Page 83 of Mic Drop

“Pfft.” She crosses her arms and looks away from us.

My wife will come around to me. She has to. For her sake, I can’t drop this with Mother Hilliard. “I’m not trying to change your opinion of Jenna. Or me, for that matter. I’m only asking that if a reporter contacts you, that you don’t give them additional fodder.”

“Seems to me they already have enough to grist the mill with her running a prostitution ring out of her physical therapy clinics.”

My head meets my hands. Luke cracks his knuckles and gets serious. “You and I both know that’s a crock of shit the media created to feed the firestorm raging around these two.” He touches my shoulder. “Reporters have it out for Jenna because she’s now linked with Bennett, their ‘hot’ ticket of the moment.”

The front door opens and closes, which Luke ignores. “Your gripe with Jenna goes deeper than Bennett, though. I remember Darren was upset because you didn’t accept her with him.”

Her hand waves. “She wasn’t good enough for my boy.”

A new voice enters the conversation—Darren’s sister Marni. “Just who would’ve been good enough for Darren, Mother?”

Mother Hilliard’s eyes grow round, then narrow. “He had plenty of women to choose from. I didn’t want him to make the wrong choice, which Jenna most certainly was. She reminded me of your father. Flighty, into herself, and using him to bootstrap her pitiful business.”

I offer a small wave to Marni, absorbed in what her mother said. The Jenna I know isn’t unreliable or self-absorbed. Well, as long as you discount the fact she’s seeking a divorce from me right now. Moreover, she didn’t have one clinic opened when she was with Darren, and now she’s working on her fourth, without his help, support, or money.

Somehow, I manage to keep the steam from coming out of myears. In a low tone, I say, “You have Jenna pegged all wrong. She’s none of those things. She built her business on her own, after Darren’s death.”

His mother is having none of what I’m selling, even if it is the truth. “Riding on his coattails, no doubt.”

“Mother,” Marni snaps. “Jenna’s really sweet. I remember you telling me she wastoo nicefor Darren. That he would eat her up and spit her out.”

I’m taken aback. Luke told me basically the same thing yesterday, in more colorful terms. I remember when Darren insisted I join the band, and how he wouldn’t take my excuses as a no. Darren was sort of a bulldozer. Yet, Jenna has a spine. I’ve seen it firsthand. Hell, I’m living it right now. Maybe she didn’t have one when she was with him? Maybe she needed to go through his death to find it in herself? My heart aches for all that my wife’s been through—and what she’s not allowing me to help her with today. The need to get through to her redoubles. Starting with Darren’s mother and Lissa.

Something his mother accused Jenna of sticks with me. I do remember Darren saying his mother raised him and his sister by herself since his father took a hike early on. I take a stab in the dark. “Did Darren’s and Marni’s father somehow use you to get ahead in business?”

Her arms cross her body. “That man was a menace. We met at work, and he romanced me. The next thing I knew, I was knocked up, and then he swooped in to do my job while I was on pregnancy leave. I thought he was being nice and looking out for our family. When I came back to work, he made a big show of giving my job back to me.” She takes a breath. “Then I got pregnant again, left for leave, and came back. This time, he didn’t bow out. Said he’d made progress at my position, making the department more efficient. He’d managed to turn my coworkers against me. I did get a job in the office, but notmyjob, and for much lower pay. He stuck with us for a little while, until he found another mark at a competitor, and left.”

Marni’s mouth hangs open. “I didn’t know any of this.”

I’d wager Darren never did either.

After a few beats, Luke finds his voice. “Bennett isn’t using Jenna to take her job, nor she him. They’re in love. I truly believe Darren is cheering for them.” He pauses. “From heaven.”

Mother Hilliard’s head turns away from us. What low-life promotes his career ahead of the woman he loves—the mother of his two children? Obviously, a man who wasn’t in love.

“He was scum,” I begin. “I’m sorry this happened to you. But not all men are like him. At least, I’m not. I would do anything for Jenna, including leave UC if she asked. She never has, and she won’t, because she knows the band is important to me. As are her physical therapy clinics to her. We each want the other to soar, supported by love all the way.”If she’ll accept mine.

“Well, I,” Darren’s mother begins. “Fine. I won’t speak with reporters anymore. If they ask, I’ll tell them I only want what’s best for the band.” Her lips clamp shut. “I might even be persuaded that you mean what you’re saying. With time. Lots and lots of time.”

I couldn’t ask for a better outcome. Rubbing my palms over my thighs, I stand. “I appreciate it, more than you know. We’ll see ourselves out.” I kiss her cheek and head toward the front door.

“Mother Hilliard, Río and I are working hard on setting up the scholarship in Darren’s honor.” Luke gives her another kiss and joins me at the door. “Please don’t forget that my offer still stands. You’ll always be a member of UC, and if there’s anything I can ever do for you or Marni, I’m only a phone call away.”

“Thanks,” Marni replies. Her mother remains quiet.

In the car, both of us exhale. “That was,” I begin.

Luke finishes, “Like being put through a spin cycle that never ends.”

“Definitely.”

Our driver asks, “Where to?”

“How about someplace with burgers and a bar?” I reply. “After that meeting, I need both.”

“You got it.” We pull away from the home Darren bought hismother, a bit more settled than when we arrived. At least she’s going to stop badmouthing Jenna and me. If she hears about the divorce, though, all bets will be off. Which only makes me more determined than ever to waylay my wife’s misguided notion to get one.

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