Finish the prep yourself, so that Jenna can join the girls.

"Baby, why don't you go get into a suit. I'll get everything prepped."
Jenna turns to look at you with surprise.
"R-really, baby? You'll handle all this by yourself?"
You turn to look at her as you pour the marinade into the zip bag. "Yeah. It's not that much work, and you shouldn't be cooped up in here. Go, go have fun with the girls!" You wave the butcher knife in the direction of the door, then put it down quickly. That thing's got raw chicken all over it. Don't want to splash that on the veggies.
{if JxJLater = 1}Jenna's expression is hard to read out of the corner of your eye, but it looks like she might be verging on tears. Come on, Jenna. Hold it together. We'll talk it out later.{else} Jenna smiles one of her great smiles. "What a sweet man." She hugs you from the side. {endif} "Thank you baby."
"That's a good one you got there." Karen laughs. "Why can't Jack be more like him? I swear to God. He's got a great body and makes a good living, but he can be so unhelpful sometimes. You got the total package, Jenna." You hear two splashes, and the shrieks of Riley and Allison, drifting up from below.
"That's my cue! Run, Jenna, get that bathing suit! Or don't! I don't care!" And with that, Karen hustles out the sliding door.
{if JxJLater = 1} "James...." Jenna is looking at you now. Tears are definitely welling up.
"I told you, Jen. Later. You have to keep it together." You look at her. "Go have fun. I love you." the kind words only serve to make the tears roll free of her eyes.
"O..." she shudders, sucking in a breath. "...Ok. I love you too!" And she runs up the stairs.{else}
Jenna grabs your face, and give you a big smooch on the cheek. "Thanks, baby."
You grunt something in return that sounds like "you're welcome." {if JxJTextFwd=1} You watch her go with a cold eye. While she's out having fun, you can get to the bottom of those text messages. You are going to find out the truth. And then, something will have to be done about it.{endif}
{endif}{if ScottyFix = 1
}
A knock at the door to the garage, is followed by Scott McCann, poking his head into the living room.
"Hey, James!"
"Scotty, my livesaver! Upstairs bathroom, en suite to the master bed. Shower and sink."
"No problem, boss." He saunters in with a toolbox, decently clean black jeans and a tight maroon t-shirt. Six years since his discharge, and he was still pretty toned, though his short cropped hair was more of a necessity than a fashion choice given its rapid thinning at his still-young age. He's shorter than you by about at inch or so, but wider, more compact.
You offer him a beer as he passes.
"When I'm done, boss..." he drifts over to the glass doors that lead out to the back porch and looks out over the pool and yard.
"I'm not your boss anymore, Scotty."
"Uh-huh." Scotty is staring out the window. "Full house, huh James? Lots of pretty young things, and some pretty not-so-young things too.." he whistles through his teeth.
"Yeah...and two of them are my daughter and niece."
Scott laughs. "I'm just fucking around, James. I'll head up and check out the situation."
Scotty heads upstairs, but suddenly, you hear a bump, and a squeak, and then Jenna's voice from the top of the stairs.
"...sorry, Scotty, I...."
"...my fault....orry about a thing, Je..."
"...working out?" at this, you hear Jenna giggling. You inch out of the kitchen to look up the stairs.
Jenna is wearing the killer orange bikini with fishnet coverup, though the name was a laugh. It was basically a shirt made of mostly holes. She's got a beach towel in hand, and the other is squeezing Scott's arm.
"Thanks for dropping by to fix up the bathroom."
"It's no sweat, Jen. By the way, you look amazing, I hope you don't mind me saying that."
I mind you saying that, dickhead.
But you keep quiet and just watch, and listen.
"When you're done, you have to stay for dinner. Please say you aren't doing anything after." Jenna has a girlish grin on her face.
"I wouldn't want to intrude, ma'am." With Jenna, he was always the marine. Polite, but not made of wood.
"I thought we talked about calling me ma'am, Scotty." she pushes him lightly against the wall of the staircase landing, which he allows.
"Old habits, ma-Jenna."
"I absolutely insist. {if JennaWarned = 1}My husband invited Kayla over for dinner, so why shouldn't you stay too? If we have room for one McCann, we have room for two.{endif}You should run home and get your trunks, too, when you're done."
"I'll give it a thought, Jenna. If you'll pardon me." He moves past her, up and into the upstairs. She's clearly watching his ass as he walks away. Before she can turn and see you, you pop back into the kitchen an continue working.{else
}
After a few minutes, Jenna comes back down, wearing the stunning orange bikini with fishnet coverup you bought her last year. She'd be gorgeous for a woman ten years her junior.{endif}

When she passes in front of you to go to the backyard, she gives a little twirl. "I'm wearing your present, James..."
"I see this." you watch her as she goes.