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He shakes his head. “Only Jagger did.”
“Jagger?”
“Yes, it’s why we haven’t seen much of him.”
“He knew?”
“Yes.”
I swallow and stare at Huck, who stands and walks over to me. God up close he’s so much like her. The same eyes. The same face. I knew it as soon as I walked through the door. Huck is Jenny’s father. My head swims, and Ava grips my arm, she’s silent and staring.
“Did you know?” I whisper hoarsely, my eyes on him.
He nods. “Only for the last few years.”
“And you did nothing?” I say, shaking my head.
“Wasn’t my place, Willow. Your momma was sick, and ...”
“Jenny had the right to know!”
Huck nods. The only difference between Huck and Jenny is that his hair is medium brown and hers is more like mine and Mom’s. Their eyes are that same light green. His skin is creamy just like hers but it’s the shape of his face, his expressions, and his build that is nearly identical to her. It’s scary. Why don’t I remember this? It seems so obvious now. The last time I saw him was when my father died, but my mind was in a different place. The whole thing is foggy.
“I’m sorry. I’ve tried to stay out of this ...”
“How did Jagger know, and why do you owe him so much?” I cut him off. “You need to start talking.”
He nods and points to the chair.
I feel like I’m about to be even more shocked.
It’s like it’s never ending.
11
“I met your dad through the academy,” Huck begins. “We graduated together. He met your mom one night up at a club. We all became friends, that was before you were born. He started working more and more, and when you came along your mom was struggling. I used to go over and help her, we were friends, and he wasn’t there. One night, we had a few drinks, and I don’t know, it just happened. There was something between us, something strong.”
I hold my breath. Shocked.
“The affair went on for a while, but things got tough, and we knew it had to end. She left, and we stopped seeing each other. I heard she had another child, but I assumed it was Kane’s, and I knew they didn’t need me around, so I let it be. It was only a few years ago that she told me whose child it was. I was in deep then. I’d become involved in the case that your father was working on with the gang, I had dangerous information. It was risky and a bad time, so I didn’t contact Jennifer.”
“Did my father know?”
He shakes his head. “As you know, he was aware your mother cheated, and that Jenny wasn’t his. He took her on anyway. He didn’t know she was mine, though.”
He did take her on, even though it caused so much pain between the two of them, he stuck around.
I can’t fault him there.
“He was always kind to her, even though she wasn’t his.”
I feel a little bad for my father at this point, but I’m glad he never knew it was someone he trusted so much. Strangely enough, I also understand why my mother had an affair. I remember how lonely it was without him when he was always working. I can’t entirely blame her for wanting to seek comfort.
“Okay,” I say, shaking my head. “What about Jagger? How does he fit in all this?”
“Well, when Jagger and his gang originally got busted by your dad and the cops tried to take him down, I helped him. He had information on something I needed, so I made a deal with him. If he gave me the information, I would help him and his gang out of any trouble they got into. Jagger’s been good to me, and he’s helped me out a lot with my own personal battle. I owe him.”
“So you bribed him?”
Huck nods. “It’s how it works, isn’t it?”
“Right. I don’t even want to get into that right now. All I want to know is if you’re going to help us.”
Huck nods. “Yes, I am.”
“And Jenny?”
He looks me right in the eyes. “I was hoping you would help me out with that ...”
“She’s going to be heartbroken.”
“I know, but I want to know her. Now your mother is out of the institution ...”
“Wait,” I say, cutting him off. “You know she’s out?”
He nods. “Yes, she contacted me and told me she was out. She told me more about Jenny and how to contact her.”
“And you didn’t?”
He looks a little guilty. “No. You have to understand, it’s quite daunting for me, too.”
“Ah, Willow ...”
Ava calls my name, and her voice is hesitant, so I quickly turn to see what’s going on. I follow her gaze and see Jenny standing by a car watching us, bag full of groceries, staring at Huck. I know she can see it, I notice the exact moment it registers and the bags drop from her hands. By now he’s looking at her and slowly standing. Ace steps closer to her, but she’s already turning, shaking her head. Then she runs.
