If I don’t become a journalist, I was thinking of pursuing something in the environmental field. I’ve always enjoyed doing things that benefit the planet, and you have always been my biggest supporter. Speaking of which, I’m hoping that you can help me protect Hemlock Park. I know some people think it’s a lost cause. That’s the only reason I’m leaning toward a career in journalism.
I could use your advice. I know you’re busy, but if you have time, I’d love to call you and have one of our father-daughter chats. Let me know what you think of the article. Love you lots!
-Jillian Lox
Possible Future Journalist,
Passionate Environmentalist
(AKA Peanut)
Jillian checked it over for spelling errors and then hit send.
“Now what?” Conner’s eyes darted from the screen back to her.
“Now, we wait.” Jillian clicked her thumbnail between her teeth.
“I didn’t know you bite your nails.” Conner took her hand and examined her fingers.
“I actually haven’t in a really long time.” Jillian held up her nails all in a row. “I was an avid nail biter as a kid. It was one of the biggest things my mother used to yell at me about. She’d yell at me, and of course, that only made me want to do it more.”
“Because it was how you dealt with anxiety?” Conner sat back against the soft cushions.
“I don’t know.” Her eyebrows drew together. “Honestly, I think it was more like my one act of defiance. It was my way of taking control when my mother normally controlled everything I did. It embarrassed her for people to see my fingers whenever pictures were being taken or if we were meeting important people.”
“She was embarrassed by your fingernails?” Conner shook his head. “Talk about first world problems.”
“I know.” Jillian smiled, thinking back on how ridiculous it sounded. “I remember it was something that she’d get so upset, and no matter how much of that bitter stuff she put on my fingers, I’d just suck it off and bite my nails even shorter just to prove that she couldn’t stop me.”
“Such a rebel.” Conner kissed her cheek. “Next, you’ll be getting tattoos and dying your hair pink.”
The computer made a bloop sound as a message came through.
Hey Peanut,
I’m not mad about the office. Accidents happen. I’m just glad you’re okay. Your mother and I are very worried about you. Why don’t you come home, and we can talk this through like a family?
-Dad
She scowled at the screen and hit reply.
Hey Dad,
No can do on the home visit. I’m on the road at the moment. I hope you understand. When will you be free to chat by phone?
-Jillian
The two of them held their breath, staring at the screen for several seconds until the next message came in. This one was just his phone number.
“Bingo.” Jillian clapped her hands together. “Where’s our dancer?”
“Are my ears burning?” A petite brunette came up the stairs wearing a silk robe over her dancer getup. “I can’t believe it’s you!”
“Hey, Sugar.” Conner stood up and walked over to hug the girl. “Sorry, I took so long. Cherry said you were with a girl and that you specifically didn’t want a dance, so I figured I’d throw something on. How the hell have you been?”
“I’m good.” He nodded. “Staying out of trouble.”
“Did you ever find that uncle you were looking for?” She sat down on the couch on the opposite side of Jillian.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “Life has turned around for me. This is Jillian, by the way. Jillian, this is my buddy, Sugar. She got me a job here.”
“Nice to meet you.” The girl held out her hand, and Jillian shook it.
“Likewise.” She smiled but couldn’t stop wondering if the two of them had ever dated. Not that Jillian would have held it against him. The girl was pretty, and it would have been long before they met. It was more of a nagging curiosity.
“Well, here’s my phone.” She handed her smartphone over to Jillian. “I’m going to step out and smoke a cigarette.”
After Sugar was out of earshot, Jillian smiled at Conner.
“We never dated.” He grinned back at her. “We never even kissed.”
“This is all so bizarre to me.” She looked out the glass window at the stage. “Did you date any of the dancers here?”
“Yes.” He put his hands in his pockets.
“Sorry.” Jillian looked away. “It’s none of my business.”
“I didn’t say that.” He sat back down next to her. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know. About growing up in Nebraska, about being a high school quarterback, about hitch-hiking around the country, and about anything else you want to know.”
“I’d like that.” She glanced down at her laptop and back at him. “I’m going to call my father and play some hardball. Ideally, we want him in our pocket. He needs to be more afraid of me than he is of DuPont. In fact, DuPont has just as much to lose by my outing my dad because he would get put away for some of this shit, too.”
“I’m still not a hundred percent sure I understand why we don’t just expose them here and now.”
“Because we need to think long term.” Jillian started dialing. “If we have a Congressman on our side, we can use that to our advantage. He will help us keep all the other greedy bastards that want to exploit the park at bay.”
The phone rang once.
Jillian knew that her relationship with her parents was never going to be the same after this conversation. As superficial as it felt on most levels, these were still the people who had been her family for the
