Chapter 9

The fair was full of people. A Ferris wheel, cotton candy, kettle popcorn and even a 'deep fried anything' booth were among the many attractions that scattered the area. Jen was having a blast! Who knew these things could be so much fun? Aunt Gabby had shown her around and introduced her to some friends. The day was beautiful; not too hot, at least, Jen didn't think so. She actually felt quite cool in the outfit Annie had picked out for her: a pink and blue plaid shirt with sleeves that went to her elbows, tucked into a pair of cut-off jean shorts that sported a belt with a downright legitimate western buckle! The outfit was pulled together by a pair of brown cowboy boots that Jen felt were quite comfortable. Annie was right; she looked like a born and bred country girl.

Jen separated from her aunt and walked into a grassy area away from the main bustle of the fair. There was a slight breeze and Jen lifted her head to let it catch her hair. She closed her eyes and breathed deep.

"Looks like Annie got her way."

Jen spun around to face Zack, a smirk on his face.

Smiling, Jen folded her arms. "Her way with what?"

Zack walked up to stand beside her. "Annie told me she was going to give you a makeover, so I bet her that you wouldn't agree to it. Looks like you did, so she won."

"What did you bet?"

Zack smiled and popped a couple pieces of kettle corn into his mouth as Jen waited for him to explain. "Kettle corn?" he offered, still grinning like a child.

Hmmm, so you're going to be like that! Jen rolled her eyes and turned to start walking.

"You wanna go on the Ferris wheel?" he asked, clearly changing the subject.

"Are you serious?" Jen laughed. Stopping, she turned to look at him. "Aren't we a little old for that?"

"Ouch. I'm not that old. Besides you are never too old to have fun at the fair." He wiggled his eyebrows up and down. "Am I right?"

"That's a common misconception," Jen stated as she began walking again. "You can definitely be too old to do certain things."

Zack followed her. "Why are you always so uptight?" he asked, chewing his popcorn as he walked. "You seem a little young to have forgotten what it's like to be young."

Jen stopped, and for a moment seemed far away in thought. "I guess the last few years of my life have been so busy with law school and work that I sometimes forget that I can have fun," she finally said.

"So, what could we do to fix that?" he asked, his head slightly tilted to one side. Again, Jen thought of a puppy.

"Fix what? How to have fun?" Jen wanted to make sure they were on the same page. Zack asked a lot of questions and she didn't like trying to fill in the blanks. Why couldn't he just say what he wanted to say? After all, that's how miscommunication happens. People assume and don't communicate clearly what they mean. She saw it a lot working with her cases. From what she noticed, miscommunication led to a lot of problems in society.

He smiled at her. "I would like to fix..." he paused, "I want to get to know you better. I want to show you how much fun you can have. I thought we had a lot of fun together the other day, going riding. I want to create more experiences like that one. After all, we're friends, right?"

Jen thought a moment, looking up and tapping her foot, as if it were a very big decision. She finally smiled and nodded but didn't say anything.

Zack laughed, "See! We're friends, and friends have fun together."

"So, this friendship," Jen paused as if she were thinking deeply. "What are the benefits? Do I get your first born if you make fun of my wardrobe?"

Zack laughed out loud and Jen once again appreciated how handsome he was. "Oh, well no, unfortunately, being friends with me does not protect you from the teasing. But I could probably take it down a notch, just until you get a little more used to my style."

"I counter your proposal with one of my own. If you still get to tease then I get to ask you five questions, and when I do, you have to answer them, truthfully," Jen proposed.

"Oh wow!" Zack laughed. "I forget you're a lawyer. Are you using your lawyer tactics on me right now?" He gave her a suspicious look and Jen couldn't help smiling.

Zack continued, "This is good, I feel like we're making headway. I've learned a lot about you this week." Holding up his fingers he began to count off. "You've grown to like horses..."

"One horse," Jen corrected, "Stallion."

"Okay, Stallion..." he continued counting. "You're nosy, I mean, you want to know everything about me... you don't own a pair of boots or jeans... and you are against kettle corn?" He lifted the bag and gave her a questioning look.

