Ten

A week later

September 24, 2001

Dear Journal,

I’m not sure what to do. Ike and Taylor are getting suspicious. I know they are. Avery and I leave all the time to go see Zac and Chris and Mack, and they are by the door every time. I have to check to make sure that they aren’t on the phone when I am. But I can’t tell them and say, “Don’t tell anyone.” Because, it’s a sure thing that the first people to hear it will be Mom and Dad. I don’t want that. I want to tell them myself, I just don’t know how. I’ve told Avery all of this. She’s grown to understand my reasons for keeping it secret and she agrees with me. I’ve also told her about my plan to tell Mom and Dad tonight. I’ve just got to get it over with. She said she’d go with me. I said no thank you, but this is my battle. I gotta go. I’m meeting Zac and Chris and Mack at the woods at the edge of the neighborhood. Avery knows about that too, but she’s not coming. I gotta go. Hopefully, next time I talk to you, I won’t have any more secrets. Wish me luck.

Love forever,

Jessica

Jessica closed her journal and sighed. She hurried down the stairs and grabbed her jacket.

“Mom! I’m going out! Be back in awhile!” she called and she rushed out the door.

« « «

When Jessica arrived, Chris and Zac were sitting on the ground, waiting, and Mackenzie was running around, obviously hyper. She dropped on the ground across from Chris and next to Zac.

“Hey,” she said wearily.

“Jessie!” Mack exclaimed and dived into Jessica’s lap. She smiled and hugged him.

“Hey Mack,” she said quietly. He pulled himself out of her lap and started running around again.

“You guys,” she said, looking at her hands. “I can’t do this anymore. Isaac and Taylor are starting to get suspicious, I can tell. I have to tell someone.” Her voice got low. “I’m gonna tell my mom and dad. When I get back.” She laced her fingers together nervously. She glanced up.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Zac said comfortingly. “I understand. Our family is not easy to keep a secret from, I should know!” They all chuckled. There was a rumble in the distance.

“Oh no, rain,” Chris said. “C’mon.” The group got up to leave.

“Wait!” Zac yelled, looking around frantically.

“What?” Jessica called over the rain, that was now beating down hard on the group.

“Mack’s gone!”

« « «

Isaac and Taylor watched as Mrs. Hanson worried. She was worried, not because Jessica had left, but because she hadn’t come back after the rain had started, almost half an hour ago.

“We gotta do something, Ike.”

“What?”

“Look in her room or something. She has a journal.”

“Yeah, but Tay…”

“C’mon, look at Mom. She’s all upset. And it probably says what all this is all about too.” Isaac sighed and looked at his mom.

“Okay.” They went upstairs and spread out in Jessica’s room. They looked through drawers and closets until Isaac found her journal. He felt like he was doing something really wrong, but Taylor was right. They had to find out.

“Tay.” Taylor moved over to Isaac and stood next to him.

“Well, open it.” Isaac gulped and opened it.

In Jessie’s neat print, it said:

The Private Journal of Jessica G. Hanson

They skipped the first few entries, the ones before Zac and Mackenzie were kidnapped. After that, a few were interesting, but they weren’t any help. They finally got to what they had been looking for.

September 11^th, 2001

Dear Journal,

Something happened today. I was outside with Chris, we were really bored, and one of his friends who was on vacation when we first got here, came. Chris called him Blake, but it was Zac. I know it was. And then “Blake’s” little brother “Alan” came out, but it was Mackenzie. I don’t know if I should tell anyone. And if so, who? They probably wouldn’t believe me anyway. But I told Chris what happened and what I thought. I think he thought I was whack. I don’t think I’m whack. I’m going to have to get some time alone with “Blake.” I’m tired. I need to think. See you later journal.

