Another Deception (26 page)

to
?”

“I don’t think I did say, however it was a Greek island…Chios, was the name. Thank you for expediting this for me. I do appreciate it.”

     The four of them chatted back and forth for several minutes before the two detectives took their leave.

      The minute they were in the car, the two detectives looked at each other. Each knew the other was thinking the same thing. The man Garrett was one of the names left on Frank’s list. Neither spoke of it for by mutual agreement they both agreed they would never again discuss ‘the list.’

32

    
H
oney had just dressed and picked her phone up to put in her pocket and saw there was a message. Excitement and relief washed over her when she heard Jacks voice and she could no way keep it contained. When she shouted with delight, everyone in the house came running. Jean, from her room next door,
Romona
, and Hidey both came from upstairs. They all thought something was wrong, until they got to Honey’s room where she was laughing and crying at the same time.

“Jacks!
It is Jacks! He called early this morning and I just now looked at my phone and saw it. He left a message and he is all right!
Thank you Jesus!
Not only is he all right, but you all are not going to believe this! He has his mother with him. He said
we
are coming! Oh, I am so happy!”

    
Romona
breathed a sigh of relief. Lord, but she thought the woman was hurt.

“I am glad you got good news. What is so nice is that you have some good news yourself to tell him. When is he getting here?”

     She turned to Jean, who was hugging Honey, she was so happy too.

“We can get your room ready for the mother, since it will make her feel more comfortable to be close to Jacks. You won’t mind changing rooms will you?”

      Jean said in her good-natured way,

“Of course not!
I will be too happy to give her my room. I am thrilled it has turned out so well! Now we can all go home, finally.”

     “You know you are welcome to stay here as long as you need. It has been a true blessing having you here Jean… and Honey if that husband of yours would let me, I would just keep you here.”

    
Romona
declared as she went about tidying the room. She was glad she already had the rental company come for the hospital bed and replaced the double bed back in the room.

“I think I will go cut you some of my special blue roses for the occasion.”

     Honey was grateful for
Romona’s
hospitality and all the little extras she did for her. She would miss her obvious love for the Lord and the little verses she went about singing throughout the day.

“
Romona
, you spoil me!” 

“That is okay too. You deserve a little spoiling after what you have been
through
. Be time enough for you to do for yourself soon enough. Now, I think we will celebrate all this good news by having some strawberry pancakes. How does that sound?”

“Yummy! Hey, where did Jean and Hidey go?”

“They slipped right on out of here, is exactly what they did.”

    
Romona
laughed and Honey smiled too, remembering how it felt when she and Jacks first fell in love. It still felt that way and she longed for him to walk through the door.

   While she waited for
Romona
to call them for the pancakes, she took a little extra time to look nice for him when he did get there. She wished she could throw the cane down but her steps were still a bit shaky and she was afraid to chance it. The last thing she wanted was a broken bone from falling.

     While she was doing that, Jacks was in the police station filing the paper work for the restraining order.

     Not willing to leave the others alone at Sang-mi’s, they were waiting for him out in the lobby. Even then, he was anxious to hurry for he could not see them, so he pushed on the clerk to get finished.

     He felt a little better doing this but he also knew it would take much more to stop this inhuman sect of evil people.

      When he got back to the lobby, he stood for a moment looking at the three people he was now responsible
for
. Millie was sitting there looking as if she were daydreaming, while the other two seemed to be in a deep conversation.

     Jessie looked up and saw him standing there.

“Are you done already? That was fast!”

“They were very proficient back there. I am starving. That toast before we left is long gone, so how about lunch at Sang-mi’s restaurant before we take off to the mountains?”

     Jessie was quick to agree.

“Me too and that sounds great, doesn’t it Mother?”

     Millie looked curiously at her daughter and said,

“Whatever you say sweetheart.
I could probably enjoy oriental food. Sang-mi is oriental isn’t it?”

“You are absolutely right Millie! Sang-mi is…was Korean. A great lady who was the closest thing to a mother, I ever had.” 

“I am afraid I do not understand what you mean.” 

    Jessie shot Jacks a warning look but it was too late. He sat down next to Millie and took her hand. It was the one with the bandage and he put it to his lips and kissed it. He had already lived a lifetime without a mother and regardless of whether or not it was good timing, he was waiting no longer.

“No Millie, you probably do not, but I grew up in an orphanage and foster homes. Sang-mi took me in when I was seventeen and that is why I said that. Did you ever have a son, Millie?”

     The woman looked at him and in her
eyes,
Jacks saw what could easily be torment. Then she looked away. Just when they thought she was going to say nothing, she did.

“I did have a son once, a long time ago.”

“Do you know what happened to him?”

“Of course I do.”

