Page 12 of Jolene's Justice

The woman laughed. The sound pierced through the buzzing in her ears, causing Jolene to flinch. “I see he didn’t tell you. Typical. He never could do anything right.”

Jolene turned her gaze toward Finch. His desperate, imploring expression twisted at her heart. She shut that shit down. “Is it true?” she asked, her voice sounding surprisingly steady despite her inner turmoil.

His gaze dropped to the floor with unquestionable guilt.

“Oh God,” she cried. She put her hand over her mouth, hoping to stifle the sobs that wanted to escape. Or the scream. At this point, it could go either way. She tried to keep her composure, but the weight of her emotions was too much to bear.

“Jolie.” Finch’s whispered use of her nickname made her feel sick. “Let me explain.”

She wanted to laugh. What was there to explain? He was married. The end. Oh God. She’d nearly slept with him. Another married man turning her into an adulterer.

Never again.

She threw her shoulders back and straightened her spine. She would not let this break her. “No. I don’t want to hear it.” With that, she turned around and fled down the hall to her room. She heard his voice calling her name, but she kept moving forward. She barely made it inside before the waterworks started.

Chapter 7

Duringthecarrideto Jolene’s father’s house, the only sounds were the hum of the engine and the occasional passing car. Jolene’s eyes were glued to the window as they drove down Summervale’s main thoroughfare. She tried to focus on the sights outside rather than Finch’s presence beside her.

Nothing much had changed. The pizza joint they used to go to after school was still there, just as she remembered it. The neighborhood fitness center seemed to be thriving. Jolene had never been there because the large windows gave her the feeling of being trapped in a fishbowl. The thought of someone watching her struggle during her workout had always made her uncomfortable.

The real estate office was cluttered with posters of properties for sale. Jolene would stop to look at them whenever she was in town. It had been nice to dream about what her future house would look like. Although she loved her cottage in Lake Haven, it didn’t quite match the dream she used to envision. There was no husband to welcome her home after a long night at the restaurant. No kids making her laugh with their silly antics. It was nice, but empty. Kind of like her.

They soon passed by the high school stadium where her first kiss had been bestowed upon her in eighth grade. Grady Smith had been the first guy to make her swoon and wouldn’t be the last. She’d lived for that swoony feeling as she’d looked for “the one.” Maybe that was her problem. Grady had made her feel special, and her heart had pounded in anticipation of that first kiss. That kiss had left her with a fluttery, happy feeling that swirled inside her for days. It didn’t last long. He was the first person to break her heart.

When the guy she’d been crushing on for most of her senior year asked her to the senior prom, her stomach had filled with a swarm of butterflies. Turned out he’d only asked her because he thought she’d be an easy lay. She broke his nose when he’d gotten too handsy.

Then there was Harrison. He’d given her all the feels. The stomach flutters. The pounding heart. The intense anticipation of all the firsts. She’d experienced them all with him. She’d given him her virginity. She’d given him her heart. And he’d betrayed her in the worst way imaginable.

When Finch came along, she’d fought the feelings he’d awakened in her. But he’d broken through every barrier she’d erected without even trying. It wasn’t just his kindness that made an impression on her, but also the way he made her feel like she mattered. He’d talked to her as an equal. He was funny and disgustingly charming, yet there was no macho posturing. His polite nature and empathetic attitude made him stand out.

It was as if he possessed an extraordinary ability, almost like a sixth sense, to make everyone feel heard and understood. The way he listened intently to others, with his eyes locked on theirs, was like watching a master at work. His gentle voice carried a soothing tone that calmed even the most anxious of souls. It was impossible not to feel at ease in his presence, as if he had a magical touch that could dispel any worries or fears.

It was those exceptional qualities that made him an expert at his job. On a few occasions, she’d observed him instructing his trainees on how to provide care and advocacy for victims.

Although he had a caring and compassionate personality, his wit was often wicked and irreverent. His sense of humor was infectious, and he had a way of making everyone in the group laugh. He had a talent for lightening the mood and making even the most serious situations a little less tense.

All of those attributes had been like a battering ram against her defenses. Once again, she had allowed herself to succumb to the swoony feelings, and it had cost her dearly. The weight of the broken trust hung heavily on her, and she struggled to see a way forward.

Finch’s voice jolted her back to the present, interrupting her contemplation. “Are you hungry?”

Hunger pangs reminded her that she had neglected to eat throughout the day while worrying about her father. She suddenly felt famished. “I could eat.”

“Great. Do you have a specific idea in mind, or do you want something quick?”

“We could go to my dad’s pub. It’s mostly bar food, but it’s excellent.”

“Sounds good. Just point me in the right direction.”

Having lost track of their location while lost in thought, Jolene glanced out the window. “Take a right at the next intersection,” she directed. She had driven this route so many times that she could do it with her eyes closed. She knew every turn and curve of the road. Every year, she’d known exactly where the potholes were and how to steer clear of them until the public works department filled them. And, like clockwork, they opened up in the exact same spots each spring.

Jolene directed Finch to the parking lot of the Dafty Neighbor. The familiar building still stood tall and proud, seemingly unchanged from the day she left home. The brick walls looked weathered and worn but sturdy as ever. The faded green paint on the front door brought back a flood of memories.

She was so deep in her observations that she didn’t hear the sound of the SUV door opening until Finch offered her his hand to help her down. The sound of cars passing by on the busy street nearby mingled with the distant hum of a lawnmower. She inhaled deeply as she climbed out of the SUV, taking in the scent of freshly cut grass and the sweet aroma of the pine trees that surrounded the pub. The smells were as familiar to her as the building itself.

As she made her way closer to the door, she ran her hand along the exterior of the building. The rough texture of the brick under her fingertips. It was as if time had stood still and she was transported back to a simpler age. The memories of her childhood were etched into the very bricks themselves.

She hadn’t been back in over a year, and each time she opened the door, it was like stepping into the past. The familiar creak of the old door. The hum of the neon signs hanging in the windows. The din of conversation. Even the sticky, rough-hewn boards under her feet. Nothing ever changed.

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