Acceptance

[fol_fan1989]

Chapter Sixteen

They could smell the grill when they got out of the car. Blair’s Lexus sat in the driveway beside Natalie’s car, and Jo parked behind Natalie.
Jo carried the bags of chips she’d bought on the way home from work, even though Mrs. Garrett had said not to bring anything. Jamie held McKenzie’s hand, and they followed Jo onto the porch.
Natalie answered the door with a giant grin and her happy hello.
“Hi, Nat,” Jo said, hugging her.
Natalie hugged her back and greeted her.
“Girls, you both look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Aunt Nat.” Jamie hugged her. “You remember McKenzie?”
“Of course. It’s good to see you again.”
“Thanks, you, too.”
Jamie squeezed McKenzie’s hand and let out a sigh of relief. She wasn’t sure if her palm was sweating or if it was McKenzie’s. Okay, that went well, she thought. Hopefully nothing weird will happen with Aunt Blair.
They followed Natalie into the kitchen, where Blair, Mrs. Garrett, and Julia sat at the table.
“Nat, wasn’t Snake supposed to come,” Jo asked after greeting everyone.
“He’s out back starting the grill,” Mrs. Garrett said.
“McKenzie,” Blair said. “That dress is gorgeous. You look adorable.”
“Thank you,” McKenzie said quietly. She’d chosen a light blue puffed-sleeve mini dress with embroidered flowers on the skirt. Jamie wore denim shorts and a blue floral tank top.
“You two are very well coordinated,” Blair said. “It’s very cute.”
McKenzie and Jamie smiled.
“Julia,” Jo said. “How’d things go today?”
“Good,” Julia said.
“She created a new croissant,” Mrs. Garrett said.
“Peanut butter and jelly swirled inside with peanut butter chips on top,” Julia said proudly.
“Sounds great,” Natalie said.
The doorbell rang, and Natalie volunteered to get it. Moments later, she and Tootie were squealing and giggling like they were still young girls.
Jeff trailed in behind them.
“Jeff,” Mrs. Garrett said happily. “It’s nice to see you. It’s been such a long time.”
“Mrs. Garrett, good to see you, too.” They hugged.
Everyone greeted Jeff.
“Jamie, how’s the summer treating you?”
“It’s been good, Jeff. This is my girlfriend, McKenzie.”
Jamie tensed as she watched the emotions crossing Jeff’s face: confusion, surprise, something that was a mix of anger and disgust, and, finally, thankfully, he smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” McKenzie shook his hand and held tightly to Jamie with her other hand.
“Jeff, why don’t you go out back and see if Snake needs help with the grill,” Natalie suggested.
“All right,” Jeff said. “I can take a hint. See you in a few.”
“Tootie,” Jo hissed when Jeff was gone. “Didn’t you tell Jeff about McKenzie?”
“Of course I did,” Tootie said. “We talked about it. He seemed fine with everything.”
“He didn’t look fine with it,” Blair said. “We all saw the look on his face.”
“I didn’t,” Julia teased.
Everyone laughed.
“Julia, Jamie said. “Stop with the self-deprecation.”
“What? The tension in here was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I just wanted to lighten the mood.”
“McKenzie,” Tootie said. “I promise he’s fine with it. We all want you to be here.”
“Okay,” McKenzie said. “I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Garrett said. “You’re no trouble at all.”
They went outside to eat. Jamie lead McKenzie to the steps on the back deck.
“What’s up, Kenz? You haven’t let go of your death grip on my hand the whole time we’ve been here.”
“I’m just nervous.”
“Why? Everything’s going fine. I know Jeff didn’t seem okay at first, but if anything happens, Mrs. Garrett will ask him to leave.”
“I’m nervous about the food. You know I have to count carbohydrates and get insulin. The chips will have information on the package, but I might have to guess at the rest. I don’t want to guess wrong and feel sick later because I didn’t get enough insulin or have to eat later when I’m not hungry because my blood sugar’s low.”
