Chapter 44 – Jude
Chapter Forty-Four
JUDE
Ineed to get off this phone call.
I’d mistakenly answered what I thought was going to be a teasing call from Mabel turned out to be my mother with another invitation to a party Leeson had decided to throw. Of course, all children were required. Especially after I’d missed the big celebration Leeson had put together for Pioneer Day.
“I just don’t understand what’s so terrible about taking one afternoon to be with your family. Am I really that awful of a mother?”
There was nothing closer to hell than being put on a guilt trip by your mother while you waited for your who-knows-what-you-should-call-her to meet you in her workshop so you could get a blow job.
“I mean, really, Jude! It feels like the only time you allow yourself to spend with the family is when you’re taking Mark and Everly away from our home!” Her voice was starting to shake which meant the waterworks would be soon joining the conversation.
Of course, that was the moment Mabel tore into the workshop. The door slammed against the wall before she stepped in, kicking it closed behind her.
“Come on, Muscles. I told you to be ready for me.” Mabel’s voice was loud, she assumed we were alone, and my mother caught it.
“Who’s with you? What are you getting ready for? Is that a woman?” She spat out the last word, like being around a woman was something scandalous. I could barely contain my eye roll as I answered her.
“Yes, mother, of course it’s a woman. I’m at work.” Out of my periphery I saw Mabel’s jaw slacken. Thank Christ what she said could be interpreted a number of ways.
“Well, how am I supposed to know there’s a woman working on that farm?” She sniffed, judgement clear in her voice. Some of my annoyance was replaced by shock that I was speaking to the same woman who worked multiple jobs when I was a kid, when it was just the two of us.
“I’m so sorry, I’ll just—” Mabel started to gesture like she was going to leave but, of course, my mother heard her voice again.
“Is this woman the reason you’re avoiding us?
” What an insane accusation. I was done with this conversation and was ready to tell her so, but she just kept talking.
“Bring her. If this woman is taking up so much of your time, I’m sure she can spare an afternoon for something you want to do.
” There was so much wrong with everything she had just said, I didn’t know where to start.
“I have to go, I’m so upset, I need to calm down before I head out to pick up the kids.
I’ll tell Leeson we’ll be expecting you and your woman friend at the house this weekend. ”
“No, mom, n—” She hung up on me!
I couldn’t look at Mabel but I could feel her eyes on me. This was not how I’d wanted this afternoon to go. I had plans. Yes, those plans involved a blow job. They also involved me licking Mabel’s pussy until she was orgasm-drunk enough to take me up on my offer to take her to lunch.
If anyone asked, I had the perfect reason for us to be together off-Farm. Well, the truth would be perfect,I just want to be around her as much as possible, but that isn’t a truth I can tell. No matter how much I want it.
Our time together is quickly coming to an end. My allotted time to shadow Mabel and her side of the business is almost over and I need to meet with Lola to give my final report.
Truthfully, I didn’t see anything that really needed to be changed.
Outside of the fact Mabel was currently doing it all by herself.
I could recommend we hire another person or two to help with the workload and possibly expand the number of markets we go to every week, but that would be up to Lola and Mabel to decide.
The Farm did well for itself, Warren Honey was in stores not just in Utah but most of the West Coast. No one in the Warren family was hurting for money but I knew Lola wanted to give back to the community more and always make sure employees were paid above a fair wage.
Increasing the different markets we’d be able to visit any given week could only help.
It’d get us out into the community more like Lola wanted, we’d be more accessible.
I had a list to provide Lola why I thought it was a good idea but it wasn’t my place to make those types of decisions.
I may be Lola’s right-hand man but the Warrens had final say in any and all changes.
“I could go with you.”
Wait, huh?
I’d been spiraling in my thoughts and completely forgotten that my family was not only demanding my attendance but also, now, were expecting me to bring Mabel.
“You don’t have to do that.” I hedge, I’d never want to let Leeson even a whisper of opportunity to darken Mabel. And he would.
He was the fucking worst.
“No, I can. I want to.”
“Why would you want that?” I can’t keep the disbelief out of my voice.
I thank every star in the sky anytime Mabel is willing to spend time with me and I don’t want to risk whatever it is that we have by introducing her to the poison of my parents.
Not when her own parents are the complete opposite, perfect.
Just like Mabel.
Even though Mr. Warren has been dead for a handful of years, I’d rather spend an evening with him than at a party with the Jensen’s.
Mabel shrugs her shoulders. “If it would make being there easier for you…” I’m so honed in on her face as she speaks, when the blush starts to spread across her cheeks, I’m momentarily speechless, transfixed with how beautiful she always is.
“I’d like to help make something like that as painless as possible for you.
You know, to thank you for how you helped me at the cabin.
I believe in friends helping friends when they can. ”
Her admission shouldn’t hurt, right?
Is that all this has been to her?
A way to ‘pay me back’ for taking care of her when she was vulnerable? The idea twists my stomach into something acidic. I never considered she’d think of what was between us like that. I don’t want that at all. The idea that this has all been transactional for her makes me sick.
“Jude?” Her voice barely registers, my blood is pumping with this revelation. None of this was real for her. It was just a way to clear her conscience. I’m going to be sick. I need to get out of here. I can’t be here.
“Uh, yeah. Sure. I’ll get you the information when I have it.”
I do my best to walk past her without giving away what’s going on in my head. I’m so fucking stupid to think this was anything but a repayment. She reaches for me and it’s like she pulled a knife on me, I jump back with my hands in the air.
“I have to get going.”
“Jude, wait. What’s wrong?”
I can’t answer that.
Can’t let her know how fucking dumb I was to think this was anything more than what it is.
Can’t let her know that I thought we could actually make this work in the long run.
Can’t let her know that this attraction has turned into so much more for me.
Can’t let her know I was falling in love with her.