Believe

1 : Excited

She constantly kept checking around to make sure no one saw it. The blood stained knife shone dully under the late evening sun's rays on her dressing room's table.

"Shouldn't we get rid of this?" She asked.

"Just hide it here for now." Jacob said, taking it up slowly, wrapping it with a lot of old newspapers, and placed it between two old registers in the table's drawers. "But, I have a feeling father saw us while trying to kill him last night. How did he escape? I was so sure he died last night."

"We could've done something else...instead of this. I'm getting scared Jacob. What if the police are after us?" She said.

"Will you stop freaking out Veronica? Let's go now." He said, and they both walked out of their room cautiously. "Those engineers are coming at eleven to check out the church. I just hope they bring it down as soon as possible."

"What exactly did they say when they came for inspection the last time?" She asked him as they reached the stairway. "The reason those walls started cracking up was pretty obvious. That church has been there for almost three hundred years." He said.

"I really don't think so." She said.

"Anyways, I hope that church is brought down as soon as possible. I need to get my pub there as soon as possible. Did you get those wedding cards from Xavier's?" He asked.

"Yes I did. Yesterday morning." She said. "What do we do about that Jake?"

"I don't think he'll live any longer if he ever tries to see our daughter. He escaped now, ah! But he won't the next time. I'll make sure he's gone for sure." He said.

"I can't believe even father is supporti-..." She started to say, but he immediately interrupted saying "And don't talk about him. It's because of him that we lost that contract with Joseph's clients when they came to talk about the demolition of the church the first time."

"What did he say?" She asked.

"He yelled at them in anger, and literally chased them away." He said. "That won't happen this time.

"Mom, how's this?" Rebecca came running towards them in a grand red gown. "This will be for the showstopper tomorrow."

"Jessica?" Jacob asked.

"Exactly." She said. "And dad, when are you getting that lady, I forgot her name, for the opening of my boutique?"

"Julia Mendez. She'll be there tomorrow." He said.

"Oh my God, did she agree to come?" She jumped in excitement. "Thank you dad."

"You're welcome dear. Anything for you." He said, hugging her.

"Mom, just check out the other dresses too. And please come with me to help the girls rehearse with them. I'll be ready in ten minutes." She said, and ran up to her room, holding the gown carefully.

"That's a masterpiece." Jacob said. "I'm so proud of her. Would she be here if you sent her for engineering after her college?"

"Okay I'm sorry. I regret it. I'm sorry I forced her to do that. But, it's okay now." She said.

"She's my daughter." He said, pompously.

"HURRY UP MOM !" Rebecca yelled from her room.

                                                                                                        *

"Rebecca, I can't come like this at nights. Last week, I got beaten up by your mother and some guys. I don't want to-..." Jake started to say, but she cut him short and said "Shh ! Will you please be quiet?"

"You be quiet first, shorty." He said.

"How are you...after that minor stab?" She asked.

"Thankfully, your dad was not quite handy with that knife." He said.

"Come here...behind this tree." She said, pulling him behind a small tree in her backyard. "Who's your shorty?"

"You." He said, chuckling.

"I'm not short." She said, disapprovingly.

"Well, how's the weather down there, troll?" He asked, leaning down to her.

"Don't get me started Jake. I don't come with brakes." She said, sternly.

"How tall are you?" He asked.

"Five feet one inch." She said. "So what?"

He started laughing so hard, slapped his knee, and fell onto the ground, laughing.

"Shh! You'll wake up everyone." She said, pulling him up from the ground. "Look, you spoiled your trousers. It's all muddy."

"Alright, I'm fine. Now, why did you call me?" He asked.

"Okay, listen. Dad's planning to get some engineers tomorrow, and check out the church." She started.

"Again? Didn't father literally chase them away the last time ? What for?" He asked immediately.

"Shh! Let me finish." She said. "He's paid them to tell father and convince him to demolish the church."

"DEMOLISH THE CHURCH?" He asked, shockingly.

"Shut up." She said, shutting his mouth with her palm. "He says he's going to start a pub there. Actually, the church is pretty old, but it can be rebuilt." Just then, the lights in her house lit up. All of them at once.

"Who's out there?" A voice came in from inside.

"Damn your dad." He said irritably. "Okay I think I understood the situation. What should I do?"

"Tell this to father. But both of you, please, for heaven's sake, don't show any signs that you know the reality behind all this." She said.

"Okay...let me go now." He said and was about to jump a wall.

"Wait !" She said, and pulled him back to her. She pulled him close to her, since he was pretty tall, stood on her heels, and kissed him.

"Okay, that's enough for tonight. Bye." He said, and ran away.

"Who was it?" Jacob came running and asked.

"Just a dog." She said, giggled to herself and ran back inside.