Rifiuto: Non Miriena
"What did you learn in school today, sweetie?" Jack asked as they settled down to dinner. Jenna shrugged.
"Nothing? You had to have learned something, Jea." Jo said, taking a bite of her chicken. The girl thought a moment.
"We learned about the Hatefield and McCoy feud." She replied. The two looked at each other.
"You mean the Hatfields and McCoys?" Jo asked. Jenna nodded. "That was a feud that lasted almost twenty years in the backroads of America. They killed each other off until they were forced to call a truce."
"Like you and Mom?" Jenna asked, looking up at Jo. The older woman glanced at Jack, surprised.
"What... do you mean, Jea?" Jo spoke slowly, trying to understand. The girl looked from Jack to Jo and back.
"You and Mom are feuding."
"We aren't feuding." Jo cut in, but Jack laid a hand over hers.
"Let her talk, Jo." Jenna gave them both a smile before continuing.
"You and Mom both want Daddy. The Hatfields and McCoys both wanted something- but I don't rememeber what it was- and they killed for it. They hated each other, like you and Mom and would stop at nothing to destroy the other. Isn't that what Mom threatened today?" Jenna asked, turning to Jo, who's mouth fell open.
"Ah... um... ah... how... how do you... know about that, Jea? We... we didn't tell you what happened. How did you... figure it out?" Jenna shrugged at Jo. When dinner finished, Jenna asked,
"Can I get the ice cream?" Jack nodded, picking up the plates and putting them into the dishwasher.
"Sure, sweetie. Go ahead. Jo." He looked back at his fiancee, who still sat at the table, holding a cup of steaming coffee and staring into space. "Jo? Jo!" Her head snapped up and she turned to him.
"Sorry, Jack, what did you say?"
"Do you want some ice cream?" He asked, setting a bowl in front of her.
"Oh. Ah... sure." She said, pushing the bowl away.
"Are you okay?" He sat down next to her and laid a hand on her arm. After a moment, she covered his hand with hers, giving him a smile.
"I'm fine."
Later that night, as they climbed into bed, Jack wrapped her in his arms and ran his fingers through her hair.
"What Jenna said upset you tonight."
"It didn't-" She started, but her cut her off.
"It did. I could see it in your eyes. And what happened with Allison today... it scared both you and me."
She shrugged and burrowed closer, closing her eyes. "Doesn't matter." She muttered.
"Yes, it does matter." He replied, pulling away and looking into her eyes. "Allison threatened not only you, but our family. She and Zane need to understand that what happened four- five years ago before they left is the past. And that you and I... us and Jenna and... whoever else comes along... are the future. Our future doesn't include them." He said, kissing her hands.
"They don't understand-"
"Then we'll make them understand." He said, lifting her chin. "And we'll start, by having the wedding in two weeks." Her eyes widened and she stared at him for several minutes.
"Wh... what? Jack... we... we can't plan a wedding in two weeks! It's impossible."
"Oh, is it?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into the blankets.
"Yes." She said, sitting up before he pulled her back down and pinned her down. She stared up at him for several minutes, laughing as he tickled her. Eventually, they made eye contact. Sharing identical smiles, they closed the gap between them. Their hands moved over each other, caressing skin and cloth, like they had so many times before.
As he removed the lingerie from her body, he realized that he'd made the right choice that long ago night, admitting that he loved her. Back then, their worry had been about betraying Zane and Allison, and now- now their worry lay in keeping their family together. They had to. For Jenna. For themselves.
The next morning as they rushed about, getting ready for the day, Jenna sat watching Jo and Jack share soft conversations and intimate kisses. After she finished her juice and grabbed her backpack, she rushed to Jo, throwing her arms around her in a hug. Jo hugged her gently before taking her hand. As the three slipped out of the house and headed to the car, Jenna said,
"I'm glad you and Daddy are getting married soon. Then, maybe Mom will stay away from us forever. She's the bad person, after all."
"What... do you mean the bad person?" Jo asked as she climbed into the passenger seat. Jack started the car and headed into town, sharing startled glances with Jo. Jenna watched them closely.
"She's the bad person. She's trying to break you up, because she wants Daddy. And she's working with Mr. Donovan to do it."
By the time they'd pulled into the parking lot and dropped her off at school and climbed back in the car, Jack asked,
"How... did she know that we're planning on getting married in two weeks? Did you-"
Jo shook her head. "I didn't tell her." He thought a moment, trying to remember if he'd let it slip.
"Neither did I."