October 1, 2016
Happy October!
CHAPTER 10
Ben didn't call Jen back right away. He wanted to give her space – time to process and think. He also, he admitted, needed time for himself, to process what he'd learned about Jen and her past.
Ben could ask Kevin about Jen, and the car accident – surely it was on records at the police station. But he couldn't, he wouldn't. He didn't want his older brother snooping around, and besides, this was private. This was more about Jen and her feelings, more than anything else. He didn't care about the records; he knew it was an honest mistake. He just wanted to give himself – and Jen – time.
"Ben?" Kevin came upstairs.
"Yeah?" He turned away from the window.
"Would you mind watching Savannah and Sarah? Lucy and I want to go out grocery shopping."
"Grocery shopping? Since when do you go grocery shopping?"
"Recently. We just need a few last minute things, we should be back in an hour."
Ben shrugged. "Sure."
Kevin raised his eyebrows. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, why?"
"No reason. Anyway, thanks." Kevin turned and left the room; Ben followed.
"Something is up with Ben," Kevin said, as he pulled out of the driveway.
"I think you're jumping to conclusions," Lucy said, as Kevin made a sharp left turn off of their street and onto a main road.
"This is my brother we're talking about, remember?"
"Yeah, I know, but what's he hiding?"
"I don't know, your family has rubbed off on him."
"Hey – like you weren't good at keeping secrets from me?"
Kevin flashed her one of his cute smiles. "Okay, okay. So what do you think he's hiding?"
"I don't know, you're the cop. Interrogate him."
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Pull that one on me."
Lucy flashed him one of her cute smiles. "Please?"
"Oh, don't start. Otherwise, I'm not going to be a safe driver."
"Yeah, and we wouldn't that to happen."
There was silence for a moment, and then Kevin said, "I'll see what I can find out."
"Thanks."
Jen paced back and forth in her room. She could not believe she had told Ben about what happened with Sarah. But he was so easy to talk to, and he was so non-judgmental. But maybe he'll never want to talk to me again, Jen thought to herself as she stared out her bedroom window. Maybe he was only pretending to be non-judgmental, but inside, he's screaming, run! That thought, she realized, made her sad. Most guys she'd never bothered to get close to – certainly not close enough to divulge something as serious as what she'd told Ben – but this, this was different. And she liked it. She felt safe with him, she felt that he was a decent and trustworthy guy. She wanted him to know, she wanted him to know lots of things about her. And even if things didn't work out, she was glad she'd told him. She picked up the phone and called Desiree, who picked up on the first ring. "So? How was date #2?"
"It was great. I…I told him…about…" She began to cry, but this time, it wasn't for tears of pain or unhappiness. It was tears of relief. "He knows, Des. And he seemed okay. I mean, I'm not saying that he'll call again, I don't know that much, but at least he knows the truth. I know it was soon to tell him, it was only our second date, but…but he seems like a great guy. And I don't regret telling him, especially if things are going to move forward. I get the sense he likes me. If things are going to progress, he needs to know." She looked down at her feet, even though Desiree couldn't see her. "It's such an important part of my life…it's the only way he's going to be able to get to know me on all levels, both the personal as well as the impersonal."
"Jen, I'm really proud of you. If you felt it was the right thing to do, then it was. No matter what the outcome. But," said Desiree, "I certainly do hope he calls again."
Jen laughed. Suddenly, she saw her parents by her bedroom door. "Look Desiree, I have to go. My parents are here."
"Enjoy, I'll catch you later."
"Thanks. 'Bye." She hung up the phone. "Hi."
Her dad cleared his throat. "Ready for dinner?"
For the first time, Jen smiled and got off her bed. "Ready."
END OF CHAPTER 10. Please read and review!