“All right,” he whispered as his finger gently traced the side of my face and I melted under his touch.
CHAPTER 24
Saturday, December 17, 1878
I JOINED MY MOTHER and Olivia in the carriage shortly before one in the afternoon. It was brisk out with a little more than a dusting of snow over the grounds. It would have been picturesque but for the bright sunlight that was glaring off the snow, making it difficult to see. We were due at Elizabeth’s home at one o’clock for a small bridal shower she had insisted upon giving me.
I rested my head back against the seat and closed my eyes. I vaguely heard my mother rattling on to Olivia about something or other. I completely blocked them out and let my mind drift away. I could see Jackson proposing in front of the hearth next to the Christmas tree. I was wearing a beautiful black gown. Something I was surprised to discover. I was beginning to believe that my other self never wore dresses. Jackson looked so handsome in his modern suit. I heard myself say ‘yes’ and saw him placing a gorgeous ring on my finger. Then he lifted me up and carried me over to the couch, setting me down upon his lap. I could feel myself giddy with happiness.
“Jocelyn? Hello?” Olivia reached across the carriage and tapped me on the knee. “Are you feeling all right?”
“What?” I opened my eyes trying to refocus them. “Oh, sorry. I must have dozed off for a moment.”
“Are you still having those night terrors sweetheart?” Concern flooded my mother’s voice.
“Not recently,” I shook my head. I couldn’t exactly tell her I was experiencing them while I was wide awake and relaxed.
“Good, I believe every bride gets a little nervous as her wedding day approaches.” She smiled lovingly.
I nodded in return and looked out the window. It was easier to remain silent and agree with her than to tell her my nervousness had absolutely nothing to do with my upcoming nuptials. Then again, with only seven days until the wedding, it was hard to tell at this point.
***
Laurie, Christina, and several of our other classmates along with their mothers were already there when we arrived. Emily, Phoebe, and Veronica were talking in the parlor with Mrs. Donaldson and Mrs. Cain. It looked like an oversized henhouse with everyone talking all at once, catching up on all the recent gossip that they hadn’t gotten to share since the weather had turned cold and was keeping most of them inside.
Elizabeth’s mother, Ester Maddox, was the most gracious hostess. She and her youngest daughter, Elisa, carried around silver trays with perfectly arranged finger sandwiches and shortbread cookies. Their housekeeper, Sabina, kept everyone’s teacups full and busied herself trying to make Elisa behave like a proper little hostess.
“Your little sister is so cute,” I remarked, sitting down beside Elizabeth.
“Mother wanted her to leave with my dad and brothers this afternoon over to Christina’s, but she insisted on staying for the party. Mother finally relented, saying she could if she did not get in the way and helped Sabina.”
“How old is she now?”
“Elisa is almost eight,” Elizabeth said.
“That is hard to believe. I remember when she was born,” I laughed.
“Yes, she was quite the surprise. I really thought my parents were done having children after the terror twins.” She shook her head while rolling her eyes.
The terror twins were what Elizabeth called her two younger brothers, Edwin and Elijah. They were sixteen and fourteen years old, respectively, and always into some sort of mischief. Her older brother, Easton, was very quiet and reserved like her.
“And here I thought they stopped having children because they ran out of E names,” I teased.
“I know, it is awful. I cannot believe they did that. If it is not bad enough that both of their names started with an E, they had to do it with all their children.” Elizabeth’s father’s name was Elmer, same as her grandfather.
“It is not that bad. Although granted, it is a bit unusual.” She rolled her eyes again at me but at least she grinned with it.
Shortly thereafter, Ester put a rocking chair at the top of a circle where I was expected to open up the mound of gifts everyone had brought. I felt very uncomfortable as everyone’s attention shifted in my direction. I carefully made my way through the pile of beautiful things ranging from kitchenware to bedding. I was pleasantly surprised with their generosity and overwhelmed with the number of things I had not even considered I was going to need in our new home. Suddenly the terror set in on how unprepared I was to venture into this next part of my life.
***
Eddie and the Maddox’s houseman, Peter, carried in all the gifts from the party and piled them in the corner of Jonathon’s old bedroom that was now used for guests. Peter was kind enough to follow us home with their carriage since ours could not carry all the packages.
My father and Jackson were surprised by the amount of gifts we received for our new home. They made several comments as the three of them stood in the foyer and watched the packages being carried upstairs. However, they had no interest in being shown the actual gifts when I offered to show them. My mother smiled graciously at me before remarking, “Do not be silly, my dear, men do not bother themselves with such things as bridal shower gifts.”
“I know, Mother. I was only trying to be polite.” I looked at Jackson and grinned. He smiled back with his lop-sided grin that I loved so much.
“Did the party go well?” Jackson came over and placed his arm around me.
“Yes, Mrs. Maddox and Ms. Elizabeth did a beautiful job. I had a wonderful time.”
“Yes, yes, we all did. Even little Elisa behaved herself like a little lady,” my mother added.
“I do not know about the rest of you but I am starving. Can we eat dinner now?” Patrick asked impatiently.
“Of course, dear.”
