In their apartment’s living room, Jenna stretched on her tiptoes, grasped Kevin’s face between her hands, and kissed the pout on his mouth.
“Kev, this will only take a few minutes. Come on, give me a smile, big guy.”
He kept his hands propped on his waist and those fabulous lips of his angled off center.
She grinned. “You’re kind of cute when you’re miffed.”
At last he relaxed and put his arms around her waist. “I’m not miffed.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “It’s just time to go. While you were getting ready, I made reservations.”
“You did? For where?”
“I’m not telling.” He winked. “But egg rolls and downtown are involved.”
“At Horton Plaza? You don’t like that place!”
“You do, though. I thought it might cheer you up.”
“Oh, Kevin, it sounds perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but we gotta go—like, now, or we won’t get to the movie in time.”
“Okay, okay. I just need five minutes. Ten, max. I have to call Erik and the twins.”
“Call them from the car.”
“I can’t.” She shook her head. “Kevin, Mom just left Dad! It’s not a car conversation.”
“Hey.” His voice a whisper, he lowered his face toward hers. “Pretty lady.”
All concerns drained from her on the spot. It was his magic—his nearness, his navy blue eyes zeroing in on her, the way he uttered his pet name for her. Like a magnetic field, they pulled her up and out from anxiety.
She smiled softly. “My true north speaks.”
“Yeah.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Listen. I love your folks. They’re the greatest. I’ve never known such support outside of the military. But, Jen. This junk happens. It’s called life. You just gotta keep on truckin’.” He leaned back with a grin. “And let me cheer you up.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
“But the thing is—”
He groaned his exasperation, rolling his eyes.
“Let me finish. The thing is, it’s my family.” She tapped his bicep. “It’s like your semper fee thing.”
“Semper fi. Long i.”
“I knew that.” Stupid Marines. “It means ‘always faithful.’ Same for the Beaumonts. I wouldn’t exactly be a loyal sister if I kept them in the dark about this, would I? It’d be like leaving them behind.”
Kevin growled and hugged her tightly. “You are goofy, Jenna Mason.”
“But you love me.”
“I love you. I’m crazy about you. Or maybe I’m just plain crazy.”
She nestled against him. Poor guy. He hadn’t grown up in a close-knit family. His divorced parents lived in Indiana, and he only had one sibling—a sister, much older—who lived in New Jersey. Even though they didn’t see much of each other anymore, Jenna still had good memories of her childhood with her siblings—the kind Kevin didn’t have, the kind that kept them tight through the tough times.
Eventually he would come to understand what family ties meant.
Jenna broke the news to Erik first.
“It’s about time,” he said.
“Huh?”
“Mom’s put up with Dad long enough.”
“Well, I agree he can be disrespectful, not showing up on time for things.”
“Or even at all. Beginning twenty years ago, with my ball games and your music recitals.”
“But it’s not like he has a girlfriend or beats Mom or doesn’t pay bills. You don’t think he has a girlfriend, do you?”
“When would he have time for one?”
“Yeah. Gosh! They’ve been married for thirty-two years! Thirty-three next month! They must love each other. Nobody stays married for that long.”
“Convenience, Jen. I remember helping Brett Abbott move his mom into the condo.” He referred to his childhood friend, Tandy’s son. “And then his sister’s wedding fiasco. What a mess. Mom was right there with Tandy through the whole thing. I’m sure she’d just as soon pretend everything was hunky-dory with her and Dad rather than go that route.”
“She can be an ostrich.”
“Exactly. I have to get to work. Thanks for calling. I guess.”
“I thought you should know.”
“I’ll call Mom.”
“Oh, Erik, it’s her birthday tomorrow, and they were going to San Francisco! After all this, do you think Dad will even remember?”
“Who knows? Who cares? Listen, Jen, this junk happens. Okay? You gotta let it go. Tell Kevin hi.”
And that was the end of her conversation with her big brother, her closest friend for most of her life. At least until they’d grown up and he started parroting her husband.
Guys.
She looked at the phone, hesitating to punch in the number. Her younger brother, Danny, could be squirrelly when it came to their dad. He’d say “putz” in one breath and “hero” in the next.
Did she want to bother?
Kevin was waiting. She’d save Danny for later.
What about Lexi?
Jenna blew out her frustration. Lexi had been born aloof. The two sisters hadn’t connected on an intensely deep level since Jenna was in third grade and Lexi in first. That was the year Danny was sick a lot and some bully attached himself like a fungus to Lexi until Jenna punched the kid during recess, breaking his nose.
Lexi was still aloof, except when it came to Danny or Nana and Papa.
Bingo. Forget both twins. Jenna hit the speed-dial number for Indio and Ben Beaumont.