“I know sometimes that bothers you. It’s a lot to have to think about all the time.”
“At school it was easier because there was a nurse and a nutritionist on staff who could help.”
“Mrs. G used to be a nutritionist. We can go talk to her.” Jamie stood and offered McKenzie her hand.
Jamie and McKenzie walked up to Mrs. Garrett, who was sitting beside Julia at the patio table.
“Mrs. G, can we talk to you,” Jamie asked.
“Sure. I have to go inside and get more buns. Why don’t you come with me?”
Jamie took McKenzie’s hand and followed Mrs. Garrett.
“Are those your home-made buns,” Jamie asked. Mrs. Garrett was pulling the last two buns out of a bag and putting them on a plate.
“They sure are. I might not have enough, though. I think there are some store-bought buns in the freezer.”
“I’ll look for them,” Jamie offered.
“Can I have one of the store-bought buns,” McKenzie asked.
“Well, sure, but you don’t want to try my secret recipe?” Mrs. Garrett smiled proudly.
McKenzie calmly explained her situation. Mrs. Garrett jumped into action and read the nutrition labels on the bag of burger buns and box of pasta she’d used to make the pasta salad. She took the buns and a 2/3 cup measuring cup outside so McKenzie could measure her pasta.
“We’ll be right out, Mrs. G,” Jamie said.
“Okay, honey.”
Jamie helped McKenzie add the carbs she intended to eat and waited for her to test her blood sugar and give herself insulin through her insulin pump. Jamie squeezed McKenzie’s hand as they walked outside with extra napkins and a jar of pickles.
“McKenzie,” Blair said when they were all seated with plates of food. “You shouldn’t be on a diet. You’re young; you look fabulous. Why are you measuring your pasta?”
“I have Diabetes.” McKenzie’s voice was quiet again.
“My aunt had that,” Snake said. “She was able to reverse it by watching her diet and exercising.”
“I have Type 1. It can’t be reversed. My pancreas doesn’t produce insulin anymore, so I have to get insulin through a pump when I eat, and I have to track my blood sugar.”
“How long have you had it,” Natalie asked.
“Since December,” McKenzie said.
“That’s not long,” Natalie said sadly.
McKenzie nodded and took a bite of her burger.
“Mrs. G, these buns are just as good as I remember,” Jo said.
“Thanks, Jo.”
“You know,” Tootie said. “I tried making them for Jeff for Thanksgiving one year when we went to his family’s. They didn’t turn out as delicious as these.”
“They were more like hockey pucks,” Jeff teased. Everyone laughed.
They continued to laugh and talk throughout dinner and dessert. After they’d cleaned up, they gathered in the living room.
“Jamie, I almost forgot to tell you,” Natalie said. “I applied for that creative writing instructor job at Langley. I have an interview on Thursday.”
“That’s great,” Jamie said excitedly.
“McKenzie, are you going to Langley with Jamie and Julia in the Fall,” Tootie asked.
“No,” Jamie answered for her. “She’s leaving me to go to NYU.”
“What will you be studying,” Blair asked.
“Well, I was going to study culinary arts, but now I’m not sure.”
“You’ve got time to figure it out,” Blair said.
Julia yawned from where she sat in an armchair.
“Mrs. G,” Jo said. “I think we should go soon.”
“We don’t have to leave on account of me,” Julia said.
“Sweetie, you’re practically falling asleep just sitting there.”
“It’s all right,” Natalie said. “It’s getting late. We should go, too.”
Soon they were all saying good-bye.
“McKenzie,” Mrs. Garrett said, hugging her. “I’m so glad you were able to join us. You come back any time, even if Jamie’s not with you.”
“Thank you for everything, Mrs. Garrett.” McKenzie said, returning the hug.
“Good luck getting her here without Jamie,” Julia said. “They’re practically joined at the hip.”
Mrs. Garrett laughed and hugged her. “Thanks for your help today, Julia.”
“Thanks, Mrs. G.”
Mrs. Garrett kissed them all good-bye and waved as everyone left.

