“Well, you know me, John, I like to surprise.”
Jaz's father's whole body tightened as he eyed Erica with discomfort.
Erica ignored him and sat down next to Jaz, gazing half-heartedly at the TV before turning to look at her niece. “You haven’t been sleeping.” It wasn’t a question.
Jaz simply nodded, not wanting to peel her eyes away from Scrubs and the funny escape world of J.D. She was feeling sensitive today and knew that if she looked at her aunt right then, she might cry.
“Have you taken anything to help?” Erica asked softly.
“My sister prescribed her with some sleeping pills,” Rachel, Jaz's mother, answered.
Aunt Erica barely looked at her. She couldn’t take her eyes off her niece.
“They don’t work,” Jaz mumbled.
Aunt Erica bobbed her head once as if she understood. And she did, more than Jaz knew.
“I have a suggestion- well it is more of a request,” Erica began cheerily to lighten the mood.
It caused Jaz to glance to her side at her aunt, who was sitting upright with a perfect posture. Jaz was slumped, almost lying down on the sofa. She knew how bad she looked but she couldn’t will herself to care.
This sudden change in conversation, however, had given her heart a tiny lift. She gazed at her aunt inquiringly.
Erica announced, “How would you like to take a break from all this,” waving her arms around her to symbolize ‘Jaz’s Life’ before adding, “and come with me on a trip?”
Jaz raised her eyebrows in surprise. “You want to take me like… on a holiday?”
Erica was beaming now at the smile on Jaz's face. She replied, “Yes. Just for a week or two. I’m a well known member of a spa resort up north. They will treat you like a princess. There are loads of activities and you will be pampered and looked after. Trust me, when you come back you will feel a hell-of-a lot better.”
Jaz stared at the floor, considering it.
It sounded like a great offer, and not something that came along every day.
Her aunt had been a rock to her even in the short time she’d known her. She was a breath of fresh air; an escape from her life.
She wondered if it would be okay to ask if Lisa and Ellie could come. No, Jaz reconsidered, that’d be really rude. I can call them every day. I’ve got loads of free minutes.
“Is that a yes?” her aunt asked, a smile spreading across her face.
Jaz glanced up at her dad curiously when she noticed how tightly clenched his fists were. She gazed up at his face.
He wasn’t looking at her. He was glaring at his sister.
Jaz was shocked by the look in his eyes. He wasn’t just furious, he was anxious. She knew that because when he realized she was watching him, it was the first emotion to spread over his face. She stared at him a moment longer, before she glanced at her mum.
Rachel looked as if she’d been shot with a pellet gun. Her eyes were watery as she glanced from Aunt Erica to Jaz.
So I guess they have more reconciling to do than I had first imagined, Jaz thought with disappointment. “As long as it’s okay with mum and dad?” Jaz half-asked, half-answered.
Her aunt swivelled round to look at her parents.
Jaz noticed her father’s feet shift awkwardly. She frowned, trying to understand her parents’ reactions until her aunt distracted her.
“So? What d’ya think? Would you mind terribly if I steal your daughter for a week or two? Two might be better don’t you think? It will give her a break; change her surroundings.”
Jaz's father eyed Erica unsurely.
Erica huffed, “Oh come on, John. Can we put our differences aside? I’m only trying to help.”
He kept silent.
Jaz wished he’d say something. She watched her father intensely, willing him to just apologize and get over whatever it was that he couldn’t seem to forget.
After a brief moment he sighed and said, “Very well.”
Jaz smiled, though it wasn’t as wide as it could have been. She wasn’t the same smiley, bubbly person she had been a year before. That would take time.
Her aunt grinned with delight and triumph. She turned to Jaz and announced, “Well that’s settled then. You pack your bags; we’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning!”
Jaz was surprised at how short notice that was but didn’t really mind. She was just relieved to be able to get away.
It would only be for two weeks anyway.
~Chapter 4 - Find~
Three months after Lora's death...
Monday 26th April, 2010, 7:05 a.m.
Arik’s study
“Why did you choose to meet me here? Do you know what will happen if we get caught!?”
“Hushhhh!” hissed the young man.
His contact was five years older but lacked the skills to lead, control his temper and remain calm in stressful situations. The young man knew his contact's faults too well, but despite them, his contact was strong, ruthless, useful and above all, he was loyal. To the young man and no one else. He'd made sure of that.