Back with You
Chapter 8
Yeah, I pretty much suck at writing serious, important scenes, so this really bites. Well, I think it does at least. LOL. Bear with me...and be nice with the reviews (speaking of which, thanks all of you who left comments on last chapter...wow!). It will get better soon...I promise! Jessamyn and Rose still have a lot to discuss.... and what about the mysterious Mr. Jack? Ohh la la! Sorry it's short!
Rose led this mysterious stranger into her house, closing the door firmly behind them. The girl hadn't said a word in a few minutes now, and Rose was a little...not mad, annoyed was more of the right word. Yes, she was annoyed. Who the hell was this?
Rose shrugged out of her coat before she did anything and hung it on the black wire coat-rack by the door. Then she set her things down on the wooden floor and turned her attention back to the girl. She couldn't see her face; the girl was looking down at the floor and it was hidden in the shadows of her coat hood. She just stood there, her clothes dripping with water, creating a little pool underneath her feet.
"Are you going to tell me who you are and why you were on my porch? Or are you just going to stand there making a lake in the middle of the entry way?" Rose asked expectantly, her hands on her hips. She was cold and wet and desperately wanted to get out of her clothes. The girl shifted her weight from foot to foot, looking like she was struggling with something. Rose raised her eyebrows at her.
"Well..." she prodded.
Finally, the girl raised her head, but kept her eyes half closed. "Look..." she began shakily. "I.... I really need to talk to you," she pleaded softly. "But please don't get mad or...or...rush me, okay?"
Jessamyn watched for a reaction from Rose, who by now looked really confused. She couldn't blame her. If her long lost daughter showed up on her doorstep after being gone for 18 years and Jessamyn had no idea whom it was, she would be confused to. This was so hard. She desperately wanted to just tell Rose. But the nervousness she was feeling was getting the best of her.
"All right," Rose agreed. "Just, tell me who you are." She attempted a small smile.
Jessamyn took a deep breath and slowly reached up to pull her hood off. As she did so, she let her hair shake out and finally opened her eyes all the way. She knew this would do it...or at least be a very big clue.
Rose's stood in shock, not believing what she was seeing. To her sheer amazement, this girl had Jack's eyes and she felt like she was looking at a ghost from the past. In fact.... she reminded Rose of someone. She softly gasped in shock, as she looked closer at the girl. The same eyes...no one else in the world had eyes like those... except Jack.
And Jessamyn.
"Oh my god," Rose whispered softly. It was a ghost from her past. And not just any ghost…it was her daughter.
Jessamyn knew by the tone of her voice that Rose knew. Her eyes had widened in either shock or amazement, maybe both, and her hand had slowly risen to cover her mouth.
"Yeah...it's me...Jessamyn...." she said softly. Brilliant Jessamyn! She immediately regretted it as soon as she said that. She could have said anything else, but nooo. It just had to be the stupidest thing in the world to come up with. Hell, saying nothing at all was better then that.
Rose didn't seem to notice how pathetic of the statement was. The sound that then came from Rose's mouth was a strange mixture of almost fear and amazement at the same time. By now her eyes had filled with tears and she was about ready to lose it. She couldn't believe she was staring at her daughter. Her daughter for Christ sake! She was so beautiful and so...old. The last time she had seen her she had just been this little tiny baby. This couldn't be her daughter. Her daughter, who had been so tiny, this little sick-looking baby was not a woman. She kept looking at her over and over again, making sure she was real...that it was really Jessamyn. But there was no mistaking those eyes...so blue, like Jacks.
"Oh...my baby girl," she whispered softly and then did lose it. The tears began to fall uncontrollably and quickly ran down her cheeks. She wanted to throw up she was so shocked and happy. She had imagined this over and over in her mind since she gave her up. And now it was actually happening.
Once Rose started crying, Jessamyn couldn't help herself and felt tears start to run down her face as well. She had finally done it. This was her birth mother! She was more beautiful then in the pictures. Her voice too was strangely familiar, like Jessamyn remembered it, even though she knew that wasn't possible. It was soft…and alluring, and so cultured.
