Kim threw open the bedroom door when she heard glass breaking. “Are you okay?”
Jenna rushed out of the bathroom slamming the door behind her leaving Kris to deal with the broken glass and satisfying herself.
Kim met Jenna in the middle of the bedroom. “I heard glass breaking. Is everything okay?”
Jenna nodded her head while pulling her shirt back up over her shoulders.
As Jenna fumbled with the buttons on her shirt and pants, Kim put her hands over her mouth. “Oh, Jenna. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know…I thought…Um, I just wanted to ask if you had any recent photos of Mom and Dad, but you’re busy.” She turned and headed for the hallway. “Sorry. If you have any, you can show them to me tomorrow.”
Kris heard Jenna chase after Kim down the hallway. She cleaned up the mess and went to bed unsatisfied.
Chapter Nine
Kris met up with Allie for lunch the next day. She walked into the restaurant to find Allie already there waiting on her. Kris slumped down into the booth across from Allie and slapped her hands on the table.
Allie looked up from her menu. “What’s wrong? You’re late by the way.”
Kris flipped open her menu. “I know. I’m sorry. You wouldn’t believe what has been going on at my house the past two days.”
Allie crossed her arms in front of her chest and leaned back. “Oh really? What? Did the two of you lovebirds discover a few new positions, or did you purchase some new toys?”
“No, nothing like that. Wipe that smile off your face. I don’t like the idea of you picturing me naked.”
Allie winked. “Who said it was you that I was picturing naked?”
“What would Danni say if she heard you talking about my girlfriend like that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she would want in on the action too?”
Kris shook her head. “You’re crazy. Please don’t think about Jenna like that, and if you do at least don’t tell me about it.”
The waitress interrupted them to take their order. After she left, Kris pulled out her phone and flipped through a few pictures before handing it to Allie. She waited for Allie’s reaction.
Allie took the phone and grinned. “Oh, how thoughtful. You took pictures of your adventures.” She glanced down at Kris's phone and did a double take. She zoomed in and looked up at Kris. Her jaw dropped and she rubbed her eyes. She leaned down and inspected the picture closer. “What the hell? Is this some kind of trick photo program you found online?”
“No, that’s a picture I took with my phone yesterday. Remember I told you Jenna had a sister?” Allie nodded and studied the picture. “Well, that’s Jenna’s sister.”
“Yeah, I remember. Wow, she looks just like Jenna.”
“You have heard of identical twins before? That’s kind of why they’re called identical.”
Allie put the phone back down on the table. “Ha, ha, smart-ass. Now, I won’t know if I’m picturing Jenna naked or Kim. Anyway, how did Jenna find her?”
“Kim saw the news report on TV about Jenna, and she showed up at the hospital the day before yesterday. She’s staying with us now.”
“That has to be weird. That story was months ago, but she just showed up now? What’s up with that?”
Kris took a sip of her water. “I don’t know. She told Jenna she was confused and scared. She didn’t remember Jenna until she saw the news report. I don’t know the entire story, but she told Jenna her kidnappers were abusive. I can’t go into the details, but she got away and turned her life around. She had a nice job, but she quit and showed up here.”
“But why the long wait before showing up? I feel bad for her and Jenna both.” Allie paused and fumbled with the wrapper of her straw. “It’s not my place to say anything, but does Jenna believe everything Kim has told her?”
Kris nodded. “Yes, she does. She is so happy. They’re meeting with a lawyer today to help get Kim’s identity and paperwork straightened out. Jenna also wants to know if Danni can recommend a good counselor for Kim to discuss her past with.”
“What about you? Do you believe Kim?”
“I want to for Jenna’s sake and for the sake of our relationship, but I just don’t know if I believe everything. The whole timeline of events, everything that she said happened. I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I heard Jenna’s version instead of hearing it from Kim herself.”
The waitress reappeared with their food, and they enjoyed a few bites before Allie started firing questions at Kris again. “Have you tried talking to Kim yourself? She might be able to clear a few things up for you and put your mind at ease.”
