Split Love

CHAPTER 8

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2018

The day had dawned cloudy that Sunday. Jasmine climbed the three steps to her front porch and sat on the white wooden swing.

Her breathing was still a little labored from the morning run.

Last night had messed with Jamie's mind. All that interrogation. It had been years since she had been through this with her grandmother.

Jasmine's childhood was somewhat unusual compared to her school friends. Starting with the fact that she had no father, mother or any siblings. Just her grandmother and the twice-monthly visit from Uncle Richard.

Jamie loved her grandmother and Richard, but in her heart, there was always the feeling - they were not her mother and father. It was a secret feeling, only revealed to her ex-boyfriend, Jordan.

Also, for as long as Jamie could remember, there had been interrogations. She never understood why, but since she was a little girl, she was instructed to tell her grandma about all the people she talked to that day. After a few years, this changed and was restricted only to unknown people and what she had done that day.

At fifteen, Jamie freaked out. She felt like she was living in prison, or rather on probation but with an electronic anklet monitoring her every move.

On one of Richard Keller's visits to town, Jamie broke down and yelled at the man and her grandmother. That day she was shaking so much and was so agitated that Dr. Carpenter - the city doctor - had to apply a tranquilizer to the girl.

The thousands of questions stopped after this episode.

Jasmine felt her heart race at the memory, and anxiety began to build in her chest.

- May I sit here? - Richard's voice brought Jamie back to reality. He was standing beside her.

- Of course.

Jamie made room for him, and he sat beside her on the swing. It was early, and there were no people or cars on the street. The birds took advantage, and it was possible to see many flying low.

- You know I worried about you. - Richard said after a while. - Don't you know, J?

- I know.

- So you know that when I ask you something, it's not a police interrogation, as you said yesterday. It's a concern.

- Uncle Richard... -

- No. Let me finish. - He interrupted her. - I know I'm not your father, Jasmine, but he left me this mission. You can be mad at me all you want, but I will never stop taking care of you. I'm not always around like I should be, but you know I love you like my daughter.

- I know Uncle Richard. I love you like a father, and I know this is all just care. But what my grandmother did wasn't fair to me.

- I agree.

- She could have questioned me earlier. That happened months ago.

- I know J. I agree with you. But don't be mad at her.

- I am not.

With a smile, Jamie rested her head on Richard's shoulder and returned to watching the street. Soon her uncle would be gone, and all she wanted was to enjoy the moment with him.

- But tell me about the boy. - He said after a few minutes. Jamie started to laugh, and he shrugged.

- I told the truth, uncle. I don't know him. I just needed to thank him.

- Is he handsome?

- Well, he's very pleasing to the eye.

- Oh my God. - He shook his head, making Jamie laugh even more. - I miss Jordan.

- I know.

- I don't know if I'm ready to meet another boy, J. But I also need to thank him for saving my girl.

Richard smiled and put his arm around Jamie's shoulders. She laid her head back on his shoulder with a smile on her face. She could feel a feeling of joy rising in her chest and taking the place of anxiety.