Chapter 8 #4
Jack lifted a hand to run it through her long hair. She’d left it down in an effort to keep her ears warm. “You’re so innocent, Jen. I hope that never changes.”
She stiffened, not sure she liked that description. “What do you mean?”
“It means that not all offers come without strings. Two virtual strangers offering to take in kids they don’t know? One of which is a little girl?”
Her mind went to the abuse she thought his father might be guilty of when Jack first told her about him. But Jenna shook her head. “I don’t think that and neither do you.”
He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
Jenna nodded, sure of herself. “Jack, if you thought there was the slightest chance that Mr. or Mrs. Zarin had ill intentions towards you and especially Lilly, there’s no way you would leave her there alone with them.
You aren’t choosing the devil you don’t know by choosing to stay with them.
I think you know here,” she tapped his chest, “that they have good intentions. Even if here,” she threaded her fingers through his dark hair, “is being a bit pigheaded about it.”
He tipped his head up into her touch so she ran her fingers through his hair again. “This is why I need you around, Jen. You read my heart better than I do.”
She smiled softly down at him. “I know your heart, Jack. I know how good it is.” She gripped his chin. “Even if its shell is a little rough around the edges.”
He chuckled, turning his head enough to kiss her hand. “I want to accept their offer. But I need to do it right.”
Dropping her hand, she shook her head. “I’m not following.”
“I’ve been working to provide for Lilly and myself for so long.
” He indicated the money on the floor next to them.
“Saving up for our future. But if the Zarins are willing to…help,” he hedged, “in that department as they claim, then I don’t have to work so much.
Mr. Zarin keeps saying that I deserve to be a kid again.
But what if they change their minds? What if we’re too much?
What if she gets pregnant again and is able to, you know, have the baby?
If they kick us out, I still need to know that I can provide for us. ”
“First, I can’t see the Zarins just waking up one day and kicking you out.
At the very least, they would find you another place to stay that isn’t your father’s.
Second,” she took his face in her hands, “Mr. Zarin is right, Jack. You are a kid.” Her eyes trailed down his chest. “A very good-looking kid”—he chuckled—“but still a kid. You do deserve to not carry the weight of the world around on your shoulders.”
He nodded between her palms. “I know you’re right. I know he’s right. I’m just not sure I can…break some of those habits. At least, not overnight.”
Jenna leaned in to press her lips to his. “That’s where I come in, Jack. We can figure out who you are without that burden together.”
His lips twitched. “I’d like that.”
“Good.” She kissed him again before dropping her hands and sitting back on his legs. “First thing, Jack,” she dipped her head towards the money, “you need to quit some of your jobs.”
Jack nodded, “I know. I was already thinking about it. I still need a job, but maybe this time a better paying one with better hours.”
“And get a bank account for that,” Jenna told him. “Carrying it around in a sock is not very responsible.”
“I need an adult for that.”
“What about Mrs. Zarin?”
He hesitated, telling her that that trust wasn’t fully there yet. “I’d rather it be you.”
“I hate to break it to you, kiddo, but I’m just as underage as you are.”
Jack lifted an eyebrow. “Kiddo?”
She smiled. “I definitely wouldn’t suggest my parents.”
“Your parents don’t even know about me,” he reminded her.
“What about Carolyn?”
Again, he hesitated. “You said she was greedy when it came to money.”
Jenna bit her lip. “I don’t think she would steal it, but…” She felt like shit for even letting her next words cross her lips. “Probably best not to tempt fate.”
“I think it’s better to just find a secure place for it until I know if I can trust Mr. and Mrs. Zarin with it.”
Jenna didn’t like it, but she understood it. “Where are you going to keep it?”
“It was behind a loose panel in the wall of my old bedroom. I suppose I can find something similar at the Zarins’.”
Jenna had never been to his trailer before so she didn’t know what his old bedroom looked like to compare. “Can I ask how much is there?”
Jack’s cheeks heated, making Jenna think it was a low number. So when he said, “Almost thirteen hundred,” her jaw dropped.
“Are you serious?”
He nodded. “I started saving up long before Mom left us. Birthday gifts, loose change, the occasional bill around the house, and then I started my paper route when I was twelve.”
“Jack, you have more than enough to relax. Especially with the Zarins willing to feed, shelter, and clothe both of you. Put the money aside, be a kid,” she said pointedly, “and figure out a job later. Even if something happened, that’ll keep you and Lilly going for a few months at least. Especially with how frugal you are. ”
“The shoveling and salting, all my odd jobs around town, I can easily just stop doing those without a fuss. But I’d need to give notice for my paper route. It’s only fair. Give them a chance to fill my position before I go.”
Pride swelled inside her. “You’re a good man, Jack Duncan.”
“I thought I was a kid?” he asked with an amused raised eyebrow.
Jenna’s lips twitched. “You can be both. I think they call it a ‘man-chi—’” Her words were cut off as the door was thrown open. Jenna scrambled off Jack’s lap to her feet. “Mom!”