Chapter 33

Jade leaned against Jesse for support and boosted by all the confessions, she said haltingly, “Alice. I need to tell you something more. I’m so sorry.” She covered her mouth. “I’m pregnant.” The words came out strangled, and Mom’s eyes bugged out.

Once Mom tripped over the initial shock and Jade’s insistence on no abortion, we discussed Jade’s one option. We didn’t need to suggest the other option. Mom sunk it. Hole in one.

“You’re too young to have a baby. I understand abortion’s not for you. But I refuse to let you give your baby up. I just know you’ll regret it forever.” Mom spoke matter of fact. For the millionth time, who was this masked mother? I didn’t see any more doormats for her to lie down upon. “What if you had the baby and I raised it here, the four of us together? I can enroll you in a homeschool program so you don’t need to go to school until after the baby’s born. Does that work for you? It’s time I became a real mother. Let me do this for you.”

Stunned, I knew no words to describe the warm pride I felt for my mother stepping up again to a place she had no obligation to go. It felt right to give this up to her, nice to surrender that burden.

“This baby is a blessing.” Mom encouraged Jade to accept her offer—the offer of a cohesive family born from the ruins of two families set adrift, bound under the machinations of a man who did more for us in death than he deserved credit for. I’d always remember Dad for what he did to us as much as what he did for us. We might never understand him or what he’d done. But we’d never be him. Never ever. Eventually, before hell froze over, we’d forgive him.

Jade nodded. “I’ll do everything you ask. I’ll help around the house and not cause problems.”

A new crying-fest began and we all hugged it out. Jesse, who’d taken his sister’s condition better than expected, was pleased and epically relieved with the outcome, his eyes bright with acceptance, his shoulders relaxed.

He dragged his fingers over my wrist in a loose clinch. I tingled for the touch of his skin on mine, for the promise he represented in another life, a life that may exist in less than a year. Dare we wait? Dare we not? We still had an eight-hundred-pound father riding on our shoulders, primed to destroy my mother’s generosity.

Like the strings on Jesse’s guitar, we were separate, yet when we quivered together making music, we became one with the song we made. Absent the guitar in his hands, chords of us still hovered in the air, apart and alone.

Rising, I reached for his hand. Hesitantly, he let me twine my fingers through his, glancing warily at Mom. I leaned my back against his chest, giving him the invitation and the approval to wrap me in his arms, granting him my silent response. I wanted him. I refused to give him up and dance around him in this house until we turned eighteen. Or sneak around in our forbidden relationship any longer.

“No. No.” Crimson staining her face, Mom hurtled up, her arms flinging widely. “I told you this wasn’t happening under my roof.” Her voice deflated as if she knew she was outvoted and out of line. “I thought you were dating Will.”

“I never led you on about Will. Besides, he likes someone else.” I nudged Jade’s arm. “Jesse and I love each other. We can’t help it. This is what Dad’s BS wrought.” I squeezed Jesse’s hand and clung to my life raft. “We’ll be together either here or somewhere else, and we won’t wait until we’re eighteen. Please, Mom.” I stopped short of falling to my knees and begging.

“What are you implying? You’ll move out?” Mom fingered the strand of pearls I hadn’t seen her wear in years. Dad had deemed them matronly.

“I’ll join them.” Jade moved closer to us in our defense.

“I promise we’ll be responsible,” I pleaded, my meaning implicit. “Jesse and I have a connection I’ve never experienced with anyone.”

“I swear we’ll keep it cool, not give you any reason not to trust us.” Jesse touched his fingers to Mom’s bare arm.

She sank onto the couch. “I can’t deny I’ve seen you come out of your shell since your father died. You were forced to take on more than your share of responsibilities around here. In part, that was my fault too.”

“I won’t be like Dad any longer, hiding Jesse and me from you. We’ve all suffered and come too far to time-travel to Leo’s emporium of tricks.”

Would she dare destroy the delicate balance we’d just achieved, and force us to tip our hand?

Soul-eating eons later, Mom haltingly approached the three of us standing in our tight triangle, a circle I never imagined I’d stand in. She scrutinized my resolution and challenge, and Jade’s defiance, gripped in the pale fear of losing her newfound family. Although I couldn’t see Jesse’s face, I knew dark green flecks of intensity dotted his eyes, revealing myriad emotions too complex to unravel.

“You kids are amazing. I’m proud of you for opening up and trusting one another. Trusting me.” She folded us in her arms. “After all the crap your father put us through, you still found some good from his ashes. I can’t help but love you all. And no one’s moving out of this house, ever.”

Mom released us and stood, hands on her hips, her gaze darting from me to Jesse. “I’ll enforce rules.”

“Mom,” I chided. “I said we’ll be responsible. Same rules as before, right?” I winked at Jesse and mouthed for his view only, “Nothing changes. I love you.”

“I won’t stop your PG public displays of affection. God knows we could all use some PDA in this household.” Mom kept talking as if I hadn’t just said three words I’d never said to anyone.

Jesse whispered in my ear, “Nothing changes. Pool house?”

Everything had changed. Life happened. It had happened to the Jerome-Lynwoods in the most unexpected way. I was dying to trade summer highlights with Mariana. For once, I had a million tidbits to tell her that didn’t revolve around books, music, the beach, or avoiding my father. Senior year didn’t look half bad now that Jesse and I would share it together. And it’d probably ramp up my social cred to flaunt him around for the princess squad Mariana had insisted on joining. Bonus!

I wasn’t alone anymore. I had a real family now, who’d help each other and count on one another. With all our flaws, this was our perfect family.

Love surrounded me and I wanted more. I lifted on my toes and kissed Jesse, keeping my hands on his upper arms when I wanted them under his shirt, caressing his chest into a heat zone.

Jade’s giggling rose up, a heady sound of friendship and acceptance. “Gross, Vine. Get a room.”

“No. No room.” Mom waved her arms madly.

“Ah, come on. It’s PG.” I grinned. “Don’t force me to break out my crown.”

My own fantasy life had just materialized and my happily ever after was in my grasp. The door on my cage had been ripped off and destroyed, and I had joined the seeds of freedom blowing on the wind. Those lost puzzle pieces that represented us earlier that summer now fit together on the board. The edges were a bit frayed, but the fragments now had a tenuous connection, and the picture of us became clear. So began the new beginning I wouldn’t trade for all the sanity in the world.

Did you enjoy

Bittersweet Wreckage?

Reviews are gold to authors! If you’ve enjoyed this book, would you consider rating and reviewing it at your favorite online retailer or review site? Your review is greatly appreciated!

To stay up to date on Erin Richards’ latest happenings, including new releases, sales, special announcements, exclusive excerpts and giveaways, subscribe to her newsletter at: www.erinrichards.com/connect.htm or click the image below.