     She looked angry for a second, then confused.

“I…I…why, he died.
Yes, he died and such a little thing he was too.”

    
When her face crumpled and it looked as if she were going to cry, Jacks stood up.
It was obviously too soon and he was sorry to have brought it up, after all.

“It is okay Millie. Maybe we should talk about a happier subject.”

    He gave Jessie an apologetic look and conceded to the fact he was rushing things. He wondered how long it would be before he could look to Millie for answers, which Jessie was not able to give him or be able
to just call
her…what Jessie called her.

Mother sounded so formal and he remembered that most of his school friends called their parents mom and dad. He supposed it really would not make a huge difference, but still he wondered.

     They ate heartily at Sang-mi’s place, with Anna coming out to speak to them. She was surprised when Jacks introduced his guest as his family. She told him that Sang-mi’s house would always be his home and she hoped he would feel free to use it anytime. When he asked if he could keep the car until they left for Mississippi, she told him to keep it as long as he needed it. Sang-mi would be happy to know it
was being utilized
.

     After good-byes
were said
, and to go boxes filled with more of the foods they had enjoyed, the four loaded into the car and made their way through the traffic to the road, which would lead them to where Honey was waiting with great anticipation.
Not only would she be
seeing Jacks, but also meeting her mother-in-law. Never, did she imagine there would be two other members of his family for her to meet! 

   In little less than an hour after they left the city, they were entering into the small mountain village of Canadensis. There Jacks pulled into the Post Office. He figured as small as the place was, he should be able to get directions to
Romona’s
house. He had charged his phone but really wanted to surprise Honey and this way he could.

    It only took a moment for Nettie to direct him and it was simple. Eight miles and they pulled into the drive of a rather large farmhouse and the first thing he saw was his wife sitting in the porch swing reading a book. She looked up but did not recognize the car and waited to see
who
it was.

    There were too many people in it for it to be Jacks and his mother. Therefore, when he opened the door and unfolded himself from his seat, she almost fainted from the sheer happiness to see it was he. Before she could even get out of the swing, he had taken the steps two at a time and was right there pulling her into his arms. Forgetting about the others, he held her so tight and smothered her with kisses.

     Millie, Jessie, and Abby all were just standing at the top of the steps, waiting, when the screen door slammed,
Romona
and Jean came running out. They stopped when they saw the two women and a child. They all stood looking at each other until Jacks stepped back and said,

“Everyone, this is my family, Millie, my mother, Jessie my sister and Abby, my niece!”

     First, no one said a word, then all of a sudden everyone was talking at once and Millie was getting upset. She was not sure why they had left such a nice place to come with this man to a place where they knew no one. Everything was strange and she was not feeling well.

     It was Honey, who stopped all the chatter and said,

“Jacks, she is tired, look at her. She looks as if she may cry!”

     Jacks turned his attention to Millie and asked Jessie if she would get her settled in her room so she could rest. It had been a taxing twenty-four hours for them and even he was tired.
Romona
directed them to the room they had prepared for Millie and Jacks brought them up to date with all that had transpired since they last saw him.

     When he finished he added,

“They have kept Millie heavily medicated for all these years to better control her. That is the reason we have not yet told her who I am. Jessie and I agreed to wait until she is completely off the drugs before we tell her. There are things only she knows which will make this last year make more sense. If you all would, please do not refer to her as my mother until we have the opportunity to explain everything. I would appreciate it.”

     Honey was as close to Jacks as she could get and they had their arms around each other. She looked up at him. He was such a caring man. He constantly amazed her at how far he had come since they first met.

“Of course darling.
The poor thing!
Can you imagine living with that monster that long without being suicidal? One week was
way too
long for Sheila and me. Where did he keep them or do you know?”

     Jacks nodded his head.

“I do. Jessie said most of their time
was spent
at the stone house.
Remember Honey, when I took you there to meet Asa?
Do you remember the two women we saw there? Millie was the one who opened the door for us and we thought she was weird because she barely spoke.”

“Dear Lord! I do! Jacks it was them, even though it was so dark in that place, I am sure it was them.”

      Jacks kissed her forehead. How he loved having her right in his arms!

“Yes, it was. Jessie told me that she spent most of her growing up years away at boarding schools, until Asa got her hooked on all sorts of drugs. That is a story for another time. Right now, I want to hold my wife and just be with her alone, if I may.”

     Jean blushed and took Hidey by the arm, pulling him with her, as she answered,

“I guess so! Enjoy the fresh air out here. We have to get another bed downstairs for the extra company anyway. Welcome back Jacks!”

     He smiled and when they were out of hearing range, he asked Honey,

“Is it just me or is there something weird going on there?”

     Honey laughed,