mrs. Zarin let out a breath next to him. He couldn’t see her with her being on his bad side, but he imagined her sagging in relief.
