THE HAUNTING
CHAPTER ONE
At First Glance
"I see so much of Greenlee in you Erica" Jackson said, "if I did not know any better I would think that she was your daughter instead of mine" he Joked. "What do you mean that she is like me", Erica shot back at Jackson. He spoke the truth but Erica did not want to hear of any comparison between her and her worst nightmare as Erica like to call Greenlee. Erica tried to be nice to Greenlee for Jackson sake, but at times when he forced the issue it was hard for Erica to meet him half way. "Don't get your nickers in a naught" Jackson said trying to calm a seemingly angry Erica.... "I just meant that you two have a lot in common and you both have abandonment issue". Jackson saw the look on Erica's face and it spoke volumes about how angry she was over his statement. He tried to calm her, but she was already to the point of no return as she picked up her purse and Jacket and headed for the door. "I'm sorry Erica I did not mean to offend you", but his words were outmatch by the sound of door slamming behind Erica as she left. "Wow, I certainly know how to clear a room" Jackson said as he stood face to face with the door that Erica had just closed.
He stood there for a moment a little confused about why Erica had made such a scene. "I swear I will never understand that woman as long as a live" Jackson said in frustration. He was still in mid thought when he picked up his files and headed for the sofa to do some work hoping that a distraction would keep his mind off the scene that had just transpired a few minutes ago.
A light knock at the door brought Jackson to his feet and as he quickly reach for the door handle hoping this was his opportunity to make things right. "Erica", he said, as he opened the door, but it was not Erica standing in front of him now. "Hi Dad" Greenlee said, "hoping I was ` Miss Erica, Queen of her own world"! Greenlee's sarcasm did not go unnoticed by Jackson who gave her such a look that told her so. "Sorry Dad", she said, "I guess sometimes I can say things without thinking about it first". "That's OK Greenlee", as he took her hand and kissed it gently.... "I just wish my two favorite girls could some how get along". It must have been the sincerity his tone that make Greenlee think about her next statement because she paused for a moment almost changing her thought pattern and softly said, "Dad, It is not that I don't like Erica, it is not that at all........It is just that"......she stopped to catch her breath and began to speak again. "I never really had a mother, I mean a mother that cared about me and I see the way Erica is with Bianca and Kendall and I guess, I guess I am a little jealous of that........and......."She turned away from Jack and faced the window so that he could not see the tears that were filling up in her eyes.
Jackson walked over to Greenlee and put his arms around her, as any father would do to comfort their child. "What did you want to say about Erica, Greenlee, you can tell me anything" Jack said. In his arms she believed that she could tell him anything and he would keep her safe.......It is funny how Jackson always had that affect on anyone that came close to him but especially Erica and Greenlee. He turned her around so she was now facing him instead of the window and he could see the pain that was screaming from her soul. He reached his hand up to wipe the tears from her eyes and said, "AND what Greenlee honey, what were you going to say". She knew that he would not let this drop, and the only thing that she could do is admit her feelings. Dad she said, "I watch the way that Erica is with her children and she loves them more than her life and I guess I wish that I had a mother that thought I was everything".
Jackson was stunned by Greenlee confession but her honesty touched him in a way that he could hardly describe. He could tell that there was still more she needed to say, so he sat them both on the sofa and held her close so that she could bare her soul. Greenlee began to the tale of how her and Erica got to this place in their relationship. She told Jack about how she really looked up to Erica and wanted so much for her approval and acceptance. "For a time I was a big part of Erica life, I filled the void that she felt because of Bianca and she filled the void that I had long to have in a mother", Greenlee said. "But once I no longer served her purpose, I was out on the street". It was not hard to tell that Greenlee was struggling to share with her father her personal thoughts but he was touched that she trusted him enough to do so.
The more he got to know his daughter the more he could see Erica shine through her. They were both head strong, and beautiful, but there was child like insecurity in both women that Jackson could not help but notice. To tell Greenlee so would be a grave error that Jackson was not willing to make twice in one day, so he kept his thoughts to himself.
