by Debbie Civil
Chapter 39
Jake
Chelsea has abandoned justice for sanity. What is this? I understand the need to protect her parents, but what about Amy? She had a family. People are pissed off because she’s dead.
“Chelsea I…”
“Not now Jake. I’ll talk to you later,” she hisses. Her mother has calmed down. She’s pulled out a designer suitcase and is packing her clothing. Carmen has left the room. I won’t leave the head case alone with Chelsea. She strikes when the victim is unaware. Thank goodness Uncle Ben heard the commotion because he helped Kenny to the elevator. They are on their way to the hospital as we speak. Uncle Kenny probably needs stitches. It’s a good thing that we came when we did.
“What about them, Chelsea? They won’t all keep their mouths shut.”
“It won’t matter Mom. You’ll be long gone,” Chelsea tells her mother with confidence. The woman shakes her head at her daughter.
“They could expedite me back to America. And even if they don’t, we won’t be able to see each other for a while. You have to testify for the trials,” Kate reasons.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m a big girl. I do have Peter.” Peter Jacobs will not go along with this. He may be passive, but he has a strong moral code. I hope that Chelsea is considering this.
“Okay. Well, get going children. I’m going to take a nap after I pack. I’m really tired,” Kate says. Chelsea and I walk into the hallway and Kate shuts the door behind us. Carmen is most likely at the hospital. As bad as I want to follow her, I’ve got to hold the ship down until Mrs. Philips returns home. The woman had gone to some sort of afternoon tea at some rich old lady’s house. She’ll talk sense into Chelsea. I’m quite sure about that. This is why I’m not bothering to lecture the frantic girl.
“I have to make some arrangements,” Chelsea tells me as we enter the elevator.
“Apparently so. Are you going to tell Peter about this?” Chelsea pales.
“I don’t know. He doesn’t like Mom that much. He’ll probably turn her into the police. That’s why I never mentioned that she killed Amy,” Chelsea tells me and I’m truly worried
For her.
“Can you believe it. For the first time in my life, I’m going to be away from my mother. I’ll miss her but…
“What about your Uncle Kenny? What are you going to say to him?” I’m an idiot. I had told myself to stay out of this and let Mrs. Philips handle it but then I opened my mouth.
“Jake, what about him? He’ll live,” Chelsea tells me as the elevator dings. We both get off the third floor and stop dead in our tracks. Peter is leaning against the wall, his eyes staring at Chelsea. He knows everything. My guess is that Carmen must have tipped him off.
“Don’t,” Chelsea hisses.
“You made me promise not to keep any secrets from you, Chelsea. You made me promise to be honest with you. And you promised me the same. How long has this been going on?” He’s angry, I can tell by the stiffness of his shoulders.
“I knew the night before Eli’s wedding. I…”
“Was never going to tell me,” Peter fills in, resigned.
“You're already going through enough, Peter. I didn’t want to drag you through any more drama. I didn’t want you to…”
“Turn your mother in,” Peter says, interrupting Chelsea.
“No. I…”
“Chelsea, I…” I want to leave. But something in my gut is telling me not to.
“Peter, I’m sorry. But Mom can’t go to jail. What are we going to tell our grandchildren? How will we explain everything? How…”
“Chelsea, what about Emma Gallagher? How do you think she feels?” Chelsea frowns, as if she hadn’t considered an answer. She thinks for a while and then relief fills her face.
“She won’t blame me. She should know. Losing a mother is difficult.” Chelsea reasons. And I know that talking her out of this latest stunt will take a while.
