Just Beginning by Theresa Rizzo

back to the hospital, and I’ve got to work.”
    Jenny and Gabe left her parents’ house and drove down the street. Making a left, Gabe pulled the car over as soon as they were out of sight of the house. Throwing the gear into park, he faced her. “When were you going to tell me?”

 
     
     
Chapter 6
     
     
    Jenny didn’t even pretend to misunderstand. Gabe had a right to be angry. She watched a man on a tractor whirl around a front yard while another gardener pulled weed from the lush flowerbeds. “I wasn’t.”
    “What do you mean, you weren’t ?” he nearly shouted. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice when you got kicked out of your apartment? Or was your dad going to subsidize you forever?”
    “No.” She gave him a sharp look. “I was going to get—” She slapped a hand to her mouth, then groaned. “I was going to get a second job, but now I’ve missed the interview. Crap.”
    “Well, excuse me, for proposing.”
    “You knew I didn’t have much time,” she grumbled.
    His mouth dropped open. “It was your idea to run over and tell your folks.”
    “Well, you got me all excited about a new house and new life. There was so much to think about, to plan.”
    “I would’ve waited if I’d known how it would turn out.” He slammed the gear into drive and hit the accelerator with enough force to press her into the upholstery, yet not hard enough to burn rubber.
    Jenny gripped her seat, afraid to look at him; she’d never seen Gabe angry before. They flew under an arguably red light, missing the turn to her street.
    “Where’re we going?” She peeked at him, discouraged by his frown and clenched jaw.
    “My place.”
    “What for?”
    “To get my checkbook. Then we’re going to your bank, so you can make a deposit. Tomorrow you can cut your father a check and pay him back, so we can start free and clear.”
    Tears flooded her eyes. After that nasty little surprise, Gabe was going to pay her debt and forget about it. “No, we’re not.”
    “Yes. We are.”
    She could imagine what Mom would have to say about that . “I can’t take your money.”
    “Yes, you can.”
    “I won’t take your money.” Jenny took a tissue from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “Besides... I owe, a bit more than that. Don’t worry,” she hurried to reassure. “I’m going to get a job waitressing and pay it all off before we’re married.”
    “Pay all what off?” His foot eased off the accelerator.
    “We’re going to start our new life free and clear. A clean slate.”
    “Jenny?” The quiet, biting word came out as a warning.
    She shifted in her seat. “I’ve run up a little bit of a balance on my credit cards, too, but—”
    “How much?” The car slowed beneath the posted forty-five mile an hour speed limit, forcing traffic to pull out around them to pass. The drivers cast them curious looks.
    She struggled not to wince—or lie. “Which card?”
    Gabe swerved to the side of the road. The car behind them laid on the horn, long and loud. He shoved the gear into park, punched on the hazard warning lights, and turned toward her. “How many credit cards do you have?”
    “Including Target, Macy’s, and Nordstrom’s? Or just, VISA and MasterCard?”
    Gabe cursed under his breath.
    “Look, it’s okay. I’m going to take care of it.”
    “How much do you owe on your credit cards, Jenny?”
    “You’re not listening. I’m going to get a job waitressing—”
    “ How much?”
    “I’ll even take in another roommate to speed it up if I need to. Please don’t worry about this. We’re not getting married until I’m debt-free.”
    “I don’t want to wait years.”
    “Funny.” She frowned at him. “It’s not that much.”
    Gabe glowered at the street before turning back to her. “Look, I respect that you want to deal with this yourself, but there’s no need. Let me help.”
    “I don’t want your money. I love you, but this is something I need to do.” She smiled. “You won’t