Teacher: Act Two (A Hollywood Rock n' Romance Trilogy Book 2) (24 page)

“Hey, Jess! Dan was just telling me about the Pinto! Damn, she was a good car! A shame she didn’t make it.”

I internally rolled my eyes. How did I put it gently to my father that the car had lived way past its expiration date? “Dad, I did the best I could, but I could not keep her going. Thank God she died in an intersection with a gas station and her spectacular death wasn’t witnessed by hordes of people.”

Danny chuckled and took a swig from his bottle. Dad looked slightly admonished. “I know she wasn’t the best car, but we went through a lot with her, didn’t we, babe?”

I went to stand next to him and he pulled me into his side with a tug. “Yeah, Dad. She was a good car. You took great care of her.”

He smiled down at me and then gave Danny a shrewd look. “I’m just glad you were there when she broke down. Tell me again why you were following her home?”

Danny gulped and his face flushed. “I, uh, followed her because my personal assistant texted me earlier to tell me what she was driving. She made it sound like the car was on its last legs and since it was late, I wanted to make sure she got home safe. Nothing nefarious, I promise you. I just needed to know she was ok. Of course, that was before I knew where she was living.” And then the attention was back on me. Nice one.

“What do you mean, where she’s living? What’s wrong with her apartment?”

Danny snorted and took another drink of his beer. “It’s not in the best neighborhood. I know because I used to live across the street. Her actual unit is ok, though, because she’s got friends next door that watch out for her.” He seemed pretty relieved to not be under the scrutiny of Jack Martin, but I wasn’t going to let him throw me under the bus.

“Dad, I was fine there. I’ve been fine there. I told you Cosmo looked out for me. But I’ve just moved into a much safer place. I think.”

Danny’s eyes grew wide. Unfortunately, Dad caught that. “She move in with you?”

Danny nodded, nervously. “Yes, sir. A few days ago.”

Dad narrowed his eyes and looked between us.

“Jesse,” Mom called. “I think we’re ready for the salad, and can you help with drinks?”

I knew it was cruel to leave Danny alone at this moment, but hey, duty called. I smiled weakly at them and turned on my heel to help Mom in the kitchen. The fear in Danny’s eyes did not go unnoticed.

Mom was alone at the counter when I came in and she looked worried. “That didn’t look like it was going very well.”

I shrugged. “It was until Danny told him I moved in with him. I think he’s about to get the ‘what are your intentions toward my only daughter’ interrogation right about now.”

Mom giggled and put her hand on my back. “What do you think he’s going to say?”

I turned to look at her and couldn’t hide my stupid smile. “He wants to marry me, Mom. He hasn’t proposed yet or anything, but he has made it abundantly clear. That was a big part of why we came up here. He wanted to meet you and tell you both.”

Mom’s eyes filled with tears. Happy tears. “Really, Jesse? Married? My little girl?”

I hugged her and she was trembling. “Mom, don’t cry. It’s a good thing. I want you to be happy for us.”

She dabbed at her eyes, laughing. “Of course it’s a good thing! I could tell the moment I saw the two of you at the door, the way he looked at you, that he adores you! And that little girl is just the most precious thing I’ve ever seen!”

“She is, Mom. I love her so much.”

She gave me a squeeze and then we snuck over to watch the boys outside. Dad had a beefy hand on Danny’s shoulder and Danny’s expression was determined. He nodded a few times and then put his hand over his heart.  Dad pulled him into a bro hug and I heard them both laughing. We hurried to the table so they wouldn’t catch us spying. A few minutes later they came in with trays of steak and potatoes wrapped in foil.

“Dinner’s ready, ladies,” Dad called out as he entered the dining room, Danny right behind him with a shit-eating grin on his face. Guess that conversation went well. I knew Danny would win over my parents. He didn’t even have to break a sweat.

I ate until I was about to burst. I missed my dad’s grilling. Nothing compared. Danny and Jane ate their share as well and the conversation at the table was boisterous. Dad and Danny got to talking about boxing and I was lost. The two of them really bonded. Dad hadn’t heard of Danny’s band, but they shared a mutual love of early Heavy Metal. I hadn’t thought about the fact that only sixteen years separated them. In actuality, Danny was almost more like a little brother than a son. The two of them were in their own little world until Jane piped up.

