Jared straightened his tie as he looked into the mirror. He loved his job but the traveling was beginning to take a toll on his relationship. He ran a comb through his hair as he watched his girlfriend Jesse slide on her heels as she sat on the edge of the bed.
“What time does your flight leave?” Jesse asked as she ran fingers down her smooth legs.
“10 this morning?” Jared said hoping to avoid an argument.
“When will you be back?” she asked her attention to him now.
“Two weeks.” Jared said as he excessively combed through his hair.
“Two weeks…that’ll be cutting it close.” She said as she stood up and slipped into her dress.
“Cutting it close for what?” Jared asked as he turned to face her.
“My parents are coming into town and I thought it would be a good idea for you to meet them…don’t you…we’ve been together for almost a year…I think we’re in the clear.” She said as she walked over to him and turned so he could zip her up.
“Your parents huh?” Jared said as he zipped up her dress that hugged her figure comfortably.
“Yes.” She turned to him with doe eyes and a slight seductive curve of her lips, “you don’t object do you?”
“No…of course not.” Jared said as his heart fell to the floor. Things were not going well between the two of them lately. Jesse was always complaining about his job taking time away from her. Jared knew it was true but only because he’d taken on more work. He enjoyed the time away from her. Jared liked Jesse a lot. There wasn’t a living man who wouldn’t. She was gorgeous, ambitious and knew how to have fun. He just loved his job more.
He definitely had no interest in meeting Jesse’s parents. The fact she wanted him to made him question her ideals of their relationship.
****
Jared grabbed coffee from the Starbucks at the airport, found a seat at his terminal as he waited for his departure. There was another message from his brother Caleb. The first message had been left two days ago which revealed he needed to give Caleb a call. Jared was too busy running around all day in and out of meetings that he’d forgotten about the message Caleb had left and now here was another message from him.
Jared could only assume by the urgency in his voice it had something to do with his father. Jared told himself he didn’t care and he really didn’t want to know. Jared had been holding onto the anger he felt towards his father since the day his mother died. There was just something in him that would not let it go nor did he want to.
Jared was about to check the voicemail when his phone rang. Great it was Jesse. He only nearly avoided an argument this morning. He hoped she wasn’t calling to ruin his day.
“Jesse, hey.”
“I don’t think I mentioned it before but I told my parents they could stay with us…that’s okay with you right?” Jesse asked
Was she serious…Jared really was not looking forward to his return home now. He had to figure out a way to avoid this entire situation. He had no idea how.
“Sure that’s fine. I’ll see you in two weeks.” Jared said and quickly disconnected the call before he blew a gasket.
Jared knew he and Jesse were pretty much over he just didn’t understand how she couldn’t see it.
The new voicemail message flashed again as he ended the call with Jesse. He took a deep breath tensing the muscles that were already forming knots in his stomach. He knew even before hearing the message it wasn’t good news. Jared listened to the voicemail.
Caleb’s voice was shaky, distraught and filled with fear as he explained in half-completed sentences that their father was only moments near death. Caleb urged Jared to come home as their father was requesting to see him.
Jared hung up the phone and although he still loved his father and his brother anger would not allow him to feel anything but betrayal. With the knots only tightening in his stomach along with the added emotions of anger, betrayal and hurt Jared gathered his things and lined up to board his flight.
****
Jennifer entered the house through the living room. She looked around and felt a cold shiver crawl up her spine. Mr. Morrison was one of the kindest men she had ever known. He helped her father with some work around their home when the horrible storm blew through a couple years back. Now he was gone. She could hardly believe it.
Jennifer’s family and Mr. Morrison’s family had become inseparable. She remember the first funeral she’d ever gone to was the funeral of Mrs. Hannah Morrison. Although Jennifer didn’t know Mrs. Morrison the sadness of the entire event overtook her. She could see how much Mrs. Morrison was loved and how great a loss it was for everyone there. She knew without knowing that an angel had left the earth.
Today at Mr. Morrison’s funeral she felt as though a warrior had left the earth. Entering further into the living area of the home Jennifer headed straight to Sharon, Mr. Morrison’s daughter in law.
