“Tell ya what, kiddo, let’s do something, an experiment of sorts.” Jenny let her father lead her back through his front door, then stopped in the living room beside him. “You stand here.” He nudged her into a space only a few inches in front of him. “Now, what I want you to do is close your eyes, think of your kitchen, and then, when you’re ready, whisper to yourself where we’re going to go. I’ll hold your hand, and that way, you’ll take me with you.”
Fuck a duck. No way. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.
“I’m not ready, Dad.”
“You’ve always been ready, and as your father, it’s my responsibility to show you that you’re safe and completely in control of this. I know you’re nervous, and if you puke on me, I may chain react on you.” He winked. “Let’s go. Don’t think about it so hard you get spooked.”
“Get spooked? I’m fucking terrified out of my gourd, are you kidding me?”
“All the more reason to get it over with.” He held out his hand.
Jenny stared at his skin. A bit of age had left its mark, a small sunspot, a few wrinkles, but the same strong, safe hands she’d always trusted to catch her through life. “Are you sure about this?”
“I would never do anything to hurt the one thing in my life I truly care about. Now, off to your house. Get, get, get.”
She took his hand, let the warmth and trust she had in him seep through her, and took a deep breath. As she was told, she closed her eyes and pictured the antique baby-blue stove and matching refrigerator, the white farmhouse sink, the pale blue checkered curtains fluttering in the breeze.
“My kitchen,” she whispered.
Nothing happened. She didn’t move, she didn’t feel any whizzing, hear any loud whooshing rushes of air zapping past her. Just nothing.
“Open your eyes, darling. You did it.”
Her father’s voice was full of pride. When she did as she was told, Jenny opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She turned a full circle, taking in every inch of her beloved room, the one she spent hours in, baking and creating new sweet treats. “Oh, my Goddess. What? How? But we never even moved?”
“What did you expect? Some big tornado of a gust that was going to blow us here?” He chuckled. “It’s not that dramatic, sweetheart. You just decide when and where, and then…” He shrugged. “You go. Simple as that. Want to try again?”
Jenny grinned, nodding. “Can we? Will you come with me again?”
He lowered his head, his brow raised. It was a look she’d seen dozens of times over the last century at least. One that made her know she was ridiculous to question him. “Do you even have to ask? Of course.”
Jenny reached for his hand once more. “Lessy’s yard.”
“Well, hello, you two,” Bill greeted them.
Jenny opened her eyes and glanced around. “What did I do wrong?”
“I’m assuming you mentioned Lessy’s, but did you specify where?” her father asked.
“I said yard.”
He shrugged. “That’s okay. You’re in the yard, just the back instead of the front. I’m assuming you meant to be able to knock on the front door?”
“That’s all right. Here, sit down, join us.” Lessy pulled out two patio chairs, and Jenny and her father sat. “How in the world did you get her to try transporting, Mr. Von Zuzle? I’ve been trying since I moved here. This is awesome, Jenny. Think of all the places we can go now.”
“I don’t know about that yet. I can’t even end up exactly where I meant to. I think I’ve got a few things to learn. This is way harder than just driving,” Jenny replied. “How embarrassing.”
The patio door opened, and Bill’s friend walked through, holding a glass of juice. Jenny wanted to transport her way out of his view, but it was too late. His smile broadened.
Bill piped up. “Mr. Von Zuzle, this is a good friend of mine from back in Vermont. Joshua Englewoodie, meet Jenny’s father.
The men shook hands. “Englewoodie? That name rings a bell.” Her father tapped his lip, looking perplexed. “Have you ever been…yes… I read an article about you and your father. You have quite a corner on niche real estate deals. It’s nice to meet you, young man.”
I will not laugh. I will not laugh. I will not laugh.
Jenny bit the inside of her cheek and dug her nails into her palms. Nothing was helping. She turned away from the table, covering her mouth, trying to fake a cough to cover the gasp of air. It was a losing battle.
“Jenny, honey, are you all right?” her father asked. She shook her head but didn’t dare turn around. “Have you met this young fellow yet? The Englewoodies have an amazing reputation in the travel world. I bet he could tell you all about Hawaii, more than what’s in the book you’ve been reading. And if you go, you could visit Grandma Von Zuzle while you’re there. You know how much she’d love that.”
Jenny lost it. It was mean, wrong on about three different levels, rude, and insensitive. But not even the mention of her grandmother could rip her mind from the gutter. Lessy had already revealed that Joshua was particularly sore about growing up with a name that offered so many obvious jokes to be made against him. It didn’t stop her fit of laughter. The more she tried to stop, telling herself she was being an awful immortal being, the less she could contain herself.
“Jenny, what is so funny?” her father asked.
“You know, only someone as beautiful as you can get away with this.” Joshua’s voice was as smooth as honey, with a hint of teasing. But he’d stopped all laughter with one word.
Beautiful? Me?
Her chair started to turn, and she realized Bill was moving it back to face the table and the people around it, but mainly the one man across from her.
“Well, well, well. I take it you two have met already?” her father observed.
“Yes, sir. Under some rather embarrassing circumstances that I had to apologize for. I don’t think I’ve made the best impression on your daughter, although I believe she’s left quite a mark on me.”
“Me?” Jenny squeaked.
“Yes, you. Why would I say something like that and not mean it? Especially in front of your father.”
He wasn’t joking. The tone of his voice definitely held a fair amount of concern mixed with confusion. It reminded her how little she knew of him, but from what she’d pieced together, they would never have been in the same inner circles anywhere else in the world. She was too small town; he was big city. She was T-shirts and ponytails; he was designer labels. She loved working at the Assjacket Diner; he traveled the globe for a living. Given some time, Jenny was sure their list of differences could grow longer.
“Joshua, why don’t you tell me a little bit more about yourself, work, family, all the nitty gritty details a father should know about a young gentleman caller interested in his one and only daughter.”
“Dad?” She tried to squash the interrogation, which was embarrassing already, but to have it be so obvious, and in front of her friends… “What are you doing?”
“It’s fine. I’m flattered by the response, actually.” Joshua winked at her. “I’ve never met anyone’s father, at least not who I didn’t already know from business, that is. I think it’s charming. There’s something very classic, almost as if it’s a tradition.”
“Definitely not with the East Coast, especially New York, kind of women who have been texting all day and night since you got here, huh, bud?” Bill joked.
Women had been chasing Joshua while he was here? Who was she to think she’d ever be able to compete with the kind of crowd it sounded like he ran with? And she sure as hell didn’t want to join him there. Out all hours, clubbing, listening to loud music, wearing short dresses and pretty shoes that hurt to wear for more than a hot minute… Just the vision of that life gave her the chills.