“Not yet. I think it’s too early to rock the boat, and I don’t want to make things worse. She’s Jenna’s sister. I feel bad about what she went through. All that matters is that I make an effort to get to know her now and leave the past in the past.”
Allie nodded her head in agreement. “Sounds like a good plan to me.” She picked up Kris's phone and began swiping through the photo album. “So, where do you keep the naughty pics?”
“Give me that,” Kris said as she grabbed the phone from Allie.
“Hello, Kris.”
Allie looked up. “Your girlfriend tried showing me some provocative pics on her phone, but I kept my eyes shut…well at least one of them.”
“What? Oh, I’m sorry. You must have me confused with Jenna.”
Kris laughed as Allie turned a bright shade of red. “I don’t believe I have ever seen you get embarrassed before. Kim, this is my obnoxious friend, Allie. Allie, this is Jenna’s sister, Kim.”
Kim flashed a smile at Allie. “Nice to meet you, Allie.”
Allie wiped her hand on her napkin and extended it to Kim. “It’s nice to meet you too. Don’t believe a word that Kris says about me.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Kim held up a to-go bag. “I ran in to pick up lunch. We’re having lunch in the park before meeting up with the lawyer again. I should get going. Jenna is in the car waiting.”
“Okay. Tell Jenna to call me and let me know about dinner,” Kris said.
“I will.” Kim put up her hand and turned to leave.
“Bye, it was nice meeting you,” Allie mumbled as Kim left. “That was crazy. How do you tell them apart?”
“It’s hard to without studying them sometimes, but I’m getting better at it.”
“Wow. Hey, is she single? Is she into women?”
“Calm down tiger. No, she’s not into women. I’m definitely telling Danni. You are in big trouble.”
“Come on now. You know I’m just joking with you. I really do love Danni. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
Kris put her fork down and reached for Allie’s hand. “Aww, that’s so sweet. I know she is head over heels for you.”
“Yeah, some nights. Other nights I’m the one with my heels over my head. Enough about my love life. Kim seemed polite and smiled, but it seemed like her eyes didn’t match her expression. I guess she’s still recovering from whatever torture she has been through. She does seem nice though. Give her a chance Kris. Who knows? The two of you just might become friends.”
“I’m there for her if she wants to talk. I’ll make myself available and try to get to know her better. Oh, I forgot to tell you the most interesting part about what is going on this weekend.”
Allie pushed her plate to the side of the table and leaned forward. “What could be more interesting than Jenna’s identical twin sister returning after being missing for decades?”
“Jenna’s parents are coming to see Kim. I’m nervous. I don’t know what to expect. Jenna never talks about them that much. They never even called when she was in the hospital.”
“Uh oh, let me know how that goes. Do they know about you and Jenna?”
“Jenna told them in a letter, but they never responded.” Kris put her hand over her mouth and gasped. “What if they never got the letter and they show up not knowing about us? Great, now I’m even more nervous than be
fore. How do we tell them? ‘Hello Mr. and Mrs. Harper, I’m the woman sleeping with your daughter.’ ” She pointed her finger at Allie. “Don’t you dare laugh at me. This isn’t funny, Allie.”
“I have a better one. ‘Hello, I’m the woman who turned your daughter gay.’ Then, wink at the father and say, ‘Yes, I’m that good.’ ”
Kris couldn’t help herself from laughing with Allie. She had been under so much stress lately she needed a good laugh. “Thanks for your help, Allie. I feel so much more confident about the situation now. You have a way of making a bad situation even worse. If I survive, I’ll let you know how it goes.”
***
Jenna’s parents arrived that weekend. They stayed at a hotel in town and came over for dinner. Jenna’s stomach lurched as soon as the doorbell rang, but not as much as Kris's. Kris had been a nervous wreck the entire day trying to make the house perfect. She dropped Jax off at Allie’s house because Jenna’s mother didn’t like dogs, or any animals for that matter. Jenna’s father told Jenna he would take everyone to dinner, which was a relief. She would’ve had to sedate Kris if they had dinner at their house.
