The Oasis and The Island

Chapter 15 - The Things That You Said

"You what?" Jennie asked with panic eyes after a moment of silence. She wanted to be sure if her ears were functioning right.

"I'm moving in." Her father answered with a satisfy smile.

"But why?" Jennie was squeezing Lisa's arm even harder. Lisa place her hand over Jennie's in an attempt to easy the grip.

"Lots of reasons." He crossed his arms and leaned his back on the seat. "First, I've missed you a lot kiddo, we only see each other on Christmas and on your birthday. Some years not even then."

"We can visit more." Jennie suggested with a high pitchy voice "I can go to Minnesota too."

"When was the last time you've visited me, Jennie?" Jennie didn't know. A year? Maybe 2?

"But what about your work?" Her mind could not know when she visited her father, but it could find ways to make him change his mind. "You can't leave your men alone for too long, you always say how they screw things when you are not around."

"That's the second reason. I'm retiring." He smiled for her again, like he knew how Jennie would fight all of his arguments, but he was prepared. "I've trained new rookies and promoted Charlie to take my place. It was about time, I am tired of my job."

And, in the middle of that situation, Lisa was feeling out of place again like she was not supposed to hear that fight, like those things had nothing to do with her. But they did. It was hard to accept, even to deal with it, but that was her new reality. It was part of Jennie's baggage, and she needed to carry it with her, because it was her baggage now too.

"But... what about our house?" Jennie asked with a new shade of panic in her eyes. "Our family house will be there abandoned?"

"No. I just put it for sale."

"You what?" Jennie had tears under eyes, they came as fast as the news hit her. "No! No, no, no, you can't sell our hose, dad!"

"Jennie, it's time to move on. That house is too big for me and I'm sure you are not going to live there again, so it is the best decision."

"No dad, this is wrong, just so wrong! How you did this without asking me?"

"You can take a last look if you want to, I didn't sell it yet." He said defensive.

"I don't want a last look dad. I want things to be the way they were." Jennie was screaming now.

Mr. Kim shifts his back from the chair, inclining to Jennie "Jennie, you need me here. You said yourself that you've planned to have your baby with Sowon by your side and now your future is unsure and money is tight. I'm here for you and your baby, don't you get that?"

Lisa felt bad. Excluded. Like she was there, but she was not a part of Jennie's family. Because she was not really. She wanted to scream to Mr. Kim to say how he was been unfair. How rude of him was too assumed that Jennie and her was not ready to raise the baby. But then again, she was not sure where she stood with Jennie on that matter. Their relationship was still too new, too fragile.

"I told you I don't need your help, Lisa and I was fine." Jennie said shedding some tears. Lisa felt a little bit better, but not enough to say something.

"You and Lisa?" He shook his head to both girls "I don't mean to offended you kid," he stared right to Lisa "but you two are just dating for a couple of weeks and this is a serious matter" he looked back at Jennie "if you split you will be on your own again Jennie, and I can't just wait for that to happen and do nothing to protect you before it's too late."

Lisa raised her voice to say something. She was not sure what to say, but she could not be quiet anymore. "Sir-" And then Jennie interrupted her.

"Dad, Lisa and I are in love." She said pointedly. "We are doing our best to make this work, and I have never been happier in my entire life with anybody else like I am with Lisa right now."