Holding On
Chapter 13- Scream and Run Away
The last several months of the school year were the worst of the year for Lizzie. Although she heard no more from Gordo she found herself constantly looking over her shoulder expecting to see him lurking behind her begging for her to take him back. But he was never there.
Lately she had been counting off the days until June 15, which was the day her school let out. The reason Lizzie was so eager for her job year to come to an end was because every June when school ended she and Maggie would go and stay with her parents for two weeks. Lizzie felt that now more than ever she wanted to talk to Matt and Miranda. They could be so helpful in hard times. Now it was nearing the June and Lizzie was very excited to be seeing everyone again.
There was still no sign of Gordo, but his absence made Lizzie feel like she was being tricked into a false sense of security. Unfortunately, Jake hadn't made her feel any better, even though he was trying very hard. She just felt like there was something he had to do back home. Although she thought it was stupid to think that Jake had never had a serious relationship before, she was still shocked to find out his secrets.
Talking to anyone back home was a relief and she especially enjoyed talking to Matt because he let her know what was going on with her parents. She couldn't wait to see them. But Jake didn't want her to go.
"I'm just gonna miss you, that's all." Jake mumbled when Lizzie asked him why he insisted she stay in Boston. Lizzie put her hands on her hips and stared at him. She sighed.
"Liar." She accused. "You think I just want to talk to Gordo. Well, your wrong. It's tradition. I visit my Mom and Dad every year and I think its good that Maggie gets to see her grandparents."
Jake stared at the woodworking on the floor. "Ok. Look, I just don't think it's a good idea for you to follow usual tradition if you want to give this Gordo guy the slip."
"It's not like I'm a being chased by a serial killer, for God's sake." She said.
"Well, no. But-" Jake stammered, but Lizzie stopped him.
"Don't." She whispered. "Don't try to fill the gaps. It doesn't help, and it won't solve anything."
"I just do things because they seem right." Jake argued. "I'm not trying to do anything."
"Yes you are." Lizzie said. "Your son is autistic so now you teach autistic children to make up for leaving him. Of course, that's not actually making it up to him, but it's helping you feel better."
Jake stared at her. He knew what she was going to say next. "And then there's me. Or should I say Grace?" Lizzie said, then sighed. "Face it. The only reason we're together is because you need someone and are scared to go back to her."
She had hit him hard with that and he couldn't think of something to say that would please her. Instead of speaking Jake hung his head like a small about to be beat. Lizzie exhaled softly. "Go home, Jake." Lizzie said. "Grace still loves you. I'm sure of it."
"Goodbye, Ms. McGuire." Jake cried. "I'll miss you." He dared take a step closer to her. "Take care of yourself." He said kissing her forehead.
"I already do that." Lizzie called after him as he exited the room. After he left Lizzie, strangely enough, didn't feel any remorse. She almost felt relieved. One problem at a time she kept telling herself. Right now she needed to focus her attention and energy on Gordo and his irritating persistence.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When the end of the school year finally came Lizzie and Maggie packed all their luggage into Lizzie's small car and started out on their four-day drive from Boston to her hometown of Hillridge.
Upon arriving they were greeted by Lizzie's parents and Matt in the front hall. Lizzie's father picked up his granddaughter and swung her high in the air. She shrieked with pleasure. He laughed, setting her down as Lizzie smiled. As her mother steered her away in to the kitchen, Lizzie left Maggie and her Grandfather to be together.
In the kitchen Lizzie noticed her mother's smile had faded. "You need to go upstairs. There's someone waiting for you." Lizzie knew she meant Gordo, but she was reluctant to go up.
"How long has he been here?"
"Three days."
"What did you tell him?" Lizzie asked, worried.
"Not much." Her mother answered. "Just go to him."
Reluctantly Lizzie went upstairs prepared to throw him out a window if necessary.
Chapter 13- Scream and Run Away
The last several months of the school year were the worst of the year for Lizzie. Although she heard no more from Gordo she found herself constantly looking over her shoulder expecting to see him lurking behind her begging for her to take him back. But he was never there.
Lately she had been counting off the days until June 15, which was the day her school let out. The reason Lizzie was so eager for her job year to come to an end was because every June when school ended she and Maggie would go and stay with her parents for two weeks. Lizzie felt that now more than ever she wanted to talk to Matt and Miranda. They could be so helpful in hard times. Now it was nearing the June and Lizzie was very excited to be seeing everyone again.
There was still no sign of Gordo, but his absence made Lizzie feel like she was being tricked into a false sense of security. Unfortunately, Jake hadn't made her feel any better, even though he was trying very hard. She just felt like there was something he had to do back home. Although she thought it was stupid to think that Jake had never had a serious relationship before, she was still shocked to find out his secrets.
Talking to anyone back home was a relief and she especially enjoyed talking to Matt because he let her know what was going on with her parents. She couldn't wait to see them. But Jake didn't want her to go.
"I'm just gonna miss you, that's all." Jake mumbled when Lizzie asked him why he insisted she stay in Boston. Lizzie put her hands on her hips and stared at him. She sighed.
"Liar." She accused. "You think I just want to talk to Gordo. Well, your wrong. It's tradition. I visit my Mom and Dad every year and I think its good that Maggie gets to see her grandparents."
Jake stared at the woodworking on the floor. "Ok. Look, I just don't think it's a good idea for you to follow usual tradition if you want to give this Gordo guy the slip."
"It's not like I'm a being chased by a serial killer, for God's sake." She said.
"Well, no. But-" Jake stammered, but Lizzie stopped him.
"Don't." She whispered. "Don't try to fill the gaps. It doesn't help, and it won't solve anything."
"I just do things because they seem right." Jake argued. "I'm not trying to do anything."
"Yes you are." Lizzie said. "Your son is autistic so now you teach autistic children to make up for leaving him. Of course, that's not actually making it up to him, but it's helping you feel better."
Jake stared at her. He knew what she was going to say next. "And then there's me. Or should I say Grace?" Lizzie said, then sighed. "Face it. The only reason we're together is because you need someone and are scared to go back to her."
She had hit him hard with that and he couldn't think of something to say that would please her. Instead of speaking Jake hung his head like a small about to be beat. Lizzie exhaled softly. "Go home, Jake." Lizzie said. "Grace still loves you. I'm sure of it."
"Goodbye, Ms. McGuire." Jake cried. "I'll miss you." He dared take a step closer to her. "Take care of yourself." He said kissing her forehead.
"I already do that." Lizzie called after him as he exited the room. After he left Lizzie, strangely enough, didn't feel any remorse. She almost felt relieved. One problem at a time she kept telling herself. Right now she needed to focus her attention and energy on Gordo and his irritating persistence.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When the end of the school year finally came Lizzie and Maggie packed all their luggage into Lizzie's small car and started out on their four-day drive from Boston to her hometown of Hillridge.
Upon arriving they were greeted by Lizzie's parents and Matt in the front hall. Lizzie's father picked up his granddaughter and swung her high in the air. She shrieked with pleasure. He laughed, setting her down as Lizzie smiled. As her mother steered her away in to the kitchen, Lizzie left Maggie and her Grandfather to be together.
In the kitchen Lizzie noticed her mother's smile had faded. "You need to go upstairs. There's someone waiting for you." Lizzie knew she meant Gordo, but she was reluctant to go up.
"How long has he been here?"
"Three days."
"What did you tell him?" Lizzie asked, worried.
"Not much." Her mother answered. "Just go to him."
Reluctantly Lizzie went upstairs prepared to throw him out a window if necessary.
