New beginnings
The breeze whips around Jen and Judy carrying flares of blonde and brunette with it’s gushes. Tiny flowers bloom on the grass on their daily walk, a new addition to their lifestyle since almost dying, ‘we need to take everything in Jen, when was the last time you went to The Botanical Gardens’, never, is the answer, Jen hates walking especially in the slight sun of the spring weather that’s just there to tease summers’ blister. It reminds Jen of the fact that they never did get to go on that vacation, Judy had been reluctant since Jen’s injuries, it’s been a few months so they’d almost healed now but traces of the accident still linger. Nightmares and all. Only sometimes though, most nights the warmth and safety net of each other’s arms is enough to chance away any plagued dreams of crashing cars and hospital rooms.
Days after Jen’s operation, and she’s finally allowed to come home. The boys are excited of course and Judy just can’t wait to get Jen home, away from the dirty hospital food she’s been complaining about for the past week while she recovered, and away from the doctor that Judy see’s eyeing Jen up on his rounds. Frank, his name was.
And no, she wasn’t jealous, worried more like, Jen was in no fit shape to fight off the leering stares of Dr Frank, so Judy would have to do it for her. Her unusual sharpness with him raised questions from Jen, and a flutter in her stomach.
Judy helps her out to the car despite the protests that she’s fine. Her wrist’s tied up in a purple (Judy’s glad they used that colour) cast and a sling, while there are still bruises on the side of her head from the abrasions. The ‘you’ve been brave’ sticker is still stuck on the bottom of the cast, nurse Abby had given it Jen after Judy had egged her on, insisting she needed a sticker to congratulate her on being a decent (not good; she’d put up a fight about staying in the hospital once she’d woken from her induced coma, itching to get back home and to normality) inpatient. Jen falls asleep in the car on the way home, surprisingly being back inside a vehicle doesn’t bother her unlike the sickly feeling Judy had in her stomach for days after the accident whenever she even heard a car out on the road. Once they’re home Judy grabs Jen’s bags for her and takes her hand as they walk slowly through the threshold. Henry runs downstairs upon entering and gently (after a warning from Judy) hugs his mom and then Judy.
That night they sit playing monopoly after the coddling had finally stopped, Judy had insisted Jen should sit on the couch with her feet up with a blanket round her shoulders and a glass of water on hand, she’s even gotten her a little nanny bell to ring incase Jen needed her while Judy was working in the kitchen, they’d persevered with the workspace so that Jen didn’t have to sit in the guesthouse to be near Judy (because Judy wouldn’t have it any other way) and Judy could be near Jen while she painted in the kitchen. It’s a commission for Ellen, daughter of Vera, one of the residents, her best friend’s getting married and she’s asked Judy to paint a photograph of them both with a pop art twist, it’s different but exciting to try new styles. Jen has trouble remembering the rules and who’d already bought which properties, and it makes her head hurt just looking at the cards piled on top of the board so she teams up with Judy half way through to play with and rely slightly on her. The doctor had told them of possible changes, with her memory and concentration specifically due to the knock to her brain. Thankfully, Jen’s assessment after she’d woken up had confirmed there would be no long term damage. Judy’s patient with her as always, the boys take the piss which makes her smile at the normality.
The first nights sleep back in her bed after being in the hospital is bliss, having Judy lying next to her comfortably, not cramped up on a hospital chair or even on her bed when the nurses weren’t watching, was like heaven. Jen’s wrist was annoying and she’s sure she hit Judy a couple of times with it by accident during the night but Judy wouldn’t tell her whether that’s true or not. In the morning when Jen’s a little flustered, checking around the room to see where she is, Judy whispers ‘good morning’ in her ear and calms her down with peppered kisses.
Having the cast removed 4 weeks later was a relief, Jen swings it along with Judy’s hand in her own now as they walk, Judy’s bracelet brushing against her wrist. It’s fairly warm despite the breeze so they’re in short sleeves and cropped trousers, a skirt for Judy, the sun beats down and blinds their eyes through their shades. Henry and Charlie are a little in front, kicking a ball back and forth with one another, Jen winces when Henry almost runs into a stray toddler, running for the ball until their mother drags them away kicking and screaming. Judy turns to her and asks if she wants ice cream, spotting the small cart just ahead, the boys run back and confirm their orders while Judy goes to fetch them.
“Here we are…” Judy comes back to the bench they waited at with two cones in each hand, handing Henry the Oreo ice cream, Charlie the mint, Jen the caramel and keeping the strawberry one for herself. Each have flakes and sprinkles.
“Thanks Judy!” Henry says, half his mouth covered in ice cream.
Jen stands to let Henry sit on the bench beside Charlie and then her and Judy occupy the one across from the boys.
“Are you having a nice day?” Jen asks, exhaling a short laugh at the ice cream on Judy’s nose as she wipes it off with the back of her hand.
“Yes! Are you?” Judy returns the question, hoping that it wasn’t too much of an ask for Jen to have actually enjoyed herself today, although the crinkles around Jen’s eyes she can just about see through the sun glasses tell her that she has indeed enjoyed today. Even if it was just a walk about the park and a trip to McDonald’s later on.
“My feet hurt-“ Judy had told her not to wear the open toed sandals and gives her a little glare as an ‘I told you so’, “but it’s been nice today, they’ve enjoyed it too…” Jen says nodding to Charlie and Henry, laughing at something on their phones.
Judy reaches over and pecks Jen’s slightly chocolate-y lips. “Good.” She smiles, kissing her again before starting on the cone of her ice cream.
Jen stares at her for a while, watching how Judy smiles at the strollers and kids that go past, how she waves to Henry and Charlie every so often. Even under the glasses Jen knows her eyes shine brightly. Her cheeks are red from the sun and the walk, her hair tied in two plaits that reach her lower chest, her hairs grown a lot during the past few months and Jen’s glad she hasn’t cut it, it looks lovely.
“Aww look Jen!” Judy points to a spaniel trotting along with a tennis ball in its mouth beside its owner, “I’m gonna go say hi…”
Jen grins as she sees Judy a few seconds later leaning down to pet the dog, chatting away with the owner as she does. The dog jumps up on Judy’s skirt them, messy paw prints going across the fabric while the woman apologises profusely, Jen shakes her head amusedly.
“It’s fine! He’s so lovely, what’s his name?”
The woman bends down so she’s eye level with Judy, taking the ball out of the dogs mouth to throw it across the park for him to fetch.
“Chester, I’m Kimberly…and you?”
