Summer of Love & Sorrow (Completed)

Chapter Fourteen

I ran straight home. Even if I was angry at them for not telling me or letting me be there. I still had to go to him. I had to let him know I love him.
I slowed down to a walking pace as I came upon my house. When I approached Jack was on his steps. Next door, dad was sitting on our steps. Both soaked like I was.
Dad and Jack came walking towards me. "Not now Jack."
He stopped in his tracks. I walked up to dad. I stopped in front of him. I slung my arms around his neck. I bawled. The tears flooded down my face.
"I am so sorry." I clung to him.
"Shh, it is okay." He squeezed, rubbing my back.
I let go. "I love you."
Dad smiled. "I know. I love you too Opal."
"I'm going to go inside." I kissed his cheek.
He held me there. "What about Jack?"
"I don't want to talk to him." I marched off inside.
                             •
Jack walked up to Mr. Linwenski. "Everything okay?"
"She's still upset and angry. She will come around." Mr. Linwenski patted Jack's arm.
"She is mad at me for not telling her." Jack looked at his feet.
Mr. Linwenski shook his head. "Now you know better than that Jack. She is angry at the fact I am dying. In all honesty, she has to be mad at someone. She isn't going to be mad at me because I am her dad. I know she is mad at her mom a bit. But you are going to be her pick. You just have to be there. It will be okay."
Jack hugged Mr. Linwenski. "Thank you. I am sorry."
Mr. Linwenski gave Jack a look. "For what?"
Jack shrugged. "Everything."
"It's okay. Just be there for her. Goodnight Jack." Mr. Linwenski patted his back and walked inside.
                             • • •
It had been a week and I haven't talked to Jack. I hated that I was doing this to him. I had to be mad. I wanted to be mad. He was the only one I knew who would take it.
It was also my third day at my new job. I worked with Lewis training me. There wasn't much to really know. I knew how the cash register worked. The other stuff was pretty easy.
These three days passed by and Lewis never once asked when I was going to talk to Jack. He probably knew I would bite his head off, not meaning to, but I would have. I was thankful he never said anything.
At the end of work, I drove Lewis home. Before he got out of the car, I grabbed his arm. He turned his head towards me. "Yeah, Opal?"
"Thank you." I gave a slight smile.
He looked confused. "What for?"
"For not asking about when I was going to talk to Jack or any of it." I let go of his arm.
Lewis reached over and hugged me. "I understand Opal. You are my friend. To one's belief, I do know how to keep my mouth shut."
I giggled. "Who would have thought?"
Lew smiled. "I know. See you when I see you Opal."
"Later, Lew." I drove off.
                     ________________
I walked through the door to the smell of food. Thank goodness! I was so hungry. Dad shouted from the kitchen. "How was work?"
I shrugged, taking a seat at the island. "Work is work. It's not so bad with Lewis there."
"I am glad it is going so well." Dad helped mom put food on the table.
I went over and sat down. After we plated food, mom and dad dug in. I couldn't touch it. I was hungry. I just couldn't put it in my mouth.
Dad laid down his fork, folding his hands together. "Just talk to him Opal."
My head shot up looking at him. "I can't."
"For goodness sakes Opal Jane. You have never gone a day without talking to him. Talk to him. Stop being mad." Dad picked his fork back up.
"I don't know if I can." I sighed sadly.
Mom laid a napkin in her lap. "You can. It is time let him be there Opal."
For a moment, I wanted to cry. I shook the feeling. "Okay. I will."
"About time." Dad filled his mouth full of food.
Dinner was over and I helped put things away. When that was done, I finally went up to my room. I laid out on my bed. I kept looking at my window. As soon as I opened it, I knew Jack would be at his window from hearing the bells go off.
I roll my eyes, groaning. I got up and went to the window. I sat there. I watched as Jack paced back and forth. I could hear the bumping of his music. Thank heavens I slept next to his side of the house. Mom would flip.
I smiled at that, opening the window. Nothing, a frown going across my face. I shut it and opened it again. Still nothing. I looked around to see what I could throw at his window. I found an old shoe. I threw it, hitting the window. He stopped looking straight at me.
