Jenny (Babysitter's Club 5)

For some asinine reason, I remember mom once saying that when something is made with love, it will taste better than anything in the world. “What you need to concentrate on is finding out where your wife went and getting to the bottom of this mess you’re in.

I’d made up my mind sometime during the night that I could forgive Lauren anything except her bringing harm to my children. If it turns out that she does have some undiagnosed mental illness, I’ll do anything I can to help her, but she won’t ever be allowed near my kids again, not without me there to supervise.

I had to dissect my feelings, separate things in my head to be sure I wasn’t feeling this way because of what was going on in my head where Jenny was concerned. The truth is that I never saw Jenny in that way, never gave her a second thought, and until here in the last day and a half.

But my decision not to let Lauren back into my house was more to do with the safety of my kids than anything else. I’ll just have to learn how to deal with my new thoughts and keep them in check.

JENNY

I held my breath every day, hoping that he wouldn’t call and dying each time the phone didn’t ring. As the days went by with no contact, I started to relax, then I came home from school one day, and he was in my kitchen. I almost fell off my feet when I saw the back of him casually sitting at the kitchen island sipping a cup of coffee and talking to mom, or being talked to rather; mom tends to talk a lot when she has a captive audience.

It took me a few seconds to catch the thread of the conversation since neither of them noticed I was there, and when I did, I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

“No, she never dated, not once. I thought she was into girls there for a while, but when I asked, she just sniggered and shook her head. Jenny does not snigger. It was the weirdest damn thing. I haven’t asked her about her dating life since, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t it.”

“I’ll tell you one thing; she came alive when you came back and started asking her to babysit. It was like having the old Jenny back again. Didn’t last long though, something happened to take the spark out of her again.”

Oh, I’m not blaming you, don’t get me wrong. I’ve long come to terms with the fact that my only child is an odd duck. I think it comes from all that knowledge. Did you know she’s a genius?” He must’ve given her a disbelieving look because she nodded and continued. “Tested and confirmed. I don’t know where she gets it from to tell you the truth…”

I turned and snuck back out of the room before they noticed, then walked back, making as much noise as possible. Mom seemed a bit guilty with a slight flush on her cheeks, but Derrick didn’t bat a lash when he raised his cup to his lips.

“Oh hi, Mr. Masters, I didn’t know you were here.”

“He came to bring back all those dishes and things you took over there for Thanksgiving. Said it was the best Thanksgiving meal he’s ever tasted.” Mom beamed like I’d done something life-changing.

I chanced a look at him, and my breath got caught in my lungs at the look on his face. I looked at mom to see if she noticed, but she was too busy puttering around. I swallowed hard and avoided his eyes. “Mrs. Somerset it was nice talking to you, now I’d like to have a word with Jenny about babysitting the girls this evening.”

“Oh, you two go ahead. I’ll just finish trying to figure out these cookies. I never should’ve given the chef the time off, but you know, with the holidays, everyone wants to be with their family. Every year he goes back to the Caribbean to stay a month. Last time…” She trailed off when she caught herself and the look I was giving her.

“Never mind all that, you two go on ahead.” I wanted to know how long he was here for and what other embarrassing things my mother had said, but every thought went out of my head when he grabbed my elbow and turned me around as soon as we were out of sight of mom.

“What kind of idiot are you? Hmm? What game are you playing?” I looked at him wide-eyed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this angry before.

“I don’t… I’m not… I don’t know what you mean.” I broke the look finding it too hard to keep it in the face of his anger.