Chapter Forty-Seven
Raffe
“What the hell is she doing?” Jesse asks.
“Well, she’s pulling weeds, working her way over to Petey’s house. She has a few books for Charlotte and her sisters. I think she’s trying to distract herself as she moves.”
“Maybe she’s just getting comfortable one step at a time.”
Dirk laughs. “What’s she doing now?”
“Oh, she’s been trying to find a tree.”
“For what?” he asks.
“She’s like Willow,” Jesse explains.
“Huh.” He relaxes back into his seat, lighting a smoke.
We watch as she hugs one tree then moves on to the next.
“Jenny’s hard to look away from, isn’t she?” Jesse says.
“She is a bit intriguing,” her husband agrees.
“Both of you can stop ogling my girlfriend right now.”
They both laugh, giving each other a look I’ve seen a thousand times. I used to be jealous of it until I found it for myself.
“What are you going to do when she slips out of your sight?” Dirk asks.
“I’m going to follow her.”
My answer amuses them. Dirk stands up and stretches. “We’ve got to get going. We just wanted to make sure she was okay after last night.”
“We got through it. Thank you for checking on Jackson for me. I appreciate it,” I tell Jess.
“Don’t ever hesitate to call,” she says, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
Dirk places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “It’s nice seeing you in love again.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. After they leave, I turn back to Jenny, but she’s gone.
Instantly, my stomach falls. Where did she go? I run to the place where I last saw her, slowing when I see she’s just up ahead, around the bend.
I slip behind a tree, struggling to catch my breath. When I finally risk a peek, she’s already moved to the edge of Petey’s property. She standing motionless, hugging the books to her chest. I’m so fucking proud she made it this far.
It takes her at least thirty more minutes to get to their door, but she does it. Every cell in my body tenses along with hers as she raises her hand and knocks.
I slip behind Petey’s truck so I can see and hear them better.
Petey answers the door with his usual scowl. When he sees who it is, he purposefully relaxes his face. “Jenny! It’s nice to see you out and about,” he says.
I visibly see her relax. Petey doesn’t get enough credit for the way he can diffuse almost any situation. He knows how anxious she is.
She rocks back on her heels. “Hello. I was wondering if I could talk to Charlotte.”
His brows pull together.
