by Lacey Legend
“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” she lied. “And truthfully, it’d be of no interest to you.”
“Do you actually know me well enough to decide what is, or isn’t, of interest to me?”
“In this case, I do,” said Jenna firmly.
There was no point in pressing the matter but Spencer was annoyed. It was as if Jenna wanted him on a leash to prevent his partying lifestyle but wasn’t willing to include him in her day-to-day dramas. He was beginning to feel like a toy; someone Jenna could pick up and put down as she chose at whim. She was keeping him on the outskirts of her life, treating him like a spare part but then acted wounded when he went out without her.
“You can’t have it both ways, Jenna.” His voice was hard. This was not the friendly call she wanted.
“What do you mean?” she asked, with a quiver in her voice.
“You reprimand me for going to a nightclub without you when I was snapped with some fellow female attendees and then keep me in the dark regarding what’s going on at your home. If it wasn’t for your sister, I wouldn’t have a clue about what was going on.”
Jenna’s temper was flaring. She could not believe Liana would ring Spencer. Her sister had asked for his number but she’d never got round to giving it to her.
She must’ve taken it from my phone when I was asleep, thought Jenna. What exactly has she told him?
“I take it Liana was seeking to take you up on the offer of a babysitter?”
“Indeed she was.”
Jenna detected a note of amusement in Spencer’s voice and was glad Liana had appealed to his good nature.
“I’m sorry about that. Liana has a tendency to open her mouth without thinking. One second she’ll berate you for the mere suggestion that her baby should be left in a stranger’s care, the next it’ll be the most inspired idea she’s ever heard. I didn’t even pass your number onto her.”
“She did say she had to stay up late until you fell asleep before she could access your contact list.”
Jenna huffed in outrage. “Why she insists on behaving like a teenager is beyond me.”
“She’s young at heart. I guess with the baby, she had to grow up quickly. I don’t think it’s wholly unexpected that she’ll revert to teenage behavior once in a while if she missed out on a portion of those years because she was nursing an infant.”
Spencer’s balanced view softened Jenna’s heart. He had a valid point. Her mother was determined the household ran on a routine and it worked, but Liana must miss her freedom and the spontaneity of being young and silly at times.
“I take it Nanny Merton now has Zada.”
“She certainly does.”
“I’ll be interested to see whether Liana actually uses this break to study or whether she’ll squander it catching up with friends.”
“I’m not bothered either way,” laughed Spencer. “As long as it gives her a taste of freedom and a little respite, I’d say taking Zada off her hands for a few days is a good thing.”
Since when did they become best friends? thought Jenna. The last time they were together Jenna had used his credit card to order the entire menu off the local pizza joint and Spencer ended up storming out of the apartment in a mood.
“It’s very kind of you,” mumbled Jenna, she wasn’t sure what to say.
“Anyway, she explained you were helping an informal patient, in respect of your social work studies, and that you’d bitten off more than you can chew with the client.”
Jenna sent a silent thank you to her quick thinking sister. It wasn’t an outright lie and it did highlight the salient points of her predicament with Leon.
“That’s a pretty accurate description.”
“Social work is definitely not my area of expertise,” said Spencer. “I’m guessing you have a supervisor or someone you can speak to with any problems you encounter.”
“Through the university, yes, but as Liana said, this is a favor to someone I used to know. I’m not in a position to approach my supervisor regarding the case. It may look bad that I’m not doing it through the university. I’m not actually qualified yet.”
“That is problematic.”
Jenna could feel tears pricking her eyes. She wanted to blurt everything out to Spencer, but as he’d expressed concerns previously that she had an attachment to a convicted criminal, she knew better than to speak out.
“Are you in danger?” asked Spencer slowly.
Again, Jenna couldn’t answer. Leon hadn’t done anything untoward yet, she definitely felt disconcerted by his words last night.
Spencer was trying the understanding boyfriend role, but it wasn’t working out for him. As a businessman, , and someone with the money to get what he wanted whenever he wanted it, not being in control or informed of his circumstances did not sit well with him.
“Is this to do with patient confidentiality?”
Jenna could hear his tone of voice rise. She knew she was being obstructive but she’d backed herself into a corner. The one thing she didn’t want to do, was lie to Spencer, thus silence was her best option at this point in time.
Spencer sighed.
“I told you the other day I wasn’t the relationship type of man and that I didn’t have a lot of experience in dating the same person for a period of time. But my understanding is, in order to make a relationship work, you have to trust one another. That means letting each other in and actually talking. One-sided conversations are futile.”
“I know, but this situation doesn’t warrant your involvement.”
“I’m going to respect your word on this, but I’m also going to tell you I’m very unhappy. I understand the nature of your work, but I’m not asking for names and addresses. I merely want to know what is going on and if you’re okay. I don’t think that’s unreasonable.”
“There’s nothing more I can expand on other than what Liana said.”
“Fine,” he said shortly. “It might’ve been nice to hear it from you rather than your sister.”
“Liana has a habit of getting in there first.”
“I hope your day improves. I need to get on with work and you need to return to your class.”
