Chapter 34: Meeting her father

Jeffery’s silver pickup pulled into the driveway at the house he liked to call his. That was before he made the biggest blunder of his life, however. He stared at the snazzy sports car parked in front of the house and an ominous feeling came over him.

“Who’s car is that?” he asked, his brow furrowed.

“Don’t know. Never saw it before, but foggy windows makes me think it’s Jasmine in there with Troy,” Stevie said smirking. “They like making out.”

Jeff ground his teeth together.  “Do they do that often?” he asked, albeit calmly.

“Oh, yeah, all the time. They usually go in the house though, living room or family room, sometimes her room. They say they’re doing homework but...I don’t buy it,” Stevie said.

“And your mom? Where is she tonight? I don’t see her car,” he asked, becoming more and more apprehensive by the minute. What if it was Wendy in that car?

“Gees, I don’t know. She’s always home. She only goes to a yoga class after work sometimes or to meet with her friends. Wanna come inside, Dad?” Stevie asked hopefully. “You can wait for Mom and talk to her.”

“Stevie, would you tell me if your mom was dating someone?” Jeff asked tentatively.

“Uh, sure, but she’s not! She never goes out. Maybe her car’s in the garage. Come in with me and talk to her. Please, Dad?” he pleaded.

As much as he wanted to, Jeffery shook his head. “It’s late, Stevie, and I’m sure your mom wouldn’t like it. But I’ll see you at your game on Tuesday, okay?  Skylerton at the high school, right?”

Stevie nodded trying not to show his disappointment. “Yeah, four o’clock. See you, Dad,” he said, hugging him fiercely. “I had lots of fun. Thanks.”  He jumped out of the car and ran into the house before he did something gay like let his dad see him cry. 

Of course, running off like that he missed seeing his father tearing up and the overwhelming sadness which always assailed him when leaving his house. Yes, dammit, he still called it his house even if he hadn't set foot in it for three excruciating months. Jeffery wanted so badly to follow his son, but he was no longer welcome there. He shook his head and willed himself to keep it together. Then he looked at the unfamiliar car and narrowed his eyes.

He jumped out of his truck and strode purposely to the car. He didn’t know what he’d do if it was his wife in there kissing another man, but he had his daughter’s welfare and virtue to think about.

He yanked open the door and said, “Jasmine, this isn’t...” He stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth gaping. His heart went cold. “Janet?”

“Oh, crap,” Janet muttered, her heart dancing madly in her chest. What was this, the forth time they were caught kissing? She looked at Wes and half smiled. He looked as dazed as she felt. “Sorry,” she said and gently pushed away from him. She smoothed down her dress and fleetingly wondered how it hiked up like that, baring most of her thigh. 

She braced herself for the coming encounter, closing her eyes for a second then opening them. Her sight fell on the flowers Wes bought for her at Mrs. Gideon’s shop. She scooped them up, holding them close to her chest and stepped out of the car facing her father.

“Janet,” Jeffery mumbled, stunned to the core. “Baby...what are you....?”  He stopped and remembered to breathe. He gulped in air and stared at the young woman that used to be his baby girl. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly swollen, her hair messed up and her eyes over-bright. Worse than all that was the expression of contempt she wore which he knew was directly solely at him. Aside from all that, what he wanted to know most was what horny teenage guy had done this to his baby and how much jail time he might get for killing him.

Wes silently cursed himself before jumping out of his car and running around to Janet’s side, grabbing her hand. As first impressions go, this was not his idea of a very good one. Her father looked ready to strangle him and he couldn’t exactly blame him.

“Hello, Mr. Fummel. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Wes said nervously. Breathless and anxious though he was, he stuck out his hand as a peace offering and hoped for the best.

Jeffery glared at the boy, ignoring the proffered hand.  He looked ever so slightly familiar. He fleetingly wondered if this Wes kid might have been one of Jasmine’s old boyfriends.

“I...uh…I’m Wes Sebastian…I’m Janet’s boyfriend.  Janet is a great girl,” he said, letting his hand drop to his side untouched. They stared at each other for what seemed like an hour and all Wes could think was, “Well, if he punches me the in the stomach, my abs are in good enough shape that I might not die, but if he aims for my face, I’ll be knocked out cold.”

