Little White Lies (editing)

East Plaza

Two days early!

Boston, Massachusetts
——3 years later——

May 29th 1948

"Focus Jo."

"I am focused."

"Don't think about the recoil."

"I'm not. You just keep reminding me."

"You're too tense."

"I'm relaxed Dad."

"You're gonna miss."

"No I'm n-"

BANG!

"Ugh!" Jolene groaned irritatedly as she missed the squirrel yet again. Vincent tsk'd shaking his head. "You keep distracting me!" Jolene whined.

"That's the point Jo. There are going to be a million distracting things going on when you're in a situation that requires a gun." Vincent lectured stretching back on his chair.

Jolene sat beside him and huffed. "You've got a sharp eye Jo. You just can't freeze like you always do. Ya can't let people get into your head because then the cards are in their favor. Mentally cracking someone does more damage than physically cracking someone."

Jolene nodded taking in every word her father said. "Dinner you guys!" Iris called out to them.

Vincent and Jolene turned to see her waving them down. He couldn't help the smile that spread on his face. Even after three years of marriage Iris made his heart race.

With every year it seems she just got better. Her wild natural hair a deep chestnut brown. The curls framed her face and made her brown eyes sparkle.

She stood wearing a thin white sundress, barefoot, with the summer sun beaming against her face. She looked like a dream. This was the life Vincent wanted and every time he looked at her he fell more in love.

Jolene and Vincent trudged inside. He stopped wrapping his arms around his wife who giggled snuggling into him. "Vincey, Vincey what am I going to do with you."

"Love me." He smirked. Iris rolled her eyes walking back in the house. "What's for dinner?"

"Meatloaf, cornbread, and cabbage!" Jolene answered from the kitchen. He smiled and walked in.

The family held hands to say grace before digging in. They laughed and talked about their days. Jolene talking excitedly about their day shooting. Iris wasn't a fan but felt necessary that Jolene learned how to to defend herself especially with Luciano and Charlie on the loose still. She was older now. Iris could stomach it better.

She could tell Vincent was still hunting them down while maintaining his business. Charlie was sneaky and smart which is why Vincent held him so close. So finding him would take time and he knew Charlie and Luciano wouldn't let this go. It was only the beginning.

——

Vincent and Iris sat out back on the hammock relaxing as Jolene did her daily reading. "Doll I have a question I've been meaning to ask."

Iris lifted her head to look at him. "Shoot."

"Why were you ever friends with that Annabelle b*tch? She's a filthy human being I could smell that a mile away." He grunted. Iris laughed at his random outburst.

"I mean wow. You've have 6 years to ask me this question but alright. Rupert pretty much isolated me from everyone and everything in Boston. My old friends were in the Carolinas and I never was given time to make new ones. Annabelle and I met on accident and hit it off immediately. I was so desperate for a female companion. She was nice at first then slowly she changed." Iris answered.