A Missed Opportunity

late night shopping

Emily's POV
"Roslyn would be disappointed." Anne said before we could leave. JJ fell into my arms as Harry cried harder.

Sandy stepped in between us and Anne. "What did you just say?" Her face red with anger.

"Roslyn would be disappointed to find out her sister was a gay and her parents were okay with it."

Sandy was fuming. Her right hand raised and slapped Anne's face. "Don't ever talk about my daughter." She said grabbing JJ's hand and my hand and walking out the door. Harry opened the car doors for us. JJ got in the passenger and I got in the driver. "Take her to the willow tree in the Main Street square. She doesn't want to go home now." Harry said giving me a hug. I nodded and off we drove.

JJ sat in a ball with her head on her knees. Soon we were at the park. I grabbed the picnic blanket Sandy kept in the trunk and wrapped JJ in it. "Let's go for a walk." I said grabbing her hand to lead her down the path. We found a little spot under the willow tree Harry mentioned.

She sat against it before running her hands across its bark. She went to the back of the tree and sat on her knees. I joined her as she traced a carving with her fingers. 'RJ' it said.

"Roz and I came here whenever we needed a break." She said towards the carving. I pulled her into a hug as she broke down.

"Do you think she would be disappointed in me?" She asked. It broke my heart. I tipped her chin up to meet my eyes. "From what I've heard, I think she would've been thrilled to find out you found someone that made you happy. No matter the gender."

After a few minutes JJ calmed down. We got in the car and drive back to her parents house. When we got there Sandy wasn't in the kitchen. "She's with Roz." Harry said. JJ let go and walked back to her sisters room.

"Will she be okay?" "I think so. She tough but I think Anne shook her." I told Harry. "I feel bad for Scarlett. She's stuck living with Anne after seeing what happened to JJ." I said rubbing my forehead.

"Sandy told me about Scarlett. But money is tight with her family and Anne is letting them stay. If Scarlett ever needs a place to stay, we are here though." He added.

Poor Scarlett. Her grandmother says being gay is a sin. Seeing how she broke down on the couch today was awful. After what happened with JJ, she may not want to come out.

JJ's POV
"Knock knock." I said on Roz's door. My mom was sitting cross-legged on her bed. She had the picture of Roslyn and me at my 10th birthday party.

"Come here baby." She said gesturing me over. "She would not be disappointed in you. She loved you more than anything. And she would be absolutely thrilled to find out you had a person that makes you as happy as Emily. Anne is just a homophobic ass. Don't listen to a thing she says. You are perfect just the way you are." She said pulling me into a hug.

I chuckled. "I know. Emily told me the same thing. Are you okay?" I asked as I sat next to her.

"Yeah. I just miss her. Emily is a good one. She loves you very much and Roslyn would like her."

"Really?" She nodded.

After a little while we went to join my dad and Emily in the living room. We spent the rest of the night watching Christmas movies. At around 9:30 my parents left for the mass at church.

"I have something for you." I said to Emily before running back to the room. I came back and told her to close her eyes. She did as told and I set the small box in her hand. "Open them."

She looked down at the small white Pandora box in her hand. "You got me something?" She said with a small tear. She blinked before it could fall, but it was still there. "Of course. I know you never did gifts as a kid but I hope we can start in the future." I said as she opened the box.