[center][color=teal][h2]Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey[/h2][/color][/center]

Jess' ribs tightened. She should have known Roxy would be blunt and to-the-point right as they'd stepped through the door, but she couldn't blame her for wanting to address the issues as soon as possible. Watching as her mother's lips pressed together into a thin line, Jess knew the trepidation tensing her muscles wasn't just her own.

[color=aqua]"He told me... A lot of things."[/color] Her mom broke the awkward silence, using that cool, controlled tone she put on when dealing with something unpleasant. [color=aqua]"We can talk about it once you're both settled in. Then you can tell me your side of the story."[/color]

Pulling her luggage along the hallway, Jess gave her mom an earnest look over her shoulder. [color=teal]"Look, I highly doubt she'd do anything like that,"[/color] she said, before falling silent as she realised her mistake. Revealing Reginald as a liar and manipulator wouldn't end well. Knowing him, he probably planned to create so much tension and distance in this household that she and Roxy would have to spend more time at his place. Or make it look like he was the only one who could tame Roxy's 'wild ways', earning her mom's trust.

Even while away from Reginald, there was no escaping him.