The Nightam Family

Chapter 8: Jess Nightam 2

It was infuriating! Jess had spoken to Scott several times, she had spoken to other members of the family, but none would listen. Sure, Scott said, he did not like the arrangement either, but there was no choice for them in the matter.

And the others were the same. Don’t go against Mortimer. Mortimer knows best. Mortimer knows what he’s doing. Ridiculous! Mortimer was an old fart who didn’t keep up with the times! Why did people keep thinking he always knew best?

Over the last few days, the wall had been painted over several times already, only to be returned to its white state. Jess knew that if she checked, the room would’ve shrunk by almost an inch only from the layers of paint.

One day she’d take care of that.

For now, she’d been thinking. What other choices were there? She could try to convince the old fart, but at the same time she knew it wouldn’t have any effect. Even though the preparations for the wedding hadn’t started yet, it was already set in stone. For a moment, she wished she could trade places with Patricia. Patricia’d been the oldest one, it had been her right to get married first in everyone’s minds. That it hadn’t happened would have shocked her as much as it had shocked Jess.

‘She can ‘ave ‘im,’ Jess sighed. Patricia would probably love to marry Scott; everyone had noticed the way she’d looked at Josh until a day ago. Well, Josh hadn’t noticed it, but he was somewhat oblivious to these things. Most men were, actually. Perhaps Mortimer hadn’t noticed it either, or he would’ve hooked up Patricia and Josh instead.

What a great life that would be, Jess thought.

Sitting in her atelier, an idea appeared to her. It was a strange one, the kind of idea she’d never had before. She could run away from home; out in the wide world nobody would find her. She had some money, she’d had a proper education, she now had the freedom to contact the outside world.

What was keeping her here!?