Just Beginning: A Prequel to Just Destiny Read online

  “No amount of careful’s going to save your life in an accident.” Gabe pointed a finger at the gleaming bike. “They ought to be banned from the road to protect irresponsible fools like you.”

  “They’re no more irresponsible than that gas-guzzling piece of crap Jenny drives.” Steve waved at their garage.

  “Hey now!” No need to drag her car into this argument.

  Gabe shrugged. “At least it’s safe.”

  Steve crossed his arms over his chest, tsking. “Socially irresponsible. I’ll bet it only gets sixteen miles per gallon, if that, and God only knows what it’s doing to the ozone.”

  “At least it doesn’t kill people.”

  “Indirectly.”

  Ted removed the helmet and reluctantly handed it back to Steve. “Come on, Dad, don’t you think you’re overreacting?”

  Jenny watched in fascination as Gabe turned on his son. She’d rarely seen him this angry about anything, but his tense body and barely controlled snarl gave evidence to his hot temper.

  “No. I’m not overreacting. And get that gleam out of your eye, if I ever catch you on a motorcycle... I... I...” He stuttered, at loss for words.

  Jenny raised an eyebrow at Gabe’s unfinished threat. He looked like he was about to send his grown son to his room.

  Still struggling to rein in his temper, Gabe’s hard eyes swept the two men. “The next time a motorcycle idiot comes into the ER, I’m gonna drag your butts in there and show you what those bloody morons look like. I hope you’ve got a strong stomach, because it isn’t pretty, and there’s usually not a whole lot we can do for them.”

  The group went silent. Steve and Ted contemplated the weeds sprouting in the driveway cement cracks while waiting for Gabe to cool down. Suddenly Steve looked up. Blue eyes twinkling, he looked at Gabe. “Guess that means you don’t want to go for a ride?”

  Jenny smiled; trust Steve to find a way to alleviate the tense situation while at the same time poke fun at his friend.

  Gabe’s features lightened as he answered with a pointed negative look.

  “I’ll go,” Ted volunteered.

  Gabe’s head whipped around to glare at his son.

  Ted stared at Steve, ignoring his father.

  Steve’s glance flickered between angry father and defiant son, temporarily at a loss. Jenny watched Steve carefully, wondering how he’d handle the tight spot Ted put him in.

  “Maybe another time, Ted,” Steve said.

  Jenny breathed a sigh of relief when Ted nodded in agreement, instead of pressing the issue.

  Steve looked at Jenny. “How about you? Want to go for a spin? You can wear my helmet.” A glossy black helmet dangled from his finger.

  “No, she doesn’t,” Gabe said, before Jenny could decline.

  Eyes popping wide, Jenny looked at Gabe. “I can answer for myself.”

  “Just making sure you came up with the right answer.” He raised his eyebrows and stared.

  “The right answer?” She snatched the helmet from Steve’s hands and crammed it on her head, ignoring the way it pressed tightly against her braided hair. “I’d love a ride.”

  Jenny marched over to the motorcycle. She looked back at Steve. “Come on.”

  Jenny’s anger burned hotter when Steve glanced at Gabe before slowly joining her. “Jenny, I didn’t—”

  “Let’s go,” she ground out as she struggled with the helmet strap.

  He brushed her hands aside and tightened it. Conscious of Ted’s interested look and Gabe’s hostile glare, he lowered his voice. “Look, I was kidding. Gabe seems pretty pissed.”

  “I’m not some simpleton he can order around. Let’s go.” She grabbed a bit of his knit shirt and turned him toward the bike.

  “Okay.” Steve swung a leg over the motorcycle and started it.

  She climbed on behind him, feeling quite competent, until she realized she didn’t know where to put her dangling feet. She leaned to the side away from Gabe, asking, “Feet?”

  He turned and pointed down at the pegs. “Hang on and lean with me on the turns.”

  Jenny nodded and rested her feet on the metal pegs. Squirming around till she was comfortable on the plush leather seat, she lightly rested her hands on Steve’s sides and put a circumspect six inches between them. Gabe thought he could make decisions for her, did he? She had two parents; she didn’t need another.

