Forces Beyond The Grave

3.4

Jay was terrified. In the past, he'd been pretty good at keeping his feelings to himself, so much so that it had actually cost him his relationships because he wasn't open enough. He had no idea he'd been so open about his affections for Lennox that he couldn't even hide them from her father. He waited, eyes wide as he anticipated Dr Rosewood's response. If he was honest, he would have been fine with it if the doctor had punched him square in the face. Instead, Dr Rosewood shook his head slightly. There was no anger in his body language and a smile on his face. 

"Jay, the way you used to look at Lennox...the way you looked at my daughter was the same way I used to look at my wife. Hell, I probably knew how you felt before you did. It was nice to see someone dote on her like that." 

He looked at Jay, who couldn't yet bring himself to make eye contact. 

"I'm not angry Jay." He assured. 

"You're not?" 

"No." 

"Why?" 

"Why would I be?" 

"Because she's your daughter. And she was sixteen Patrick," 

"I'm not worried about that. I said I believed you, and I do. You have more respect for Lennox than that. I'm not angry because you're a hell of a guy Jay, and I see the way you used to look at her. You still do." 

At that Jay's eyes met the doctors, and they were kind, relieved even. 

He watched Dr Rosewood sigh. "Even with all those marks on her, you still look at her the exact same way." 

How can I not? Jay wondered. She's still beautiful. 

"I know something's different, I'm not oblivious. But I'm choosing to give her time, she probably went through things that we could never imagine. It just kills me that you don't talk anymore. I hope that you two work out whatever's going on, because I'd be pleased to see something happen between you."