My family was crunched up against the door eavesdropping to the point they practically fell in when Jackson finally opened it moments later.
“Oh….um, sorry,” William stammered with Olivia and my mother leaning right over him.
“We were just… well…um,” my mother looked embarrassed. “Would you like some dessert, Mr. Jackson? Sarah has made the best pumpkin pie and we also have some whip cream chocolate cake. It is Sarah’s specialty,” she attempted to recompose herself.
Both of us couldn’t help but laugh at them. “That would be wonderful,” Jackson glowed.
He took my hand and we walked back into the front room when there was another knock at the front door. Eddie hurried to answer it while the others smothered us, congratulating us on our reunification.
“I am glad to see the two of you together,” Emily’s voice rang out as she approached us. She wrapped her arms tightly around me and then her son. “This is wonderful. I am guessing that the wedding is back on?”
I smiled and nodded. I could not seem to stop smiling. Everyone was suddenly talking all at once, but the only thing I could concentrate on was the fact that I was standing beside Jackson and his arms were wrapped tightly around me.
His parents and siblings and their families had all followed Jackson back from Boston. From what I could gather from the numerous conversations that were taking place simultaneously was that they had left shortly after they had realized he was missing. It seems they were unsure as to what kind of reception he was going to receive upon his intrusion on our holiday. The bits and pieces I was hearing was that my brothers were apparently more protective of me than I had ever realized.
As the evening settled in and Jackson and I snuggled up on the lounge by the hearth surrounded by our family and loved ones, I found my peace and solace. This is exactly where I belonged. It really did not matter which plane we were on, as long as I had Jackson beside me, I knew I would be happy.
APPENDIX
2009
The Timmons
Shane Douglas, VP Compliance of Chicago General
Amy Marie, Pediatrician at Chicago General
Sidney Harper, Sophomore at Northwestern University
Jocelyn Alyssa, Senior in high school
Ethan Jude, Junior in high school
The Chandlers
Robert Abraham, Corporate Attorney
Emily Jade, Novelist
Alexander Nolan, Divorce Attorney in Boston
Leslie, Alexander’s wife
Lucinda, Alexander & Leslie’s six-year-old daughter
Charlie, Alexander & Leslie’s four-year-old son
Phoebe Rochelle, Criminal Attorney in Boston
Carson Adler, Phoebe’s husband
Wallace, Phoebe and Carson’s one-year-old son
Jackson Wyatt, Senior in high school/Studying law at Boston University
The Burks
Craig, Jenna’s father
Melinda, Jenna’s mother
Jenna, Jocelyn’s best friend/Dating Kyle/Volleyball, Basketball player
The Clausens
Brett, Kyle’s father
Sonya, Kyle’s mother
Kyle, Jenna’s boyfriend/Senior in high school
Brandon, Kyle’s brother/Freshman in high school
Friends
Caitlyn Buchanan, Zac’s girlfriend/Volleyball, Basketball, Softball player/Senior
Zak Engling, Caitlyn’s boyfriend/Quarterback, Point Guard/Senior
Hilary Wade, Cody’s girlfriend/Volleyball, Basketball player/Senior
Cody Porter, Hilary’s boyfriend/Wide receiver, small forward/Senior
Mariah Jones, Ethan’s ex-girlfriend/Junior
Corbin Stewart, Hailey’s boyfriend, Ethan’s best friend/Junior
Hailey Collins, Corbin’s girlfriend/Junior
Taylor Perry, Jocelyn’s nemesis/Cheerleader/Senior
Dakota Anderson, Taylor’s sidekick/Cheerleader/Senior
Coaches/Teachers
Coach Smith, Volleyball & Girls Basketball Coach/Teaches English Lit 9