Judy reaches her hand out for a handshake as she answers, “Judy, it’s so nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
Judy reaches for the ball that Chester drops at her feet and throws it for him, it doesn’t go very far, she’s a terrible thrower, but Chester runs off enthusiastically to retrieve it anyway.
Henry comes up beside her then to greet Kimberly and the dog, beaming when Chester lays down for belly rubs.
“You’re good with dogs Henry…” Kimberly comments, handing him a treat to give Chester.
Henry holds his hand out and gives Chester the treat, “thanks, mom had a dog when she was younger but she keeps saying no whenever I ask her, I want a puppy, either a Labrador, a poodle or a boxer rescue dog, specifically one named Rory at the shelter nearby…” Henry gets out, hinting at Judy with a persuasive smile.
Kimberly looks between him and Judy with a nod as if putting the pieces together. “Oh- that’s Henry’s mom over there, Jen.” Judy gestures towards her, gazing a little longer than necessary at her but she’s just so beautiful, the way her hair blows in the wind and her smile grows when it lands on Judy.
Jen waves and Kimberly waves back with a polite smile.
“You know they’re always looking for dog walkers down at the shelter, my son Daniel volunteers there, if Judy here or Jen would sign up then I’m sure they’d allow you to accompany them on walks Henry…” Kimberly says.
Henry’s eyes light up, “that’s such a good idea!”
Kimberly grins, “anyway, we better be heading home, looks like someone needs a bath…”
As if on cue Chester jumps up on two legs to Henry, paw shaped prints are now on Henry’s white top mirroring Judy’s skirt. Kimberly looks horrified and waves goodbye to them both, Chester following shortly.
“Judy?”
“Yeah?”
“We have to convince mom to get us a dog.”
*
Steve fucking Wood.
Steve, annoyingly patronising, douchebag, fucking lousy Wood, crashed into their car, then spread off leaving them to potentially die. Detective Perez, the cop who’s been investigating their case, informs them after interrupting a family dinner one Thursday evening. They’d matched a piece of the car to the very same 66 mustang that Steve owns and coincidentally he’d ‘gone out of town’ so they couldn’t reach him. They’d already started investigating his business though, and when Perez had told them about TKG arts Judy had confessed all she knew and said she’d help wi the investigation. Jen had been hesitant but Perez had assured her no trouble would come Judy’s way, especially after hearing all the threatening voicemails Steve had left her about keeping quiet. Jen had wanted to track him down there and then just so she could punch him, maybe burn his shitty ass a couple times, then run him over with his own car.
“So Judy will be okay?”
Jen asks once Judy’s gone to sit back down at the table, Jen assuring she’ll see Perez out.
“She will. If you see or hear of anything else is relevant then give me a call.” She says, bowing her head with half a smile before Jen shuts the door.
It’s his court hearing soon, he’s pleading not guilty (like a dick) and is forcing Jen and Judy to stand and recount the whole incident when all they want to do is forget about their almost death. A couple of weeks ago they’d finally caught up with him, Judy had gotten the call during a tea break at work, he’d been on the run since the accident and had tried to skip the country, they’d caught him at an airport in Miami. He’s been held in a cell ever since, no one can pay for his bail which Judy’s happy about, even his mother hasn’t been in touch as far as she knew. His money was tied up in TkG arts which they’d investigated months back, finding out all sorts about Steve’s money laundering and work with the Greek Mafia. He’s requested multiple times to see Judy and she’d thrown the letters away each time, talking Jen down from going to see Steve herself was also another task.
*
“Judy, look at this one…”
Henry points to a 2 year old Doberman named Felix, Judy scans the pictures and the description, Hi, I’m Felix! I love going on walks and playing football. The volunteers here helped me from a scary home where I didn’t get a lot of food L but now I’m here and I get all the food I need! I’m good around kids and other small animals! I’m not lead trained, but I’m working on it!
They spend hours looking at different dogs on the pet rescue website, they move on to look at cats at some point but then Charlie joins them and pushes for a dog instead.
Rover, 4 years old. German Shepard.
Hello J I was rescued when I was just 1 year old and have been without a home for a long time now L I’d love to settle down in a home, preferably child and pet free with owners that love the outdoors! I’m super energetic, but have arthritis in my hip L I love football, fetch and swimming.
Lucky. 7 months old. Terrier mix.
My name is Lucky, I’m just a pup and I’m unfamiliar with being in a home since my first owners abandoned me when I was just born. I’m good with other people and dogs, I have a lot of friends here at the shelter!
Jen comes in after work to see them shutting the laptop lid as soon as she comes in, Henry distracting her with a tight hug.
“What’s going on?” Jen asks in a teasing, accusatory tone.
“Nothing!” Judy rounds the counter to kiss her and take her jacket off for her, a distracting technique that Jen’s well accustomed to by now.
“Aw, right well if we’re keeping secrets then I’ll just have to not show you what’s in my bag…” Jen says, sultry with a wink. She heads to the fridge to grab a bottle of water and Judy follows eagerly behind.
“You’re keeping a secret?” Judy pesters in her ear, taking her hands and holding them between them both. “
“Well if you’re not gonna tell me what you’re hiding I suppose-“
“We’re getting a dog!” Judy blurts out.
“Judy! She’ll never let us now-“
“You’re what?”
“I mean, can we get a dog?” Judy beams, teeth gritting together as she tries to hold the impossibly wide smile.
Jen huffs, “a dog? Really? We can’t just have like a fish or something-“
“Fish are boring.” Henry pipes up, siding up beside Jen and linking his arms with hers, pulling on his best puppy dog eyes.
“But dogs are lots of work, who’s gonna take care of it when me and Judy are at work?” Jen asks, raising her eyebrows at Judy in question too.
“We can take them to doggy day care!”
Fuck. Jen scoffs amusedly.
“Pleaseeee Jen!” Judy stands on her tiptoes to kiss her again, lingering while she whispers another ‘please’ into her lips.
“Yeah, please mom!”
“It’s not like we won’t look after it.” Charlie huffs impatiently.
Jen feels their eyes on her in anticipation, this is totally Judy’s fault if the dog turns out to have rabies or shit around the house 24/7.