“Daddy, after dinner we’re going to watch videos of Jesse and her mom dancing!”

Danny’s eyes lit up and he smiled at me. “That would be amazing. I was worried I wouldn’t get to watch you dance again.”

Mom frowned at me in question.

“I performed at our summer show a month or so ago because one of my teens hurt her knee two nights before and her partner had family visiting from the Philippines. It was last minute.”

Mom’s eyes were sad when she smiled at me and Dad took my hand in his. “I wish we could have been there, baby.”

I shook my head. “It was no big deal. Jane had asked Danny to bring her. That’s the only reason he even saw me.”

“Yeah, and I’m so glad I did. Your daughter is amazing. In so many ways.” I smiled at him, appreciating his compliment, but worried about where this conversation was going.

“Well, I just hope you were careful, Jess. I worry you are pushing yourself too much.”

I took a drink of water and looked at her and my dad. “I am taking care of myself. At least I’m doing a better job of it now. I’ve started taking some preventative medication, to keep things from getting worse, and Danny has been taking me to an acupuncturist and bringing a massage therapist to the house to work on me. It’s helped a lot. I’m feeling better than I have in a long time.”

Dad’s expression was grim. Mom’s was deadly serious. .“That’s good, but you need to really be careful. You can’t keep performing. The doctors were insistent.”

“I’m not, Mom. It was a one-time thing.” I wiped at my mouth with my napkin and rested my hands in my lap. I didn’t like the silence that settled over the table. I asked Mom about her volunteer work to change the subject. She lit up, telling me about a new project she was working on with children with mobility issues. She helped teach them to stretch their bodies and strengthen themselves to improve their quality of life.

The rest of dinner was filled with strained conversation, my dad eyeing me the whole time. After we finished, Danny and I cleared the table while Dad and Mom talked to Jane about her horse.

“Honey,” Danny said when we were alone. I kept washing the dishes, hoping that keeping me busy would keep the tears away. He put his hand between my shoulder blades and I flinched. “Hey,” he said quietly, turning off the water and grabbing a towel for my hands. “What’s wrong?” I was afraid I’d start crying if I looked up at him. He turned me to face him and took my hands in his.

“I’m sorry, Danny. I probably should have warned you about my mom. I understand, you know. I would. You know, understand.”

He was really still. I tried to pull my hands back, but he held them firmly in his.

“Jesse,” he said in a low voice. “What exactly is it that you think you understand?”

I shrugged. This was really hard to say. “I understand if you were having second thoughts after meeting my mom. After seeing what I might become. I don’t know-”

“Fucking right, you don’t know! Do you honestly think that? That I’d fucking not want to be with you? Dammit, Jesse.” He pulled me into his arms and I went reluctantly. I took a few deep breaths. “I was out there telling your dad how much I fucking love you, that I want to take care of you if you’ll fucking let me, and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Honey, how can you think that would change?”

I swallowed hard to keep the tears back. “Because, Danny, having reality right in front of you, being able to see the future, would make some people run. I’m just saying I’d understand. Hell, I wish I could run from it.” A tear rolled down my cheek as he pulled me tighter against him.

“Jesse, I’m not going anywhere except into the other room to watch some videos, talk some more, then take you and Jane back to the hotel. There I intend to sleep curled up next to you like I plan on doing every night for the rest of my life. Well, when I’m not on tour. Can we stick to that fucking future, please? Because it sounds really damn good.” I giggled at his profane pronouncement. “And your dad gives his blessing. Unless our music is shitty. Then he’s coming to get you.” I snorted and covered my face, embarrassed. Danny laughed heartily and kissed me.

“Seriously, honey. Yeah, I was shocked when we got here, but your mother is an incredibly beautiful woman. She adores you. She seems to really be at peace with herself and her condition. I want that for you. I want to make that happen for you.”

I wiped at my eyes and took in a deep breath. “Will you quit being so damn wonderful? I’m already yours, remember? You can’t get any more fucking perfect in my eyes.”

He laughed again and kissed my hands. “Let me finish the dishes, alright? You go and sit with your folks. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Ok, now you’re going for sainthood,” I muttered.