Love always,

Jessie

September 15^th, 2001

Journal, I’m so confused. Today I tried to tell Chris about Zac, and he was so wrapped up in WAITING for Zac, that he wouldn’t listen. So I blew up at him, and then I went to the park. I must’ve sat there for an hour, trying to sort out my hopeless life. When I got back, Chris was waiting outside his house for me. He said he wasn’t waiting for me, but I know he was. He can’t be subtle. And he kept apologizing, and I wouldn’t talk to him. He got so mad. He blew up. Something like, “I can’t read your mind! I can’t know that you’re going to act like a freak!” Something to that effect. I almost started crying. But that’s the one thing that Grandpa always said that I could actually do. ‘Okay to cry, but never let ‘em see ya.’ And I don’t know what came over me. I told him to go to hell. I almost wish he would. He doesn’t even care. And Mom and Dad, well, I don’t know about them. I came up here so fast, I didn’t look at anyone. That’s how I feel lately. Like everyone’s watching me. It reminds me of that song, about oh, 2 or 3 or 4 years ago by the Goo Goo Dolls. ‘All Eyes On Me.’ I think I’ll drag out that CD and listen to that song. What do you think? I think it’s a good idea. Maybe it’ll remind me of better days. Well, until later (which is hopefully a BETTER later) journal,

Jessica

September 16^th, 2001

Dear Journal,

Things aren’t going much better. Today Mom didn’t wake me up for school. She said, and I quote, “You need a break.” Right! I simply toured with my brothers for years, sleeping on a bus, and I “need a break.” Whatever. Then Chris called. Avie answered. I wouldn’t talk to him. Do you think that was the right decision? Should I make up with him? I don’t know. But anyhow, then ZAC called. Once again, Avery answered the phone. It’s her latest passion. And the whole time Zac and I were talking, she was standing there, trying to figure out who it was, because she recognized the voice. I hung up and she’s like, “It was Zac, wasn’t it?” I tried to lie, but she could see right through me. Damn smart kid. I told her. About Mack and all. She promised not to tell. Then I was outside, reading the best book in the WORLD, She’s Come Undone, and Chris comes up right after I finish it and spoils my mood. He tries to apologize. He just doesn’t get it! He’s an only child, he could never understand. Oh well. I can see him talking to Zac outside. Ha. What a joke. Chris can be an idiot sometimes. Then again, my brother can be too. At least he’s a good-natured idiot. * Laughs* And I was inside all depressed and stuff, and here comes Avery. She knows exactly what’s on my mind and she’s like, “You should apologize to Chris.” She wanted to know what he said to me that night and what happened. I assume everyone does. But you know what you do when you assume! You make an ass out of you and me. So I’ll suppose everyone else does too. I wouldn’t tell her. But she was just so funny and so persistent and so caring, I had to smile. I told her I loved her and hugged her. She felt better, I could tell. Once again, damn smart kid. She should be a psychiatrist when she grows up. Lol. I gotta jet, Avie says dinner is ready. Toodles.

Love always,

Jessica

September 24, 2001

Dear Journal,

Love forever,

Jessica

“That’s from today,” Taylor breathed. He looked up. “That’s where she is.”

“I had no idea that her problem would be THIS big,” Isaac said quietly. “I can’t believe Avie’s the only other one who knew!” A piece of paper slipped out of the notebook. Isaac picked it up and laughed.

“Lemme see that,” Taylor said, ripping the piece of paper from his brother’s hand.

People

Mom and Dad

Ike

Tay

Avie

Zoë

Chris

Why to tell/not tell

Mom and Dad- Just too freaky. Mom would start crying or something. They probably wouldn’t believe me anyhow.

Ike- He would be a good bet, but he would probably tell Tay, and when Tay finds out, there’s nothing secret anymore.

Tay- See above.

Avie- She might tell someone. But she might not understand why she can’t tell anyone and tell Mom and Dad.

Zoë- She’s too young. She would definitely tell Mom and Dad.

Chris- He would be good. He wouldn’t tell anyone if I didn’t want him to, and he wouldn’t pressure me to tell someone else. I think I should tell him.

“Uh!” Taylor said. “I would NOT tell!” Isaac laughed.

“Stop laughing. We have to tell Mom and Dad. And it’s NOT funny!”