Jack walked over turning his music down and opening his window. "Hey stranger."
"Are you angry I threw everything on you?" I held my breath, hoping he was okay.
"We are okay. I get why." Jack gave a sincere smile.
I gave a smile back. We sat there for a bit not saying anything. I looked at Jack. I loved him. He was my everything. I knew I didn't want to be without him. Then I thought about it, the future. Marriage. All at once I was sad and happy. I would marry Jack. But I knew dad wouldn't be there to walk me down the aisle or have a father daughter dance.
I started crying. Crying harder than I ever had before. "Opal, what is wrong?"
Jack kept asking but I couldn't speak. Then my door burst open. Jack was kneeling in front of me. "He's never going to see me get married Jack."
Jack cupped my face. "Yes, he will. Come with me."
Jack grabbed my hand and took me downstairs. He stopped in front of mom and dad sitting on the couch. Dad looked up from reading. "What's going on? Opal, why are you crying?"
He looked at Jack, standing up, ready to kick butt. "Did you hurt her?"
Jack held his hands up in defense. "No sir. She was crying when I went upstairs."
Dad sat back down. "Then what's going on?"
"Mr. Linwenski, Mrs. Linwenski; I want to ask your permission, your blessing to marry your daughter." My head jolted up to look at Jack. Then I looked at my parents. No way they were going to go for this.
Dad looked at mom. "Well, what do you think Rebecca? Should we let them get hitched?"
Mom had tears in her eyes. "On one condition." She laid her book down. "You have to keep working and university is still in the picture."
Dad got up and walked over to Jack, hugging him. "That settles it. Welcome to the family Jack."
"Thank you, Mr. Linwenski." He hugged him with one arm.
Mom got up, walking over to us. "Well, don't leave me out."
Jack looked at me. We both shrugged. Jack hugged her. When they let go, he turned to me.
He got on one knee. The tears instantly ran down my face. "Opal Jane, I knew this would happen. I love you. I have loved you for a long time. You are my better half, my best friend. Will you marry me?"
"Yes. Jack, of course." I couldn't stop crying.
Jack stood up and dug in his pocket. He held a box in his hand. He opened it. The ring was beautifully vintage. "But how?"
Jack smiled. "I have been saving money since we were kids. I knew it was you. It's always going to be you."
I kissed him and clung to him. "I love you."
He kissed my head. "I love you too. You want to put it on."
I giggled through the tears. "Yes, please."
He slid the ring on my finger then kissed my hand. Dad cleared his throat. I looked at him.
"Get over here you two." I hugged my parents.
When I let go, mom spoke. "We will start planning tomorrow."
She grabbed dad's hand. "We are going to bed. Say goodnight, then get some sleep."
Jack and I went outside after my parents went upstairs. "How are you going to tell your parents?"
Jackie boy leaned against my car. "They already know."
I hugged him close. "When?"
"I told them before senior year. Their rules are basically what your mom told you." He wrapped his arms around me.
I took in his scent. "Betty will be pissed she won't be there."
Jack laughed. "Betty knows all about the ring. Brin and Lewis knew too."
I looked up at him. "Are you serious? Everyone knew."
Jack shrugged. "Everyone except you and your parents."
We fell silent for a moment. Jack kissed my forehead. "Betty will be there."
"She is on vacation." I sighed.
"I told her I was going to propose soon. Told her she would have to come back early. Plus, she wouldn't miss a chance at being bridesmaid and giving Brin a taste of how things will be when it is time for them." We both laughed.
I stepped back and looked at him. "You said you knew, I mean said you were going to propose soon."
Jack teared up. "I know you Opal. You are going to want your dad at your wedding. I want you to have that. I want to give you that." He paused then continued. "When I found out he had gotten worse. I knew I would have to propose soon. I also knew he wouldn't be around if we had kids. I didn't want you or him to miss this. You both will already be missing so much."
I started crying again. "Thank you."
Jack wrapped me in his arms again. "We better get to bed. You got a big day ahead of you."
"Oh, I know." I kissed him. "I love you, goodnight."
He gave me another hug. "I love you too."