26 Truths
TRUTHS
Mia
I t’s an exciting day, not only because it’s Christmas, but we found out yesterday that we can finally contact our family and friends and waited until today. I’m dying to talk to Walker, but we decided to open presents first and then start reaching out to people. We both splurged a little more this year, our way to make the crazy shit we’ve been going through a little lighter.
Mom insisted that I call Walker while she starts with the family. As I wait for him to answer, my smile is the biggest it’s been in months.
“Hello?” Hearing his voice again makes my smile even bigger, if possible.
“Walker, it’s Mia.” The words burst from my mouth.
“Holy shit.”
“Oh my gosh, it’s so good to hear your voice. I’ve missed you so much.”
“You have no idea. I just can’t believe it’s really you. Wait, are you back?”
“No, I’m not coming back. I mean, I could, but we decided to stay here. But I can tell you where I am now, and you can come visit whenever you want.”
“Hold up. Why aren’t you coming home? Are you still in the program?”
I filled him in on the last week and how we were released. “Now that we don’t have to hide anymore, we can talk all the time.”
“Then tell me why you’re not coming home. You have friends here, a full ride to SDSU…” The hurt in his voice is something I didn’t prepare myself for.
“They said some people in the program decide to stay in their new life instead of returning to their old one because they’ve settled in, and my mom and I decided to stay.
We’ve made a life here. I’m doing university online, and I love my job. Mom has more free time. It just made sense.”
“Okay, but what about Jackson?”Knowing this was coming doesn’t make it easier.
“What about him? It’s been almost a year, Walker. I’m sure he’s moved on by now.”
“So, let me get this straight—the FBI told you they have someone else to testify, but they didn’t tell you who or how they found him?”
“I’m sure they can’t disclose that information. And it doesn’t matter.” What is up with him?
“It definitely matters.”
I hear him sigh loudly, and I picture him shaking his head.Tears start pooling in my eyes at the thought of not only being too late for Jackson but also for Walker.
“I don’t see why. I’m out. Who cares how? All I care about is that I’m not in the program anymore, and we can talk again. Why are you acting like this?” I’m sure he can hear my tears through the phone.
“Mia, you have no idea… Not a day went by that I didn’t think of you. I’ve missed my best friend, and I’m so happy to hear your voice. I’m upset because there’s more to the story than what they told you.”
“How would you know?” I’m lost. This is not how I thought our first conversation would go.
“Dammit, I can’t believe those assholes didn’t tell you anything.”
“Walker, what are you talking about? What didn’t they tell me?”
“Mia… your dad took your place. He’s going to testify against the boss because he dealt with him before he ran off.”
“What? Did he turn himself in for me? And how would you know this and I don’t?”
“Mia, what did you think Jackson would do when you left? Did you honestly believe he would just take it lying down and not try to find you?”
Talk about a one-eighty. “Can we talk about that later? Explain how you know about my dad.”
“Jackson is the explanation, Mia. Your dad wouldn’t turn himself in because he’s exactly the piece of shit you thought he was.”
“Then how did they get him, and what does Jackson have to do with it?”
“Jackson is the one who found him. He spent the last nine months looking for your dad. The FBI tried to find him before they had you, and they couldn’t, so they made a deal with Jackson.”
“Walker, tell me what’s going on. Why would he do that?”
“Because he never let you go, Mia. He went straight to the FBI after you left, knowing they were involved. They wouldn’t tell him where you were but said if he brought in your dad, they would trade you for him. He’s been searching ever since, and it took him this long to find him.”
“Oh my God!”
“Yeah.” Walker sighs, letting it all sink in for a minute.
“Wait, how do you know all this?”
“Because Jackson came to me two months after you left, asking if I knew anything about your dad or where he might be. You never talked about him, so I wasn’t any help. He was in bad shape, Mia.”
I’m speechless, tears falling while I try to articulate words. Luckily, Walker keeps talking so I don’t have to.
“Anyway, he finally found him a couple of weeks ago and dragged his ass in. Instead of the FBI releasing you like he expected, they told him you weren’t coming back. They refused to tell him where you were, but he caused enough trouble that they agreed to let him see you.”
“When? I haven’t heard from him. Is he coming here?” I can’t believe I’m going to see him again.
“He was already there. An agent escorted him to your work so he could see for himself that you were okay. That was last Saturday. They told him you’d moved on, and whatever he saw through the window confirmed it.”
I’m thinking back when it hits me—it wasn’t his doppelg?nger I saw across the street; it was Jackson himself. I’m picturing what he would’ve seen between Jeff and me: the laughing, massaging, kiss of my hand. Crap. It was the day I decided to try harder to move on.
