Judy Anne Hale
“Kids come on there’s gonna be traffic already, if we wanna actually get to where we’re going we have to leave…” Jen fusses over her hair in the mirror hung in the hallway, blowing stray pieces away from her face. “-like now.” She shouts when there are no signs of movement.
It’s stressful enough planning a day out never mind one with two excited kids and a Judy, who shares that excitement even though she has no idea where they’re going yet. Judy keeps pestering her asking where it is they’re heading, even wages her wide puppy dog eyes and a pout, she knows Jen can’t stand it, and she almost relents when Judy hooks her hands around the back of her neck and brings her face close to her, whispering in her ear “please tell me Jen”, but she doesn’t. Judy’s still unaware of the surprise and she’s getting a little impatient.
Despite being in the dark she’s packed them all a lunch up and some drinks, Jen had said it was a slightly longer car ride than ones within their usual proximity and Judy had been trying to guess where abouts it is since. She’s currently packing the car up, whizzing past her to go to the car with bags and bottles in hand. That reminds Jen to key the sat nav in before they go, so she tells Judy to tell Charlie and Henry they’re not going if they aren’t downstairs in 2 minutes. Judy salutes her, physically with two fingers and clicks her tongue, and Jen raises her eyes brows at her amusedly before heading to the car.
It’s a few minutes later when they get in the car, then they have to wait again because of course Henry has to go and pee, and then finally, they’re on the road and Judy’s practically bouncing in her seat beside her, mirroring Henry’s excitement in the back seat. The journey is fine, the roads are actually fairly empty and Jen’s glad because they set off late as it is, especially for a theme park that’s going to definitely be busy on a Saturday afternoon. Judy starts little games with them all, eye spy, association, one word story; that gets very interesting, especially when Judy’s character Cleo ends up on a spaceship singing to Jesus songs while fighting off the mafia. (As if Henry even knows what the fucking mafia is?)
They’re nearing closer now and Judy’s looking out of the window trying to guess where they’re going, she sees a go karting place and asks if that’s where they’re going, a beach, a shopping centre, Jen shakes her head to all of them, earning her a huff from Judy.
“Can you at least give me one clue?” Judy asks, looking through the mirror at Charlie and Henry who’re averting there eyes trying not to spill the secret.
Jen stays quiet, and then smirks, “look, there’s your clue-“ pointing in front of them.
It takes Judy a while but when she sees the rollercoasters peeking out in the distant mist she squeals and claps her hands together, it makes Jen jump but she refrains from saying anything, clutching the wheel as she glances at Judy at a stop light.
“How’s that for a surprise?” Jen says cockily, she’s actually managed to do something nice for once. Even if it means she may have a heart attack at some point today, probably the point where Judy takes her on the fucking Ferris wheel and she says yes because she does that face that Jen can’t refuse.
“Best surprise ever!” Judy beams, “I can’t wait! I haven’t been to a theme park before.”
“Seriously?” Charlie asks before Jen can. Although she can’t imagine Steve or Eleanor taking her so it makes sense.
Judy just nods, steering the topic to how excited she is to try the rollercoasters.
“We’ll show you the best ones, dad used to take us here all the time.” Henry says.
Judy must have noticed her tensing at that, and she rests a hand over hers on the gear stick.
“Can’t wait!” Judy says, flicking the radio back up until they arrive.
*
“Come on mom!”
“Yeah how long’s it take to change your shoes…”
“I’m almost done!” Jen shoves her left foot into the flats, replacing her signature black heels, she’s glad Judy had packed for her because the car park is on gravel, she’s sure her tyres are ruined after driving on it.
“Quick before the lines get long-“
“Alright!” Jen huffs, it’s a fairly hot day and her hair is sticking to her face. “Done.”
