in the tangled web we weave

 Bom was beginning to think she couldn't help Ivy in any way these days other than to listen. They didn't let her see Jay anymore. It seemed to set her off, somehow. 

He would leave baby Hope with Bom and then Ivy or Dan would come and get her after her weekend with Jay. Naturally, Keanu called him Uncle Jay. Bom didn't regret enforcing this. She hoped one day they would all consider themselves family, but of course, it gave Brian a grumble and Ivy didn't like it either. But when Jay was around Keanu, he was a true uncle. Always interested in what Keanu said or was doing. Bom couldn't complain about Jay's attitude, even if he was with Lindy who always came with him when he dropped off Hope.

Of course, Keanu would take Lindy's hand and ask her to come to his room. He had all sorts of toys to show her and of course, he might sing a song or two for her. Keanu loved to make up songs. So while Keanu was entertaining Lindy, Jay told her everything.

Bom sometimes asked why it was her. Well, to herself at three in the morning when she couldn't sleep. She never asked him why she was his confidant, but she'd known him long before he got together with Ivy. She'd listened how he'd split up with Brian's sister Janine so long ago. And he was still telling her his woman troubles.

"Nothing, is really going on with us," he confessed that day while Keanu was entertaining Lindy in his room. They were alone with Hope in the kitchen who was busy dragging out pots and pans.

"What?" Bom could hardly believe him.

"Oh, Lindy thinks we're having sex, but..." He sounded as if he needed someone to know. It was all in the imagination. Evidently. And Lindy hadn't caught on. She kept forgetting.

"Does Slater know?" He was Jay's best friend. 

"He wouldn't believe me," Jay's smile was faint. "Who would believe me?"

Bom only nodded. She believed him. She could see Lindy was important to him. Maybe she was like a sister he never had. She winced at that. Maybe it would work out. Hopefully. 

"But..but you're sleeping with her?"

"Yeah," Jay winced as if he was not perfect. Of course, they kissed and cuddled. Jay always tried to make her feel he wanted to only be with her. He was also afraid to leave her alone with Hope too. He said it was trying at times, but somehow he made sure Hope was never out of his sight.

"What do you think she would do to Hope?" Bom began to wonder. Was it not safe for Hope to be around Lindy?

"I don't know. I just..I just don't want Lindy expecting to have to take care of her," Jay said.

Bom guessed she understood, but she thought Jay should have a little trust in Lindy. It wasn't like she was going to kidnap the child and be on the run. 

"I hope you know what you're doing," Bom had said that day. Why was Jay like this? He was risky. Always had been. Evidently. "Ivy is not in a good way, you know." But she hated to tell him it was his fault.

"But, she's got Dan and he's practically a saint, isn't he?" Jay reminded Bom how Ivy was better off without him. 

Bom had only smiled back. It did look that way.