“Fine. We can get a dog…”
*
In between a heavy work load and planning Judy’s birthday party, Jen feels like her head is about to fucking explode. Charlie’s been helping with the party side, he’s agreed to be a sort of DJ for the night and had helped her invite Judy’s friends over on a group text chain. Jen didn’t want lots of people because it’s still her home and there’s no way she’s having a bunch of art loving elderlies occupy her living room, but some of Judy’s friends are bearable. So she’s invited Abe obviously, Karen despite how annoying she can be, she can bake, so she’s making cupcakes, Daniella; a lady who Judy trades painting tips with, apparently they met in a painting class a while ago and they’ve just stayed in touch ever since, Chris and Alan are coming too. And Abe may bring people from the residents home.
The present is more of a whom, not a what, and Jen’s on her way to pick her up with Henry and Charlie in the back seat, holding a small blanket, a couple of chew toys and treats.
Once that’s sorted, and Henry and Charlie are busy entertaining their new permanent house guest upstairs on a huge sheet spread on the floor in case of accidents, Jen prepares a simple buffet, consisting of Judy’s favourite snacks and the usual chips, dips, pizza slices… She’s made the cake by herself, last night while Judy was fast asleep in their bed. She’s surprised she didn’t wake at the smell of burning after it went wrong the first attempt, but thankfully the cake is still a surprise. It’s carrot cake, her favourite, and Jen’s decorated the top with white buttercream icing and purple icing saying ‘happy birthday Judy’ with a heart, the letters are a little messy but it’s authentic. Decorations hang from the ceiling, it was a little difficult getting them up their but Jen’s satisfied with the collection of balloons and banners dotted around the room. Judy will love it, she hopes.
Judy’s arriving home later than usual since she’s helping out with a fitness class, Jen has no clue when she started getting into Zumba especially well, old people Zumba, but the class gives her a chance to let everyone inside and get a party started before Judy comes home.
Half an hour after everyone arrives, Judy pulls up outside.
“Quick everyone hide!” Henry yells, tugging Charlie into a corner.
They do, Karen literally fucking squealing, and if it wasn’t for Judy then none of this would be happening, Jen sighs and smiles when she sees Judy walking up the path.
She walks out to the hallway to meet her, leaning casually against the wall after opening the door for Judy.
“Oh!”
Judy startles when the door opens before her, a hand coming to her chest briefly.
“Hey baby.” Jen grins, stepping aside for Judy to come inside.
“Hi!” Judy takes her coat off and frowns confusedly when Jen helps her out of it, hovering around her.
“How was your day?” Jen asks, blocking her from going up the stairs and sort of steering her towards the living room.
Judy stares amusedly, “great, work got me a gift!” She holds up a gift bag with a smile, “how was yours?”
Jen takes the bag from her and places it on the couch as they walk inside, grabbing Judy’s hand before she walks any further.
Suddenly a chorus of voices ring out, “surprise!!” And Judy jumps in excitement.
“Oh my god! Wow!” Judy turns to look at everyone, giggling when she turns back to Jen.
“Happy birthday Judy!” Henry comes up to give her a hug which she leans into.
“Thank you! This is-wow,” Judy’s eyes are getting teary and before she lets them fall Jen presses a kiss to her lips.
“Happy birthday Jude.”
Judy looks at her as if to say, you didn’t have to do all this, but I’m so glad that you have. Before she can say anything, Jen tugs on her hand, “I have a present for you…”
Christopher, wherever he is, tuts and shouts “ladies please save the love making til after the party…”
Judy laughs and follows Jen upstairs, when they reach the top Henry jogs up beside them and says he left Charlie in charge, the grime music playing over the speakers a few seconds later is a tell.
“Close your eyes Judy!” Henry says, reaching for her hand to guide her.
“Alright…”
Henry checks they’re closed by asking how many fingers he’s holding up, and then leads her inside the spare room.
Jen shushes something, Judy can’t tell, but she doesn’t have time to guess before Henry tells her to open her eyes and she does quickly.
Gasping, she bends down to the floor and gathers the bundle up in her arms, “we got a puppy!”
Jen smirks, “sure did.”
Henry reaches to pet the little golden retriever snuggled into Judy’s arms, and she leans into his hand excitedly. Her little tail wagging against Judy’s arms.
“I can’t believe this! Thank you so much!!” Judy leans across to kiss Jen and then kisses the pup on her forehead. Jen smiles at the scene proudly.
“You are so cute!”
“Mom said you can choose the name…” Henry adds then, Judy raising her eyebrows at Jen.
“Really?”
“It’s your birthday after all.” Jen smiles, leaning over to pet the pup once Judy puts her on the floor. She runs off though, grabbing one of the tug toys they’d bought her earlier on. Judy seems to think about it for a minute until she looks up with a grin.
“Let’s call her Rose…” Judy says.
Henry tests out the name on her with a whistle and she runs straight over to him, taking to the name (more than likely the whistle but) perfectly.
“Rose? Cute.” Jen says, reaching her hand out for Judy to hold.
“After Rosie.” Judy says, grinning at Jen knowingly.
“It’s perfect.”
They spend the night dancing, eating, laughing and drinking. Judy’s very tipsy by the end of the night, dancing with her arms draped around Jen’s waist insisting that she wants to do the Macarena still (Henry’s song choice). Jen holds her up while she tries her best to do the actions but she fails terribly, and after telling Chris to see everyone out she helps Judy up to bed, Rose jumping on the bed next to her to lick her all over her face.
Judy giggles and cuddles the pup close to her.
“I love Rose already.” She murmurs sleepily. “I’ve loved today.”
Jen grins, she slides off Judy’s shoes, deciding that there’s no way she’s going to be able to change her clothes so the loose dress she’s wearing will have to do to sleep in, and then she sits on top of the covers beside her. She brushes some hair away from her face, thumb caressing her warm cheeks.
“Good. I’m glad.” Jen says softly.
Judy sighs, half asleep and whispers “I love you so much”, nuzzling further into Jen’s palm.
Jen exhales softly, presses a kiss to her forehead and says “I love you too”, then leans back to up turn out the light.
“How long will you be?” Judy asks, rolling on her side to get further under the sheets.
Jen shifts to pull the covers further around Judy, fluffing the pillow under her head. “I’ll get rid of everyone, make sure there’s no vomit everywhere-“
Judy giggles, “Karen is a little tipsy…”
Jen widens her eyes, her and Karen were doing shots with each other earlier, they’re both more than a little tipsy.
“Yes, well, Chris and Alan are gonna walk her back home.”
Judy nods. “Good.”
Rose clambers on over and tries snuggling under the sheets, “ah, no way…” Jen lifts her up, cradling her small body against her chest.
Judy whines and reaches an arm out for her which Jen swats away gently.