Jen looked him in the eye for a moment. "Just because you like to analyze everything about me does not mean you know anything. I happen to LOVE kettle corn!" She accepted a handful of the corn offered to her.

"You," he said shaking his finger at her teasingly, "you're a tricky one."

She laughed as she chewed.

"Okay, what would you like to know about me?" Zack offered.

Jen hid her smile. "What did you and Annie bet?"

"Ahhh," Zack nodded with mischief in his eyes. "Does this count as one of the five questions?"

Jen shook her head, pretending to be serious, "Oh no, I'll save those for emergencies only."

"Good to know. So, what happens if you ask me a question and I lie?" Zack raised his eyebrows in question.

Jen thought a moment, "Then you will have lied to me. And you'll have to live with the guilt."

Zack nodded and grinned at her, "Fair enough."

"The bet...?"

"Oh, I just said that she couldn't get a beautiful, sophisticated girl like you to wear country jeans and a t-shirt. She took the challenge and said I had to buy her lunch if she won. So, looks like I'm taking my sis to lunch."

There was a moment of silence. Jen shifted her feet; she wasn't used to not having something to say. She couldn't quite figure this guy out. He was charming; a little too charming at times. She had promised herself she wasn't going to spend any more one on one time with Zack because she couldn't afford to get involved with him. However, she liked him. In fact, she liked him a little too much, and that could lead to problems.

Despite Jen telling herself it wasn't a good idea, she couldn't resist walking and talking with Zack. He was so different from the other men she had been with. He seemed to enjoy life and was driven only by what each day had to offer, rather than schedules, deadlines, and appointments.

The conversation flowed effortlessly as they continued their walk. They talked about summer, the fair, and riding together. Zack opened up and shared some stories from when he was young, and Jen found herself listening intently. They talked of places they'd like to see and the difference between Ohio and New York. Laughing, they quoted favorite movie lines, and divulged embarrassing stories about high school. Zack revealed he played the saxophone and loved ballroom dancing. Jen told him how much she loved to paint, and that she secretly wished she could be an artist. The afternoon sped by and Jen couldn't remember the last time she opened up on this level with a guy.

"So," Zack started, when they had come to a break in their conversation about favorite foods, "can I buy you a deep-fried Twinkie?"

"Seriously?" she asked.

"Oh, we don't joke about deep fried things here."

Jen giggled, "I thought that was more of a southern thing."

"It's a country thing," Zack stated matter-of-factly. "Deep fried items are a staple, an icon in the society of line-dancing, horse-riding, and cow-wrestling people like us."

"Ahhh, I see." Jen feigned serious interest.

"You don't believe me; I can see it in your eyes. But if you want to fit in, if you want to get that true Ohioan feel, you are going to need to eat a deep-fried item."

"What if I don't want to get that true Ohioan feel?"

"If you aren't here to get a feel for the culture, why are you here?"

"I'm here to spend time with Aunt Gabby."

"Aunt Gabby's been here for a long time, and I've never seen you around here before now." Zack looked at her curiously. "When was the last time you saw her?"

Jen bit her lip; Zack was getting nosy again. She decided honesty was best. "I haven't seen her since I was five." She looked at Zack to measure his reaction; he seemed interested, so she went on. "I'm not close to any of my family. It's been my dad and I for as long as I can remember."

"Your mom?" Zack asked.

Jen weighed her emotions; she wasn't sure how much of her personal life she wanted to share with this man. In all reality, she barely knew him. And yet, she felt comfortable sharing things with him. "My mom split when I was four, and my dad isn't close to any of his siblings."

"I'm sorry." Zack seemed genuine. "Did your dad ever remarry?"

"Oh yes." Jen's voice was laced with sarcasm and disdain. "Five times was I blessed with a new stepmother."

"Oh wow," Zack said, "lucky you."

"Yeah," Jen said sarcastically.

"Grandparents?" Zack continued, breaking the awkwardness.

"All deceased." She thought a moment. "At least, I think so."

"You think so?" Zack was incredulous. "You don't know for sure?"

"I told you, my mom left. I don't know her parents. My dad's parents have passed away. Aunt Gabby is the only sibling my dad has ever talked about."

"You should check up on the grandparent situation," Zack insisted through a mouthful of popcorn. "Everyone needs grandparents."

