A/N: I have to admit I don't really like this chapter. It was quite difficult to write, so maybe that's why. Anyway, I hope you're going to like this chapter, this one finally gives you the full view of why the Hudsons didn't know anything. It also shows Allie's reasons, and I believe you may find yourself be much less mad at her than at the end of the previous chapter. I don't know if you're going to like this news, but there will be some Jack and Sue interaction in the next chapter. Now, enjoy!
Jack watched his parents carefully as he told them everything he got to know from Sue. He couldn't let them believe that it was her fault, that they had no idea about anything and the moment he had the opportunity, he decided to talk to them. He believed they should know the truth, not blame someone, who was completely not responsible for the whole situation. The moment he told them it was Allie, who kept everything away from them, he noticed them exchange a look. He had difficulties recognising the emotions in their eyes but he was sure that they had to have troubles believing the woman could do something like this.
They've known Allie since they were babies. Her family lived in the house right next to theirs and they always were friends, but having children the same age only brought them closer together. Jack and Allie later drifted apart, him preferring the company of boys and her playing with girls and were brought closer again only when they found themselves in the same class at school. Jack knew that his parents, his mother especially, always liked Allie very much, and they were happy when he was dating her, hoping they would one day get married. And even though he was certain that they accepted that it's never going to happen, it would still be difficult for them to believe she could hide such a thing from them. He would understand it perfectly, because it was exactly the same way he felt, but he realised that those weren't doubts he was seeing in their eyes. It looked more like they suddenly understood everything, and he was completely lost.
"Don't be angry, Jack... You can't blame her for not telling us..." Elisabeth finally spoke, her voice quiet.
"How can I not be angry? How can I not blame her? It's her fault you had no idea about my family! What reason could she have to justify keeping them away from you?!" exclaimed Jack, staring at his parents in disbelief.
Elisabeth glanced at the clock, then at her husband, who nodded and later at her son. She stood up and gestured with her hand to follow her. She led him upstairs and then to her and Charles' room, which was the one to have the best view on Willinghams' house and garden. Jack still didn't understand what she meant by it but it soon became clear. To be specific, when the door to the house opened and he saw Mr. Willingham walk out of the house, pushing a wheelchair in front of himself. Jack's eyes widened and mouth opened, when he realised that the person sitting in it was nobody other than his friend and ex-girlfriend. She looked thinner, her hair was shorter, but he had no doubts it was her. He let out a breath and looked at his mother, trying to ask her how it happened but his voice got stuck in his throat.
"She was ran over by the car... I didn't witness it, I only knew something happened after I heard a scream and noises outside... The story, however, quickly spread around the town... She left her house telling her parents she is going to us, because she has something very important to talk to us about. How long is the distance she had to walk, fifty metres? Elstons' children were playing outside, Cheryl, their mother, was talking to someone and suddenly she realised that her three year old daughter was standing on the street and looking at the car, which was approaching very fast. Allie must have heard her scream or saw the girl herself, but she ran onto the street and pushed her away, getting hit instead. The driver tried to stop the car, but his speed was just too high. She saved the child's life, getting paralysed and losing her memory as a result..."
"She has lost her memory?"
"Yes, she didn't even know who she is when she woke up. It has never returned, from what Mrs. Willingham says she has flashes every now and then but she doesn't recognise people nor places... She didn't tell her parents why she was going to us... She only said that it's kind of a family matter... Now I think I should have realised that was it when you first mentioned your Sue and Emily, but it just didn't cross my mind... Anyway, as you see, you can hardly blame her for anything, Jack..."
He nodded, the anger he felt completely gone. He couldn't know it before, but it was true, it was a difficult thing to blame Allie for anything in a situation like this. Especially, that if his mother's – and obviously father's, too – thoughts were right, she was on her way to tell them about Sue's visit as it all happened. The only certain thing was that placing a blame for anyone was completely useless, because everything was a matter of a past and couldn't be changed. Yet, he felt absolutely horrible that he was so angry at Allie for keeping the information from them. In comparison to what happened to her, the matter of his family having no idea about Sue and Emily seemed absolutely fiddling.
His eyes moved again to the brunette outside, now focused on the book she was reading. It was breaking his heart to watch her like this; her disability aside, he couldn't imagine how difficult it must be to live with no memory of your own life, and getting to know it like it was some kind of a story. Also, he remembered her as an energetic, cheerful person and judging by her interaction with her father, this woman seemed to be gone. It was true that they didn't part on the best terms, but even though their relationship didn't work out she was still the first woman he has ever loved, even if this feeling was just a tiny part of what he learnt to be a true love; he still thought about her as about his friend and cared for her.
