Second Chance | EDITING

❆Second Chance (06)

~J A C K S O N~

YOU KNOW WHAT THE MOST ANNOYING THING IS ABOUT BEING A GROWN-UP? Sometimes, you just lose a bond with your parents, and it's hard to get through that. I lost my father, and I'm this close to losing my mother if I don't fix this.

I had asked Austin to take Theo to the bookstore. Linda had offered to look after him, all while maintaining the bookstore. I knew it was too much to ask, but she insisted and said it was okay. She also insisted I look after myself before arriving at work and scaring the customers off.

I knew that the only thing that would lift my mood would be reading my fantasy romance books. But that didn't help at all. My heart feels so heavy and light simultaneously, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing or bad.

My dad certainly wouldn't be proud of this argument my mom and I had because, well, he was a very harmless, peaceful guy. He had always tried to impress Mom by keeping the family as quiet and loving as possible, and it has been like that since forever. I can't help but think my dad's death has something to do with my mother acting out.

I have never seen or heard her talk with so much anger that it reverberated from her features. It hurt to know that it was my fault. I'm afraid of losing ties with my mother because she is the only family I have left. Not including my relatives and, of course, Theo.

If there is one thing I know about my mother, it is that she is very persistent and urgent. But she's just like my dad, too. She is such a bright woman and loves a lot. She trusts you almost immediately. She is loved by many and hated by probably under twenty people, at most.

Jealousy.

That is what she would call it when people would talk behind her back, and she would find out from a few of her co-workers. Jealousy is the only word my mom would call them, and she hoped that one day, people wouldn't see her as a threat just because they see her as, and I quote, 'a gold-digger for Gregory's high-achieving bookstore'.

I love my mom, and whatever it takes for her to not be mad at me ever again, I will take it. Deep down, I can't let her sell the watch-clock. That's not happening because my dad left the bookstore, and the watch is for me. Though my mom still checks in twice a month to see if the bookstore is still running smoothly, I now own the bookstore.

"You say I'm crazy, 'cause you don't think I know what you've done. . ."

Sam Smith's voice vibrates through my room, and I grab my phone, checking the caller ID. Austin. Why would he be calling me right now? Is he not busy with a case or something? I answer the call with a low grumble.

"What?"

I hear a high-pitched squeal from the other line as I wait for Austin to speak. Wait, squeal? When he does, he doesn't sound enthusiastic like usual. He sounds panicked; "I need your help, man!"

✎✎✎

"What is it that you need the help of a helpless man right now, Austin?" I groan into the phone, shutting my eyes.

Austin growls, annoyed. "I left my file on the coffee table this morning. Please bring it. This is my last case before everyone's going to their families and spending the holidays away. I need to ace it, and if I don't, I'm in for a really bad holiday, man. Please do me this one favor!"

"How did you forget the file if this case is important to you?" I raise my brow, though he can't see me.

"I had to take Theodore to the store and still arrive to work on time!" He whisper-yells, and I already feel the phone being squeezed to death. Poor phone, it did absolutely nothing to him. "Just bring the file and get your ass to work, I can't have you grieving around the house or whatever you're doing right now!"