Hi and Bye

Jessica sat in her family’s spacious living room, one of the many that they owned in their family estate. She was lost in thought, absentmindedly drawing out the outline of her tea cup while she sat. She had returned from the café a few hours ago, but her mind was still replaying all the events that had happened in there. It had gone worse than she had prepared for mentally and emotionally.

Her parents both walked into the room, returning from an errand they had to run. They watched as their daughter sat unaware that they had walked into the room as she held her tea cup tightly. Janet, her mother. quickly took a seat which was opposite to where Jessica sat while Joseph chose his comfy armchair, watching their daughter entirely before she recognized their presence.

“Earth to Jessica!”

“We’ve been watching you for a few minutes and you didn’t realize that we had come into the room.” Janet finally spoke, breaking the silence and making Jessica conscious of her surroundings.

Jessica sighed loudly after noticing her parents, her heart still heavy from what happened earlier in the day. She didn’t know how she would begin to explain it to her parents or if she wanted to relive the experience through this conversation. But she knew her parents were the rock that always kept her grounded and she couldn’t keep this to herself.

“I’m sorry, you guys.” Jessica apologized with a gentle voice that held hints of worry in it.

“It’s my meeting with Ethan at the café. He is no longer the person I fell in love with when we young. His countenance was cold and distant while requested that I remain silent on anything that happened in our marriage.” she narrated to them, understanding the look of surprise on their faces as they listened to her.

“He threatened you? Jess, did something happen while you were married that we do not know about?” her father inquired suspiciously.

“Nothing I know of except the cheating with Olivia. Maybe that’s what he wants me to hide.” Jessica answered as she took a sip of her tea.

“He just wanted to make sure we were clear on that before he said the divorce papers and sent them to Lois.” She finished her statement.

“That boy has no right to treat my daughter like some scum he picked off the street. He said this, after everything that he has put you through….” Joseph said angrily, a frown on his face as he couldn’t his friend raised a son like Ethan.

“I know, dad. But that’s not the part that is throwing me off right now.” Jessica interrupted him, not wanting him to get overly worked up on the matter.

“What is it then?” her mother wondered, staring in Jessica’s eyes.

“He took one look at me and knew that I was hiding something but he just couldn’t place his hand on what it was.” Jessica mumbled to her parents. “Now I can’t help but wonder if I should just go ahead and tell him about his child.”

Janet and Joseph exchanged worried looks to one and another, their concern for their daughter deepening. They had feared something like this would happen but it was doing that sooner than expected. As they listened to Jessica talk, they couldn’t help but see the mixture of emotions in her eyes.

“Jess, don’t give in and tell him anything. You owe that bastard nothing. You’ve signed the papers and do not have to deal with him unless it is in regards to the divorce.” Joseph cleared his throat and pronounced.

“Yes, dad. It’s just that, at the beginning I thought it would be easy but now I find myself being eaten up by this presence. I wish this can be over so I can just move on.” Jessica smiled weakly at her father who sat in his arm chair at the corner. She thought she could keep shut about it, but the reality was more complicated than she imagined.

“You will, sweetheart. You’ll need time to heal so do not trouble yourself too much.” Janet nodded in agreement to encourage her daughter.

Jessica exhaled with a deep breath, knowing that the time had come to inform them of her plans. She had a decision already, one that was going to come as a surprise to them.

“I’ve been thinking about it since I got back.” Jessica said, her voice quieter than normal. “I have chosen a day to leave for Italy.”

“Huh? You’ve decided already? When will you be leaving?” Janet blinked, processing this new development.

“The 25th. I already bought the tickets immediately I got home.” Jessica said, her voice finally building in volume.

“That’s two weeks away from now. Will the house be purchased and ready before that time?” Joseph asked, sitting up straight in his chair.

“I believe so. I have been making arrangements for payments so I think it should be ready before my arrival.” Jessica spoke, already certain of her plans.

“You’ve already put so much into it then. I know you know what you’re doing so you have my blessings.” Joseph approved, watching his wife get sad at this announcement because she had hoped to spend more time with her daughter before she left.

“Thank you, dad. I just need a fresh start, a place where I can be away from Ethan and his drama and figure out what’s next for my life.” Jessica spoke with a heavy heart.

“Oh baby. I’ll miss you so much when you leave.” Janet spoke, a tear building up in her eye.

“I’ll be fine, mum, and I’d call you every time so you’d hear my voice. You both can come when the baby is about to be born.” Jessica finally giggled, holding her mother’s hand.

“What if Ethan finds out though?” Joseph said worriedly, knowing that it couldn’t be avoided forever.

Jessica felt nothing at the mention of Ethan’s name. She hadn’t said anything to him about the baby but she hated the thought of her child having a father like Ethan. This was the main reason she was moving to Italy after her plans to remake her life.

“He wouldn’t find out, dad. Not unless I or any of you tell him.” Jessica firmly declared.

“Then if that is your say on the matter, we strongly support you no matter what.” Janet reached out for a hug, squeezing Jessica tightly because she would be far away from her in a few days.

For a moment, the room was filled with joy as each member of the family rejoiced at the sound that a new child would soon be born into their family. But still the reality of her departure, weighed heavily on her shoulders no matter how hard she tried to push.

As they celebrated, all their phones began to simultaneously which came as a shock to them. They each reached out for their phones and took a glance at their screens before let out a look of shock, individually.

“It’s the Mitchell’s. They want to have a dinner with us.” Joseph announced to the room, still staring at his phone screen.

“Yeah, I have the same message here. What could it be again?” Jessica asked, her voice trembling after reading the message.