Gabe really had no idea what was going on, and Jenny preferred to keep it that way. The fact that he and his son Michael were both fans of the Horsemen just made things more difficult for her, but she would deal with it. She couldn’t dump on people just for having taste in music, despite her own prejudices. Gabe just loved her for who she was and that would have to do. She was a little nervous about moving in with him, but much to her surprise she was enjoying life with her new man a great deal. As promised, Gabe never brought up her father or the Horsemen up again since the day she found him and Michael playing the album on her stereo. She was sure Gabe had a million questions about the albums, but it was something she wasn’t ready to talk about. She didn’t feel the need to open the closet to reveal her skeletons to him just yet. They were just shacking up after all. It’s not like he was proposing to her or anything. If that were to happen, Jenny would be confident enough to tell Gabe the truth. Maybe then she could believe he would be able to handle the truth, she thought to herself. Until then, she was going to keep it to herself until the time was right or in her face. She wanted neither situation to come anytime soon, but fate on the other hand had other plans.
She was returning to work after having lunch with Gabe and was in a pretty good mood but that didn’t last long. She took a handful of messages from the clinic’s receptionist and started to read them. She almost dropped her purse and the messages she was carrying when she read the third message: it was from her father. He wanted to speak with her. Jenny stormed out into the receptionist’s office and showed everyone the message.
“Who spoke to my father?” She asked everyone in the room. The three receptionists paused for a moment and then one of them raised their hands. “What did he say?”
“He was calling to say he would be coming over soon and wanted to speak with you.” The aide replied.
“Did he leave his name?” she asked.
“No.” the receptionist said. “He only said he was your father.”
“Alright.” Jenny said as she pocketed the message. “The next time he calls, tell him I don’t want to speak to him.”
“I’m sorry,” the receptionist replied. “We didn’t know.”
“You do now.” Jenny said as she left the office and went down the hall to her own. She closed the door behind her and took a few minutes to calm herself. She needed a moment to herself because the shock of her father calling had probably startled the staff. She took a few minutes before emerging from her office and going back out to take the next case that was waiting for her. She never said a thing to the staff for the rest of the day about her father’s message and kept working until it was time to go home. She made sure to get out quickly, eager to leave work as soon as possible and get away from the place that took her father’s message. She never told her father where she lived and the thought of him calling the office scared her. It meant he knew where she was and what she was doing in the small town. If he knew where she was, it also meant that he might try to visit her, and it was the last thing she wanted. He had kept his distance and hadn’t talked to her in almost ten years, and she preferred to keep it that way. She didn’t know what was going on, but suddenly her father wanted to see and speak with her again. She didn’t want to share the Jenny room with him, afraid of all the memories that would come flooding back. About how poorly she and her other were treated or even how immature and uncaring and unsupporting he was after her mother passed away. It wasn’t something she relished, but another confrontation was possible. That meant she had to prepare Gabe for what was to come. He deserved a heads up especially considering how secretive she had been about her past. She came home that evening and went straight to the kitchen after putting her coat in the closet. Gabe wanted to ask how her day was but had an idea as the first thing she grabbed was a bottle of wine and the corkscrew.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“Is it okay if I have some wine?” she asked, sensing his eyes on her.
“No, that’s okay.” Gabe said as he walked in. “Do you want some help with that?”
Jenny never had a problem with corkscrews before, but her frustration from the day was getting to her and making the easiest tasks a chore. She handed the bottle over to Gabe and he popped the cork in no time.
“Thank you.” She said, taking bottle back from him.
“You helped.” Gabe said as he tried to make her feel better.
“Where’s Michael?” she asked as she looked around.
“He’s at a friend’s house for a sleepover.” Gabe answered. “I know it’s my weekend, but they’ve got like four or five friends there. I think they’re going to hook up a few X-Boxes and play Modern Warfare until the wee hours and then sleep till lunch.”
“I see,” Jenny said as she drained half a glass of wine, “And you’re okay with all this?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Gabe asked. “I wish I had games as awesome as modern warfare when I was a kid. All I had pac-man and pitfall on the Atari. Man, those were the days.”
“I try not to think about it,” Jenny replied, “Did you already eat?”
“No.” Gabe replied. “I thought it would be nice to order out. Chinese food should be here within the next half hour.” He walked over and picked up the wine to pour her another glass. “Something is troubling you.”
Jenny smiled. “You noticed?”
“You’re already halfway through the bottle.” Gabe said as he grabbed a glass and poured himself his own drink. “I never like to see you this upset. Talk to me.”
“I don’t know if we should.” Jenny answered honestly.
“The food will be here in soon, and that stuff always makes you feel better so just get it out.” Gabe said as he took a sip. “Rip it off like a band aid and get it over with. Then we’ll be able to eat without this dark cloud hanging over us.”
“It’s my Dad.” Jenny countered.
“Oh shit.” Gabe replied, as his clever idea of the dark cloud going away dissipated rather quickly.
“He left a message at my office.” Jenny started.
“Is that all?” Gabe asked.
“I never told him where I worked, or where I live.” Jenny added.
“Okay,” Gabe conceded as he understood, “That would require a lot more effort than I originally assumed.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Jenny said as she sat down at the table and took another sip.
Gabe walked over and sat down at the table with her. “Do you want me to give Wilson a call?” Wilson was the local sheriff. “He could have a restraining order delivered by breakfast if I asked him.”
“No, it’s not like that,” Jenny said with a grateful smile. Just the thought that Gabe was ready to circle the wagons made her feel safe, secure from the world outside.
“Oh.” Gabe said as he was confused but at the Jenny time, he was thankful it wasn’t something criminal. The idea that she might have come from an abusive home had broken his heart every time he thought of it. “Then what is the issue with you and your Dad?”
“It’s just the way he is, his lifestyle.” Jenny said as she couldn’t look him in the eyes. “It can be a little too much, and I’m a little embarrassed by it sometimes.”
Gabe was trying to figure out what was going on based on the clues she was leaving. “Jenny, if he’s gay there’s no need to be ashamed.”
“Gay?” Jenny repeated, letting out a loud laugh, “I wish!”
“Then I’m lost.” Gabe said, as he gave up on guessing what it might be. “Are you going to let me in on this?”
“Don’t worry.” Jenny said as she finished her glass. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Gabe asked.
“He never calls unless...” Jenny stopped and sighed at the thought.
Gabe finally put it all together. “He’s coming over, isn’t he?”
Jenny nodded to confirm this little fact. It’s not that she hated her father. Quite the contrary, she loved him very much, but it was what he brought with him that really bothered her. The years of not being there made them very distant and she didn’t want to be a part of his world. He never made room in his world for those who she loved, so she didn’t want to make room in hers for him. He wasn’t there for her when she really needed him most, when her mother died was something she never forgave him for. It was something that hurt her a great deal, but he had his own way for grieving himself and it was to go away like he always did. It was something that she hadn’t gotten used to, but it was an issue that she was going to have to confront very soon. Her father never called unless he was already on his way over to see her. Jenny felt the urge to buy more wine but decided against it, since it was probably in their best interest to drink what was left before the old man arrived.