Page 86 of The Making of Marnie Jones

“You can call him, you know.”

She gazed up dazedly at Matilda. “Call him?”

“You need to forgive him, otherwise it’ll eat you up inside.” Matilda pushed the dishwasher closed with a delicate push then pressed a series of buttons, eliciting a pleasant tune from the machine, and undoubtedly a promise to clean the dishes to the high standards of the Derks’s household. Anything less would be intolerable.

“What is it with you and my father?”

Mrs. Grant’s head snapped up. “None of your business, Missy Miss, and don't try to change the subject. I know you. Probably better than you know yourself, and you're missing that young man.”

Shewasmissing Jake. But she’d said hurtful things to him in her anger. “What is there to say?” He’d laid it out, and although she understood his motives, his actions still hurt. Precipitated by the hacking, everything that had happened since was overwhelming, and even though the interview with Jessica had gone well, it could’ve just as easily been a disaster.

“So let him do the talking. He does that for a living, right?”

There was no arguing with Matilda's logic. Maybe Marnie did have to be the one to make the first move.

Matilda was wiping down the last of the counters when Olivia returned to the kitchen, happiness radiating from her. “Uncle Jake says they’ve distributed clips to other networks. He says this’ll make it stop.” Her face clouded a bit. “I'm not sure what he meant, but he was happy, so I let him talk.”

“Happy?”

“Oh yeah. Apparently he's no longer suspended, but he said he’s taking a few days off work. He said we can spend tomorrow together, if it's okay with you.” She looked expectantly between the two women.

“Of course you can spend the day with him,” Matilda reassured her. “Maybe you can invite him here for lunch. I want to get to know your uncle. He seems like a fine young man.”

“He's the best,” Olivia gushed. “I mean…”

“You're right, he's one of the best men I've ever known.” Marnie injected quickly, although she hardly knew any men therefore the comparison was not truly fair. “May I borrow your phone? I need to call your uncle.”

Olivia handed over the phone without question. “Maybe we can watch a movie tonight?”

“Of course.” Olivia had less exposure to movies and television than her cohorts. As long as they monitored and measured her exposure, Marnie had no issue with the young woman enjoying herself.

Taking the cell phone into the library, Marnie hit redial. Jake answered on the first ring. “Olivia? Is everything okay?”

“It's Marnie, Jake, Olivia's fine.” She sat down heavily in one of the straight-backed chairs, pulling her legs to her chest, and resting her chin on her knees.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She tested out the word. “Yeah, I'm okay.”

“Except you don't sound okay.”

“How would you know?” She instantly regretted her sharp retort when his silence mocked her. Finally, she relented. “I called to thank you for sending Jessica my way. She was fair.”

“She's the best. I told Olivia they distributed the footage to the other networks. If they're interested, they'll run excerpts. You did a superb job, Marnie. You were articulate and convincing. Word’s gone out. They're going to leave you alone.”

The words were balm to her wounded soul. Maybe now she might ease up a little on her intense vigilance. “Thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me? I dragged you into this.” The pain was still clear in his voice.

“By doing what was best for Olivia. She's doing well, you know. She's got a long struggle ahead of her, but she’s safe.”

“For how long? Your father's offer of sanctuary is generous, but unrealistic. She can't live there forever.”

Nailed it in one.“What's the alternative? She's a nineteen-year-old woman/child with no education, no money, and no protection. You’re off to the opposite side of the earth at the drop of a hat.”

“That's not fair.” Hurt. Pain.

“Jake, you don't even have your own place. I’ve seen Jessica report from all over the world. Although I’ve never seen you report, I can only guess you have a similarly itinerant and nomadic lifestyle.”

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