Page 132 of Angels and Skulls
Jenny comes rushing back to the truck lugging a big bag of books over her arm.
“I thought you came over here for one book not twenty,” I tease, helping her as she tries to heave it into the bed of the truck. “Just please let me do it. I know you’re more than capable but …”
“It’s what’s called being gentlemanly,” Dirk interrupts. “Get used to it. You have an entire club of men to help you with your heavy lifting.”
I wait for her to release the bag to me. She hesitates, and I can see her jaw clench as she bites her tongue.
“Jenny, please don’t be offended. I know you’ve been doing things on your own for a long time. It’s just what we do.”
She thinks about what I’ve said and slowly releases the weight of the bag into my arms.
“Thank you,” she says, rounding the truck to the passenger side. She reaches for the door handle but meets Dirk’s eye before yanking on it. A loud sigh escapes her, and she crosses her arms over her chest, waiting for me.
Dirk and I exchange a grin because she’s cute when she’s frustrated. I think he’s finally seeing what I see. I’m glad he and Jesse seem to like her, because they will forever be my best friends.
After Dirk and I get all of the stuff I brought over from the house up to her room, I realize she’s disappeared. I say goodbye to Dirk before beginning my search for her. I find her standing by the glass doors, staring across the lake.
Jenny hears me coming. “Is that Petey’s house over there?” She points in the direction of a little cloud of smoke from the chimney.
“It is. If you go down by the dock, you can see it from there, or at least you can see his dock. It depends on the season.”
She taps her fingers over her forehead.
“You seem perplexed.” I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her waist.
“I want to go over there.”
It makes sense. She went to the farm for a book for Charlotte. “We can walk over,” I tell her.
“No. I want to go by myself.”
“Okay. You can go by yourself. You’re not a prisoner here, Jenny.”
“I know.” She slides the door open. “I just want to be able to go to someone’s home, knock on their door, and talk to them.”
Oh, now I understand. She pulls away from me, stepping outside. Jenny makes it to the edge of the patio, and that is where she stops.
After how good she’s done with all the running we did today, I almost forgot she’s been alone and isolated for over two decades.
I walk out to her. “I have an idea. Why don’t I drive you over to Lily’s, and you can try going up to the door by yourself there? That would be a great start, and you know her better. You’ll feel more comfortable.”
She shakes her head. “No. It has to be Petey and Katie’s house.”
She must want to start with the hardest people to approach first. I admire her confidence.
“If that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
I watch her stand on the edge of the patio the rest of the night. It breaks my fucking heart.
When it gets late, I rub her arms. “It’s okay. You’ll try again.”
She turns and looks at me. “I’m doing it tomorrow.”
I nod, hoping like hell she’s right because I can’t handle the disappointment I see on her face right now.
“Why did I let them steal my entire life away from me?” she says, hugging herself. “I’m glad you didn’t do that. I’m glad you got out and lived your life to the fullest.”
