She knows - A Ziggy and Nick story

Epilouge

I load the last box into the truck of her car, making sure her little bunny was there. The front door opens to reveal 18 year old Jane and her boyfriend, James.

I pull her into one last hug. "You sure you wanna leave your old mom here all by herself?" I say to her.

"And me! Duh", yells 12 year old Alice C. Berman.

" Yeah. I'm sure." She giggles as she pushes her fiery hair out of her face.  I look at the tall, blonde boy standing next to her.

"Take care of her James." I say. He gives me a simple hug. He mumbles something into her ear, and walks off to the car with a smile.

"He's a good egg you know.", I say.

"Yeah. He is. And I plan he stays with me forever.", Jane smiles and holds out her hand. A ring. A diamond ring. I look in shock.

"You're....getting married?!", almost shriek. She nods happily. I pull her into a hug as Alice jumps up in down singing there getting married over and over again. 

"Dad would have loved to see this. So would Uncle Josh and Aunt Deena.", she said, a thread of sadness tickles her throat.

I never told her the actual truth. To her, Nick got a better paying post across the country. He went on a dangerous mission, and was fatally shot.

The actual events were broadcasted everywhere, but all we did was keep away from public and tv for a while. James knew, but we promised to not tell her.

In those years, Deena and Josh became family. They visited every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Jane called them Aunt Deena and Uncle Josh. And it stuck.

They moved away a few years ago. Deena went to college and got married to Sam Fraser. Shelia and I made amens and we agree to lunch once a month. Close enough.

Josh got a degree in computer science and has some high paying job in California. He has a family too. A wife name Chloe, and a daughter named Kate. I learned the reason after her name. I cried.

Deena and Josh helped Jane understand. All of it. So when she learned her dad "just died" they were there. And when they moved away, it was harder.

Alice was born February 14th, 1995. For us, we dubbed her The Miracle born on Valentines' day.

It was a difficult few years, with the constant asking where her dad was. When she was 10, I told her she was dead, but didn't go into how. She's somehow very extroverted.

Alice didn't leave her room for weeks after Deena left. We had to slide pizza under her door. But, she got over it when Jane got a boyfriend. She was all over that. He sorta replaced them for big brother.

She still never got over them. No one did

"He would. But he'll be there in spirit." I say to her.

She nods at me, giving me a kiss on the cheek, and sighing.

"I'll see you later, Ma."

"Call me everyday." We laugh and she walks past me to Alice.

"Be nice to ma.", she tells Alice. She crouches a little a whispers audible for me to hear "She's getting old" Alice nods goofily.

She gets in the passengers seat. I scoop Alice under my arm. We both  wave as they pull out the driveway and onto the road. 

Alice breaks free of my grasp and runs along the sidewalk, following the car. She finally stops at a corner and waves frantically.

A tear rolls down my face.

And in that moment, I wish I didn't know.

The End
She Knows - A Ziggy and Nick Fanfic