  Jenny stared at Steve’s back, refusing to give Gabe the satisfaction of looking back. The motorcycle rumbled and vibrated between Jenny’s legs, then eased forward. The slight bump at the end of the driveway when they turned into the street made Jenny gasp. She lunged forward and clutched Steve’s waist until she was plastered along his back.

  Love handles would have come in handy about now, but Jenny made do, grabbing fistfuls of shirt and skin, digging her nails in deeply. If she weren’t so afraid of falling off, she would’ve wrapped her legs around his waist too.

  Steve yelped and pried one hand open, then patted it reassuringly. She probably looked ridiculous hanging onto Steve like a big cancerous lump on his backside, but she didn’t care; she closed her eyes and clung to his solid, warm back.

  Surprisingly, after a couple of turns, Jenny relaxed and learned to flow with the movement of the bike. She bravely lifted her head from his back and even managed to lean back enough for air to whistle between them. Another block, and she lowered her hands to Steve’s hips, using them for balance more than a safety line.

  Jenny smiled and sat a little straighter as their houses came into view. This time she braced herself for the bump at the end of the driveway, so she’d look like a pro biker babe to anybody watching. Ted was nowhere in sight, but Gabe sat on the back stoop.

  In Steve’s garage, she dismounted, took the helmet off, and handed it to him. “Thanks for the ride.”

  “Uh huh.” He put the helmet on the motorcycle then nodded his head in Gabe’s direction. “Want me to talk to him?”

  “Naw. See ya later.” She walked away.

  Steve nodded, then turned his attention back to his bike.

  As Jenny approached Gabe, she tried to gauge his mood. Had his anger burned away as hers had? She sat down next to him, thighs touching.

  “What’re you doing out here by yourself?” Jenny asked.

  “Waiting for my wife.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that. She didn’t want to apologize, yet it was a stupid thing to fight over.

  “Have fun?” he asked in a casual tone.

  She wrinkled up her face. “Not really.” Jenny paused. “I don’t really see the attraction. It’s kind of buggy and cold.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I wouldn’t have gone in the first place, but I really hate controlling people. Really pisses me off, ya know?” She bumped shoulders with him and looked in his eyes.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “I don’t tell you what you may and may not do.”

  “No, you don’t.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and then rubbed her back. “I’m sorry, Jen. I was out of line. I...” He shrugged. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “I’m not one of your kids, and I don’t respond well to you treating me as if I were.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “’S alright. Speaking of kids, we should probably check on them.”

  “They’re down by the fire pit making s’mores.”

  “Never too old for s’mores. Wanna get some wine and watch a movie?”

  “Sure.” Gabe and Jenny collected the Pinot Grigio, and headed for the study.

  “That troublemaker Ted started all this asking for a ride. Steve should have said no,” Gabe grumbled as he poured the wine and handed it to Jenny.

  “Ted was just yankin’ your chain. They both were. Steve would never encourage your kids to defy you,” she chided. Her lips curved in a soft smile. “And Ted’s a great guy. You did a good job raising him.”

  Gabe took a sip of his wine, nodding. “He is a good kid—they b
oth are.” He frowned at Jenny. “By the way, did I overhear Alex telling you to stay away from her friends?”

  Jenny cocked her head. “She was miffed. Greg asked me to dance. He thought I was her sister.” Jenny giggled. “It can’t be easy having a step-mom as young as me.”

  “Especially when she’s beautiful and looks like a teenager. It’s surprising Alex doesn’t hate you.”

  She hurled a pillow at him. “It’s not like I act like her big sister.”

  Gabe easily deflected her missile and set his wine down. “Didn’t say you did.” Grinning, he pulled her across his lap. “As a matter of fact, you’re more serious and responsible than I am.” He tickled her. “You need to lighten up. Have a little fun, lady.”

  Shrieking, she squirmed off his lap, and with arms still around his neck, pulled him down to lie on her. She lowered her voice, seductively. “What’d you have in mind, mister?”

  He growled deep in his throat. “After these kids go home. I’ll show you.”

  Jenny wriggled out from under him. She unfastened her blouse, button by button, as she backed up to close and lock the door. “Why wait?”

