Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 32 - Don't Touch It

"Thank you dear, your idea is brilliant. What a way to figure it out and make a responsible decision." Alicia said before she took a sip of her coffee.

Stacy looked up almost glaring at her mother's sardonic smile, "Don't push it mother."

Alicia laughed and got up to refill her cup.

Jake and Kyle looked at each other smiling then got up to load Jake's truck for his trip.

"Now I want you both to know it is not safe here at night right now. I want you to be smart on your trips or don't go if there is going to be a doubt. You must always protect yourself, and don't let anyone sucker you into anything. Everyone is dangerous. Find a friend you trust and have signals for things." Kyle reminded Jake and Stacy. They sat patiently and listened as they had a thousand times before. They just let him continue with his safety checklist to avoid adding to it.

"No alcohol while driving, or I'll turn you in. When at a rest stop use mace. If followed tell someone, then get where groups of people are. Also, always make sure to lock your doors and windows, that includes your cars. And by all means, do look in your back seat before you get into your vehicle. Try not to be caught alone even at a bathroom."

"Wow, I love this speech, so positive and uplifting." Stacy replied sarcastically with a smile.

"I am serious, be safe." Kyle played on a serious note.

"We promise." They responded simultaneously.

"I'm not as worried about Jake because he will be heading out of the area, but you are traveling the path of where all of the bodies were dumped." Kyle said pointedly.

Stacy froze for a minute not knowing this before.

"Daddy, are you trying to bring up my breakfast? Because I have to tell you, I'm going shoe shopping this week and I don't think anything can kill my mood."

"I'm serious pumpkin." Kyle said,

"Dad, don't call me that, it makes me sound fat." Stacy said with a grimace on her face.

Alicia laughed.

"I'll be careful I promise. There won't even be one single moment that I'll be without my girls." Stacy replied cheerfully making her Dad take a turn in grimacing.

"Jake, I need you to pick up a few things for me to take to Brittany and her family. Tell them we love them and miss them and need to come out our way for the summer." Alicia said as she searched her purse.

"Of course." Jake replied.

"There will be something for you also so pay attention to the packages." Alicia said and handed him a few printed receipts.

"I already called in the orders and paid for them by credit card. The big package at the Sweet Shoppe is for Brittany and her family, but mostly targeted at her father and brother. The smaller package is for you. The beauty things from the second shop are for the girls in the family of course."

"No problem." Jake was used to running errands for his mom and picking out frilly things for weddings, parties, or meetings. Sometimes he had to make decisions using his best judgment as if he were shopping for Brittany. Jake hated making other's personal wedding choices, because it felt like he was planning his wedding without Brittany. He would rather have specific instructions. He privately didn't mind tapping into his sensitive nature, he just didn't want to do it often enough to enjoy it.

Jake looked at the receipts and felt as excited as a five-year-old on Christmas morning. He couldn't wait. He looked at the totals on the slips of paper and almost choked. He was glad it wasn't his money. Girl things were expensive. Jake looked at Alicia and she was smiling. He rolled his eyes and laughed. His mother loved to give gifts more than she liked receiving them. It was her nature.

"How are you and Brittany doing?" Kyle asked.

"Fine. I talk to her more than once a week now." Jake replied knowing him and Brittany were hitting a rough patch of their relationship since Jake was almost finished with school and she wasn't.

"Good. Is there a wedding in the works?" Alicia wanted to know.

"We are just going to get through college before any plans are made." Jake said uncomfortably.

"I already know how it is going to turn out, exactly." Stacy said as her parents nodded.

"Really, tell me then so I won't mess up." Jake begged.

"No, that might change the future. If I tell you, you'll forget thinking you did it already and will get lazy." Stacy said and everyone laughed for they knew that may be true.

"Just give her a kiss for us." Alicia said and hugged and kissed her son goodbye.

Jake smiled, looked down and nodded his head, claiming no argument at all.

"Are you ready to go?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, I can't wait to get on the slopes. I want to have much time as possible on the runs." Jake said cleaning off his plate.

"Do you have enough money?" Kyle asked, lowering his voice below Alicia and Stacy's whom were talking about beauty and shopping plans.

"Does anyone really have enough?" Jake laughed. Kyle responded in kind and slipped him an envelope with five hundred dollars in it.

"This is to play with on your way to school. We also put in a thousand dollars into your bank account for food and school stuff. It should last a few months. If it doesn't, then too bad." Kyle said, causing Jake to laugh.

"Thank you, Dad." Jake replied and gave Kyle a hug.

Outside Jake wrote something on the bottom of the receipt and ripped it off to shove in Stacy's hand.

"This is Anna's address. I want that sweater returned. Do not wear it, you'll ruin it." He said giving his final warning which she took the paper and ignored his words.

At the mention of her name Jake got shivers down his back and it wasn't a good feeling. He was confused by this reaction, as he didn't have a problem with her personally. Jake looked at Stacy.

"Don't lose that address. Put it in your purse or something."

Stacy smiled and gave him a punch in the arm. Final hugs and teary eyes pushed him into his truck to drive out and away to the beautiful snow filled mountains of Mt. Ashland that awaited him.

"Remember, stay in groups, carry a weapon of mace, and keep a knife on you at all times or at least everywhere you go. It doesn't work if you can't use it." Kyle said sounding like a broken record. Jake waved before he drove off.

Even though worried about murders, he was excited about his trip. He loved his freedom but was worried about his sister's. Jake knew Stacy wasn't heading his way for a few more days but he was aware of some of the details that Dad tried to scare her with, so she never stopped alone. He was smart and hoped his sister was smart enough to listen.

As kids Jake's parents told them things like when you lied the devil slept under your bed and waited for you to fall asleep, so he could lick the sweet lies you told that day off your lips. The more you told, the more he licked. It had freaked him out but his sister took a more smartass approach.

"Wow, one lick for each lie? His tongue must get tired." Stacy said which made Jake laugh but grossed him out. Their father had only looked at her confused and stammered out a laugh not sure how to take her response.

He made a quick run through at a fast food burger place to satisfy his hunger until he could reach the delicious wicked tempting shop of glorious candy in every flavor, shape, and texture you could imagine. It had become a tradition each time he visited his parents and Brittany after. It was one of the things that kept Brittany and him together, being able to visit and see each other. He flew to see her a few times throughout the years, but this way was more cost effective as it was on his path back to school. He couldn't wait to graduate so he could start his life with her. Thoughts of Anna's kiss popped in his head and he shook it away.

A pretty blond drove behind him, so he tried to slow down to let her pass. He couldn't see her face as her big glasses covered half of it. She stayed steadily behind him. There were other cars to take advantage to what he offered on the road, but she didn't, so he stopped worrying about it. His happy thoughts jumped back into his head knowing he was heading to his favorite shop in the world.