Page 42 of Phoenix
“And you think she’s going to let you go without her? I barely know her, and I can already see she trusts you and only you.”
“That’s where Lou and Daniel come in,” I answer. “Plus, I think she formed a bond with Lou’s British friend, Izzy.”
“Count me in,” he says with a nod that tells me he will always have my back. Being the emotionally deep kind of guy I am, I simply nod back.
Hours later, well after closing time, a face I haven’t seen for a while comes flustering through the door with a case that tells me he’s going to be staying a while. I consider it a happy coincidence, knowing that he’ll take care of the bar for me while Jake and I go and investigate Robert’s supposed death.
“Uncle,” I say to him by way of greeting.
“Phoenix!” he beams, just as Jake goes out back to check on Jess. Once upon a time, I would have felt a pang of jealousy, however, after what she told me, I know nothing like that would ever happen between them. He more than deserves to play the protective brother to her, for that is exactly what he is to her.
“Good trip?” I ask as I help him shuffle inside with his belongings.
“Shit, but an experience nonetheless,” he chuckles. I can’t ever recall seeing the man get angry over anything. Even when he learned of Lou’s attack, he was the concerned adult in the room, not the raging ball of energy that I was. “What’s been going on around here?”
“Lenny?” Jake calls out with his equally happy face. Jess is not far behind him, though she looks a lot less confident now she can see another stranger has walked into her life. She keeps close to his back, almost trying to hide and look anywhere but at my uncle.
“Jake,” Lenny says softly, having noticed the nervous girl behind him, “hello.”
“H-hi,” Jess murmurs before rushing over to me, where she cuddles into my chest, seeking refuge. I both love and hate it all at the same time. I kiss her head to try and reassure her that it’s ok. She is safe and I will always do everything I can to ensure it stays that way.
“Jess, this is my uncle,” I tell her as I wrap my arm around her back, “it’s ok, I’ve got you.”
“A pleasure, Jess,” my uncle says, though he’s looking pleasantly shocked by my reaction to this girl. I brace myself for his excitement over me having finally found someone who means something to me. Thankfully, he reads the situation perfectly and merely smiles.
“I-I’m sorry, strangers make me nervous,” she says quietly before tentatively offering her hand for him to shake.
“Oh, don’t mind me, Jess,” he laughs, “most people make me uncomfortable too. I understand completely.”
I watch her blush with a kind of shame, so I squeeze her extra tight and smile.
“I just came out to tell you I’m going to head to bed,” she says to me, “will you be coming soon?”
“Course, give me ten minutes, baby,” I whisper before mouthing my love for her. She kisses me before walking out back.
“Well, strike me down, Phoenix!” Lenny declares, still being careful to stay quiet for her sake.
“Don’t!” I warn him, even though I have to admit I have a huge grin on my face.
“But this is fantastic news, isn’t it, Jake?” Lenny now turns to face my fearful-looking cousin.
“Sure,” he says, “but it also means it’s time, don’t you think?”
“Time for what?” I immediately ask, looking between the both of them for some sort of explanation.
Lenny drops his eyes to the floor and turns pale. Whatever it is, it can’t be good. What else have they been hiding from me?
“Are you sure, Jake? This might not go how you hoped,” he says as he begins rubbing the back of his neck with anxiety. “And Lou should surely be here, shouldn’t she?”
“She knows,” Jake snaps, sounding almost angry.
“She knows?! I thought we agreed!” my uncle snaps back.
“Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on?”
“Lenny has something to give you, something that belonged to your father,” Jake says, ignoring my uncle and his flustering hands. “Once you read it, you’ll know everything. You might not like it, but it won’t change anything.”
I immediately turn to face my uncle with my hand held out, waiting for him to give me whatever it is. At first, he just stares at my empty hand, all the while looking incredibly conflicted, but eventually, he sighs, long and slow, and walks back over to his bag to retrieve this mystery item that will explain everything, as well as piss me off.