Chapter 126
907 Words
He met her eyes. “What am I up against, Emma?"
She bit her lip. “I can’t say too much… it’s not my place.”
“I know.”
“But what Jenny went through was nothing short of a living nightmare. The fact that she’s managed to get on with things, and build up a successful restaurant after it, is all a miracle. Hell, the fact that she gets out of bed in the morning is a damn miracle. But she’s strong, and she’s determined that what happened will not ruin her life. She wants things for herself, Chris: happiness, financial security, a family. And she’ll do whatever she has to do to get those things, if she can.”
Chris nodded.
“If you can’t help her, she’ll go ahead another way,” Emma said. “She wants to be in a healthy relationship. She wants to relax in bed with a man who loves her. She wants to be a mother. She’s going after that life, Chris, and if you want to be a part of it somehow, then this is your chance.”
Chris started at her words. “You think she’d let me be part of that life? That Jenny and I could have a future together?”
She nodded. “I do.”
He swallowed hard. “I’ll think about it… it’s a lot.”
“I know,” she said gently. “I know, Chris. When are you guys talking again?”
“After the holidays.”
“Good.” She studied him. “Get a bit of distance and make a decision then.”
Chris got to his feet and hugged Emma. “Thanks, Em.”
“Sure thing,” she said.
She watched him walk out to his car, and she sighed.
Jesus, I hope he decides to do this. I think it would be the best thing for both of them… I think they’d be amazing for each other. But God, it would be hard. If they made it through, though? Amazing.
****
Katherine Lawrence stared at Jenny, her cup of coffee frozen in mid-air.
“You asked Chris to do what?” she said.
Jenny smiled at the look on Kat’s face. “You heard me.”
“Jesus Christ.” Kat stared some more. “And did he agree?”
“No. We’ll talk again in the New Year.”
“And do you think he’ll say yes?”
“Honestly? I have no idea.” Jenny bit her lip. “I really freaked him out when I asked.”
“Well, yeah. So what happens if he refuses?”
“I’ll talk to Lori again and we’ll go ahead some other way.”
“A stranger?” Kat asked, horrified. “A – a s*x surrogate?”
“If I have to? Yes.”
“You’d be able to do that, hon?” Kat asked.
“Well, not on my own… but I’d have you and Liv and Emma behind me, right? And the guys, too, I know. Even if Chris said no to actually being the one to do it, he’d still be there for me.” She took a deep breath. “I’d get through it with your help.”
After Jenny left, Kat sat on her sofa for a long time, staring at her closet. Finally, she went over, opened it up, gazed down at the packed suitcase on the floor. Normally, it was next to the front door of her apartment – ready and waiting for her to make a quick exit on a bus out of Denver – but she’d hidden it when Jenny had called and asked to come over to talk.
Kat sighed and set the bag back in its usual place, then glanced at the calendar. She’d been planning to leave the next week, but now she wasn’t so sure. Emma was doing so much better with her health issues, and Liv was incredibly strong about her ordeal with her stalker, and Kat had felt OK with just moving on without a word.
She’d been in Denver for well over a year now, and she never, never stayed in one place for that long. Her friends’ problems had kept her there, but she'd thought they were doing well enough, and that she was almost free. But now this whole thing with Jenny was looming on the horizon, and suddenly, Kat felt like she couldn’t go after all.
Goddammit, she’ll need me. I can’t up and leave, not when she’s going to be confronting all of that. But can I really stay here much longer? Is it safe? Will he find me?
She looked at herself in the mirror, ran her hands over her short, black curls. She was a small woman with dark green eyes and full lips, and her hair color and length changed at least twice a month. She met her own worried gaze.
OK, Kat. Stay calm. Tomorrow, you’ll go to the salon early and ask Collette to infuse the long blonde hair extensions before you start your shift. You like being blonde, don’t you? Yeah, you do. It’s going to be fine.
Kat looked at herself for a long time, listening to her panicked heartbeat, fighting down the urge to grab her bag and run.
Stay, Kat. Just a bit longer. When Jenny’s better, then you’ll go. Hang in there.
- Writer