Judy offers her hand to pull her up and out of the car seat and she accepts, locking the car with her free hand and just not letting go right up until they have to put on their wrist bands and she kind of has to. Judy asks Jen to do hers and vice versa, when Judy’s finished putting Jen’s on their eyes flicker up and meet, capturing each other’s gaze until Charlie tells them to hurry up because the lines moving. Judy smiles and jogs to catch up with Charlie and Henry, Jen hangs back for a bit, watching as Judy wraps one arm around Henry and hooks her other through a reluctant Charlie, her smile gets wider when she sees him laugh the next minute.
“Jen?”
Judy outstretches her hand and Jen strides over, taking it with a content smile and walking through the barrier to the park, she winces at the screams that hit her as she walks amongst the crowds of kids and families but she’s here, with hers, Judy’s hand squeezing gently reminds her of that, and that’s all she needs.
…
They stick fairly close together as they navigate the park, Jen and Judy watch as Henry and Charlie go on a few of the rides, Judy’s brought her camera with her, a little Kodak one that you take lots on and then print; she’s going to make a photo wall afterwards apparently, every so often Judy snaps a picture of them all, mainly Henry and Charlie who pose with their heads through the walls displaying ice cream cartoon characters or the sun and moon. Judy even gets Jen to stick her head through the moon one while she puts hers through the sun, Charlie snaps the photo and Judy’s pretty sure Jen’s frowning on it, she hears another click when Jen starts laughing though so she’s satisfied with that.
Around 2pm the kids are hungry, and Charlie is itching to go around the park with Henry by itself so he can take him on the big rides without Jen’s lecture before each of them, and Jen agrees to give them money and meet them back near the exit around 5pm, that should give enough time to get on a good amount of rides even with the lines. She makes sure they have money for food and then they’re heading off into the crowds of bustling people not looking back, she turns to Judy and smiles to block out the worry.
“Wanna go grab a burger or something? Vegetarian for you obviously.” Jen asks, smirking as flashes of burger vans, benches and late city nights pass through her head.
“Sure! Then after can we go on the rides? I really wanna try the one where you sit on the motorbike seats it looks so cool!”
Ha. Fuck.
Jen turns to Judy, who looks as if she’s trying to contain all of her excitement, seriously, she may as well join the line for the tea cup rides because she’s basically a fucking adorable child.
*
“So, what do you wanna do? We can check out the arcades or…” Jen secretly hopes Judy’s forgotten about the motorbike ride, or all of them. The burger full of grease, onions and melted cheese will definitely be making an appearance, Jen guesses when Judy scans the park and then drags her by the hand into the sea of people. Jen trips over her own feet as she tries to keep a hold of Judy as they push their way through the crowd of people lining up for some pirate ship ride or something. When they emerge from the sweaty crowd, Jen composes herself and pushes her hair back. She wishes she’d tied it back because it feels like it’s fifty fucking degrees and her forehead is sweating.
“Can we go on it?”
Judy points to the Ferris wheel she’d pulled them too, not the motorbike ride Jen notices, and she takes in the tall, moving death machine and her heart beats a little faster as the carriages come past their heads.
“You wanna go on that?”
Shit. That was her hard ass bitch image flushed down the toilet.
“Sure! Sure” God no. It’s probably the most terrifying thing she’s ever seen, but Judy can’t know that. No way. Nope.
Judy gasps and quickly pulls them towards the line, it seems quite long so Jen figures she has time to try make up an excuse or at least prepare herself to go on that moving death trap.
“The boys will think we’re awesome after this” Judy beams beside her, unfazed by the rattling carriages and screaming customers looming over the park .
“Then it’s totally worth it, yeah” fucking worth it? It’s not worth it, risking our lives but no danger, the boys will think we’re fucking cool and shit. Can’t wait. Jen knew Judy would end up being some adrenaline seeker or something.
“Smile!”
Jen jumps as a flash flickers in her face and a click sounds near her ear, that photo will be unflattering, and Jen hates how she pouts when turning to Judy and begging her to stop taking photos.