Spencer’s voice reminded her of one of her high school teachers.
“You’re right,” agreed Jenna, unwilling to let her hurt show. “Can I call you later?”
“I’m out tonight,” said Spencer. “You probably won’t be able to contact me. Call tomorrow, if you want.”
*
“You do know you’re acting like a stalker, right?” asked Kelly as she slid into Jenna’s booth during her afternoon break.
“Yes, I know,” replied Jenna, without looking up from her computer screen.
“Who googles their boyfriend to find out his whereabouts the previous night?”
“A person dating one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.”
“And has any incriminating evidence turned up in images of Spencer being surrounded by a bevy of beauties last night?”
“No.” Jenna’s smile was wide with relief.
“What’d you end up doing yourself?” inquired
Locked myself in the apartment with the lights out, in case Leon decided to pay me a visit, thought Jenna.
“Not a lot. It was weird. Liana ended up leaving Zada with the nanny all day and didn’t pick her up until after she’d finished her classes. It’s the first week-night in ages I can remember having free to myself.”
“And despite that being the very situation you and Spencer were hoping for, you didn’t end up going out with him.”
“No,” replied Jenna curtly.
Kelly twirled her blonde hair through her fingers, hoping to read her childhood friend’s expression. “I don’t understand you, Jenna. At first, you moan because Spencer behaves as though you’re an escort and is incapable of treating you like a real person because you’re his cleaner. So he goes out of his way to alter your circumstances, to put some equality in the relationship, and you become bo
rderline resentful of his attempts to ingratiate himself with your family.”
“I understand I’m being unreasonable. It’s just with Leon and everything; it wouldn’t be fair to let Spencer into the madhouse.”
“There shouldn’t be anything with Leon.”
“There isn’t.”
Kelly wasn’t used to Jenna snapping at her. Jenna always looked pretty and well-groomed but today her eyes were puffy from lack of sleep, her skin was pallid and her clothes were rumpled as though they hadn’t seen an iron.
“If you told me what was going on, maybe I could help.”
Jenna cracked her knuckles. Everyone was saying that -- from Spencer, to her mother and sister, and now her best friend. They couldn’t help. Leon wasn’t the kind of guy you crossed and Jenna didn’t want to place anyone close to her in the firing line. At the same time, the constant questioning was making her irritable.
“Kelly, there’s nothing to worry about. There’s a lot going on in my life right now and I’m not coping well.”
“As long as you know I’m here if you need me.”
Jenna grabbed her friend’s hand and squeezed it. “I do and I’m grateful. I think everything will settle in time. I’m stressed, but it’ll pass. I promise.”
Kelly feigned belief in her friend’s words, but she had grave concerns about Jenna’s well-being.
Watching Kelly return to her duties at the diner, Jenna took her phone from her jacket pocket.
“U & and I need 2 speak. Let me no whens good. If I dont hear back Ill come round 1 evening 2 talk.”
The text from Leon made her sick to her stomach. After over a year of spending her nights babysitting Zada and living in a cramped house, Jenna should be relishing a few nights in the apartment by herself but she was petrified of going home. Frightened as to when Leon might “come round” and terrified at what the “talk” would consist of.
Sneaking into her apartment, she had the doors locked and lights out by 7 pm. She settled in bed to study a textbook by the lamp of her bedside table. At 8 pm, the doorbell rang. Startled, she froze, not moving. There was a loud, persistent knocking on the door. Her phone began ringing and Jenna realized a scream was rising in her lungs. She answered her cell phone.
“It’s Spencer. Are you out tonight? I came around to see you in case you wanted company, given you’re home alone.”
Jenna jumped out of bed and ran to the front door. She turned on the lights as she fled through the apartment and opened the door. Flinging her arms around him she held him tight.
“That’s quite a welcome, given I only brought Chinese,” he said, extracting himself from her enthusiastic embrace.
“Why are you here?”
“An attempt to be romantic. Although I doubt that historically, chow mein and fortune cookies will be classed as one of the world’s most romantic gestures.”
“No, but a spontaneous visit comes close.”
“Zada and Rosie are asleep at the town house and while I do love having my family stay, I also miss your company.”
Jenna was touched by his arrival. Spencer had gone to great pains to highlight their different backgrounds and yet again, he’d made the trip to Brooklyn to spend time with her.
An appearance by Leon could cause havoc but Spencer’s masculine presence had Jenna feeling safe and able to relax.
After eating, the couple collapsed on the couch.
“There are no leftovers for your sister. She won’t be happy,” chuckled Spencer in relation to Liana’s insatiable appetite.
“It’ll do her good to skip the junk food,” mused Jenna.
They sat in comfortable silence.
“Is it weird for you?” asked Jenna.
“What?”
“Sitting here in this crummy two-bedroom apartment watching TV on a screen that’s ten years old.”
“First of all, this apartment is cozy and not crummy. It’s a nice living space for a family. Secondly, unless you’re obsessed with gadgets, high definition and extreme sound systems, most TVs are the same, regardless of age.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s weird. It’s a new experience but I like it. It beats going out every night of the week. It becomes monotonous attending a club or function every night. I barely spend time in my apartment other than to sleep.”
