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Happy eighteenth birthday and graduation, Jess!
When I saw this gift, I knew it was meant for you.
I love you, Angel.
Dad
I tear off the paper like a kid on Christmas morning, and open the box. The tears I did my best to hold back come barreling forth. Inside the box is an exquisite pair of princess-cut diamond earrings. Through my sobs I manage to mutter, “Thank you, Daddy, I love you.”
Choking back tears of his own, he whispers, “I love you, too, Angel.”
I’m itching to wear them and immediately put them in my ears, beaming with a pride I haven’t felt in a long time. They’re like a warm hug just for me from my dad. I’ll think of him everytime I wear them.
We arrived at the restaurant my grandmother insisted the family have dinner at instead of a simple party at our house. Likely chosen to do nothing more than flaunt her wealth. Sadly, my grandfather died five years ago and left her a boatload of money. He was the only one on my mother’s side of the family that was nice to me, even though I rarely got to see him. Early on, he made his money in the stock market and invested the returns wisely. The few times I did get to visit, I remember my grandmother was such a total bitch to him. Poor guy, died of a heart attack and likely felt instantly at peace not having to endure her tirades any longer.
As we enter the restaurant I gaze around, grossly under dressed didn’t even cover my attire. Of course, my grandmother had to choose a five-star establishment. Dad checks in with the hostess then we are promptly guided to a private dining room located in the back of the restaurant. As we pass each family member they mumble mediocre congratulations and nothing more and leave us the two remaining seats in the corner.
Dinner is somewhat painless. A few snide wardrobe comments are made at my expense, but the entire event only lasts less than two hours, though I find it odd that no one spoke to Dad either. He and I pretty much sat tucked away in our secluded corner, social pariahs amongst blood.
My father and I funnel out behind the others when dinner is over and walk toward his SUV while Mom says her goodbyes. An uneasy feeling comes over me as I reach for the door handle and when I turn I find a man standing nearby, staring back at me. I glance toward Dad, hoping he sees him, too, and is coming to my rescue, but he’s already on the other side of the vehicle holding the door open for Mom. When I turn back, the man is gone.
On the ride home I nearly vomit, bobbing my head back and forth, checking to see if we are being followed only to find no one there. Should I call the police? No, they’ll probably think I’m nuts and my mother wouldn’t handle that negative press well. Although, I’m sure she would be all too happy to have me committed and out of her house.
Chapter Four
Jess
Tonight as I lie down, my mind wanders to the forest playhouse before I even close my eyes, which kicks this unending dream into high gear.
The stranger, who has begun to feel more like a friend, and I meet inside. Only this time he closes the door behind us.
As I turn to open it, he says, “Welcome home, Jess.”
My heart skips several beats. “Welcome home, Jess? I’m not home. Why are we here? How do you know my name?” His cold touch as he gently holds my face in his hands, tilting it upward to face him chills me. Entranced in his gaze as I am, I close my eyes, silently begging his lips to find mine. The air surrounding us thickens as he nears. The heightened anticipation has me on edge though for the life of me I can’t figure out what is taking so long for our lips to touch.
If I had an old-fashioned alarm clock as opposed to using my phone as one, I would have hurled it across the room. I’m tired, grouchy, tired of this fucking dream going nowhere. Well, no rest for the wicked, or in my case, the sleep-deprived today.
Last night’s dream, still fresh on my mind, leads me through this mundane day, though I damn near ironed my hand at one point.
Maybe a trip to the mall will help shake off whatever this is. Wandering aimlessly, window shopping, not my usual go to but anything is worth a try at this point. Locating a parking spot that isn’t miles away in the blazing heat should’ve been my first clue to turn around and go home, yet I push on. There isn’t a seat to be had in the food court. The decibal level from the screaming kids is off the chart but I have to admit, all this chaos draws me from my thoughts. At least with it being summer when I leave, it is still light enough out I feel somewhat safe walking to my car when I leave, empty-handed I might add.
The confusion is what I’m struggling with most. Part of me wants to address this man, but the other feels I need to be committed, allowing that thought to enter my head. What in the hell am I doing daydreaming about a freaking stalker who could be a complete psycho? For all I know, this guy is an ax murderer waiting to strike when I’m alone.
Fucking hell, Jess, give it a rest.
How I miss the smell of freshly cut grass. Dad would put the sprinkler on after he’d finished mowing and I’d run through it for hours. Now we live in a cookie-cutter neighborhood devoid of life due to the unbearable temps. Our back yard sits at the edge of a nature preserve so we have to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, coyotes, and scorpions. I don’t leave my dogs out unattended out of fear they’ll be bitten or attacked. There are pros and cons to having deaf dogs. On the pro side, they won’t bark at non-existent things, but on the con end they won’t hear a rattle or growl from a predator.
I miss climbing the hundred-year-old oaks that shaded our yard in Michigan. I remember watching old Mr. Wicks get drunk and take out the mailboxes along our street with his huge Cadillac. Just like clock work, the cops would knock on his door the next morning and he’d deny it, but if you followed the path of downed mailboxes they led to his house.
“Hi, honey, how was your day?” Dad called out as I shut the front door, never taking his eyes off the TV.
“It was okay, Dad.” My voice sounds as exhausted as I feel.
He turns to face me. “That was a long day, Jess.”
When he moves the dogs bound over to me, I kneel to pet them. “I went to the mall after work.”
That must’ve been the right response as he actually smiles. “Good, you need time with your friends. You haven’t been hanging out with them much lately.”
