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Chapter 3 - Jade: Homecoming
From the moment the plane touched down in Washington State, I felt the shift in my soul. I hadn’t even made it to Riverroad yet, and I had gone into survival mode. Every single fiber of my body wanted to get on the next flight back to the east coast, but I knew that was not a possibility. Ethan needed me, and I had promised.
It was still morning. My flight had taken off at 5:00 am, and it was only now getting to 10:00 am. I had been anxious the entire flight. I had drunk about three glasses of wine. Sadly, that buzzed feeling had been overridden by anxiety.
“Is this your first time in Riverroad?” my cab driver asked me.
“No.” I looked outside the window to the surrounding area. “I was born here.”
“Wow really? I was born here, too. What did you say your last name was again? The town is so small I probably know your mom or dad.”
My stomach churned. I didn’t want to speak about my parents at all. Thankfully my phone started blaring as Tash’s name flashed across the screen.
“Sorry.” I wasn’t sorry. I picked up the call.
“Hey,” I answered.
“Hey, love, how are you?” I could hear the concern in her voice. Tash always did this. It was her maternal instinct that always took over.
“I’m doing okay. How are you? How are Riley and Nathaniel?”
“Jade.” She sighed. “It’s okay if you feel a little sad. She was your mother, after all. Allow yourself to feel all the emotions.”
“I’m fine, Tash, really I am. I'm just worried about Ethan. He didn’t sound too good on the phone last night, and I’m not sure exactly what I am walking into today.”
“Jade, I know you want to be there for Ethan, but who will be there for you? I know right now it all just seems like you are fine, but I’m worried you are suppressing your real emotions.”
“You don’t have to, Tash. I’m fine, and I will only be here a few days anyway. A quick in and out and then I’m back home in New York where I belong.”
Tash knew the majority of my story, even one of the reasons why I ran from Riverroad. She even knew about Grayson, but she didn't know everything.
My heart thudded in my chest. It had been years since I had last seen him. I wondered if he had changed in any way. The last I had heard of him he had graduated college with his finance degree and moved back to Riverroad. He was always meant for small-town living. One of the reasons why we were doomed from the start.
“Jade, you still there?”
“Yeah, sorry just zoned out for a bit. What did you say?”
“I was saying maybe I could come down for the funeral. It’s only on Friday, anyway. I can be there Wednesday afternoon and then be back in time for Nate’s gala.”
“No. Nate needs you in New York, and I will be fine here. I’m okay to handle all of this on my own. You don’t need to involve yourself in this family drama of mine.”
“You are my sister, Jade. You are my family and what bothers you, bothers me, too. We are in this together. I would never let you walk down hard roads alone.”
Her words warmed my heart, “I know, and I love you for that. But I need to do this on my own. I will be back before you know it.”
She sighed. “Alright, but if you need me at any time at all, I will drop everything and be on the next flight out. And did you know Nate had a private jet? He just randomly told me about it last night after sex. He wanted to offer it to you when he heard you needed to get out of New York ASAP. I knew my fiancé had money but not money, money like that.”
I laughed lightly. “Who exactly did you think his family was? You knew he had money.”
“Yeah, but not likeown a private islandtype money which, by the way, he also owns not one, not two, but three private islands. Like, who am I marrying?”
“A super-hot and sexy billionaire, that’s who. You could have done worse, really.”
“I know. It’s just crazy that this is my life now.” She sounded thoughtful. “But this isn’t about me. This is about you and your grief.”
“I’m fine. I’m not grieving. To mourn something, you need to feel as though you have lost something, and I don’t feel like I lost anything, if I’m being very honest with you.”
“Okay, I will choose to believe your words for now. I know this is not ideal or what you would have thought your week would look like, but just know, it’s okay to cry. I need to go now. I need to rush into a meeting before lunch. I love you.”
