JESSICA. Part Two

JESSICA. Ch. two



Vic was nervous and still upset. He felt guilty about Doms death.
If only he had listened to Lydia Dom would still be alive. He should have known Dom would do something crazy like this. The whole family knew he was so in love with Lydia, even Aaron. “Yes,” Vic nodded to himself,”even Aaron.” Vic wondered to himself if Jackie knew, or at least suspected Dom’s true feelings. Well she sure knew them now!

“Dom, Dom, I never dreamed you would blow your brains out over my stupid sister.” Vic shook his head helplessly and sat down to wait. He hated waiting. He hardly knew Jackie, what would he say? The words he had rehearsed over and over during the flight now seemed glib. How about, “I’m sorry for your loss.” Shit! You have been watching to many cop shows!

He saw her then, pale and drawn, yet at once erect and brave. Jackie was determined to hide her tears from him! Shaking hands formally they stood awkwardly looking at one another, still holding hands, like shy lovers. “Jackie…I…I am….” She saw the real compassion and the pain in his eyes and her own pain hit her, hard and raw! She threw her arms around him and cried softly. The Viking warrior in him would not allow his own tears to come. Instead he held her silently, protectively in his strong arms. Slowly she stopped crying and stepped back quickly.
I’m sorry Vic, I didn’t mean to embarrass you with foolish tears.”
In truth the bustling crowds had paid then no attention, they were, perhaps, reunited lovers. Her eyes started to glisten again and he said quickly…”hey, how about a coffee?”
He winced at the irrelevant stupidity of his question but Jackie, caught by surprise laughed! Such a ridiculous question under the circumstances! Seeing the concern in his eyes, she warmed to him, he is a kind man, she thought. “Alright Vic, why not?” She smiled for the first time in a long time.

The funeral was a dreadful event, as funerals usually are. It was held in a small chapel in Pinnaroo memorial park, a beautiful place with not a headstone in sight. Instead a brass plaque set about an inch below the grass level, so from a short distance, undetectable, marks each grave. There would be no such plaque for Dom, no grave site. Cremation was his preference, he always said the worms would not get him! There was about two hundred people present, great support for Jackie, though Dom was quiet he was also well liked. A middle-aged man with an appropriately solemn face and black suit conducted the ceremony. As he spoke the coffin silently lowered out of site, to the furnace. Afterward everyone offered their condolences then sipped tea, ate cake and chatted, about Dom, about the weather Some cried but not many. One by one they had a final word of comfort for the widow and went back to their own lives. Dom already a fading memory.

Jackie invited Vic to dinner that evening, she felt the need of company other than her well intentioned but cloying family. He got a taxi to a local bottle shop and picked up a bottle of Verdelho, a nice light and fruity table wine, He hoped she would like it.
Hearing a knock at the door Jackie quickly checked her appearance in the mirror, and satisfied, opened the door to greet her guest.
“Hello Jackie, I am a little early, hope that’s OK” he smiled. Smelling the beautiful aroma wafting through from the kitchen his mouth watered, he hadn’t realised how hungry he was, and it smelt so good!

“Hi Vic” she noticed the wine in his hand, how thoughtful of him! “Better early than a burnt dinner” she joked, laughing nervously, “does that need to go in the fridge?”
“The fridge?” Vic looked blank for a moment, “Oh! Um,”he held the bottle out to her. “I don’t know he stuttered shyly”
“Well she smiled” perhaps I will pop it in for a little while.” She ushered him into the lounge, went quickly to the kitchen, putting the wine in the fridge, calling “dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”

It was a wonderful meal, roast lamb, roast potatoes, peas, gravy and mint sauce, followed by an incredible apple pie and semi-warm wine. After dinner Vic insisted on helping her with the dishes, then Jackie made coffee and they sat together in the lounge room. Watching Vic, Jackie thought that this friend of Dom’s, this stranger, was a good man, a man who had lost his own sister and yet had travelled so far to share her loss, her grief. As if he didn’t have enough of his own! Vic looked at Jackie and thought what a kind and caring person she was, so different from Lydia! He was puzzled that Dom could have such affection for two women of such utterly different dispositions! Vic knew that Jackie knew of Dom’s relationship with Lydia, and he knew she knew he knew. How hard it must be, he thought, knowing that her husband had killed himself over another woman. Over my sister!

