Five Years Later

Hailey's POV

　　‘Good morning Joe'..I murmured as the mailman dropped two letters in front of my porch..

　　‘Good morning Hailey, still in the house I see??'..He replied and I pursed my lips a bit as his eyes traveled over to the ring on my finger...

　　‘Yep,I'm not feeling too well so I'm not coming to the fair if that's what you're insinuating'..I said after an awkward pass of silence...

　　‘Ohhh no no that's not...Come on Hailey it's been five years give yourself a break and throw that damned ring already'..He grunted...

　　‘It's not as easy as you think Joe i—

　　‘You what Hailey??I'm 53 and I lost Mary 15 years after we got married,you don't see me locking myself up in a room?? You're 25 for heaven's sake and you're still as young and pretty as a flower don't throw that all away?? Go out and socialize Hailey'..He interrupted me and I sniffed a bit...

　　‘It's hard Joe and I live with that pain and guilt everyday, it's my fault he died and—

　　‘Just shut the hell up okay?? You weren't part of the robbers that shot him?? Look Hailey I think of you as my own daughter and I love you very much.... Tomorrow the boys and I are having a Barbecue Afternoon and i want you to stop by'..He interrupted me again and I sighed deeply..

　　‘Joe i—

　　‘No excuses young lady and take that damn ring off,you're no longer married'..He replied and walked away....

Flashback

　　‘Where is he?!! Tell me where is he?!!!'..I screamed at the top of my voice struggling to escape the grasp of Micheal,Jason's best friend...

　　‘He's already been placed in the morgue Hailey I don't think it's a good idea for you to see him'..He replied and I slumped to the ground immediately...

　　‘This can't be true,please don't tell me this is true Micheal please tell me this is a lie Micheal!! Tell me that I'm in a dream and I will soon wake up!! Please tell me it's a lie!!'..I cried out at the top of my voice and he held me pretty tight...

　　‘If I could reverse time I could Hailey,if I could reverse time I really could and I would have stopped him from going to that bakery'..He said...

　　‘It's.. it's all my fault..I..I caused this it's all my fault'..

　　‘No it is not your fault Hailey please don't blame yourself it's not your—

　　‘It's all my fault!! I yelled at him Micheal and he wanted to get me a cake so I wouldn't be so mad and now he's dead!! it's all my fault Micheal!!'...

End Of Flashback

　　No one understands the pain you have to go through when your husband dies just right after you both had a huge fight...

　　Mr and Mrs Bertinelli were also devastated to hear the news knowing that their son died without resolving issues with them and since then they've been a very good support...

　　They do the best they can to support me and I couldn't ask for less...

Jake's POV

　　‘Cheers to a wonderful life of being single and not searching'..I said to the guys who in return clinked their glasses with mine..

　　‘So when are you returning to America??'..Clark asked..

　　‘I don't know man it's been almost 10 years since I left home and I haven't spoken to my parents of my twin brother since then'..I replied and my eyes went downcast immediately...

　　Hearing about my family just reopens old wounds that I certainly do not want..

　　‘Ten years?? You have a twin brother?? Why didn't you tell us this?!!'..Andrew,another friend of mine exclaimed and I pursed my lips..

　　‘It's just a long story,Jason has been like the superhero of the family while I'm just the rebel or should I say black sheep... It's some complicated stuff that I don't want to talk about'..

　　‘Okay so you're returning back when??'.. Clark asked..

　　‘i don't know maybe in a day or twoI think I'm finally ready to return back home and settle the beef I have with my family so cheers to the prodigal return??'..I replied raising my glass up..

　　‘Cheers'..They both replied and I gulped down my glass of wine..

　　It's now or never..

　　I am finally going back home and I don't know what to expect...

Two Days Later

　　A heavy sigh escaped my body as I pulled up in front of the semi detached house which I grew up in...

　　Mom and Dad really don't know when to change huh??..

　　It's still the same from the white washed walls to the small garden in front of the house and the garage still has that ‘BERTINELLI' painting which Jason and I made when we were six...

　　The air is still the same and nothing has absolutely changed about this place..

　　‘Mark I need to get—

　　Mom's voice trailed off as soon as she walked out of the door and spotted me standing in front of my car...

　　‘Hey mom'..I managed to say even though the tension was building up pretty fast between us...

　　‘M...M... Mark... Mark come out and see who's here'..She stuttered and Dad came out still wearing his old baseball hat...

　　‘Well if it isn't runaway Jake,what are you doing here??'...he asked in a grumpy tone..

　　‘Mark are you out of your mind?? it's Jake!! Oh my God Jake you're finally home after all these years'..Mom cried out and hugged me...

　　I inhaled her scent of Lavender roses and tightened my curve around her slim body..

　　After all these years she still smells the same...

　　‘Where is the money you stole from me??'..Dad asked..

　　‘You don't have to worry I've paid it all back,why do you think the bank hasn't called you about the $12,000 loan you borrowed from them??'..I replied..

　　Even after 10 years he still has the same contempt he has for me since I was a kid but it's all okay..

　　The feeling is mutual...

　　‘I never asked you to pay anything and—

　　‘Stop it you two!!! Just stop it okay?!! Mark this is clearly not the time to be doing this it's been ten years since he left and you both want to fight??!'...Mom yelled..

　　‘Yes and it's been five years since Jason died and he didn't bother to show up for the funeral or even call to show any support or concern for Hailey!!!'...Dad fired back and my senses tingled...

　　Did he just say what I hear him say??..

　　‘Wait?!! Who died??'..I asked..

　　‘Ohh don't act like you don't know your brother was killed five years ago'..Dad scoffed and my eyes widened...

　　‘Oh my God Jason is dead?!! Why didn't I hear of this and..Oh my God Jason is dead?!!'...I cried out literally and mom held my right hand...

　　‘It's still a pain Jake,it still hurts but I'm happy now that you've returned'..Mom replied and hugged me while Dad just walked away shaking his head..

　　‘He still hates me after all these years??'..I asked...

　　‘Ohh you know he doesn't hate you Jake,he has never hated you before and he doesn't hate you now,he's happy you've returned Jake'..Mom replied..

　　‘Yeah there's no need to lie mom,i....I uhh I need to see Jason,his grave I mean'..I sighed and she placed her hands on my shoulder...

　　‘I know you both didn't resolve your issues but Hailey might be—

　　‘Who is this Hailey girl y'all are talking about??'..I asked..

　　‘Well he was married three months before he died,even I was surprised cause I never knew that he had a wife...Her name is Hailey'..

Hailey's POV

　　‘Can I get there bouquet of roses please??'..I said to Pam, who now owned the flower store...

　　‘Ohh hey best friend,the one who hasn't visited in what let me think?? Forever?!!'..Pam cried out angrily and I smiled...

　　‘But I was here for your baby shower wasn't I?? I have to go real quick but I'll come back later can I get those flowers??'..I said pointing at the Cadillac flowers...

　　‘You're going to the grave yard aren't you??'..She asked..

　　‘Look Pam i—

　　‘You need to get over this obsession of yours Hailey!! it's been five years and you still go to his graveyard everyday with new flowers!! it's like a garden now Hailey why are you doing this to yourself??'..She asked and I heaved another deep sigh...

　　‘I need to go I'll call later'..I said,grabbed the flowers and headed out the door before she could talk more...

　　Few minutes later I parked my car in front of the town's graveyard and smiled dropping a dollar in Old George's tin can like I always do everyday...

　　I straightened my hair and then walked towards Jason's grave but something strange happened..

　　A man was there and when he turned around...

　　‘Ahhh!!! Ghost!!! Ghost!!!'..I screamed at the top of my voice...