He learned that his observations were very right, when he went to visit her. His mother was scared when he so suddenly informed her that he is going there, but calmed down when he explained that he just wanted to visit his friend, nothing more. Mrs. Willingham was a little surprised to see him there, but let him in anyway. He noticed her cold attitude towards him, and how cautiously she was watching him as she led him to the garden, interrupting her daughter's reading.
"Allie, you have a guest." she said, gesturing towards Jack with her hand and he smiled slightly. "This is Jack Hudson, you two used to be friends since childhood."
"Oh, hi." Allie looked at Jack with a small, polite smile on her face and watched her mother leave them alone. "I'm afraid that I can't really remember you... Your face looks familiar, I must have seen you on some picture from my youth..."
"Even more than one picture, we had quite a lot of them taken together." he said, feeling awkwardly. It was a strange situation, and he had absolutely no idea what to say and managed to finally stutter this.
"Did you, by any chance, have long hair in the past?" Jack closed his eyes, wincing, feeling his cheeks burn at the question.
"Don't even mention it... How could I keep it that way? No wonder my mom always complained and threatened me to cut it in my sleep if I don't do something with it!" he chuckled, feeling embarrassed at the thought of what kind of image of him Allie had to recall and the woman grinned.
They chatted for a moment, about the most casual topics that were only possible. It was very uncomfortable for Jack, he was talking with someone, who used to be one of the people who knew him best, yet the person in front of him was like a stranger. It was the same way for Allie, and he knew that it didn't matter for her what was in the past, he could be as well just a random person and it wouldn't make any difference for her. It was so difficult to believe, and yet, very true.
"I guess you're either wondering how it must be for me to live with no recollection of my past, or how it must be to meet people, who claim to be my friends and have no idea if they're telling the truth." she said, waving her hand in front of him, getting him out of his thoughts. It was only in that moment, that he realised he has been staring at her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." he looked down, sheepishly.
"What was that?" she asked and it made him look up, completely taken aback by her question. "Oh, you made a strange movement with your fist, like drew a circle on your chest, but I guess it was..."
"Ah, this!" he interrupted, moved his hand just like Allie described, and noticed her nod. "It means sorry in sign language... I was told that I often subconsciously do it when I apologize..."
They didn't have a chance to talk much longer; Mrs. Willingham came out to inform her daughter what hour it was and remind her of a meeting she had. Even though she didn't say anything, he knew that it was also means as a very subtle hint that it was time for him to go. He watched the woman help Allie get back into the house, wondering at the same time how it was possible for a woman, who was always so open, kind and warm towards him to change so much. Or maybe this cold attitude was meant specifically for him, but what has he done to deserve it?
"Don't take my wife's behaviour to yourself, Jack." he heard Mr. Willingham's voice. He looked at the man surprised; it was like he has just read his thoughts. "She's very cautious when people come to visit Allie... At least when it comes to her friends from before the accident... Well, most of them has never come, but those who did... Let's say that a bigger part of them didn't react the way you did."
"I see..."
"Yes, I guess it shows who was her real friend and who wasn't... Anyway, I always knew you're a good person and wouldn't make any strange scene, reproaching her for not remembering anything..."
"How could I, Sir? It's not even her fault, I am more to blame for this than she!" Jack sighed, seeing the questioning look in Mr. Willingher's eyes. Of course, the man had no idea what he was talking about. "The family matter she wanted to talk to my parents about, when she left the house that day... It was concerning me, very much."
"Don't think about it this way, you're not responsible for what happened. If it was anyone's fault, it was the driver's. If the man wasn't driving with a crazy speed, but with the allowed one, he would have time to stop the car seeing that there was someone on the street."
The man was right and Jack knew it, but there was still a sense of guilt in him. The truth was, that it all started with this ridiculous idea to keep his relationship with Sue a secret for some time, so they wouldn't have leave their jobs. It was since this moment, that everything seemed to take a turn for the worst; if they've made it public since the beginning, they would have never been discovered and he'd have never left. Anything, what was a result of it wouldn't have happened and everything would be the way it used to be. If he was given the chance to change it all, he would do it without a second of hesitation, but it wasn't possible. They all had to live with the consequences, and take the life the way it was now. And it seemed that there were much more changes than he would have ever thought.