A MISUNDERSTANDING
Chapter Fifteen
Their Futures
Jayvelin held onto her father’s
hand tightly as she walked to school on the very first day. She was squirming
with all the excitement and anticipation flowing through her, but at least she
had her father’s warm, steady hand for comfort.
The town’s small school for
grades one through five came into view, and the young girl couldn’t help
herself. She let go of the hand and skipped ahead, quickly finding the friends
she had made playing in front of the building. Her dad took his time getting
there. He made his way to Jayvelin’s new teacher.
"I’m sure it will be a
delight to teach your daughter this year," Mrs. Stromson said. She looked
over at the pretty girl surrounded by friends.
"She can be a handful, but
you look like you can handle it," Jayvelin’s father answered.
Before leaving for home, Jack
walked over to his daughter and gave her a kiss on the top of her head.
"Bye, honey. Have a good first day."
"Bye, Daddy. I love
you."
*****
Cal sat at the desk of the
library. The expansive room stretched out all around him, with antique books
filling the bookshelves that wound along all four walls of the magnificent
room. The papers on the desk went ignored as Cal slumped in his seat, his
vacant eyes staring off into space.
Downstairs, Isabella laughed
softly over scones and tea with her guests. The laugh was unnatural, her throat
not used to such an experience. The bite of scone she took got caught at the
back of her throat, and she fell into a fit of coughing, the tears brimming in
her eyes. She relaxed after being offered a cup of tea, but the tears didn’t
stop. They flowed and flowed down her cheeks with no end.
*****
That night was a chilly one, and
the Dawsons lit a fire for the first time in their new home. It was a beautiful
house, built just for them, with high windows and a view of the ocean.
They piled onto the couch facing
the fireplace, a cup of hot cocoa in each of their hands for warmth. Jacob
rested on the lap of Jack while Jayvelin sat between her parents. After
rattling on about her first day of school all afternoon, she was completely
worn out, and fell in and out of sleep.
Brushing a stray strand of hair
out of his face, Jack looked over at Rose, and the look in their eyes reflected
the joy their lives now had.
The End.