Page 78 of Diluted Truths
“You don’t.” He sighed. “I don’t know any details, but I know they were abusive to you. I don’t want you near either of them. Let me take you home? Please?” he practically begged.
“No. It’s time I talk to them. I need to do this, for me and for Theo,” I said as I wrapped my arms around him. “Just stay with me, don’t leave my side please,” I whispered into his chest.
I felt him kiss the top of my head. “Always.”
We stood there for a moment, in the middle of the grocery store, embracing one another. Will was my safe place and was quickly becoming my home. I didn’t want to talk with my parents, but I knew I needed this. I needed closure after thirteen years of having none. I also knew they couldn’t hurt me, at least physically, with Will by my side. He simply wouldn’t allow it. It was that knowledge that gave me the strength to head to Kai’s house to face the two people who I was most scared of on this planet.
Chapter 23Drunk Again by. Song House and Mariarose
Will
Samuel and MaryBeth James were on the top of my shitlist. We had been in their presence for less than five minutes and they were already acting entitled to Jackie and Theo, two people they hadn’t seen in over a decade.
When I first saw them, I didn’t see the resemblance between them and their kids. I realized it was their eyes that set them apart. While the James siblings are filled with life and determination, their parents' eyes were void of… well of anything.
Violet was in the kitchen playing while we stood in the living room. Theo didn’t want her near her parents, which I completely respected and understood. I stood in the doorway separating the kitchen from the living room, doing my best to shield Violet from her grandparents.
“What do you want?” Theo asked with so much venom in her voice.
“Do not speak to me that way, young lady,” Samuel said in a voice that left little to be argued with.
I began to speak up to defend Theo, when Kai beat me to it.
“You don’t speak to either of them like that. It’s a privilege that you’re even speaking to them at all, not a right. Act like it.”
I smiled at Kai, who stood next to where Theo and Jackie were sitting.
Seeing that it wasn’t worth the fight, Samuel let it go but finally answered Theo’s question. “We heard you were in town. We needed to discuss Nathaniel’s passing and what that means for us.”
I saw Jackie flinch at her father’s words.
“He died, what, six years ago?” I asked Kai, who nodded in confirmation. I turned my attention back to their father, Samuel.“Why do you care now?”
He glared at me, clearly displeased by my presence.
Good. I didn’t want to be near him either.
MaryBeth spoke up this time. “We haven’t seen either of you since he died.” She shot a look at Jackie, who seemed to cower at her mother’s look. “It’s time to prepare for the plan.”
“What plan?” Theo asked, clearly confused.
While Samuel was an imposing force, MaryBeth held an air of cruelty around her. I wasn’t positive she had ever smiled. They were both impeccably put together. I noticed a necklace around MaryBeth’s neck. It seemed familiar but I wasn’t close enough to confirm. I began to take a step forward to investigate when her words stopped me in my tracks.
“The same plan we have had since you were all born. You each have a role to fulfill. Ophelia killed Nathaniel, so we have to adjust said plan,” MaryBeth spit at Theo.
“What the hell do you mean she killed Nate?” I asked, upset that it was even insinuated. I knew how he died, Theo had told me about the accident in San Francisco and it was not Jackie’s fault.
Jackie began to shake next to Theo, who wrapped her arms around her in comfort. “It was not her fault,” Theo fought back.
Samuel scoffed. “You can all act as though she is innocent, but we know what she is. A screw up, a drunk and a murderer.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” Jackie whispered.
I couldn’t tell if she was talking to us or herself.
“Shut up, Ophelia, your opinion is not necessary here. We know the truth,” MaryBeth began, but I quickly shut her down.
“Don’t you dare speak to Jackie that way,” I half yelled to Jackie’s parents. I refused to listen to any more of this. I hated seeing Jackie this way. She was the light of my life and these people were snuffing her out.
