CHAPTER SEVEN
Jackson barely managed to knock when Bianca opened the door. I am really worried Uncle Jack, it is not like mom to just take off like this, Bianca said. Jackson was reassuring, but he knew that Bianca was right. They sat down side by side on the sofa, hoping that their closeness would bring Erica back, but knowing that there was no logical explanation for her sudden disappearance. Jackson suggested that they exam everything that they knew. Bianca began to tell Jackson the tale of how earlier this morning Erica had professed her love to him. She told him how lost her mother was and how she could not bare to see him marry Veronica. Last night she seemed hopeless, Uncle Jack Bianca said, but earlier this morning I found a letter that suggested quick the opposite. She loves you Uncle Jack she really loves you! Jackson could not help but feel alive by Bianca's words and said `well we better find her than so that I can tell her that I feel the same way'.
They called every person from Opal to Val, anyone that could possibly have any connection to Erica, but know one had heard from her. Their concern quickly turned to panic and it became clear that she was not coming home anytime soon. The weight of his pain pressed heavy on Jackson's heart as he pleaded with God to bring Erica home safely to them. His soul longed for her as it often did, but this time he was not afraid of his heart. His mind traveled across time, and he was with Erica again. He reached out his arms to her, feeling her soft skin against him, remembering every part of her body, but when he reached up to kiss her, she was not there. It was all just a dream! Bianca's voice brought him back to reality as her heart let go of the pain she was feeling deep in her soul. He rapped his arms around her hoping to comfort her and him self at the same time but somehow neither one felt any better. Jackson knew that he had to take it a step further, but he did not want to alarm Bianca.
Although Erica was not gone long enough to file a Police report, Jackson knew that his friend and co-worker Chief Anna Devane would assist him an unofficial capacity. Anna tried to sound positive, but she was all too familiar with the sad reality of these kinds of cases. Anna knew that nine times out of ten the person was never found or worse, KILLED! The best that they could hope for was that Erica left town and did not want to be found. If this possibility was true, she was certainly succeeding!
The last time anyone seen her, she was at home with Bianca. At approximately 1 or 2 am she left the penthouse with the intentions of going to Jackson's, but never arrived. Although know one wanted to say, there seemed only two possibilities for Erica's disappearance. One of course was that she left Pine Valley on her accord to avoid seeing the man she loves marry another woman. This was the answer everyone wanted to hear, but knew that the facts would not equal this suggestion. Anyone, who knew Erica, knew that she would never leave Pine Valley without getting in contact with Bianca. And than there was the letter...In her letter, she suggested that she was going to convince Jackson to give them another try, but know one recalled seeing Erica any where near Jackson's apartment that night. If she did not go to Jackson, than where did she go and where was she now! The more they tried to come up with explanations the more the reality of Erica's disappearance came to light. It was obvious to everyone including Bianca that Erica's disappearance was anything but by her own accord.
Veronica waited at the church hoping that Jackson would show up, but he never did. The guest came and went, but still no sign of Jackson. It was not until Tad arrived at Erica's that Jack even gave any thought to his wedding. I keep making this situation worse, don't I Tad, Jackson said. He arrived at the church and Veronica was still there in her wedding dress. I guess that is what you meant when you said you were sorry, Veronica said. Jackson began to speak, but Veronica stopped him. Please don't say anything Jack; I can't hear what you have to say right now. Jackson reached up and wiped the tears from her face and said ` a long time ago I gave my heart away, and I never really got it back. As much as I have tried, and I have tried, Veronica I just can't get Erica out of my soul'.
Jackson got up to leave when Veronica stopped him in his tracks. If you never met Erica, would we have had a chance, she asked. From the look on Jackson's face it was clear to Veronica that this was a question he could offer no answer. He smiled and kissed her on the forehead before leaving out the back exit. As soon as he was out the church doors, he called Bianca to see if she had heard anything. As he was talking to Bianca on the cell phone, Anna came up from behind him. The look on her face told him that this was anything, but social. I have some information Jack, but it is not good!