Coach Shelburne, Football Coach/Teaches computer programing
Coach Minnick, Boys Basketball Coach/ Teaches algebra
Mr. Rand, Teaches AP psychology
Mrs. Neal-Beliveau, Teaches AP biology
Mrs. Killian, Teaches Jocelyn’s English Lit 12
Mrs. Runyon, Teaches Jackson’s English Lit 12
Mr. Dunn, Teaches chemistry
Mrs. Ulbright, Teaches history
Principal Julia Cosgrove
1878
The Timmons
Patrick Michael, Physician
Annabelle Nichole, Married to Patrick/Jocelyn’s mother
Patrick Michael II, Physician
Katherine, Patrick II’s wife
Jonathon Niles, Physician
Lizette, Jonathon’s wife
Isaac, Jonathon & Lizette’s nine-year-old son
Louisa, Jonathon & Lizette’s eight-year-old daughter
Derek, Jonathon & Lizette’s four-year-old son
James Henry, Attorney
Rachael, James’ wife
Abbigail, James & Rachael’s five-year-old daughter
Aiden, James & Rachael’s three-year-old son
Hannah, Housekeeper/Nanny
William Arthur, Married to Olivia Adams/First year at Northwestern University
Jocelyn Alyssa, Engaged to Jackson Chandler
The Timmons Household
Eddie, Stableman/Married to Mimi/Cora’s dad
Mimi, Manages the household/Married to Eddie/Cora’s mom
Cora, Housekeeper/Daughter of Eddie and Mimi
Sarah, Cook
Missy, Housekeeper
The Chandlers
Robert Abraham, Attorney
Emily Jade, Married to Robert/Jackson’s mother
Alexander Nolan, Attorney
Veronica, Alexander’s wife
Casper, Alexander & Veronica’s six-year-old son
Wyatt, Alexander & Veronica’s five-year-old son
Kyra, Alexander & Veronica’s three-year-old daughter
Phoebe Rochelle
Silas Monroe, Phoebe’s husband/School teacher
Wallace, Phoebe & Silas’ one-year-old son
Katie, The Monroe’s housekeeper/Nanny
Jackson Wyatt, Law School at Northwestern University
The Chandler Household
Barnaby, Stableman/Married to Carly
Susan, Housekeeper
Carly, Cook/Married to Barnaby
Norma, Housekeeper
The Adams
Harriett, Married to Benjamin
Olivia, Jocelyn’s best friend/Married to William
Kincade, Olivia’s seven-year-old brother
Oscar, Olivia’s four-year-old brother
Grady, The Adams’ stableman
The Cains
Henry, Owns the mercantile
Molly, Married to Henry
Laurie, Friend of Jocelyn’s/Theodore’s girlfriend
Quintin, Laurie’s five-year-old brother
Gracie, The Cain’s housekeeper
The Maddoxes
Elmer, Elizabeth’s father
Ester, Elizabeth’s mother
Easton, Elizabeth’s twenty-year-old brother
Elizabeth, Jocelyn’s friend/Lee’s girlfriend
Edwin, Elizabeth’s sixteen-year-old brother
Elijah, Elizabeth’s fourteen-year-old brother
Elisa, Elizabeth’s eight-year-old sister
Sabina, The Maddox’s housekeeper
The Donaldsons
George, Carpenter/Married to Corrine
Corrine, Married to George
Josiah, Dimitri’s twenty-five-year-old brother
Dimitri, formerly engaged to Maryanne
Calliope, Dimitri’s sixteen-year-old sister
Ingri
d, Dimitri’s fourteen-year-old sister
Friends
Christina Bowden, Jocelyn’s friend/Thomas’ girlfriend
Thomas Reynolds, Christina’s boyfriend
Theodore Norris, Laurie’s boyfriend
Maryanne Kendrick, Formerly engaged to Dimitri/Jocelyn’s nemesis
Sean Preston, Dimitri’s best friend/Died of pneumonia in Spring 2009/Formerly engaged to Olivia Adams
Lee Miller, Elizabeth Maddox’s boyfriend/Architect
Mr. Grahame, History teacher
AUTHOR BIO
A. L. Waddington completed her undergraduate studies at University of Texas Dallas and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She graduated from IUPUI with a BS in psychology. She is an avid reader, enjoys spending time in her gardens and watching the Indianapolis Colts. A. L. and her husband, Ty have a son, two daughters, a puppy, and an oversized cat. They reside in Indiana.
