“He’s taking care of some things,” Jill replied, having a hard time looking him in the eyes. She was full of nervous energy making her fidget, and she knew how much her mother hated when she fidgeted. “I needed to talk to you and Mom about something.”
“Well, come on in and have a seat.” Chuck ushered them further into the kitchen. Everyone sat but Trevor and Jax. “Anyone want something to drink? We’ve got water, soda...beer.” That last was directed toward Jax.
“No, thank you,” Jax and Caroline both declined.
All attention turned toward her. Clearing her throat, she looked at her mom before beginning. “I’m supposed to get married in three weeks.” She glanced at her dad who was nodding. Of course he knew; he was walking her down the aisle. “We’ve changed the date to Saturday.”
“This Saturday?” Her father’s eyes opened in surprise.
“Yes, and I don’t want to get married in a church,” Jill replied and then took a deep breath. “I want to get married here, in the woods. In the clearing.” In her special place, she thought, but didn’t say that aloud. “You and Mom will have to do nothing except be here. I’m taking care of everything with the help of friends.”
The room was silent and Jill felt the hope of them saying yes slowly dwindle away.
“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I think that’s a awesome idea. And after they say their ‘I dos’ they can run down the dirt aisle, grab the vine and do a double backflip into the lake to seal the deal.” Trevor’s smile was huge. He winked at Jill.
“Before you answer, I need to tell you it won’t just be me and Slade. There will be five other couples. Vampire and human,” Jill added, then held her breath.
“This is your home, Jill.” Her dad’s voice shook slightly. “Of course you can get married here.”
Jill gave her dad a loving smile, trying her best to hold her tears in. “Thank you, Dad.” Her eyes went to her mom. “But I need Mom to agree also.”
Her mom stood as still as stone staring at Jill. “Are you sick?” Her mother’s voice also shook.
“What?” Her dad’s eyes widened. “Sick? Jill isn’t sick.”
“I saw something on the news saying...” Her mother didn’t finish. Her gaze never faltered as she stared at Jill.
Jill reached over and grabbed her dad’s hand before answering. “Yes, I’m sick.”
Her mom said nothing, just turned, and walked out of the room.
Standing, Jill hugged her dad. “I’m going to be okay, dad.” She leaned down and kissed his shocked face. “Slade is working hard to find out what’s wrong, so please don’t worry.”
“I’m your father,” he replied, kissing her cheek. “I’ll always worry, but I know that young man of yours won’t let anything happen to you.”
Jill straightened and went to walk out of the room. “I’ll be right back,” Jill told Caroline and Jax as she passed. Making her way through the house, Jill couldn’t help but look around, not only looking for her mom, but searching for the memories as she passed them by. Stopping in front of her parents’ bedroom, she looked inside. Her mother stood with her back facing the door.
“I don’t hate you, Jillian.” Her mother’s voice sounded tired and worn down. Her shoulders were slumped. Turning, she looked at Jill, her eyes moist with tears before walking to the closet and digging something out from the back. Her mom placed a box on the bed, lifting the lid.
Gazing at the box, Jill’s whole world shifted. Everything from a pair of baby shoes, drawings she had created, to school reports lay perfectly placed inside the box. She was speechless.
Her mom walked around the bed and took her hand, leading her out of the room and up the stairs. She opened the attic door. Even though Jill feared this room with a passion because Trevor, the ass, told her the boogeyman lived in there, Jill followed her mother inside.
“That is all your stuff.” Her mother pointed to boxes stacked in one corner.
“But I thought...” Jill looked at her, confused.
Her mother didn’t let her finish as she pulled her out of the attic and down the hall to her old room. She opened the door and pulled Jill inside. Nothing had changed. Her bed was under the window, her desk still sat in the same place, as did her dresser.
“Trevor said you and Janie threw my things out.”
Her mother swallowed visibly. “Trevor was devastated when you went missing, and then when you came back and left again, he blamed me.”
Jill wanted to say it was her fault that she left home, but she stayed silent.
“And I didn’t correct him.” Her mother actually looked ashamed.
Jill walked over and opened her closet. All her clothes were gone. She turned to look at her mom.
“In the boxes in the attic,” her mother answered Jill’s unspoken question. “That’s what we were doing that night.”
“Why?” Jill shook her head, unsure which question she had for her mother to answer first. Why, seemed like the best place to start.