Sorry for the wait, I just got caught with school.
APUSH is a nightmare, you can blame it for the lack of updates.
Reviews, greatly appreciated !(:
Chapter 3
Jenny was rolling her pink plaid suitcase, a matching pink bag pack was strapped onto her back and her teddy bear was clutched tight in her arms. It would be the first day that she would go into an exclusive boarding school. Her father was too busy to be able to take care of her and it was better for her to attend that school. Her cousin went to that school, a familiar face in the crowd.
It had been a month since her mother's death and she had barely seen her father after the burial services. It was like he was also buried down in the earth, except the earth was his job and he really was still breathing.
It would be the first day since then that she would see him. He was required to drop her off at the school to sign the paperwork needed for her to stay there seven days a week.
"You excited?" Jasper asked his daughter who was strapped in her booster seat at the back seats of his car.
Jenny looked wide eye outside the windows not replying.
Jasper shook that off as the initial response, it only has been a month and withdrawal could be expected. Should be expected, with the type of relationship that Jenny and her mother had.
"Anne goes to the school," Jasper said trying to fill the silence. "She's excited to see you again."
Still, Jenny was in her own little world, not at all paying attention to what her father was talking about. She was daydreaming about her mother. The red hair that flew with the wind and her perfect green eyes, both traits that Jenny had inherited and valued. Every time she looked in the mirror, straight into her eyes, she sometimes could see the shadow of her mother, the sparkle in her mother's eyes.
"I know it's gonna be different, Jenny," Jasper tried again. "But it's the best I can do. I have to work."
It was an excuse and Jasper knew that. He was trying to avoid looking at his daughter because her innocent green eyes looking up at him, almost pleading him to save her was something he couldn't take. He failed to save his wife from whatever it was that killed her; he wasn't going to fail Jenny. In his twisted mind, having Jenny far away from him didn't make him liable, it made her safe because other people were fit to raise his daughter than he was.
"You mom would've been proud," Jasper said knowing that it's what would snap her out of her little thought bubble. "Your mom would be so proud at what a strong princess you're being right now."
"You think so?" Jenny answered, her voice once again so small reminding Jasper of how she sounded like that frightful night that turned their lives one hundred and eighty degrees.
"Yeah," Jasper said. "She'd be prouder if you went out and met new friends. Settled in your new school."
Are you really proud of me, Mommy? Jenny thought in her head thinking that her mother would hear her question. It was becoming a habit of hers, confiding all her thoughts to herself as if she was talking to her mother.
I am, sweetheart, her mother's voice rang through her ears making her smile.
I've been a good girl for you, Jenny said proudly, her smile widening. She loved to make her mother proud. But what little girl didn't want to please their mother?
Jasper pulled into the gates of the exclusive boarding school stopping the car and opening the door for Jenny. Someone he suspected was a teacher ushered them inside.
"Colonel Shepard, we are honored that you picked our school for your daughter," the principal said as a greeting as he stepped inside her office, holding Jenny's hand in his to make sure that she wouldn't back out.
"You must be Ms. Jennifer," the lady said bending down keeping a critical eye on her.
Jenny looked up at the lady, sucking her thumb and clutching tight to her bear having no reaction to her.
"Well, Colonel," the lady said walking behind her desk to sit behind it. She reached over handing Jasper the papers. "Sign at the tabs and we shall go and bring your daughter to her new bedroom."
"I would like for you to give my daughter whatever she would want while here," Jasper said as he signed the papers in front of him. To him, it felt like a thorn was taken from his side, and yet another one was inserted. He wouldn't be able to see his daughter unless it was during the weekends, and even then he doubted that work would allow for him to do so. He was on the verge of being a Full Bird Colonel and it required more commitment and sacrifices for him.
"That would be arranged sir," the principal said with a fake smile on her face.
"Here," Jasper said handing her the pen and pushing the documents to her. Jenny sat there beside her father as the principal flipped over the documents to make sure that he didn't miss a spot to sign on. When that was over, she stood up from her desk leading them out into the hallway.
They finally stopped at a wooden door with a cherry finish.
"This is your new room," she said talking to Jenny then looking up to meet Jasper's gaze. He nodded his head motioning her to open the door for her.
Inside the room was a double bed. It was decorated pink and white, a very girly room, complete with a mini fireplace and a desk to study on against the window. There was a bookshelf half filled with books and other knick-knacks.
"You like it, princess?" Jasper asked his daughter who looked around at her new room. He and the principal looked expectedly at Jenny who nodded her head without even acknowledging the question.
Will you find me, when I'm here, mommy? Jenny thought in her head as she looked around. Her mommy had never been there and she was scared that if she stayed there, she wouldn't be able to see her mother anymore.
Of course sweetheart, her mother's voice echoed in her head. I'll be with you, always.
Jenny nodded placing her backpack aside along with her suitcase. She sat on the bed with her bear looking up at her father with her big innocent green eyes.
"I'll leave you to say goodbye," the principal said leaving them alone and shutting the door behind her.
"You understand why I'm leaving you here, right?" Jasper asked his daughter sitting on the bed next to her. "It's not because I don't love you, Jenny. I do."
"Will you come back for me on Saturday?" Jenny asked him.
"Of course I will," Jasper said. Another broken promise.
"You won't forget me?" Jenny asked him again.
"I won't forget you," Jasper vowed. That was impossible, no matter how much he would even try to forget her, just like his mother, it would be impossible.
"Will I forget you?" Jenny asked scared. "I don't wanna forget you."
"You'll never forget me," Jasper said seeing her eyes water. "I'm your daddy, you can't forget me."
"How do you know?"
Jasper looked at her knowing it was going to be hard to convince her. He looked down at his watch taking it off. He took her arm and placed it on there securing it, the smallest it could go. It was still loose on her.
"When you think you're gonna forget," Jasper said placing her arm back to her side. "You listen to the watch."
"It tics," Jenny observed as she placed the watch next to her ear.
"Imagine, that it's my heart," Jasper whispered to his daughter. "It's still beating. I'm still alive."
"Because you'll never die," Jenny pointed out. "You pinky promised."
"That I did," Jasper said nodding. Jenny put Mr. Bear on his lap. He looked at her curiously. "What's this for?"
"So you won't forget about me," Jenny replied. "And when you need a hug, he'll give you one. He's good at hugs."
"Is he now?" Jasper asked taking the bear from his daughter's grasp. He stood up with the bear heading for the door giving Jenny one last hug. "I'll see you on Saturday. Make me proud."
Jenny nodded.
"Yes sir!" she saluted with the wrong hand, her left hand. Jasper looked at her chuckling as he walked down the hallway and drove off, placing the bear on what was Jenny's booster seat.
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