12-17-2013, 06:35 PM
Jensen's wife could talk her way in or out of anything. She was dazzlingly effective. Whether a board meeting or a room full of parents irritated that their child wasn't selected for the solo, she had this amazing ability to vanquish all tension with a single smile. As a leader, there were few others who could accomplish the load she bore. She'd been the church's cornerstone. Its visionary. If it hadn't been for her - and a few prayers - the City Council never would have allowed them to build a mailbox let alone a stadium.
Jensen stood back and let Jessika shine. This was her moment, and she took advantage of it like an expert. How good she was turned out to be kind of scary, actually. She spoke with Jon for a few moments, edging the line between flirtatious and friendly, following a light-hearted joke about the rivalries between their states. She mentioned her awareness of the Council, and encouraged them to donate to the campaign that best aligned with their needs. Of course, she followed up with a few points about how her vision for Texas just so happened to fall in line with issues they'd likely find pertinent.
Afterward, there was an awkward silence that stretched out dreary and sterile as the marble hallway of the police station. Jensen's hospital gown had more pizazz than the place, and being that he was free to go, he was well... ready to go.
He looked between Jessika, who was going to be freezing without her suit jacket, and Jon, who was the most sane-looking of the trio. Between Jessika's blousey top and Jensen's hospital gown and sweat pants, they would probably draw quite the eye walking into John's loft. And none of them had one of those little squirrelish dogs to class the group up. "I'll get a cab,"
he said, but it came out more like a question than he'd intended.
Jensen opened a rear door for Jessika, whom he spoke to briefly while Jon was busy getting his own door. "He's coming with us,"
he told her quietly, uninterested in protests for the moment. Her glassy gaze didn't reveal whether she had any or not, and Jensen long ago gave up trying to interpret it. She slid into the car without complaint. He rode in front. Three in the back would be uncomfortable for all kinds of reasons, and maybe Jessika would have the chance to butter up Jon for more campaign dollars.
The ride was otherwise uneventful, and Jensen breathed a sigh of relief that no ladies with dogs more glamorous than most people were shooting up and down the street outside. The lone doorman, however, gave them a hesitant stare. Luckily, he recognized Jensen, and let them inside with no more interest than anyone might have.
Jensen fiddled with keys for a few shaky moments. Hunger and nerves seemed to be finally catching up with him.
"Make yourselves at home,"
he gestured and went about searching for light switches. Finally, he gave up and just flipped on a lamp he knew to be in the middle of the room. The suitcase he'd hauled over earlier that day - was that only today ?? - lay in the corner, unzipped, but the lid was popped open anyway.
"Uhh, I'll be right back,"
he told them after digging out the first change of clothes in the hasty pile. He cringed at how badly he'd shoved everything in there before. He may not be wearing suits, but unfolded clothes led to wrinkles. Then he disappeared into what he hoped was a bedroom. It'd been a while since he'd lived anywhere with more than one door.
He caught a glimpse of Jessika stretching out on the couch just before inviting Jon to join her. He frowned, confused at feelings he had no right to suffer.
Jensen stood back and let Jessika shine. This was her moment, and she took advantage of it like an expert. How good she was turned out to be kind of scary, actually. She spoke with Jon for a few moments, edging the line between flirtatious and friendly, following a light-hearted joke about the rivalries between their states. She mentioned her awareness of the Council, and encouraged them to donate to the campaign that best aligned with their needs. Of course, she followed up with a few points about how her vision for Texas just so happened to fall in line with issues they'd likely find pertinent.
Afterward, there was an awkward silence that stretched out dreary and sterile as the marble hallway of the police station. Jensen's hospital gown had more pizazz than the place, and being that he was free to go, he was well... ready to go.
He looked between Jessika, who was going to be freezing without her suit jacket, and Jon, who was the most sane-looking of the trio. Between Jessika's blousey top and Jensen's hospital gown and sweat pants, they would probably draw quite the eye walking into John's loft. And none of them had one of those little squirrelish dogs to class the group up. "I'll get a cab,"
he said, but it came out more like a question than he'd intended.
Jensen opened a rear door for Jessika, whom he spoke to briefly while Jon was busy getting his own door. "He's coming with us,"
he told her quietly, uninterested in protests for the moment. Her glassy gaze didn't reveal whether she had any or not, and Jensen long ago gave up trying to interpret it. She slid into the car without complaint. He rode in front. Three in the back would be uncomfortable for all kinds of reasons, and maybe Jessika would have the chance to butter up Jon for more campaign dollars.
The ride was otherwise uneventful, and Jensen breathed a sigh of relief that no ladies with dogs more glamorous than most people were shooting up and down the street outside. The lone doorman, however, gave them a hesitant stare. Luckily, he recognized Jensen, and let them inside with no more interest than anyone might have.
Jensen fiddled with keys for a few shaky moments. Hunger and nerves seemed to be finally catching up with him.
"Make yourselves at home,"
he gestured and went about searching for light switches. Finally, he gave up and just flipped on a lamp he knew to be in the middle of the room. The suitcase he'd hauled over earlier that day - was that only today ?? - lay in the corner, unzipped, but the lid was popped open anyway.
"Uhh, I'll be right back,"
he told them after digging out the first change of clothes in the hasty pile. He cringed at how badly he'd shoved everything in there before. He may not be wearing suits, but unfolded clothes led to wrinkles. Then he disappeared into what he hoped was a bedroom. It'd been a while since he'd lived anywhere with more than one door.
He caught a glimpse of Jessika stretching out on the couch just before inviting Jon to join her. He frowned, confused at feelings he had no right to suffer.