Chapter Seventeen
Angel had had fun filming Tommy and Sharise yesterday. The couple had been lovebirds since college, and during the shoot they both pointed out special places on campus and were affectionate. She was glad to be able to capture their memories with her camera and looked forward to the ceremony tomorrow.
Angel pushed her chair back and rubbed her eyes. Being in the house by herself, she’d decided to get started on editing the footage from yesterday. Her eyes were blurry from sitting at the computer too long. She walked down the hall from the office space, which her grandparents had allowed her to use. If it wasn’t for them helping her out, she would have never gotten her business off the ground. It was probably one of the reasons why her uncle Jacob seemed irritated with her career choice. Angel could have moved out, but she saw how Grams struggled to take care of Granddad, and she knew she had to stick around and lend a hand. Her uncle lived too far away to help out. Now Angel wasn’t sure how the living arrangements would work since Grams still did not have complete mobility back on her right side.
When she entered her bedroom, her eyes fell on the music box on her dresser. She forgot she’d taken it down a few nights ago. The music box had been placed at the top of her closet, along with other childhood favorites. It was the last birthday gift her father gave her. She walked over and lifted the lid. Then she wound up the ballerina to watch it turn around and around. Inside the box, she had kept old jewelry, movie tickets, and photos. Most of the trinkets were from when she was a small girl. She reached in for the one and only photo she had of her parents together.
Angel had always thought she looked funny with her fair skin and unruly black curls. Her parents must have really loved each other at one time. At least that was what she liked to think as she stared at the photo. Her mother, with her chocolate complexion, sat on her father’s lap. Her father was a very handsome man. He wore a polo shirt that showed off his large, tanned muscles. Her parents had held their heads together, cheek to cheek, for whoever was behind the camera.
She had always wondered if they had considered getting married. From what she understood, her mother broke off the relationship. Was it because of race? Did her father’s family accept her mother? Her grandparents had never talked about her father, but they must have accepted him at one time. Despite all that had happened, she had still had a decent childhood. She knew she was loved for being Elisa’s daughter.
There was a knock at her door, jarring her thoughts. She turned around to find Jacob standing at the door. They hadn’t spoken since their argument the other day. He still looked worn out and so much older. Maybe she should give him a break. He had lost his father and was probably really worried about his mom.
He said, “Hey, I wanted to let you know I have talked to a friend about getting a visiting nurse whenever Mom comes home.”
Angel sat down and placed the music box next to her on the bed. “Great. So when will they release Grams?”
“Well, she is going to be in rehab probably for the next few weeks, so I’m not sure. It depends on how she continues to improve. We will figure it out when I get back.”
Angel frowned. “You are leaving?”
“Yes, I still have to work.” He looked over at her video equipment on the floor. “Are you keeping busy?”
“I’m working a wedding tomorrow.” She expected him to say something smart, but his attention had turned to something else.
Jacob frowned. “You still have that old thing?”
“What?” She picked up the music box. “It’s the only thing I have from my dad.”
Jacob stared at the music box. “I didn’t realize you still had it. Your mother loved him.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to go down this path, but since Jacob was in a sharing mood, she said, “I guess that’s good for me. Did you like him?”
Jacob shrugged. “I didn’t know him that well.”
Angel shifted on the bed. “What do you mean?”
“She loved to sing. It’s all she wanted to do.” He looked thoughtful. “She loved you. She was a good mom, if that’s what you are wondering.”
“What about my dad? He hasn’t been in my life since she . . . went missing. Did you think he had something to do with her going missing?”
“I don’t know.”
“You had to have your thoughts on what happened. This is the most I have ever heard you talk about her.”
Jacob fidgeted in the doorway like he had someplace to go. He finally answered. “It’s hard to talk about her.”
“I don’t have that many memories. I feel like I didn’t get to know her. I want to know what happened.”
“Angel—”
“He’s back, you know.”
Jacob stared at her. “Who?”
“My dad is back in Charlotte.”
“How do you know this? Have you been trying to get in touch with him?”
She ignored his questions. “I want to ask him for myself what happened that night my mother disappeared, and I want him to look me in the eye when he answers.” She wanted to know even if she didn’t like what she heard.
Jacob stepped into the room. “Look, I don’t know why your father came back here after all this time, but don’t dig up the past.”
“Don’t you really want to know what happened? She was your sister. Granddad was the only one who really tried to find her.”
“And it killed him in the process.”
“What? Granddad died from complications of diabetes, Jacob.”
“He died a long time before that, Angel. At least to me he did.”
Angel knew Jacob and Granddad had had an awkward relationship, but still she knew how proud Granddad was of him. “I think you are just talking crazy talk. Granddad loved you.”
“Your mom was the favorite. She was the center of everything. When my parents lost her, you became the favorite.”
Angel was stunned. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think Jacob was sounding like a jealous little boy. “Jacob, you had the perfect childhood. Perfect wife. Perfect career. What is your problem?”
“Nothing is ever perfect. It’s those things that seem so perfect that you most have to watch out for. Do yourself a favor. If your dad hasn’t reached out to you in all these years, why bother?” Jacob walked out, his words stinging Angel conscience with their bitterness.
If he hasn’t reached out to you in all these years, why bother?
In the midst of the thoughts pummeling her, the music box started to play by itself. She picked it up with the intent of throwing it across the room, but instead Angel pulled it toward her body and wrapped her arms around it. Why was it that when she felt some sense of hope, it was like someone toyed with her emotions and snatched it away?