"Jess, we're here." 

Jess lifted her head while closing her book.  She and Annie were in the back seat of the black car.  It was the day to move Doug into his college dorm and they were following Doug's car as he drove with Uncle Jonathon.

"It looks so big," Annie said worriedly, and Jess looked out the window. 

Boys and girls walked in groups or lounged on the grass, enjoying the late summer sunshine, all of them looking happy and excited – and it made her heart ache.  She couldn't help imagining how grand it would have been for her and Marty to be among them, exploring their new campus, walking out in the open together for the very first time.

"What if he gets lost?" Annie asked, interrupting Jess's thoughts. 

"He won't get lost," Jess reassured her, taking her hand.  "Doug will learn his way around just like the other students."

Annie had been excited to help Doug get ready for college, but as the day for him to leave got closer, she'd become more emotional.  Jess knew how she felt.  She also felt sad he was moving out.

"Oh, this must be his dormitory," Annie said as they pulled into a parking lot and James parked next to Doug's car. 

In front of them was a four story brick building covered with ivy.  James opened the door for them to get out, and then went to open the car's trunk.  The parking lot was filled with cars and more were parked on the grass with parents and students pulling suitcases and trunks out of them. 

"It's so big!" Annie repeated as Doug and Uncle Jonathon approached her.  "What if you get lost?"

"Annie, I told you I'm going to be fine," Doug reminded her gently.  "I don't want you to worry about me."

"But it's your first time –."

"And I'm going to be okay," he insisted.

"I want to see what the dorm room looks like," Uncle Jonathon grumbled.  "It better not be a dump."

"Dad!" Doug said, looking exasperated.  "It's not going to be a dump."

"You don't know that!  They just assign you a room, sight unseen – and who knows what kind of a person they've stuck you with for a roommate!"

" Dad!"

"You should have had a choice, Douglas!" Uncle Jonathon barked. 

"That's how they do it for everyone else."  Uncle Jonathon opened his mouth and Jess knew he was about to insist they weren't like 'everyone else', but Doug spoke up.  "I'm sure it's going to be alright.  Please don't make a scene, okay?" he pleaded.

"Well – if you insist," Uncle Jonathon grumbled.  "But if it's not up to par, the president and the board of regents will be receiving a very strongly worded letter!"

"Let's – just go," Doug said with a sigh, turning to pick up his trunk while giving Jess a look, and she felt bad for him.

With Doug leading the way, they took his luggage into the building and climbed a crowded stairwell to the second floor.  Walking down the hall, Jess heard male voices and records playing.  She couldn't see her uncle's face as he walked ahead of her carrying a suitcase, but she hoped playing rock and roll wasn't something that warranted a strongly worded letter.

Doug went through one of the doorways, and when Jess walked in, she felt relieved for him.  The room was spare with two twin beds, two desks, and two dressers, but it looked clean and well kept.  The walls had been freshly painted and plaid curtains matched the plaid bedspreads on the beds.

"Hello!" greeted a young man in horn rimmed glasses, standing up from one of the beds.  He was neatly dressed in khaki trousers and a button down shirt, and she knew Uncle Jonathon had to approve.  "You must be my roommate," he said, sticking his hand out as Doug set down his trunk.  "Cornelius Steiner the third, but everyone calls me Con." 

"Doug Blackwell," Doug said with a smile, shaking his hand.  There was a flicker of recognition in the boy's eyes when he heard the name, but he didn't say anything.   "This is my dad," Doug said, stepping out of the way so they could shake. 

"Is your family associated with Steiner's department stores?" Uncle Jonathon demanded when he let go of his hand.

"Uh, yes, sir.  They are," Con said quietly, pushing up his glasses while his smile dropped slightly.  He didn't like being recognized for what his family did either, Jess thought. 

"This is Jess," Doug said, breaking the silence, and Con came forward to shake her hand. 

"Sister or –?" Con inquired with a raised eyebrow, and Jess realized he was asking if she was Doug's girl friend.

"I'm Doug's cousin," she explained, and his eyes lit up.

"Oh!  You're a cousin," he said with delight.  He was shaking her hand longer than was necessary and it made her uncomfortable.  

"This is Ann – I mean, Miss Montgomery," Doug said quickly.  Con reluctantly let go of her and she took the opportunity to move away from him, grateful Doug had saved her yet again. 

With the introductions over, Annie started to unpack Doug's things and Jess helped her, hoping she'd appear too busy to carry on a conversation with Con.  While they worked, Uncle Jonathon left to inspect the communal bathroom and the two boys began talking about classes and fraternities.

When the last suitcase was emptied and Doug's bed had been made, the family stood by awkwardly.  Noticing them, Doug broke off his discussion.

"I guess – it's time for you to leave?" he suggested, but no one said anything. 

