Page 19 of Jolene's Justice

All his friends at one time or another had asked the same question. Embarrassed by the truth, he left his answers vague. Angelica’s harsh words echoed repeatedly in his ears, leaving him feeling emasculated and demoralized. The weight of her abuse still bore down on him, suffocating him with shame and humiliation. It was an impotence that he would never forget, one that left him feeling broken and defeated. Explaining that to a group of formidable badass men was an indignity he wasn’t ready to face.

“Maybe someday. I’ve got a few things to take care of first.” Including finalizing his divorce.

“Does that include apologizing profusely for whatever it is you did to push her away and trying to win her back?”

Finch’s laugh was sardonic to his own ears. “Something like that.”

“Good.” After a brief pause, Graham continued. “You guys need any help with the house? Brodhi is doing a training seminar down in Atlanta. I can send him your way when he’s done.”

He didn’t know how to answer that question. Having another person around would create a buffer between Jolene and him, which she would probably welcome. But did he really want a witness to his bumbling attempts to get back into Jolene’s good graces?

“Let me assess the true condition of the house over the next couple of days. I’ll get back to you,” he answered, hoping it was the right one.

“Sounds good. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”

“I won’t.”

“Good. Take care of her.”

“Always.”

After hanging up with Graham, Finch drained his coffee mug, then rinsed it out and set it on the drying rack since the dishwasher was still running. He could hear Jolene moving around upstairs, so he decided to see what he could find to make for breakfast.

The contents of the fridge and pantry revealed that Gorden relied on a diet consisting of mostly canned soup and a few frozen dinners at home. The pantry was dimly lit, and the shelves were cluttered with boxes of crackers, cereal, and a line of neatly stacked cans. Picking up a can of soup, he noticed the label was faded and peeling, the expiration date unreadable. Desolation and disregard hung heavily in the air, and he couldn’t help but worry about Gorden’s unhealthy diet, as evidenced by the stacks of empty takeout containers scattered around the house.

Gorden would have to change his eating habits completely if he wanted to avoid another heart attack. The man’s stubbornness had been apparent to Finch from the moment they met. Therefore, the chances of him altering his eating habits based on his doctor’s recommendation were slim to none.

Shaking his head at the meager food supply, Finch grabbed the box of cereal, his options for breakfast limited. A quick check of the expiration date told him he was about half a year too late, but that had never stopped him before. Flipping the flaps of the box open, he silently cursed the lack of resealable cereal bags, but he unrolled the bag and grabbed a handful of cereal anyway. The little circles of oats looked innocent enough, but after popping them into his mouth, he realized looks could be deceiving. It was like trying to bite down on wood.

He rushed over to the trash can and spit out the mouthful of woodchips.

“What in the world are you doing?” Jolene asked just as he’d shoved his mouth under the faucet in the kitchen sink to wash it out.

Startled by her sudden voice, he bumped his head on the faucet and was immediately drenched. And, of course, the water went up his nose, the stinging sensation making his eyes water. He shook his head vigorously, snorting like a bull, trying to dislodge the water.

Once his head was clear of the water, both inside and out, he could hear the tinkling melody of Jolene’s laughter behind him. That sound almost made his clumsy bumbling worth it.

“What the hell were you doing?” Jolene snickered, holding a dish towel out for him.

Wiping his face, he grumbled, “Trying to find breakfast.”

She had a hand over her mouth as if to suppress her amusement. “Under the faucet?” She couldn’t contain her laughter and threw her head back, her eyes sparkling with mirth. Her cheeks turned rosy and her eyes crinkled at the corners, making her even more beautiful.

He took her in and felt relieved to see she seemed less fatigued than yesterday. The dark jeans she wore showed off her figure while the heather-gray T-shirt emphasized her curves. Emblazoned across her chest were the bold words:Being a chef saved me from becoming a pornstar. The statement elicited a smirk of amusement. With her casual attire and confident demeanor, she seemed full of energy and ready to take on the day.

Her laughter was so captivating that he forgot his embarrassment about his near drowning and laughed along with her.

Once their amusement faded, he said, “There’s good news and bad news.” She lifted a brow, and he continued. “The good news is that if the zombie apocalypse ever comes, your father will be just fine if he hunkers down in his pantry. The bad news is that not a single can in there has a readable expiration date.”

Incredulously, she stared at him with her jaw open. “What are you talking about? Wait . . . did you clean?” Her eyes darted around the kitchen, taking in the empty sink and lack of garbage.

“A little,” he replied, dismissing it and quickly adding, “And judging by the number of takeout containers I had to throw away, your dad’s diet sucks.”

He grabbed the box of wood chips masquerading as cereal and threw it into the trash can. As she watched him, Jolene’s face contorted with confusion. Then she turned and opened the door to the pantry to take a quick look. “I don’t understand. Da loves to cook. He used to cook for us all the time when I was growing up. Why would he be eating nothing but canned soup?”

“Well, maybe it’s just not worth it when you’re cooking for one,” Finch reasoned, which appeared to be the wrong thing to say as her face blanched.

“Oh my God. You’re right. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to visit. I should have been checking up on him more. I’m the worst daughter. And now he’s in the hospital after suffering a heart attack. This never would have happened if I had been here to take care of him.”

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