Jen smiled warily and shrugged, "What you don't know..."

Zack nodded. "Family's important, even if you don't want to think so."

"What about you?" It was time for her to ask the questions.

Zack took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "My dad died in a tractor accident when I was eleven. Annie was only seven, so she doesn't remember him as well. My mom passed away almost five years ago; breast cancer."

"I'm so sorry," Jen said honestly. She couldn't imagine losing both parents.

"Thanks," Zack smiled at her. "Aunt Gabby has been a great comfort. She was close to my mom. They were really good friends, like sisters, which is why we started calling her Aunt Gabby. After so many years, the name stuck."

"She's a special person," Jen said. "I've really enjoyed getting to know her. She's treated me so well."

"So, what made you just up and decide to visit her for the entire summer?"

Jen thought she detected a hint of suspicion in his tone, but more than that, she wondered why he was asking such a question when Aunt Gabby needed people right now. Then the thought struck her: Maybe he didn't know Aunt Gabby was sick! Jen dismissed it the second she thought it. He would have to know. There is no way she could keep that from him. Maybe he didn't say anything because she didn't like people talking about it. After all, Aunt Gabby had never even mentioned it to her in the entire time she'd been there. Maybe Zack was testing her; seeing how much she knew. Jen looked at Zack and he returned her gaze, waiting for her answer.

"Like you said, family's important. And since Aunt Gabby was really the only family member my dad talked about, I thought I would take the summer and really get to know her. My job is at a place where I was able to get away." She shrugged. "It was the right time."

Zack listened intently, nodding at the appropriate times. He seemed truly interested. "So, you just wanted to get to know her? No material reasons or trying to gain something from it?

Jen's eyebrows furrowed and she turned towards him. "What do you mean by that?" she asked defensively. Her heart began to beat a little faster.

Zack shrugged, "I don't know, I just think it's really great of you to take time out of your busy life to spend your summer with your seventy-five-year-old half-aunt that you hardly know."

Jen couldn't ignore it anymore. Zack was definitely fishing. She realized he was acting suspicious of her, but why? There was no way he could know that she was gaining a promotion and salary increase by coming out here. That conversation was between her and her dad only. No one at the office knew. No one. The complexity of Zack's character was evident, and the more time Jen spent with him the more she realized he was not ignorant; he was smart. And although he seemed to play the 'flirty country boy' role, there was more to him than met the eye. Jen had a sixth sense about people, it's what made her such a good lawyer. She could usually tell when they were lying or just not saying what they were actually thinking. Zack clearly had questions he couldn't, or wouldn't, ask straight out. But what were they? What was he suspecting her of?

Jen suddenly felt self-protective and decided to cut the crap. If he had a question, he should ask it. "Is there something you want to ask me?" she inquired, her lawyer face on.

Zack faced her. "Why do you ask that?"

"Because you seem to be thinking more than you're saying. You're fishing for something and I'm not a mind reader, so let's hear it." She folded her arms and waited.

His eyes seemed to get darker as he looked straight at her. A few uncomfortable seconds went by. Finally, he broke the silence.

"I'm not fishing," he began slowly as he started walking again. "I'm just trying to understand you better. There aren't very many people that go out of their way for the elderly in this world; I actually admire you for it." Even though he tried to sound sincere, it didn't work, and Jen caught the cynicism in his voice.

Jen didn't follow him. "Are you one of those people? Those who go out of their way for the elderly? You seem to go out of your way for Aunt Gabby." The derision dripped from her voice.

"Yeah, I guess I admire myself for it as well," Zack turned and shot back.

"I'm glad to see that you are so pleased with how you turned out." Jen put a hand over her heart in mock admiration.

"Look, I'll admit I'm not perfect, but I think I'm a pretty decent person. I do things for Aunt Gabby because I truly love her; she is practically the only family I have left. I understand you aren't used to sharing things, being the only child of a big lawyer in New York City." He raised his hands and used his fingers to 'quote' the words lawyer and New York City, and Jen held back the urge to slap him. Instead, she held up her hand to stop him from going any further. She was trying to compose herself. "Do NOT talk about my family, I'm warning you," she said, feeling her anger rising.

