Taking a Gamble on Three of a Kind (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (5 page)

“You sounded like you knew exactly what you were saying. I want the truth, something we need more of around here.”

Her mother sighed. “Okay. You already know that we all grew up here in Brilliance, your father, Jack, and me Your father was a few years older. Jack and I dated before he went away to medical school. When he came back I thought we’d get back together, although he hadn’t asked me to wait. When he did come back, he brought Abigail with him, and that was the end of the romance I thought he and I had. Your father and I started dating soon after, and we got married.”

“You didn’t love Dad? All these years I thought you had the most wonderful marriage. I don’t know how much more I can take.”

“I loved your father. Not the way I did Jack. But in time I came to love the man he was, and he loved me so much. I never regretted marrying him, and he never knew that I still had feelings for Jack. I want you to believe me. It’s the truth.”

“I don’t know what the truth is anymore.” Jenny pushed herself away from the table and ran up to her room, slamming the door like she was eight years old. She couldn’t help it. She thought she had found a way to solve one problem, and then her mother told her she had always been in love with Jack Rowan and her father had been her second choice. This was more than any daughter should have to endure.

She knew it was wrong to assume she knew things she didn’t, but looking back, she had always sensed that her father had an issue with the Rowans. How could he not have known? How it must have hurt him to know that his wife was in love with another man. And yet he stayed. He was such a good man. He would never turn his back on his family, especially his only child.

Her mother opened her bedroom door without knocking. “Please, don’t shut me out. I know I’m a terrible mother, but I love you and I loved your father. I should have never told you about Jack. He doesn’t even know how I felt. These past few years with him have been wonderful, but I would give them all back if I could have one more day with your father.”

“When did you start seeing Jack?”

“It’s been three years now. I think it was right after Thanksgiving.”

Jenny brushed past her mother and ran down the stairs and back to the kitchen where she left her notes concerning her mother’s accounts.

She turned to see her mother had followed her.

“I want you to stop seeing Jack Rowan.”

“Why would you want me to do that? I just told you how I feel about him. None of this has anything to do with him.”

“It just occurred to me that you started seeing him right around the time you started going to the casino a lot. There’s a direct correlation between him and the escalation of your gambling problem.”

“No. That can’t be.”

“Do the math. It’s true. He’s no good for you. He never was. I don’t know the psychological reason for your irrational need to have him in your life, but there is one. You can’t deny the facts. He’s done nothing but hurt this family.”

Her mother sat down at the table. “It just doesn’t seem possible. He’s been nothing but good to me. You have to be wrong.”

“I’m not. If you want, go back over your statements, you’ll see I’m right.” Jenny shook her head. “You have to stop seeing him. If you don’t, you’re not going to get better, and if you don’t get better, you’re going to have to declare bankruptcy. And if that happens, everyone in Brilliance is going to know about your addictions, including Jack Rowan. Think he’ll still want you then?”

“He won’t want me. Who would?”

“Mom,” Jenny said softly. “I shouldn’t have said that. That was cruel. I’m not myself either.”

“I deserved it. The truth hurts, but for once I’m going to do the right thing. You needn’t worry. I’ll break it off with him.”

“I know it won’t be easy. You have to be strong.”

“I forgot to tell you we’re invited over there for dinner tomorrow. I guess I should tell him after dinner.”

“It might be better if you told him when you two were totally alone. I’m not sure a family dinner is the time or place.”

“I know what I’ve done to you. Taken away from you. I’ll never forgive myself. You deserve better.”

“Give yourself a couple weeks to tell him. He might think it’s strange if you break up with him a few days after I come home. He’ll probably still think it’s strange, but this way you’ll have some time to prepare. I don’t you want you to be unhappy, Mom. But this thing with Jack isn’t healthy.”

“I won’t let him think this had anything to do with you. I’m not going to let him blame you for something that’s entirely my fault.”

Jenny nodded. “Okay, we’ll go to dinner tomorrow and we’ll smile and act like everything is status quo.”

Her mother turned and closed the door behind her. Jenny sat on her bed and wondered how she had become the adult in their relationship. She knew this was going to be difficult for her mother, but Jack had been the catalyst for her mother’s illness, she was convinced of it. It was too much of a coincidence. He had also been a thorn in her father’s side. There was no way he should be allowed back in her mother’s life.

She remembered Luke’s parting words to her about not coming between their parents. In his mind, he would think she was responsible for their breakup, but that was something she’d have to deal with. In a way she was breaking them up, but she had no choice.

Tomorrow’s dinner would be difficult, but she’d get through it for her mother’s sake. She wasn’t looking forward to seeing Luke again. Their last encounter on the porch had been anything but pleasant. And it would only get worse once Jack and her mother were no longer seeing each other. She was sure that neither of the brothers would sit idly by and not try to fix it. There was nothing more important to her now than helping her mother get her life back on track, and unfortunately Jack Rowan could never be a part of that life.

Jenny picked out a blue short-sleeved dress that fell to just above her knees. The skirt was flowing and the neckline squared to show off her bone structure. She opted for a heart-shaped necklace and matching earrings that her father had given her when they went to their first father-daughter dance. If only he were still alive. None of this would have happened.

However, if she were totally honest, her father had never been much for her leaving home to go to school. He had always assumed she would attend the local college. When he died, her mother had told her she could go anywhere she wanted. Something inside of her said she should stay close to home, but another side of her wanted a chance to spread her wings away from the confines of a small town where everyone knew everyone.

