Page 24 of Loving Justice

Ness pressed her finger on a crumb on the table and swiped it off onto her plate. “Ilene misses you, Jinx. She’s also strong-minded. She would have hitchhiked here if I didn’t bring her.”

“Probably so. I look at her and I see myself. I was bored in school. I wanted to be out and doing the things I loved.”

“She’ll be okay though. She will be, she just needs to feel comfortable pursuing the things that make her happy.” Ness’s shoulders dipped. “I’ve decided I will be moving, Jinx. It’s time. Ilene is mostly self-reliant now. If I don’t go now, I might never go.” Moisture filled her eyes.

“You should go. You’ve done a lot for Ilene, and me, and now it’s time for you to do something just for you.”

She nodded. “But what will you do? Are you still considering selling the farm?”

He scrubbed the tightness from his jaw. “I think I will need to. I’ll have to find a place near here.”

"Is she going to switch schools?" Ness asked, her concern evident.

"I truly believe a new environment might help her. We need to make some changes."

“Maybe you’re right. Good luck in telling her the news.”

His gut twisted. She wouldn’t like being told she’d be moving from the only home she’d ever known.

“We’re back,” Ilene announced when she and Justice returned. “What’s wrong with you two? Please don’t tell me you’re discussing me and more punishment,” Ilene moaned.

“No, we weren’t.” Jinx chuckled.

“Thank you for having us, Justice, but we should be heading back to Catskills. I need my beauty sleep.” Ness yawned.

“I’d feel much better if someone would reconsider and give me the keys to unlock my prison cell,” Ilene said, directing her unenthusiastic tapered gaze toward Jinx.

“Better get home and start writing,” he said evenly.

Sighing, Ilene turned to Justice. “Thank you for the tacos. You should consider dating my brother because he could use a good—”

“Ilene!” Ness blurted.

She smirked. “He could use someone with logic to help him understand women better. What did you think I was going to say?” She was utterly oblivious.

“When you have time, come back. You can ride the horses, and we can sightsee,” Justice offered.

Ilene’s eyes glistened. “Really?”

“Yes, if Jinx and your aunt say it’s okay.”

Ilene looked at each of them. “Can I?”

“I don’t see why not,” Jinx said.

All four walked to the front porch, and Ness and Justice stayed back, giving Jinx and Ilene a chance to talk one more time.

“I’m sorry about her,” Ness said in a whisper. “She’s wonderful, but she certainly is a handful. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to move, but I’ll have to force myself.”

“You’re planning to move?” Justice asked.

“I would love to!” she replied, her eyes sparkling with hope. “I’ve recently met someone special. After Jinx and Ilene’s mother passed away, I wanted to support the kids. I devoted myself to Ilene because Jinx was focused on his career. Although I’ve cherished my time with Ilene and loved being there for her, I am aware of the passage of time. She truly deserves a motherly figure who can help her through the hard teen years. While our bond is strong, I often feel out of touch with the important things to her.”

“I know taking a new path will be hard, but maybe it’s time. Ilene seems like a kid who needs to make decisions and choices independently.” Justice said from her own experiences growing up with a father who could be overbearing at times. “I’m sure Jinx would want you to be happy.”

“He tells me he does, but again he’d never tell me to stay.” She offered Justice a kind smile. “Thank you for tonight. I haven’t seen a smile like that on Ilene’s face in…well, too long. She loves horses.”

“She’s welcome any time.”

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