CHAPTER 25
Saturday, December 19, 2009
I ROLLED out of bed bone tired at four thirty in the morning. It was the only time I could recall being happy when the alarm went off so early after such a short night of sleep. I looked down at my left hand and marveled again at the beauty of the ring Jackson had placed there. I stretched and yawned but could not stop smiling. I quickly showered, dressed, and placed my luggage next to the front door. I had about thirty minutes before I had to be over at the Chandlers. I entered the kitchen and found my dad sitting there reading the morning paper and sipping his coffee.
“Good morning.” He set the paper down beside him.
“What are you doing up so early?” I inquired, pouring myself a cup before sitting down beside him.
“Did you really think I was going to let you leave for two weeks without saying good-bye?”
“I hoped not.” I added the sugar and creamer and willed myself not to get emotional.
“I am really sorry about last night.”
“Why? You didn’t do anything.”
“I was hoping she would come around by now. Hell, she’s hardly speaking to me these days. I don’t know what to do anymore.” He shook his head slightly. “This place feels more like a war zone than a home.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said quietly.
“Promise me you will be careful. I know you’re not a child anymore but you’ll always be my child and I worry about you.” He reached over and placed his hand over mine.
“I will Daddy, I promise. And thank you for letting me go. It means a lot to me. Besides, I think you may have a merrier Christmas without me here,” I chuckled, trying to lift his spirits.
“I doubt that.” He sighed and drummed his fingers on the table for a minute. “I remember when you kids were little, how excited you all would get this time of year. You guys would write letters to Santa and constantly play under the Christmas tree. You used to disappear for hours just lying under the tree staring up at the lights.” He sighed heavily lost in his own memories. “I remember the Christmas morning when you were three, you went creeping down the stairs ab
out five a.m. Ethan and Sidney were still sound asleep, but your mother and I heard you get up. We had barely reached our bedroom door when the paperboy opened the screen door to drop off the morning paper and let it slam shut. You flew back up the stairs light a bolt of lightning screaming in tears that it was Santa Claus and that he wasn’t going to leave you anything because you were awake. You leaped right into my arms completely hysterical. It took me almost a half hour to get you to calm down and only when I took you downstairs and showed you that Santa had already been here and left, did you finally stop crying.”
“Huh,” I giggled. “I don’t remember that at all.”
“No, I guess you were too little, but I’ll never forget it. You were so cute in your footed pajamas and pigtails.”
“Is Sidney coming home soon?” I changed the subject before I started tearing up.
“Yeah, I talked to her last night. She’ll be here Sunday evening and I guess Landon is coming on the twenty-sixth. He wanted her to spend Christmas at his place but she said she wanted to come home.”
“I wish I could see her.” I really wanted to talk with her and see if she was still having those night terrors.
“I know. I’m glad you two seem to be getting along better.”
“Yeah, I enjoyed her over Thanksgiving break. Do you think she’ll come home over Spring Break?” I played absentmindedly with my mug.
“Who knows?” he shrugged. “I never know what’s going on with her these days.”
I glanced down at my watch. “Well, I’d best get going. I don’t want to make them wait on me.” I got up and put my mug in the sink.
My dad walked me over to the door. “Are you sure you don’t want me to carry your bags over there for you?”
“Nah, it’s okay. I got it.” I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m gonna miss you, Daddy.”
“I’m going to miss you too, pumpkin. Be careful and have a great Christmas. I love you.” He hugged me tightly. “Call me when you get there.” He reluctantly let me go.
“I will, I promise. I love you, too, Daddy. Merry Christmas.”
***
Thankfully, the weather was mild for December and the roads were clear. Robert and Emily were talking quietly in the front seats and Jackson fell back asleep beside me in the back. I leaned my head against a small travel pillow and curled myself up in a fleece blanket. It didn’t take long before I drifted back off to wonderland.
The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon when I finally opened by eyes again. Emily was dozing up front and Jackson slept soundly beside me in the backseat. I reached into my bag and pulled out the first Vampire Academy novel that I’d borrowed from Caitlyn. I quickly became engrossed in the book and finally understood what she had found so alluring about Dimitri, the love interest in the book. I made it into the sixth chapter before Jackson woke up. He sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
“How can you read in the car? I would be getting sick by the second sentence,” he said.
“I don’t know. It’s never bothered me.” He took my book from me and looked at the cover.
“Did you just start this?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You read fast.” He handed the book back to me. “Where are we?” He leaned between the two front seats and I went back to my book.
Robert pulled into a Denny’s for breakfast shortly before nine. It felt good to stretch my legs and move around a bit. I hadn’t even realized how hungry I was until I started in on my French toast and hash browns.
“Is your sister coming home for the holidays?” Emily asked, stirring more sugar and cream into her coffee.
“Yes, my dad said she’ll be home tomorrow. I wish I could see her and talk to her. I don’t even know if she’s still having those nightmares,” I said.
“You can always call home on Christmas day,” Robert remarked.
“I planned to. I wanted to at least wish my dad a Merry Christmas and talk to Sidney, but I’m not sure it would be the right time to bring it up,” I explained.
