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chapter seventeen
The next morning, Jessica was one of the first ones up. She found Avery in the living room watching TV at 8. She had already dressed and showered with the intentions of going and talking this over with Alex. She was startled when she found Avery in the living room. Her family wasn’t big on mornings.
“Hey,” she said nonchalantly.
“’Morning,” Avery replied. Jessica poured herself a cup of coffee. She could stay a little longer.
“Why are you up so early?” Jessica questioned, sipping her coffee and sitting down by Avery.
“Oh, I don’t know. Couldn’t sleep, I guess. I’m bored. There’s nothing on TV in the mornings.” She flipped channels listlessly. Jessica smiled a little smile to herself. Avery reminded her so much of herself. Except she was at home with her parents. That one thought ruined Jessica’s reverie. She drank the last of her coffee and dropped the mug in the sink.
“Aves, tell Mom and Dad I went back to the hotel,” she said, walking out the door.
“Sure,” Avery said as the door shut.
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Alex was up just before 8. His father lived in New York, close to his sister Lauren. It would be 9 there by now and he would be at work. Alex had memorized the number. He had tried so many times to call him, to tell him about Jessica and her wonderful family, or what he had met of them. But every time he chickened out. Not this time. He was going to tell his father. He dialed the number and waited as it rang.
“Come on, come on,” he muttered under his breath. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to work up enough courage to do this again.
“Hello, Dr. Matthew Kinllen’s office.” A cheery receptionist answered the phone.
“Uh…yeah,” he answered slowly. He hadn’t called his dad’s office in years and had forgotten how formal it was. “I’d like to speak with Dr. Kinllen.”
“May I tell him who’s calling?”
“Alex.” The receptionist recognized him immediately. When Alex still lived at home, he frequented his father’s office.
“Oh hello,” she said cheerily. “I’ll put you right through.” Alex waited impatiently and tapped his fingers nervously.
“Alex?” A gruff, yet gentle voice came on the line.
“Yeah, uh, hey Dad,” he said lamely.
“Haven’t heard from you in awhile.” The same bitterness he had always heard in his father was there and he bit back a smart remark.
“Yeah, well, um, I have something I need to tell you.”
“Go on.”
“I-I-I’m uh, uh-,”
“Come on, spit it out!”
“I’m getting married!”
A.N. Okay, okay. I know that was really short and all, but it’s the perfect place for me to stop this chapter and keep you in suspense! I’m trying my best to get the next chapter up so be patient! Thanks, Diana