“One more-“ Judy holds it out in front of them both and then huffs, “wait-“
She ends up asking the person beside them to take a picture, and while Jen was reluctant at first she can’t deny the smile that grows on her lips when Judy side hugs her and says ‘cheese’ (out loud) for the photo, thanking the young girl afterwards profusely.
A good half an hour later and they finally reach the front of the line, it had been a full 30 minutes of Judy wittering about anything and everything. It’s nice to just listen, and Jen could do it every day until the end of time if it was Judy speaking.
“Let’s go ladies-“
A deep, miserable voice urges them forward past the barrier, Jen side eyes Judy with a turn of her lip and Judy beams at the man, Jen’s surprised she doesn’t ask how his days going, they’re lead to a cart and the operator opens it for them, it wobbles as they climb in and her heart would probably be falling out of her ass right now if it wasn’t already logged in her throat. Jen tries to slow her frantic breathing as she lowers herself into the seat next to Judy, her hands wringing in front of her. Jen hopes Judy didn’t notice them trembling, she seemingly doesn’t as she turns to Jen and grins, flashing her pearly whites as she extends her hand towards her, and Jen grabs it quicker than usual, it makes Judy frown a little. The operator slams the carriage shut and tells them in a monetary tone, “enjoy your ride” and the cart closing makes Jen jump in her seat, which she tries to hide with a cough.
“Okay?”
Jen just nods and turns her head to look forwards. She feels Judy’s grip begin to slip and in a flash of panic she grips the younger woman’s hand tighter, her palms sweating.
“Are you scared?” Judy asks and before Jen can deny it, a fearful gasp erupts as she feels the wheel start to move.
Judy tuts and squeezes Jens hand. “Jen! You should have said something I’m sorry-“
“No, no, I’m fine I-oh my fucking…” Jen’s eyes glue shut after she takes a look down and they’re about a fucking thousand miles from the ground, everyone and everything looking like dots.
“Jen breathe…it’s fine we’ll be down soon” Judy rubs her hand up and down over Jen’s knuckles, they’re white from squeezing so hard. They’re only about half way up to the top. She dreads the drop down.
“Really because it feels like we’re about to fucking die”
Judy tugs her hand, “look at me Jen”, she grips it and Jen turns to her, her eyes mad and panicky, looking as if they were about to pop out of her head.
“I promise you, we’re gonna be-“
A sudden jolt of the ride makes Jen let out a scream and even Judy flinches as they stop. It doesn’t carry on moving, they’re about ¾ of the way up to the peak of the wheel, the park looks like a painting, people spill into grass and benches and arcades like watercolours, green pours into orange from the artificial lights, the ground is non existent.
“What happened?” Jen asks, her eyes closed again, squeezing shut.
“It’s alright…” Judy says, she turns to look out of the window in awe, smitten by the view. It’s like when you look out of an aeroplane but in more detail, things are sharper and closer yet blurred, it feels as if they’re in a simulation, everything mechanically working on the ground while they watch over it from up in the air. There’s a stillness, Judy basks in it.
Jen’s eyes slowly peek open, wet from panic, fuck she knew she was going to have a heart attack today. Judy turns back around to her, smiling reassuringly. Her hand swipes a tear that had escaped from Jen’s cheek and she whispers that she’s sorry. She shouldn’t be sorry, and Jen tells her as much, she vows internally to never let Judy say sorry for anything that’s not worth it again, she’d noticed how it had become part of her core vocabulary. Fucking Steve. Jen looks out of the window then, her heart quickens as she realises just how far they are up in the air, it’s not as bad as when flying, but at least when flying she’s drunk or unconscious. Jen looks up at the sky and clouds, it feels close enough to touch.
“You should take a picture.” Jen says, her voice seemingly steadier.
Judy agrees and takes out her camera, pressing it against the window to capture the view. Judy rests the camera against the seat across from them, sliding up in the seat closer to Jen.