[fol_fan1989]

Chapter Seventeen

“See, I told you it would be fine,” Jamie said as she changed into her pajamas.
“Yeah, everyone was nice,” McKenzie said, taking the sparkly barrettes out of her hair and placing them on the desk. She opened the bottom drawer of the dresser and took out a clean pair of pajamas.
“Thanks again for clearing out a couple drawers and half your closet for me.”
“Don’t even mention it. I love that you’re here and we get to share this time and space together.” Jamie climbed into bed. She hoped someday they could share an apartment or even a house together.
“I don’t think I realized how nervous I was about counting carbs tonight.” McKenzie got into bed beside her.
“Come here.” Jamie pulled her closer. “I know you were nervous, but we figured it out. You said your blood sugar was just 147, right? That’s good, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. We did. Thanks for taking me to talk to Mrs. Garrett.”
“Of course.”
McKenzie kissed her. “Did I tell you how beautiful you looked tonight?”
“Yeah, when we were getting ready,” Jamie giggled. “But I love hearing it.”
“That top fit you good.”
Jamie kissed her deeply. “You looked so hot in that dress.”
McKenzie laughed and kissed her back. “I love you, Jamie.”
“I love you, too,” Jamie replied. “Sleep well.”
“Hold me?”
“All night.” Jamie felt content holding McKenzie. This is all she’d wanted since they’d confessed their attraction to each other. She felt McKenzie tense.
“Hey, what’s wrong? You’re tensing up.” Jamie reached over and stroked McKenzie’s hair.
“Don’t let go.” McKenzie’s voice was tight, and she clung to Jamie.
“I won’t. Promise. What’s going on?”
McKenzie let out a long breath. “My family deserted me,” McKenzie spoke slowly and softly. “And you and your family have been great, but… Well, we’re so young. I don’t ever want to lose you, too…”
McKenzie started to cry.
Jamie brushed tears from McKenzie’s cheeks. “Honey, don’t cry. Shh. I’m sorry your family’s been so horrible to you. But, Kenzie, not everyone you love is going to leave you.”
“My own grandmother disowned me,” McKenzie said angrily. “Grandma’s aren’t supposed to do that. They’re supposed to just love you.”
“I know,” Jamie whispered. She stroked McKenzie’s hair gently and kissed her forehead.
“I know my parents love me, but they’re never around. Spending time with them after graduation was fine, but I just kept thinking about how they don’t really know me… Their idea of love is giving me a check.”
“Where’s this coming from?”
“I think just seeing your family together tonight. I don’t know…”
Jamie didn’t know what to say, so she gently rubbed McKenzie’s back.
A knock at the door cut through the silence.
“Come in,” Jamie called. She pulled away from McKenzie and held her hand tightly.
“Goodnight, girls.” Jo came in wearing her pajamas and slippers. ”Hey, McKenzie, what’s the matter?”
“I’m just missing my family, I guess,” McKenzie said, trying to wipe her tears.
Jo sat on the edge of the bed. “Oh, Honey, I’m sorry. One of the hardest things in life is accepting rejection, especially from people we love.” Jo wiped McKenzie’s tears.
“How do you handle it?”
“Well, you have to let yourself grieve what you lost. It’s okay to feel whatever you’re feeling.”
“I feel angry and sad, and I miss them. They disowned me, and I miss them!”
“That’s okay to feel that way. It’s part of the grieving process.”
“It hurts so much… How long does it last? Does it ever get easier?”
“Honey, there’s no time-table. But it will get easier; you’ll forge your own path, live your own life. You’ll find your chosen family.”
“We’ll be here for you,” Jamie said. “Mrs. Garrett wasn’t kidding when she said you could come over with or without me.”
“We already love you,” Jo said. “We’ll be your family.”
McKenzie sat up and hugged Jo. “You’ve already been so wonderful to me.”
“You’re a sweet kid. You help around the house; you’re a hard worker. You’re kind to everyone. It’s easy to love you.” Jo hugged her back. “Girls, get some rest, okay? Come get me if you need anything.”
“Good night, Mom,” Jamie said, snuggling under the covers.
Jo kissed both of them on the forehead and said good night. She gently tucked the pale purple comforter around them.
Jamie and McKenzie settled under the covers and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

[fol_fan1989]

Not sure if anyone is reading this, but I'm enjoying writing it. Here's more.