“No way is she sleeping in our bed, that’s the first mistake we made with Rosie, she’d never sleep in her own.” Jen says, standing up with Rose in her arms.
Judy grumbles into the pillow and Jen shakes her head. She presses another kiss to her cheek this time before leaving with Rose and telling her she’ll be back soon.
Henry and Charlie have already cleared some of the empty glasses and cups from downstairs with Christopher’s and Alan’s help, the food can wait til morning to be out away along with the decorations. Thank god, there’s no vomit and nothing seems to be broken, so Jen sees out Karen, leaning heavily on Alan’s shoulder while Christopher turns around and mouths ‘you owe me Harding’. She rolls her eyes back. A text from Abe appears on her phone then, letting her know that him and Julie (a date from the residents home) had gotten back safe when they’d left a little earlier on.
“Did Judy enjoy her birthday?” Henry asks as they head up to bed.
“Yeah, she did, I think Rose was the icing on the cake.” Jen winks, she’d left her in her crate in the spare room before heading downstairs and so far there hadn’t been a peep.
“Judy always says she hates her birthday so I’m glad she enjoyed it with us.” Henry says with a yawn.
Jen’s got an idea of why she might hate it so much, starts with E and ends with fucking worst mother in history. She can’t imagine that she made much of an effort or any at all on Judy’s birthday when she was younger.
“I can’t wait for my birthday…” Charlie says, leaning against his wall with a smirk.
“You’ve basically just had your birthday…” Henry says. “For my birthday I want-“
“Okay, let’s stop right there before I have a list as long as my arm, come here-“ Jen tugs Henry into her and kisses him goodnight, doing the same with a reluctant Charlie who wipes her kiss off with the back of his hand and scrunches his face. “Goodnight.”
“Night mom.”
Henry heads in first, Charlie rolling his eyes before he does so, Jen knows he’ll be playing some game with his friends until 4am or something anyway. She heads into their bedroom and quickly changes out of her outfit, brushes her teeth and then climbs into bed, switching off their bedside lamp as she does. Once her eyes have adjusted to the dark she can just about make out Judy’s closed eyes, hair in front of her face and mouth half open with little puffs of air escaping. Jen brushes a strand of hair from her face and can’t resist winding the little curl around her index finger. Judy still smells of fruity alcohol, and Jen’s glad she’s bought in tablets and a glass of water from their bathroom, god knows Judy’s probably going to need it in the morning.
*
Steve ends up receiving a guilty sentence of course, for perverting the course of justice, the car accident, the money laundering, Judy can hardly keep count of everything they convict him of, she wonders why she ever fell for his dirty, cruel lies. It’s tense in the court room with Steve’s false smiles and stories to cover up the truth, he mentions Judy more than once and tries to convince everyone that she’s practically a basket case. Jen’s hand tensing in her own.
As he gets taken down Judy looks him in the eye, smiling at him as he walks away, it’ll hopefully the last time she sees him, and a wave of relief rushes over her, letting out a sigh of contentment. She turns to Jen afterwards and says, “let’s go home”, and the two head out to the car knowing that the bastard won’t be able to reach them-ever again, if Jen has anything to do with it.
*
“Mom?”
Jen peers over her glasses at Henry, pausing the email she’s currently typing out to a potential client to ask, “what’s up Boop?”
He sighs and slides a piece of paper across the table, he’s sat doing his homework from school. Judy and Charlie are out taking Rose for her first round of injections at the vet, one more round and they can finally take her on walks.
“I have to do a family tree for school and I don’t even know where to start? I mean dads well, do I still do him a box? Or do I do Judy instead? But then I don’t even know-“
“Okay hold on…” Jen closes the lid on her laptop, figuring this may take a while. She used to hate doing family trees in school, she was an only child, she only saw her moms side of the family and all the other kids had about ten aunties and uncles and a load of cousins. Henry slides over to the chair closest to her and brings his pencil case with him, pen in hand ready to start.
“So I’ve done me you and Charlie because that’s easy.” Henry points to where their names are already on the page a coloured box surrounding them. “And then I need to put dad and Judy somewhere but…” Henry looks at his page.
“Here…” Jen reaches for the page and adds a couple of lines, Ted’s is a darker colour than the rest and she adds a couple of Purple Hearts around Judy’s name. “There you go.”
Henry smiles, “thanks!” He colours in Judy’s box a little more, his teacher said they could be creative, and adds a cartoon bird next to his dads name. “Okay and then Judy’s mom and dad?”
Jen frowns, but it’s for a school project so…”Eleanor and Johnny.”
Henry writes in their names above Judy.
“And then, Samantha and Fred…” Jen points to her side and Henry pauses a little before writing their names in. He knows her mom isn’t with them any more, she’d told him when he was young but she isn’t sure if he fully understood properly, at least up until Ted anyway.
Jen keeps talking, adding family members whom she knows their name off and with most of them; nothing more. Henry asks her why she doesn’t talk to her family anymore, and it’s hard to answer because unlike Judy and her own mom there’s no specific reason why she doesn’t contact her dad, she just doesn’t and they’ve both become used to being…well, strangers. They do cards at Christmas and that’s about it. Jen knows Fred has a partner and they live with her son, but that was years old knowledge and lots may have changed. Fred knows about Henry and Charlie but only the fact that they were born, he came to Ted’s funeral but hardly spoke two words to her. But then again, she didn’t speak either. She wonders what her mom would think…
“Judy always says life’s too short…” Henry says, continuing with his work.
Jen’s not certain what he’s getting at, but it hits her later on when she looks at the photo of Fred and baby Henry in his room that might, and then looks at her own photo of herself, her mom and her dad hidden away in a photo album. They don’t have many of the three of them, Fred was camera shy and Jen was a reluctant teenager, she’s so glad they gave these photos now, especially with her mother.
“Judy?”
She brings up the topic while they’re laid in bed watching The Facts of Life, empty wine glasses side by side on the bedside table.
Judy shifts to the side so she’s facing her, one arm resting on the headboard. “Yeah?”
“Do you think I should,” Jen clears her throat, “contact my dad?”
Judy widens her eyes, as if that was the last thing she expected to come out of her mouth, it was. “Do you think you should?” She asks, there must have been a reason she was even thinking about her dad in the first place, Jen never speaks about her family outside of the four of them.
