Thanks to all of you that have reviewed. This is where the rating for this story changes, partly due to the subject matter revealed. Nothing graphic, but it is a touchy subject. I hope you still enjoy it.
Jen's eyes widened in surprise when she opened the door. "Garret…wha…what are you doing here?"
"I was worried about you…I came to see if there was anything I could do to help."
"How did you find me…" Moving her hand in front of her, she stopped Garret from speaking. "Wait…I'm sure I already know the answer to that."
"Jen…who's at the door?" Garret was surprised to hear a man's voice come from behind her.
An uncomfortable silence settled in as the man who had interrupted the two made his presence known. He was taller than Jen, maybe close to Nigel in height. His dark hair was long and he had it pulled back from what he could see.
"Eric…this is my boss, Garret Macy. Garret this is my brother Eric." Both men shook hands and although the introductions were made, the tension in the air still remained.
"Jen…I need to speak to you in the kitchen…now!"
Jen jumped at her brother's tone. She motioned for Garret to come in and told him to wait in the living room. While he did, he could hear low voices coming from the other room. He wasn't able to make out what was said, but the tone told him it was a heated conversation. After several minutes he heard the slamming of a door followed by complete silence. Walking out the kitchen he found Jen's brother standing alone.
"I was sorry to hear about your mother. I hope I haven't come at a bad time?" Although he was much taller, he could see they both had the same blue eyes.
"I don't believe it has ever been a good time in this family." Eric turned to look at Garret. "So, tell me…are you are you her boyfriend or something?"
Surprised by his question, Garret shook his head, "no…I'm just a friend."
"I'm surprised she has any given the way she is…now if you'll excuse me, I have some things to do."
Garret nodded and rubbed his hand over the back of his head. He now was beginning to wonder what he really was doing here. Moving over to the nearby window he saw Jen standing on the porch. He made his way out the door and stood beside her.
"Your brother was real pleasant."
Jen let out a small laugh. "Its all part of the family charm." Her face grew serious as she looked at him. "Why did you come here?"
"I was worried about you…I wanted to be sure you were alright."
"There is such a thing as a phone."
"I tried that, but somebody wasn't returning my calls."
Jen pinched the bridge of her nose…she was feeling a headache coming on. "I can't do this now…I'm not in the mood to argue with you." She looked away from him and took in a deep breath.
They stood in silence until Jen turned back around to face him. She grabbed his hand and entwined her fingers with his. "I'm mad as hell with you right now Garret Macy for coming here…but…" her voice faltered and she took another deep breath, "…but…a part of me is glad that you came." Her eyes locked with his.
Garret smiled softly…pulling her to him. He felt her arms wrap around his body…holding onto to him as if life depended on it. They stood like that for some time before going back inside.
The days passed by quickly. Garret helped Jen pack up most of her mother's things while her brother came by a few times, rarely speaking to either of them. One day Garret came upon an old photo album and got a glimpse of Jen's past. She sat down with him and went through some of the pictures…her as a scrawny girl with chipmunk cheeks. He noticed her face lit up when she looked at some of the pictures, but when they got to around the time her brother was born she quickly took the album from him saying they had to finish packing. He decided not to push her…knowing full well that everything right now was taking its toll on her.
The day before they were to leave for Boston, the two made several trips to drop things off at the local Goodwill. Afterwards they took a walk and ended up at the City Park. They sat down on a park bench and watched ducks swimming in a nearby pond. The park was quiet and she was thankful for that.
"I wish I knew what you see in me Garret." She turned to look at him and saw the concern on his face. "Think about it…I haven't exactly given you reason to even want to be around me…ever since Christmas I've pushed you away more and more."
Garret reached over and softly carressed her cheek. "Well…for one, I see a very smart and beautiful woman." He watched as the comment made her blush. "But…I also see someone who has been hurt to the point I can't begin to comprehend."
"That's because I'm afraid to tell you…"
"I know you are and just as I told you once before…tell me when your ready."
She looked down to the ground and softly spoke, "and what if I'm never ready?"
He placed his fingers under her chin and turned her face towards him, "then we'll deal and move on…simple as that."
Jen got up quickly and walked two feet before turning around. Throwing her hands up in the air she looked at him, "but it's not that simple! You are the first man that I've cared about in a long time. I know I haven't shown it…I've kept it buried so deep…but I do care…so much that it hurts." Her eyes widened and her hand quickly flew to her mouth…shocked and somewhat embarrassed by her admission. She turned to leave, but Garret was instantly by her side, grabbing her arm.
"Jen…"
"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said that. We need to go." She broke free from him and started walking away.
Garret rubbed his hand over his face…she admitted to him there was something there…just when he didn't think there was. He raced to catch up with her, but she ignored him. The drive back to the house was quiet and once there she steered clear of him. Later…just as it was beginning to get dark out…he found her on the porch. Against his better judgement, he went out and took a seat next to her.
He couldn't get over how quiet it was…the sky was clear…thousands of stars began to blanket the night sky.
"When I was little…I used to come out during nights like this…just sit here and look up at the sky. I had a thing for constellations. I remember in the third grade going on a class trip to a planetarium…I became hooked with them then." A smile crept across her face and she looked at Garret. "Sorry…you really didn't come out to here to listen to me ramble on."
"No, but it helps get to know you better." He watched as her face grew serious.
"I'm sorry…about earlier at the park…with my outburst. I guess dealing with my mom's death…coming home…well, I guess it made me realize a few things…although, that's not how I wanted to tell you."
He reached over and took her hand in his. "If your mother's passing hadn't occurred and we were still in Boston…would you have told me then?"
Licking her lips nervously she looked at him…his gaze on her was intense. "I don't know…I honestly don't know. Back there I was fighting to keep you away from me." She paused before going on. "I'm still worried though that you'll reject me once you know the rest. Your getting bits and pieces now…once the whole puzzle comes together you may not have the same feelings anymore."
"Try me."
"What?"
"It seems to me that this trip is full of revelations…now is as good as time as any."
He was right and she knew it. If she didn't tell him now, she wouldn't be able to later. "Why don't we go inside and talk. I'm starting to get cold."
They went in and after fixing some coffee they took a seat on the couch. Jen remained at a close, but comfortable distance from Garret. Her heart was already pounding and she was beginning to feel sick to her stomach.
"I don't know how to start this…you don't exactly blurt something like this out." She played with a string on the blanket that still was wrapped around her body.
"Does this have to do with your brother?"
Her head instanstly shot up and she looked at him. "No…god no!"
"I didn't mean anything by it…its just the way he has acted since I came here and the other day when we looked through the photo album."
Jen smiled sadly. "He's the way he is because he resents me. I practically wrote off the family when I left. I occasionally called…that's how he knew where to track me down in Boston. I let mom know where I was at, but that was only contact I had with anyone."
Biting her lower lip, she looked away from him. Her voice became quiet now. "The reason I got upset with the album was because what happened to me started shortly after my brother was born."
"Started?" Garret was beginning to get an uneasy feeling in the bottom of his stomach.
"My uncle, my dad's brother, moved to be closer to us right before my brother was born. He had lived in Arizona for years, but decided to move back here." She turned away from him…trying to gather the courage to say it. She felt like that day in the morgue when she ran out on Jordan and Nigel.
"Jen?"
Her eyes snapped back toward Garret. "Sorry…maybe there is no easy way to say this." She took a deep breath. "From the time I was eight years old until I turned 14…I…I was molested by my uncle."