“As long as Nanny Merton’s babysitting Zada, we should spend a few nights in your apartment doing this so I can learn to appreciate gadgets, high definition, and extreme sound systems,” hinted Jenna.
The thought of sharing his living space with someone permanently did not appeal to Spencer in the slightest.
“I was talking to Liana about that.”
“Were you?”
“Liana wants a weekend off and thought she’d leave Zada at the townhouse for a few days and nights. She’s planning on treating herself to a little quality time alone to pamper and preen without having to worry about her coursework and assignments. As that frees you of your responsibilities as Aunty, I wondered if you and I might spend the weekend together.”
The idea of hitting the exclusive restaurants and nightclubs in New York and enjoying a weekend in Spencer’s luxury apartment sounded like heaven. There’d be no worrying about Leon getting in touch with her there.
“I’m definitely available for that.”
“Great. I had an idea we might go to Maine for a long weekend. We could head over there after you finish school Friday night and come back Monday morning, or Sunday evening if you can’t change your work hours on Monday.”
“Maine? Really?”
“It’s quite beautiful there, very picturesque. I know a perfect little guesthouse in Portland. It’ll make a nice break from New York City.”
It sounded idealistic and Jenna couldn’t fault the effort Spencer was making. However, part of her felt disconcerted that since the night of their first date at the charity gala dinner with Jenna spending the night at Spencer’s apartment, she hadn’t been welcomed back to his home or invited out publicly with him as his date.
You’re being paranoid, Jenna, she told herself. This whole business with Leon has you on edge. It’s messing with your head. Don’t be a spoiled t brat and don’t let Leon’s threat ruin your time with Spencer.
As keys rattled in the door, Spencer and Jenna unwrapped their limbs to take a formal seated position on the couch. Hannah, Jenna’s mother, walked inside with a huge smile on her face at the sight of Spencer.
“I bet you were hoping I was Liana,” she said directly to Spencer.
Spencer smiled and stood to shake her hand and introduce himself.
“Spencer Lawson. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. King.”
Hannah laughed throatily. “I bet you’re thinking it’s way too early to meet the parents.”
Spencer ran a hand through his brown curls and grinned sheepishly.
“Well, now you’ve met the whole family so there’s no need for you to feel like a guest or that you have to sneak off before we’re due back. I don’t bark and I don’t bite. Treat my girl right and we’ll get along famously.”
“I’ll do that, Mrs. King.”
Hannah set on the recliner and let herself stretch out. “Call me Hannah. You make me sound ancient calling me Mrs. King.”
“My apologies. I was trying to be respectful.”
“Respect is good. Friends and family is better. Do you know how to make coffee, Spencer?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then run to the kitchen and make this exhausted cleaner a cup of white coffee with two sugars.”
Feeling he couldn’t refuse the request, Spencer stood up and took slow steps toward the kitchen. Jenna smiled at his awkwardness. She suddenly recalled that Spencer had a coffee machine in his house that did percolated coffee, cappuccinos and lattes. This was not a piece of kitchen equipment that the Kings possessed. She bolted into the kitchen to Spencer.
“We don’t have your fancy kitchen set
up,” she said apologetically.
Spencer looked confused as to how he’d fulfill Hannah’s simple instruction.
“Stop looking stressed. She only expects instant coffee,” giggled Jenna.
Spencer turned on the kettle on and watched Jenna scoop out a teaspoon of instant coffee, two teaspoons of sugar and a dash of milk to a mug. As the kettle whistled, she added the boiling water and gave it a thorough stir. She pushed the drink toward Spencer.
“You’re a computer genius. Making Mom an instant coffee is simple.”
Spencer took the mug and politely gave it to Hannah.
“You’ve been in my kitchen?” quizzed Hannah.
Spencer nodded.
“Good. The kitchen is the heart and soul of our household and you’ve made yourself part of that now.”
Hannah crooked her finger for Spencer to come closer. He bent down toward her and she kissed his cheek. “You’re welcome here any time, Spencer and when you are here, you treat this place like home.”
Moved by the unexpected heart of the woman Spencer was at a loss for words. Fortunately, Liana chose that moment to burst through the door with Zada in tow. “Thanks for lending me the driver, Spencer. He’s waiting downstairs to take you home when you’re ready.”
“I should go,” said Spencer, excusing himself from the female dominated apartment.
“I hope we haven’t scared you off,” called Hannah.
Spencer stopped from escaping quickly out the open door. “Quite the opposite, Hannah,” he winked.
Jenna rolled her eyes at his flirtatious manner. “You’re terrible,” she whispered as they kissed by the door.
Jenna stayed outside until she saw Spencer hop in his usual car and drive off. As she turned around to go in, her cell phone sounded an alert.
“He needs 2 go if we’re going 2 make this work. Fix it or I will,” read Leon’s text.
Jenna scanned the lawn and lit area of the corridor to see if she could spot Leon. Her eyes couldn’t detect any shadowy forms. Walking inside, she shuddered as she locked the apartment up for the night.