Jen shrugs and Judy’s hand finds her own underneath the blankets, encouraging her to open up. It works, “Henry was doing a family tree today, he asked about why I don’t see my dad anymore and the answer I came up with was just so shitty ya know? Like apart from the distance eyes no real reason he shouldn’t be in Charlie and Henry’s lives…”
Judy nods, tipping her head, “or yours.”
“Well, yeah…” Jen sighs. “It’s just, we almost died Judy, and he doesn’t even know…” She doesn’t think it’s guilt, the uneasy feeling that’s creeping into her stomach when thinking about it, thinking about Fred and everything he’s missed out on, everything she misses about having a fatherly figure like she used to. Perhaps regret, or longing.
“When was the last time you contacted him?” Judy asks.
“Probably around the time Ted died, he wasn’t even in the…” Jen gestures with her hands, “first circle of people I told, how fucking messed up is that?” She thinks aloud, a deep frown between her eyebrows.
Judy understands, a little, she knows what it’s like no to have a father figure, she doesn’t know what it’s like to have one and then just lose one for no real reason though. “Why is that?” She asks, trying to understand in some way.
“Maybe because it was always mom that held us together…” Jen muses, turning her head to look at the photo of them both on the drawers. “But she’d hate us not talking, I’ve always thought that but now that I’m happy with you-“ she turns to smile at her, receiving one in return, “and after almost crossing to the land of the un-living..” She scoffs a laugh as Judy slaps her arm with her free hand , “I’ve realised, as Henry said that you told him, life’s too short…”
Judy nods slowly and then shifts closer to lean her head on Jen’s shoulder. “So contact him.”
“Just like that?”
“Yeah, just like that.” Judy’s hair tickles her chin as she talks with her mouth and hands, “don’t think about it too much, just do it before it might be too late.”
Jen gradually comes around, she’s right, she always is. She needs to take a leap, like she did with Judy and look how that paid off. It’s not as if she’s commuting to a full daughter dad relationship just by sending a text, or calling, maybe a calls better…she’ll decide tomorrow. Or whenever she decides to do it, she can’t leave it too late though, like Judy says, just do it.
“You’re right.” Jen confirms with a kiss on her head.
“Course I am.”
Jen snorts lightly, gently moving Judy’s face around to look at her with her palm, “cocky..”
Judy leans up to kiss her, “you love it.”
*
“Rose…”
“Rose!! Yess! Good girl!”
They’re teaching her recall. Judy has her on a longline and Jen’s got treats and her favourite orange rubber stick toy that squeaks. The boys have chosen to ‘opt out’ of this stage in Rose’s growth, Henry going over to play Just Dance at Shandy’s house and Charlie going to a football match with his friends. Yet Rose still chooses to listen to them over Jen herself, it’s not like she can even be mad because of that cute little fucking face, reminding her of someone else she knows oh so well. She turns to Judy, who’s managed stay dry and completely, perfectly clean unlike Jen because guess who had to go get Rose out of a muddy puddle?
“Throw the ball for her Jen, she just came back to me then hopefully she will with you too.” Judy hands her the thrower and slots the ball inside.
“I somehow doubt that…” Jen mutters before throwing the ball, it goes a lot further than Judy’s and once Rose reaches the ball she gets distracted by a dandelion blowing in the wind.
“Aww Jen look!” Judy points, giggling as she watches Rose from a distance, she takes out her phone to capture a quick video.
Jen can’t help but smile, “I guess I’ll go get the ball then…”
Judy tugs on the line and calls Rose and after two shouts she comes running over on her little legs to get a treat from Judy, a few moments before Jen returns carrying a wet and muddied tennis ball. Her index finger and thumb grip it reluctantly, “ew,” and she waves it in the air to try at somehow get the mud off. Judy reaches forward and takes it to put in her pocket, drying the mud off on her coat.
*
Jen unlocks her phone after letting it turn off for the hundredth time, she really should’ve asked Judy to stay instead of taking the boys shopping, at least then one of them could’ve distracted her from the impending phone call with her dad or provided an excuse for it to be cut abruptly short. She sighs, she doesn’t even know why she’s so worked up about this, it’s her dad, after all, there’s still a bike rising in her throat though as she hovers over his number.
Just do it.
Jen ruffles Rose’s fur as she brings the phone up to her ear, she’s laid asleep in her lap snoring lightly. It reminds her of Rosie and how she would curl up in bed next to her while she was doing school work, when she’d stretch she’d crumble the papers or kick over her pencil case so pens and highlighters flooded out on the bed. So much for not letting Rose up here, she still doesn’t sleep with them though and she’s not changing her mind on that.
After a few rings and a moment where Jen thinks she might just fuck it and hang up, there’s a clicking noise on the other end of the phone and an unfamiliar voice answers.
“Jen, hi…”
At least it isn’t Jennifer…
“Hey…”
There’s a long pause and then Fred clears his throat. “How are you?”
“Good, I mean-“ maybe starting with the accident isn’t the best choice but…”in recovery from a car accident but still going strong…” she says a little sarcastically, he doesn’t laugh.
“You were in a car accident?” He says shocked, concerned.
“Yes, some-“ fucking bastard she wants to say, but Fred never liked swearing. “Someone hit us and drove away, they’ve only just sentenced him, I was in hospital for a little bit…” She trails off, “Judy looked after the boys.” She says, only then realising Fred probably doesn’t even remember Judy, and she never told him of anyone else after Ted. “We’re together now…” she adds before he can ask.
“You and Judy?” Fred repeats, probably for confirmation as Jen had practically thrown a hundred things at him at once, hitting him like waves to sand castles, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed. Jen understands that and takes a breath to cool herself off anyway, she can be mad at him for not calling to ask about her life.
“Yeah, she’s really been here for me after everything that’s happened, she’s my rock ya know?” Jen says, “it’s Judy Hale by the way, do you remember her? From when I was younger?”
Fred hums, “bangs? Short? Loves to draw?”
Jen nods then remembers she’s on the phone, “yep, that’s her, still all of those things…” She says, smile evident in her tone.
Again there’s a silence, until Fred says “I’m glad you both found each other again, although the accident? Jen? You should have called…”
“Well it wasn’t that big of a deal, I didn’t need to worry you.”
“You were in hospital!”