***

Chapter Eighteen

“Mom, can Lily spend the night?” Julia asked after breakfast the next morning.
Jo stood at the counter sorting through mail.
“Well, I already told Jamie and McKenzie that Sara could sleep over tonight.”
“But Sara’s Jamie’s friend.” Julia put her plate in the dishwasher and closed it.
“I know, but with Lily that’s five teenaged girls. Does it have to be tonight?”
“You won’t even know we’re here. Lily and I will just hang out in my room. Please?”
Jo sighed. “All right. We’ll order pizza. Maybe I’ll see if Blair wants to come over and keep me company.”
“See, you can have a sleepover, too.” Julia stood beside Jo.
Jo laughed.
“Thanks, Mom.” Julia hugged her.
Jo hugged her back. “Are Jamie and McKenzie still asleep?”
“Yeah, I think so. I haven’t heard them up.”

“Hi, Jo,” Blair stood on Jo’s porch late that afternoon.
“Blair, thanks for coming over.”
“Are you kidding? How could I resist spending the night with you and five teenaged girls.”
“Admit it, you’d rather be on a date.”
They laughed. Blair followed Jo into the kitchen.
“Hi, Aunt Blair,” Jamie trudged into the kitchen.
“Hey, sweetie, what’s going on.” Blair said, hugging her.
“Sara can’t come over after all. She’s sick.”
“Sorry, honey,” Jo said. “But we can still have a good time with McKenzie, Jules, and Lily.”
“Okay. I’m going to shower once Julia’s done. McKenzie’s getting ready.”
“How was work today?” Jo asked.
“It was okay. I had to keep telling these two kids to stop running.”
“Are you enjoying it,” Blair asked.
“It’s okay, I guess.”
“What are you girls planning for tonight?”
“We’re just going to talk and eat and hang out.”
“You girls going to play truth or dare? Give each other makeovers? Jo, do you remember that time you all were trying to distract me from my toxic boyfriend and Natalie suggested we give you a makeover?”
“No, I blocked that out.” Jo said dryly.
“We might give each other manicures,” Jamie said. “I’m going to go up and check on McKenzie.”
“All right, Honey,” Jo said, laughing.
“What’s so funny,” Blair asked.
“That girl is like me in a lot of ways, but then she gets excited about manicures.”

“How’s my girl,” Jamie asked McKenzie as she came into the bedroom from the bathroom. Her hair was leaving wet spots on her purple satin robe.
McKenzie finished tying her hair into a ponytail. She stood and put her arms around Jamie and rested her head on Jamie’s shoulder.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know,” McKenzie said sadly.
“How come? Is it your blood sugar?”
McKenzie shook her head.
“I’m bummed Sara can’t come, too, but we’ll still have a good time. I’ll still give you a manicure if you want.”
“It’s not that,” McKenzie said sadly. “I’m still thinking about my family.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m devastated, James… It’s taken a while for me to be able to talk about it.”
“I know.” They sat on the bed. “I didn’t want to push you if you don’t want to talk. I’m here, but Aunt Blair is downstairs if you want to talk to her. She might be able to relate better.”
“She’s still in contact with her family.”
“Yeah, but Her parents weren’t around, either. I’m just saying, she offered if you ever wanted to talk.”
“But I didn’t just lose my family.”
“What do you mean?”
McKenzie lowered her head. She stood and started pacing.
“McKenzie?”
“I can’t,” McKenzie whispered.
“Honey, you can tell me. Whatever it is. We’ve always been able to talk about anything. We talk things through and figure things out together.”
“I can’t go to school.” McKenzie burst into tears.
“What? Come here. Sit down.”
McKenzie looked devastated.
“I can go get Blair or my mom, seriously. You have to talk to someone.”
McKenzie sank onto the bed and started to sob.
Jamie put her hand on McKenzie’s shoulder and asked gently, “Do you want me to—”
“Stop!” McKenzie yelled. “Leave me alone!”
“Okay, fine!” Jamie dressed and slammed the door as she went downstairs.

[fol_fan1989]

Chapter Nineteen

Blair helped Jo clean up after dinner.
“What’s going on with Jamie and McKenzie,” she asked as she put a plate in the dishwasher.
“I don’t know, but they barely looked at each other through dinner, and Jamie went downstairs and McKenzie went upstairs with Lily and Julia.”
“Do you think they had a fight?”
Jo washed the kitchen table. “They never fight. They haven’t so much as raised their voices at one another the whole time McKenzie’s been here.”
“Should we go talk to them?”

