Chapter 121: Free
*She will rise with a spine of steel and a roar like thunder, she will rise. – Nicole Lyons*
For the first time in longer than she would like to admit, Jolene felt free. She walked out of the courthouse knowing that she could go anywhere and do anything. There was no one watching her. No one was tracking her.
No one had to know where she was unless she wanted them to know.
She stood on the sidewalk with her face turned up to the sky. The warm sun felt wonderful on her face. Taking a deep breath, a small sob of relief escaped her. Helen placed a comforting hand on her daughter’s arm and held her close when she turned towards her.
The princesses all moved off to the side and were having a quiet discussion. Bunny walked over and hugged both mother and daughter, squeezing her large belly between the two. Jaxon and JD stood close to the trio, between Reese and Neo, making sure that they were not bothered. Ty said goodbye to his aunt and uncle before taking up a post to protect his sister-in-law.
Tori approached them timidly as Parker stood just outside the protective circle.
“Jolene?” Tori asked quietly.
Jolene turned and saw the other woman. There was no anger towards her. Tori looked ashamed and guilty. For the first time since Jolene had met her, she seemed uncertain of herself.
“I … we…” her lip quivered, and tears spilled out of her eyes. “I’m so sorry. We never even suspected. If we had known…”
Jolene left the comfort of her mother’s arms and hugged the older woman. “It’s okay.”
“Parker left the department. Even after he was cleared to return to work.” Tori cried as she told Jolene everything. “He didn’t want to be associated with that department after that. He’s a deputy now.”
“You two were always good to me.” Jolene admitted through her own tears.
“If we had known, we would have stepped in.” Tori said quietly. “We just never knew. And then when he… he…”
“Beat me.” Jolene said with a nod. It was something that she was working on saying without reliving those horrible moments that she remembered. “Attempted to kill me.”
“Yes, oh God!” Tori cried even harder, and Parker stepped up and hugged both women.
“I’m so sorry.” He whispered over and over as he also cried.
“It’s okay.” Jolene assured him. “Douggie said that you were helping with his investigation. I actually considered going to you two. But Hank got so jealous over Matt, I didn’t think that I could?”
“Over Matt?” Tori laughed. “Matt would come closer to going after Hank than he would you.”
Even Parker laughed. “Matt’s mom swears that he was the last of her kids because he’s so gay, he came out flaming and left everything scorched in his wake.”
Jolene couldn’t help but laugh. ‘That’s pretty gay.”
“He says that the thought of being in the birth canal ruined him from ever wanting to be in any vagina.” Tori smiled at her friend thinking of her other friend. “After something like three days of labor the doctors cut him out and he still swears it’s the only time he would ever be in a woman.”
All three of them were laughing and Jolene could picture him saying those things.
“He’s always asking about you.” Parker admitted. “Wants you to know that he will still sponsor you for your student teaching if that’s what you still want to do.”
“It is.” Jolene stepped back and swiped her eyes. She was thankful that her mother was one that prepared for everything. All her makeup was waterproof and did not smear. “That was a dream of mine long before I ever heard the name Hank Fargo.”
“I think you’ll be a great teacher.” Tori kissed her cheek. “By the way. I like the new look. It looks more like you than the pastels you always wore before.”
Jolene looked over at Neo who had yet to move from his protective stance. But when their eyes met, he gave her the barest of smiles and his whole body seemed to relax a little. Tori glanced in his direction.
“That’s one hell of an upgrade.” Tori murmured.
“Yeah. He’s been pretty awesome.”
“Good for you.” Tori said as she pulled a little notebook out of her purse. She wrote down both her number and Parker’s before tearing out the paper.
Pressing it into Jolene’s hand, she smiled at her friend. “If there’s ever anything that we can do. No matter how big or small, we’re here for you.”
Tears flooded her eyes again as Jolene clutched the paper close to her heart. “Thank you.”
Parker pulled her into a hug and pressed a friendly kiss to the top of her head. “Keep in touch. I want to see you at our wedding in June.”
Jolene nodded as they both stepped away. Ty stepped up and hugged her close to him. “Come on. I think everyone is wanting to go to lunch. I think we should make Reese pay.”
“I heard that.” Reese grinned.
“Good, you were supposed to.” Ty grinned at his friend. “Where are we going?”
“That’s up to Jolene.” Reese said as they all moved in closer. “The princesses are wanting to have a barbecue this weekend. If you’re up to it.”
Resting her head on the shoulder of her brother-in-law, Jolene smiled at the man she now considered her new dad. “I would like that.”
“Good.” Reese smiled back as he nestled Helen into his side. “What about lunch?”
“Mom keeps raving about this loaded chocolate cake thing.” She said with a smile. Jolene was a sucker for chocolate cake, just like her mother.
“Cognac it is.” Reese declared.
“Cognac?” Jolene said with her eyes wide. “I can’t afford that place.”
Neo moved from his position and tipped her face up to his with a light touch under her chin. Ty moved over to his wife and their partner.
Grinning down at Jolene, Neo asked her a simple question. “Who said that you were paying?”
“I can’t ask you to pay for a place like that.” She said softly and several people around them laughed.
“Reese owns Cognac.” Neo told her and her mouth formed a surprised O. "He's paying."
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