“It’s so peaceful.” Judy says. Jen wonders how because they could literally drop to the floor and die any time, but she nods anyway. “Like our own bubble and no one else can see or hear us.” Judy adds, tilting her head to Jen to give her a sweet smile.
Fuck, everything about Judy makes Jen want to melt, they’re stood still in a rickety Ferris wheel cart with potential to kill them yet all Jen can think about is how warm her chest feels when Judy smiles at her like that, how she wants to trace the lines framing her mouth, brush her lips with hers just because. Like they did once before, Jen smiles then, remembering Judy sitting on her lap on the swing set in a scrubby old park, the chains covered in rust, the seat with holes in it, Judy’s thighs warming up hers and lips working together in a turn that only they knew about.
“Yeah I guess it is.” Jen replies, delayed by memories of what once was, the hope of what could be again.
If it happened once, Jen would’ve ignored it, but she watches again as Judy’s gaze falls to her lips and back up to her eyes, she seems to get lost in them, flickering from one to the other. Jen feels her cheeks colour as realisation dawns on her, does Judy want to kiss her? Suddenly the cart has become too hot, the heat and tension and the slither of desire bubbling around them. The stillness overwhelming. Jen swallows and takes a slowing breath, a magnetic energy pulling her towards Judy.
She thinks she leans in, but Judy could’ve done first, she doesn’t know because within a second all she can taste, feel is Judy’s soft lips around hers, moving slowly, testing the waters. And then her own hand automatically appears on Judy’s jaw, tilting her closer, embracing whatever this is, whatever it could lead to. Jen wants it to lead to something she thinks, her lips press further and her tongue swipes slowly across Judy’s lips, asking whether Judy wants it too. Jen releases a breath when Judy softens further, grants her access, let’s her lips dance with Jen’s like the ocean brushing tenderly upon the sand. Judy’s breath shudders, and she stops for a moment to take a breath, leaning against Jen’s forehead with the widest smile before she leans in again freely, a combination of teeth and laughing and relieved sighs. In that kiss was passion, memories consented into once touch. It was coming home, finally.
*
There’s no time for anything apart from work, food and sleep recently, though the latter is hard to come by. The kids are more of a stress than they usually are because of Henry’s rehearsals (he’s extremely serious about nailing his solo for Holy Harmonies, it’s Judy’s first time watching) and Charlie’s caught up in exams, he’s stressed. Both Jen and Judy can tell, and Judy tries to help in anyway she can; she was good at school, Jen remembers, especially the social subjects like History and English. They’ve not had time for each other, but mornings are always better with Judy freshly out of the guesthouse preparing breakfast for them all, and nights are cosy, warm, especially the ones where Judy’s too tired to go to her own room, or it’s raining, and she stays in Jen’s room. Since their kiss, neither of them have thought to bring up how much they enjoyed it, how much they want it to happen again. Honestly, there isn’t time. Money is tight, Jen doesn’t remember how it got this way but before she knows it she’s telling Judy she can barely swing the mortgage for that month.
It’s Friday night where they finally get some space, Henry is at Shandy’s house for her birthday party and Charlie’s with Natalie, who he swears isn’t his girlfriend but Jen thinks otherwise. Judy had been the one to persuade Jen in the first place to let him go and see a movie with her, a drive in one, in her car.
Jen doesn’t want to think about that though, or the condoms she swore she saw Judy slip into his hand before he left earlier on. What she does want to think about, is the large glass of wine Judy’s pouring that’s calling to her. It’s a new one, an expensive one, and it tastes like fireworks exploding in her mouth, it’s so good.
“So, I have a proposal?”
It doesn’t sound like one, Judy’s voice is hesitant and unsure, it sounds like she’s asking if Jen has one instead of the other way round.
“Go on…” Jen cocks her head.
“Well,” Judy leans forward to rest her glass on the coffee table. “I was thinking the other night about our money problem.”
“My money problem,” Jen interrupts, “I don’t want you to worry about that Jude.”
“I’d like to think it’s our problem, I live here don’t I?” Judy says hesitantly, as if maybe she shouldn’t have assumed they’re in this together.
