The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 37 Bugs and Mrs. Jensen

Joy

I heard Jack call out to me, but I ignored him and hurriedly walked away. I was in need of some fresh air. The Undersheriff had horrible breath.

Before Cristos left my house last night, he gave me a small black case identical to the one Sebastian gave me and asked if I could place the bug in the diner for him. I thought it would be tricky, but it was pretty simple. I was even seated beside the Undersheriff when I secretly.

placed the bug underneath the counter.

Unfortunately, I had to suck it up and endure Jack undressing me with his eyes. Ugh! How I wanted to use the dinner knife and poke his eyes out!

After picking up my car, I drove home, took a shower and got ready for the day. I decided to wear a sleeveless light blue floral maxi dress. I used a thin brown belt and a beaded necklace. to accessorize, then I paired everything with brown boots. I fixed my hair into a half ponytail, allowing the curled ends of my hair to drape my shoulders, then I inserted my beloved bladed hair comb accessory to hold it all in place.

ed everything I needed in a brown leather tote bag. Then I took a box of donuts from

r and walked straight to Noah's house.

I waved at Old Man Tucket as I walked to Noah's house. He was a grumpy and nosy old man who lived in the house directly across from mine giving him an unobstructed view. He could

keep an eye on my house until Lou arrives to install my security system.

I stood on the porch, in front of the Jensen's doorway, inhaling and exhaling deeply. I needed to plant a bug in Noah's house. Hopefully, we could get some useful information out of him, so we could plan accordingly.

I rang the doorbell and a young brunette in her early thirties wearing a nurse's uniform opened the door. I smiled at her sweetly.

"Good morning! I'm Virtue Sullivan and I just moved into that house over there," I said, pointing to my house with my thumb. I'm actually a client of Noah's and I was wondering if he's ready to go into town so we could purchase construction material." She gave me a small smile, but I noticed the apprehension in her light blue eyes.

"I-I'm Carol, Mrs. Jensen's private nurse. I'll go and check if Noah's ready. If you c-could just

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CHAPTER 37 Bugs and Mrs. Jensen

wait-"

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I had a feeling I wouldn't be allowed in the house.

"I brought some donuts from the diner," I said, quickly walking into the foyer. "You can share them for breakfast or have them as a snack later" I placed the paper bag on the entry table. near the door. "How about if I wait in the living room for Noah?"

I looked around and noticed not much has changed, although there was a dank smell of urine.

"O-okay," Carol stuttered. If she looked worried earlier, right now, she looked afraid. She led me into the living room where I found Mrs. Jensen seated in a wheel chair, so thin and frail, wearing an oversized pink nightgown. Her once beautiful light brown hair was now all white and willowy and her skin was pale and wrinkled.

"Hello, Mrs. Jensen. I'm Virtue, your new neighbor," 1 announced, hoping I could get a reaction. I heard a buzzing sound and the wheel chair turned automatically to face me. Mrs. Jensen was seated comfortably in a power wheelchair with a mechanical respirator attached,

"I'll leave you

you two, so I can check on Noah. I'll only be gone a minute," Carol assured Noah's mother. Mrs. Jensen didn't do anything; she just continued to stare at me. She looked old

ickly, but her brown eyes had that same vibrance.

er Carol went up the stairs to tell Noah I was here, Mrs. Jensen blinked her eyes. Judging by the ventilator, she couldn't speak and used her eyes to talk.

"I just moved into the old Taylor house," I said, trying to make small talk. "I hired Noah to help me open a small boutique in town."

She blinked her eyes rapidly and I noticed a tear fall from the corner of her eye. I rushed forward and took a tissue from my tote bag to wipe her tears.

Poor thing.

"I can come visit you more often if you want, Mrs. Jensen. I can come read to you. What do you say?" I smiled at her tenderly..

She blinked once. I guess one meant yes and two for no. I sighed. It was such a

shame to see

her like this.

Mrs. Jensen was like a second mom to me. She was the previous owner of the

small

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CHAPTER 37 Bugs and Mrs. Jensen

bookstore in town and she was one voracious reader. She just loved books. When Noah and I were kids, she was always seen reading a book on their porch. During my freshman and sophomore year in high school, I would sometimes join her on their porch and read as an escape from this cruel world.

