Page 43 of Elling & Jackie

"It's almost midnight. You should be in bed." She unbuttoned her shirt with one hand.

"It's been a long day." Her mom's voice softened. "I worry about my kids and wanted to hear your voice before I go to bed."

Jackie swallowed the emotional lump in her throat. "You know Stassi and I are fine. We'll always be okay because you and Dad showed us how to take care of ourselves."

"It doesn't stop me from wondering if I could've done more to prepare you for the real world."

"You did more than enough." She put her cell in her other hand and shrugged off her shirt. "Are you sure you're okay? I hear something in your voice."

"Oh, you know." Her mom hesitated. "Earlier tonight, I was thinking about when I met your dad and all the feelings that came from having him in my life, raising me, and his sons are all settled down but you and Stassi..."

"We're young." Warmth filled her chest, knowing what was on her mom's mind tonight. "Not all of us are going to find someone to love as early as you had. Both Stassi and I are way past that point."

"No, of course not and love isn't simple. It's the wildest roller coaster ride you'll ever take. It's good that you girls have waited."

She shimmied out of her skirt. "I always got sick on rides."

"I remember." Her mom laughed softly.

Knowing her mom's habit of worrying and wanting her family around her when in lockdown, she listened to her mom ramble on about how many applesauce cakes she'd made this year to put in the freezer and her upcoming shopping day planned with Lindsay.

Jackie brushed her teeth, listening to her mom talk about her grandkids and all their high achievements. Then, she turned out the lights in the hotel room, learning about what happened during Family Day after she'd left to come back to Portland.

She slipped into bed and yawned.

"You let me keep talking, and you're tired. I'll let you go," said her mom.

"Okay." She yawned again. "Go to bed. Kiss Chief for me."

"I'll do that. Love you."

"Love you, too."

She disconnected the call and exhaled loudly, soothed by talking to her parents and sister tonight after receiving the news of the lockdown. As soon as they were able, her brothers would call her and check in. Her family was the best about staying connected.

There was a lot of love to go around.

Love.

Why had her mom brought up finding someone for her to love?

Elling came to mind. She rolled over and hugged her pillow under her head. Being the daughter of Chief made her paranoid. Could they sense what she'd done and were hedging around, hoping she'd confess to having slept with a Slag member?

She punched the pillow and snuggled deeper in the bed. Well, that wouldn't be happening. Elling had left the hotel without even a thank you or see you later or have a good life.

She deserved so much more.

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