"I'll – go see what they're serving for dinner," Con said, surveying all of them, and then left the room, perhaps sensing an emotional family scene was about to occur.

"You won't forget to wear a hat when the weather gets cool," Annie implored.  "Winter will be here before you know it and you'll catch a flu."

"I'll remember," Doug said with a bemused smile.

"And be sure to get enough sleep and don't forget to eat.  You need to keep your strength up."

"Stop smothering the boy," Uncle Jonathon chided, but for once his tone was soft.

"Don't worry," Doug said gently, coming towards her.  "I'm going to be just fine." 

To Jess's surprise, he gave Annie a hug.  It must have surprised Annie too because Jess heard her gasp.  When he let go, she pulled a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed at her eyes, but her face was glowing. 

"Dad," Doug said, extending his hand.

Uncle Jonathon was silent while he shook it, and Jess could tell he was working hard to stay in control.  Then Doug went to Jess.  Looking up at him, Jess's throat suddenly hurt.  She was going to miss him terribly.

"Bye, Doug," she whispered.

"Hey," he said, putting his arms around her and she squeezed her eyes shut while she hugged him tight.  "You know I'll be seeing you soon," he said, and she nodded into his chest, breathing in his aftershave.  "I'll be seeing all of you soon," he added more loudly, letting go of her.

"Let's go," Uncle Jonathon said gruffly, and turned to leave. 

Annie put her hand on Doug's arm, and then reluctantly followed, and Doug looked at Jess, his face showing a mixture of emotions.  It was the first time she'd seen his own sadness about being separated from the family.  Giving him an encouraging smile and a wave, she walked out. 

When they reached the car, James opened the door for them and Jess got in first.  After Annie had slid across the seat to join her, Uncle Jonathon got in and the door was slammed shut.  At that moment, Annie couldn't hold back any further and began sobbing into her handkerchief.  Jess rubbed her arm to try to comfort her while James turned on the engine and pulled out of the parking spot.  She wondered if Uncle Jonathon would say anything, but he looked out the window, keeping his face hidden.

"Thanks, pumpkin," Annie said shakily, and put her arm around to pull her close.  Jess was relieved she'd stopped crying, but as they drove, she continued to wipe her eyes.  Leaning her head against her, Jess sighed deeply, her heart hurting for her family. 

When a bump in the road jostled her, she blinked her eyes open, realizing she'd fallen asleep.  As she sat up to look out the window, out of the corner of her eye she saw Annie yank her hand out of Uncle Jonathon's, and a shock went through her.  She turned to gaze out the window, pretending she hadn't noticed, while her mind reeled.

They were driving down the two lane highway through town.  She'd obviously been asleep for hours, and even though it seemed impossible, Annie and Uncle Jonathon had been holding hands.  What was going on?  Uncle Jonathon had to have initiated it, she decided.  Annie would never dare try to hold his hand on her own.  But why would he do something like that?  Was he trying to comfort the woman who had helped raise his son?  Or had he done it because he needed her to comfort him, Jess thought with a growing realization. 

While James pulled in front of the gate and stopped the car so he could unlock it, anger rose up in her.  Just like always, her uncle had been incredibly selfish.  He had to know that Annie being the kind and caring person she was, wouldn't hesitate to hold his hand if he let her know that's what he wanted.  But when she'd been crying earlier, he hadn't given her one kind word.

"I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse," Annie said, and Jess turned to her.  She was smiling, and although her face was lined with exhaustion, the sadness was gone from her eyes.  "How about you?"

"Yes, ma'am," Jess admitted as James climbed back in the car. 

 "Don't bother locking the gate," Uncle Jonathon said loudly. 

"Yes, sir," James replied.

"When you get to the house, leave the engine running.  I won't be long."

"Are you going somewhere?" Annie asked, facing him with surprise.

"I'm going into the office," Uncle Jonathon replied tersely, his eyes on the drive ahead.

"But – what about dinner?"

"Don't bother.  I'll send my girl out for something."

"Oh," Annie said simply, and slumped into the seat.

Hearing the disappointment in her voice, memories came to Jess, falling together like pieces in a puzzle, and an awful realization hit her.  Annie was in love with her uncle.  She'd been in love with him for a long time, since before Jess had come to live there.  Facing the window on the way to the house so she wouldn't have to look at Annie, Jess felt sick. 

She didn't want Annie to be in love with Uncle Jonathon.  It just felt – wrong, not because Annie was a servant or poor in comparison, but because he treated her so terribly.  How many times had Jess witnessed him bullying her, shouting orders at her and humiliating her?  And she'd excused his behavior over and over.  He didn't deserve her love, Jess thought bitterly.  Nor would he ever love her back.  She would never be worthy in his eyes. 

