The Life of Esther Jameson

Chapter Fourteen

A/N: I'm back! I'm happy to say that I've been able to add more to this story and get it back up! I already have the rest of this story planned out, and I'm so excited for all of you to read it! :)

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Someone yelled his name, probably Jenny or Luke, but I was frozen to the spot. My body made up my mind for me. I rushed towards Jackson with inhuman speed and nearly tackled him to the dirt. I could barely breathe, but I could feel Jackson's chest shuddering with laughter as Jenny and Luke followed suit.

"Didn't know you guys liked pizza so much," he wheezed in between laughs.

When we all got over our initial shock, Jackson was able to put down the now-squished pizza inside.

"Look at you!" Miriam exclaimed and held Jackson's face in her hands. "I thought I'd never see the day where you looked like your father."

"Yeah," Jackson smiled bashfully. "I thought you'd say that."

Luke and Jenny were setting the table for pizza. Luke eyed the pizza like it held the meaning of life within its deep dish crust. Jackson had been released from Miriam's grasp and walked over to stand beside me.

"So," he said.

"So, how's your girlfriend?" Stupid question. He had been mentioning her in all of his letters. Of course I knew how she was. "She missing you yet?"

"She's been blowing up my phone ever since I landed," he chuckled, but his laughter did a very good job in masking the probable fact that he did not want to about her. "There hasn't been a moment where I haven't gotten a text or call from her. I finally asked her to stop while I visited you guys because it would be rude of me to be texting my girlfriend while seeing you all."

I nodded. "At least now you have manners."

"Hey," he jabbed my arm gently. "I wasn't that bad."

"Oh, I don't know. Jackson Wayne was a mega bad boy when I knew him before college," I teased.

He rolled his eyes at me. "Whatever. What changed with you, Esther? You used to be nice." Jackson emphasized the last word and looked at me pointedly.

"College changes people, even junior college."

Miriam looked up from the table and beckoned us over. "Come on, you two. Stop jabbering and let's eat. The little ones are hungry."

Luke and Jenny had a bucket load of questions to ask Jackson. Anything ranging from what classes he took to what color the squirrels were. It felt good to have all of us together in one room.

"What time is Dad coming home?" Jackson asked between mouthfuls of pizza. Some things never change. "He should come home soon or else he won't get any of this amazing pizza."

"You know when he comes home," Miriam smiled. "He's come home the same time for thirteen years. I'm sure you'll remember."

"You know me so well." He chuckled and took a sip of water.

"He's going to be home any second!" Jenny announced excitedly, and that instant, the front lock of the door clicked and Joseph walked in with yet another box of pizza.

"Well, look what we have here!" He smiled brightly the moment he laid eyes on his son. He laid down all the items he had in his hand and engulfed Jackson in a bear hug. "I thought you weren't coming until tomorrow."

"I was, but I was able to leave early," Jackson said.

"You won't catch me complaining." Joseph patted Jackson on the back. "Glad to see you home, son."