Chapter 23 #2
“Oh, no! What happened?” Andi knew that Jen had hoped to marry the handsome attorney she’d dated for a couple of years.
“You know we’d been talking about getting married, but he’s always said he doesn’t want kids. I hoped he’d change his mind, but he’s not going to. I can’t imagine never having kids.”
“I’m sorry, Jen. I know how happy you were with him.”
“Other than that one big sticking point.”
“You did the right thing. You don’t want to miss out on being a mom someday if it’s that important to you.”
“I just hate being here. I keep worrying about running into him in the city. We have all the same friends. It’s awful.”
“I have an idea.”
“What’s that?”
“How’d you like to come here and be my assistant manager? It’d be a big promotion for you, and we’d get to work together again. You could use the change of scenery. I could use the help—”
“I’ll take it.”
“Are you sure? Have you ever even been here?”
“No, but I’m dying to get away from this city, and I’d love to work with you again.”
“We could try it for a year, and if you wanted to go home after that, I’d totally understand.”
“When do I start?”
“How soon can you get here? We’ll pay for your move, and I’ll help you find a great apartment. You’ll love it here. It’s the most beautiful place to live.”
“I’ll be there in a week. I can come back after the opening to move for good.”
“Bill’s gonna kill me.”
Jen laughed. “Yes, he is, but you’ve made my day, Andi. Thank you so much.”
“Thank you. You’re saving my life. So where is he?”
“In a meeting. Do you want me to have him call you?”
“Yes, please, and send me your flight information. I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
“Will do, thanks again.”
Andi walked in just after seven to the smell of something that made her mouth water. “What’re you cooking, Jack?”
He stirred the pot with one hand and reached out to hug her with the other. “Pesto, but I can’t take credit.”
She kissed his cheek and peered into the pot.
“Kate made it. I’m just supposed to stir.”
“I’m impressed and starving. Where are they?”
“Kate had some homework to finish. Maggie and Eric are in her room. They visited the twins this afternoon.”
“We need to get over there, too. I haven’t seen them in three days. Did you get a chance to talk to Kate?”
“Not yet, but I will after dinner.” He kissed her nose and went to call the kids for dinner.
The pesto tasted as good as it smelled, and Kate’s meal was a big hit.
“I’ll clean up, guys,” Andi offered. “Maggie, will you run Eric’s bath, please?”
“Sure, come on, Eric,” Maggie signed.
“Kate, can I talk to you in the study?” Jack asked.
“Okay.” As Kate followed her father, she cast a nervous glance at Andi.
“Talk to him,” Andi whispered as she bit her thumbnail, worried about how he would take what he was about to hear.
“I hope you understand why I was so upset last night,” Jack said, working to keep his emotions in check and his tone civil.
“I shouldn’t have let Ryan in, but he came over to bring me some stuff I left in his car—”
“You’re right—you shouldn’t have let him in. I know you have good judgment, and I’ve never had any reason to question it before now. It’s so important that I can trust you—especially when you’re supposed to be watching Maggie and Eric.”
“You can trust me, Dad.”
“I have to apologize for one thing I said last night.”
“Really?” she asked, looking surprised.
“I shouldn’t have been so dismissive when you said you love Ryan. Maybe you do. I don’t know, but it’s not fair for me to tell you how you feel.”
“I do love him. I know we’re young and all that, but we love each other.”
He knew he had to ask, but, God, he really didn’t want to. “Tell me you’re not, you know…”
She looked him right in the eye. “Having sex with him?”
His heart stopped. “Are you?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“You’re too young to even think about it.”
“Half the girls in my class have already done it.”
Shocked to hear that, he forced himself to focus on his daughter. “Look, so you love him. You still have to think about the big picture. What if you get pregnant? You can’t go to college if you’re pregnant or have a baby to take care of.”
“Andi said the same thing, and I told her I’m not going to college.”
“What do you mean you’re not going to college? You talked to Andi about this? When?”
“This morning. I want a career in music. Why do I have to sit through four years of college to do that?”
He put up a hand to stop her. “That’s crazy. You’re going to college. We’re not even talking about that.”
“I’m not going. And you may as well know, I want to go on the pill.” She swallowed hard. “Just in case.”
Jack’s head was going to explode. Any second now… “Is Ryan pressuring you to have sex?”
“Not at all,” she said, looking offended. “I know you can’t imagine I might want to do it. I want to be safe about it. I wish you could understand that. Andi did.”
“Did she?” He couldn’t believe Andi had kept this from him.
“You know how I feel, and I’ve been honest with you about what I want to do. I hope you’ll respect that.” She got up and left the room.
He sat there fuming for several minutes before he went to find Andi.