Come Home

Chapter 37

Three Years Later

Alice pulled up to her destination and took a deep shaky breath. Turning off her car, she picked up her bag and the box then got out of the car. Sliding her sunglasses down over her eyes she looked around and sighed in relief. Her nerves were so shot right now she seriously thought her bones were grinding against one another and her skin had been rubbed down with sandpaper. Taking another breath, she held it for three seconds then slowly released it.

Forcing her feet to move, she started walking to the place that caused her both comfort and heartache. Reaching it, she laid out a blanket then knelt on her knees after sliding off her tennis shoes. "Hi Oma and Papa," her voice crackled as she tried to hold back tears. "I'm sorry it has been a while, but it's just been too hard, especially now..." she trailed off as she picked up the box and held it in her lap. "I guess you know by now though," she sniffled as she opened it and gently pulled out the black urn.

She bent forward and sat it on the headstone. A couple of tears broke free and slid down her face as her fingers traced over the name plaque Jack Skellington Gates.

"These last few years in Tennessee he had such a blast. He loved being so free on all those acres," she said sadly yet proudly. "Being so open and away from everyone was just what he and I both needed." A couple more tears slipped down her face and she sniffled while wiping them away. "I guess you're probably wondering what happened. Well," she cleared her throat and shifted so she was sitting on her butt. She pulled the black stuffed animal that resembled Jack out of her bag and held it in her lap while more tears dropped onto the stuffed animal. "I came home that night and overheard all of them making plans for my life yet again without discussing it with me. I couldn't handle it anymore, I was so hurt and mad that they wouldn't listen to me, so I headed to the office to get away from them at least for the night. While I was there, I was trying to understand why you forced me back there so I pulled out your will to look over it again. You said I had to live with them for six months or it would be sold to the county. Well, that got me thinking."

She sniffled and wiped her face again before taking a deep breath and shakingly let it out. "I made a quick late-night call to Mr. Williamson and once my thoughts were confirmed I knew what I had to do. I knew I owned the majority of the ranch and I also knew that if my father found out what I was about to do he would try and take over so made sure he wouldn't be able to." She cleared her throat, hugged the stuffed animal tighter to her and let out a soft breath, "See Oma, you said I had to live there with them for six months but you didn't specify that I actually had to be present on the property. Having mail being sent there is a declaration of residency so technically since I still had mail, bills specifically, sent to the property, it showed that I had lived there for years, which in a court of law would classify as me living there for the six months you demanded. So with that already being taken care of, I signed over my 75% to the boys and wrote them a letter stating that I knew they were trying to take complete control of my life without my consent again and I wasn't putting up with it anymore. They could have Open Hearts Ranch and Mr. Williamson would soon be delivering the new property deed to them. I left my ring on the desk as well and Jack and I left during the night. I had the secret account you told me to keep and I used that for getting a truck and trailer so Jack and I could leave. Once I left Texas and hit Oklahoma, I found a hotel and called my lawyer, I transferred ownership of Bars with Paws over to Romeo and his husband and removed myself from Jackson and Jasper's legal documents. After getting some sleep we hit the road again and eventually ended up in Tennessee. I bought a small ranch and yeah with the money you left me and what I had hidden away we were okay. I planted a vegetable garden and there's a farmer's market where I can get all my fruits and yeah Jack loved it so much. He was always running away neighing in happiness. Then he started getting sick a couple of months ago. At first I thought it was just old age, I mean he was almost 27. I still remember when you got him for me so we could grow up together, but anyway the vet found out he..." she hiccuped and wiped her face despite the tears now pouring faster and harder. "Jack had cancer and it had spread, there was no way of saving him. I had to let him go, Oma. I've lost everyone I've ever truly loved. It's not fair, it's not—" Her wall finally broke and she burst into tears.

"Alice."