Chapter twenty-eight : You are just too good to be true

It has been such a long time since I have been writing in you, dear little notebook. I come back at you today, because, I am in LOVE ! The kind of love that I never thought that I could be living one day, the kind of love that I thought could only ever be for my brothers and sisters and for my mom and dad. I remember the time when I was questioning if Rilla, little Rilla, my baby sister was and could be old enough to love, and be loved by Kenneth Ford, an much older man then her. Now I look at my baby sister, married, happily married and a mother of three and, I know that she really is a happy married woman and fully well and perfectly loved by her husband.

I don't know if Eric is the man, the one that I have been waiting for all of this time, all of my life, but, all I know is that I always want to be with him, near him, close to him. I am always happy when I am with him. I always feel safe and love when he takes me in his arms. I always feel like I am the only one in the room, even when it is full with customers at the Kindred Spirit, whenever he looks at me with sunshine and love in his eyes. I always feel this funny feeling inside of my stomach, whenever he smiles at me. I always feel like I am going to faint, whenever he kisses me, but I never do, faint, that is, because he always holds me so close to his body, so strongly but yet so tenderly with his arms around me, that I could be kissing him that way for hours and hours, all day everyday, forever and ever...

- Don't you think it is time for you to get dress, now Joyce ? It is your mother's birthday, remember ?

Eric had come up to come look for Joyce upstairs in the little bedroom corner of the Kindred Spirit. Looking at Eric for a split second, Joyce got up on her feet, saying.

- Oh, right, I almost forgot, give me five minutes, and I'll come to join you and Dominic downstairs.

To be able to go to the little bathroom, she had to pass in front of where Eric was standing, when she arrived at his level, Eric took the chance to take her in his arms and said.

- Not so fast Now, Joy of my world, Joy of my life...

Eric didn't say anything else, as they both knew what the other one wanted, and that was one very passionate, slow, tender, intimate kiss between each other.

...

This year for Anne's birthday, she had said that she didn't want to celebrate with a big party and plenty of guests and friends, this is why this year, she and Gilbert, with only their seven children and their respective spouses and children, except for Joy and Eric who were not married yet but to themselves, they considered Dominic as being their own child, which Dominic himself didn't know that yet, was there as well at Ingleside to celebrate Anne, and Jem and Faith who still didn't have any kids of their own.

As it was still very cold outside, they were all gathered in the Ingleside living room, all seated around the big and large diner table, all having fun, chatting, and enjoying their time together.

Anne had come to the conclusion that even though any of her's and Gilbert's friends were not there tonight, her children and their families was making a big group of people there with her and around her for her birthday, and, she couldn't be more happy about that.

They all had a merry meal, and now they were at the time and turn for the deserts, with a carrot cake and an apple pie ! Anne had blown away her candles and she had given the first piece of carrot cake to Gilbert and she had taken the first piece of apple pie for herself.

- Eric, if you don't mind, I was wondering if you didn't have anyone you could think of for us to invite at your wedding ?

It was Anne that was asking this question. Earring this, Joyce turned her head in the direction of Eric and took he's hand in her own, because she knew how he didn't like to speak about this with anyone.

- Sadly no, I don't have anyone I could invite at my own wedding. My mom died a long time ago. My father died as well. Maybe I could invite the concierge that used to live with us and the maid that used to take care of me when I was younger, but I am afraid to say that I don't even know where they live now or how to get in touch with them.

Eric said all of this without any emotions transposing on his face.

- Oh, does that mean that you are an orphan ?

Anne continued to ask.

Once again, Joyce took Eric's other hand in her own, as if trying to say something to him. Again, she knew how he didn't like to talk about any of this. But, it was like, Eric didn't know what, like something was pushing him to say everything out loud, now or never, for once and for all.

- I became an orphan without a mother when I was still very young, I was maybe the exact same age as Dominic was when he lost both of his mother and father, in a matter of days intervals. But, I became an orphan of a father, much later in life.

Anne felt the need to say now to Eric.

- I don't know if Joyce told you about it, but, I lost both of my parents from the typhoid fever in a matter of months intervals when I was three months old ?

Everyone else around the table was listening to the conversation going on between Anne and Eric very attentively.

- Yes, Mrs. Blythe, Joyce told me that you were an orphan as well.

Now, it was the turn of Gilbert to start asking questions and speak.

- You have been working at the Kindred Spirit with Joyce for quite some time now, Eric, and I was curious to know if you don't mind me asking, if you had done any studies in your life, before coming to Glen St-Mary ?

