Chapter 0325

Janeen, Jerome, and Daniel all watch through the glass of the back door as Fay and her dad sit on the couch, having a long chat

during which she explains a lot of stuff that...he probably doesn’t want to know. They've been watching the myriad of emotions

cross his face, but Janeen is finally relieved to see him smiling, clearly excited about his first grandchild.

Janeen smiles herself, finally feeling a little bit at ease now. Because as far as she’s concerned, even though Kent is out of the

picture her dad is very much in. It’s good to finally see the final member of Team Baby on the page.

“What do you think,” Daniel murmurs to her, anxiously biting the nail of his thumb as he stares through the door. “Is he gonna...

kill me? Kill her? Break into prison and kill Kent?”

“Nah,” Janeen says with a sigh, turning away from the window and towards the beer that’s waiting for her on the table. “Papa

Thompson is a big softie. Why would he be mad at you, anyway?”

“Because I got her into this,” Daniel sighs, taking Janeen’s cue and likewise sitting down at the table, joined by Jerome.

“Yeah,” Janeen says, giving him a weird look as she raises her beer to her lips. “You guys are like...weirdly close for ex’s. What

even is she to you now? Your fake fiancée slash new mom?”

Daniel grimaces.

“Nah these two are besties,” Jerome sighs, looking at Janeen with a small smile. “Daniel and Fay are two peas in a fucked-up

pod — they talk the same, think the same. Even have the same boring-ass hobbies. Books, puzzles. It’s the worst.”

Janeen laughs at this, turning bright eyes on Daniel. “So, are you a horse girl too?”

“Absolutely not,” Daniel says, shuddering. “Horrible animals.”

They all laugh then, taking a much-needed mutual sip of their beers. Things go quiet then, each of them thinking their own

independent thoughts on the same subject.

“So, tell me the truth,” Janeen says quietly, and Daniel looks up to see her eyes fixed on him. “Your dad. Does he love her?”

Daniel's lips press to a thin line as he studies Janeen, deciding what to say. But then he just gives it up and huffs an ironic little

laugh before letting his head hang a little.

“Yeah, Janeen,” he sighs, pressing his fingers tight against the bridge of his nose — a motion that makes Jerome smirk because

it's something he’s seen Kent do a thousand times. “Yeah, he loves the crap out of her. He...he hasn't said it, not to her. But

dad's...”

“Closed off? Fucked up? Emotionally stunted and withholding?”

“Yes, yes, and yes?” Daniel says, lifting his head to look her in the eye. “But she’s his kryptonite. I've never seen someone break

down dad's walls like she does. I can’t explain it.”

“I can,” she returns instantly, turning to look through the window at her little sister. Daniel smiles to see the very real loyalty and

dedication on Janeen’s face.

“Me too,” Jerome says, and then he leans forward and smacks Daniel on the shoulder. “What are you, blind, you idiot?”

Daniel laughs and shrugs. “It was a turn of phrase! Hyperbole!”

“Oh gross, are you and Fay going to use big words all the time?” Janeen asks, turning to sneer at him. Jerome laughs again and

Daniel just narrows his eyes at her, but he can’t help his smile.

“All of that aside,” Jerome says, his voice oddly serious enough for the other two to look his way. “Our whole job now is that girl

in there,” he says, nodding towards her. “I don’t know if you two have figured it out yet,” he says softly, quietly, “but she’s head of

the family now.”

He looks to Daniel then, with a little bit of apology on his face. Because, obviously, Daniel should be the one inheriting that title in

Kent's absence. But they’re all aware — and Jerome’s just the first to say it.

“To the boss,” Daniel says, sighing

and lifting his beer towards the

center of the table. Trejatheao "

¢ thelrsceli Oo! them all together

ae repeating his words. “May she be

a benevolent dictator,” Daniel

murmurs after taking a long swig.

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“Seriously,” Janeen says, surprising him so that he snaps his eyes up to hers. “Cut it with the word shit, okay?”

They're all still laughing when the glass door slides open.

“Hey,” Fay says, stepping outside and pushing it closed behind her. “What’s so funny?”

“We're deciding what to name the

baby,” Janeen says, patting theohair

tt beranc smidcty changing

hes ‘a8 “Come help.” Please read

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“Um,” Fay says, frowning at her, “don’t I get the majority say in this decision?”

“We're thinking Jerome the Second,” Jerome says, ignoring her and making Daniel laugh. “Very royal, very elegant.”

Fay wrinkles her nose at him and

laughs, sitting back against the

cushions, clearly enjoying the ease of

the group. Janeen sti ibSegs aensidn

inFevigishabiders but. she smiles,

knowing that Fay is doing far, far

better than she was yesterday. With

all of her family around her now —

even in the absence of the man she

loves, who apparently loves her back

— she’s finally starting to feel safe.

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