PREVIEW OF
PERCEPTION
THE EVE SERIES, BOOK THREE
Chapter 1
Thursday, November 26, 2009: Thanksgiving Day
THE SUN WAS FIGHTING TO BREAK FREE of the clouds that insisted upon hanging around when I opened my eyes and jumped out of bed. I rushed over to the bay window and threw the curtains aside. Fear and doubt ripped at my heart the moment my eyes rested on Jackson’s house across the street. It appeared as dark and empty as it had for the last several days.
I slumped into the cushions feeling confused and lonely. I was sure he would have come back. I knew we had worked things out in our other life. I closed my eyes and rested my head against the cold glass. I could still feel the warmth of his arms around me as we stood in my father’s study there. The soft warm caress of his lips upon mine… How could he not be here? I was so sure that he’d be waiting for me when I awoke. Perhaps he had decided that he only wanted me there? Maybe he thought I was too much trouble to deal with here because of my family’s reaction to us?
“It’s about time you got up sleepy head.” My sister Sidney came bouncing into my room.
“What?” I hadn’t realized she had returned home from Northwestern. “Oh, hey Sid. When did you get home?”
“Late last night. How ya doin?” she plopped down on the other side of the window seat.
“Good. How’s school?” I didn’t know what to say to her. We had never been close sisters.
“Same ol’, same ol’,” she shrugged. “Classes, exams, papers, cheerleading.”
“Sounds fun.” I turned back to gazing out the window at the empty house across the way.
“Dad said you were having a rough time of it lately,” she said softly. “I’m sorry you and Jackson broke up. He seemed like a nice guy.”
“He is.”
“You know Jocelyn, it’s probably just as well ‘cause there are tons of guys at college and I’m telling ya, you don’t want to be married and tied down before you even have the chance to live.” She tried to smile but didn’t pull it off so well.
“Sid, it’s not over yet. We just had an argument. I’m sure we’ll work it out.” I wanted my voice to sound confident even though I was no longer feeling it myself.
“Why would you want to get married at eighteen?” she wrinkled up her forehead at me.
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Guess you’re right about that. I still have two years left of my undergrad work, let alone med school. I can’t imagine being stuck with a husband,” she laughed. “Hell, I’m barely able to juggle a boyfriend.”
“You’re getting serious with someone?” The mere thought was intriguing. Sidney always had boyfriends, but never anyone whom she would keep longer than she deemed necessary.
“Yeah…” she grinned from ear to ear. “He’s downstairs. I brought him home for the weekend to meet the family.”
“You’re brave.”
“Yeah, but he’s special.” A look I’d never seen passed briefly over her face and then was gone.
“How so?” I asked, curious as to what she deemed as special.
“He’s sweet, considerate, kind,” she blushed. “He understands me, my goals and supports them rather than trying to deter me from my studies. Of course, he wants to be a doctor too, so we have a lot of the same classes. Which is nice because then we get to study together.”
“Does he have a name?” I laughed at her giddiness.
“Oh yeah, his name is…” she wrinkled her nose. “Don’t laugh. It’s Landon Atticus Harrison.”
“What?” I busted out laughing despite myself.
“I know!” she laughed and doubled over, burying her face in her lap for a moment. “It’s awful, isn’t it! I know….”
“Does his mother not like him?”
“I don’t think she did.” Sidney squirmed around. “I mean his brother has a perfectly normal boring name…David William.” She threw her arms up in despair. “Then she comes up with Landon Atticus!”
“Talk about child abuse.”
“Really! Well, she’s an English teacher,” she shrugged again.
“Sounds to me like she’s read too many classics. Isn’t Atticus the name of the father in To Kill a Mockingbird?”
“He told me that’s where she got it from. Apparently it’s her favorite book. Thankfully, he’s really cute. Otherwise, the poor man would never have stood a chance in this world.” She stood up and walked back over to the door. “Anyway, get yourself cleaned up and come downstairs. I’m dying for you to meet him.”
“All right.” I got up myself. “I’ll be down in a sec.”