Everyone around the table knew that Anne and Gilbert only had good intentions toward Eric, they wanted to get to know their future son in law much better

- Yes, Mr. Blythe I did. I have a degree and a master in psychology. I have always been fascinated with what could go on in the minds of people and what could be the cause of their unhappiness, sadness, fears.

- Oh, and you never thought of opening your own psychology practice ?

Gilbert was now asking.

- I did and I was thinking about this Mr. Blythe, but something terrible happen on the day of my convocation which made me vow to myself to never open the kind of practice that my father had wanted for me, in a chic building where I would only be receiving the rich and famous people of where I come from, or any kind of practice at all. I never wanted something like this for a practice, besides, serving, helping, and seeing all of the happy faces of the customers that come everyday at the Kindred Spirit, I think is the best kind of therapy.

Because Joyce knew what was going to come next, she still had both of Eric's hands in her two owns, giving them small caresses with her fingers, in a way for her to try and comfort him.

Before anyone could ask anything else, Eric started to say once again.

- As I was saying, on the day that I was receiving my diploma, I was ready to tell my father that I would never open the kind of practice that he was waiting for me to open, with the help of his money. My father was no psychologist, he was in the import-export industry, or I should say that he was in his father's company, that he had to take over when he's father passed away, and he was very rich. He had always wanted and hoped for me to be joining him in the family's company, but, I always knew that the import-export thing was not for me. As I was he's only son, he paid for the studies that I had always wanted to study, psychology, and, on the day of my graduation, I was waiting for him to arrive so that I could say to him that I would not be taking any of he's money, that I wanted to open my own practice, in a small town village, anywhere, but far away then our own city...

Everyone around the table was listening to Eric's tale with very much attention, like they hung on every words he was saying.

- But, I never got the chance to tell my father any of this, because on his way to my graduation, he had a fatal car accident, with my grandmother, and two aunts with him inside the vehicle, where all four of them died together.

Now, everyone around the table all had their mouths and eyes open wide.

- A fatal accident like this one was bound to happen at any time with my father, because he was drinking so much alcohol, every day, every night, all the time. He was drunk while he was behind the wheel, driving on the road to come to my graduation, he was the only one responsible of the car crash, making me becoming an orphan.

Again, before anyone could say anything, Eric added.

- This accident happened almost six years ago and, you all don't have to feel pity for me, because I've made peace with that a long time ago. The only person in my life that I regretted loosing too soon, was my mother...

Everyone around the table fell silent after that, both Anne and Dominic had the impression, no, not the impression, they both felt like they understood Eric's situation so strongly and perfectly, because they too knew what it was like to not have any parents or any family there with you anymore on this earth.

After some time, Anne started to ask Eric once again.

- If you don't mind me asking, from which part of Canada do you come from ?

Eric answered very calmly.

- I was born and raised in Kingsport, Mrs. Blythe.

Jem didn't know why, but he had to ask.

- Oh, Kingsport, did you take your psychology courses at Redmond ?

For an answer, Eric only nodded yes with his head.

- Cool, did you know that our family has a long history with Redmond being the university that everyone one of us went too to study ?

Again, Eric only nodded yes with his head.

- Did any other Jones of your family attended Redmond as well, Eric ?

Gilbert was again asking.

- Oh, no, Jones was my mother's family name. When my father died, I was so angry at him, that I've figured that the only thing that he's money could buy me, was to give me back my mother's name, an erase he's own family name from my name and only be called, Eric Jones and have Eric Jones written on all of my important papers, like birth certificate, passport, University papers, my diplomas.

- But, there must be a reason for you to want to erase your father's name from your birth certificate ?

Anne was asking again.

- You see, my mom and dad didn't have a romantic and passionate wedding and married life, it as always been arrange in advance with both families, that my mother and father would get married when they will be older. My mother had only had the time to give birth to me, the heir of my father's family, before she started to get sick and died a few years after that. I always had the impression that my father never loved either one of us, that he was only doing he's duty, what he's own mother was waiting of him.

- Oh, that is such an horrible and terrible thing to go through.

Anne was saying.

- I only knew that my parents wedding was an arrange one, because a few years after my mother's passing, I eavesdrops a conversation between my father and grandmother when they didn't know that I was looking at them or earring what they were saying.

