A Hidden Truth

Dinner and a Meeting

[Jaxon]

    Teddy was sitting on the couch with a laptop, tapping away with a serious look on his face. He closed the lid and smiled at me as I sat in one of the armchairs.

    “She feelin’ better?” He asked.

    “Seems to be. She’ll come out in a minute. What were the ropes, Teddy?”

    He set the computer on the coffee table and sighed deeply. There was an angry, pained look on his face.

    “When she refused the car, he tied her up with some rough, untreated ropes. Then he beat her. He told mama Juni was sick and he’d take care of her. Kept her locked in her room for a week. When she finally came out, she wore long sleeves and some long, loose cotton pants for another week. He didn’t visit her for a while after.

    I went to see her the first night. Her wrists and ankles were torn up. There were bruises. Not just hand marks, but bites. They were all over, Jaxon. She said he did painful things to her, called her names, told her what a terrible daughter she was and how disgraceful she was.” Tears formed in the corners of his eyes. “He did that to her for a week. Kept her in the bathtub in her room. Like she was some animal.

    My little Juni-bug was broken. She’d always been a little defiant, but he took that fight out of her. Every time he went to her after that, he left happy. Before he’d leave a little angry because she was still resistin’. I could see her becoming more obedient around the house, too. He’d say somethin’ and she’d snap to, like it was the difference between life and death. It wasn’t the first time he punished her, or the last. Just one of the worst.” He shook his head. “We should change the subject. I don’t want her hearin’ and thinkin’ you’re gonna leave her because of it.”

    How could he do that to someone he was supposed to take care of? There was no way she’d agreed to punishments that severe. He was seasoning an abusive relationship with one of the most caring subsets of b**m. It made me sick.

    “She said she’d love me even after I left. Like it was a foregone conclusion.” I told him.

    “He told her no one would love her like he did. No one would love her forever like he did. Hank told her everyone would leave her and he’d be the only one who’d stay, as long as she was a good girl. It seemed to be true when her friends all abandoned her for quittin’ rodeo. That’s when she made her own group of friends from others no one wanted. It’s why the girls are so close.” He smiled fondly. I knew he liked them even though he acted antagonistic. I was betting they did, too.

    The bedroom door opened and Teddy got up to give Juniper a hug. I got the pizzas out of the oven and turned it off. Juniper worked to get ice and drinks served.

    “What kind of pizza did you get?” I asked, pulling out plates.

    “Sausage and mushroom with extra cheese and extra mushrooms, because that’s Juni’s favorite. And a pepperoni and pineapple. You said you would eat whatever, so I just picked up our favorites.” Teddy replied.

    “Nice.” I smiled and grabbed one of each kind. There were a lot of mushrooms. I looked at Teddy with a raised eyebrow.

    “Everyone knows Juni’s order at the pizza place we like. They add way more than they should.” He chuckled.

    “Because they love me.” Juniper giggled while she picked up her slice and took a big bite.

    We were nearly done when Gary came in and grabbed a slice, sitting next to Teddy. He looked a little angry.

    “You okay, honey?” Teddy asked.

    “Yeah. We got the guy earlier, so I gotta go take him in with Reg. Then I gotta take a bus back, because Reg says he’s not heading back this way unless he gets another case that takes him here. He said he loses a partner every time he comes out here.” Gary scoffed.

    “It should only take six hours or so on the bus, right?” Teddy asked.

    “There’s only one bus out here tomorrow and it leaves at eleven in the morning. It means I won’t be able to pick up your sister like we planned. Then Trace tells me about what happened earlier. I don’t want the bastard taking advantage of her not being protected, babe.” Gary responded.

    “I’ll take her around tomorrow. I know what she’s got to do and where she’s going.” I offered.

    “You have to work, though, Jaxon.” She said quietly. “I’ll be fine for one day. He’s not allowed at the school or here. I’ll go run errands for Miss Letty, then I’ll come straight home.”

    “I’ll talk to Red tonight about taking the week or switching with someone who works evenings.” I told her as I took her hand. “Don’t worry about me, sweet. I’ll be with you tomorrow, even if I have to quit my job.”

    Juniper blushed and looked down. I tried to take my hand back, but she held tight. I smiled and worked on finishing my meal with only one hand.

    When we were done, we cleaned up and got ready to leave for the meeting. We were going in Teddy’s car, but Gary would be driving his truck, which, I guess, was actually Reg’s truck. I got Teddy to let me drive so he could head to the meeting with Gary. They wouldn’t see each other for at least twenty-four hours and I knew it would kill me to be out of contact with Juniper for that long.

    We were headed to the Garrison house again. The meetings usually, moved but it was the best option for weekday meetings because of the lack of nearby neighbors and how set back on the property it was. We parked in front of the house and I went around to help Juniper out of the car. Teddy and Gary were parked and taking advantage of being alone, from what I could see of the shadows in the window.

    “Should we wait for them?” Juniper asked.