“Yes it is,” Isaac said stifling a laugh. “But we do have to tell Mom.” His voice was serious now. The pair hurried downstairs. In the kitchen, Mrs. Hanson had moved on to making dinner.

“Boys!” she exclaimed. “What’s wrong?” Isaac shoved the journal in her face.

“Boys, you know I don’t like you reading your sister’s journal.”

“Mom, read it. Trust us. We did it for the good of this family.” Mrs. Hanson looked at Taylor strangely. This could not be her son. But she read anyway. If he said that and was serious, he must be telling the truth. She read the words quickly. As she read, she felt tears start to drip down her face. A few splattered the pages. She looked up at her sons before screaming for her husband.

« « «

Avery heard her mother scream for her father. They must have found out, she thought. But she could help. A lot. She knew a lot more than they could, even if they read her journal, which she thought they had. It hadn’t been in it’s hiding place when she checked a few seconds earlier. She stood up and walked downstairs. She had to tell all she knew now. She reached downstairs and found Isaac and Taylor standing in the middle of the living room.

“Ike,” she said quietly. He didn’t respond. “Ike.” Still no response. “ISAAC!” He turned around.

“Avery, what are you doing?”

“You HAVE to listen to me.”

“Huh? What’s going on? Avie, we have a much bigger problem.”

“I know. Jessica disappeared to the woods with Zac and Chris and Mackenzie and you just found all this out and you have to find her.” She looked at him defiantly, arms crossed over her chest.

“Now will you listen to me?”

“Wait a minute,” Taylor said. “How did you know all that?”

“She told me. Duh!” Avery rolled her eyes.

“So you’ve known about this for awhile?”

“Put simply, yes.”

“Come on,” Isaac said, grabbing Avery’s hand. “You gotta talk to Mom.”

« « «

Jessica and Chris and Zac had split up, searching for Mackenzie. He had disappeared while they talked. Jessica didn’t know these woods very well. She was lost. It was cold too. And the rain pounding down on her giving her a migraine didn’t help either. She started to get dizzy. The world around her seemed to spin. Her legs got wobbly. Her head pounded. She heard footsteps.

“Zac?” she said desperately. “Zac! Zac! Help!” The last thing she felt before she blacked out was a pair of strong arms under her.

« « «

Avery finished her story and looked up. She didn’t have to look up to see the look on her mother’s face though. The entire Hanson family, Isaac, Taylor, Zoë and Mr. And Mrs. Hanson were staring at her. She looked up.

“I’m sorry,” she said meekly.

“Oh, baby, don’t be,” Mrs. Hanson said, scooping her up in a hug.

“Come on, Diana,” Walker said. “It hasn’t been that long. They can’t have gone far. They’re out there somewhere.” Diana smiled tearfully. The entire family pulled on coats and hats to shield from the rain and ventured out to the woods.

« « «

Zac had been wandering around, looking for Mackenzie, when he heard a soft

moan. He headed in the direction and found Jessica.

“Zac?” she asked softly. Then she yelled, “Zac! Zac! Help!” He ran over and caught her before she fell. She was in his arms now, cold and wet. He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t carry her, he was too tired. He was about to just go to sleep when he heard a voice. It was Chris.

“Chris! Chris! Over here!” The brown head appeared in a moment. Mackenzie was cradled in his arms.

“You found him! Jess passed out. I can’t carry her. I’m too tired.”

“Me neither,” Chris said. “I’m WAY too tired.” Chris sank down next to Zac and Jessica, who was in his arms. Jessica moved. Her eyes fluttered briefly, then opened.

“Zac?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“We’re lost, Jessie babe,” Chris said.

“You two go find help,” she said. “I’ll stay here with Mack.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, go.” She cuddled Mackenzie, who was only half-awake, in her arms. She pulled her jacket around the two of them.

“Okay,” Zac said halfheartedly. The two figures stood and walked off. Jessica watched them until she couldn’t see anymore, then turned back to Mack. She tried not to sleep, but couldn’t help it and was soon asleep.

