51. Chapter 50
J enna
Two weeks had passed since Lilly and Max left Jenna's home in Chester, and the house felt oddly hollow despite Dylan and Dani still living there.
Jenna tried to settle back into her usual routine-long hours refining her illustrations, short breaks to cook dinner, and the occasional evening chat in the living room.
Yet a subtle tension wove through the days, a reminder that the family's circumstances were far from simple.
She worked on her illustrations each day, often pausing to rub her eyes and stare out the window, thinking about everything that had changed-about how all the fractured pieces of their family might one day fit back together-even Troy, though the divorce was going to happen.
Lilly called frequently; her voice bright with excitement.
She spoke about her work experience, describing creative tasks she was learning before university.
Sometimes she emailed Jenna drafts of her own drawings, hoping for tips on composition or colour palettes.
Jenna felt a surge of pride each time she saw how much Lilly's skills had grown.
Max checked in via daily texts-amusing quips or intriguing links he came across.
On weekends, he called for a longer chat, often punctuating it with a surprising "Love you, Ma," which warmed Jenna's heart and reminded her how far they had come.
His texts were similar to their conversations before he hit puberty .
*Hey, so I found this documentary on deep-sea creatures you'd love. Also, did you know sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins? *
*That's... random, but fascinating. *
Dylan, however, seemed more elusive. He juggled homework, after-school activities, and late nights out with friends. One evening, as he walked in looking drained, Jenna tried to connect.
One evening, Jenna decided to cook her special lasagne-an old recipe with a secret combination of cheeses and herbs that could coax almost anyone to the dinner table. Sure enough, Dylan ambled into the kitchen, led by the savoury aroma.
Dylan lifted the lid of a pot curiously "Is this your secret lasagne recipe , Jenna?"
Jenna was stirring the sauce "Figured it was time to dust off my signature dish."
Dylan tiredly ran a hand through his hair. "Smells incredible. Need any help?" he asked.
Jenna looked at him thoughtfully before saying "You could slice the bread for garlic toast if you want-just don't set the oven to five hundred this time."
Dylan said with a mock eye-roll "You are the queen of exaggeration right after Dani. That was one time. I'll be careful."
They worked side by side for a few minutes, comfortable enough in the silence to let it stretch. Jenna stole a glance at Dylan, noting how much more mature he seemed lately.
Jenna asked "How's school going?"
Dylan shrugging "It's alright. A lot of work. But I'm handling it. "
Jenna said "I worry about you, you know, not sleeping enough. You come in pretty late sometimes."
Dylan fiddled with the bread knife, not looking up. "I'm just busy, Jenna. Got a lot on my plate, but I'm fine."
His tone hinted at a desire to keep certain parts of his life separate. Jenna pressed her lips together, reminding herself not to push too hard.
Jenna placed the lasagne in the oven and then turned back to Dylan, taking off her mitts "Well, dinner will be ready soon. Just... don't disappear before you get a slice."
Dylan said giving her a small smile "No chance of that!"
Later that evening, while Dylan was in his room, Dani lingered at the kitchen table, staring into a half-finished mug of tea. The faint hum of the refrigerator underscored the silence.
Jenna eased into a chair across from her "You look like you're a million miles away. Everything alright?"
Dani exhaling shakily, "I was thinking about Sasha again. I miss her so much, Jenna."
The devastating accident was not too long ago-it felt like Sasha was gone in a flash of tragedy that still was hard to believe.
Dani whispered, voice trembling "She was so happy, so... herself before it happened. I remember her teasing me about a friend, a boy. I feel like I'm forgetting the sound of her voice."
Jenna reached for Dani's hand "You're not forgetting. Talking about her keeps that memory alive. She was stubborn, fearless, and she lived on her own terms."
Dani continued, eyes misted "She really did. It's just-sometimes I wish I had more time, you know? "
"I get it." Jenna said "But trust me, she was that woman we all wanted to be-happy, independent, always ready to take on the world. She loved you fiercely."
Dani squeezed Jenna's hand, tears finally slipping down her cheeks. "Thank you for reminding me. It helps, knowing who she really was before... she just disappeared."
Jenna nodded, heart aching for Dani's loss.
After Dani turned in for the night, and Dylan vanished to his room to listen to music, Jenna found herself alone on the living room couch.
Her phone chimed-Troy again. Lately, his texts arrived daily, an ironic twist- given that during their final years of marriage, he rarely took the time to string more than three words together.
She opened the messages:
* Went to the assessment again. The doc mentioned interviews & old records. They used the term 'multi-disciplinary'-still not sure what all that means. I have made a list of questions for the next visit. *
*Been reading from that site you had sent me-about adult autism. Scary but also explains some stuff. *
* Love you, Jenna*
Jenna felt a pang of bitterness at the last line. Love you, Jenna. He'd withheld those words when she needed them most, and now they flashed on her phone screen as if the timing no longer mattered. She typed a curt reply:
* Glad you're following through. Take care of yourself. *
She put down the phone, exhaling a shaky breath. The anger that flared within her was something she couldn't quite quell.
"Why now, Troy?" she thought. "Where was all this communication when I was right there?