Shame the Devil (Portland Devils #3) - Rosalind James Page 0,138

to do this wrong, and now I’ve hurt her worse.” He didn’t say it, because that wasn’t what was important.

“Well,” Blake said, “that was epic. Epically wrong, of course, but …”

“Yeah,” Harlan said. “I get it. Jennifer. I’m sorry.”

“Maybe you should go back in the bedroom and try again,” Oscar said.

“No.” Jennifer had moved away. “I’m fine. It’s fine. I’m just ..” She was tearing up again, then heading off down the hall. In the direction of the bathroom, probably.

It took about one minute, during which Harlan tried to think what to say and couldn’t. Jennifer came back with a tissue clamped in her fist and an effort at a smile on her face that hurt him worse than the tears. She didn’t look at him, just sat down on the couch again and said, “So I guess I proved the point, Grandpa, that I’d say no. And Dyma, I think I should say that I was worried about you going to college. About how I’d pay for my part of it, and this helps us do it. You and Annabelle can keep each other company, too.”

“All right, first, Mom,” Dyma said, “you’re not doing some big noble-sacrifice thing for me. I told you, if I have to defer my school for a year, I’ll do it. Or I’ll apply for more loans. I’m not going to get off track. You need to do what you want to do. I can’t believe that’s having another baby, but whatever. If that’s the deal, I’ll help you. You don’t have to ask Harlan.”

It was all delivered with a scowl, but Jennifer seemed to think it was a declaration of love, because she got up and hugged Dyma and said, “Thank you, sweetie. I’m not just taking Harlan up on his offer for you, though. I’m doing it for me. I need to change my life.”

“Well,” Blake said, “that’s one way, I guess.”

“Also,” Jennifer said, “who has their boss sitting here for their life-implosion? Could this be a little more awkward, please?”

“Probably not,” Dakota said, “but it’s OK. Blake’s used to screwing up his life.”

“Thanks,” he said.

“You’re welcome,” she answered. “I’m used to it myself, if it helps.”

Dyma said, “There’s a problem with this plan, though.”

“Only one?” Jennifer asked. Still going for the cheerful thing, despite the earlier tears. He had a feeling Jennifer thought she wasn’t strong. He wondered how on earth she could think that.

“That my school year isn’t over,” Dyma said. “If this plan is meant to start soon. Except …” She got a faraway look. “My AP tests are over in about ten days. That’s four classes. You don’t do much in those classes after the exam’s over, and there’d only be another month of school.”

“If you’re asking whether you can share Annabelle’s tutor, the answer’s yes,” Harlan said.

Annabelle said, “That would be so awesome. I mean, I’m glad to be gone from home, but …” She gulped. “Sometimes, it’s a little lonely, you know? Especially with not going to school, and … everything.”

“And,” Dyma said breezily, “if your house is big, you can probably have guests, right, Harlan?”

He said, “If you’re asking if Owen can come to visit, the answer’s no. He’s got his own place in Portland. He can stay there. He’s always telling me it’s better anyway.”

Jennifer said, “Thank you,” like she’d been holding her breath.

Dyma said, “I don’t know why you guys are always making such a big deal of this. Who’s pregnant, exactly? Oh, wait, that’s you. Anyway, Owen won’t. He keeps saying he doesn’t sleep with high-school girls.”

Dakota said, “Wait. Which Owen are we talking about?”

“Owen Johnson,” Blake said.

“The center?”

“What, I didn’t tell you?” Blake said.

“Well, no,” she said. “You didn’t. That’s quite the detail to omit.”

“Never mind,” he said. “You can take it out of my hide later.”

Jennifer said, “Wait. Grandpa.”

Oscar said, “What about me?”

Jennifer looked at Harlan, and he sighed and said, “Of course your grandpa’s welcome to come, too. Dyma can stay in the big house. The guest quarters have two bedrooms, like I said.”

“What, I’m going to go live with this guy?” Oscar said. “No, thanks.”

“But you’ll be alone,” Jennifer said.

“How do you know?” Oscar said. “Maybe I’ll finally get Elaine Marks over at my place, sampling my meatloaf, if there aren’t so many people around all the time.”

“Ugh,” Dyma said. “Grandpa.”

“What?” he said. “I meant meatloaf.”

“No, you didn’t,” Dyma said. “That’s just gross.”

“Are you sure?” Jennifer asked him. “I know we’ve talked about it, but won’t that feel