Live, Laugh, Love [COMPLETE/PUBLISHED]

Chapter 16

"I'll talk to you soon, Dad." I get in the car and Jasper drives away without a word. There are no words to describe how I am feeling. I knew my mother was vile, but I didn't think that it was that bad. I mean who kills her parents?

Jasper continues driving and I pull out my phone and I call someone and then I tell Jasper to drop me off there. He just does as he is told. He parks the car and I turn to him. I hold his face in my hands and give me a gentle kiss.

"I love you." I open the passenger door and I get out.

"I love you too, Lia. Don't forget that." I nod and he drives away. I head inside the building and tell the receptionist who I am here to see. A couple of minutes later, she comes out and sees me waiting.

"Ophelia, go ahead go in. I'll be there in a few," she says. I head inside the room and I take a seat on the couch. It's been a while since I have been here. Rose Harper eventually comes waltzing back in and takes a seat across from me.

"It's been a while," She states crossing her legs.

"Yeah, life got busy and things took a turn for the better and I feel like they are falling apart again."

"Oh?" She asks.

"Yeah."

"I hope this has nothing to do with your fear."

"It actually doesn't. I sometimes wonder if I ever had it. Yeah, I spent my life wondering how many more people were going to leave me, but they never left. I was the one that did. I was just searching for someone to love me. Anyway, Jasper and I are fine. It is the fact that I met my aunt that I never knew I had and then Daphne is back in my life. And then the worst part, I talked to my father."

"Well, how you explain what happened between you and Daphne and why that has to do with your father."

"I remember something about my childhood. The day that my parents left, he had left a note saying that he didn't want to leave, rather that he had to. I always remember them leaving a note, but I thought it was them telling me that they were going to the store, but that wasn't the case. My aunt wants custody of Daphne but I wanted to get the full story from my father, which I didn't exactly get, but I got some clarity."

"What did you find out?"

"That my mother is dangling something over his head."

"How did that make you feel?"

"I don't know. I guess it made me confused. I have more questions than answers."

"So you felt confused, what else?"

"Hurt?"

"Don't ask me. What were the thoughts you had when he told you what he did?"

"If I let him in like I am, is he going to leave again? If he leaves will Jasper too?" I continue to ramble on with these thoughts and I didn't even notice that I started crying.

"Have you been writing?" Rose asks, as I stop and wipe my tears.

"No."

"Well, that's your job. I want you to sit down and write what you are feeling. Then next time, you can talk about it. I don't have to read it unless you want me to." I nod my head.

"Well, our time is up. I'll see you next week, Lia. Tell Jasper to call my wife. She has a bone to pick with him."

"Will do, Rose." I grab my bag and head out the door. I look around and see that Jasper is waiting there. I knock on the driver's side door and he rolls it down and looks at me.

"Hey you," I say, giving him a kiss.

"Feeling better?" He asks.

"Yeah, everything is a little bit clearer. But, now I'm hungry."

"Well, what am I supposed to do about that if you are standing out there," he says poking at my cheeks. I slap his hands away.

"Fine, fine. I'll get in the car." I run around to the other side and hop in.

"Where to?" I ask buckling up.

"Food."

"Very funny, Mr. Atwater," I say, pulling my phone out of my bag.

"I try, Ms. Lockhart."

He is so lucky that I love him. He continues to drive and I open up a document on my phone.

So, it's been a while...