“Yeah of course I-“ Jen rests a hand over Judy’s gently, a way of saying ‘I didn’t mean anything like that and deep down you know it’. “I just didn’t want you worrying about shit like money, I know that-“ Jen clears her throat, looking for a better way to broach the subject Judy hates talking about, “when you were younger you know, you had money problems then. I wanted to think I could take care of you better than that, than she did.”
Judy knows she’s talking about her mom, the way her eyebrows crease and her top lip upturns into a subtle snarl, she doesn’t even say her name and Judy wants to scratch her eyes out until she stops picturing the trailer, the drugs, the vomit encrusted floor and glass covered table. Jen’s hand on hers stops her from spiralling, and she shakes her head, “you aren’t supposed to take care of me.”
“I like to.”
“No, I mean-I’d like to think we take care of each other…” Judy clarifies with a soft smile.
Jen mirrors it, looking down at their hands, she starts tracing over Judy’s knuckles, featherlight touches on soft, warm butter skin.
“So, I want to help, in anyway I can, not just for you but for the kids. Charlie needs a new laptop and I think after the exams he’ll definitely deserve one.”
Jen frowns, “alright but no offence but, you work in an assisted living facility that pays barely above minimum wage which-“ she stammers a little, getting worked up “I think is outrageous because you’re basically the backbone of that place and you deserve a bonus, a raise even like-“
Judy laughs lightly, resting a calming hand over Jen’s shoulder. “Alright Little Miss Rampage.”
“There wasn’t one called that.”
“No?” Judy shakes her head. “Anyway, I’m not talking about using my wages. I’m talking about my paintings.”
Jen tilts her head, “your paintings?”
“Yeah, they’re literally made of money.”
“You’d have to sell them first.” Jen adds.
“No I mean it.”
Jen pauses for a second thinking she’s missed something. Hmmm, nope. “Mean what?”
“The frames, they’ve got money inside.” Judy gushes, smirking. “I saved up all the money I’ve ever had and then Steve added to it, The only problem is him, he has them. I doubt he’ll just let me collect them all, they’re in the house some of them but most are in the gallery.”
Jen taps her chin in thought, Judy’s words processing around her head, forming an idea. A not well idea maybe, they’d get in trouble if fucking Steve caught them and called the cops, but for their family Jen figures it’s worth it.
“We’ll get them back.” Jen concludes, firm eyes set on the glass of red, swirling around the glass.
“But how?”
“Leave it with me babe.”
*
Knock knock.
It’s a few seconds before Steve opens, in a fucking robe. She wasn’t expecting that, although Judy did say he was a lying fucking cheat, he’s probably just finished fucking his secretary or something, and Jen has to clench her fingers and embrace her realtor role fully to force a smile, she’s done it enough times. She’s practically an expert.
“Hi.” Jen smiles, with her teeth and all, eyes bore into Steve’s.
“Um… what’re you doing here?” Steve pulls a confused face, hair flopping above his eyes and Jen wants to punch that creased look off of his face.
Jen scoffs, “well-“ stepping forward and into the house uninvited, she pushes Steve back with a clawed hand on his chest. He just lets her, and she’s pretty sure his cheeks have turned red, and smirks to herself behind his back. “I came here to give you an offer.”
Steve’s eyes widen and then he schools his features, cocking his head to the side with a smarmy grin. It makes Jen feel sick. She’s surprised she isn’t gagging yet, but her smile remains and her lashes flutter because she fucking needs those paintings. And she’s gonna do anything to get them.
He takes her wrist, not gently and his hands are scratchy, despite being a businessman who just sits in an office all day, she’d expected them to be smooth, slick, untouched. She resists the urge to pull away and walks further into the house, she doesn’t know where she’s going but the rooms are that empty they could all be a duplicate of the other. There’s no trace of Judy living here, not even a weird cat ornament or a choice of wallpaper, Jen knows she didn’t choose the white décor or any of the décor, it’s like a show house that no ones ever lived in. Jen feels an ache in her stomach for how long Judy seemed to have suppressed herself away in here, let Steve control everything.