"So, you can judge me and what I do but I can't do the same? Seems unfair." Zack immediately had his guard up.

"News flash! Life is unfair." Jen raised her eyebrows and stared straight into Zack's eyes.

In an instant Zack turned and grabbed Jen's left arm above the elbow. His grip was strong. "Do not lecture me about life and its unfairness Miss Berkley. Don't do it."

His eyes had a sad, faraway look and Jen felt a pang of regret in her heart. They stood there, breathing heavily. Words escaped Jen as she almost felt the deep sorrow he was telling with his eyes. What had happened to him?

"I'm sorry about your mother," Jen whispered, finally breaking the silence.

Zack blinked and loosened his grip on her arm. Suddenly returning from the mental place he had been, he let out a large sigh as if defeated, and then turned and began to walk away from her.

Jen was reeling. She couldn't just let him go.

"I appreciate what you do for Aunt Gabby," she mustered, calling after him. He stopped and turned half-way, putting his hands on his hips and kicking at something in the grass.

"I don't need your appreciation; I don't do it for you. I do it for her." Zack abruptly turned and began walking back toward her. "And let me tell you something that you don't seem to understand." He was inches from her face now. "The Aunt Gabby you know is not the Aunt Gabby I know," his voice was deep and low. "The Aunt Gabby I know is the woman who helped take care of me and my family when we needed it most. The woman who taught me how to grow and take care of rose plants. Who fed me and Annie lunch every day through the summers because my mother worked full-time. She was one of the chaperones at my junior high school dance."

Jen was backing up. "I appreciate that she has been there throughout your life, but she is still my aunt. My blood aunt. And I..."

Zack was suddenly furious and cut Jen off. "I have spent every holiday, every birthday, and every special event with her since I was eight. She was there for both Annie and I when our dad died, and again when our mother died. She's taken care of us with no thought of herself." Zack's intensity was growing with each sentence. "I know that you think you can just swoop in here after twenty years of absence and win her heart. So, she'll love you like you've been around since you were a little girl. Because that's what your daddy has told you. You're used to people falling all over you and getting your way. But I'm here to tell you that whatever you want from Aunt Gabby, you won't get it!"

Jen was blown away. "What is it that you think I want from her?" She had to force a whisper and felt weak.

Zack just shook his head. "I won't let her get hurt."

"Wait a minute." Jen's strength suddenly returned. "I would NEVER hurt Aunt Gabby. She's my aunt and if you think you love her more than..."

"Oh, I don't think I love her more than you do Jen," Zack interrupted her again; "I know I do."

They stood there, breathing heavily and glaring at the fire in each other's eyes. The intensity between them was fierce. She saw his eyes flicker toward her lips for a split second, and then back to her eyes. Then he turned and began walking away again.

Heart pumping and thoroughly confused, Jen couldn't let him have the last word. "Blood is thicker than water, Zackery!"

He turned. "And love is thicker than blood."

Jen fumbled for some witty comeback, but nothing came. As Zack walked away, bewilderment wracked Jen's brain. What had just happened? They had gone from politely laughing and having a great time, to bitter and frustrated, again! She stormed off in the direction of the beer booth. She needed a drink and that was the closest thing available.

While she made her way back to the fairgrounds her mind replayed her conversation with Zack. She couldn't believe she was arguing with him over who loved Aunt Gabby more! That was ridiculous! This wasn't kindergarten. And what did he mean when he said he wouldn't let her get hurt? Jen wouldn't hurt Aunt Gabby in a million years.

Jen reached the booth, bought a cup of beer, and then found a spot under a tree to sit and think. She had never experienced encounters like the ones she'd had with Zack. They had known each other only a few weeks. But in that time, they had had many strange incidences: She threatened to stab him. He had insulted her numerous times. They were enemies, and then became friends and then were enemies again. They had flirted and yelled, laughed and scowled, joked around, and had one serious fight. Sheesh, it was like she was in a relationship with none of the perks! She had already had so many ups and downs with Zack LaFaye she wondered how much more could happen between them. If their 'encounters' were going to be a reoccurring theme throughout the rest of the summer, she wasn't sure she could take it.

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