Love, Winter (an AJR Fanfiction story)

35. Emma

"Everything is going in this... this little cycle." Jack says as we're sitting down together, alone. Ava, Winter, Ryan and Mackenzie are in the kitchen, because they knew we wanted to have a private chat.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Someone finds out something, they get mad at something else, and then all of a sudden, everyone's happy again. Then it repeats."

"What are we gonna do about it then?" I ask him.

"I don't know." He says.

   I wrap my arms around him, trying to make him feel a little bit better. I don't know if it's working.

"It's okay." Jack quietly laughs, "We'll get through this."

"How?"

"I..." he pauses, trying to search for an answer. "...I don't know."

"Should we still do counseling?"

"I guess." He sighs.

"Hey." I smile, trying to encourage him, "You just said that we'd try to get through this."

"Yeah, but... I've been saying it... because... I'm waiting for someone in this family besides me to actually try."

"I'm trying. Everyone is."

"Maybe... you guys aren't trying hard enough."

   But I am. We all are. Really. He just can't see it.

   He looks at me, and it's like he can read my mind, because he says, "Sorry." immediately.

"It's fine." I say.

"So... is therapy still a good option?"

"I think it's a good idea to share our feelings with someone."

"But do you think it's a good idea?"

   I stop, and look around me. Adam's upstairs talking with Sammy, and the others are in the kitchen. We're all confused.

"Let's just take a break."

"Huh?"

"How about we give the kids a break tomorrow. From school. We all need to spend... time together. We've been focused on solutions for the family, but what if it's happening too fast for one of us?"

"Do you think that's how Sam feels?"

"Maybe."

"Well... okay. We'll do that." He smiles and kisses me on the forehead.

   If I'm being honest, everyone's a wreck. An emotional wreck. We'll be fine, though.

   Just because we're a wreck, doesn't mean we're broken.