  “Hey,” Alex popped up behind Jenny.

  Jenny jumped and pulled her top together. Geeze! “Alex. What’s wrong?” She quickly rebuttoned her shirt, then smoothed her hair.

  “Nothing.” Alex’s narrowed gaze went from her dad to Jenny, but then her face cleared as if dismissing a thought. “Will you show us how to do the Electric Slide?”

  “Just a minute, young lady,” Gabe said, “You owe—”

  Jenny raised a hand and flashed a quick frown to quiet him. “Now you want me to dance with your friends?” She raised one eyebrow. “You know...that would require me being around your friends.”

  A gracious person would’ve brushed off Alex’s temper tantrum, but Jenny thought she needed to be called out on it.

  Alex shifted her weight from one foot to the other as a blush pinkened her cheeks. “Yeah, I’m sorry I was rude to you earlier. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you because Greg was flirting with you.”

  “I didn’t do or say—”

  “I know. I heard.” She shrugged. “He’s a flirt.”

  “I can’t do the Electric Slide to rap.”

  “The guys are gone. We can put country on.”

  “Okay, then.” Jenny smiled and looped an arm around Alex’s waist, before turning back to Gabe. “Coming?”

  “You go on. Line dancing’s not really my thing.”

  Chapter 14

  Jenny returned to the kitchen, picked up her water bottle, and headed upstairs to work. Karen assigned her to do a series of articles on John Spears and his legacy—one a week. At first, it seemed like a fun assignment and Jenny’d found the history fascinating. But now that she was past the first few introductory articles and needed to get a more in-depth take on what it was like to be in the foster care system, she was stuck.

  She’d completed her interviews and had all the material she needed, but now it was time to dig in and get personal, yet remain respectful and productive. This piece had to have the exact right tone. Jenny combed through the history again, hoping for inspiration.

  John Spears survived the Detroit foster care system decades ago and never forgot the gift he received. Upon his death, to his heirs’ surprise, he left most of his ten million-dollar estate in trust, with proviso that his favorite caseworker at Christ Child House oversee the building of an expansion facility to be called the Woodward House, which would create supervised independent living care for older teens.

  He didn’t want other children to go through the terrifying experience he had of being cut loose from the system at eighteen. Living without a biological family was tough, but leaving his Christ Child family of seven years before he was ready had been traumatic.

  John survived, got a scholarship to University of Michigan, then made his fortune. His bequest was motivated by the desire to help boys like him, those not fortunate enough to be adopted or integrated into a foster family. He wanted kids that were at CCH long-term to have the consistency of being able to stay nearby the staff and kids at CCH. The staff became the long-term kids’ family, and family was important.

  Three hours and several false starts later, Jenny drove impatient fingers through her hair. She pursed her lips and shoved her laptop away. Scowling, she slouched deep in her chair. Nervous energy drove her from her seat, and she paced her office.

  Nothin’.

  Her phone chimed with a text from Gabe. Jenny sighed. Quitting time. She headed downstairs to pack food. Maybe the fresh lake breeze would blow this fog from her brain and inspire her.

  Ritz chased Canadian geese in the backyard while Jenny carried a cooler with snacks and drinks down to the boat. It was a perfect evening, not too hot and not too muggy. The bug zapper helped keep the mosquitoes at bay with a comforting bzzt as each insect flew toward the white light death. She stowed the food on board and returned to the dock. Sitting, she dangled her bare legs over the edge and leaned against a post.

  Stop obsessing, Jen. Think about something else; you’re trying too hard. Think about…Michael’s tennis match. He and his partner played pretty well yesterday.

  She had enjoyed cheering Michael on at his match. He’d spent the earlier part of his summer vacation attending an intensive camp that prepared him well for junior league competition. Learning to operate and care for their boat and jet skis, Alex’s graduation party, and work, kept Jenny busy without much time left over for Michael, and she’d missed him—more than she’d ever have thought.

  Yeah, she’d had fun watching the match until one of the parents asked Jenny which one of the boys was her boyfriend. Dumb ass.