He smacked my ass and I scooted back out to the living room.

Dad motioned for me to sit next to him. I curled up with him, hugging him tight. He narrated the video for Jane, who was transfixed by the dancers on the screen. It was a video of a performance I did when I was around 16 in a stage show of Crazy for You. I couldn’t sing worth a lick, but I loved performing in musicals. I always made time in my dance schedule to perform in the school musicals each spring, and this one was one of my favorites.

“Jesse, you were so beautiful!” Jane held my hand in hers and squeezed it as she watched.

Danny returned from the kitchen and sat in an armchair next to my mom. My mom had a proud smile on her face. Danny just looked floored. I didn’t see any sadness, pity or disappointment. That did wonders for my confidence in us.

“Jess, come take a look at something with me.” Dad pulled me up gently from the couch and led me to the garage. I don’t even think the others noticed us leave.

“What do you think,” he asked, breathlessly, as he uncovered his latest project.

I gasped and then squealed in delight. “Dad! You finally found one!” My dad had always wanted to restore a 1960 Ford F-100. He had the engine torn apart and spread all over his work area. The interior had recently been restored with beautiful black leather and he told me he was going to restore the pale yellow paint job. I walked around the truck and saw definite possibilities.

“I figured since your mom’s got the scooter now and can get out more, I needed something flashy to drive her around in. I’ve got that 1989 F150 still, and I’m keeping her running, but this baby is going to be perfect. I’ve been working an extra job at the gym a few nights a week, cleaning up, to cover the costs.”

I hated that my dad wasn’t able to do everything he wanted, that he had to work so hard.

“Dad, I’m going to be working part time this year, but I’ll still have money to send to you guys.”

He waved his hand at me. “Jess, I haven’t spent the money you’ve been sending me, and I’m not going to. I’ve been hanging on to it for you, you know, in case you had an emergency. I know you think you need to help us, but we’re really going to be ok. It’s been killing me taking money from you. That’s why I took on this second job. Your mom’s doing better, so it’s ok now.” He was so proud.

“But Dad, I don’t want you working yourself to death either! What if something happens to you? What then? Please. It’s not a problem. Especially now.” I said the last with a frown and he picked up on it.

“Baby, this guy loves you. I threatened him within an inch of his life, tried all my intimidation tactics, and he didn’t budge. I think it would be great if you two got married, if that’s what you want. He can take care of you.”

I could hear in his voice that he was feeling pretty emotional about all this. I stood next to him and leaned into his side.

“I love him, Daddy.”

His beefy arm came around me and he pulled me in close. We both took a deep breath at the same time and laughed. He kissed me on top of the head just as Danny came walking in.

“Damn, Jack. This is a gorgeous truck! You do the work?” The two of them launched into a pretty technical breakdown of all the ins and outs of the F-100 and it became clear they were going to bond on yet another dude subject.

I tried to look interested for a few more minutes and then I snuck back in the house. I was really feeling the strain of the trip and just wanted to be home in bed. Then I giggled to myself. Home with Danny and Jane. In my new freakin’ mansion. I felt a pang of guilt, looking around at my parent’s house. They kept it up nicely, but it was showing its age. I hated that they had to do without. I wished they were closer, too.

Mom and Jane were on the couch together watching a video of one of her performances with the Oakland Ballet. Jane had her face cradled in her hands, her attention completely held by the movements on screen.

“Mrs. Martin, you danced so perfect! I could never do that.”

My mom laughed and squeezed Jane’s knee. “You can do anything you put your mind to, young lady. Don’t you know that? You let Jesse teach you the basics and I bet you’ll be tearing up the stage in no time.” Jane leaned in to hug her and my mom looked blissfully happy to have her in her arms.

Mom knew I couldn’t take the chance of having kids. It devastated her probably more than me. I knew how much she wanted grandbabies. I could also see she was affected by Jane as much as I was. This little girl had done so much to heal so many people.

Danny and Dad came in then talking loudly. “Yeah, you two should come down and stay with us. I’ll take you over to the studio and you can play all my guitars. I’ve even got a 1969 Les Paul I keep tucked away for special occasions.”

I forgot my dad played guitar way back when! He rubbed his hands together excitedly. Until he took a look at mom. He dropped his hands.