"Now son, you have to stop crying and drinking so much, a man of your age shouldn't do things like these" Eric's grandmother was saying. "But mother, it hurt so much to have seen her after such a long time and so happy as well with her doctor of a husband" Eric's father was saying. "Son, I already told you on many, many times that this woman that you had a crush on, that you took fancy on was not the woman meant for you. That orphan redheaded girl would have only brought trouble into your life" Eric's mother was saying. "But mother, I loved her so, I could have given her everything that she had dreamed of and desired in life" Eric's father said one last time.

- After that moment, I never saw my father cry again, but he continued to drink and he always had a different girl, woman with him on his arms at nights. It was always a redheaded woman.

Eric was now hoping to end he's family's tale with that declaration, but, he had a completely other effect.

- What did you say that your father's name was, Eric ?

Anne was asking, almost afraid of earring the answer.

- Well, as I said, I took my mother's name and got myself to be named : Eric Jones after Erica Jones. When I was born, it was my mother that chose Eric for me as a name, to have a male version of her own name. My father was one of the Gardner's of Kingsport. He was the one who attended Redmond University and he was named : Royal Gardner.

- Royal Gardner...

Anne had declared at the same time Eric was confessing he's father's name to them all.

- You'r Royal Gardner's child ?

Anne was now asking in astonishment.

- Yes, I was he's child, because remember, he died...

Eric was reminding her.

Gilbert took this chance to take both of Anne's hands in he's own two hands, but, she already had one of her hands covering her mouth, like she had wanted for them to stop trembling with this movement.

- What is the matter mom, why are you so surprised that Eric he's Royal Gardner's son ? Even you dad, you seemed to be surprised as well !

Joyce was now asking both of her parents.

Eric had took out his hands from Joyce's own hands, which left her surprised by this action coming from him.

- You'r the redheaded orphan that my grandmother was speaking of, that long time ago ?

Eric was now asking, no, confirming now while looking directly into Anne's eyes.

Anne couldn't help it, there was some tears coming out of her eyes, which left her to only nod yes with her head.

- You'r the one that broke my father's heart that long time ago, by returning he's ring, declaring that your engagement to him was off ?

Again, Eric was not asking, he was confirming while still looking at Anne.

- Excuse me for a moment, please.

Eric said after a moment without having said anything else. He got up from he's chair around the table and, he went in the direction of the entrance door, leaving the others assuming that he needed some fresh air.

Because there was so much commotion after this declaration, with all of them trying to speak and asking questions at the same time, and she had to admit to herself that she was waiting for him to come back inside, take his place back beside her on the chair next to her at the table and continue to have a joyful time celebrating her mother's birthday. It took Joyce some more time before she could get up from her chair around the table and go find Eric outside of Ingleside.

When she arrived on the steps of the Ingleside entrance, she saw no sign of Eric anywhere. He was no where to be seen. At first, her reaction would have been to go back inside and ask Walter or Jem to come with her and search for Eric together, but, she found herself to not be panicking, well, not panicking completely and entirely, because, the only thing she knew after she still didn't see Eric anywhere near Ingleside, she rapidly descendent the steps of the Ingleside porch, and she started to run really fast down the lane and turned in the direction of the Kindred Spirit, where she was madly hoping that it was where that Eric had gone and hid himself.

...

Arriving at the Kindred Spirit, Joyce was out of breath. She took some time to try and catch some air while she was trying to open the entrance door of the restaurant, but she realised that it was still locked from when Eric, Dominic and herself had left the place, earlier in the evening. Because she always had the key of the entrance door in her pocket, she took it to be able to open it and enter in the place she knew so well. Earring the door slowly closing behind her, Joyce realised that she had left Ingleside without having taken the time to take her coat back and put it on herself. But she didn't mind, or she didn't care to be precise, she only wanted to find Eric and take him in her , the first floor of the restaurant was empty and dark, as if no one had come in before her.

She didn't loose hope, she went in the direction of the upstair stairs, started to take them two at the time, hoping to find Eric waiting for her, laying or seated on the bed. But, he was still no where to be found. This was when she started to panic completely, slowly advancing in the direction of the nightstand table, where she had left her little notebook earlier, when it was time for her to get ready for her mother's birthday. finding it open, she was surprised by this, because she remembered that she had left it closed before leaving the place. Taking the notebook at the open page in her hands, she saw something written where she had stopped writing earlier, on the right corner, down the page, words that were not written by her nor with her handwriting. The words were saying :

I am sorry

Forgive me

I am sorry

Pardon me

This little note wasn't sign, but Joyce didn't need a signature to know that it was Eric that had written these words destined for her to read them...

...

A.N. : Didn't I tell you guys that instead of 30 chapters, my story will have 33 chapters ?!

Kim !