CHAPTER 4: I've Missed You

1.7K 95 6
                                        

JACK

        After arriving into town and running into a few familiar faces, I get ready and start heading towards the funeral, since my flight was delayed and got me here with only an hour to get ready for the funeral and check into the hotel.

        When I arrived, I saw Kelsey and wanted to walk up to her and comfort her, but then I saw Sally and a little boy walking with her, along with Ruth by her side as they all sat next to each other and the little boy started hugging and sitting down on Kelsey's lap. Did her and Tommy have a kid? Were they married? I thought to myself.

        I decided that right now wasn't the best time to talk with her and to see Sally. I at least should wait until we all head back to Kelsey's house afterwards.

        So instead, I stood behind a row of people and luckily had my sunglasses on, so that Sally didn't spot me. As well as so I can look at her and not have to worry about her noticing I am.

        The minister begins talking and I can't help but begin to tear up as I was looking down at the casket of where inside, was my best friend. One of the coolest people I have ever known.

         Then I looked up at Kelsey and Sally and  saw Sally was now looking at me. Shit, I think she spotted me. Yep, I can tell she did, she has a look of being unsure if it's me or not but then starts getting more upset and teary eyed, before Kelsey elbows her arm a little and then I see Sally getting up and walking to where the Minister was.

        As she began talking, which I thought was adorable of how nervous she was, I started thinking of how beautifully curvy she still looked. And the more she talked, the more I remembered about all the good times we all had together, especially in the fort.....And wait a minute, did she just say, Fiance? Kelsey and Tommy were engaged? And Sally has a son? That's her little boy? Oh my god, what all happened while I was gone?

         After the ceremony was finished, everyone was comforting Kelsey before heading back to their cars and back to her house.

*****************************************

        When pulling up to Kelsey's house, I noticed that almost every thing still looked the same. Even in the backyard, I noticed our fort was still there.

        While walking inside the house, I suddenly felt like I did when I was a teenager and the last time I was here. Memories started flooding back to me.

       It's like I walked into the past and don't even feel like a ruthless Mafia leader right now.

       Which I was expecting people to say something, as I'm sure they know who I am. This is, after all, a small town.

       However, while walking through the house and seeing everyone and saying hi to several, everyone seems to be either caught up so much in what's going on right now, or they don't know. Which I'll go with option two.

       Then as I make my way more towards the back, I see Kelsey, standing around and talking to several people. Then she looks over at me and smiles big, as she starts making her way through a few people towards me and we start hugging each other.

       "Thank you for coming!" She says.

       "Of course. I'm so sorry Kelsey for your loss. I'm sorry I couldn't be here." I began to say while trying to fight back tears.

        She pulls away and smiles at me as she wipes a couple tears away from my cheeks.

        "You're here now. That's really all that matters." She tells me.

       "Yeah. I guess so." I tell her.

        "Hey, can you do me a favor and help me convince Sal to rest? She's been serving everybody since this gathering started and I really to relax." She chuckles.

        "Same ol' Sally, huh?" I reply with a smirk.

       "Yep." She says while popping the 'p'.

       Someone then calls for Kelsey to go on over towards them. So she excuses herself while I see Sally walking out of the kitchen, setting a platter of food onto the table. Then she looks up and our eyes lock for a moment while we're both standing still and then I see her break eye contact and walk back into the kitchen. To which I follow after her.

      As soon as I walk into the kitchen, I notice that nobody else is in there. Which is good on one hand that we were alone, so that we could possibly say hi and catch up then again on the other hand, it made me more nervous, that nobody would would be able to help me if she tried to kill me. Though I deserved only one of those.

       She finishes pouring some tea in a mug and grabbing some sugar and while stirring it up, she turns and jumps a little from seeing me right in front of her.

       "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." I tell her apologetically.

        "It's okay." She says while placing the mug down and avoiding eye contact with me.

         "H-how are you?" I ask, just trying to start a conversation.

          "I've been better. How about you?" She asks.

         Which I'm surprised she hasn't poured her hot tea on me or smashed her mug over my head or something.

         "I've been good." I reply. While trying not to feel the awkward silence that I'm starting to feel between us.

         "Well, I've got to go check on Jason." She says while beginning to walk past me but I stop her by grabbing her arm lightly.

        "Please, can we talk?" I ask.

        "No. You and I have nothing to talk about. And I know what we'll end up talking about and since it took me so long to get over what happened, I can't go back to that place again." She tells me as she starts fighting back tears.

         "I just....I just want us to talk and catch up over coffee or something. I know that I don't deserve to be asking you this. But I would the chance to talk and catch up." I tell her.

        She stays quiet for a brief moment and then closes her eyes before opening them up again.

        "I'll think about it. But how long were you planning on staying?"

        "For a while." I tell her.

        Then before she was about to answer, we hear Jason come running in from the backyard and he is soaked in muddy water.

       "Mom, please don't be mad. But me and the other kids were playing hide-and-seek and I slipped." He says.

       Everyone including Kelsey, me and Sally, began to smile and laugh at how cute he looked.

       Sally then knelt down in front of him, smiling and removing his jacket.

       "It's okay sweetie. But we now need to get you cleaned up." She tells him.

       "Do we have to leave?" He asks her.

       "Yes. We didn't bring extra clothes, so, we're going to have to." She tells him.

      "Okay." He said, sounding disappointed. "But I really don't feel like walking all the way home. Cause Ruth already left."

       "I can take you home." I offered with a smirk.

        As I saw Jason look up at me, I noticed how he kinda looked like me. Maybe it's just my head not thinking clearly right now.

        I notice Sally take a breath and then let it out before turning to me.

        "Thank you. We would appreciate it." She says then grabs her purse and starts saying 'see ya later' to a few people and Kelsey.

         Who also hugs me and tells me the same thing and thanks me again, for coming.

Next chapter will be posted soon! :)





















Jack's ChoiceWhere stories live. Discover now