Jackson barely managed to knock when Bianca opened the door. I am really worried Uncle Jack, it is not like mom to just take off like this, Bianca said. Jackson was reassuring, but he knew that Bianca was right. They sat down side by side on the sofa, hoping that their closeness would bring Erica back, but knowing that there was no logical explanation for her sudden disappearance. Jackson suggested that they exam everything that they knew. Bianca began to tell Jackson the tale of how earlier this morning Erica had professed her love to him. She told him how lost her mother was and how she could not bare to see him marry Veronica. Last night she seemed hopeless, Uncle Jack Bianca said, but earlier this morning I found a letter that suggested quick the opposite. She loves you Uncle Jack she really loves you! Jackson could not help but feel alive by Bianca's words and said `well we better find her than so that I can tell her that I feel the same way'.
They called every person from Opal to Val, anyone that could possibly have any connection to Erica, but know one had heard from her. Their concern quickly turned to panic and it became clear that she was not coming home anytime soon. The weight of his pain pressed heavy on Jackson's heart as he pleaded with God to bring Erica home safely to them. His soul longed for her as it often did, but this time he was not afraid of his heart. His mind traveled across time, and he was with Erica again. He reached out his arms to her, feeling her soft skin against him, remembering every part of her body, but when he reached up to kiss her, she was not there. It was all just a dream! Bianca's voice brought him back to reality as her heart let go of the pain she was feeling deep in her soul. He rapped his arms around her hoping to comfort her and him self at the same time but somehow neither one felt any better. Jackson knew that he had to take it a step further, but he did not want to alarm Bianca.
Although Erica was not gone long enough to file a Police report, Jackson knew that his friend and co-worker Chief Anna Devane would assist him an unofficial capacity. Anna tried to sound positive, but she was all too familiar with the sad reality of these kinds of cases. Anna knew that nine times out of ten the person was never found or worse, KILLED! The best that they could hope for was that Erica left town and did not want to be found. If this possibility was true, she was certainly succeeding!
The last time anyone seen her, she was at home with Bianca. At approximately 1 or 2 am she left the penthouse with the intentions of going to Jackson's, but never arrived. Although know one wanted to say, there seemed only two possibilities for Erica's disappearance. One of course was that she left Pine Valley on her accord to avoid seeing the man she loves marry another woman. This was the answer everyone wanted to hear, but knew that the facts would not equal this suggestion. Anyone, who knew Erica, knew that she would never leave Pine Valley without getting in contact with Bianca. And than there was the letter...In her letter, she suggested that she was going to convince Jackson to give them another try, but know one recalled seeing Erica any where near Jackson's apartment that night. If she did not go to Jackson, than where did she go and where was she now! The more they tried to come up with explanations the more the reality of Erica's disappearance came to light. It was obvious to everyone including Bianca that Erica's disappearance was anything but by her own accord.
Veronica waited at the church hoping that Jackson would show up, but he never did. The guest came and went, but still no sign of Jackson. It was not until Tad arrived at Erica's that Jack even gave any thought to his wedding. I keep making this situation worse, don't I Tad, Jackson said. He arrived at the church and Veronica was still there in her wedding dress. I guess that is what you meant when you said you were sorry, Veronica said. Jackson began to speak, but Veronica stopped him. Please don't say anything Jack; I can't hear what you have to say right now. Jackson reached up and wiped the tears from her face and said ` a long time ago I gave my heart away, and I never really got it back. As much as I have tried, and I have tried, Veronica I just can't get Erica out of my soul'.
Jackson got up to leave when Veronica stopped him in his tracks. If you never met Erica, would we have had a chance, she asked. From the look on Jackson's face it was clear to Veronica that this was a question he could offer no answer. He smiled and kissed her on the forehead before leaving out the back exit. As soon as he was out the church doors, he called Bianca to see if she had heard anything. As he was talking to Bianca on the cell phone, Anna came up from behind him. The look on her face told him that this was anything, but social. I have some information Jack, but it is not good!