Hope

Chapter Eight

I huffed and puffed as I tried to keep up with Harry's long strides. He looked agitated and I didn't want to increase his frustration, so I gave up trying to keep up with him and walked at my own pace.

He seemed to notice that I wasn't next to him anymore and turned around, giving me a look.

“What? Not all of us have legs as long as yours.” I shrug.

He sighed. “Sorry.” He murmured, slowing down his pace.

We walked in silence until we reached my house.

“I guess I should wish you happy birthday in advance,” he said, avoiding my eyes.

I furrowed my eyebrows. “You're not coming tomorrow?”

“Yes,” he said, looking away.

I try to keep the disappointment off my voice but failed. “Why?”

His jaw clenched. “I have a couple of things to do.”

My heart drops. “Oh.”

“See you when I see you.” He turns around in a quick graceful movement and walks away without a second look in my direction.

I stare at him until his figure disappears, then I turn around and walk idly up the steps.

He turned so cold in a matter of hours, I don't understand. Was it because of his sister? Or something I said to her? Anger courses through me as I think of her. I shake my head. I refuse to get worked up because of someone I hardly know. But clearly she has some knowledge of me, judging by her words.

I sigh. The more I think about them the more confused I'll get.

I still can't fathom the reason behind Harry's mood change. I decided not to dwell on it too long.

Sleep came surprisingly easy. I woke up to the late morning's sun pouring in my room.

“Happy Birthday!” Jeff exclaimed as soon as I walked into the small kitchen. A chocolate cake was placed on top of the counter.

I smiled, sitting down. “Thanks. You went a little overboard, though,” I say, pointing at the cake.

“Are you serious? This is the least I can do, in a small town like this, of course. But we can go out if you want. It's a Saturday and I'm free. That's if you don't have plans.” He raised his eyebrow and I knew he was referring to Harry.

A wave of disappointment washes through me as I remember that I won't see him today. The intensity of the wave surprises me.

“No, I don't have any plans,” I say too sharply. “I was actually planning to sit and watch TV all day,” I quickly add.

He frowned. “It's a beautiful day and it's your birthday, do something fun.”

“My plan sounds pretty fun to me.” I stand up to get some cereal and milk. I retrieve a bowl from the cupboard, closing it with my foot.

“And your cake?” Jeff asks.

I pour the milk and the cereal and sit down. “I'll eat that later.” I pause to chew. “Where did you get that anyway?”

“There's a bakery just outside of town by...” he hesitates. “by the asylum.”

Multiple emotions go through me simultaneously. I recognize guilt and pain.

I stare at my bowl, thinking of something to say. “Oh” is the only word I manage.

I use the shower to escape the awkward tension that has suddenly built in the kitchen. I stare at my naked body in the mirror and I'm frightened by the amount of weight I've lost. My ribs become more prominent with each breath I take.

I'm glad to see that the shadows under my eyes that stood out on my ivory skin have gradually disappeared.

After taking a long shower I take my cake from the counter and a fork. I don't bother to cut it into pieces.

Jeff joins me later with his own fork and picks a movie.

“Where did you find this?” he suddenly asks.

I tear my eyes away from the movie to look at him. “What?”

He looks at my neck and I instinctively reach up to touch pendant resting on my chest. “Oh, you mean this? It was in my mom's things. I found it quiet a while ago, actually. Why?”

An emotion quickly passes through his eyes before I can identify it. “It was your mom's,” he half whispers.

I chuckle dryly. “Yeah, I sort of figured that out.” I purse my lips.

He reaches out his hand to touch the pendant. I hear it click as it opens. “Ah,” he says lowly.

“How does it do that? Pulse, I mean,” I ask, twisting my torso to give him my full attention.

He hesitates. “I... I don't know. Your father got it for Anna before she gave birth to you. It was our mother's. He wanted Anna to give it to you when-” he stops, his eyes widen slightly almost as if he realizes he said too much.

“When...?” I urged.

“When you are old enough,” he finally says after a long pause.

“Why? It's just a pendant.”

“Not just a pendant,” he says sharply. “I mean it is valued deeply in our family, our great-grandfather gave it to our great-grandmother, who gave it to our grandfather, who gave it to our grandmother and so on. It means a lot to us.” His eyes were thoughtful.

“Are there more of these?”

“Yes. There are only two of them.” His voice held a finality that told me he didn't want to speak more of the topic.

I was persistent. “Do you have the other one?”

He sighed. “No. It is supposed to be given to the first child and that child will give it to their child. The movie won't watch itself,” he said abruptly.

I wasn't going to let go that easily. I can tell there's something more, something he doesn't want to tell me. “Where's the other one? It's only logical that you have it.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I mean since it is given to the first child, then the other one is bound to be given to the second child. That is you.” He wasn't looking at me anymore, his eyes are on the TV.

“That's true,” he says and stands up. “That cake is a bit dry, I'm parched. It looked too good to be true anyway.” He disappears into the kitchen. “Do you want anything to drink?” he calls from the.

“No, thank you.” My voice is distant as I try to process what Jeff just told me.

I still feel that there's something more behind the story he told me. More questions bubble into my brain. Jeff has never been the type of person who's deceiving. If he's keeping something from me there has to be a good reason why. But what is so important? Was this pendant a part of it?

One question sounds safe enough to ask. “Jeff? Did my father get the word “Annabell” to be printed on the pendant?” The question has an obvious answer but I had to ask.

“No. Our grandfather did. Gran has the same name.”

“Oh.”

I call it a night before the movie ends. I know sleep will shy away from today so I get some sleeping pills before heading to bed. They take a while to work but eventually they drag me into deep unconsciousness filled with dreams of my grandparents I never lived to see.