Jennifer and Sharon were best friends they met the year and a half Jennifer attended college before being called home because of her mother’s failing health. Sharon came home with Jennifer one holiday and she and Caleb hit it off before long the two were married.
Caleb stayed on with his father to continue to help with their farm so Sharon and Jennifer were able to see each other often. Jennifer and Sharon always shared in each other’s heartaches and joys with the purest of hearts. When Caleb and Sharon welcomed their little girl Hannah into the world Jennifer was just as overjoyed as they were.
But today Jennifer could see the intense hurt in Sharon’s eyes. Sharon loved Mr. Morrison as a daughter would her father. The hurt in Sharon’s eyes sent her heart spiraling downwards. Jennifer loved Mr. Morrison as well but it was different for Sharon. This was going to be hard.
Jennifer hoped she could be available for Sharon but her life recently was about nothing but working at the town restaurant and helping her father take care of her mother as well as work around the farm. By the end of the day all Jennifer had strength to do was fall on her knees, pour her heart out to God and crawl into bed.
Jennifer stood by Sharon’s side as Sharon looked at her in silence. Sharon without warning wrapped her arms tightly around Jennifer’s neck and the tears she so bravely tried to hold in for Caleb’s sake let loose.
Jennifer wrapped her arms around Sharon and hugged her tightly.
“Jennifer I wanted to be strong for Caleb…he’s so depressed over his father…but I don’t think I can be the strong one here…I’m going to need you now more than ever.” Sharon said as she rested her head on Jennifer’s shoulder.
“Don’t you worry, I’ll be here…I will.” Jennifer said as her head hurt contemplating the difficult days ahead.
“It’s even worse,” Sharon continued, “that Jared neither called nor showed…I mean how someone could be so cold...I-” Sharon said in sad bewilderment.
Jared Morrison…Jennifer remembered the first and last time she had ever seen Jared Morrison. It was at his mother’s funeral. Jennifer remembered seeing Caleb and his father filled with grief but all she could see on Jared’s face was anger.
After the funeral Jennifer never saw Jared again. She only heard his father’s heart in pain of not being able to make things right with Jared. How could someone be so selfish? Jared was not the only one who lost…they all had, his father and Caleb lost a great woman from what Jennifer heard.
“Maybe he didn’t get the message.” Jennifer offered trying to console Sharon. She most certainly was not defending a man like Jared Morrison.
“He just doesn’t care. Caleb said he hasn’t since their mother died…the last time Caleb spoke to him was to invite him to our wedding and…he didn’t make it…work or something…I don’t know…Caleb loves him so much…I just don’t know what I would say to a man like him if I ever did meet him...so maybe him not being here as much as it hurts Caleb is for the best.” Sharon sobbed on Jennifer’s shoulder.
Jared Morrison was best to stay away. He sure didn’t need to come around causing any more pain than what they were already going through.
Jennifer looked over at Caleb as he stood near the mantle over the fireplace with little Hannah holding tightly to his leg. He looked so lost. Jennifer had never seen Caleb so sad nor Sharon for that matter. It seemed as though they lost their direction. Mr. Morrison was somewhat of a cornerstone in Caleb’s life and now he was gone.
Jennifer’s heart heavily churned away at the thoughts of days and nights ahead for them. Jennifer wasn’t quite sure if little Hannah grasped what was going on but she looked scared standing there as she clutched her father’s leg tightly.
Jennifer could do nothing but hold Sharon closer to her. They would all get through this.
As Jennifer stood holding an almost lifeless Sharon her attention was turned to a ruckus coming from the door. Jennifer’s eyes fixed on the door and the people surrounding it. She saw emerge from the cluster a very well dressed not to mention very good-looking man.
He looked around the room and immediately walked over to Caleb. He looked a little familiar. Caleb looked up as the man put a hand on his shoulder. Caleb’s eyes seemed to brighten a bit and he flung his arms around the man as he said, ‘Jared...thank God.’
So this was Jared. How dare he show up now? At the mention of the name Sharon immediately lifted her head from Jennifer’s shoulder and turned in Caleb and Jared’s direction.