04-19-2019, 01:41 AM
So much unease. Jensen paced every room he occupied for the entire morning. Axel went his own way. Natalie and Cayli sequestered themselves with such intimate privacy that Jensen was uncomfortable interrupting them. He passed by silently once in a while, catching snippets of conversation accidentally, but enough to scratch at silent curiosities. He really knew quite little about Natalie herself, having shamefully focused so much on Jay, himself, and his own problems. He passed on wordlessly and attempted to fill the time elsewhere. Jessika was gone for the day. The news spoke endlessly about the governor’s impending speech; he couldn’t get ahold of her. She was either too busy or she was ignoring him. Both were plausible.
He was flipping news stations when Axel escorted someone inside. Jensen hurried to intercept, but Caroline popped out of no where. She greeted the guest like it was her own home, shaking hands with a friendly, welcoming voice. Jensen peered from behind, uncomfortable with this odd position of being a guest in his own home despite the denial of divorce. Charles joined her soon after, before Caroline split away to find Cayli.
Jensen was gifted with the recognition of faces. He once met a cousin of a parishioner who was in the hospital after having a baby, only to encounter the same cousin in the grocery store two months later. She was so surprised he remembered her that she ended up agreeing to come to the church just because she thought Jensen cared so much.
He had little direct interaction with the doctor in that Iowa hospital, but he would never forget the man’s face. He nodded respectfully when he realized Jensen was there, but mostly waited with a serene patience that Jensen found unsettling.
Cayli was white as a ghost when she realized who came calling.
Natalie was horrified.
Jensen could do nothing but listen, dumbfounded to the accusations hurled amongst them all. The doctor was so convincing, that Jensen found himself doubtful. Was it possible? Jay’s behavior was erratic and impulsive. He drank a lot of alcohol, not that Jensen judged, but it was a startling amount. Wars and violence changed people. Sometimes good men came home unhinged. It was a real thing.
But was that their current reality?
It was impossible. Cayli had nothing to heal. She never had the cancer. Axel admitted to the conspiracy. Jessika and Zacarías were in some sort of nefarious partnership. Jay really was in danger.
“No,” Natalie said, or better yet, commanded.
But Cayli agreed? Jensen blinked, uncertain. He’d tear his robes in the streets if he could act out the torment that wracked his soul.
The battle lines were drawn: the Carpenters on one side, Natalie on the other, and Jensen occupying neutral ground between them both.
His heart ached looking at Natalie. She loved Cayli. She’d do anything to protect the girl. If she could sacrifice so much for a girl she barely knew, Jensen could stand up for justice in his own house. Could they see him shaking?
He reached out an arm toward Natalie as though to steady the storms on which the boat she rode heaved even as he walked toward Cayli and circled an arm around her shoulders. “If it’s okay with you Caroline,” he shifted the focus of his gaze from Natalie toward the mother whom was ready to do anything she believed right to save her children, “I’d like to accompany Cayli, if she’ll have me,” he smiled calmly at the teenager, hoping she would understand…
… and agree.
Natalie could put up any and all pretense of returning to the Custody. Maybe Jensen was walking into the lion's den himself, but there was no way he would allow Cayli to leave with the doctor alone.
He was flipping news stations when Axel escorted someone inside. Jensen hurried to intercept, but Caroline popped out of no where. She greeted the guest like it was her own home, shaking hands with a friendly, welcoming voice. Jensen peered from behind, uncomfortable with this odd position of being a guest in his own home despite the denial of divorce. Charles joined her soon after, before Caroline split away to find Cayli.
Jensen was gifted with the recognition of faces. He once met a cousin of a parishioner who was in the hospital after having a baby, only to encounter the same cousin in the grocery store two months later. She was so surprised he remembered her that she ended up agreeing to come to the church just because she thought Jensen cared so much.
He had little direct interaction with the doctor in that Iowa hospital, but he would never forget the man’s face. He nodded respectfully when he realized Jensen was there, but mostly waited with a serene patience that Jensen found unsettling.
Cayli was white as a ghost when she realized who came calling.
Natalie was horrified.
Jensen could do nothing but listen, dumbfounded to the accusations hurled amongst them all. The doctor was so convincing, that Jensen found himself doubtful. Was it possible? Jay’s behavior was erratic and impulsive. He drank a lot of alcohol, not that Jensen judged, but it was a startling amount. Wars and violence changed people. Sometimes good men came home unhinged. It was a real thing.
But was that their current reality?
It was impossible. Cayli had nothing to heal. She never had the cancer. Axel admitted to the conspiracy. Jessika and Zacarías were in some sort of nefarious partnership. Jay really was in danger.
“No,” Natalie said, or better yet, commanded.
But Cayli agreed? Jensen blinked, uncertain. He’d tear his robes in the streets if he could act out the torment that wracked his soul.
The battle lines were drawn: the Carpenters on one side, Natalie on the other, and Jensen occupying neutral ground between them both.
His heart ached looking at Natalie. She loved Cayli. She’d do anything to protect the girl. If she could sacrifice so much for a girl she barely knew, Jensen could stand up for justice in his own house. Could they see him shaking?
He reached out an arm toward Natalie as though to steady the storms on which the boat she rode heaved even as he walked toward Cayli and circled an arm around her shoulders. “If it’s okay with you Caroline,” he shifted the focus of his gaze from Natalie toward the mother whom was ready to do anything she believed right to save her children, “I’d like to accompany Cayli, if she’ll have me,” he smiled calmly at the teenager, hoping she would understand…
… and agree.
Natalie could put up any and all pretense of returning to the Custody. Maybe Jensen was walking into the lion's den himself, but there was no way he would allow Cayli to leave with the doctor alone.