“Oh my God, Walker, it wasn’t what it looked like. We’ve only been on one date and didn’t even kiss—I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was forcing myself to try because I assumed Jackson had already moved on. The only reason I wanted to stay here is because going home to see him with somebody else would’ve killed me.”
“Now that you know the truth, what are you going to do about it?”
“I don’t know. I’m so confused. You don’t know how hard it was to make this decision. I was trying to take a step in the right direction. I’m so lost right now.”
“I’m sorry, Mia. I can’t imagine what you’ve had to deal with. I’m sure it isn’t easy to have a whole new reality thrown at you. All I can say is, I’ve talked to Jackson enough to know that he would never have given up until he saw you last Saturday.”
My mind is spinning after the phone call with Walker. We talked for a while longer about his life and what was happening, all while still in a daze. He said he’d plan a trip to visit after graduation. My stomach is in knots as I wait for Mom to finish the phone call she’s on. Right when the word “bye” leaves her mouth, I walk around the corner.
“Mom, the witness who took our place was Dad.” I blurt, needing to get it off my chest.
“I figured as much.” She sighs. “That was Carmen. She said Jackson was there looking for information about your father.”
“In Puerto Rico? When?” Walker didn’t tell me how Jackson found my dad, only that it took a long time. I didn’t think about everything he went through.
“Not long after we left. He visited every one of our relatives to see if anyone knew anything about your dad and where he might be. They said he was desperate.”
“Oh my God. I can’t believe he went there. He could’ve just called.”
She smiles softly. “Maybe you’re not the only one who hasn’t moved on, honey.”
“I’m not. Walker told me he thought the FBI would bring me back if he brought Dad in, but they didn’t tell me that. I’m so mad. Why would they keep that from me?”
“I’m not sure, mija, but now that you know, what do you want to do?”
“I need to see him, tell him how I feel… I need to apologize.”
“Well, then, let’s find you the next flight home.” She reaches for her phone.
Home…please tell me I’m not dreaming .
Wait—did she just say… “Now?”
“What is there to stop you? Mia, this is the most hopeful I’ve seen you in months. Do what you need to do. I’m not going anywhere, and I want to see you happy. Do this for me.”
Jackson
I’m at my parent’s house for Christmas, trying not to make everyone else miserable as we sit around the dinner table. Since Lily is practically family, and Sebastian and Eli don’t have any left, they’re also here. Seeing the couple in their newlywed bliss makes me want to stab my eye out with a fork while trying to maintain the smile I’ve got pasted on. I’m tempted to have a repeat of my night in Vegas, but the worry on Cici’s and Mom’s faces stops me.
One bright spot to being home is seeing my parents and Cici in the same room together. At least something good came out of the last nine months. It didn’t happen quickly, but it sounds like Cindy had a hand in getting them to reconcile. I’m glad they’ve mended things; having people you love on opposite sides of the fence is rough.
“So, what’s your plan now that I’m back? Are you sticking around for a while or heading back to Bozeman soon?” I ask Cici.
“Are you trying to get rid of me already?” she quips.
“No, but I feel bad for keeping you here so long. I figured you’d be ready to go home.” I notice she looks not only at my parents but in Eli’s direction.
“I’m not sure I’m ready per se, but I do have to go back at some point since all my stuff is still there, and I still have my condo. Even though I was subleasing, I renewed my lease for another year four months ago, plus I like my job there.”
“You can do real estate anywhere, honey. San Diego is a good market, and you know so many people here,” Mom chimes in, which surprises me, considering the last time I saw that happen, it ended in fireworks. They’ve come a long way.
“I know. I’m not sure what I want to do.” I don’t miss her subtle look in Eli’s direction once again, and I plan to ask him about it later.
I let my mind wander from the conversation, imagining what it would be like having Mia here—the stolen kisses around the corner, showing her my bedroom… my bed. My gut churns when reality rears its head, knowing she’s doing that with someone else.
A vibration in my pocket interrupts me from continuing down that rabbit hole. Odd, since anyone who would call me on Christmas Day is currently seated at this table. Pulling my phone out, I see Walker’s name on the screen.
“Sorry, I need to take this,” I tell the room as I leave to go somewhere private.
“Walker?” I answer once I’m alone.
“Hey, Jackson.” His voice tells me why he’s calling.
“You heard from her, didn’t you?” Another knife to the gut, knowing I didn’t—won’t.
“Yeah, I just hung up.”
My silence speaks more than words.