“It’s a lovely home.” Jen says, detaching her arm from Steve’s to walk around, size up the living room, picking up little bits of ornaments every now and then. When Jen gets to a painting she’s looking at, it’s simplistic and boring, framed in a golden wood, haironic, and it’s definitely not one Judy’s, she feels Steve lurking over her shoulder, can practically feel the particles from his breath travelling to her neck, she feels warm and disgusting so she escapes quickly, rounding the large couch to the stair well. Steve follows her like some lost puppy waiting for it’s dinner.
“You mentioned a proposal, and well I’m flattered but-“
Jen grimaces internally hoping it doesn’t show on her face. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Steve widens his eyes and his jaw drops, “after you-“ he gestures and his jaw is still wide open.
“Careful, you’ll end up catching flies.” Jen closes his mouth, tapping her finger on his nose with a wink before heading up the winding stairs, making sure to add a little extra sway to her hips. She feels a buzz in her pocket then, she knows it’s Judy, asking how it’s going, and she takes her phone out smiling at the text.
‘Just checking in (Purple Heart). Be careful’
Steve notices her and she quickly slots her phone back in her pocket.
“Boyfriend?”
“Oh, ha, no-“ Jen steps forward.
Steve grins at that and touches her forearm, tugging her further down the hallway.
“Anyway, I’m here to offer you something, and if you knew what was good for you you’d take me up on it.” Jen states, leaning back against the banister.
Steve steps impossibly closer and she swears she’ll throw herself off if he gets any closer, his breath stinks like prawns and whisky. The smell of aftershave plagues her nostrils, she wants to cough.
“I’m listening-“ Steve trails a finger down her jaw and she tenses it, grinding her teeth so she doesn’t kill him right there and then.
“I want to sell your house.”
Steve steps backwards then, his smell lingering. “My-“ Steve stammers and laughs to himself, blowing up his hair away from his flustered face. Nice one Jen. “Right, well, I’m not selling.”
“I think you might want to reconsider, you want to get away from here right? Away from your crazy ex.” It hurts when she says it, but she’s got to hit him somewhere. And Judy’s given her the backbone of what Steve likes and what wins him over, ‘a good pair of tits and a submissive woman’, she’d come up with. She doesn’t even have the former but, Steve will never know that.
“Judy? Thought she was living with you.”
“Ha, no way, I kicked her out, she’s fucking nuts like you said.” Jen steps closer. “Anyway enough talk about her, I want to talk about you and this house.” Jen scans the hallway, shaking her head in an act of disbelief, “I mean-you’d made a good amount, only a fool would turn down this offer.”
Steve frowns, “how much?”
“$10million.”
“Sold.”
Huh. She didn’t think it was going to be that easy. “Well, stop by my office and we can talk details.” Jen pulls out her card and hands it to him, a real smile on her face this time, at least they’ll have access to the house now.
“Nice.” Steve says, “hey did you want a drink?”
“Umm, I’m good actually, I’m late for my next viewing, I’m extremely busy so-“ she’s not but it always makes clients more eager to work with her, Steve pulls a face as if he’s intrigued.
“You do well for yourself huh.” Steve was, as if he’s impressed.
“You could say that.” Jen shrugs, “oh, could I use your bathroom before I leave?”
Steve nods, “sure, I need to go check on the steak I’m cooking but it’s just there to the right…” he points to a white door and Jen nods.