When got out of the car, Uncle Jonathon headed to the front door, and Annie turned to Jess.

"I'll heat up the leftovers from Doug's dinner," she said tiredly, her cheerfulness from a moment ago gone, and it made Jess feel worse.  She was hurt, and as long as she continued to love him, she was going to be repeatedly hurt. 

"I just want a sandwich, if that's okay," Jess said, knowing it would take the least amount of time to prepare. 

"Sure it is, pumpkin," Annie said, smiling sadly and taking her hand.

They ate roast chicken sandwiches and cold gelatin salad at the little table, both of them lost in their own sad thoughts.  When the dishes were washed and put away, Jess gave Annie a long good night hug, then went up the back stairs. 

The sun was low, casting shadows on the walls and knowing Doug was far away at college, the silence of her bedroom seemed especially acute.  Wandering to her desk, she looked out the diamond paned windows at the woods beyond the garage.  It had been such a trying day, she longed to see Marty.  She'd been missing him a lot now that she only got to see him for a few hours a day since he was working full time for Mr. Dwyer. 

Then she noticed the garage doors were closed and it's second story windows were dark.  James hadn't returned after taking her uncle to the office.  Maybe he was intending to stay out until Uncle Jonathon was finished, Jess thought, her spirits lifting.  She knew it was reckless to consider sneaking out at this hour, but what harm could come from it?  Annie was the only one home, and she already knew Jess visited the cabin.  If she just went for one hour, she'd be back long before her uncle returned home.

With her heart racing, she went to her bedroom door and eased it open.  She crept down the stairs and then quietly let herself out.  Darting across the yard, she was soon safely heading down the path.  It wasn't long before she was at the cabin, but when she walked through the open doorway, it was empty.  She hurried out to the pond, not wanting to waste a single second.

Marty was sitting under the willow tree, leaning against the trunk and eating his usual peanut butter and jelly sandwich when he noticed her. 

"What are you doing here?" he asked with concern, jumping up to meet her.

"Everything's fine," she reassured him quickly.  "Annie's the only one home tonight and – I really wanted to see you."

"Oh," he said, dropping his head.  "I was just eating," he mumbled, frowning at the sandwich in his hand.

"Go ahead and finish," she urged.  "I just ate," she added, not wanting him to feel like he had to share.  She hadn't wanted to pry into his money situation, but she worried he wasn't going to have enough money for food now that he had to pay his dad rent and help with bills.

He flopped back on the ground, resuming his place in front of the trunk, and she joined him, sitting close so she could lean against the trunk beside him.   

While he ate, she looked out at the water.  It was the latest she'd ever been there and in the still early evening air, the water was like glass, the only ripples caused by fish jumping up to catch bugs that had flown too close to the surface.  She watched them, trying to take comfort in being with Marty, but her thoughts were overwhelmed by all the emotions swirling inside her.

After everything that had happened that day, she wanted to tell Marty about it, but she hesitated, wondering if it was a good idea.  Would he be able to understand how sad she felt that Doug was gone, since the two of them didn't exactly get along?  And bringing up the fact that Doug was at college would only remind Marty that he was never going.  She didn't know if she could make him understand how awful she felt learning about Annie's feelings for her uncle either.  But then, it wouldn't be right to disclose Annie's secret , Jess decided.

"How was your day?" she asked when he'd finished his second sandwich, trying to distract herself.

"It was alright," he muttered with a shrug, folding his sack and smoothing it flat on his leg, and she sighed deeply, knowing that as bad as she felt, Marty felt ten times worse.

Even though he'd been happy when he'd shared the news about Mr. Dwyer offering him full time work and the opportunity to run the drug store, in the days that followed, Marty had sunk into a depression.  His dad had taken more than just his money, he'd stolen Marty's future, and it had broken something inside him.  He had barely spoken over the last few days, nor was he interested in doing anything.  His pain was palpable, and she felt helpless to do anything to make it better. 

Leaning against him, she took his hand and laced her fingers through his, but he pulled his hand away so he could put his arm around her.  While they held each other, Jess's heart ached, wondering how long it would be until they were happy again. 

****

Sad times for both Jess's family and Marty, plus a big reveal.  Some of you were guessing that Annie was in love with Uncle Jonathon.  What do you make of them holding hands?  Do you think Jess is right about the reason why it happened?  What are the consequences to their family if Annie is so forgiving of him?  And poor Marty is not doing well.  Can he recover from the blow he's received?  I can't wait to hear what you think!

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter!  If you did, I hope you'll consider giving it a vote!  I cherish each of you for supporting my story and I really want to thank you.  If you haven't heard from me, please drop me a comment or a line on my message board so I can thank you personally.  The video is Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel) by the great Roy Orbison.