« « «

Avery darted from place to place, tree to tree. Her family wouldn’t let her get too far ahead of them. Their group now included Mrs. Andrews, whom they had immediately informed, and a few police officers. Mrs. Andrews and Mrs. Hanson had insisted on calling the police.

“Jessica!” she heard her father calling from behind her. “Chris!” They had even gone as far as to call out Zac and Mackenzie, but this proved no better. Zac and Mackenzie’s kidnapper had been arrested and was probably in jail now. When the police had been called, they had been told the whole story, and Mrs. Andrews had informed the police where the man, Jake Pullman, they said his name was, had been living. She walked into a small grove of trees, still searching. She almost fainted at what she saw. Jessica was on the ground, Mackenzie in her arms.

“DAD!!!!!!!!” she screamed. Her father was there within minutes.

“Avery, honey-“ She pointed and he looked.

“Dear Lord,” he muttered. “Can we get some help over here?!?!?!?” he yelled. The policemen were there within minutes, followed shortly by the rest of her family and Mrs. Andrews. Mrs. Hanson started crying while the police officers and Mr. Hanson wrapped them up in blankets and carried them out of the forest. Mrs. Hanson and Avery went with them, to the hospital. The rest of the group kept on, determined. Now that they had found Mackenzie, they knew Zac had to be somewhere.

“Zac!” They yelled. “Chris!”

“ZAC! Ch-“

“Over here!” a voice called. It was Zac. Isaac and Taylor looked at their dad. Mr. Hanson was almost running. The two followed him and the remaining police officers willingly. Taylor was the first to find them. He ran into an area, looking, but his back was to Zac and Chris, huddled together.

“Taylor.” There was no mistaking that voice.

“Zac!” He turned around.

“Dad! Ike! Over here!” At first, they didn’t see him because he was on the ground with Zac and Chris. Mr. Hanson and Isaac and the officers rushed over. Mr. Hanson was on the ground, hugging Zac and Mrs. Andrews was holding Chris close to her.

“Come on folks,” one officer said. “We best be getting these two to the hospital to get checked out.” The small group made their way towards the neighborhood and the cars.

« « «

When Mrs. Hanson, Avery, and the officers that had come with them got to the hospital, the hospital staff took Jessica and Mackenzie back to be examined, and Mrs. Hanson and Avery sat in the waiting room doing the most painful thing of all, waiting.

“I’m sorry Mama,” Avery said quietly, tears visible in her soft blue eyes.

“It’s okay, baby,” Mrs. Hanson murmured, hugging Avery. “It’s not your fault. Daddy and Ike and Taylor will find Zac and Chris and we’ll all be fine. It’s okay. You did the right thing. Jessica asked you not to tell so she could do it herself. And you didn’t. Keeping the secret didn’t hurt a thing.” With those words, Avery’s heart stopped beating quite as fast and she felt better. She smiled and let her mother hug her.

“Mrs. Hanson?” a voice interrupted.

“Yes?” Mrs. Hanson said anxiously, looking up. The two stood up and walked over to the doctor.

“Both your children are fine. They just suffered from exhaustion, especially the older one, a bad cold. They’ll be fine in no time. However, we’ll probably keep them overnight just to be sure.” Mrs. Hanson nodded.

“May we see them?”

“Well, the younger one, Mackenzie, he’s awake, but Jessica, the elder one is still asleep. You can see Mackenzie.”

“Okay,” Mrs. Hanson said, following the doctor down the hall, Avery at her side. They reached the room and walked in. Mackenzie was lying in bed.

“Mama!” he exclaimed. The doctor smiled and left.

“Baby,” Mrs. Hanson said tearfully hugging the small boy. Avery climbed up next to them and got in on the hug.

“I missed you Mama,” Mack said in his little way. Only then did the real tears come.

« « «

Mr. Hanson, Isaac and Taylor came in with the police officer. Zac and Chris were whisked away to be inspected and Mr. Hanson went up to the desk to find where his family was. The receptionist smiled brightly to Mr. Hanson.