    “No, sweet. They’ll wait for everyone before starting the meeting. Are you doing okay? It can be a little crowded.” I told her.

    “Am I going to have to deal with a lot of people?” She winced.

    “Yes, love. I’m sorry. We didn’t want to leave you alone. You don’t have to talk unless you want. Come on. Let’s go knock.” I said and tugged her along to the door.

    We knocked and waited. Taylor answered after a few moments. He let us into the house.

    “Mama’s in the gossip room.” He snickered. “I can take your lady friend with me so she can join ‘em. The meetin’s in the back like last time.”

    “She’s going with me, Taylor. Her brother will be here soon. Make sure you show him and his friend to the back.” I responded, pulling Juniper with me to the back door.

    “Women never go to the meetin’s. She’s gonna get bored out there and bug people.” He warned.

    “Would Miley get bored and start bugging people?” I asked coolly.

    “Nah. Miley would be the smartest one out there. When I join, I’ll bring her to every meetin’. Your girl’s smart then?”

    “Smart enough to know I can ruin your chances with Miley Jensen if I ever hear you saying anything as sexist as that again, Taylor Garrison.” Juniper said sharply.

    “Juni! I didn’t recognize you. Sorry. You were hidin’ an’ didn’t look like yourself.” He said hurriedly, with his hands out in a defensive pose.

    “We’ll be heading out then.” I waved and pulled her along with me to the back.

    “You know; Miley knows he has a crush on her. But Mattie has a crush on him so she’s not interested in pursuing it. Plus, he’s always saying stuff like that. Kimmy’s husband is a bit of an ass when it comes to gender roles.” Juniper snickered.

    I pulled her to me in front of the workshop and caressed her cheek. She was watching my mouth. Juniper needed reassurance before I took her in to face the Cleaners. I knew what she was thinking of and pressed my lips to hers. I loved the way she always sighed and moaned when I kissed her, like she was having her favorite treat.

    Her tongue demanded entry to my mouth and I allowed it. She was more aggressive than she’d been in the past. Her body grinded against mine like she was trying to make me absorb her whole self. She was moaning softly and gripping the back of my shirt tight. I moved to press her into the side of the building. She wrapped her arms around my neck, holding me close and keeping my mouth against hers as she kissed me deeply.

    There was the sound of a man clearing his throat behind me. I didn’t want to let go. Making her stop touching me earlier had been difficult enough, she was everything. I felt like I couldn’t breathe without her. None of my past relationships had been anything like this.

    “Uncle Jaxon. You wanna get off Juni and get in this meetin’?” Clayton asked angrily.

    We pulled away, reluctantly. Juniper looked up at me through her eyelashes and nibbled her lip. She got close again and pulled my head down to where she could whisper in my ear.

    “That’s how I kiss a boyfriend.” She purred and nibbled my ear.

    I chuckled breathily. More than ever, I wanted to discover everything about her. That was an intense kiss. Her reaction to my kiss earlier hadn’t been anything like that.

    “Can you two stop long enough for us to get this done? Shouldn’t she be in the house?” Clayton growled.

    “She stays with me, Clay. You got a problem?” I glared.

    “He told me to break up with you earlier.” Juniper said softly. “He said you would hurt me like your dad hurt his other girlfriends and wives.”

    “So he didn’t tell you that he knocked up his high school girlfriend, then broke up with her?” Clay scoffed. “My mom says he’s just like his daddy.”

    That hurt. I’d thought Tamsin and I were getting on better terms. Why was he talking about Shelby? It wasn’t even my kid. We broke up so she could be with the baby’s father. I looked at Juniper to try and fix the situation, but she looked annoyed.

    “Are you saying your mama taught you to air other people’s dirty laundry in public? Because that sounds like what your little girlfriend would do. Maybe you should go sit with the ladies if you like spreading gossip and rumors so much, Clayton.” She scolded.

    “His mother most certainly did not teach him that.” Red said from the doorway. “You were eavesdropping on a private conversation five years ago, boy. And you weren’t privy to any of the information that came to us later. Jax, we know what happened. It was an old conversation before Tams got to know you better. No one thinks you’re like Jack.”

    Juniper smiled and slid her fingers to weave together with my own fingers. I was thrilled she’d defended me. I’d tell her the whole story soon, but not having her mad at me after only hearing that part was great. She trusted me enough to wait.

    “Mine.” She whispered so only I could hear.

    “Always.” I responded just as quietly.

    We walked past my confused looking nephew, and in the door Red was holding open for us. I guided Juniper to the front row of seats, sitting her down next to Carson. She let go of me and clung to her brother’s arm.

    “I’m going to go talk to Red real quick. You stay with Carson. Teddy and Gary will be in soon. Be good.” I told her.

    Juniper nodded and looked around, taking in the room and the people surrounding her. I hated leaving her at all. Even though she was acting normal, I could tell it was an act. Something was bothering her and I didn’t know how to get a straight answer from her. It’d be a while before I was able to read her.