Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 32 - Don't Touch It

"How much is that?" Kyle asked looking around and trying to get his question answered. Jake shrugged his shoulders.

"Never mind, it isn't important. What is important is that she returns it immediately." Alicia moved from the table and cleared the dishes.

"Why would you borrow such an expensive item in the first place?" Kyle asked Stacy who was finally looking at him.

"I was cold." She said shrugging her shoulders.

"Honey," Alicia turned from the sink and said in a gentle tone trying not to rise to panic again but also trying not to sound as if she were talking to a small child, "With a sweater that costs that much, how did you forget to give it back to her?"

Stacy looked down at her plate, shoving the last of her food into her mouth to avoid answering right away. Jake knew she was stalling for time. He smiled.

"I was cold the whole way to Anna's house, since the heater doesn't kick on in Jake's truck that quickly, Dad." Stacy gave her father a look of shame-mind-you for not fixing the problem.

"And Jake wasn't worried about it because he wasn't cold since he had just been up close and personal with Anna." Stacy said as Jake glared at her with barely vision through the slits of his eyes.

"When we dropped Anna off, she took a picture of us and we were so busy saying good-bye that I forgot. On the way home, I figured I would return it when I got back. I'm taking care of it. Please don't worry." Stacy said brushing the issue aside carelessly. The other three looked at each other with their own expressions on their face. The parents were concerned, but Jake knew better. She's good, Jake thought.

"OK." Kyle looked unconvinced as he spread out his paper on the table in front of him while he sipped on his after-breakfast coffee.

"Thank you everyone for your support and treating me as if I were a child not old enough to walk with a full glass of sticky juice in my left hand across a brand-new white carpet or something." Stacy said before dropping her fork on her plate which created an echo across the kitchen.

Jake saw Alicia glance quickly at entertainment room floor, then remembered she had just vacuumed the day before by the smile on her face. They all knew Stacy sometimes reverted to things she'd previously done when referencing something. Alicia was just making sure Stacy's vision wasn't a part of their reality. Jake almost laughed out loud. Alicia continued with her point of view.

"Now Stacy, that isn't what we are saying at all, and you know it. All we are saying is none of us would want the responsibility and you busy with details of your trip might not give it the attention it deserves. So, you might as well get it out of accidents way intentionally, and free yourself to focus on more important things that were included in your plans."

Stacy didn't know how to argue that as she stood there taking in everything Mom said as well as trying to decipher the trick. A little game their parents played with them since they were little, the psychology game. As they got older, they learned to quickly analyze the logical trickery. Stacy however, was stumped. Stacy may be good, but Mom was better. Jake smiled. Stacy looked as if she were about to give up, he watched with suspense.

"I will I promise. I'm at the point where it has caused way too much commotion for me. Now I am nervous to hold it so I will take it back like I said, I promise." Stacy said.

"Good. I think that is a good idea." Jake said attracting a hard glare from his sister.

"I think it is a good idea too and I am sure I don't want to know why." Kyle said. Jake knew he didn't want to know how much it cost.