He heads downstairs and Jen makes her way down the hallway, most of the bedroom doors are open, there’s a cinema room, a master bedroom that’s fucking huge, even if they don’t get the paintings she’s still selling his house, money like that will go a long way. But it’s not just about the paintings, and Jen tries to find any sign of a nursery, there’s a closed door right at the end of the hallway and she takes a breath before pulling the handle and slowly pushing the door open. Her guess was right. And she’s now standing in a nursery, with a cot and again white walls. It’s got the same monotone feeling as the rest of the house, the only colour coming from the hanging set of plush clown fishes and dolphins attached to the top of the cot. Jen slips inside the room, careful not to knock anything. It feels like an intrusion, on an empty room that should be homing giggling kids and toys and high chairs, not the bare cot and wardrobe holding a singular hanger with a small all in one in white with red polka dots. Jen brushes a hand over the fabric and releases a mournful sigh, shaking her head to get rid of the picture she’s created of in her head of Judy’s baby wearing this, a girl with a head of thick hair, or a boy with Judy’s piercing eyes and a cheeky smile.
Jen moves further around the room, it’s like a vacuum, she thinks, it feels like everything has been sucked out of it and it’s hard to breath. Every so often she just wants to cry, feels the sob crawling through her body to get out. Jen peers at the shelf, something draping over the top. She reaches up and pulls it down, opening the folded material to reveal a blanket, ‘Judy Anne Hale’ etched in light pink across a dark green. It still smells like Judy when she brings it up to her face, clutching it tightly to her.
Jen quickly folds it back up once she hears Steve yelling for her, shouts a quick ‘coming’ and then takes one last look around the nursery before closing the door quietly. Heading downstairs, she pushes it further into her handbag and blows hair from her face, pulling the mask back on.
“God sorry, just had to freshen up, the lighting in your bathroom is-“ Jen scoffs, gestures with her hands.
“I know right…” Steve says wiggling his eyebrows boastfully. Jen wonders what it actually looks like for him to be reacting like a smug little kid who had the most candy on Halloween.
“Anyway, thanks for showing me round. You won’t regret accepting my offer.” Jen makes her way to the door, Steve following closely behind.
“I hope so.” Steve opens the door and rests a hand on it while Jen walks out, cocking his leg behind the other ankle in a sort of naked modelling pose.
Jen finds it absolutely infuriating and she has to get out of here before she does something she regrets.
*
“Jude?”
Jen calls out when walking in, it’s dinner time so she knows Judy won’t be in the guesthouse, and there’s the smell of spices and sizzling onions that hits as she’s heading to the kitchen. The kids’ shoes are at the door, they’re not downstairs so she guesses there upstairs.
“Jude!”
She shouts again before reaching the kitchen. There’s music playing, Charlie’s next to the speakers (he must have carried them down from his room) and Henry’s dancing with Judy. He’s stood on her feet and they’re holding hands, pulling and pushing each other’s hands to the beat of the song, which if she remembers correctly is from Shrek. It must’ve been Henry’s choice, he’s obsessed with that movie lately, has even asked for a Shrek themed lunch box instead of the Cars one he has currently.
Judy notices her when she swings Henry around in a turn and skips over and pulls her into the kitchen further, which apparently has also turned into a dance floor.
“Hi!”
Judy’s bopping her head still, tugging Jen’s hand so she dances along with her.
“Hey, havin’ fun?” Jen asks, complying when Judy lifts her arm up for her to twirl, Jen does even if it’s a little difficult with Judy being smaller than her.
Judy’s smile answers for her, and Jen looks around the room trying to work out what she’s cooking.
“I’m making fajitas!” Judy yells over the music and Charlie takes it as a hint to turn it down a notch.
“And I’m helping!” Henry saddles up to her, jumping to the music on the spot.
“He is, he’s cut up all the peppers and onions and salad, and didn’t cut his finger once!” Judy says, and that last one is a dig about her chopping skills, the last time Jen had offered to help make she’d sliced her finger when chopping an apple for the dessert crumble Judy was trying out. It was round, to be fair, and round things are hard to cut.
“Is it almost ready?” Charlie pipes up, standing up to come and join them near the breakfast bar.
“About ten more minutes, just waiting for the peppers to soften.” Judy says, turning back to the hob then to stir the pan with a wooden spoon.
