Chapter Fifty Four

“Oh really?”

Dorothea’s sarcastic drawl was the first thing to greet Jon as he came out of the bathroom in the guest house. Jumping slightly he looked up to see her leaning against the kitchen door, her arms folded in obvious disapproval.

“Just when things were starting to get quiet around here, you show up! Smart Jon, real smart!”

Rolling his eyes, he breezed past her to pull a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Hey Dot, nice to see you too.” Draining half the bottle in one long swallow, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and leaned against the counter top. “I can’t get anything done in town while all this media crap is going on so here I am!” Raising his eyebrows defiantly, he dared her to challenge him. To his surprise she merely shrugged.

“Okay, so you’re here for a few days I guess?”

Jon nodded, “Looks like it, the formal ‘announcement’”, inverting his fingers he grimaced, “is being released later this morning so things might get hectic again for a while.”

She bowed her head, quietly studying the ornate floor tiles they’d imported specially from France when they’d built the place. She murmured without meeting Jon’s eyes, “And then it’ll all be official I guess.”

“I guess so.” Jon nodded mutely; it was a strange feeling, like balancing on the edge of a cliff, afraid to step forward yet terrified to go back. A strained silence hovered between them as they both took in what was about to happen in their lives.

Dorothea eventually looked up with a small sigh. “Jessie stayed home from school today; he doesn’t want to go back until things calm down.”

“I don’t blame him, I’ll spend some time with him later, make sure he’s doing okay with all of this,” taking another swallow of water he tossed the empty bottle in the trash. “How about Jake and Romie?”

“They seem okay, the school’s been great about keeping an eye on them”, she eyed Jon somewhat hesitantly, “Have you talked to Steph today?”

“No, not since yesterday morning. I’m gonna head over there now while everything’s quiet.”

“Can you bring her laptop with you? I forgot it last night.”

Jon nodded, inwardly wondering why she was refusing to meet his eyes again. “Sure, she was okay last night?”

“She was fine, just fine. I’ve got some stuff to do in the house; can you call over for it before you go?” She started to turn for the door, hastily ending the conversation. Jon eyed her with suspicion, something wasn’t right here.

“Dot, is everything alright?”

“No Jon, of course everything is not ALRIGHT! How can it be?” Running her hands through her long dark hair that hung loose around her shoulders, she snapped in frustration at him. “I’ve gotta go, I’ll see you later.”

He stared after her, watching as she marched down the path, hair swinging behind her. At one time in their lives, he could have read her every mood like a book. These days, it was pot luck and more often  than not he got that wrong. Turning back to the counter he grabbed the keys to the studio. At least he was guaranteed some peace and quiet there.

~~~~~~~~~~

Taking her foot off the accelerator, Jenn let the car slow to a gentle cruise down the road. Checking the directions once again, she silently cursed as they made no sense whatsoever. Damn Paul and his stupid sense of direction! Scrunching the paper into a ball with her fist, she flung it to the seats behind her and hit the accelerator again. She had to be close, she was sure she was on the right road, the river glistened to her left which according to Paul’s directions, meant the house should be on her left anytime now. Trouble was, he had forgotten to specify exactly which house it was. She had passed several huge sets of electric gates with imposing avenues leading off to mansions just hidden from the naked eye. None of them unfortunately had given her any clue that they might be the one she was looking for.

Continuing down the road she contemplated pulling over to ask one of the several people out jogging until she spied a small cluster of people taking pictures at the next gateway. Straining her eyes, she slowed back to a crawl as she struggled to figure out exactly what they were doing. Her heart skipped a beat as she realised they were tourists, happily posing for shots and laughing as they swapped places behind each other’s cameras. This had to be it.

Indicating left, she cautiously pulled up before a magnificent set of wrought iron gates, her heart beating a little faster as the group of tourists started squealing excitedly and snapping pictures of her car. Sweet Jesus what in hell am I doing here? From a quick glance she reassured herself that there didn't seem to be any reporters among the group, she had completely forgotten that yesterday there was a load of them camping out here. Desperately scanning the brick pillars she spied a discreet keypad nestled in the one on the driver’s side. She really hadn’t thought this through at all; she was going to look a right idiot if Dorothea refused to let her in. Pulling the car as close to the pillar as she could, she stuck her arm out and nervously hit the call button. As she waited for a response, she noted the small security cameras perched atop each gate pillar. She could already feel eyes on her and they didn’t belong to the excited people behind her still getting snap happy with their cameras.

Just as she was about to admit defeat and back the car up, a stern voice crackled over the intercom.

Yes?

Her mouth dried up as nerves threatened to overcome her and she stuttered to get the words out.

“Eh…it…it’s Jenn…….Jennifer….O’Neill?”

When her response was met with silence, she closed her eyes and silently prayed for an escape route. This was such a bad idea! Staring desperately at the gates, she held her breath. Chances were pretty good that Dorothea had a sniper trained on her right now. Suddenly without any further noise from the intercom, the giant gates started to silently open and glide inwards. Taking this as her cue to enter, she put her window back up and nosed her car through the opening gates. A quick glance in her rear view mirror showed the gaggle of tourists, all women she noted, eagerly running to the pillars to crane their necks for a better view as she made her way up the brick laid drive way. Tall trees proudly lined the avenue leading up the huge house, their discarded leaves carpeting the kerb on both sides in a brown and orange mat.

As the house loomed large in front of her, her first thoughts were how neat and tidy everything was. A perfectly square large area of cream bricks formed a large open space stretching the width of the house, framed by foot high box laurel hedging. Stone flower basins dotted the corners and the middle of the square giving an open plan feel to the grounds. Slowly rolling up to the end of the drive, she spotted cars parked through an archway to her left. Driving through she found herself in another bricked courtyard, flanked by garages and what seemed to be another wing to the main house. Recognising Dorothea’s car from the night before, she pulled up beside it and applied the parking brake before killing the engine. Now what? Nerves were charging around her bloodstream, even making her calves tremble as she slowly unclipped her seat belt. Remember what you came here for Jenn, pull it together! Berating herself, she stepped out of the car, zipping her coat up as the cold air hit her. As she turned to face the house, what appeared to be a back door of sorts opened and Dorothea emerged, her face stony and stern. She stood silently, offering no welcome of sorts as Jenn quickly strode towards her.

“Steph is not with you?” Dorothea’s face registered surprise as she looked over Jenn’s head towards her car when she reached the door.

“No, she’s busy with the horses.” Jenn instantly realised how she’d been admitted so easily at the front gate. “I came to see you, in private.”

“I see.” From her perch on the back step, Dorothea made an intimidating sight. “You better come in then.”

Standing back to allow Jenn past her, she closed the door and motioned for her to go through to the kitchen. Upon entering, Jenn was blown away by the sheer size of the room. Spacious and tastefully decorated, it was exactly the type of kitchen she’d always dreamt of her fantasy house having. Under normal circumstances, she would have been gushing forth with compliments but she was not here for small talk. Wheeling around, she waited for Dorothea to follow her in, breathing deeply to control her emotions.

“So?” Dorothea closed the kitchen door behind her and stood at the opposite end of the kitchen space to Jenn, arms folded and her face defiant.

“Whilst I don’t expect an apology for your behaviour last night, I most certainly do expect your reassurance that it will never happen again.” Jenn forced her voice to remain level and firm, her eyes never dropping their contact with Dorothea’s for a second. Her pulse quickened at the look of outrage that flashed across the older woman’s face. She had hit a nerve already it seemed.

“Putting our personal differences aside, I would hope for the sake of your daughter that she never has to witness a spectacle like she did last night.” She was gratified to see the look of outrage change to one of surprised guilt as Dorothea blinked back at her. “She made no mention of it, but I know she heard every word that was exchanged between us last night and for me, that is unacceptable.”

Pausing for breath she held up a hand when Dorothea made to interject. “I’m not finished, you had your say last night, now I’m having mine. Quite frankly my relationship with Jon, is none of your business. Unless it directly affects you or your children, which up until last night it hadn’t, I don’t expect to ever have this conversation with you again. I highly doubt you and I will ever be friends, and I don’t need us to be but as adults, I would hope you can manage to be amicable. I’m prepared to make the effort if you are.” 

The little speech that she had rehearsed in her head on the drive over hadn’t come across nearly as well as she’d envisioned but judging by the rapidly changing looks on Dorothea’s face as she had rattled it off, it was having an impact of sorts. Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she waited for a response.

