FORWARD:
While this chapter picks up immediately after the events in chapter 17, we switch back now to Tom's point of view. It will, however, fill in some gaps along the way.
ALL CHARACTERS ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
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The ride home from Jenna's was long and unusually quiet.
It had been an ugly scene when Trish and I arrived.
Jenna was already on the front porch, waiting, bags packed. Her mother was there with her, and I could hear their raised voices as soon as I turned off the engine.
The boyfriend, Dick, was also there. Trish grabbed my clenched fist before I opened the car door. "Don't," she cautioned. "Just stick to the story."
I met her calm but worried eyes, took a breath, and nodded. "Okay."
"Who the hell are you???" Jenna's mother was already yelling at us, coming down the porch stairs as Trish and I approached.
"I'm Tom Logan..." Shit, I'd already botched it and told her my last name, not Trish's. Oh well, too late now. "...and this is my daughter, Trish."
Trish and I had agreed beforehand that this was the right approach. There was already enough drama without Jenna's mother discovering her daughter was seeing a much older man.
"Your daughter called mine last night in tears," I continued, keeping to the story we'd worked out. "Apparently, your man over there..." I glared at Dick, "...has been behaving very inappropriately."
"This is none of your business, Mr. Logan," her mother snapped. "Now if you'd kindly get back in your..."
"When my daughter gets a call from her best friend telling her that her mother's perverted boyfriend is stealing her panties and masturbating in her bedroom, it becomes my business," I barked.
Dick came down the stairs, a smarmy smile on his face. "Mr....Logan, was it? This is all just a big misunderstanding. Can we not discuss this like reasonable men? Look, come inside, let's have a drink and..."
"I'm only going to say this once," I growled, stopping him dead in his tracks. "Stay the fuck away from me." I then nodded towards Jenna, who was already carrying her bags towards my car. "And from her."
His smile faltered. "Or what?"
My eyes locked into his. "Or I will kick the everloving shit out of you."
His face went pale. "Are you threatening me, Mr. Logan?"
"No threats. Just a promise."
Trish grabbed my arm. "To....um, Dad? Let's go, okay?"
I took a step towards Mr. Dick Flashing Panty Thief.
He took a step back. "If you touch me, I'll sue."
I couldn't help but laugh. Loud and hard. "Yeah," I said once I'd finally caught my breath, "that's exactly what I expected."
Trish pulled my arm again. "Come on, DAD, let's get out of here. Jenna's waiting."
I turned to see Jenna already sitting in the backseat of the car. She was looking at me through the window, her eyes wide and pleading.
"She's not going with you!" Jenna's mother called out after us.
"The hell she isn't," I spat, not turning.
"I'll call the police!"
Now I did turn. "You do that. Go right ahead, I'll wait. I'd love to have a nice friendly chat with them about why she's leaving. I understand there's a nice little video they might enjoy seeing."
Mom's face went stone cold. "Take her. And don't bring her back."
"Don't worry, we won't," I said. "But when you wise up and realize how wrong you are, you know how to find her. You do have your own daughter's phone number, right?"
We drove off, Trish in the backseat with Jenna, comforting her as her tears flowed.
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By the time we got back to my place, it was evening. Trish stayed for a little while, but had to get home. She'd borrowed her parents' car to come visit me yesterday, then spent the night at my place after Jenna's call so she could leave with me first thing in the morning. Trish had called her parents to explain everything (well, almost everything) and they were very understanding. But she had to get the car back to them and wanted to be home before dark.
"I can see if I can borrow mom's car tomorrow, if not I'll take an Uber, but I'll be over as soon as I can," Trish told Jenna.
Jenna smiled, in better spirits now that we were finally home. "You don't have to, Trish. I'll be okay. But thank you."
"Bullshit, I'm coming. No arguments," Trish said firmly.
"If you wanna stay for a few days, you're welcome to," I told Trish. "Take an Uber, I can pay for it if you need, and you can stay as long as you want. If your parents won't mind, of course."
"They won't mind," said Trish. "I didn't tell them all the details about you and Jenna and, well, US, but they know enough about the situation and they'll understand I want to be here to help Jenna through it."
"Good," I said. "I know my place is small, but I think it's a good idea. I'll be happier knowing Jenna isn't home alone while I'm at work."
Jenna let out a sudden laugh; it was nice to hear it. "You guys are talking about me like I'm not standing right here. Do I even have a say in this?"
"No," Trish and I said in unison.
Jenna laughed again, her beautiful smile finally returning to her face. "Well. Okay then. Be that way."
She threw her arms around Trish. "Thank you. For everything."
"Hey, that's what besties are for," said Trish. "See you tomorrow."
Jenna and I snuggled up on the couch after Trish left. "I know I've said it a thousand times already, but thanks again for coming for me. I'm really sorry for dragging you into this," she sighed.
"And I've told you a thousand times: stop apologizing. No way in hell I wasn't coming for you after that phone call. Trish had to stop me from trying to leave last night," I chuckled.