CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

After coming in, it takes Jane few minutes to realize the changes in the house.

She turns around, letting her eyes sweep through the room.

She exhales lightly, " just like dad would." She says beneath her breath.

" Do you like it?" Mrs Melody's voice came from behind her.

She turns around to find her mom standing behind her with a smile on her face. She stares at her mom with a frown, " what's the meaning of this?" She asks irritated.

Her mom was taken aback by her remarks and somewhat disappointed.

" I just thought that you'd like it since your dad would always decorate the house this way." She explained.

" You suddenly seem to remember everything don't you?" Jane scoffs.

" What exactly do want from me?" Mrs Melody asked with a slightly raised tone of voice.

" Wow mom, just wow. Well sorry to disappoint you, I don't need anything from you because you weren't there when I did need you so I guess I stopped expecting anything from you."

" Jane!" Mrs Melody yelled furiously.

" What? Does the truth hurt? Well I do hope it does. And I pray that the pain will haunt you every minute of your life."

Mrs Melody stared at Jane with misty eyes, " stop it, please." She pleaded, with a chocked voice.

" Why should I mom? Why?" Jane screamed.

" First you stayed away from me until I lost my dad and now you want to be my mom? My mother is dead okay. I don't have a mom." Jane shouted as tears rolled down her cheeks.

" I've had just about enough Jane. If you love your father so much why don't you go live with him?" Mrs Melody blurts out. She regrets her words immediately after they left her lips but it was too late to take it back.

Jane stares at her mom with wide eyes, surprise and disbelief registered on her face. Yes, she and her mom always fought but she never thought her mom would say a thing like that.

" Yes. I'll stay with dad. I'm sure he's a million times better than you could ever be." She clenched her jaws.

" Jane, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that,"

" Well I'm sorry too." She says and ascends the stairs.

She sat on the floor, her back to her bedframe. In her hand was a picture of her and her father. She stare at the picture with tearful eyes. " I miss you dad." She hugs the picture tightly.

"If you love your father so much why don't you go live with him?" Her mom's words rang in her head like bells.

She takes out her box, puts in a few clothes and money from her savings.

She wipes her tears, " bye mom."

Jane knew her mom would still be in the living room so she grabbed a rope from her closet and went through the window.

She sat on a bench at the information panel staring at the screens. Her train arrived at the station about thirty minutes late, she grabs her box after taking one final glance, " goodbye mom, goodbye Lina, goodbye winter woods." She mutters before entering the train.

Jane stared outside, she never thought she'd ever have to leave winter woods. The town held most of her memories, leaving the town created a void in her heart yet she couldn't turn back now.

The train went on for hours and she would doze off every now and then.

Finally the train stopped, ' thank God.' she breathed.

Her legs felt stiff from sitting for so long.

Even though the town was near winter woods, it was way bigger and better.

After settling on a bench by the exit, Jane picks her phone to call her dad, " please pick up dad," she repeated over and again. Like the heavens were listening because he picked up at the last ring.

" Hello,"

" Hello dad, its Jane," she said with a lot of enthusiasm.

" Jane? Why are you calling?" He asked and she could hear the displeasure in his voice.

She suddenly felt scared, ' did she make the wrong choice?'

" Um.. dad I'm at the train station could you please come over to pick me up?"

" What? What are you doing here?"

" I.. I.. I just wanted to surprise you," she stumbled over her words.

" I'm on my way" he dropped the phone.

Jane studied as people came in and out, some couples and families and their children.

Minutes became hours and her father had not shown up. She was starting to feel a pit in her stomach, her mom had disappointed her before and she really hoped that her father won't do the same.

" All I want is to enjoy Christmas once again, is it too much to ask?" She buried her face in her palm.

" Jane?"

That voice, she knew that voice. She raises her head slowly hoping she was right. She smiles happily, it was her dad. He did care, she didn't mind if he came late at least he showed up.

She runs to him and envelopes him in a tight hug. He pulls away almost immediately.

" Dad what's wrong?"

" Nothing, let's go."

After putting on her sit belt, " dad could we have ice cream?"

" No, I still have work to do." He replied without looking at her.

She smiles, trying not to get discouraged.

" How about when you come back? "

" I'm working overnight today."

" Its okay. I understand."

Mr. James dropped Jane off at a penthouse. " Do you stay here?"

" Sometimes." He replied simply.

" Sometimes?" Her brows creased.

" No. What I meant is that I'd like to have ice cream with you sometime soon."

" Thanks dad." She smiled.

Mr. James leaves after showing her to her room.