Chapter 17

Her father died a week later without waking up. John insisted that he knew she had visited him but she suspected that he was trying to make her feel better. Alex was there for her the whole time. He provided support and comfort without asking for anything back. She had to admit that she needed a baby-sitter and Alex had applied for the job.

The funeral was the worst part. Everybody was looking at her as if she was an alien but they didn't speak to her. Her aunts stared at Alex trying to figure out who he was and failing miserably. Her mother of course didn't acknowledge her presence.

Alex was holding her hand in a tight grip that was hurting her but she didn't mind. She wanted to cry, she actually tried to cry but tears wouldn't come. Jen felt dead, devoid of any emotion. There was no sorrow, no sadness, no loneliness; she was empty. For a while she thought that this thing was happening to some other girl and that she was watching from a distance.

When the priest said the last words her brother kissed her on the cheek and Alex guided her out of the cemetery. Jen simply followed him without asking any questions. She just followed him to the airport and back to France without saying a word.

The moment they reached the mansion she was so tired that all she wanted to do was get under the covers of her huge bed and sleep. Hannah was waiting for them at the door but Alex hugged her and whispered something in her ear.

Hannah's clever eyes focused on Jen. "Welcome back", she said timidly.

"Thank you honey. I'm going to lie down. We'll talk later, I promise".

Hannah just nodded.

"Where is Maddy?", she asked before going upstairs.

"In the kitchen. Why?"

"I was just wondering if she's alright".

"She's fine. She has been cooking all morning waiting for you".

Jen smiled at that and went straight to her bed. The moment she left Hannah turned to Alex and grabbed his hand.

"Is she going to be ok?"

Alex walked towards his office. "I think so. But it's too soon now. Losing a parent is very difficult even if you are 30 years old".

Much later Jen wouldn't even remember what had happened during those days. She was spending her mornings with Hannah and her afternoons with Maddy. Alex hadn't touched her again and she felt relief mixed with disappointment. It was really hard being around him when a part of her wanted him to take her in his arms and comfort her.

Alex on the other hand was polite and kind. They only saw each other during meals and sometimes she sensed that he was just avoiding her. It shouldn't hurt, but it did anyway.

She was walking through the long corridors thinking about him when she heard his voice. He was angry but he wasn't yelling. He spoke in low, threatening tones and the other person, whoever he was, should have been frightened.

"You are going back to school in September, Hannah. End of discussion".

Jen stopped dead on her tracks. Alex was talking to Hannah and she should have known that sooner or later he would learn about his daughter's plans never to return to that expensive boarding school. Hannah had told Jen everything about that place and she had promised to help her break the news to her father.

"I'm not going back daddy. Why can't you listen to what I want for a change?"

"Because I know what's best for you".

"No, you don't. If you knew you would never send me back to that place. I don't like it there daddy". She sounded so miserable that Jen almost stormed into the room.

"Then you'll do it because you have to, not because you like it".

"Why don't you trust me?" she sobbed.

"I trust you Hannah", he replied calmly. "But I am your father-"

"No, you are not", she cut him.

Jen stopped breathing for a moment. She hadn't even imagined that Hannah was capable of saying that but it seemed that she had underestimated the kid.

"I'm the only one you've got".

"Jen said you would understand", she cried. "She promised that you would listen to me".

"She doesn't know me that well".

At least that part was true, Jen thought. It was really none of her business but she knew that he was being unreasonable and she wouldn't hesitate to tell him so if she got the chance.

"Fine", Hannah said but her voice betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Where are you going?", Alex asked.

"Don't worry. I won't run away again".

Jen took a step back as the door opened and Hannah walked towards her. She looked up at her, her beautiful eyes swimming in tears and whispered, "Will you talk to him? Please?"

"I will", Jen promised. She got in the library and closed the door behind her. Alex was standing close to the window looking at her, waiting like a soldier preparing for a battle. Jen tried to appear more confident than she felt. They had fought before but this time it would be more difficult because of all the unspoken things between them.

"Have you come here to prove I'm wrong?", he asked her.

He looked so beautiful that she couldn't breathe or think. What had he done to her? She believed that her defences would protect her against any man but Alex Devlin had no problem breaking through them any time he wished. She felt weak and she didn't like it.

"I don't need to prove it", she said after a while. "You know you're wrong".

He smiled that predatory smile that made her knees wobble. "You know what I find really interesting Jennifer?"

"What?" He could be the most exasperating man when he wanted.

"The fact that you would do anything for Hannah. You are ready to throw yourself into the lion's den to defend her".

"You being the lion?", she asked.

He ignored her. "Whereas when it comes to you, to your own problems you do nothing to solve them".

He was right, damn him. But she wouldn't let him win so easily. "I'm not here for a therapy session. Why do you insist on making your daughter miserable?"

Alex sat comfortably on the chair. "But she's not my daughter, is she? And she was kind enough to remind me that".

That must have hurt him a lot more than she had originally thought. "Ok. Hannah was mean and unfair", she admitted. "However, she reacted instinctively. You are forcing her to go-"

"I know". He sounded bored. "I am forcing her to go to a school she hates, where she has no friends or-"

"You are forcing her to go away from you and Maddy", she cut him.

Alex looked stunned. She took advantage of that by pressing her point. "Don't you get it? Hannah doesn't want to leave you. Alex, you are her family. That place is a boarding school. She sees you twice a year and you are working all the time. She believes that she is a burden, that you don't want her and she is hurt. Have you thought of that?" She struggled to sound calm but her voice was more high-pitched than she would have liked.