Rose started shaking and Jessamyn immediately felt sorry for her. She had least had expected it; her mother had no idea. This was even huger for Rose then it was for her. Slowly, she moved a few steps closer to Rose and then gently put her arms around her. Rose hugged her back tightly, like she couldn't believe it.
"Did they treat you okay? Were you happy?" Rose asked amidst sobs as she held on to Jessamyn. Her daughter just nodded, to over come with emotion to speak.
They stayed like this for some time, unable to talk or even move. Rose still felt like she was in a dream. She felt like if she let go, Jessamyn would leave and she would wake up to fine God had played a cruel trick on her unconscious mind. And Jessamyn felt home for the first time in hr life. Her heart was so full she couldn't' even describe it.
"I missed you so much," Rose just kept whispering over and over. She attempted to gather herself together and gently pushed er daughter away. "Let me look at you," she said softly, feeling the tears want to pour. There was no doubt about it. This was she, it was Jessamyn. Oh, every day since they had been separated Rose had wanted her back. She had regretted her design so many times. This was Jack's child. And Rose had just cased her aside, letting strangers take her in. She softly brushed some hair away from Jessamyn's face and then smiled.
Jessamyn smiled back, ecstatic. She wanted to tell Rose everything, her entire life story. And she wanted to know what she had been up too. Not to mention ask a few questions about her dad and what had happened there. Not to mention that damn necklace that Jessamyn still had...what was with that thing?
"I can't believe all this," she confessed outloud.
Rose nodded, finally getting full control over her tears. She couldn't believe it either.
"I mean, they didn't even tell me until my birthday. I had no idea. And now..." Jessamyn trailed off. She didn't really know how to explain what she was feeling, so she just shut up.
Smiling again, Rose nodded, understanding what Jessamyn felt. She was overjoyed and simply didn't know what to say. Softly, she put her arm around Jessamyn's shoulders. "C'mon, let's get you changed and then we can talk. There is so much I want to know."
Jessamyn let her mother lead her though the living room and down this sort of hallway. It was only now that she began to look around. There wasn't much, it was kind of sad actually. It was obvious Rose lived alone.... and that the apartment didn't get visited much by anyone but Rose. Books covered countless shelves and a few flower vases and picture frames were scattered here and there, but that was about it.
They stopped in front of one of the three doors in the hall and Rose pushed the door open. It was obvious this room never got used either. Rose looked embarrassed as she left Jessamyn and crossed the room, flipping on a light switch as she went and then opening the curtains across the way. There was a beautiful view of the ocean, but right now it was clouded by the storm. There was a desk with papers and junk cluttered on it, another bookcase complete with many books, a closet, and a bed.
"Um, you can get changed in here if you like...there are some extra things of mine in the closest. They might fit you, they're to small for me." Rose paused for a moment, looking around. "The bathroom is across the hall if you need it," she continued, "and my bedroom is right next door. I'm going to change and then go get us something to eat. Do you drink coffee?"
Jessamyn nodded, "Yes, I do."
"Alright, I'll put some on." She gave her another smile and then left, leaving Jessamyn alone. Once she was outside in the hallway again and the door was closed, Rose breathed a heavy sigh. Her heart was beating so fast, her palms were sweaty and she felt like her stomach was going to explode. Her baby, her daughter, was here. Finally. She hoped Jessamyn would stay for a while. In fact, she had always had a spare room ready just in case of something like this. God knows she wouldn't need it for anything else.
As she made her way back into her room, she noticed something. She was happy. And she didn't remember the last time she had been happy. It had to have been years. Yeah, little things every once in a while had always brought her sprit up a little bit. But this was different. She was really and truly happy. A part of her heart that had been missing for so long was now back. There was always going to be a void from Jack. But at least she had part of him back with her again. Oh, and how she reminded her of Jack. She could see a bit of herself in her daughter as far as looks went and a few other little things, but it was mostly Jack. Jessamyn stood the same way and got that same nervous look in her eyes, not to mention other things that were to numerous to name. She wished they had gotten to know each other. Smiling, Rose entered her room and closed the door behind her. Her daughter was back and she knew that nothing was ever going to be lonely again. If only Jack were here…
