A Dying Girl's List

Chapter 27

"Are you going to carry on with your story?" Lissa asked the moment her rear end touched the passenger seat the next morning.

She had to admit that if the cancer wasn't going to kill her first, the suspicion of his dad's story might.

"Which one?" he asked, completely forgetting about the story he had told her the other day.

Jace watched Lissa click her seatbelt into place,

"The one...about your dad," she whispered,

Jace shifted in his seat quicker than the speed of a cheetah, fastened his seatbelt as well then started the car. While they drove, Lissa noticed his finger curl into the palm of his hands, his knuckles turning white from the stronghold on the wheel.

He's nervous. Lissa thought.

And he was.

If she knew this was going to be his reaction, she wouldn't have brought it up.

A tiny piece of Jace had hoped she had forgotten about the story of Jeremy – his dad – and would carry on telling him about how close she is to finishing the List; a story he had been hearing for the past three days now, today being the fourth, but sadly he's prayers, just like all the others, were left unanswered.

"He...cheated. On Mother. I was five, very smart for my age, I knew exactly what was going on. Mother was still pregnant with Jay-Jay at the time... She's lucky she didn't experience...any of that,” he sighed and stopped at that.

They were well on their way to the ocean, but mid-way, Jace made a U-turn and drove to Lissa's secret place. If he was going to dig open old graves, he wants to do it, where there was enough peace and quiet to calm his mind.

When they reached, Jace was first out of the car. He walked slowly to the entrance, lightly kicking the pebbles on the ground out of his way. In the car, Lissa took a deep breath before following him in. He held open the vine-gate for Lissa to step through.

She hasn't been to this place in over three months, so she was pleasantly surprised when it all still looked exactly like it did the first time she saw it.

The flowers were still alive...

Lissa removed her shoes, and sat down on the banks of the lake, dipping her feet in the water. She wiggled her toes and giggled. Jace watered the flowers, then copied her position. Lissa clasped her hand in his when he sat down beside her. Hoping to comfort him through touch, instead of words. She didn't look at him, but instead, she focused her gaze on the ripples their swaying feet caused in the water.

She didn't need to look at him. Jace knew what she was doing and he appreciated it. She was never good with comforting words, but having her here, without judging him, was soothing enough for him. She could've pushed him for more, feed her curiosity, but instead, she kept quiet.

"He was granted half of the custody, and since he had a well-paying job, and Mother didn't, he was forced to be there for us...financially." he started the story again.

The day they spent in court, replayed in his mind. A one-year-old Jay-Jay, giggling as a crying Jacelle bounced her on her lap, a six-year-old boy occupying himself with his toy truck on the benches, and a scowling Jeremy arguing with the judge.

"But, when he found out Mother had gotten her first directing gig - Jay-Jay was about three then - he stopped paying. Said she was well-off now to provide for us by herself. Mother didn't even bother taking him to court. Legally, he was supposed to provide until we were both eighteen, but I guess the responsibility was too great for him,"

Lissa removed her hand from his and wiped a tear that fell. Jace leaned into her touch and sniffled. Lissa smiled meekly as she dropped her hand. She played with the grass blades, while Jace continued,