My Story: The Winchester House [Completed]

26: Fight

Luke moved around on the bench as I watched Syren in her first figure skating lesson. Her teacher, Coach Benjamin Teller, told me that she was a natural right away and started doing simple moves with her.

"Mama, can we go play at the game booth?" Luke asked as he squirmed more on the bench. I touched his shoulder and he stopped.

"You told me that you wanted to watch Syren so that is why you were allowed to come with us. Sit still and support your sister," I ordered him and he looked at his lap. My eyes returned to my Syren who lifting her foot into the air behind her with Coach Teller's help.

Syren's dress that Coach Teller told Max that she had to come to practice in was short. It only went to her knees and her stockings were showing. Coach Teller stated that Syren's dresses will get shorter as she gets older so she could execute the jumps better.

*

"Syren has a lot of potential," Coach Teller said, "I see an champion in her, Mrs. Jameson." Syren held her skates to her chest and smiled at me.

"I am glad that you think so," I said and Luke took his sister's skates, like a gentleman. Coach Teller smiled at him and Luke smiled at little bit and in that moment I saw the Luke that died. The tight small smile when talking to other people. It hurt my heart a little bit to think of him but I pushed it aside. My son looked at me and I smiled at him.

"I will see you tomorrow," Coach Teller said and I nodded. Max scheduled Coach Teller for everyday so Syren would take it seriously.

"We will see you tomorrow, Coach Teller," I stated and Syren waved to Coach Teller.

"Good bye, Syren," he said and she smiled.

"Good bye, Coach Teller," she said and I put my hand on her back.

"Mama, can I play baseball or will Daddy be mad at me?" Luke asked as the carriage driver helped Syren step up into the carriage.

"Baseball? What is that?" I asked as I stepped up onto the carriage. Luke jumped up with a huge smile.

"Someone throws a ball towards someone with a bat and then you swing and run bases but people can get you out. You don't want to get out," Luke told me, excitedly.

"Have you played this before?" I asked. I knew Syren listened to the radio broadcasts of figure skating competitions but I had never really heard of baseball before that day. Little did I know figure skating and baseball would become my life.

"Yes. Some boys play it outside of the house here," he told me and I nodded.

*

"I found a baseball league in San Jose that he can join but buy him his equipment out there," Max told on the telephone three days later. We had just came back from Syren's fourth practice and I had watched Luke play with the other boys in baseball.

"I will... I miss you dearly," I told him and he sighed.

"I miss you terribly as well. The contractors said that it will probably be two months," he said and I sighed. It was almost my birthday so I was hoping to spend it with Max considering it was my twenty fifth birthday.

"Two months isn't that long," I commented. It felt like forever in my mind and I just had to accept that we had to be apart for a little bit.

"Well, I'm coming next week to be with you for at least for your birthday," he said. I couldn't help but to feel a little giddy. I smiled so big that I couldn't help but to jump a little.

"I can't wait to see you again," I whispered. He laughed and I looked at the ground. "I love you."

"I love you," he said and I smiled to myself.

*

"Coach Teller says that I have a lot potential!" Syren told Max as Max put his truck down. I immediately went to his side and held onto his arm.

"My team won at the street game we played yesterday!" Luke exclaimed and I leaned my head on Max's shoulder.

"Children, I know you are excited but I barely got to say hello to your mother yet. Remember your manners," Max said and I looked up at Max. "Hello Sam."

"Hello, how was your trip here?" I asked.

"Long. I can't wait to taste your cooking again, my love," he told me and I smiled.

"I started a roast earlier this morning in order to celebrate you joining us here," I said. He stood up a little straighter.

"Tomorrow, we are going out for dinner to celebrate your birthday," he said and the children bounced a little. I smiled at him as he watched the children.

"Daddy, are you coming to my practice today?" Syren asked and Max nodded.

"Of course. Then I can see for myself what type of future you have in competitions," Max said and Syren stood up straighter.

"I will win an Olympic medal one day," Syren said and Luke cleared his throat.

"I'm a pitcher. Certainly, you are going to watch me today as well?" Luke asked. Syren nodded like a mad man.

"I watch Luke play! Luke is the best on the field," Syren said.

"Thank you, Syren," Luke whispered, his face turning red. I chuckled a little as Max kissed my head.

"You're welcome, Luke. Certainly, you think I am the best on the ice," Syren said and Max chuckled.

"Of course I do! You're my sister and a Jameson which means we are the best at anything we do," Luke said and I looked at Max with a smile.

"I wonder who told him that," I joked. He shook his head.

"That wasn't me," he said and I stepped back.

"Well, I most certainly did not tell him that. I'm only a Jameson through marriage. It would have come out Smiths," I said and he looked at the children.

"Children, go to your rooms, now," Max said. We waited until they were out of sight. "I would have never said that."

"Clearly someone told Luke that and he does as I say but repeats what you say," I told him. He gestured around, frustrated.

"I wouldn't tell him that because that's what-" he stopped and I stared at him. "Luke, come here, son!" Luke walked into the room and looked at the ground.

"Yes, Father?" Luke asked as I knelt next to my son that seemed like he was going to cry. I held him close to me.

"Who told you that Jameson's are better than everyone?" Max asked. He looked frustrated and, since I knew psychology, I tried to give Luke my calmer energy so he didn't start crying.

"There was an old man who asked if I was a Jameson and I told him yes. Then he told me that Jameson's were the best at anything we do," Luke said and I ran my fingers through his hair.

"Did he look like me?" Max asked and Luke nodded as he started to cry.

"Max, you are frightening him," I whispered and Luke clung on to me.

"Luke, go get cookies from the kitchen," Max told him and Luke walked to the kitchen. "My father use to always say that. He left us because I wouldn't bend to his will. I thought he wouldn't find you and the kids."

"Do you think he will do anything to the children?" I asked, scared. From my studies, I knew that people would attack someone's child to get attention and I wasn't going to let my children get hurt.

"I won't give him the chance to hurt anyone. I am going to stay with you and the children so nothing happens to you three," he told me as he knelt next to me and hugged me.

"I was angry because I thought that you were lying to me," I said. He kissed my forehead.

"Never," he said and he rocked me slowly.