Page 21 of Diluted Truths
Luckily Jackie just laughed at me. “No, not really. I used to, but have been busy with work and truthfully I don’t really know how to.”
“What do you mean?”
Jackie hesitated before she answered with her own question. “How much have Fai and Sarah told you about me?”
“Almost nothing.” It was true. Sarah was a vault and Fai never talked about Jackie around me. He believed it was his own way of protecting her. At least, that’s what Sarah told me when I asked. “I essentially know your name and that you know them.”
“I guess that makes sense. They also don’t know too much.” Jackie looked at me as she continued, the usual light in her eyes fading. “Let’s just say I grew up in a pretty strict household with wild religious beliefs. So I don’t know how to do most normal adult things.”
“Seriously?” I was awestruck at the little bit of knowledge about Jackie.
“Yeah. It wasn’t the best growing up how I did, or where I did. I was luckier than most, however, because… well, I ran from home. My brother got me and my older sister out when I was fourteen.”
Jackie was truly an enigma. You would never guess she had such a hard life based on who she was today. She was strong, stronger than most, stronger than me. “You have a brother and sister?”
She looked at me with obvious ghosts in her eyes. “Umm, yeah… two older brothers actually and my older sister.”
“Which brother got you out?” I asked.
Jackie coughed and proceeded to take a sip, delaying her response. “My second oldest brother. My oldest still lives in our hometown near my parents. Now that’s all you are getting from me. Your turn.”
“My turn?” I asked, ignoring the change in topic.
“Your turn to share something private. I did, so it's your turn. You’re also about to spend weeks with me. We should get to know each other. It’ll help make it less awkward,” Jackie reasoned.
“Ummm.. well, okay.” She was right. What she shared was extremely private and personal. I never talked about personal things with strangers, but like I said, Jackie could make me do anything she wanted. “My father, William Sr., he isn’t a good man.”
Jackie looked at me, waiting for me to continue. I stared at my coke, suddenly wishing I had a beer instead. “He is a cruel man and was… well, he was very abusive to me and my sister, Rebecca.”
“Do you still talk to him?” As I looked up to her I saw only understanding, not the pity I was expecting.
Why did I hate the fact that she understood?
“No. Not on purpose, at least.” No other explanation was needed, or at least given. I never talked about my father. He was a part of the past I left behind.
The two of us sat there, in companionable silence for a time, both understanding one another on a new unexpected level. Maybe that is why I felt so connected to Jackie so quickly. She was a kindred spirit.
“Thanks, Will,” Jackie stated as she broke the silence.
Confused, I looked at her. “Why?”
“For not making it weird. Most people don’t know how to treat me after they find out about how I ran away. It means a lot.”
Chuckling, I responded, “You’re welcome. I owed it to you after your alcohol revelation and my subsequent response. I really kicked my own ass there.”
I hadn’t meant to not respond when she told me. It wasn’t even that I was surprised or taken aback. I was impressed by her. Everytime she told me about herself I felt impressed. I always felt like I had accomplishedmore than most in my thirty four years, but Jackie surpassed me on every level that matters.
She snorted. “True, very true. Are you ready for San Francisco?”
“Yeah, I am excited to talk to Joey about what he went through and even see where he went missing from,” I responded as I shifted to thinking about the upcoming trip. “I think we are going to answer a lot of unanswered questions. Whether it is about the Cult or simply why the drawing was at the scene, I don’t care. I am just excited for the answers.”
That was the truth. I knew San Francisco would offer us answers, but I wasn’t expecting the many more questions it would lead to.
Chapter 7If G-D Don’t Follow Me by. Trubdr. Adam Road
Jackie
Istared at my suitcase that sat next to my office door. Mine and Will’s flights to San Francisco left this afternoon. I had sequestered myself in my office all day avoiding Fai. I hated lying to him and right now it felt like I was lying about so much. It was easier to hide. He was under the impression that I would be going with Oliver, who also had some business he had to work on without Fai’s knowledge. It was eating at me to lie to him, but it truly felt like the only good path forward.