  Jenny looked up as Steve approached. Dressed in a gray pinstripe suit and a solid blue tie that matched his bright eyes, he looked the part of the handsome lawyer. Steve wore the suits with natural nonchalance, but only because it was expected, not because he enjoyed the formal clothes.

  “Sorry I’m late. Got stuck in traffic. Give me a few minutes to change, and I’ll be ready to go.”

  “Take your time. Gabe’s stuck at the clinic. He won’t be home for another half an hour.”

  “You’re looking thoughtful. Everything okay?” Steve shrugged out of his suit coat and draped it over the dock post. He unbuttoned his white dress shirt cuffs, and with quick, efficient twists of the wrist, had both sleeves rolled halfway up tanned forearms.

  He lowered himself to the wood, disregarding potential damage to his expensive slacks. Resting a forearm on one bent knee, he squinted into the fading sun. The breeze rustled his blond hair, giving him an attractive, mussed look.

  All he needed was to loosen his tie, and he’d make a great cover shot for some men’s magazine.

  “Contemplating life, I guess. It’s been a rotten week,” she confessed.

  “It’s only Tuesday.”

  She paused, raised her dark sunglasses, and gave him a long sideways look. “Really rotten.”

  “Want to talk?”

  Pulling her knees up to her chest, Jenny drew her windbreaker around her bare legs to shelter them against the cooling breeze. She squinted, then lowered her glasses against the bright setting sun. “Why does it seem like you always take three steps backward after you’re so excited about making two steps forward?”

  “That’s a rhetorical question, right?”

  “Everything’s become so complicated. I’ve made so many mistakes.”

  “Haven’t we all?”

  Jenny looked away, shaking her head. “Not like this. When I was younger, I kept taking steps backward. Very big steps backward.” She paused, wondering how much to trust him with.

  “Then Gabe came along, and we fell in love. My mom thought it was a huge mistake because he’s older, and she thought I was too impulsive and immature for marriage and parenting. But I loved him, and marrying Gabe was my shot—my chance to fix everything and leap forward. Now it looks like she’s right. Not
about Gabe,” she quickly amended. “He’s the best thing in my life.”

  She looked out over the water, letting loving feelings of Gabe warm her. Her voice lowered, taking on a reverent tone. “He’s a wonderful person, compassionate and giving. As a husband, he’s perfect. Kind and sensitive, and funny, and sexy,” she trailed off, embarrassed about sounding like a teenager with a massive crush. She studied her white shoelaces. “Anyway, we’d be great if people would just let us.”

  “Who has a problem with it?”

  “Who doesn’t?”

  “Me.”

  She smiled. Steve was sweet and a loyal friend. Maybe it was his nature, but Steve inspired people to talk about themselves. You sensed he’d respect your privacy and keep your secret.

  “Besides you?” Jenny asked. “Gabe’s uncle tried to trick me into drawing up a prenup, Alex was furious with me when she caught her crush flirting with me, and things with my mother are still tenuous.” She sighed. “It’s so slow gaining her confidence. I’m probably being overly sensitive, but, it’s exhausting keeping my guard up, feeling like I’m being judged constantly by everybody.”

  “What about your dad?”

  “Dad’s always there for me.” She struggled to find the words, yet needed to say them, as if admitting this great flaw was the first step in finding a solution. “At first when people mistook me for Gabe’s daughter, I laughed it off, thinking they’re just dumb.” She frowned and looked down. Voice lowered, she huskily confessed, “But it’s getting harder.”

  “Why?”

  “It happens all the time. Yesterday, at Michael’s tennis match…one of the moms asked which of the boys was my boyfriend.”

  Steve turned away and choked back a chuckle.

  “Go ahead. Laugh. Somebody might as well enjoy my humiliation.”

  “So? You’re beautiful, and you look young. It’s hardly the end of the world.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not beautiful, but thank you. Last weekend when we took Alex and Ted out for dinner, I got carded. Then bartender wanted to know what my ‘dad’ wanted to drink.”

  “Uh...”

  Steve’s speechlessness was comforting; he was beginning to get it. “Yeah. It’s just with Gabe’s kids there, it was embarrassing.” She frowned. “And that annoys me, too. Why should I care? I shouldn’t. But I do.”