Bears Know Best

Chapter 37: Normal?

HONESTLY IF YOU ask me about the rest of the day, I can't tell you much. I was emotionally a wreck of sobs for most of the day. Mom arrived at some point, along with Danielle and Alyssa's mom. Breanna's mom didn't want to bring Kaylie and couldn't find anyone to keep her on such short notice... I felt bad for her and her daughter. Thankfully other than my severe emotional trauma, Danielle's treated dehydration, and Dad blaming himself about everything, we were all mostly okay.

The one thing I really do remember was getting home to my Dad's house and carrying Julie around endlessly. A part of me was really worried about how screwed up I would be, but the other part of my brain realized that it was going to take time to heal. It was time that I needed to spend with my mom, dad, and friends. With my friends going home on Tuesday, I certainly didn't want to stay in Atlanta.

Dad was so torn up about all of it Sunday night, and trying to decide what to do, that the visitor that came by surprised him. It probably shouldn't have though. When Mr. Kantry heard about everything, he had immediately had some security rented for our house, and did what he could to limit the press explosion. The problem was it was an explosion...

When he arrived, I was sitting downstairs cuddled up next to Mom on one side and Dad on the other. The girls and their two moms were sitting on another couch, and I was surprised to see him walk in. "How are you doing Taylor?" He asked me with concern in his eyes and a large bouquet of flowers and an enormous teddy bear in his arms.

I saw him for the grandfatherly figure again and stood up to give him a hug, "Not great," I said before sitting back down to the safety of my mom and dad.

"I'm still in disbelief of what's going on in the news. What actually happened?" he asked us.

"I really don't want to tell it again," I told him sadly, "Can he tell you?" I said pointing to dad.

"Sure sweetheart," Mr. Kantry said. "Walk with me Jake?" He asked.

I hoped Dad wasn't getting fired over this while I sat there... They were gone for a good long while before I heard them come back down the hall.

"Jake, I mean it, take a couple weeks off and go up to Ohio with them, if you're feeling up to it you can come down to Cincinnati for the next game, but I want you to take care of Taylor right now. You know that's where your heart will be anyway. The game can wait!"

He looked at me sternly, "If you don't want him disappearing to the game you tell him!"

I squirmed a bit under his gaze. "Yes, sir," I told him.

"So, you're coming up to Conneaut?" I asked him.

"Might as well." He said, "I can't possibly have you out of my sight for too long," he sighed. "I can't believe I was so stupid... I should have gotten rid of her the moment you chose to move away!"

I could tell he was blaming himself, and I said something before Mom could. I noticed guilt on her face too. "Look Dad, this is not your fault!" I told him. Really the first thing I had said conversationally in hours. "You couldn't know that Rachel was a complete lunatic... she hid her plans well. I believed her too!" I told him. "So, don't blame yourself!" I told him with tears in my eyes.

I knew it wouldn't be that easy, but he at least nodded. Mom slept in my bed that night with me... it was a large bed, plenty of room, but more importantly I started sobbing the second I was alone in the dark. The pathetic state of mind I was in was frightening, and I just wanted to get out of Atlanta. Somehow Monday I found myself a bit more rational. The attachment to Julie continued through the day and I even went ahead and carried her onto the news interview that we agreed to do.