Page 60 of Breaking
Chapter 49
Jenna
Jenna's phone rang unexpectedly. It was Lilly.
"Mom, Josh and I want to come over for the weekend. Can we?"
Jenna hesitated only for a moment before agreeing. "Of course. I'd love to see you both."
When they arrived, Jenna had been waiting, watching through the curtains. The neighbourhood was nice, but nothing as posh as they were used to, and she felt a flicker of nervousness. Before they even made it through the front gate, she had the door wide open. Until this moment, she had not admitted how much she had missed her babies.
Lilly ran up and hugged her, tears brimming in her eyes. Josh followed with a cheeky grin, embracing her as well. "Mother-in-law," he teased, making Lilly blush.
Then, Lilly turned back toward the gate. "We brought a surprise guest."
Max stepped forward, looking nervous. He muttered, "How are you, Mom?"
Jenna could see the conflict in his eyes. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and hugged him. He was stiff at first, but then his arms wrapped around her tightly. He was as tall as his father, so she had to stand on the first step to meet him properly.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
She whispered back, "You will always be my son. But if you behave like a donkey’s backside again, I'm giving you the whooping youdeserve." She pulled back, smiling. "It's getting crowded on my doorstep. Let's go inside."
Inside, they settled in. Lilly and Josh had planned to stay at a hotel, but Jenna insisted they stay at the house. They admired the cozy home-not looking down on it in the least as Jenna feared.
Dylan and Dani returned from school. They barely muttered a strained 'hi' before looking away, their shoulders tense with unspoken resentment. It was clear they were still angry about how Jenna had been treated, their silence weighted with disapproval. "Go wash your hands. Tea is ready," Jenna instructed.
Dinner was sumptuous-roast lamb, creamy mashed potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, fresh greens, and a rich chocolate cake. As Jenna carried the cake out to the table, Josh dramatically clutched his chest, staggering back like he was about to faint. 'I swear, I am in heaven,' he declared, eyes wide with exaggerated awe. Lilly rolled her eyes, but she couldn't suppress a laugh. 'Josh, you're embarrassing yourself,' she chided, though the blush on her face betrayed her amusement. Jenna chuckled, placing the cake down. 'If you keep this up, you might not get a slice.'
The conversation was light, and slowly, Dylan warmed up, becoming less hostile, while Dani shed her shyness like an unwanted coat. They stayed for the weekend.
During a quiet moment, Lilly confided, "Dad's been in a bad way."
They filled Jenna in on Maggie's demotion, Lila's fiery exit, and how Troy had finally confessed everything. By the end, Max was in tears, subtly wiping them away. He looked up at Jenna, his voice raw. "I hate coming back to the house without you here. It doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel like home."
Jenna inhaled sharply, emotions washing over her. "I know exactly how that feels," she admitted. "When you all left, when you pulled away from me... I couldn't take it. I felt so alone like I'd lost everything that mattered."
Max swallowed hard, nodding as if he finally understood the depth of her pain. "I did that, didn't I? And without even being self-aware about what I was doing.... Thanks for forgiving me, though I don't deserve it."
Jenna smiled gently. "You know, I love it here. the neighbourhood is nice here, the school's great... but people come and go. You never have permanent neighbours. Mrs. Humphreys next door took a fall a month ago-she's in the hospital and it looks like she will be going to a care home. Such a shame. She was amazing. But at least Grace is still next door. Maybe you should come here more often. I won’t be so lonely and the kids could definitely use your company."
The next day, Jenna, Max, and Lilly took a walk through Chester Zoo, stopping for ice cream along the way. They spoke about life, university, and their plans. Then Jenna took a deep breath. "There's something I want to tell you both. I got my degree-dual degrees, actually-in fine art and illustration two years ago- distance education and lots of night classes. I've been working as a freelance illustrator ever since."
Max and Lilly blinked, surprised.
"I never knew how to tell you, the right moment never came up," Jenna continued. "But it always stung when you thought of me as just a housewife. Managing a home, raising kids, getting you both into good schools-it took everything I had. Meanwhile, I sometimes felt your father got to be the fun parent while I was running on empty. ButI have to say, part of this was my problem. I never spoke up as I should have"
Max and Lilly were silent on the ride home, lost in thought.
That evening, Jenna showed them her recent illustrations in her studio. Lilly admired them, feeling foolish for her past comments. Max was speechless.
"Never judge someone based on others' perceptions," Jenna said softly. "You knew me. You should have known better."
The next morning, as they were leaving, Lilly hugged Jenna, tears in her eyes. "I'll call you," she whispered. Jenna handed her a box of pasta for the road. Josh grinned, lifting Jenna into a bear hug before fist-bumping Dylan and hugging Dani.
Max lingered, hesitating. "Can I come back and visit?" he asked nervously.
Jenna smiled. "Of course."