Jenna opened the door and put on the biggest smile she could without coming off as fake. “Hello, Dad.” She gave him a brief hug before he pushed his way into the house. “Hi, Mom.” She gave her mother the same brief hug and a kiss on the cheek aware that her mother hadn’t taken her eyes off of Kim. She could have sworn she saw her mother brush the kiss off as she removed her coat.
Jenna shut the door and turned on her heels to take in the situation. Kris was standing off to the side leaning against the coat closet to support her trembling knees. Her mother and father were standing a few feet from Kim who stared back at them examining their faces. Everyone was afraid to move.
Jenna cleared her throat and joined the group. She motioned for Kris to stop hiding and join her.
Jenna watched as Kim’s face went from being tense to more relaxed. She felt her own eyes begin to water just as they had the day Kim was taken from them.
Kim broke the silence, “Mom? Dad?”
They ran towards her and wrapped her in a tight embrace. It was only the second time Jenna had seen her father cry; the first time being when Kim was kidnapped. Jenna grabbed Kris's hand giving it a reassuring squeeze. They remained spectators as the other three sobbed, hugged, kissed, and sobbed some more. “We have missed you so much Kimmie,” her mother said.
Kim forced a smile. “Please, call me Kim. Kimmie reminds me too much of my childhood and what happened.”
After an hour had passed with Kim having filled them in on some of the details and withholding others, Jenna’s father stood and walked to the door. “We have to get to the restaurant before we lose our reservation.”
Jenna turned her head towards Kris and rolled her eyes. “Heaven forbid he loses his reservation,” she mumbled. That was one of the reasons Jenna had a hard time dealing with him. He was so stoic and direct.
She put her hand on the small of Kris's back and guided her towards the door where her father was flapping his hand rushing everyone along. He looked at Kris and did a double take like he had noticed her for the first time.
“I’m sorry,” Jenna spoke. “I didn’t properly introduce you with all the excitement. Dad, this is my girlfriend, Kris.” She paused long enough for the words to register with him. “Kris, this is my Dad, Charlie.” Jenna’s mother had appeared by her father’s side holding Kim’s hand. “This is my mother, Grace.”
Kris gave them her winning smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Jenna has told me so much about you.”
Jenna’s father put his arm around his wife and turned his back. “Let’s get going. We’re already running late.” He pushed Jenna’s mother and Kim out onto the porch. Halfway down the steps he shouted, “Is your ‘friend’ coming also?”
Jenna let go of Kris's hand and lunged forward, but Kris grabbed her arm holding her back. “That asshole. Now you see why I don’t talk to him any more.”
Kris pulled Jenna back to her. “Let it go. I’m fine. This is Kim’s night.”
“But it’s not right.”
Kris placed a gentle kiss on Jenna’s lips. “I’m not saying it is, just now isn’t the time to discuss it.”
Jenna’s father shouted from the car, “Are you coming or not?”
Jenna bit her tongue and held back what she wanted to say. She grabbed Kris's hand and they walked out hand in hand. “You go ahead. We will meet you there after we lock up.”
Her father looked away at the sight of the two of them holding hands. “Fine. Meet us at Babington’s downtown and don’t make us wait too long,” he ranted before slamming his door shut.
“Babington’s? Wow, I’m impressed,” Jenna muttered to Kris.
Jenna and Kris arrived to find the rest of them already seated and looking over their menus. “Guess he didn’t lose his precious reservation after all,” Jenna mumbled. “I’m surprised they haven’t placed their order already.”
After placing their orders, Kris decided to try and break the ice. She took a long sip from her water, wishing it was wine instead, and cleared her throat to get Jenna’s parents’ attention. She felt Jenna’s hand on her thigh giving her the courage to speak up. Kris never backed down from a conversation and was never at a loss of words, but facing Jenna’s parents made her nervous. They weren’t making it easy for her either. “How was your flight Mr. and Mrs. Harper?”
There was complete silence. Mrs. Harper busied herself unfolding her napkin in her lap. Mr. Harper arranged his silverware on the table without looking up at Kris.
