| TAYLOR: "I KNEW IT!! I KNEW IT JAKE!! Damn him!" she said forcefully, unable to control her emotions right then. "One thing..that's all he wants..whatever's his, give it to him Jakey and just keep him away from me. There's no way he could have just HAPPENED to be at the airport at that particular moment. HE KNEW WHERE I WAS ALL ALONG! He knew..." she sighed, loudly and pushed her plate away from her. "I don't want to see him. I don't want to talk to him. He does NOT exist. Okay Jacob?" she told him, her eyes boring into his to make sure he understood completely. "You got it Jess. Whatever you want. Sorry to bring it up here, but he will be getting in touch with me shortly, and I needed to know exactly what you wanted, and how you felt about him coming around Jess, without you trying to smooth it out and avoid the subject." Jake told her, with an apologetic look toward my mother. "Why don't you wanna see your dad Jess?" Jessica asked her, grabbing her hand and holding it tightly. Jess turned to her and gave her a warm smile. "He's NOT my dad, baby. He's my stepfather. Jake and I have the same father. My stepfather is not a nice man, honey, and I'd rather not see him, it's just easier. If you don't mind, I think I'd just like to borrow your Daddy once in a while okay? You don't mind sharing him do you?" Jess smiled. "I don't mind...I'm used to sharing him." she shrugged her shoulders and went back to eating. "Thanks sweetie." Jess patted her hand and then took a drink of water. "What do you mean shortly?" Jess asked her brother. "As in probably as soon as I get back to the gym." Jake said matter-of-factly. "I mean it Jake. I don't want to see him." she said again. "Okay sis. You don't have to. I'll take care of it." he told her and gripped her knee under the table. |
| "Thank you, Jacob." she said softly and turned back to her dinner, but I noticed that she did not resume eating. "Soooo Jess.." Watts chimed in to change the subject, "What was the big secret. Where did he take you that was so great he threatened Lacey with a fate worse than death?" Jess laughed and I gave her a grateful look. "Not Aspen, but near it. A smaller place. It was absolutely beautiful, and not so hot I couldn't breathe...it would probably be a fun place for a family vacation, if we could find a bigger cabin." she said. "Are you kidding?" Zac asked, incredulously. "You do mean ALL of us? We'd have to rent an entire LODGE. You know, one of those places that says in the brochure 'sleeps 25' and looks more like the size of a remodeled BARN?" he rolled his eyes. "One that you could fit like, twelve of the one you guys stayed in.." "You knew the big secret Zac?" Jess asked, laughing at the expression on Wattley's face. I had to laugh as well. "Oh crap!" he gave Watts a sheepish grin. "I meant to tell you, but he threatened me with a fate worse than death too." he pleaded pitifully. "Wait till I get through with you." she stated, and poked him in the ribs. "If it makes you feel any better, I think they actually did look around. Otherwise she memorized the brochure to the place, after the 7,000 he, Ike and I looked through, trying to help him pick it out." Everyone decided to discuss the ups and downs of planning a family vacation for one as big as ours, my mom reminding everyone to count Abbey who was away on buisness again. Jessie and I both sat quietly and listened, though Jess did not finish her dinner. The little kids asked to be excused and ran off to play, while the table conversation continued. A pained look came over Jessie's face suddenly, then she turned to me. "I'm just gonna get up a second Tay. I'm getting stiff. I'll be right back." she said. |
| TAYLOR: Jess put her hand on my shoulder to keep me in my chair and tried to smile reasurringly, but I knew she was struggling with the meeting with her father. I hated that she thought she needed to do it alone, but I stayed in my chair anyway, telling myself that if she wasn't back in 10 minutes I would go looking for her. I watched silently as she made her way into the kitchen with her plate, then out the other door, through the family room to the deck. She sat up on the railing, letting her feet dangle, swinging them like a little girl as she stared into the darkness of the woods behind the house. The rest of us got up and helped my mother clean up, then played with the little kids for a while. I noticed that Jessica was Watts' shadow when she wasn't trailing Jess, which made me smile. I knew what career my sister was headed for and figured she'd be in good hands with Jake. My mom announced to the younger ones that it was time to get ready for bed, which brought a loud groan from all of them and then the customary round of hugs and kisses. Jake rolled on the floor and wrestled them all then gave each a hair ruffle before announcing that he had to get back to the gym. He looked out to the deck at Jess, who was still sitting on the railing then at me. "Tay?" Jessica tapped my shoulder. "What?" "Jess hasn't come in to say goodnight, to us." "I'm sure she won't leave without saying goodnight. I'll send her up when she's ready to come inside okay?" "Kay. Nite Tay.." she kissed my cheek and headed off. "Nite Jessie.." I quietly went out on the deck, so I wouldn't startle her, but that turned out to be a mistake. I silently moved behind her and tried to put my arms around her waist, but she sucked in her breath and jumped from the railing to the grass and turned, ready to fight. The look of fear and rage on her face at the same time made my heart ache, almost as much as the look on her face when she realized she had been ready to fight ME off. |
| "Jess...I'm sor.." "NO! No Tay. I am..so sorry..." she dropped her head, took a deep breath and took off running toward the woods. "JESSIE!!! NO!!! Don't...." I called after her, but I jumped the rail and did my best to keep her in sight as I tried to follow her into the darkness. "JESS!! Please, baby.." I called after her when she disappeared into the trees. She didn't answer me, so I stood still and listened, hoping I could figure out where she was. After a moment, I could hear her and my eyes had adjusted to the dark, so I could see her small, curled up outline against a tree. She was sitting with her back against it, her kness drawn up and her arms around them, and her head was down. I still couldn't see her face, though I was closer to her, because her head was still down and her gold streaked hair covered her face and part of her arms. Her body shook slightly and I could tell she was crying. "Jessie? Baby, it's only me...I'm gonna sit down, okay? I don't want you out here all by yourself." I told her, gently which made her sob harder. I sat next to her, letting my shoulder touch hers and my leg lay against hers as I tucked my foot behind hers and wrapped our feet together. "I'm sorry, Tay.." she sobbed into her arms. "Jess. For what? I shouldn't have sneaked up on you like that..I'M sorry baby." I told her and leaned into her. "Don't be. It wasn't a problem before today. Even when Eric took me by surprise..." she stopped, and took a deep shuddering breath. "I can't help being afraid of him, Tay. I was only four...and in the airport I was four again. He was so mean..so mean. I'm not afraid of Eric, I'm really not..but Alex..." she sobbed into her arms again and I wrapped mine around her and pulled her close. |