It had been a long week for Jennifer. Ever since Vince came into her life, she couldn't think of anyone or anything else. And her life and her business was suffering for it. Every day Vince came over in the morning and every she caught one whiff of him and she was his sexual plaything. It was automatic... primal. It didn't seem like she could do anything about it.
Until...
One day, when he left, she locked the door behind him and promised... promised!... that she wouldn't let him in ever again. She had to break contact. She had to get away from him.
When he knocked on her door on Friday, she didn't answer and didn't even come close to the door. She didn't want that scent to take away her control. Not any more! And it seemed like she was winning in battling her instincts. Vince knocked for a while, calling for her... and then just left. He came back later in the day and knocked, tried to convince her to open the door... then just left again.
Jennifer lay on her bed, hoping and praying that she'd figure out what to do next. She wasn't sure he'd get the hint and just leave her alone. Her phone rang, but she ignored that, too. She was hoping that Vince would just think she wasn't even in the apartment.
On Saturday, there was another knock on her door. It was different, but she still wasn't going to take a chance. There was no way she was going to open it. Then she heard keys jiggling, the door open, and pull against the chain. How in the hell did he get her key? She got out of bed, prepared to run out of the apartment and never come back.
"Honey, are you in there?" She heard her stepmom, Roxanne's, voice.
She quickly ran out of her bedroom and to the door. "Just a second, mom," she said, closing the door and freeing the chain. Then she opened the door and quickly pulled her startled stepmom into the room, her suitcase banging into both of their legs, closing and chaining the door behind her once again.
"Honey!" Roxanne said, wondering why she was acting like this. "What is going on with you?"
"Nothing mom... it's just... it's complicated." Jennifer looked scared and frantic.
"I haven't heard from you all week long," Roxanne said. "Didn't you get any of my messages?"
"No... sorry. I've been... preoccupied."
"Preoccupied?" Roxanne said, not understanding. "What in the world would keep you from going to work or answering the phone? Your father and I have been worried sick about you."
"Like I said, it's complicated," Jennifer said. "I'm not even sure I understand it."
"Ok... I understand, I guess," Roxanne said, resigned to having to wait. "I can stay for the week, if you want. And maybe we can talk about it."
"I would love that," Jennifer said, hugging her tightly.
"You go get a shower and change," Roxanne said, wrinkling her nose, obviously not liking how she smelled. "I'll unpack." Roxanne kissed her forehead as they broke their embrace.
Jennifer was happy to at least have someone to watch over her, someone to protect her, to keep her from answering the door. The hot water felt amazing as it flowed over her body and she took her time. After her shower, she dressed and found her stepmom sitting in the living room with a large book of pictures in her lap.
"Hey, honey. Come here and look at some pictures with me," Roxanne said, tapping the sofa next to her to offer Jennifer a seat.
"I'd think I'd love that." Jennifer sat and put her feet up, curling into a ball, and resting her head on her stepmom's shoulder.
"They're from a long time ago," Roxanne said, reminiscing.
"Yeah... that picture," Jennifer giggled. "Remember that one?"
"That was after your graduation, right? You look so happy there. We all were."
"I miss those days," Jennifer said softly.
"Yeah, me too. It's been so hard lately, huh?" Roxanne looked at her with a look of concern. Something had been beating Jennifer up.
"Yeah."
"You can always talk to me... any time." Roxanne moved a strand of stray hair from Jennifer's face.
"I know I can," Jennifer said. But she wasn't sure she even knew why she did what she did.
"I promise... you can tell me anything," she said. "I just love the way we were able to get close. Like you were my own daughter. You're tough. You'll get through this."
"I know. It's just so hard," Jennifer said, hugging her arm. "But at least I have you."
"That's right."
"Oh my God, do you remember that?" Roxanne said. "It was miserable that day!"
"I remember," Jennifer smiled.
"It was so hard to get you to smile for a picture."
Jennifer giggled. "Geez."
"And then we went out and got ice cream."
"Oh my God. That was a good day afterwards."
"After we got ice cream, we were good," Roxanne smiled.
"Oh my God," Jennifer said, pointing to another picture. "That was my first boyfriend!"
"What was his name?"
