Page 23 of Stranger Gifts

“I wish that were true,” she said. “My parents were so poor at that time they didn’t even have the money to submit my college applications. I knew that I needed to go to work and help support them. But if I took a job, I wouldn’t be able to support them and myself. The convent seemed logical.

“I was a devout Catholic, so were my family members. The convent allowed you to live there rent free and when I became a nun, all of my small salary went to them. It was enough for a while, then everything just crumbled.”

“I’m sorry,” he said reaching for her hand again. He hovered above her, then pulled back but this time, Jenna reached for him.

“We shouldn’t be afraid to touch when we’re old friends,” she said. He nodded, smiling at her.

“I’m sorry about what happened to you, Jenna but I’m so glad I’ve found you again. I’ve thought of you many times over the years.”

“Same,” she smiled. “I had a terrible crush on you when I was in high school.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” he asked.

“We were such friends, buddies almost, I didn’t want to ruin that. All the girls wanted to date you and they were so beautiful and dressed perfectly. I was the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks.”

“No. No, you weren’t,” he said shaking his head. “You were my best friend and I had a crush on you as well.” He squeezed her hand and she smiled, nodding at him.

“Funny how the world works, isn’t it. All those missed opportunities for us and look at us now.”

“We’re the same people, Jenna.”

“No. No, I’m not,” she said. “What that man, those men, did to me left me a shell of myself. I’ll never be alright again. Never.”

She stood quickly and walked down the path toward the river. He started to follow and felt the cool hand at his shoulder.

“Let her have some time to think,” said the ghostly figure of Nathan. “What happened to her didn’t just destroy her as a woman but destroyed her faith. That’s not easy for a woman who was a nun.”

“I care for her, Nathan.”

“I know you do. You must let this happen in its own time. Do not rush her or she may leave and place herself in more danger. Did you speak with Winter and Hiro?”

“No,” he said shaking his head. “Not yet.”

“Do it now,” said Nathan.

“I’m getting orders from a ghost,” he smirked. Nathan nodded as Franklin, Yori, Archie, Grip, and the other male ghosts appeared. “Okay, okay, I get it. I’m getting orders from all the ghosts.”

“Not all,” smiled Yori. “The women have chosen not to push you. Yet.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. The last thing I need is Martha haunting me in the middle of the night.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“I wondered when you might come and see us,” smiled Winter. “Did Yori send you?”

“Yori, Nathan and the others. I don’t want to bring up painful memories for you, Winter.”

“They will always be painful memories, Nash but I’ve learned to handle them. I can thank Hiro for that,” she said smiling at her husband.

“I want to help her.”

“You are helping her,” said Hiro. “You’re here for her. You’re not threatening her and you’re being patient. Just keep doing that.”

“But she seems almost worse than when she got here.”

“She is,” nodded Winter. “She’s worse because Bree and Ashley are forcing her to speak about it. Every time she relives that day, the wounds open again and bleed.”

“Then why make her relive it?” he asked, frustrated by it all.

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