“Your wife and daughter are in room 32,” she said helpfully.

“Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Mr. Hanson hurried down the hall, Isaac and Taylor at his heals. They found room 32 quickly and walked in. Mrs. Hanson and Avery were perched on the bed, talking with Mackenzie, who seemed to be in perfect condition.

“Diana,” he said. She turned around.

“Walker,” she bustled over to him. She hugged him.

“Did you find them?” she asked, her voice low.

“Yes,” he said. “They’re being examined.” The look in her eyes showed her relief.

“Jessie’s still asleep.”

“Don’t worry honey, it’ll be fine.” They pulled apart and moved over to the bed.

“Daddy!” Mackenzie’s voice showed no traces of what he had just been through. Isaac and Taylor had already moved to the bed and were playing with Mack. Mr. Hanson embraced his son in a hug. Every felt it; every one knew it. Things would soon be the way they were REALLY supposed to be.

« « «

Half an hour later

Later, after Zac and Chris had been examined and declared fine, Chris went home with his mother even though he didn’t want to. And Zac, after he had been welcomed home with the necessary greetings and hugs, told his story. It didn’t take long; there weren’t many details. He told it right down from what he remembered of the day of the crash, to when he and Chris were huddled under the tree after a valiant attempt to find help. He didn’t shed a tear the entire time, but his mother was not so lucky. She cried almost the entire time. After the story was over and Zac had left with Isaac and Taylor and Avery and Zoë, Mrs. Hanson turned to her husband.

“I guess we’ll have to wait to hear her side of the story,” she said, gesturing towards Jessica, who was still asleep.

“Yeah,” said Mr. Hanson, “I guess we will.”

« « «

She was standing in a room, a white room, with no doors or windows. But there were people. Her parents were there, and Isaac and Taylor, and Avery and Zoë. Even Zac and Mackenzie. Chris and his parents were there too. They encircled her. She was starting to get nervous. They were all mad. They were all staring at her. Mad because she hadn’t told. Mad because she had kept it a secret. Mad because she made them go through all this.

“No!” she screamed. “No!” The people were multiplying, there were more and more of them every second.

“No!” she cried. They were closing in on her. “No! No! No…”

Her eyes snapped open. Where was she? She couldn’t remember anything. She stared up into a white ceiling. Her head hurt. Abruptly, it all came crashing down on her mind, the rain, her parents, Mackenzie and Zac…

“Jessie?” a soft voice asked. Huh? She tried to place the voice. Oh wait. It was Zac. Her eyes searched up to meet his. He smiled at her, and she felt better. She loved his smile.

“Hey,” he said, “you feel okay?” She sighed.

“I guess. My head hurts.” He smiled.

“I gotta go get Mom.” Her head started to ache even more at the thought of that. When they had first found her and Mackenzie, there was no need for explanation. They were cold and possibly sick, Mrs. Hanson didn’t expect them to explain anything then. But now, now that she was okay, all she had was a headache and a cold, she was going to have a LOT of explaining to do. Zac hurried out of the room. A few minutes later, Mrs. Hanson appeared in the doorway. She hugged Jessica and smiled at her.

“It’s okay, “ she told her after Jessica had told her story and apologized a million times. Mrs. Hanson put her finger to Jessica’s lips mid-sentence.

“Shhh,” she said. “It’s okay.” Jessica smiled and hugged her mother one last time before the rest of the family came.

« « «

Two Days later

The entire Hanson family was gathered around the kitchen table after a big dinner. The first since they were all together again. Mrs. Hanson cleared her throat. The room got quiet and all the kids looked toward their parents.

“Your father and I have decided,” she said, beaming happily, “that we are going to move back to Tulsa. Also-also,” she said over the chatter, “we have talked to the real estate agent, and our house there is, amazingly, still for sale.” She looked over at her husband and smiled as chatter continued. Things were finally going to be normal-almost.

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