“Yeah, and I came out a week or so later with nothing more than a few memory problems and a broken wrist…”
She’s aware she could have worded it better than that. “Memory problem? Oh Jen…”
“It’s fine!” She assures, “I’m fine now, at first-“
And she tells him everything what happened, how there was a bleed on her brain and sometimes she forgot how to do the simplest of tasks. How Judy had to pick the kids up from school and take them everywhere even though she almost had panic attacks whenever she was near a car alone, never mind driving one. He asks questions not just about her but the kids and Judy too. It’s quite nice talking freely with him like this, they haven’t done this in god knows how long. The months after Samantha’s death had been strained, and after that it’d just gotten to the point where they were like two ends of the same thread, living in the same space and eating the same food but never really connecting or talking like they used to. Like parallel lines.
Usually the conversation veers off to Stefanie and her son, how she’s cooking dinner tonight for us or we’re going on vacation soon, off to the Canary Islands, yet Fred doesn’t mention her once. She doesn’t ask either, she thinks maybe he’d prefer it that way? But she doesn’t know honestly.
“Oh, I think Judy and the boys just got back…” Jen comments when she hears the door open downstairs and Rose clambers off her lap to go and greet them. The laughter that comes next confirms it’s them.
“Say hello to them for me.” Fred says.
“Well-“ Jen sighs, just do it. “Maybe you could tell them yourself?”
Fred asks what she means, and she blurts out before thinking it over, “let’s meet up sometime soon, Saturday?”
“Oh!” Fred sounds startled, and Jen clenches her fists together, it should be him asking her to meet up, he’s the parent, but she’s also aware that if he did she may not have agreed, most likely wouldn’t have. “Okay, umm-“ he stammers a little, “this Saturday?”
“Yep.”
“Well, alright then.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes… you’ll bring Judy and the children?”
“I’ll ask them yeah, I’ll text you where?”
She isn’t sure she wants him in her home yet, judging eyes and all. Even if he is her dad. Also, if Stefanie comes then she doesn’t want her anywhere near, there’s nothing wrong with her, except for the fact she’s a little stuck up, from what she’s gathered from photos. And, she’s not her mom.
“Okay.”
“Right then,” Jen stands up, ready to greet the kids and Judy. “Bye.”
“Goodbye.”
Well…
*
They arrange to have food in a Thai restaurant in Laguna so Fred is travelling over and staying in a hotel the night before, Judy asked if she wanted to let him stay at theirs but it was just too soon. Fred didn’t even ask to anyway. The week leading up to Saturday is chaotic, Lorna’s been in her ear about a new estate that they’re competing for, she’d almost make Jen flirt with the owner to make it go their way until she saw he was at least 70. Lorna had done the flirting instead and honestly it’s scarred Jen for life.
Judy’s signed Rose up for doggy day care as work needs her back doing classes every day, she’s been working from home on days Jen wasn’t since they’d adopted Rose because there was no one to take care of her and she’s only 18 weeks and a mischievous so and so even when they are at home. Jen can’t imagine leaving her in their pristine house alone, where even at a young age with her tiny legs she can hop on the counter and steal their cereal, they’d moved it right to the top after catching her downstairs one morning, Cheerios spilled out across the counter and floor.
And, they finally got to meet the girl Charlie has been fawning over for the past month of two. She’s called Natalie, has gorgeous, curly red hair and is vegan, she gets on with Judy very well. They had her over for dinner Thursday night and Jen was pleasantly surprised, she’s certainly nicer than Parker who he’d brought round once, she’d done nothing but subtly insult her cooking (which to be fair wasn’t all that but still) and complain about everything. Natalie’s sweet, she’s into animals and wants to be a vet, she’s already decided to go to university to study Animal Sciences, she doesn’t leave Rose alone that night and vide versa. She watches a movie with them afterwards and gets a lift home from her dad. All in all the night was perfect, none of them had embarrassed Charlie too much, except Henry when he teased him about getting out the family photo album.
Friday night is pizza night and Judy brings it home from work with her to three starving Harding’s, they sit in the living room and watch The Masked Dancer, sharing the large margarita pizza, garlic bread and carton of fries placed on the coffee table.
“Can you guys stop?” Charlie says, disgust and embarrassment laced in his tone as he sends a scoff their way.
“What, so you can kiss your girlfriend but I can’t kiss mine?” Jen teases, leaning further into Judy’s side.
“Well were tryna watch something…” Charlie says, reaching for the remote to turn the volume up.
Judy giggles and takes Jen’s hand, “follow me…”
Jen frowns, “what?”
Judy stands up and stretches, not so accidentally putting a smear of tomato sauce over her outfit,“oh would you look at that…” she says, and Jen bites her lip to stop herself laughing at how ridiculous she looks. Judy slaps her hands against her thighs when she brings her arm down, “I better go change… be right back!”
Jen smirks and her eyes follow Judy as she heads out of the living room, hears her trodding upstairs quickly. With Charlie and Henry arguing over who they think the dancer behind the mask is, she takes the last bite of her pizza and stands. “I better help her…”
When Jen walks in the room, Judy’s laid on the bed in a red bralette and blue jeans that she wore to work, the tomato covered floral blouse discarded on the floor, Jen steps over it with a smirk.
“Well hey there…”
Judy cocks her head to the side and leans backwards on her palms, “we better hurry I told them we’d be right back-“
Jen stops her halfway through her sentence by straddling her legs, quickly stripping herself of her own shirt and leaning in for a searing kiss. Judy moans immediately, hands going to steady Jen’s waist.
“Better take this off then,” Jen says, reaching her fingers around Judy’s back to i strap her bralette, leaning it up to Judy to pull the straps down her arm. She does, flinging it to the side and then falls back against the bed, it rocks loudly and Judy scoffs a laugh before tugging Jen back in. Lips bruise against the others, cheeks redden because it’s spring and it’s fucking boiling. Jen’s own palms are sweaty and she runs them along Judy’s Jen’s, gripping her thighs. Judy leans back up and shifts Jen so that she’s sat closer to her, she can feel a heat throbbing between her legs and she smiles knowingly before leaning to trail open mouthed, breathy kisses along Jen’s breasts, removing her bra naturally as she does.
Judy’s gotten into the habit of complimenting her body every time they do this, and Jen never gets tired of hearing the way she says it so genuinely, “you’re beautiful”, “they’re perfect”, “incredible”. Jen reaches to unzip Judy’s jeans and pulls them down to her ankles before, after a struggle-they’re skinny fit, finally tossing them down by the bed, her underwear coming with them. Jen leans forward, hand expertly trailing down from Judy’s breasts to her stomach, where she pushes her back on the bed with a grin, and then down into her slick wetness. Judy’s eyes roll instantly and she exhaled a shuddering breath, telling Jen to “keep going”.
