Chapter Nine (FMITN Book 1)
During the days Gwendolyn made the arrangements for the funeral, Gilbert all but threw himself into his work, and since the kids were off on Winter break from school they were home. Gwen took it on herself to try and finish teaching and helping Jess to master the last few spells she had in her book. Jessica wanted more spells but Gwendolyn couldn’t give her more. Instead she worked more on teacher her, her native language. Distracting an intelligent child like Jessica was not easy, Gwen had her own hands full with that when it came to her son. It was also heartbreaking that these last three spells were the last she’d learn till someday maybe someone else came along that she trusted with her truth to teach her more spells.
The day of service was the saddest one yet. Everyone dressed in black, tears in their eyes, as stories were told of life with Melissa, about the wonderful mother she was, about how she stepped up and became a lovely caring mother to Matt and Jeff after their mother had passed away. Ones told of how she cared for everyone and everything. The words caused tears to fall and sobs to be heard, Jessica knew then and there that she wanted to be just like her mother even more so than she was already determined to be. It had taken more than two weeks to be able to get Melissa’s body back, not to mention to have a showing, and proper ceremony. Melissa wanted to be cremated, and have her ashes spread in her garden, which Jessica had sworn to up keep. With everything said and done, the ashes were spread, and those who attended left. This meant that Gwendolyn and Alesiter would only be there another two days before leaving themselves, to go back to back to Holland. But it also meant that Gwendolyn now had to tell Jessica, Matt, Jeff, and Aleister that this would be the last time they’d see each other.
Gwendolyn stood by the backdoor, the children had already changed and where back in the ring. Releasing a heavy sigh she called for her son.
“Zoon kom alsjeblieft hier. (son come here please)” Aleister’s head snapped up seeing his mother standing at the door looking rather uncomfortable. He excused himself from the ring and went over to her.
“Moeder, wat scheelt er? (mother, what’s wrong?)” Aleister was not happy about whatever was about to be said, he just knew this wasn’t good.
“My dear boy, I’m so sorry, but once we go back home, that’s it, we will not be coming back here. You may keep writing to Jessica, but no more phone calls, and no more visits.” It was breaking Gwendolyn’s heart to tell her son this, the two had become so close and now they’d never see each other again. To say Aleister was angry about this well that just doesn’t do it justice. He stormed away from his mother, back to the ring where he took it upon himself to tell the three that he’d never be coming back after they left this time. If heartbreak and betrayal had a face it would be the look on Jessica’s face in that exact moment. Not to mention how angry the boys looked. Sure at first they didn’t trust Aleister as far as they could throw him, but it had been over three years and they had grown to like him as a friend, they respected that he wanted to help protect Jess and truly cared for her as if she was his own blood sister.
This wasn’t her choice, if she had it her way they’d continue to come, and she’d pick up where Melissa left off with Jessica’s training but Gilbert would not hear of it. He wanted to shut that part of her off as if it was a machine and let it lay dormant without Melissa. Jessica ran passed Gwen sobbing uncontrollably, as if it wasn’t bad enough losing her mother, she’d now lost her best friend. Gwen went to explain why this was happening to Jessica, and Jessica listened to her reasons. All three boys over heard what was said , and heard Jessica agree to keep writing and stay in touch. Matt and Jeff looked at each other, they knew now more than ever their sister was going to need them.
Two days came and went and in that time, the four children working on in ring work, Jeff perfecting some of his high flying moves, and Matt kept things technical and Jessica used a combination of both. Saying goodbye to Alesiter and Gwendolyn, Jessica presented them each with her own charmed necklaces. She told them they were each each enchanted with protection spells. Gwendolyn’s was a silver chain with Celtic knot as the charm, and Alesiter’s a silver chain with a wolf’s head. Each put their necklaces on and Alesiter re enchanted Jessica’s, Each swearing to never remove their necklaces. Jessica held Gwendolyn tight and thanked her forever thing she had done for her, tears fell from her eyes, as she went to hold Alesiter.
“This isn’t goodbye mijn kleine (my little one), I know for a fact we will meet again someday. Just never forget me in the meantime.” Alesiter pulled back and smiled, it was true he had foreseen it just last night in his dreams and he knew someday far away they’d meet again. Nodding with a sad smile, Jessica pulled away and said goodbye to her best friend and his mother.