“You can always make it seem casual, like you’re just inquiring how she’s doing. Something like, Merry Christmas, ask her about school, her finals, and then throw in the question about her night terrors,” Jackson offered.
“And that’s supposed to sound casual?” I laughed. “I’m sure she won’t pick up on that.”
“You know what I mean. Don’t blurt it out, keep it as conversational as possible,” Jackson added.
“I know what you’re saying. And I will ask.” I smiled over at him.
The four of us made some small talk for the rest of our breakfast, but mainly we ate. My mind was filled with thoughts of Sidney as I wondered once again if she had inherited EVE as well. And if so, where was she in my other life? Was it really possible that she was on a plane that varied from my own? I had no idea. There were just so many things about EVE I still did not understand. And if I was struggling with it, how in the world was I going to be of any help to Sidney if she should happen to have it as well?
When we were done, I looked at the clock and noticed we’d made it back on the road in less than forty-five minutes. Thoughts of Sydney gave way to thoughts of Boston.
I have never been a big fan of road trips and by noon I remembered very clearly why. I was so grateful to Caitlyn for the book and was afraid that I would have it finished before we got halfway to Boston. I kept shifting around in my seat trying to get comfortable but nothing seemed to work. Jackson had his eyes closed, listening to music on his phone with his feet stretched through the console between the front seats. Although he appeared comfortable it was obvious that he was bored out of his mind. It was going to be an extremely long day.
***
Emily pulled the Durango into the driveway of their Boston home about ten thirty in the evening. There were a couple lights on downstairs as well as the porch light that added a homey feel to the old Victorian home.
“Timers,” Jackson answered my unasked question before I could even inquire. “We have the lights on timers. Phoebe and Alex take turns taking care of the place since we’ve been in Chicago.”
“Do they live nearby?” I asked, stepping out and stretching my legs. The cold air was a welcomed relief to my lungs.
“Yes, a couple miles from here,” Robert responded.
“That’s nice.” I helped unload the bags while Emily unlocked the house.
I stepped back a bit and looked over the huge old house. I finally understood what Jackson and his family had been talking about how individuals with EVE like to live in surroundings that make them feel more like home. While this house was probably twenty or thirty years newer than their home in Chicago it still fit within the yesteryear genre of simpler times.
Emily showed me around the house and put my things in Phoebe’s old bedroom. It was cozy with a soft queen size bed, an antique desk. and dresser. There were artifacts from her high school and college days left behind and posters of her favorite musicians adorned the walls. It was easy to see that Phoebe was more feminine than I and clearly loved her clothes and accessories. There were pictures of her in her school cheerleading uniforms, silly photos of her and her friends, and several from the proms she had attended.
After a long hot shower I was completely exhausted. All I wanted was to sink down under the covers and drift off to sleep. Although I had been stuck in a vehicle all day I felt like I had run a marathon. Nothing like sitting in a car all day bored out of my skull to suck the life right out of me. I had barely crawled into bed and flipped off the bedside lamp when Jackson knocked on the open door.
“Tired?” He looked worn out as well. He walked over and sat down on the bed.
“Very. How are you feeling?” I sat up and leaned against his shoulder.
“Exhausted.” He stroked my hair for a few minutes in silence. “I am so glad you are here.”
“So am I. I feel so comfortable with your family. But I wish I was sleeping in your room, not
Phoebe’s.” I looked up into his beautiful green eyes that were lit up by the soft glow of moonlight.
“I know, but my mother would have a coronary if you did. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I will be right across the hall if you need me.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
CHAPTER 26
Sunday, December 18, 1878
I SAT DOWN at the dining room table with William and Olivia and started buttering a piece of toast from the bread basket. I was already dressed and ready for church services and for once was actually running a little ahead of schedule. William was buried behind the morning paper as usual so Olivia and I began discussing something she had heard from Mrs. Donaldson at the party yesterday . . . that her son, Dimitri, had started courting Ms. Evelyn Brice. She was a year younger than us and neither of us knew her very well. She was mostly a quiet young girl with blond wavy hair and light blue eyes. Funny enough, she was the exact opposite of Maryanne in every possible way. Which we both speculated was her main appeal to Dimitri.
“I never would have put the two of them together, but I think it is wonderful that he is taking an interest in someone new,” I remarked as someone I had never seen before entered the dining room and placed a plate with eggs and bacon down on the table in front of me. I looked over at Olivia with the question in my eyes but she simply shrugged. “Excuse me, I do not need to be rude, but who are you?”
The young black lady looked so embarrassed as if she wanted to crawl under the table and disappear. “I sorry, miss, my name’s Tamesha.”
Just then Sarah came bustling into the room wiping her hands on a dishrag. “Ah, good mornin’ Ms. Jocelyn. I ain’t heard you come down. This here’s Tamesha. Mrs. Timmons hired her to be a cook at the weddin’. I’s training her this week.”
“Well, it is very nice to meet you, Tamesha. You are in good hands. Sarah is an amazing cook and we love her dearly.” The young woman just smiled and slowly backed out of the dining room as my parents finally entered.
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