Her father had been strict with her, but he had also been watchful with her mother. Maybe he knew she had an addictive personality and had deliberately kept her in check. Fact was, he had kept them both on a pretty tight leash, but that was just his way. He was a good man who had loved his wife and daughter without question. He deserved better than to be a consolation prize. She felt her emotions getting away from her and willed them to stop.

“Jenny, are you almost ready?” Her mother’s voice carried through her bedroom door.

“I’ll be right down,” she shouted.

Slipping into her shoes, she gave herself a once-over in the full-length mirror on the back of her closet door. She had opted to wear her hair down with one side swept up in a comb. Her eye makeup had been applied carefully to make her large, almond-shaped green eyes look even larger and her long lashes thicker. Pleased with her appearance, she opened the door and went downstairs. This, she told herself, as she stepped into the foyer, might be the last time she would have a civil conversation with any of the Rowan men, so she might as well try and look nice.

“You look beautiful, Jenny,” her mother said, walking toward her down the hall from the kitchen. “That necklace you’re wearing…your father gave it to you.”

“Yes, he did. It makes me feel a little closer to him.”

“He loved you very much.”

The last thing she wanted to do was start crying. She said, “You look nice, too.” Her mother did look lovely. She was quite striking when she dressed up and applied makeup. Their hair was the same color, except now that her mother dyed hers, it was a few shades lighter. She wore it in a short style that she said was easy to keep up. Jenny liked it. She could see why Dr. Rowan would be taken with her mother. However, in their youth, he had opted for another woman. Jenny still found her mother’s last revelation hard to accept. She hated that her father had been her mother’s second choice. Had he somehow known? Was that why he was so strict and unyielding at times?

“Jenny,” her mother said, coming to stand beside her. “Are you okay? I mean I know this is an imposition for you. Putting on an act for my sake. I appreciate it that you agreed to go.”

“I’m fine,” Jenny said, giving her mother’s hand a squeeze. “We’ll enjoy ourselves today.”

“Yes, for today. Then it’s work and sacrifice. I know what I have to do.”

“Let’s get this show on the road.” Jenny grabbed her car keys from the small hall table and opened the door for her mother.

“I could drive if you want me to.”

“That’s okay, Mom.” She smiled. As an afterthought she said, “At least the car is paid off.”

Her mother’s face fell.

“Mom, I’m sorry I said that. Let’s just go and forget our troubles for a few hours.”

* * * *

When they arrived at the Rowans’ sprawling farm, there were several expensive cars in the driveway including Adam’s Lexus. She pulled up behind it and turned off the engine. The house and grounds were well kept. The barns in the background were painted white and red to match the sprawling ranch house.

Her mother knocked on the door that was immediately opened by Jack Rowan. He stood in the doorway with a broad smile that lit up his face. He was a rugged-looking man—well over six feet tall with a thick head of gray hair. Age had been good to him. The boys had gotten their height and good looks from him. If she remembered correctly, his wife, Abigail, was a petite little thing with golden-blonde hair she had worn long and straight. Her mother, tall like herself, was almost able to look him in the eye.

She had always hated that she inherited her mother’s height. At five foot ten, she had never been considered cutesy like April Mathews who stood maybe five feet in her stocking feet with breasts as large as watermelons. Hers were large, but nothing like April’s. Stop it, she told herself. Why did she always feel the need to compare herself with a woman that had always made her feel in some way that she had gotten the short end of the stick.

Jack gave her mother a warm hug and then turned his attention to Jenny. “Oh my, you have grown up since I saw you last,” he said with a smile. Turning back to her mother, he said, “You have a beautiful daughter.”

“Thank you. She’s the light of my life. I can’t tell you how glad I am that she’s home.”

“The boys were both quite taken with your daughter when she went out dancing with them the other night.” Directing his gaze to Jenny, he said, “I don’t think any of us have seen you since high school.”

“You’re probably right,” Jenny said. “It’s been a long time.”

“Well, you’re here now, and we’re happy to have you. Astrid has set the table, and the meal is just about ready.”

Astrid, the housekeeper and cook, was still with them.
She must be getting up there in years.

“Let’s go into the living room,” he said, ushering them inside the house. “The boys are showing their cousin, Justin, the barns out back. He’s in construction and is going to be doing some work for us. You met him before, haven’t you, Marlene?”

Her mother sat down on the sofa next to Jack. Jenny sat in the love seat across from them. It was a homey room with throw pillows and afghans flung over the sofas and chairs. There was a brick fireplace with a mantel full of pictures of his sons and wife.

“I have met him before. If I remember right, there’s a strong resemblance to your boys.”

“Yes. He’s Abigail’s sister’s boy. They live outside of Chicago. Luckily our boys got their looks from the Jones side of the family,” he joked.

“They are a reflection of both of you, just like Jenny is of me and Carl. I like to think she got the best of both of us.”

“I would say she did,” he said, giving Jenny a smile. “But what’s this I hear about you not going back to school?”

Not again, Jenny thought, wishing she had never told Luke. It seemed like this was going to be everyone’s favorite topic of conversation and not one that she wanted to have to explain over and over again. Her mother spoke up before she could respond.

“Jenny and I talked about it and she has her reasons. I support her and will be happy to have her home. Now tell me what’s on the menu tonight. Astrid never ceases to impress me with her cooking skills.”

Jack Rowan sat back on the sofa, and although she knew he would have liked to ask her more pointed questions about her decision, he took her mother’s lead and let the subject drop.

“Well, for one, she made her famous apple pies for desert.”

Jenny loved apple pie and it was common knowledge throughout Brilliance that Astrid Smith’s pies were to die for. She smiled.