A few minutes later, Jo sat with Blair, Jamie, and McKenzie in the living room.
“What’s going on between you two,” Jo asked.
“McKenzie’s mad at me,” Jamie said.
“No I’m not. Not really.”
“But I pushed you to talk about your family… I’m sorry. I just want to help you feel better.”
“I know,” McKenzie shouted.
“McKenzie,” Blair said gently. “I know it’s hard when you don’t have supportive family. It can help to talk about your feelings.”
“I don’t know how to sort it all out.”
“I grew up with three fathers,” Blair said. “My mother was always off on some fabulous trip. My father sent a card on my birthday, but he wasn’t really around. I was raised by the help. Can you relate to that?”
“Yeah, I know exactly what you’re talking about. Both of my mothers are work-a-holics. I saw more of my nanny than I did them. I’d spend summers at my grandmother’s. I think she helped keep me grounded.”
Blair nodded. Jo looked at her steadily. Jamie held back tears.
“I never expected her to feel so strongly about me and Jamie. She was okay with her daughter having a wife, or at least she seemed to be. I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
“She wasn’t okay with Jamie specifically?”
“She wasn’t okay with how much money we don’t have,” Jamie said bitterly.
“Did you tell your parents,” Blair asked McKenzie.
“Yeah, they’re fine with me staying here, letting someone else take care of me again.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I think that’s an understatement.” McKenzie’s eyes shone with tears. “I don’t know how to get through this. I feel like I’ve lost everything. Not just my family, but my future…”
“Why do you feel like you’ve lost your future,” Jo asked.
Blair’s heart ached for her. “Your future’s not ruined. Your life is just beginning.”
McKenzie started to cry, her face twisted in pain.
“It’s okay,” Jamie whispered. “Whatever it is, you can tell us. We’re listening.”
McKenzie started to cry harder.
“Take your time,” Jo said. “Breathe.”
“My grandmother was supposed to help me pay for college,” McKenzie spoke slowly. She took a deep breath. “When she disowned me, she didn’t just kick me out and take her car back. She made me quit school because I can’t afford it without her. I had to withdraw from courses on Monday.”
“Kenzie,” Jamie whispered, wiping her own tears.
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” Jo rubbed McKenzie’s back.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“It’s going to be okay.” Blair took her hand. “But being upset with Jamie isn’t going to help. You need her now. Surround yourself with people who care about you. That’s how we get through the hard things in life.”
“I’m not upset with Jamie.”
“I was just there,” Jamie said matter-of-factly.
“I’m sorry, James.”
“We’re good,” Jamie assured her.
“I think I’m embarrassed by my family.”
“Well, they haven’t really given you a reason to be proud of them,” Jamie said.
“We’ll help you figure this out,” Jo said.
“Maybe you don’t have to go to NYU,” Jamie said, taking McKenzie’s hand in hers. “Maybe you could work for the fall semester and go to Langley in the spring. What about your parents? Would they help?”
Tears streaked McKenzie’s cheeks. “I don’t know. I’m so overwhelmed. I made my decision, and now it’s been yanked away like I don’t deserve it.”
“But you do deserve it.” Jamie wiped the tears gently from McKenzie’s cheeks. “If you still want to go to NYU, you can. There’s got to be a way.”
“We can’t make decisions for you,” Jo said. “But we’ll help you figure out your options. We can help you research, talk things through, whatever you need.” Jo hugged her. “You’re not in this alone, you hear me?”
McKenzie nodded and held her tightly. “I still don’t know what to do, but I feel a little better.”
“You don’t have to figure everything out tonight,” Blair said. “Why don’t you sleep on it?”
McKenzie nodded and thanked them.
“I told ya,” Jo said. “You’re important to Jamie, so you’re important to us. We love you.”
“I’m going to go lie down.” McKenzie hugged each of them and stood.
“I’ll be up in a minute, hon,” Jamie said.
McKenzie said goodnight and went upstairs.
“Poor kid,” Jo said quietly.
“Mom?”
“Yeah, honey?”
“I still feel helpless.” Jamie leaned against her mother.
“I know, honey. We just have to keep being there for her.”
“She’s very lucky to have you,” Blair said.
“I’m going to go up and be with her. Can I bring up some ice cream bars?”
“Sure,” Jo said.
They hugged and said goodnight.