“Hello, Wes," Jeffery said, surprising himself with how calm he sounded when his insides were boiling over.  "How long have you...?”

“What are you doing here?” Janet interrupted.

Jeffery stared at her for a minute before answering. He hated the way she looked at him as if he was something nasty on the bottom of her shoes. He couldn’t blame her though. He had disappointed her so…and himself, too, for that matter. 

“I just brought Stevie home,” Jeffery said.

“Then you can leave,” she said. “I’m sure there’s a bimbo waiting back at your place. Wouldn’t want her to have to stay up past her bedtime.” It gave her endless satisfaction to see him flinch as if her words physically hurt him.

Why it always shocked him when she said things like that, Jeffery still didn’t know, but he ignored it—or at least he pretended to. “It’s late, Janet. You should say goodnight to your…friend,” Jeffery said looking at Wes with barely contained anger.

Wes, understanding perfectly that Janet's dad wanted him gone, nodded and tried to release her hand, but she held on tighter than ever.

“He’ll leave when he wants to go,” she said.

“Janet, it’s okay. It’s late and…” Wes said softly.

“He has no say in what I do and who I do it with,” she said, glaring at her father. 

“Baby, you may not like it, but…”Jeffery started to say.

“Don’t you ever call me that again!” she shouted.

“Janet, I’m still responsible for your well-being,” he said, stung but undaunted. “I don’t know anything about this boy. I don’t know if I can trust him with you.”

“I would never hurt Janet, Mr. Fummel. I swear!” Wes said, earnestly.

“You don’t have to tell him anything, Wes. It’s not like he’d really care if I got raped or even killed,” she said.

Wes gasped.  “Janet, he’s your dad,” he said. “Of course, he cares.”  

“No, he’s not. He’s just the guy who knocked up my mom,” she viciously spat out, before turning on her heel and walking up to the house.

Wes stood stock-still, shocked she would say such things to her own father. He glanced at Jeffery and clearly saw the anguish on his face. He couldn’t help feeling sorry for the man, but he knew his loyalty lay squarely with Janet. He mumbled an apology and sprinted up the walkway catching up with Janet before she reached the porch steps. 

He hesitated only a second before touching her on the shoulder. To his relief she didn’t slap him away as he thought she might do. It did surprise him, however, when she hugged him around the middle.

“I don’t want to go in yet,” she said, her voice muffled by his chest. 

“Then… don’t,” he said, a little confused.

“Will you stay with me?”

“Sure,” he said. He looked around and led her to one end of the porch. “We’ll sit on the swing for as long as you want. Is that okay?”

She nodded and they sat down. Wes put his arm around her. “You okay?” he asked.

She nodded again, even as her eyes filled with tears.

“Oh, Janet,” he said, pulling her closer. “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?” 

She shook her head and clutched at his shirt just as a set of headlights illuminated the porch for a second before drifting away again and shutting off.

“Your mom’s home,” Wes said, tensing up.

“Did…did he leave yet?” Janet asked.

“No, he’s talking to your mom now. Should I leave?” he asked, holding her tighter and wondering if there was about to be a huge family fight with him awkwardly stuck in the center of it.

She looked up at him. “I don’t want you to go. Will you get in trouble with your dad?”

He smiled and kissed her. “I think he’ll be okay with it and if he’s not…” He shrugged. "I'm here for you if you need me."

She did need him and it stunned her to realize this, but it surprised her more that he was willing to get in trouble for her. “Why are you so nice to me?” she asked.

“You’ve asked me that already. Do you remember what I said before?” he said, wiping her tears away with his fingertips.

“I’m your yenta,” she answered.

He smiled. “Good enough reason, don’t you think?”

She shook her head. “Not really,” she said.

He stared at her for a minute. “I care about you."


"But enough to get in trouble with your dad?"

"That's cuz you’re my girlfriend.”

“But that’s just pretending,” she said.

“Is it?” he said.

Her heart took a grand leap. "Isn't it?" she asked, breathlessly waiting for the answer.

"What do you think?" he whispered before kissing her.