Kim looked over at the two of them. “Mom? Dad?”
They both snapped their heads up and answered at the same time, “Yes, dear?”
Kim nodded in Kris's direction. “Kris asked how your flight was.”
Mr. Harper looked back down at the table and said something inaudible. Mrs. Harper forced a smile. “It was okay.” She turned and placed her hand on top of Kim’s. “I can’t wait for you to come visit. We have your room ready for you.”
Jenna didn’t know how much more she could let them ignore Kris. Yes, this evening was about Kim reuniting with them, but that didn’t give them an excuse to be rude to Kris. “You’re lucky, Kim. I think my bedroom is an office now.”
Kim tried her best to suppress her amusement. I guess little miss perfect is not their favorite after all.
Mr. Harper shot Jenna a disapproving stare. Mrs. Harper once again was the one to respond. “That’s because you never visit, Jenna.”
“I wonder why,” Jenna said low enough only for Kris to hear.
Kris squeezed Jenna’s thigh underneath the table. She leaned over and whispered, “Be nice.”
Jenna wasn’t ready to back down. She turned to her mother. “You know what? You’re right. It has been a while. I’ll check my schedule and make a plan to come down.”
Her father peered over his glasses at Jenna. “When? You can’t just show up whenever you feel like it. We need to know ahead of time.”
Jenna glanced at Kris. “I don’t know a definitive date yet Dad, but I will be sure to let you know.” She grabbed Kris's hand on top of the table. “What about you, honey? When would be a good time for you to take vacation time so we can spend some time with my parents?”
Kris looked around the table. She felt everyone’s eyes on her waiting for a response. She could kill Jenna right now for putting her in this awkward position. “I, uh, would love to, um, visit. Anytime is good for me.”
Jenna’s father stood up and threw his napkin down on the table. “Excuse me.” He left towards the bathroom.
Kim flashed a sympathetic smile at Jenna. I think I just replaced you in their will.
“Mom? I told the two of you about our relationship. Is this going to be an issue? If you can’t accept me, we’re going to have a problem.”
Jenna’s mother glanced around the restaurant afraid their conversation might have been overheard. �
��We got your letter, but well…your relationships don’t tend to last long, dear.” She avoided eye contact with Kris.
“Mom, Kris and I have been dating for almost a year now. We knew each other a year before we dated. This isn’t an experiment or a phase that I’m going through. I’m not a teenager any more.”
“Jenna, lower your voice,” her mother said as she looked around again. “You know your father. He’s a bit old fashioned.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Jenna complained. “What about you? You seem embarrassed just talking about it.”
“I just don’t want to cause a scene, dear. Do you remember Marla Jean?”
Jenna nodded. “Yes, wasn’t she my Sunday School Teacher?”
“That’s right. Well, she told me the other day that her son, Bobby,” she leaned forward and whispered, “is gay.” She sat back up straight in her chair. “She said he’s getting married in a few months.”
Jenna and Kim both chuckled at their mother. “What does Marla Jean think about that?” Jenna asked.
“She said he told her that he was gay when he was in college. She had a hard time at first, but now she’s okay with it. She’s helping him plan the wedding.” Jenna’s mother busied herself rearranging her silverware before looking up at Jenna. “But Jenna, she has had years to deal with her feelings about it and get to this point. We just found out a few months ago. We were looking forward to you giving us grandkids someday. It’s a big adjustment for us.”
“Mom, just because I’m a lesbian doesn’t mean we won’t have kids someday.” Jenna couldn’t believe those words came from her mouth. She hadn’t thought about kids before, especially with her focus on her career and not having anyone to share her life with until now.
Kris almost choked on the roll she had been nibbling on when she heard Jenna talk about kids. She wasn’t sure what kind of expression she had on her face when Jenna shot her a nervous glance.
Kim who had been quiet this whole time spoke up. “Aww, you two would make great mommies, and I would be the best aunt ever. I could help watch the baby.”
Jenna's Closure (Dr. Jenna Harper Series Book 2) Page 7
