By My Side [JENLISA FF]

Part 29

Jennie and Janice were busy decorating the house and garden for their New Year's party while Hongjun had taken Steven to the zoo. The little boy couldn't get enough of all the animals and this way he was out of the house for the preparations. Yaya had joined them at noon and now the three women were having a break to drink a cup of coffee.

"How is Nadech?" Jennie asked over sipping from her cup.

"Better," Yaya answered. "He had a nightmare yesterday. They're both taking it pretty heavy."

"It's pretty heavy stuff," Janice said. "After Jennie told me about it, I didn't let Steven out of my sight again. You always read about things like these but now it's as if it has entered our house."

"Yeah. I was meant to accompany them, but due to a new client I had to stay at the office and now I'm glad. The story is scary enough." Yaya shuddered. She and Jennie had talked about the abused-boy the day after Lisa had told her fiancé. Nadech had been in a similar mood that night. And as both PI were pretty much used to see horrible things you could only imagine what had happened to this child to make them behave like this.

"Jennie told me you're expecting a baby," Janice changed the subject.

"Yeah," Yaya beamed. "And Nadech's hovering over me all the time."

Mrs. Park laughed: "That's the way it goes. When I was pregnant first Jennie's father and then Hongjun treated me like precious porcelain. But you shouldn't complain, just use it shamelessly. Let him do everything, he'll be cured in no time."

"Good idea," Yaya grinned. "So, who's coming tonight?" 

"Well, you, Nadech, Lisa, Jisoo and Roseanne, Mark and Kimberley, yeah, that's pretty much a lot," Jennie poured herself some more coffee.

"Mark," Yaya groaned. "I mean I do call him from time to time and he calls me, but a whole evening with Mark." She sighed dramatically.

"Come on, he isn't that bad," Janice said. "He was quite annoying when he was a teenage boy, but he's changed a lot and his relationship with Kimberley seems to work. They're together for four years now."

"Hmmm," Yaya made. "I just cannot see him as an adult. Whenever we phone our talks are about highschool and we joke a little bit."

"Come on girls, let's do the rest of the work, and then we have some lunch." Janice got up and went into the kitchen.

"Alright," Jennie looked at Yaya. "Let's get it done. And tonight, we celebrate."

Yaya nodded and followed Jennie into the garden.

******* 

Nadech arrived at the Park' house at seven and when he knocked the door was opened in the split of a second: "Li... oh, Nadech," Jennie greeted him.

"Nice welcome," he joked regarding her disappointed gaze.

"Sorry," Jennie smiled sheepishly. "I was just hoping...."

He raised a hand: "No need to explain. Lisa's coming later. She's still on a case, somewhere in Hollywood."

"Hollywood?" his wife stepped into the hallway. "Someone famous."

He sighed and then embraced her: "I don't know. Hi Tee Rak', how you're doing'. I mean both of you?"

"Fine," Yaya said with a sigh. "Why did I even ask you. You wouldn't recognise a famous actor when he or her would stand right in front of you."

When he saw Mr. Park come into the hallway Nadech pulled back and extended a hand: "Good evening, Mr. Park," he said to Jennie's stepfather. "Thanks for the invitation."