AN: Special thanks to all my readers who are still following this story. I really appreciate the feedback I've received - thank you so much!
Tanith
Can we forget all the lies that we've led
Take us so far away from the truth
Can we erase all the tears and regrets
Fear hiding in the pain
The shadows of yesterday
"In Love Again"- Colbie Caillat
Chapter 30
With a half-hearted smile plastered on his face, Mike waited for Jeannie to reach him then said, "Ready to go home, Sweetheart?"
"Actually, I'd like to check on Whitney first and make sure he's okay," Jeannie replied.
"I can take you, if you like? Mike probably needs to be heading back to the office," Irene offered, sharing a surreptitious glance with Mike.
The aging Lieutenant caught the hidden message behind Irene's suggestion and nodded in agreement. "Thanks, Irene. Is that alright with you, Sweetheart?"
"Sure, thanks, Irene," Jeannie replied with a smile.
Together the three of them walked out of the hospital, each were too deep in their thoughts to engage in much of a conversation.
Once Irene pulled out of the parking lot, she asked if Jeannie minded giving directions to Whitney's place.
"Actually, would you mind stopping over at Mike's first? I'd like to pick up my overnight bag," Jeannie said tentatively.
"Does Mike know you're going to be staying over at Whitney's penthouse?" Irene asked, feeling a little uncomfortable by the young woman's request. She knew and respected the values that Mike believed in and Jeannie's Catholic upbringing.
"He's not at the penthouse. He's living in Pacific Heights on his own and I don't want to leave him all alone after that fight. I just want to make sure he's okay," Jeannie replied, skirting around Irene's question.
"Honey I understand you're concerned, but does Mike know?"
Jeannie turned her head and faced the window, avoiding the glance that Irene stole her way. She wished everyone would stop treating her like a child! "No, but don't worry, I'll call him when I get to Whitney's."
"Jeannie, I really think you should..."
"Look, Irene, I'm going to stay at Whitney's tonight. If you won't take me, I'll take a cab. I don't need Mike's approval, or yours for that matter!" Jeannie shot back. She hoped her terse response masked her own nervousness and put an end to the discussion.
Despite Jeannie's unexpected outburst, Irene knew she had to try to talk her out of making what could end up being a mistake. The last thing she wanted was for Jeannie to be taken advantage of in her emotionally vulnerable state. From what little she knew about Whitney, it was enough for the alarm bells to ring. "Jeannie, I'll take you wherever you want to go, but before I do, I want you to think about something." Irene paused and took Jeannie's silence for the girl's willingness's to at least listen. "As far as Whitney is concerned, the moment you walk through the front door with your overnight bag, you're committing yourself to taking the next step in your relationship. I'm not saying this for Mike's sake. I'm saying it for yours. I don't want you to have any regrets when you wake up in the morning. And this goes for Whitney too. After what happened today, he's going to be emotional and in need of some comfort but will you both feel the same way tomorrow?"
"We're engaged. We're going to spend the rest of our lives together!" Jeannie declared.
Irene caught Jeannie's voice faltering despite her attempts to keep a confident façade. "Oh, Jeannie, who are you trying to fool? Me or you? You're as eager to walk down the aisle as I am ready to jump in front of a hail of bullets."
They had reached De Haro street and Irene pulled over outside Mike's house.
Jeannie threw her hands up in frustration. "Why is everyone so against me marrying Whitney?"
"Maybe if you listened to your heart, you'll be able to answer that question yourself," Irene said gently.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jeannie averted her gaze and placed a hand on the door handle.
"Jeannie, wait," Irene called out just as the passenger door swung open.
Jeannie sat back, pulling the door shut and sighed heavily. "What is it, Irene?"
"If Steve told you he was in love with you, would you still marry Whitney?" Irene blurted out.
"Steve doesn't love me. And what makes you think I'd change my mind even if he did?" Jeannie stubbornly shot back.
"Because I've seen the way your whole face would light up when he looks at you. I'm not blind! I may not have the best of luck when it comes to love but I know it when I see it. Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong but you'd only be lying to yourself."
Jeannie's face reddened, partly out of anger and partly because she had thought her feelings were safely locked away from prying eyes. She directed her anger at Steve for remaining silent about feelings that according to Irene he had for her. There was a time she was led to believe he felt something more than just friendship toward her but that time had long past.
"Look, Irene, I know you mean well and maybe there was a spark of something between Steve and I once upon a time, but that was all it was. A spark. We went through a lot together and our emotions were a little confused," Jeannie lamely explained.
"He still loves you," Irene persisted gently.
"Well, he has a funny way of showing it," Jeannie mumbled.
Getting exasperated with the Stone stubborn streak that Jeannie inherited from her father, Irene knew she had to give it one more try to get through to the college girl's hard-headedness. "Do you know why he and Whitney fought today?"
"It doesn't matter..."
"Whitney sees Steve as a threat! Now, you know as well as I do that Steve would never engage in a fight, let alone start one, without good cause. By the looks of things, he felt you were worth every blow he took. Sure, he wasn't the only one on the receiving end, but if you knew how badly he was already hurt before the fight, you wouldn't think so harshly of him!"
Jeannie was taken aback by Irene's words. She had been so bitter toward Steve that she had refused to want to know what really happened at Mike's place that morning. And she felt guilty for not considering the possibility that Steve was hurt worse than he had been willing to admit to her. "How badly?" Jeannie croaked.
"Concussion, broken ribs, multiple fractures to his hand, a bruised kidney that is now infected. To sum it up, he's in real bad shape."
Jeannie lowered her gaze in shame as she thought back to what Steve had told her when he was recovering at the hospital from the home invasion. Just a few bruises, that's all, he had said. Then today he had mentioned his attacker had used brass knuckles.
"All I'm asking from you is to reconsider your feelings for Steve before you and Whitney decide to explore your relationship on a new level."
Still not meeting Irene's eyes, Jeannie gave a small nod. After a moment's pause she finally looked up. "I still need to be with Whitney. I need to make sure he really is okay. Not because I'm ready to take the next step. He's alone and he's obviously not going to see a doctor. Please try to understand. I know Mike's going to hit the roof when he finds out but I'm not a little girl anymore. It's my decision to make, not his."
"If that's where you want to be right now, I can't stop you. Just promise me you'll think about what I've said. And you'll call Mike."
"I will, Irene. I promise. You're a good friend." Jeannie leaned over and gave the older woman a warm embrace. "I'll be right back. I'm just going to pack a few a things."
Once Jeannie had existed the car, Irene leaned her head back against the head rest. What am I gonna tell Mike? More importantly, how will he react when he finds out I let his daughter spend the night with someone he didn't fully trust? Jeannie may not be a child anymore but Irene knew all too well that to Mike, she will always be his little girl. And Steve. The more she thought about it, the more Irene was certain that Steve and Jeannie clearly had unspoken feelings for each other and it was going to hurt Steve if he were to find out that Jeannie will be spending the night in Whitney's arms.
