The Search

Chapter 26.

Day 6, Evening

Jade

On our way home we take a wrong turn, and head towards the grocery store. Everyone follows and I am happy to say the next part of my plan is set.

Our little friend Co-op is about to get a big transaction.

Everyone gets out of their SUVs once they have parked and look at me in confusion. "I just have to do a bit of shopping, come on." I call out.

We go into the store and I get everyone to grab a cart, even the kids.  Ollie has a little cart since he wanted to be included.  I pick up Lexi off my chest and put her in the top of the cart, she whines loudly so I hand her a sippy cup of water to hold her off for a while. 

She gulps it down breathing heavily, "thirsty baby." I murmur pushing her hair back off of her forehead.

"What's up your sleeve?" Comes a voice beside me, from the corner of my eye I see it's James. 

I shrug looking in my purse for Welches just in case Ollie and Lexi are hungry.  "Nothing." I hand Lexi an opened one and bend down to give Ollie one.

He likes to open them himself and then when he realizes he can't he asks Nikolai to open it for him so I don't find out, of course I do though. 

James stands closer, "I don't like the games you've been playing at lately."

I laugh and head to the canned foods aisle, "aren't you a games master though James? You were always tricking me when I was younger...manipulating me for your best interest."

"Jade we did the best we could with our circumstances." A voice comes from beside me. 

I sigh looking at Alexander, "that's why I ran, I didn't think it was the best life for me. Can't you understand that?"

"We were trying to keep you safe, we treated Mother the same as well, to keep her safe just like you and she was fine.  You aren't the only one who got that treatment, the world didn't revolve around y-" Alexander tries to go on but I interrupt him before he can get too far.

"Mama was fucking depressed, just like I was!" I say maybe a bit too loudly startling everyone, but then all of their attention turns to our conversation.  I look towards my Father, "she never told you but deep inside she regretted the day she married you because it was like a fucking jail.

"You kept her inside, you locked her away and declined any and all her opinions or decisions. You did the same to me and it wrecked her, she had wished I was a boy so I could have lived
otherwise." I scoff shaking my head, "imagine hearing your mother wish you had been a guy just because of your Father."

I step forward towards the shelves of cans, I lift my arm up and around behind them, I scoop as many as I can and swipe them into the cart.  "Fill the carts, if they aren't full I double everything." I command walking forward. 

My family follows immediately as well as my nephews.  My Father and Brothers on the other hand hesitantly do so, "get going!" I command.  They speed up doing the same as everyone else.

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By the end of the transaction we have our family all working together and most of the employees boxing everything up and separating them into our cars.  At the end, the total had a lot of fucking zeros and instead of taking out my card I look at my Father.

I nod towards the credit machine, "go on."

"What?" He asks shocked with brows furrowed. 

"I thought a thousand dollar meal didn't make a dent? This shouldn't make that much of a bigger one.  If we get to eat, so do the starving people." I reach into his pocket and grab his wallet. 

His code spells my mothers middle name, she had told me a long time ago and I can guess he hasn't changed it.  I purchase all of the Non-perishable items.

I had Nikolai go around and tip the workers who helped us.  They probably worked later then they had to and I want to make sure they are set for a couple weeks.

My Father angrily heads over to the car and I follow, I grab onto the open door before he can close it.

He runs his hands down his face, "what is this all for? I just want you home darling."

"I would love to come home, I would, but this is also my home Papa. I'm happy here." I insist.  "I'm trying to show you that the world isn't all that fancy outside of the mafia, there are people suffering and the drug trade happens to be the biggest cause."

He thinks and the more he thinks I'm worried he's going to disagree again and again.  I'm sick of fighting with him, I just want to make more memories with him.  But with equal respect.

"I'm sorry I kept you locked away, as you put it." He cups my cheek, turning his body on the seat.  "I love you Jade, I'm going to try a lot harder to be the Father you want me to be."

"You are a good Father," I lean forward and hug him. "We both made mistakes, and one of mine was not talking to you before I ran."

I talked to someone though, but that is a case for another time.

He kisses my forehead, "but I probably wouldn't have listened, you were looking out for yourself.  I am so proud of you Jade, of the woman you've become and what you stand for now." He holds me tighter.

When we break apart he's smiling at me with the softness he used to.  One down, four to go.