They began speaking then, hesitantly at first, exchanging stories of Dom. Jackie spoke of the marriage she had shared with Dom, its joys and its sorrows, but mostly the happiness he had brought to her. Vic, reluctantly at first, because he did not want to hurt her, told of Dom’s relationship with Lydia. He couldn’t help but laugh as he spoke of the time Dom had tried to hold him, his brother and his angry father at bay with a broken rake handle. He sobered then and nodding his head said, Jackie Dom was a good man and I know he loved you very much, please believe that.”
“I know that Vic” Jackie sighed deeply, “but Dom was Dom” her eyes filled with tears, “and deep down, he was always Lydia’s.”
Vic crossed quickly to her side and taking her hand in his, his voice filled with anguish he groaned “Jackie!”
She pulled away from him….”DON’T! I think you should leave now Vic.”
“Jackie?”
She shook her head firmly “just go Vic, thank you for everything you have done but just go!”
“All right Jackie” Vic opened the door, then hesitating said, “look, I don’t have to go back until Monday” locking his eyes to hers he added “will I see you again?”
She looked at him searchingly for a long moment, then lowering her eyes, “I don’t know Vic,” then looking up she gave him a half smile of encouragement, “we’ll see.”
Women! Who can know them! Vic thought ruefully as he paid off his taxi and let himself into his hotel room.

***

Jessica was upset with her Uncle Vic. What possessed him to travel to Perth and attend that horrible mans funeral anyway? Her fist clenched and her long nails bit into the flesh of her palm, drawing blood, she was so angry! DOM! Dead and still causing trouble! If he had left her mother alone in the first place, Jessica thought, she would still be alive!

Impatiently crushing a ball of tissues into her wounded hand and seeing no one in the room she called“Uncle Aaron!” No reply. She shouted. No response. “Uncle Aaron!” Foot stamping now. Striding into the kitchen she looked out the window, there he is, near the back fence, feeding his stupid quail! Pursing her lips in annoyance she went into the back yard and called loudly “UNCLE AARRON!”

Looking up he saw the beautiful young woman, so like her mother he thought.” Hello Jessica.”
“When is Uncle Vic coming back?” She retorted rudely “he’s been gone nearly a whole week already!” She crossed her arms and cupped her elbows just as her mother had done.”How long does it take to bury someone? He isn’t getting friendly with that woman is he? Why isn’t he home?” she repeated petulantly.

“It is not our concern, but he will be back soon.” He answered walking toward her and brushing his hands off on his jeans. He must return to verk on Monday” he added, displaying his palms expressively.”You know Jessica, I never liked Dom but,” he sighed and shook his head, I have to admit that he was not a bad man, he vas…”
“Not a bad man uncle?” Jessica jumped to her feet and ground through clenched teeth, “it’s his fault that mum is dead, he and that woman!” Aaron made to comfort her but she stepped away from him. Don’t touch me,” she cried as she ran sobbing from the room.

***

Vic opted to travel from Adelaide by bus. More time to think. Damn life could be cruel! He had lost his sister, and lost his friend. And now Jackie was gone from his life. He was sure they had a real connection there. Something. Was there? Or was it just loneliness and pity? He shrugged to himself, scarcely matters now he thought.

He was glad it was the night coach. Vic liked travelling at night. He looked at the coach window but could see little more than his own reflection. Closing his eyes he allowed the motion of the coach to rock him into a fitful sleep. When he finally arrived back in Whyalla, Jessica was waiting to meet him. She was alone.

Vic smiled as Jessica came up to him,”Hello Jessica,” she looks pretty bright considering it’s past midnight he thought.
“Hello Uncle Vic, she gave him one of her unnerving smiles, cold and calculating, “Cars round the corner in Darling terrace.” Another cold look then she asked with a poorly concealed sneer in her voice” How is Jackie, coping OK? Enjoy yourself?” She got in the car and slammed the door. Vic tossed his case on the back seat and slid in beside her. She squealed the wheels as they moved off.
“Listen Jessica, I don’t understand why you are so angry”, he looked at her sharply“just what is your problem?” Frowning in the dark he went on,”Dom was a good mate of mine, and his widow deserves some support it woul..”
“Shut up about her! I don’t care and I hate Dom! It’s their fault mum is dead! I hate them…HATE them!”
“Jessica! You don’t mean that, how can you? Your mother was an alcoholic, she killed herself! It was your father, not them that drove her to drink!”

Jessica beat at her uncle with her left hand, slapping and clawing.”Don’t say that” she screamed, her face contorted with rage! She stopped the car and turned to face Vic, her eyes glittering. Then she smiled. “Its not true uncle” shaking her head back and forth she chanted,”It’s not true, no, no, no. Never, never, never, hahaha!”
“Jessica, you’re tired and upset, let me drive its not…”
“Not far uncle? No not far at all! I am OK”
“Come on, I’ll drive” he unfastened his seat belt but Jessica started the car “no, no, no”
“Jessica!” He was thrown back in his seat as she drove off.
“Jessica, stop th…”
“La La lah laaah!”

