Page 2 of Jael

“Getting your life together would be the best gift you could give to me.” Jael glanced at the clock on the wall and internally grimaced. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”

“Already?”

“I have a prior engagement I can’t miss.”

“Of course. You would be very busy helping others. I’m being selfish. I’m sorry.”

“Not at all.” Jael licked her lips instead of explaining that her appointment had nothing to do with helping anyone. “At least you can all rest well tonight. No one knows you're here except Hannah, myself, and the caseworker we contacted.”

“I don’t know if it’s possible to relax yet, but thank you anyway.”

“Lock all the windows, and deadbolt the door. It won’t be necessary; this is a good neighborhood. But it will make you feel better. If you need anything at all, you have my number. There’s enough food in the kitchen to last a few days at least, so if you’re not comfortable going out, there’s no need to leave the house.”

She stood and gave Jack a handshake, then rubbed Kaitlin’s head, eliciting a giant grin.

Becca walked her to the door and gave her an awkward hug.

“We’ll talk soon,” Jael said.

When the door was shut and the deadbolt engaged, she went to her car and drove around the block to a quiet stretch of road where she pulled over.

After confirming she had the road to herself, she took off her sneakers, then worked her jeans down her legs before bending with some difficulty to pull them all the way off. She reached for the slim skirt off the back seat, shaking it out before she wriggled into it.

All that was left was to touch up her makeup. With the mirror down, she added a brighter shade to her neutral lipstick but hesitated as she ran her finger under her bottom lip to tidy it up.Her lonely green eyes stared back at her. They were like Kaitlin’s, who had seen things way too young.

Her breathing became labored, but she jabbed at the mirror, flicking it up to sever the memories before they dragged her into a dank pit of despair. She didn’t have time to wallow in self-pity. Not when Becca genuinely feared for her life and the lives of her kids.

Pulling back onto the road, she focused on the street ahead and steeled herself for the meeting that lay ahead.

Catalina was not the trendiest restaurant in the city, but it served the highest clientele with the best service. Anyone who was anyone dined there.

Jael pulled to a stop at the front door and slipped on a pair of silky white stilettos before stretching her long limbs to the curb. She handed the valet her keys and wasted no time entering the restaurant. She was already late.

He was at his usual table. He liked things to be a certain way and had the financial bulk to pull it off. Whatever Gregory wanted, Gregory got. Even at eighty years of age.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said as she leaned down to kiss her dad’s cheek. He’d been in his fifties when she was born, and most people who didn’t know them assumed he was her grandfather.

“Traffic?” he said, looking amused, like when a cat plays with its prey.

“A little.” She sat across from him, tucking her knees neatly under the white tablecloth before shaking out the napkin and placing it in her lap.

“How was your morning?” He opened his menu and, before she could respond, said to himself, “I think I’ll have the duck today.” Then he looked up at her, waiting for her reply.

“It was fine.” She straightened her fork, then opened her own menu to avoid his gaze.

“I take it you were doing work for the foundation?” This was meant as a jab. She knew the tactic well. When she was a girl, and she saw her mom taking a sleeping pill early in the afternoon, Jael would often say,“Are you having one already?”Her tone was always silky with innocence, but her meaning was clear.

“Yes, Dad. I was doing work for Vita Nova.”

He nodded, his eyes drifting back to the menu. “It takes up a lot of your time. Makes you late for your other responsibilities.”

“Isn’t it better to be late because I was helping people instead of because I got caught up playing tennis or getting my nails done?” She fisted her left hand and dropped it into her lap when she remembered she’d chipped a nail carrying Becca’s bags into the house. He would notice.

“I suppose, if that’s how you want to look at it. Should I order the duck for you as well?”

She nodded, setting her menu aside. If she let him choose her meal, it would give him the sense of control he needed in order to let the matter drop. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

The waiter approached with a bottle of wine. “Jael, it’s good to see you again. We always enjoy having you and your father with us. Gregory?” He said, turning to her dad. “I believe this is the vintage you were referring to.”

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