Take me Home - S01 E20

Story 2 years ago

Take me Home - S01 E20

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 20

4 weeks later

Jade was rushing around the house trying to grab everything she needed. Her nerves were a mess, and she struggled to keep her anxiety under control. Stopping for a second Jade took a deep breath remembering where she put her bag. Grabbing it quickly she knew she had to get out of the house before she was late.

Rushing down the 4 flights of stairs she made it outside and luck was defiantly on her side when she could quickly hail down a cab and give him the directions she needed. Taking the time, she now had, Jade took a few deep breaths as she tried to stop her legs from shaking. She was a mess. Her emotions were all over the place, but she had finally found the courage to leave her apartment and get on with her life.

She tried not to think about that fucking prick that used to live next door because whenever she did all she felt was rage. At first, she was upset and soon her sadness turned to anger. If she ever crossed paths with that ungrateful, two-timing, using asshole she would shove her foot up where the sun doesn't shine. Closing her eyes, she pushed the second man in her life to take her heart and rip it out of her chest and focused on here and now.

When the car pulled up to the destination Jade smiled at the cute little house that stood before her. Already she could tell this was a homely place as bikes and toys littered the front yard clear that there were children. Smiling to herself Jade walked up to the door with shaky feet and hesitated for a moment wondering if she wanted to do this. However, before she could turn around and change her mind the door opened and a little girl who peered at her with wide green eyes and hair as black as night.

"Who are you?" Jade felt her throat clog up as she starred at a tiny female version of her brother.

"I was wondering is your Daddy home?" Jade asked after clearing her throat. She watched the little girl who looked to be no older than 6, place her hands on her hips and raise one eyebrow at her.

"My Daddy doesn't talk to strange women, mummy said so." Jade let out a chuckle at how sassy this little girl was a knew without a doubt that she was at the right house. 2

"Emily, how many times do we tell you to not open the door?" A women's voice came through the house and before Jade stood a petite woman smiling brightly at her before picking up her daughter despite her round stomach heavy with child. 5

"Hi sorry about her. Rascal she is. I'm assuming you are Jade." Jade nodded he head and shuffled on her feet.

"Come in, I'm Nicole it's nice to finally meet you. They are out the back I'll show you the way. Emily go put your shoes on, remember we are going to watch Finding Dory today." Nicole put the little girl down and she saw her race off into what she assumed was her room to put her shoes on.

"How far along are you?" Jade asked trying to make conversation as Nicole lead her through her house.

"Six months, I can't wait until the little man arrives. Cheeky little boy has caused nothing but problems and he isn't even born yet ." She rubbed her stomach tenderly and Jade felt her heart tug hoping and wishing that one day she could experience the joys that motherhood bought.

"Do you have any children Jade?" Nicole asked as they reached the back door.

"No," Nicole said nothing as she saw a brief look of sadness cross Jade's face as she opened the back door to an extended room where her husband and father-in-law where waiting

"I'll leave you guys to it. I'm hoping you will stay for dinner Jade, but that is up to you." Nicole left Jade and suddenly she felt extremely nervous. She felt her palms started to sweat and felt a slight tremor in her step as she walked forward into the room where two men she hadn't seen in over 18 years were anxiously waiting for her.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

They all stood there for a moment in an awkward silence as Jade took in the two men who used to be her whole life. The first man she looked at was her father. The years had been good to him and despite his hair starting to thin and grey he still looked very handsome for a man of his age. He still looked like the Jade she remembered only an older wiser version of the man she once knew and adored.

She next looked to her brother whom she hardly recognised. He seemed taller than she remembered and he had lost the once baby face she remembered and instead was a masculine face covered in light, dark facial hair that made him attractive and gave a sense of mystery to him. His eyes were the same light brown that were filled with light and laughter telling her that fatherhood and marriage life agreed with him. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing seemed to come out. She starred at her brother and expected to be filled with joy instead felt anger. 3

"Jade?" Her father was the first to speak in almost a sob that made Jade's fragile heart almost break into two. He took a step forward and before she knew it she was in her father's firm embrace. The same embrace she craved as a child whenever her mother wasn't around.

"Hi Dad." She whispered and felt tears on her shoulder as her father's shoulder shook as he cried tears of happiness, regret and sorrow. She rubbed his back as if he was a small child as he whispered how sorry he was repeatedly for leaving her. Jade wanted to be mad at him, but she knew he had no choice. That her mother forced him to leave. However, she was upset that he never tried to look for her, but found her brother.