~~~~~~~~~~

Idly strumming a guitar, Jon’s musings were interrupted by the peal of his cell phone. Steph’s name flashed across the screen, instantly making him smile.

“Hey baby girl.”

“Hi Daddy, are you okay?” Her sweet concern instantly melted his heart.

“Sure I am, how you doin’?”

“Good, busy with the horses. Are you coming over here today?”

“Yep, sure am. Your Mom wants me to bring your laptop over.” Nestling the phone to his neck, he carefully put the guitar back on its stand. “In fact, I’m heading over there now. Anything else you want?”

There was a short pause before she replied. “You talked to Mom this morning?”

“Well yeah, I’m gonna stay here in Jersey for a few days. I saw her just a little while ago, why?”

“She didn’t say anything about last night?” The worry in her voice made Jon sit bolt upright in his chair. He knew something was up with Dot earlier.

“No she didn’t, what’s going on honey?”

Steph was silent on the phone causing Jon to urge a response from her. “Steph honey, whatever it is you know you can tell me.”

“I don’t want to cause any more trouble but….”

Jon’s face grew stormy and angry as he listened to his daughter recount what had gone on between Dorothea and Jenn the night before. While he knew he wasn't getting all the details, Steph told him enough for him to be able to figure out the rest.

“Steph baby, listen to me alright? I don’t want you to ever feel like you can’t tell me something. You’re not causing any trouble, I’m just sorry honey that you had to hear all that.” His calm voice betrayed the fury that was seething in his veins.

“Daddy honestly it’s okay, I’m just worried about Jenn. I don’t want her to go.”

“Go? Go where?” Panic was added to the mixture of emotions in his head as he fought to figure out what she meant.

“I mean I don’t want her to go home, she was so quiet after Mom left last night and again this morning. I’m afraid she might leave.” Steph’s voice quavered slightly.

Jon was on his feet now, reaching for his coat as he headed for the door. “Don’t worry Stephie, I’m on my way over there now, I’ll talk to her okay?” Her next words stopped him dead in his tracks.

“She’s not here Daddy, she said she had some stuff to do this morning and left about an hour ago. She didn’t say how long she’d be.”

Even more panic coursed through his body as he frantically ran through the possibilities in his head. She wouldn’t just pack up and leave, would she?  Pulling the door to the studio behind him, he soothed Steph’s fears with the promise that he’d find her. Ending the call, he speed dialled Jenn’s number only to swear in frustration as her voice mail message came through. Jamming the phone back in his pocket, he angrily stormed down the path to the main house. It was time to sort this out with Dot for once and for all.