Chapter 49
My photos are still on a road trip theme,
so here's one of Nebraska, along with everything the windshield intercepted since the last gas stop. I live tucked in between mountains, so I love the open skies that stretch forever when I get a chance to see them!
Hidden Secrets
Leona Palmer Haag
Chapter 49
"Road trip," Jenn said as she tossed a few
outfits into Katie's diaper bag. She grabbed a few more baby supplies and
shoved them in. It was a struggle getting the zipper to close. "How does
Las Vegas or San Diego sound? Exciting?"
Katie didn't answer.
Jenn grabbed her suitcase from the back of the closet
and threw it on the bed. Like a crazy lady she began pulling things from
hangers and yanking stuff from drawers and tossing them inside. Momentarily
gone was her neat and tidy style. The castle was getting to her and she had to
escape.
No, it wasn't the castle, it was the fact that she was
living in a fantasy land without her husband. Which reminded her, she hated
looking at Matt Jensen's smug mug every day. Katie was tumbling over into
semi-consciousness watching a movie, so Jenn took a long overdue moment to
stomp through the house turning every photo with Matt in it upside down. His
unblinking laughing eyes could stare at the furniture polish and count tree
rings.
Each picture had a little dust-free line at the base.
The rest of the tabletop and shelves needed dusting, thanks to Jenn canceling
the cleaning crew until further notice. Another fight she tackled with Uncle
Kevin, and probably the only one she'd won so far. Within the hour she'd drive
away from Honeysuckle Pie Drive. Kevin would eventually realize she'd flown the
coop and send out a search squad. Within an hour, or a day, or a week, she'd be
surrounded by uniforms and guns and hauled off to jail. Or Dallas.
Jenn grabbed Nick's last photo by the front door and
stared at the supposedly happy family. The false family. The bogus family. The
fabricated…
The doorbell rang.
Jenn froze for a split second. A second later she
grabbed the door and yanked it open, ready to tell Kevin Curtis to butt out of
her life and…
"Hi, Dia," Kristina said.
Jenn faltered back.
Kristina pushed a loaf of steaming bread toward her.
"You popped into my mind this morning and I couldn't think about anything
else. It was strange, and it began to make me wonder if you're okay. Have you
got a minute to talk?"
Jenn numbly nodded, but didn't take the offering.
Kristina looked at the picture in her hands, then back
at Jenn, her eyes asking a question she didn't voice. Without an invitation,
she stepped through the door. "I'll put this in your kitchen." Her
back receded.
Jenn leaned against the front door frame. She looked
up at the little security camera hidden in the porch light fixture, and blinked
back a tear. She shoved the heavy door shut and heard the lock click and saw
the red light blink. She wasn't going to let Kevin Curtis witness what happened
next. Whatever it was. A torrent of tears? A confession of masked identity?
Unleashed anger over her husband's employer and hiding?
"You okay?" Kristina asked as she returned.
Jenn shook her head. She turned the family photo
around so Kristina could see the smiling faces. Jenn shrugged. "This
isn't…" That was all that came out.
Kristina stood motionless, waiting. Staring first at
the photo, then at Jenn, then back at the happy family.
Jenn tried again. "My husband. This isn't…"
Jenn turned the photo back to herself and stared at Matt Jensen's smiling face
where Nick's should have been. Tears clouded her eyes. One fell to the cold
marble floor and another splashed on Matt's cheek.
Kristina patiently waited like a saint. Not rushing
her. Allowing her to grab a measure of composure. Jenn finally swallowed hard.
There were things to say and things to keep silent. It had to be that way. For Nick's
safety. For Katie. "My husband isn't home. He's… I miss him so much."
Kristina crossed the foyer and wrapped her arms around
Jenn. "Everything will be okay, I'm sure. When do you expect him?"
Jenn shook her head. "I have no idea. Everyday
seems longer than the last. Every night seems darker than the one before. I
keep waiting and hoping and wondering and…" Sobs and tears took over.
"You don't know when he'll come home?"
Kristina gently asked.
Jenn shrugged. "No clue."
Kristina asked, "Is he on a business trip?"
Jenn nodded. "One stupid, endlessly long,
miserable business trip and…"
The doorbell rang.
Kristina stepped past Jenn and pulled the door open. Matt
Jensen's shocked face stared at the woman standing before him. He stepped back
as if at the wrong house, then looked past the stranger and whooped,
"Dia!" He sprang past Kristina and grabbed Jenn into his arms and
gave her a kiss to never forget. The picture fell from Jenn's grasp and the
glass shattered on the marble tile.
When Matt released Jenn he turned to Kristina and
smiled and held out his hand. "My wife's friend, Kristina, I presume? I'm
Samuel Morgan. I've heard all about you. All good, I assure you."
"You're home?" Kristina said in amazement.
"Finally." Matt held the door open wide and
Kristina took the hint and exited.
End Chapter 49
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