Chapter 162
1016 Words
Three weeks later
“But that’s amazing, Jenny.” Emma was stunned. “And when did you guys first do this?”
“Almost three weeks ago,” Jenny said. “That was the first time that he – he touched me that way. Made me feel good.”
“Three weeks?” Liv said. “And you’re just telling us now?”
Jenny twisted her hands together. “Yeah, well…”
Emma and Liv looked alert.
“Well, what?” Liv said.
“Well, it feels… different now. Like, what’s going on is just between me and Chris. It’d be like you two going into detail about what you do with Dean and Dallas, and that’s private, right? That stays in your beds, in your relationships.”
Emma c****d her head. “So, you feel that you and Chris are in a relationship?”
“I – I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it.”
“Honey, you need to,” Emma said gently. “This is the time to have that conversation, right? The one that I mentioned way back in the beginning, about developing romantic feelings for each other, and what you’re going to do with those feelings. Remember?”
“Uh-huh.” Jenny took a sip of coffee. “But – what if he doesn’t feel the same way? What if this was all just…I don’t know. Something he did to help me, because he’s a good guy and I’m a friend?”
“That’s why you need to ask him,” Emma said. “That’s why you need to be honest.”
“I guess so.” Jenny sighed. “But let’s change the subject, OK? Any more interest in your apartment, Em?”
“Yeah. We had the second Open House last weekend, and Meredith said that she’s received three offers.”
“Really?” Liv asked. “Any worth accepting?”
“Yep. I think I’ll have Meredith call the one couple back tomorrow… say yes.”
“Wow,” Jenny said. “And you’ll move to Dean’s?”
“Well, I’ve already mostly moved there,” Emma admitted. “I’ll sell pretty much all of my furniture and give lots of my clothes to Liv’s shelter, and that’s it, really. My books can go into storage, at least until I can get back to work.”
“Actually, Emma, I wanted to talk to you about going back to work,” Liv said. “I have kind of a proposal for you.”
“OK,” Emma said. “What’s up?”
“You guys know that I’m basically unemployed now… my modeling days are over, and that’s that.”
They nodded quietly.
“So I’ve spent the past five months just sorting things out, right? Selling that house, and collecting my money from the various clients and agencies because they released me early from my contracts, and seeing Francine twice a week for therapy. And Dallas, too… working on that relationship, getting comfortable with my body again.” She grinned. “And now planning a wedding…”
“Yeah,” Jenny said. “You’ve had your hands full.”
“So, I didn’t say anything about this part, because I wasn’t sure it would all work out, but now I know it has.”
“What part?” Emma asked.
“I applied for a series of grants, from the city and the state, for the shelter for victims of domestic violence, and I got two big ones.”
“Liv!” Jenny said, delighted. “That’s amazing!”
“It is. It also means that I can now start to work with the shelter full-time, for a salary. And I can expand some services, so I want to hire a second therapist who’s worked with abused women and kids before.” She smiled at Emma. “You know anyone qualified who may be interested in working fifteen hours a week, at least for now?”
“For now?” Emma said.
“Yep. When I get the grants extended in six months, I’ll be able to offer full-time hours.”
“That timing is perfect,” Emma said. “I was hoping to start slow, and go back full-time in the fall, or maybe the winter.”
“I know.” Liv grinned. “But you need to think if you’d like to go back to the clinic at all, or if you’d like to work with the shelter. You can’t do both, right?”
“OK, I’ll think about it.” Emma took Liv’s hand. “Thank you for the offer. Can I let you know in a few days?”
“Sure,” Liv said. “The fifteen hours would start in May, so you have a little less than a week to let me know, alright? If you say no, I'll need a few weeks to find someone else. Is that OK?”
“Yes.”
The two women smiled at each other.
“It seems like things are going well for all of us,” Jenny observed. “But what about Kat? I’ve barely seen her lately. How’s she doing?”
“Actually, I don’t know.” Emma looked worried. “I’ve tried to call her a few times, and she never answers or calls back.”
“Yeah, same here,” Liv chimed in. “I thought she was just busy.”
“Well, I invited her over here for breakfast this morning,” Jenny said. “Left her a message, and she didn’t even respond.”
“Is she alright?” Liv asked. “This isn’t like her at all, is it?”
“No,” Emma agreed. “Not in the slightest. I think I’ll drop by the salon tomorrow morning, see if she’s there. If she is, I’ll take her for coffee and ask her if she’s OK.”
“And let us know?” Liv said.
“Absolutely.” Emma nodded. “I’ll send word when I’ve seen her, and made sure she’s alright.”
- Writer
