Just Try It

Chapter 53-Red Flag

Friday, February 17th 5:15pm

Seymour Dojo and Fitness Center

Inside the room, Jamie switched from yelling to hissing, "What do you mean you invited her? She is investigating you guys. Why would you invite her here?"

Sean grinned in the face of Jamie's wrath as he admitted, "I like her, and I can't even ask her out until she finishes investigating me. The more she is around, the faster it will go. Besides, Sondra needs her."

Jamie was stuck on the first thing that Sean had barely kept her voice low as she asked, "You like HER?"

"She is caring, smart, dedicated, and beautiful. Why shouldnt I like her?"

Jamie opened and shut her mouth, but didnt have an answer. It felt like a betrayal, but she wasnt sure who he had betrayed.

Sean began to look frustrated as he ordered, "Even if you won't be nice for your own sake, you will respect her because she is my guest, and Sondra needs her."

Jamie nodded reluctantly, but jabbed a finger in his chest and insisted, "Fine, but next time you invite a guest over, you have to let me know," before stalking out the door.

The moment she was out the door, Libby Mac Inness's eyes scanned her up and down. The relief in her eyes made Jamie pause and actually feel a little guilty. Sean wasn't mad, so why was she so bent out of shape, Jamie wondered. Jamie took a moment to really look at Libby Mac Inness, and began to see why Sean was interested. She had classic good looks and a casual grace as she clipped back and forth in her high heels. What really stuck out was that, unlike the last DHS worker, she actually seemed to care.

With that thought, Jamie realized the real problem wasn't with Ms. Mac Inness. Her problem was really with the last jerk of a DHS worker who had refused to believe he had placed her in a bad foster home. While she thought about her own motivation, Jamie stared at Ms. Mac Inness. Finally, Jamie stiffened her spine and approached to reluctantly say, "I'm sorry for earlier."

Libby Mac Inness brushed off her apology and as she said, "Don't worry about it. Are you okay?"

With a roll of her eyes, Jamie smiled and insisted, "I'm fine. Don't worry so much." When Ms. Mac Inness relaxed and gave her a cautious grin, Jamie found herself smiling back before suggesting, "I guess we should talk."

"From what I hear, you have most of it figured out, but it might help to clear the air," Ms. Mac Inness agreed with an amused drawl.

Jamie spotted Sondra edging away just as the realization rose up that she was about to have a heart to heart with a DHS worker. A small feeling of panic rose up, even If it had been her one idea, and she impulsively grabbed Sondra's hand as she insisted, "Don't go. She isn't here just for me, and you are a big help."

At Sondra's nod, Jamie quickly ushered them to an empty corner of the room. Once they had a measure of privacy, Jamie admitted, "I'm not doing to well with the idea that my uncles are being investigated again. They haven't done anything wrong. They don't deserve to have theirs lives turned upside down again."

Neither Sondra nor Ms. Mac Inness seemed surprised by her words. Jamie began to hope that this might actually be easier than she had thought. Then, Libby Mac Inness answered, "I understand, but I need to dig deeper. Emancipated minor status isn't something we take lightly, and we don't want to chance leaving you in a dangerous situation. There were several red flags in your file, and I need to check them out."

At the mention of "RED FLAGS" Jamie's eyes narrowed dangerously, and she felt her her heart race. Struggling to prevent herself from yelling again, she took several deep breaths before speaking. Sondra wasn't hampered though, and she asked innocently, "What were the red flags?"