20 Questions

Chapter 71

I stand in the hallway and stare at Helen's guest. I knew there was friendly conversation, but I never expected see him in Helen's room today.

"Jenna," he says with a huge smile on his face.

"Patrick," I reply with an equally large smile. He walks out and down the hall. When I enter the room, I find Helen in the bathroom brushing her hair. I stand there with my jaw on the floor.

"It's not what you think, I promise!" she exclaims holding her hands up in surrender.

I smile at her. "I didn't think anything. Sister, tell me what that was all about."

"Well, I heard a knock a little while ago and I thought it was you. When I opened the door, I saw Patrick standing there and I was so confused. I invited him in and we have just been sitting here talking. The conversation just flowed. I mean, it was so easy and I found myself opening up about things I haven't talked about in years. I told him about my late husband and son. I told him about the accident and how I was a teacher beforehand. He talked about the orphanage and the change in Hunter after you all met. He told me about this past year and how you all were apart but have since reunited. I'm sorry, I know it's not really any of my business. It's like he needed someone to talk to just as much as I did. I promise, nothing happened. You're not mad, are you?"

I laugh and give her a reassuring smile. "Helen, no! Of course I'm not mad. I wouldn't be mad even if something did happen. Patrick is my favorite of all the brothers. Just don't tell the other guys because it would break their little hearts. I was just taken aback when I saw him in here."

"Yeah, you and me both. Girl, I wish you could have seen my face when I opened the door. I stood there in a trance, like somebody slipped me a sedative. I used to stand at the front of a classroom, full of obnoxious, hormonal teenagers and talk about anything and everything. He shows up and I suddenly have dementia. You're sure you're not mad though?"

"Not in the slightest," I tell her, shaking my head.

"Good," she tells me, breathing a huge sigh of relief. "I was so worried that you might be upset with me. You are the only friend I have in this whole entire world and it would kill me if you were mad at me. Jenna, I really enjoyed my conversation with him, more than I thought I would. Plus, he's extremely good looking so that doesn't hurt either."

I giggle. "He really is a cutie. I mean, nobody can compare to my Hunter, but he is certainly a doll baby. So, what are you thinking? Do you want pursue something with him?" I shimmy my hips and stare at her with hearts in my eyes. The poor girl couldn't look any more mortified than she does right now. I have a knack for making shit uncomfortable. I have Rich freaking Janes to thank for that.

"Oh, there's no way that would happen. He lives in Kentucky and I live...well, I live on the streets here in Aspen. I'm sure I'm the last person he would be interested in. Guys aren't really lining up to date a homeless, depressed widow who is struggling with the loss of a child and unemployment. I'm not quite the catch that you are, Jenna."

"Anybody that judges you for that is a real shit bag. You are doing what you must to survive after suffering a devastating loss. And by the way, you are a catch. Look at you, beautiful and incredibly strong. You're going to be stunning after I get done with your hair and makeup," I say, raising my brows up and down and shewing her into the bathroom. "Now get yourself in there so all the guys will be lining up to dance with the most beautiful girl in the room."

"Jenna, I really don't know what I would do without you now," Helen tells me as she makes her way into the bathroom and plugs in the curling iron I brought over. "You have changed my outlook on everything and have given me the motivation to get my life together. I don't know what I am going to do at the end of this week."