She disappeared behind the closed door, and the room went silent. I turned back around for one final look out the window. Nothing had changed. I was glad Sidney was home. It had felt so good to laugh again and I hoped that her presence would ease the tension that hung over the house. I even hoped that with her being here it might open the door between my mother and me. I gathered up my clothes and headed to the shower.
My brother, Ethan, and my father, Shane, were already watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade with Sidney and Landon when I came downstairs. The two of them were cuddled together looking very sweet. I could tell even though he was seated that Landon was over six feet tall. He had broad shoulders, dirty blond hair, pale blue eyes, and was clean-shaven. The two of them looked like the classic copy of Ken and Barbie.
After brief introductions, I curled up on the corner of the couch with my morning coffee. Everyone was lounging around in pajamas and stocking feet barely conscious. It was only nine o’clock in the morning. I couldn’t believe that my family was up this early on a holiday.
Landon and Sidney wandered back into the kitchen to refill their coffee when I heard her burst out laughing and return stumbling into the family room. “Hey Dad, you’ll love this. Landon just asked how come the turkey isn’t in the oven.”
The three of us joined her laughter while Landon stood there looking confused. “I’m sorry, Landon. We’re honestly not laughing at you. It’s just, well, my wife doesn’t cook. Our Thanksgiving dinner is prepared by Kroger’s. I’ll pick it up about two.”
“Oh,” Landon stuttered.
“I told you my mom can’t cook. It’s better to let someone else prepare it. That way none of us gets food poisoning.” Sidney returned to her spot on the opposite end of the couch and Landon slowly joined her.
“Where is Mom?” I looked over at my dad.
“Asleep,” he grinned. “You probably won’t see her until noon. She didn’t get home from the hospital until almost three this morning.”
Ethan grumbled something I didn’t quite hear before stuffing his face with another donut. He looked over at me and grinned. I gave him a questioning look, but he just shook his head and mouthed “later” at me. I shrugged and turned back towards the television. It was going to be a long day.
Looking around at my huddled family relaxing over our version of a holiday breakfast, a box of mixed Duncan Donuts and coffee, the drastic differences between my
two families slapped me in the face. Never once in my memory of anything there had my family been so utterly informal. Lounging around dressed sloppily on a holiday and eating in front of the television was something I couldn’t even fathom. A holiday there consisted of dressing up, extended family, home cooked dishes and desserts all centered round a big dining room table. Here, I knew we’d be pulling out the TV trays and munching all day while watching football.
By noon I was bored to tears. No one had really moved in hours and the only thing that had changed was the channel on the television. I wished Jenna was home, but I knew she had gone with her parents to her grandparents’ house in Indianapolis. She wouldn’t be home until Sunday evening at the earliest. Plus, both Caitlyn and Hilary were busy with their own families’ versions of Thanksgiving. I pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped it tightly around myself before drifting off into a lazy nap.
A commotion awoke me about half past one. I heard Ethan arguing with someone in the foyer to the point that my dad got up to investigate. Sidney and I looked at each other while I tried to make some sense of what was going on.
“Please, will you just tell her I am here?” I suddenly recognized Jackson’s voice.
“Don’t you think you’ve done enough? Leave her alone!” Ethan shouted.
I leapt to my feet and ran towards the front door as I heard my father respond, “Ethan, that is not for you to decide. Don’t be rude. I’m sorry Jackson.”
“Jackson!” I squealed and practically jumped into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him repeatedly about his face. He laughed while both my brother and father stood there stunned and confused.
“Well... we’ll leave you two alone. Come on, Ethan,” Dad uttered and dragged my brother back into the family room.
“I see events are becoming clearer,” Jackson laughed. “I was worried I might have to try and explain everything to you.”
“Not necessary,” I said, my arms still draped over his shoulders. “I’m so glad you’re here. What about your family?”
“They came with me,” he smiled. “All of them.”
“Alex and Phoebe?”
He nodded.
“Really?” I couldn’t believe it. “They probably think we’re insane,” I laughed.
“No, just in a relationship,” he laughed. “Misunderstandings are bound to happen occasionally.”