Chapter 21 – Separate
Jet glanced over at his two companions. They were going to go on a road trip, the best way to cover up the fact they had no home. Now, how would they explain G-Junior? Alice had agreed she and Jet could pass as siblings, if pressed, but more likely half-siblings.
Ivan had suggested that G-Junior be her boyfriend who she met while abroad, which made Jet want to roll his eyes. Albert cut in saying they would cross that bridge when they got there. If anyone asked. Ah, the beauty of America. People assumed and rarely asked. So, they would let everyone guess about why they were traveling.
"All right, where should we go to first?" Jet asked.
"The Redwood Forest? Maybe even Yosemite Park! I've heard they are beautiful," Alice answered, before she flushed. "Or we could stick to cities," she added softly.
Jet knew G-Junior, nature lover that he was, would want to go to those places. Jet sighed. "Fine!"
"Thank you, Jet!" Alice exclaimed and smiled before she began to head toward the truck.
Jet wasn't even going to ask where they got it from. He was just glad they had transportation. "Junior, is this seat going to go far enough back for you?" Alice questioned and G-Junior walked over, carrying the three duffel bags easily.
Jet rolled his eyes and marched over to the truck, getting into the driver's seat. Ah, yay. Proper side of the road this time.
/
Grace had seen Alice off, and Albert had seen Jet off. There had been a four-way banter, with hidden warnings underneath, before the other two left, heading into America.
"Grace?"
"Yes, Steel-Eyes?"
"Can't you speak German?"
Grace chuckled nervously. "I can't read it very well. I can speak and understand, but I can only read and write a bit. I just know two things about that box."
"What?"
"It is a message and the person who wrote it was named Albert, if what it looks like is correct. I doubt a man would be given a music box anyway," Grace answered.
Albert felt like the air left him. That was impossible! His brother had that music box last and would have never sold it, even if he thought Albert was dead. "How old is it?" Albert questioned.
"From around the World War II era. Can never keep it away from her, loves that thing more then people I think. Well, except me. She once said that it was the most beautiful thing in existence. I asked why once, but she never answered. Huh…I just realized that now," Grace answered.
So, there was two options. One, Thomas had to sell the music box. Or, two…Thomas was dead and his stuff was just auctioned off for some reason because he had no family. There was a third option deep within his mind.
Albert just didn't want to think of that one.