Unspoken

Chapter 34

December 2, 1992

The door to John's loft opened, and Carrie stepped inside with Jesse. His eyes were red as if he'd been crying, and he seemed embarrassed by it. John looked at them with concern, "How did everything go?"

"I helped him pack his stuff," Carrie said, glancing at Jesse. They seemed to have a silent conversation, and then she asked him, "Can I tell them?"

"Yeah," he said with a shrug. "It doesn't matter, I guess. They're gonna find out anyway. My mom's gonna do something without thinking like she always does."

She started, "His dads–"

" –he's my step dad," he said quickly, his eyes darting between John and Marlena. "Not my dad."

"His stepdad had already had a few beers I think by the time we got there, and he was saying things about how happy he was that Jesse was going, and how much of a financial burden he'd always been... and then..." she looked at Jesse, and her eyes welled with tears. "I'm so sorry. I never knew it was like that."

"It's not like I told you... or anyone for that matter. It's not a big deal. I'm used to it. Roger said that it would have been better if I'd been the one to die, instead of my younger brother. He doesn't mean that stuff, but he's a mean drunk, and my mom just puts up with it." He pushed his dark hair out of his eyes, saying, "Sometimes I think my mom likes him better as an alcoholic. It gives her someone to latch onto, but she... she showed up as Carrie and I were packing my things into the car, and she's real upset I'm leaving."

Marlena came closer. She'd worked with the Lombard family briefly. It had been her case to start until she'd turned it over to Whitney Baker when she went to Italy with John. "Jesse," she said softly. "How are you feeling about what happened?"

"I'm fine Dr. Evans. I can't change anything. Roger's a drunk, and when he's sober he's a nice enough guy... but then my mom's a mess because she's desperate to keep him around. He was better for a while... even started painting again, but it drove my mom crazy. Every woman he talked to - even at work - she thought they were trying to steal him away. She attacked a woman at his job. Threatened her in the parking lot, and he was fired. He started drinking again." He wiped at his eyes as tears fell, and he said, "Coming to Colorado is a new start for me... a chance to see what I can do on my own."

"I'm sorry," Marlena said. "I had hoped that with the court ordered therapy, and the rehab program things would get better."

"They did," he said, "but my mom's mad insecure, and Roger losing his job like that... it was embarrassing for him. He got drunk that first night, and my mom seemed almost... pleased, because she got to take care of him. Ain't that fucked up? Crap! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to curse like that."

"We're all adults," John said softly. "So, your stuff is downstairs in Carrie's car?"

"Yes, sir," he said. "I'm just worried about what my mom might do. It was hard getting away from her today. I tried saying goodbye, and stuff. I told her I'd be by before we leave next week, but she–she was blaming Dr. Evans, and–"

" –it's fine," Marlena said quietly. She didn't add that she'd expected Stella's reaction. The limited contact she'd had with the woman had made her realize that Stella Lombard was a deeply insecure woman who lashed out when she felt threatened. As soon as Carrie had said Jesse would be coming to Colorado, she'd known Stella wouldn't let go of her only surviving son so easily. "Do you need a place to stay until we leave?"

"I was going to ask you about that," Carrie said sheepishly. "Can Jesse just bunk with me at the gatehouse?"

"I'd sleep on the floor," he said quickly. "It's not like–"