The Parent Trap (Jaria)

Chapter 19. Goodbye?

It was raining. The ranch house looked desolate under the torment of the nimbus clouds and it gave a cold atmosphere, not just literally. At the front door, seven people stood looking at the taxi that was to take half of them away.

Jason was hugging Kenna tightly and she looked up at him with hopeful eyes, trying to convey the message that she didn't want to go. They both looked around to see Aria and Addison hugging tightly. Aria caressed her daughter's face and smiled at her. Addison walked towards her sister and they hugged tightly. After that, she got an umbrella and accompanied her to the taxi with an arm around her shoulder.

"Take care of yourself." Jason whispered to Aria, stroking her arm.

"Yeah, I will, you too." She nodded and tried not looking at him directly. He leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"Bye," she said and took another umbrella. Jason watched her go, feeling helpless that he wasn't able to stop her, again. He looked at Alison and Emily who kissed deeply before parting.

"I'm going to miss you. I love you so much." Alison whispered against her lips, clutching Emily's jacket.

"Me more..." she mumbled and kissed her one more time before getting in the car.

Finally the taxi pulled away and Jason, Alison and Addison stood staring at it forlornly.

XXX

Five minutes after her mother, sister and aunts left, Addison was lying on her bed, hugging Cuppy tightly and not bothering to wipe away the tears that were spilling down her cheeks.

Alison came in slowly, her own face a little puffy from crying and sat on the edge of her bed, "Honey, do you want to talk??" she asked softly, her voice a little hoarse.

Addison shook her head. She knew that once, long ago, talking to Alison about her problems would have been good enough for her. After all, for most of her life, Alison was the closest thing she had to a mother. But now, everything was different. Now Addison knew that she had a real mother – her very own warm, wonderful, caring mother. After years of dreaming, wondering and imagining what she would be like, she actually met her face to face. Spoken to her. Thrown her arms around her like she would never let go. How could she possible go back to life without her?

The life she'd had for so long seemed empty to her now. She hadn't been living with Jason, Alison and Pepe. She'd been living without Aria, Kenna, Spencer, Emily, Hanna, Caleb and Toby. It was enough to wish she had never gone to camp, never found Kenna, and never met her mother. Because if those things never happened, she wouldn't be hurting so much right now. Addison sniffled and let out a hiccupping sob. A few more tears slid down and dropped onto her pillow case. It's all my fault, she thought to herself bitterly, because it was my idea. She remembered that night at camp when she sat up straight in bed, flushed with excitement at the thought of switching places with Kenna. My brilliant beyond brilliant idea.

XXX

Ten minutes after his ex-wife and daughter pulled out of the driveway, Jason was rummaging through her wine cellar. He had no idea what he was doing or why he was doing it as he yanked bottles off shelves, read their labels in the dim light, and shoved them back in a different order. He just knew he had to stay busy, that he'd do anything to avoid thinking about wat just happened. After years of missing Aria, years of not knowing Kenna, he came that close to getting them back – only to lose them. Again. Jason was so preoccupied that he didn't notice Addison coming down the stairs.

She was looking for him – He's the one person in the world right now who must feel as bummed out as I do right now, she thought – and she knew he was down here, but she was surprised by the loud noises of clinking glass. She's never heard her dad handle the wine bottle roughly. He's usually so gentle with them. As Addison crossed the floor, Jason didn't even notice her until she was standing right next to him.