Both are exhausted once they’ve finished, yet feel as if they could continue all night if they had the strength, maybe years ago they would have. For now, Jen’s content with cuddling into Judy’s warm body for a few more minutes before going back downstairs to the boys. The episode of The Masked Dancer has probably finished now and the food will be cold, they can stick it in the microwave though. Missing out on sloppy takeaway pizza was well worth it.
*
“Does this look okay?”
For the seventh time that morning, Judy pulls back the closet door to show Jen her outfit, spinning around to show her the full view.
“Jude, for the hundredth time, you look fine, just as you did in those other outfits you tried on…” Jen remarks while tying a necklace around her neck.
Judy huffs, tugging at the sleeves. “I know it’s just…”
Jen goes over to stop her fluttering hands, “baby, you look beautiful, I doubt my dad cares what you wear.”
Judy nods but itches to change the way something looks, hands tense in Jen’s and the light squeeze she receives back eases her paranoia. “I just wanna look the best I can today, the last time he saw me I was a ratty kid with greasy hair and-“
“You were never ratty…” Jen tugs on her arm with a frown. “He never thought bad of you Judy none of us did.” Jen says, knowing that this is what her fussing is really about, she feels like she needs to make the perfect impression to remove any other image he remembered in his head, with her messy bangs and torn clothing.
“I want him to see I’ve made something of myself and I’m not that…” poor, helpless, trapped, “little kid with a drug addict for a mom, a shitty waitressing job and practically no plan for the future…” Judy says, and she’s so close to tears and it makes Jen’s heart ache, she thought Judy had accepted her past, not forgotten it but at least realised her worth no matter how awful her childhood was.
Jen drops one of her hands and leads her to their bed, dropping down and turning to Judy. “I mean, I did like the waitressing job…” Judy says with a sniffle, the back of her hand coming to wipe her nose.
Jen wraps one arm around Judy and rubs her shoulder. “Judy, even back then you were one of the kindest, smartest, genuine people my parents knew, they worshipped the ground you walked on because well-“ Jen shrugs, “I did, and still do.” Her hand dries the tear sliding down Judy’s face and lingers there afterwards, caressing lovingly.
“Did he ‘approve’ of Ted?” Judy asks, “you know like we approve of Natalie…”
Jen smiles softly at hearing the latter part of that, it shows how far Judy’s come in knowing that she is an equal part of the boys’ life as Jen is. She gazes for a second in thought, then clears her throat and answers, “I can probably count the amount of time he met him on one hand, but he said he seemed like a safe guy to go with, Ted’s music impressed him and he liked that he was a present father but, they didn’t know each other really, he just found that Ted was a decent enough person for me to be with.” Jen explains, she remembers him finding out about his death with probably the same nonchalance he did when he found out they were together, and when he got the news about their engagement.
Judy nods slowly, pulling Jen’s arm around her further.
“You don’t have to impress him though because at the end of the day, I don’t care what he thinks, you shouldn’t either…” Another nod, followed by a deep sigh prompts Jen to add “but I know you do care, so I’m glad you opened up about it to me.” Jen says with a soft kiss, breathing a sigh of relief when she feels Judy smile into it. Jen turns around then to check the time, it’s just gone 11:30 and they’re meeting for lunch at 1:00.
“I love you.” Judy half pouts, half smiles, the latter growing when Jen says it back before planting a kiss on Judy’s awaiting lips.
…
There’s a tension so thick you could cut it with a knife, moments before entering the restaurant, Jen isn’t sure whether they’ll be the first ones there or whether her dads already inside, but one thing he always prided himself on was his punctuality, so she has a feeling he’ll have been sat there for a good few minutes already. The boys go ahead to read the menu displayed on the door and Jen tugs Judy’s hand back, frowning deeply.
“Are you okay?”
Jen shrugs, “this is weird isn’t it?” She scoffs, “god it’s fucking weird Jude I don’t even know what I’m gonna say to him-“
Judy wraps Jen up into a hug to stop her rambling, and while resting her chin on Jen’s shoulder she assures her everything will be fine, and if it isn’t them they can leave straight away and either try again later, or not, Judy makes sure Jen knows that no one is forcing her to stay, the ball’s in her court, as they say.
Jen heads inside first, Judy at her side and the boys walk closely behind. She’d spoken to them about this and both were compliant, Henry more eager than Charlie but that’s what they expected. A waitress greets them and once Jen gives her name she leads them into a family table in the corner, a figure with his back to them already waiting there. Jen doesn’t stop in her path as she walks over there, if she did she probably wouldn’t go through with it, it’s now or never, quite literally, and she clears her throat once she gets to the table feigning confidence.
“We’ll be right over with a drinks and starters menu…”
Judy quietly thanks the waitress and a smile graces her face as she ushers Henry and Charlie in the booth, she climbs in next and then Jen sits across from Fred, they still haven’t said a word to each other and Judy nudges her leg under the table.
With a light squeeze from Judy, Jen opens her mouth to say something, Fred beats her to it.
“Hello Jen, you’re looking well.”
Jen nods tight lipped, “thanks, you too.”
It’s a normal thing to say right?
Freda eyes roam to the boys and then Judy, politely bowing his head in greeting. “This must be Henry and Charlie, my grandsons.”
Jen nods again. “Yes, Charlie and Henry.”
Henry waves enthusiastically and Charlie raises his eyebrow, “sup.”
“It’s good to see you again, sir-“
Fred pats Judy’s hand, “Judy, Fred, please…”
“Right, course. Well, thank you for paying for lunch it’s very kind…” Judy replies, “Boys if you wanna choose you’re drinks and starters and we can get ordering…”
Jen grabs a menu, fuck this is awkward, and her eyes scan the options slowly. She knows already what Judy’s gonna have, she’ll go for-
“I think I may have the spring rolls.”
Knew it.
“Me too, can I get mine non vegetarian though?” Charlie asks, leaning back into the seat after he’s decided to go on his phone.
“Henry?” Jen asks.
“I’ll have the same, with chilli sauce!”
Jen nods, “right, I’ll get the-“
“Oo those look look.” Fred points to something Henry’s suggesting while showing him a menu and Jen peers over, those do look good.
“I’ll get those.”
Jen doesn’t like spring rolls and the waitress is already heading over to take their order so she agrees to get the same, Thai chicken satay, the limiting time being the only reason…
Drinks come quickly and Jen’s glad Judy’s agreed to drive home so she can have a glass of wine, only one though, she’s not prepared to look like an alcoholic in front of her dad. The wine runs down her throat, and after a few sips it loosens her up, just a little, enough to contribute to the conversation happening between Henry and Fred about music. He’s telling Fred about holy harmonies, of course, and how he’s had many solos.