After I was assaulted, she came to visit me in the hospital and left a book for me to read. Since both of my eyes were swollen shut from the beatings I got from the 'four horsemen of the apocalypse', my mother read to me, which helped me fixate my emotions on the heroine. of the novel rather than wallow in self-pity. When my father decided to leave New Salem after having a heart to heart talk with Old Man Eugene, Mrs. Jensen asked my mother where we planned to move. My mother told her, "Wherever the wind takes us, Laura." "Maggie...you'll give me a call, right? Or maybe send me a postcard?" Mrs. Jensen asked.

"I will," my mother answered, lying to her. We had agreed we wouldn't contact anyone from New Salem except for Old Man Eugene.

We left during the dead of the night, not a soul was on the streets. We went straight to Bismarck where we changed cars, then drove to Wyoming where we traded in our car for another second-hand car. From Wyoming, we went to Nevada. My father loved playing ckjack, so my parents thought they could probably pocket some extra cash from the

inos. After waiting for them for four hours at the motel, they came back with their

pockets full.

Since they won some money, my dad traded in our car for an SUV to my utter relief. The small compact car we got in Wyoming was quite uncomfortable. My parents liked California so much, they decided we should live there. With the got from the grocery store, they were able to purchase a townhouse. It was smaller than what we were used to and there were people all around us. But none of them knew us which

worked well for us.

money

they

After a couple of years, my dad called Old Man Eugene to see how things were back in New Salem. That's when my dad found out about Noah's parents. Earlier, when I rang the doorbell, I noticed the porch needed some repairs. Having a private nurse is expensive and I know Noah must be struggling to give

his mom proper care.

"How about I come by the day after tomorrow? I'll pick up a good mystery novel at the bookstore and we can start reading. I'll even get you a thick blanket so we

can read on the

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CHAPTER 37 Bugs and Mrs. Jensen

porch," I said, bending down and taking her hand in mine. She answered me

again by blinking once.

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"Virtue?" Noah was right behind me and he sounded angry. I turned my head to

look at him. and noticed his puffy eyes and unshaven face.

Of course. He was up late last night... drunk.

"I was just promising your mother I'd come by and read to her. I noticed all the

books on the shelves," I explained, standing up and walking towards the shelves of books which covered a portion of the main wall of the living room. I picked out

a book and noticed how dusty it was. Perfect.

"My mom's too sick to be entertaining guests, Virtue," Noah scolded me. "She needs to rest. Reading to her will only get her excited and it'll put a strain on her

heart."

Sadly, I wouldn't be spending some time with Mrs. Jensen after all. Well, I could get that

porch done, so I can see her from time to time.

Noah bent down to talk to his mother. "Mom, Virtue and I need to go to town.

Carol will give you a sponge bath and change what needs changing. I love you." Noah gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek. She blinked rapidly and a tear fell again. This time, Carol took over.

y, Mrs. Jensen. Let's get you cleaned up and changed," she said. Carol quickly turned the eel hubs of the wheelchair to manual and pushed Mrs. Jensen out of

the living room. "Come on, Virtue. Let's get going," Noah said gruffly.

I quickly placed the book back on the shelf and we exited the house. "Since we need to purchase construction material for my shop, let's buy some

material for your porch. It needs some paint and the floorboards need changing,"

I told Noah once we

were outside of his house.

"I'm not your charity case, Virture," Noah snapped angrily.

Touchy, touchy... "But your mom would appreciate it. She can come outside, get some fresh air

and watch the neighbors," I reasoned politely.

"I'll think about it," he mumbled like a petulent child, then pointed to his pick-up

truck. "I

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CHAPTER 37 Bugs and Mrs. Jensen

need to use my truck. We can meet up at Dom's.

"Alright. Let's meet at Dom's. I still need to swing by Lisa's office." I waved at him then walked to my car.

This Noah reminded me of the Noah during our sophomore year...dismissive,

arrogant and apathetic.

He obviously didn't like the compassion I showed his mother. Well, I hated the

indifference he showed me while I laid in the hospital.

I entered my car, fastened my seat belt and turned on the ignition. I waited for

him to drive by before exiting my driveway.

Sure, Noah was an as shole.

But now, he was an as shole with a bug in his house.

Chapter Comments Emy Duvey

good job!

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