My Lover's Keeper by Kerri Zane

Author:Kerri Zane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
Published: 2016-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Taylor, May 16, 2010

Taylor’s car, Orange County, CA

Driving south along Pacific Coast Highway, top down on my little blue convertible, the warm spring sunshine toasting up my bare shoulders is relaxing my jitters. The last time I saw Jen was just after graduation and before she married Ron. It’s weird to think we were so close in college, roommates even, and I didn’t go to her wedding. We were bitterly angry at each other. Well, more me than her. After the whole Jay incident, I couldn’t even look at Jen, let alone have a civil word. Then there was the girl who really needed me, the fragile Jen.

* * * * *

Taylor, April 1989

Planned Parenthood Office, L.A.

Jen squeezed my hand as we sat nervously in the sterile, antiseptic-laden Planned Parenthood office, waiting for her name to be called.

“Promise me you won’t say a word.”

“You know I won’t.”

“Thanks for coming with me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You know stuff like this never happens to me, Taylor. I mean, I just didn’t think I’d be this girl. I feel like such an idiot,” she said, her words clouded by sniffles.

“It’s good that you confided in me. We’re here and we’re going to take care of it.”

She looked at me like a wounded puppy, her green saucer eyes hanging low under her eyelids, so sad and frightened. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and consoled her. “What frat house did you say this guy was from?”

She put her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands rubbing the worry lines from her forehead. No answer though, so I didn’t press her. I squared her shoulders to face me and pulled her hands back down. “Listen to me. You are going to be okay, but this is a wake-up call. Spend some time figuring out who you are, my darling friend. Then go find a guy who—”

“Jen Lugatti,” the nurse interrupted.

I squeezed her hand and encouraged her out of the seat. “I’ll be here when you get out, okay, sweetie?” She nodded and solemnly followed the nurse through the open door, as if trudging into the worst of the worst chem classes.

After a forty-five-minute procedure, Jen returned, meds in hand. I took the plastic bag and steadied her in my arms. That was that. Neither of us ever told another soul about it.

* * * * *

Taylor, May 16, 2010

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Orange County, CA

I zip into the Coffee Bean parking lot, and Jen pulls right up alongside me in her oversized SUV. My guard is up, but as soon as we make eye contact I can see her genuine happiness to see me reflected in her expression. My angst dissipates like a desert mirage. We jump out of our cars and embrace as if nothing has changed since 1989. The power of sisterhood, I suppose.

Unlike me, in my post-workout gym clothes, hair in a pony securely hidden under an old Dodgers cap, Jen looks perfect. She’s got a bright little

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