Halfway through their starter, which is delicious and they need to come here more often Jen tells Judy, Henry asks Fred if he has a partner or lives with anyone, Jen perks up at that because she’s kinda intrigued why Stefanie hasn’t waded her way into this family outing yet. She takes a sip of wine and side eyes Judy.
“…Stefanie and I aren’t together anymore.” He finishes with and Jen frowns, seriously?
“Why not?” She asks, a little forwardly and her cheeks colour in embarrassment.
Fred huffs a laugh, “well she and I wanted different things, she started talking about having another kid-adopting and I just didnot want the same.”
Stefanie was like a decade or so younger than him so it made sense that they butted heads at some point, Fred is rational, calm, dull sometimes even, while Stefanie seems outgoing and adventurous, Jen had slightly stalked her Facebook account and seen photos of all sorts; her climbing Kilimanjaro, her scuba diving, her and her son with elephants in Mexico. They’re polar opposites, like her and Judy in a way but her and Judy actually work, they love each other. There’s no way Fred loved Stefanie like he did Samantha and deep down both parties knew that.
“So you’re living alone now? That’s sad.” Henry says outrightly.
“It’s quite nice actually. No one bosses you around, nags you, no one to clean up for except yourself” Fred replies with a small smile.
Charlie pipes up then, “I agree, sounds nice…” he says eyeing Jen and Judy with a sarcastic grin.
“Yeah but guess what, you actually have to cook for yourself and clean for yourself and do laundry too, ain’t that right da-“ Jen stammers halfway through the three letters, the tiny word that means so much more than dad, something she hasn’t said (or even thought) in so long. Judy feels her unease and takes her hand under the table, her thumb tracing soothing circles on her knuckles. She’s so glad she doesn’t have to do this without her.
Fred senses the tension too and chimes in quickly to avoid the awkwardness, “that is true…”
The waitress brings over their mains then, providing another distraction Jen’s glad of, not just because of the colouring of her cheeks but because she’s starving and didn’t have breakfast that morning, even though Judy made her signature banana and chocolate chip pancakes Jen usually drooled over. They’re so good. Judy must have been a chef in her past life, Jen often says.
“This shit is spicy.” Charlie says fanning his mouth.
Jen agrees, she’s ordered the same curry as him and her mouth is fucking on fire, still, she doesn’t want Fred to know that he’s allowed to use language like that, especially around his elders. She glared at him across the table.
“Judy pass the Mayo please.”
Henry says afterwards, telling everyone how nice his own meal is which moves the topic swiftly on thankfully.
The boys head to the bathroom after eating, together with their phones meaning they’ll probably be sending snaps or playing games against each other until dessert comes, and Jen really needs to pee but she doesn’t want to leave Judy alone with Fred.
She tries holding it in but her mouth is still burning up, so she drinks the tap water the waitress brought over and ends up clenching her tights together desperately until she can’t hold it anymore. She stands abruptly, “I have to go to the bathroom, sorry, I’ll be as quick as I can.” Jen’s eyes land on Judy instinctively, and when Judy nods with a smile she figures they’ll be fine for a few minutes. She rushes to the bathroom anyways.
Judy takes a sip of orange juice, smacking her lips together in the silence Jen’s left behind. Usually she’d be chatting away about her life or asking the other how their day was, what they’re doing on the weekend, if they had pets… It’s different with Fred, like she’d told Jen, she wanted to impress him, wanted him to still like her even more so now she was with Jen. They’re so alike in the subtlest of ways, Judy studies the way there’s a near to permanent crease in between his brows, his button nose, the hair Jen definitely gets from her mom but Judy can see the resemblance between father and daughter more so as Jen’s got older. The way they’re both a little restrained is similar too, she always remembers how open Samantha was.
“So, how did you and Jen find each other again? It’s been, so long…” Fred says after a little bit, a softness to his voice Judy appreciates.
“We both met at a…” Judy scoffs a laugh, “a grief group-I know,” Judy nods at Fred’s raised eyebrows, “it’s the last place you’d expect to see Jen but, I think going there really helped her open up, eventually…” She adds with a laugh.
Fred smiles, “I’m glad you found each other again, I’m just sorry for whatever loss you went through beforehand…”
Judy’s eyes cloud a little, only a small amount of guilt creeps in her gut, it doesn’t settle like it used to, and maybe she’s forgiving herself for lying about Steve to Jen, she smiles, “thank you, I’ve had quite a few miscarriages, I just needed to find someone who felt grief ya know?”
Fred nods, “I know.”
Judy wants to say she’s sorry for Samantha but he probably doesn’t need that right now, instead she tilts her drink towards him in a sort of cheers. His glass meets hers with a clink, and he says “cheers” in the spirit, knocking back the remainder of his drink in one.
Turns out it wasn’t as bad as Jen was expecting, she’d actually had a good time and knew the kids and Judy had too. After dessert they’d chatted for a little while longer until calling it a day around 4, Charlie wanted to see Natalie so he’d been hinting at Jen since half 3. Fred walks out to the car with them and Jen allows him to hug her goodbye for a few seconds. They decide to not leave it too long before meeting up again, internally Jen thinks she’ll leave it to him to do the chasing since she’d set up this meeting. It’s up to him no whether they start to form a relationship again or not.
Judy tells her she’s proud of her. And says Samantha would be, Jen cries a little and knocks back another glass of wine before bed, not that she needs help sleeping after the day they’d had. Jen and Judy sit in bed without the tv that night, instead they talk about Fred and Samantha, even Eleanor comes up. Judy mentions maybe one day she’ll want to meet with her like Jen has, but she doesn’t predict it’ll be any time soon. Jen assures whenever she’s ready, if she’s ever ready, she’ll stand with her every step of the way. A text chimes from Jen’s phone before they’re about to turn the lights out and sleep, it’s from Fred and it reads,
Thank you for today Jen, I enjoyed meeting my grandchildren properly, they’re amazing young boys. You’ve done a superb job with them. I hope we can meet soon, perhaps over my side of town this time? There’s some great restaurants around that you’d all love.
Sleep well, thanks again.
You’ve got a good one with Judy, hold on to her. You’re mother would have been so proud.
Goodnight
-Fred
He signs off at the end formally as ever, and still Jen can’t help the single tear that slips down her face and onto the pillow after reading that.