CHAPTER ONE
At First Glance
"I see so much of Greenlee in you Erica" Jackson said, "if I did not know any better I would think that she was your daughter instead of mine" he Joked. "What do you mean that she is like me", Erica shot back at Jackson. He spoke the truth but Erica did not want to hear of any comparison between her and her worst nightmare as Erica like to call Greenlee. Erica tried to be nice to Greenlee for Jackson sake, but at times when he forced the issue it was hard for Erica to meet him half way. "Don't get your nickers in a naught" Jackson said trying to calm a seemingly angry Erica.... "I just meant that you two have a lot in common and you both have abandonment issue". Jackson saw the look on Erica's face and it spoke volumes about how angry she was over his statement. He tried to calm her, but she was already to the point of no return as she picked up her purse and Jacket and headed for the door. "I'm sorry Erica I did not mean to offend you", but his words were outmatch by the sound of door slamming behind Erica as she left. "Wow, I certainly know how to clear a room" Jackson said as he stood face to face with the door that Erica had just closed.
He stood there for a moment a little confused about why Erica had made such a scene. "I swear I will never understand that woman as long as a live" Jackson said in frustration. He was still in mid thought when he picked up his files and headed for the sofa to do some work hoping that a distraction would keep his mind off the scene that had just transpired a few minutes ago.
A light knock at the door brought Jackson to his feet and as he quickly reach for the door handle hoping this was his opportunity to make things right. "Erica", he said, as he opened the door, but it was not Erica standing in front of him now. "Hi Dad" Greenlee said, "hoping I was ` Miss Erica, Queen of her own world"! Greenlee's sarcasm did not go unnoticed by Jackson who gave her such a look that told her so. "Sorry Dad", she said, "I guess sometimes I can say things without thinking about it first". "That's OK Greenlee", as he took her hand and kissed it gently.... "I just wish my two favorite girls could some how get along". It must have been the sincerity his tone that make Greenlee think about her next statement because she paused for a moment almost changing her thought pattern and softly said, "Dad, It is not that I don't like Erica, it is not that at all........It is just that"......she stopped to catch her breath and began to speak again. "I never really had a mother, I mean a mother that cared about me and I see the way Erica is with Bianca and Kendall and I guess, I guess I am a little jealous of that........and......."She turned away from Jack and faced the window so that he could not see the tears that were filling up in her eyes.
Jackson walked over to Greenlee and put his arms around her, as any father would do to comfort their child. "What did you want to say about Erica, Greenlee, you can tell me anything" Jack said. In his arms she believed that she could tell him anything and he would keep her safe.......It is funny how Jackson always had that affect on anyone that came close to him but especially Erica and Greenlee. He turned her around so she was now facing him instead of the window and he could see the pain that was screaming from her soul. He reached his hand up to wipe the tears from her eyes and said, "AND what Greenlee honey, what were you going to say". She knew that he would not let this drop, and the only thing that she could do is admit her feelings. Dad she said, "I watch the way that Erica is with her children and she loves them more than her life and I guess I wish that I had a mother that thought I was everything".
Jackson was stunned by Greenlee confession but her honesty touched him in a way that he could hardly describe. He could tell that there was still more she needed to say, so he sat them both on the sofa and held her close so that she could bare her soul. Greenlee began to the tale of how her and Erica got to this place in their relationship. She told Jack about how she really looked up to Erica and wanted so much for her approval and acceptance. "For a time I was a big part of Erica life, I filled the void that she felt because of Bianca and she filled the void that I had long to have in a mother", Greenlee said. "But once I no longer served her purpose, I was out on the street". It was not hard to tell that Greenlee was struggling to share with her father her personal thoughts but he was touched that she trusted him enough to do so.
The more he got to know his daughter the more he could see Erica shine through her. They were both head strong, and beautiful, but there was child like insecurity in both women that Jackson could not help but notice. To tell Greenlee so would be a grave error that Jackson was not willing to make twice in one day, so he kept his thoughts to himself.