"Everyone has their weak spot. The one thing that, despite your best efforts, will always bring you to your knees, regardless of how strong you are otherwise."
– Sarah Dessen
It was 7:30 when Jennifer Jensen pulled into her assigned parking spot. She got out and made her way towards the school. She watched as students bustle around the hallway trying to get everything they needed before the first bell rang. Jennifer felt her phone vibrated in her pocket and grabbed it noticing a text from her brother. "Please keep an eye on Rachel today." Jen hit reply and typed. "Of course. You don't even have to ask." She stuck her phone back into her pocket and opened the door to her classroom before going in.
As soon as walked in she noticed a beautiful bouquet of purple and white calla lilies sitting in the middle of her desk. Jennifer smiled to herself walking towards them and grabbed the note that sat in the middle of the bouquet. Missed you this morning, beautiful. Love always, Daniel. She could get use to this. Jennifer felt like the luckiest woman in the world, she was engaged to most incredible man, Daniel Moore. He was doctor who she had started dating 2 years ago and just before the new-year he proposed.
Settling in, she grabbed the vase that the flowers sat in and put them on the file cabinet behind her next so the whole class could see them but they wouldn't get in her way. She was about to start writing the lesson for today on the board when she saw Rachel sulk past her classroom. "Rachel." Her niece stopped and looked at her before walking in.
"Let me guess. Dad, told you to look after me today?" Jen nodded. "God, ever since mom's been sober she's been all over me and dad isn't much better." She walked over to her niece and wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
"They're just looking out for you. Trust me. Be grateful for that."
"I know. But it just gets to be too much, sometimes. Who am I kidding most of the time" Rachel laughed, Jennifer joining her. "You know I was kind of hoping that maybe you could cover me today so I can go hang out with Junior. I haven't gotten to see him a whole lot since he got suspended." Jennifer sighed, walking to stand in front of her niece.
"Okay, I will." Rachel jumped up excitedly and hugged her aunt as tight as she could. "But this can't keep happening. I can't keep covering up for you. I've already been doing it for too long and if your dad finds out he would kill me." Jennifer explained as she pulled out of the hug and stared intently at Rachel.
"Got it." Rachel nodded. "Thanks, Aunt Jen." Jennifer smiled, Rachel turned around and practically ran out of the room before she could change her mind. Jennifer laughed and shook her head before going back to writing the lesson for the day on the board before her class filed in.
Junior and Rachel were in the abandoned warehouse that they always hang out in. Junior was lighting a joint while Rachel laid down on a stack of shipping pallets.
"I liked it better when my mom was drinking. At least I could do what I wanted. Now that she's cured she's….obsessed with me." Junior took a hit of the joint and passed it to Rachel. "You ever worry about turning into your parents?"
"Me? No. I never met my parents so." Junior paused before chuckling. "I wouldn't know it if I did." Rachel passed it back to Junior. She looked up at him before turning over and resting on her elbows.
"So my aunt said that she couldn't cover for us anymore." Junior took another hit before passing it again.
"Yeah, I had a feeling that was gonna happen soon. Man, your aunt is so cool. I mean how many people do you that would cover for two teenagers one of whose parents would freak?" They both laughed.
"I know right. She said she was helping us because she's been there. She used to sneak around with a boy my grandparents wouldn't approve of so she gets it." Rachel sits the rest of the way up feeling the buzz of the weed hit her. She looked at Junior for a second before pulling him into a kiss. He immediately responded putting his free hand to her face.
When she pulled away she smiled and started playing with her hair. "My dad. Once carried my mom all the way home from school." Junior laughed before taking another hit.
"Shut up. I don't know." They both laughed looking at each other. "Cause its romantic."
It was Junior's turn to run his hand through his hair. "I suppose." He tried to pass the joint to Rachel but she stood up.
"Do you think you could carry me that far?" He stared at her and smiled before taking one last hit and throwing the joint to the ground standing up. Rachel looked at him with a smile on her face the smile getting bigger as he closed the gap between them. He bent down and swooped her up bridal style.
"I don't know what about that?" He smiled down at her. "Oh, I like that." He carried her back the few steps that she took and laid her back down on the shipping pallets hovering over her. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." She answered pulling him into a kiss.
"Hey babe. It's me. I just wanted to let you know that I'll be home soon. Just gonna stop by Harold's house and check in on him, Jean and the girls. Shouldn't be too long. I love you." Jennifer hung up the phone as she turned into her brother's driveway. She made sure that Rachel's homework from her teachers was hidden from her brother and sister in law's view when she walked in. She knocked on the door. Her younger niece Kate or Katie as everyone calls her.
"Aunt Jen" Katie gave Jennifer a big hug. Even though they live in the same town Jennifer doesn't get to hang out with her family as much as she would like. Between Daniel's schedule, planning the wedding and her schedule it can get pretty hectic. She hugged her back. "Hey kiddo. How are you doing?" Katie smiled as they walked into the house. Jennifer noticed her sister in law in the living room getting up off the couch. From the looks of it that's where Katie's was too before she went to answer the door.
"Hey Jean." Jennifer greeted her sister in law who she has not such a great history with. Jean pulled Jennifer into a hug. "Hi Jen." Pulling out of the hug. "Are you staying for dinner?"
Jennifer shook her head. "Wish I could but Daniel told me he had a surprise for me when I got home." Jean smiled. "How is that fiancé of yours doing?" Jennifer smiled.
"He's good. Working hard, saving lives. You know same ol same ol." Jennifer heard footsteps coming down the stair and looked seeing her brother coming towards her.
"Is that my little sister's voice I hear. I'm not quite sure. It's been so long since I've heard it or even seen her face. Maybe I don't have a sister anymore." He said smiling, Jennifer punched him in the shoulder before hugging him.
"Okay, so I know I haven't been over in a while but I'm busy trying to plan the greatest wedding of all time. It takes up a little bit of time." They all laughed.
After promising to try to come over again really soon and stealthy putting Rachel's homework in her room Jennifer was on her way to her fiancé. When she pulled in the driveway she felt all of her muscle relax. They was something about knowing that she was coming home to him that always made her relax and that was what made her decide that she was in this for the long haul. Grabbing her purse and her messenger bag, she turned off her lights and engine and got out. When she walked in she saw candles everywhere and followed the path of candles only to see her fiancé standing by their dining room table with a rose in his hand.
"You know. First the flowers. Then the candles and now more flowers. Plus dinner. You're gonna spoil a girl." She explained closing the gap between them, taking the flower out of his hand.
"As long as that girl's you. Then I have no problem doing that for the rest of my life." Daniel leaned down and pulled Jennifer into a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, while he gripped both of her hips with his hands.
"I would love to show you just how much I appreciate all the spoiling but first can we eat? I'm starving." Daniel laughed guiding Jennifer to the table and pulling her chair out for her. After he sat down in his chair next to hers she grabbed his hand making him look at her.
"Thank you, babe. For all of this today. I hope we have many more days like this." He kissed her hand. "You can count on it." Jennifer smiled before digging into dinner.
Author's Note (1): Jennifer is played by Sara Canning and her fiancé, Daniel is played by Jason Thompson.
Author's Note (2): I own nothing except Jennifer Jensen. She is my own creation.