Jen sniffs up, it smells great. And she’s pretty hungry. “I’m just going to get changed then I’ll be down.”
“Okay!”
She decides to leave the blanket inside her bag, she’ll give it to Judy later when they’re alone. For now she undressed and puts her work clothes in the wash and changes into her pyjamas, she may as well there’s nothing else she’s doing. A few minutes later Judy shouts her down saying she’s dishing up, and Jen replies, telling her she won’t be long, before quickly taking her earrings out and contact lenses, slipping on her glasses and then heading downstairs.
*
Once dinner’s over, which went down a treat that’s to Judy’s magical hands (Jen doesn’t know how she does it), and they’ve watched a their nightly episode of ‘The Big Bang Theory’, the boys say goodnight and head to their rooms. Jen helps carry the speakers back upstairs while Judy reads Harry Potter to Henry until he’s spark out. They’re almost finished with this one, and when Judy comes in Jen’s bedroom that night, she does every night whether she’s sleeping there or not just to say goodnight, she asks her to order the next one in the sequence. Jen adds it to her Amazon list.
“So you haven’t told me how it went with Steve.” Judy starts while washing her face beside Jen in the ensuing.
“It went good. He’s agreed to sell the house so we just need a plan to make sure I’m there one day alone so I can get the keys to TKG arts.”
Judy turns to her then, wet faced, holding her hands out for a towel which Jen quickly located and gives her. “About that-“ She dabs her face dry and then hangs it back up. “I don’t know where he keeps them.”
“You’ve never used them yourself?”
“Nope. He never let me see where he kept them, he was so secretive about business stuff.”
They vacate to the bedroom and Judy takes it upon her to fold Jen’s clothes from that day while Jen applies her moisturiser in the vanity mirror on her desk.
“Well, they can’t be that hard to find. Everything’s so clean in there they’d stick out like a sore thumb.”
Judy nods in agreement.
“Oh.” Jen wipes the remaining cream onto her hands and rubs it in, “I have something for you.” She finds her bag and pulls out Judy’s blanket, handing it over to her folded.
She knows what it is immediately and her eyes tear up. Judy unwraps the blanket delicately, as if the seams could burst any second, and holds it close to her chest closing her eyes. Jen sighs softly at the sight, she’d probably do just about anything to see that smile.
“Thank you! This is so sweet.” Judy pouts and reaches her hand out to squeeze Jen’s arm gratefully. “Did you steal it?”
“Kinda. Steve doesn’t know I have it anyways, but it’s yours, I wanted to return it to you.”
Judy looks at the blanket with a tender gaze, finger tips tracing the letters forming her name just like she did a few hours ago.
“You must have gone into the nursery then?” Judy asks, coming to sit down on the bed.
Jen joins her. “Yeah, it-“ she shakes her head, “everything in that house has Steve written all over it, even the nursery, it seemed like that blanket was the only part of you there.” She pats the soft material over Judy’s knee.
“Steve was always very particular about décor.” Judy says.
It’s not fair, how still Judy believes she has to make an excuse up for him. He was toxic, after the house viewing today she’s never been more convinced. Hopefully once she’s sold his dull, boring old house neither of them will ever have to see him again.
Jen turns to her then and the words are out of her mouth before she can think over it. She’s glad, or else she may have talked herself out of asking. “Move in here.”
Judy waits for her to say something else, but then is confused. “I already live here…?”
“No I mean, in the main house with all of us.”
Judy’s shock and sheer surprise brings a moment of quiet, and Jen can practically hear her own heartbeat as she waits for Judy to say something. A wash of excitement visibly washes over Judy then, and she throws her arms around Jen saying ‘yes’ repeatedly along with ‘thank you’. Jen returns the hug just as eagerly, telling her she doesn’t have to thank her. If anyone should be thanking anyone it’s Jen, the amount of light and happiness Judy brings into her life, she truly doesn’t know how she went so long without it.