When she was younger, she hated her father thinking he no longer loved her, as they were the lies her mother fed her, but as she got older, she realised her father had no choice and if he could've he would've taken Jade with him and away from the women who tormented her most of her life.

She could never hate her father and as she rubbed his back she whispered just that, that she forgave him and understood why he had to leave. This caused her father to cry more before he pulled out of the embrace and smiled at his daughter cupping her face into his hands.

"You're so beautiful and grown up. I will forever hate myself for not being there to see you grow into the beautiful and strong women you are today." Jade felt tears run down her face as her father wiped them away like he used to do when she was a small child.

They both smiled at each other before she looked at her brother and felt a scowl across her face.

Paul knew that Jade would forgive their father because after he left he soon found out why their father really had to leave and he couldn't hold that over his head. However, he knew Jade would struggle to forgive him because he could have taken her, but instead, he was so eager to leave and start a life of his own, he will forever regret that he forgot about his younger sister.

"I'm so sorry Jade." Paul said and Jade shrugged her shoulders and Paul knew he would have to grovel for her forgiveness for leaving her behind.

"I think we should all take a seat." Their father said knowing this would be a raw and heartbreaking talk for the both of them remembering how close they used to be.

Once they took a seat Jade remembered what Helen told her the day before to sit and listen to what they have to say before blowing up, but seeing her brother in the flesh bought back all these unwanted feelings of abandonment and loneliness that she had pushed down and tried to forget all these years.

"You sorry you left or sorry that while in your haste to leave you forgot about me even after I begged you to take me with you." Jade was the first to speak and Paul sighed knowing that was something that he could never forgive himself for.

"I'm sorry for everything Jade. At the time my head wasn't in the right place and that is no excuse I know, but I needed to leave." Jade nodded her head and tried not to let her temper get the better of her.

"You knew what it was like living with her, you knew she was trying to sell me off to older men in order to secure the luxury way of liking she was so accustomed too, yet you still left me with her." Paul hung his head in shame and their father looked at Paul not knowing that part about Fiona trying to sell off her daughter for more money.

"You did what?" Their father roared and Paul was glad that Nicole took Emily to the movies.

"I want thinking straight I had saved up and when the day came I just left, I jumped in my car with all my thing and took off. I wasn't thinking." Jade clenched her fist and unclenched them. She was about to talk, but their father interrupted them.

"I asked you one thing when I left was to look after your sister. You were more than capable of taking her with you at the age of 21 instead you left her there. You lied to me. You told me that when you left Jade wanted to stay with your mother. That she was happy and had a good relationship with your mother." Jade's mouth opened as she stared at her brother. It now made sense why her father didn't try to find her, because all along he believed that Jade loved her mother and wanted to stay with her. She saw red and was about to say something when her brother started talking.

"I was 21 and not thinking. I didn't want to have to look after my 15-year-old sister I shouldn't have had to, if you only fought hard enough you could have gotten custody over the both of us." This time Jade was beyond furious. 12

"Are you fucking kidding me right now? You lied. You told Dad I wanted to stay with Mum then you turn around and blame Dad for your own fuck up. He fought for us. He went to court every day trying to get custody and you know what mum did? She pulled the abuse card right out of her back pocket. She even hit herself for effect so she could get more sympathy from the community so she could get more money for support because poor old Fiona was a victim to a violet man. I found letter's much later on that Dad had written to us over the years saying that he would never stop trying and mum hide those and fed us lies that he no longer loved us. So don't you dare blame him for not trying. You were the one who took off never to be heard from again. You were the one to lie to save your own ass so don't you fucking dare blame Dad for your fuck up" Once Jade finished her face was red and all her anger that she had for her brother seemed to drain out of her and she felt so tired of fighting everyone. She felt tired of people giving up on her and she felt tired of people in particular men letting her down repeatedly.

"I'm going to leave and if you want to stay in contact with me ring me, but if you plan to let me down again don't bother. I am sick of men letting me down." She went to stand up and leave, but her father grabbed her hand and started to plead with his eyes for her not to go.

"Stay Jade please, it's been so long. Please stay so we can talk and see what has been going on. I have already lost you once, I don't want to lose you again, please." Jade felt conflicted a small part of her wanted to leave and leave the decision up to her brother, but a much larger part of her wanted to stay and reconnect with her father after all this time. Not thinking about it too much she nodded her head and sat back down where her father started asking questions about her life and what she was up to and Jade fell into an easy conversation with her Dad about her life and everything he had missed out on.