It took another ten silent minutes to arrive home, possibly the longest ten minutes in Vics life! She acted as though nothing untoward had happened. She even went in and put the kettle on.”Tea or coffee Uncle Vic” she smiled
“Ah, coffee thanks, are you OK Jessica?”
“Yes, yes indeed! I have some leave due and think I will have a holiday, I haven’t been away for a while” she smirked.
“Away? Where will you go?”

“Actually Uncle Vic, that’s what I have been dying to tell you!” She came and embraced him almost incestuously and he drew back causing her to smirk again. “Do you remember,”she continued casually, Leo, that boy dad tried to hook my mum up with, do you?” She was biting her lower lip in excited anticipation of Vic’s reaction to what she was about to reveal.

“Leo..yees, yes” Vic nodded, he looked at Jessica sharply,”what about him?”

“He is going to Perth to see his sister and I, dear uncle,” she walked over to Vic and putting her lips to his ear purred softly,”am going with him!”
She was rewarded by a look of startled dismay on Vics face.

“Why” he asked.” I mean why him, and why Perth” wouldn’t it be more fun to go somewhere with friends of your own age to say – the gold coast?”

“Oh I don’t think so Uncle, Leo and I are leaving on Wednesday and we just might visit Jackie while we are there, haven’t seen HER for quite a while, have I now?”
His blood ran cold, there was a look of pure evil on her sick face, and he knew how easily she could manipulate men so god knew what she would talk that fool Leo into!

***

Jessica let herself into the “family home,” as she liked to call it. Once owed by her grandparents and now shared by her two divorced uncles, Aaro and Veiko. As a child she had spent a lot of time here, and not all of it happily. Her mother had often left her here so she could go out with that damn Dom, she would be gone for days sometimes. Well, at least that bastard it dead she thought vindictively. But so is mummy! So is mummy!

“ Aaro” she called from the hallway. No answer. Her lips tightened in annoyance and as she strode into the empty and ill lit kitchen she yelled in frustration, “ AARO”. She knew he hated it when she dropped the “uncle” but she didn't care, after all she was no longer a child. Besides, she was mad at him for not being here. Jessica was puzzled by his absence. For one thing, he knew she was coming and for another, his fully restored black Ford Customline stood proudly in the driveway. Where is the old fool?

He is so annoying! Stamping her foot in angry frustration she walked over to the window, eewww! she thought, surveying the filthy dishes adorning the draining board and the grey dishwater in the sink. I should have know it! There he is with his stupid Avery birds! Damn him! From the veranda she yelled “AARO!” The old man looked up in surprise.


“Ah, Yessica” your early!”

“Nooo!” I told you, three O'clock! It is twenty past!”

“Ah vel he replied as he locked the Avery door, “is all the same.”

Jessica rolled her big green eyes as she watched him shamble along the garden path, past his veggie patch and herb garden. He stopped and inspected the apricots.

“Soon ve can eat zem” he called out happily.

“Yea, that's great,” Smiling as warmly as she could she added, “I really need those cases uncle Aaro”

“Vot cases?

“UNCLE!” Drawing a deep breath she explained slowly and patiently. “Remember?.. you said I could borrow your three big cases for my trip to Perth”

“Did I?”

“YES! You promised, you promised!”

Laughing and raising his hands palm outward “only yoking! Only yoking, they vait in the lounge room!”

stupid old fool!

Two of the cases filled Jessica's boot and the third took up most of the back seat.

“Thanks for the cases and helping me get them in the car. Better get going, stuff to do.”

“You vont have coffee vith me Yessica?

She thought about the disgusting mess in the sink. “Um, not this time Uncle”, Squeezing his hand and kissing him on the cheek she tried to leave.

“Yessica, vy do you go to Perth vith Leo? Is he your lover?

Jessica laughed hysterically! “God no uncle! You didn't really think that did you?”

“Vell”, Aaro rubbed his hand across his unshaven chin, “Leo is excited to go, so I vondered...”

“Uncle....pa- leese!” She shook her head, “he is just kind enough to give me a lift is all.”

“Then Vy do you go? Vy?”

“Never been there Uncle” her eyes glittered maliciously, “besides, there is unfinished business with Dom's family” she added vehemently.

“Yessica!”

“I will see you in three weeks uncle” she called over her shoulder as she walked back to her car.

Aaro was worried and he had every reason to be.


C Gainsford © Copyright 2011