The rain splattered in the Louisiana mud.
All over my brand new shoes that were only purchased for today.
I pinch the fabric of my cotton dress with my left hand, peeling the skin of my thumb slightly on the umbrella handle with my right.
What was he doing here? How could he think this was okay?
Yet even after the service he didn’t leave, just stood there, his other daughter beside him.
“Not many people hang out at funerals this long.” I growl out, but I wished there had been more venom to it.
He stuffs his hands in his pockets, the girl beside him holding their umbrella. She didn’t look like she wanted to be here, or maybe slightly embarrassed to be.
“I figured now was a better time than any.” He says without any distinct tone.
“How could you possibly think that?”
“Jolene, this is Pacifica. Pacifica, Jolene.” He introduces me to her, like I didn’t already know about her. About him.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and shake my head, turning away.
“This is pathetic. You are pathetic. I’m not doing this. Not now or ever.” I reject flatly.
“Yes, well, Pacifica insisted.”
I furrow my brows, now turning back around to face them.
“What? Her? Let me guess. You wanna make up for the fact that your dad sucks? Cool. Good for you. I don’t want more money. I don’t want an offer. I don’t want anything from y—“
“I thought you could use some family.” Pacifica finally speaks.
Preston lets out a long sigh, his arms crossed.
“I’ll be in the car then.” He replies and walks away.
I watch him peel off, my eyes narrowed, every nerve under my skin burning.
“Why did he bring you here? He’s avoided me my whole life— my whole life. Why would he agree to something so fucking stupid, you’re what? 16? Filled with stupid little ideas, meddling in things you have no right to meddle in.”
I watch the girls face contort a bit, her chin quivering before she straightens herself out, determined.
“Yeah. 16.” She says as she wipes her tears before taking a deep breath.
“That doesn’t mean I can’t be the bigger person. My boyfriend thought this… meeting you, that it could be good for me. So he helped me look into it. Into you, and that’s when I saw Vera’s obituary.”
I rub the center of my forehead and close my eyes.
“I just don’t understand why he agreed to this. To come to her funeral. Like he didn’t just… discard her. Discard me.”
“He lost everything. Well, almost. We’re still rich as dirt but, the reputation, the mansion, they’re all gone. He’s trying… maybe not for you, but— for me.” She replies.
“Well aren’t you lucky.” I snort.
“No… I mean, not really. Growing up the way I did, sure, it had its benefits, but there’s so much more to it than a nuclear family and money. You get to carry this last name without repercussion. I didn’t have that.”
I open my eyes again and frown.
“So what? You wanna be pen pals?”
“I want you to move to Gravity Falls. Get to know me, help me break the crappy cycle, and maybe, if you’re up to it, get to know him.” She gestures her head toward the town car.
I gaze over in its direction, the windows are mostly tinted, but it’s almost like I can see his shadow through the frosted glass.
“That place is a hellscape to me. Why would I do that?”
“First of all, you moved away before you were even like… two. Second, when looking you up, I noticed your best friend moved out of state over the winter, your aunt died last year, cousins are all off starting families of their own—“
“Are you some sort of fucking… professional stalker?”
“My boyfriend’s really good at detective work.” She says with a proud smile.
“I can’t really afford a move right now, kid.”
“Dad offered to get you a studio apartment above the biker bar. It’s cheap and sort of run down but,” she looks around the cemetery, “we spent last night in the quarter. I wouldn’t say this place is much better... I really want you in my life, Jolene. Someone… normal. Dippers got this huge, tight family and I—“ I watch Pacifica chew on the inside of her cheek, “I want that. I certainly won’t ever get that from mom or dad.”
“Priscilla,” I hiss her name slightly, “I said I didn’t want anymore hand outs from that fuc—“
“Not a hand out, a gift to me, really. He owes me. Just the deposit and first months rent, after that you’re on your own.”
I clear my throat and cross my arms back up, hiding my body.
It felt like I was being bought again, like I was some sort of trophy to this family, or a token piece, the cajun “hillbilly”, being bought for the rich kid. A pet.
I couldn’t tell if she was being genuine or not, about wanting to be in my life. It felt like it was either a sick joke or… maybe it is what she says it is. I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
Was I really going to give up my life here to start a new chapter with the family that didn’t even want me?
I look down at her. I’m not the best at reading people… not always, but from what I can tell she looks serious.
“Yeah. Of course. I know it sounds like a lot of pressure from me but I mean it with complete sincerity… I don’t want my only family to be… them.”
I blink at her. She wanted… me? The previously mentioned cajun, get into bar fights, gator loving, crawfish devouring, rather be barefoot southerner, born from her stupid dad getting my stupid mom pregnant at 16?
“I don’t know if I’m any better, kid.”
Pacifica then hands me a card, one of her own. They looked really professional. It had her cell phone number, a couple social media links, and even a fax.
“Thorough.” I say as I rub the thick card with my thumb.
“Dipper helped me make them. I’m just waitressing but, makeup’s what I really want to do. Just— think about it. Okay? Call me when you do. Even if it’s a no.”
I watch her walk back toward the town car.
“Pacifica?” I ask as she’s already a few feet away from me.
“Yeah?” She turns around for a moment.
“I’m going to be an asshole every step of the way you know…”
“It’s okay. You have… every right to be upset and apprehensive.”
“Yeah… right…” I mumble out more to myself than to her.
I stare back down at the card feeling a rush of confusion and a flicker of desire to turn the entire thing upside down. Revenge? I needed to sleep on it.
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