“It’s not what you think. Listen, they didn’t tell her whose testimony they were taking in place of hers, and they didn’t tell her how they got it.” His words sink in slowly.
“What do you mean, they didn’t tell her? Are you fucking serious right now?” My blood is boiling.
“She had no idea. Not a clue that you spent the last nine months tracking the son of a bitch down.”
“Did you tell her?”I ask, hoping he did.
“Of course. She deserves to know. It shocked the shit out of her. Not only about her dad but about you being the one who found him. She’s confused about the whole thing.”
“What is there to be confused about?”
“All this time, she assumed you had moved on and were probably with someone else by now. She was trying to do the same but had only been on one date with that guy, and nothing happened.”
“So what are you saying? That she hasn’t moved on? Because if that’s the case, I’ll go clear up her confusion right now.”
“I figured you’d say that… which is why I got her address for you. Merry fucking Christmas.”
I’m in a daze as I rejoin the table after hanging up with Walker.
“Jackson, who was that?” Cici asks when I sit down.
“It was Walker, Mia’s best friend. She called him today.” Pity fills everyone’s faces at once.
“I’m sorry, honey,” Mom says.
“No, it was good.” I shake my head. “I still can’t believe it.”
“Believe what? What did he say?” Eli asks.
“They didn’t tell Mia who replaced her or how. They simply told her she was being released because they had a better witness. She had no idea about her dad or that I was the one to track him down.”
“That’s crap,” my dad says angrily.
“Did Walker tell her? What did she say?” Eli adds.
They all fire off questions, but Cici has the most important one. “But, Jackson, does it matter? I thought she was with someone else.”
I repeat what Walker told me.
“Now that you know, what are you going to do?” Eli asks.
“You need to go talk to her. Show up at her work and tell her how you feel. Get her back,” Lily chimes in, surprising me.
“Walker got her address for me, so I’ll be showing up on her doorstep,” I tell them.
“Then go. What are you waiting for? Oooh, I’m so excited!” Cici claps her hands, beaming.
“I don’t need to leave on Christmas. She’s not going anywhere. I’ve waited this long. I can handle one more day.” Not really, but I can’t walk out on Christmas.
“Jackson,” my mom interjects, “you’ve waited long enough. Go.”
That’s all I need to hear to get my ass moving.
It took twenty minutes on the phone with the credit card concierge to find out I wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow afternoon, whether I left on tonight’s flight or the one in the morning. The city Mia chose, Presque Isle, is literally the farthest airport possible from San Diego, if we’re not counting Alaska. Not to mention, only one airline flies in and out.
I was deflated, but it allowed me to finish Christmas Day with a few smiles making an appearance. All night, my head was occupied with what I would say, how to apologize, what it would feel like to hold her in my arms—whether she’d let me.
The dark circles under my eyes this morning prove I didn’t sleep. I’m walking to my gate two hours early with only my wallet and the clothes on my back after Cici dropped me off. I’m usually the guy who’s rushing through security, arriving right before boarding, but I was too eager to get here. Today, I’ll happily wait for the chance to see Mia again. After 291 days, what’s a few more hours?
Mia
We found a flight out late that afternoon, which is a miracle considering only one airline services our small area. The bad news is that it was an overnight layover with a flight so early in the morning that I decided to stay at the Newark airport and wait it out. It was a long night of head bobbing.
It gave me time to call Jeff and explain what was happening. I felt terrible, but he was more understanding than I expected. He was blown away by the whole story and sympathized with what I had been through. Having witnessed my behavior since I’d arrived, he said it made a lot of sense now. Hanging up the phone was like ending a conversation with a good friend, and I see us continuing that way.
All night, I recited lines about what I’d say to Jackson. How I needed to apologize in person before anything else and then tell him thank you, which isn’t nearly enough. I still can’t comprehend how he gave up so much time, his entire life, to find my dad, and that he did it all for me. Could it be because he still loves me? Or maybe that’s wishful thinking. What if Walker misread him, and he only did it because he felt responsible for the situation in the first place?
Questions like that have been swirling in my mind the entire way here, and now that I’ve finally arrived in San Diego, I’m about to get the answers I’m desperate for. It’s surreal being back. The last time I walked through this airport was with a sense of hopelessness, and now it’s with hope. The anxiousness, though, remains the same.
I’m so close, taking the last moving walkway before exiting security, when my heart stops as I spot someone on the left side, freezing me in my tracks. The guy behind bumps into me and yells, “What the heck, lady? Can you move over if you’re just going to stand there?”
He’s so loud that it causes everyone to look over, and that’s when I lock eyes with Jackson for the first time in 291 days.