27. Chapter 26
T roy
"Jenna?"
As Jenna was making her way to Chester, Troy returned home later than usual, his tie loosened, his mind finally ready to talk to Jenna.
He headed straight for the kitchen, expecting to find her there, maybe making tea or sorting through paperwork.
Instead, he found the sink filled with unwashed dishes, the countertops cluttered with used mugs and an empty cereal bowl.
It was unlike Jenna to leave things in disarray.
Frowning, he turned and made his way to her studio. It was one of the places she often retreated to when she needed space, but when he pushed the door open, the room was dark, eerily still. Only unfinished paintings, the scent of paint on paper lingering.
His pulse kicked up a notch.
"Jenna?" he called, his voice tight.
When no answer came, he picked up his pace, moving through the house faster now. "Jenna!" His voice echoed as he strode into the living room, then the hallway, his breath coming quicker.
He looked in the master bedroom. But as soon as he stepped inside, something felt... off. The house was silent. Too silent.
He moved from room to room, confusion morphing into a slowly escalating panic. His chest felt tight and he had to sit down. Jenna's usual order was gone-papers were scattered, a half-full cup of tea sat on the counter, and her shoes weren't by the door. The house felt abandoned.
His heart pounded. Had she left him?
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He held it up only to see it flashing 'Mom'. He ignored it as he walked into the bedroom. Her closet was still full, but something about the room felt hollow, empty in a way he couldn't explain.
The sound of the front door opening made him spin around. Lilly walked in, her brows furrowing at his dishevelled appearance.
"Dad? What's wrong?"
Troy exhaled sharply. "Have you heard from your mother?"
Lilly frowned. "She left me a message... It didn't make much sense. She said she needed to go to Sasha's. Why? What's going on?"
Troy ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know where Sasha even lives. She's not answering my calls, and I-" He stopped, swallowing hard. "I don't know what to do."
For the next two days, the absence of Jenna was deafening. He found himself noticing the little things-the clothes that were always folded and ready, the meals he took for granted. On the first morning, he ended up pouring himself a bowl of cereal, something he hadn't done in years.
Lila tried to approach him twice. The first time, she caught him outside his office, her usual serene smile in place. "Troy, you've been avoiding me-"
"I'm busy, Lila," he snapped, brushing past her without another word .
The second time, she appeared at his home uninvited. "Your mother is worried," she said, leaning against the doorway. "You haven't been answering her calls."
Troy barely looked at her. "Mind your own business, Lila." before showing her out and slamming the door when she turned to say something.
By the second day, he was frantic.
Mack showed up at his office, looking uneasy. "Hey, man. You alright? You've been... off."
Troy barely heard him. His phone buzzed again, another message from Jenna unanswered. He opened it and finally saw a response.
Jenna: I’m fine. I’m in Chester. Sasha passed away
His hands clenched around the phone, his breath catching. He immediately typed back. Then Jenna replied, explaining what had happened.
When she finally answered his call later that night, her voice was distant, like she was already slipping away from him.
"Jenna," he breathed, relief flooding him. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?"
"I was handling things, Troy," she said flatly.
He ran a hand through his hair. "You should've told me. I-I could have come with you."
"And what would you have done?" she asked, her voice weary. "You don't even know where Sasha lived."
That stung. More than he expected.
For the first time, Troy felt something slipping, something he had never doubted before-his place in Jenna's life. This was a trainwreck he could have avoided. And the worst part? He had no idea how to stop it now.