The Boy in the Woods (2014 Wattys Winner, Wattpad Version)

Chapter 48 - Take Good Care of My Baby

Hearing her uncle’s cold voice behind her, Jess’s heart began pounding in her chest.  When she turned around, Uncle Jonathon’s blood shot eyes burned with anger as he walked from the darkened grand parlor.  He had a drink in his hand and from the way he was unsteady on his feet as he made his way to the table with the telephone, she knew he was drunk. 

“H – hello, Uncle J – Jonathon,” she said as casually as she could, but her voice quavered.  She hadn’t been cold when she was outside with Marty, but now her entire body was shaking with fear. 

“Where’ve you been?” he slurred in a low voice, setting his glass down on the table.  Trying to keep up the pretense that nothing was wrong, she removed her boots and began unbuttoning her coat, but her trembling fingers fumbled with the buttons.

“It looked so pretty outside, I decided to go for a walk,” she said, forcing a smile while removing her coat. 

Turning away from him to hang it in the closet, she hoped he didn’t see the tremor in her hand when she reached for a hanger.  It was reasonable she might go for a walk on a snowy night, she thought, trying to keep the panic down.  As far as he knew, she didn’t even know about the cabin.  All she needed to do was make sure he didn’t have any reason to suspect she wasn’t telling the truth. 

Closing the closet door, she turned to head to the stairs, but Uncle Jonathon was in her way, glaring down at her. 

“Good night,” she said, and went to step around him.

“Not so fast, missy,” he growled, grabbing onto her and yanking her back in front of him. 

“You must think I’m stupid,” he hissed, the smell of alcohol washing over her as he held her firmly by her upper arms.

“N – no, s – sir,” she stammered.  She couldn’t help trying to pull out of his grip as fear began to rise up in her. “I – I was just – walking.  I was –.”

“Don’t lie to me!” he roared, giving her a shake, his grip tightening painfully. 

“Please, Uncle Jonathon!” she begged, tears coming to her eyes as she struggled.  “You’re hurting me!”

“I saw you!” he bellowed.  Seeing the rage in his eyes while he squeezed her arms even tighter, a blind terror took hold of her.  “How long have you been seeing him?  How long?”

 “Let me go!” she screamed, struggling wildly to get loose.

“What have you been doing with him?” he shouted, shaking her hard.  “Tell me!”

“Dad!  What are you doing?” 

“Doug!” Jess cried out, hearing Doug’s shocked voice.

“Dad, stop!  Let her go!”  Doug appeared at his father’s side in his robe and pajamas, desperately pulling on Uncle Jonathon’s arm in an attempt to get him to let go.  As soon as he’d wrenched Jess away, she grabbed onto him, sobbing into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her.  “What on earth are you doing?  Have you lost your mind?” he demanded with outrage.

“She’s having an affair with James!” Uncle Jonathon shouted.

“What?  That’s crazy!” Doug exclaimed, drowning out Jess’s gasp of shock. 

“It’s not crazy!  I just caught her!”

“No!” Jess cried.  “It’s not true!”

“I don’t believe it!” Doug insisted.  “Jess wouldn’t do that!”

“She was coming from the garage, Douglas!  I saw her!”