Unexpected inheritance

Space In-between

Chapter 5: The space in between.

Sebastian dialed Valerie's number , and we both waited in silence, as the phone rang , I could hear my heart pounding in my chest loudly like a beating drum , My palms started to grow sweaty with anticipation.

Just as I was about to give up hope , I heard Valerie's voice and my stomach ached , I have missed her so much ,and I just couldn't wait to see her or even hear from her, " Hello ?" She said , her voice was cautious.

Sebastian handed me the phone , and I took a deep breath before speaking, " Valerie , " It is me , Jake". my voice was calm and soft .

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I wondered if she was going to hang up on me , But then her voice came back on , sounding hesitant , " Jake where have you been?, I have been trying to reach you for weeks"

I closed my eyes, feeling a wave of relief wash over me, "I'm sorry , Valerie, I have been ......dealing with some stuff, My Dad's company , I have been asked to take over his business, to run it for the family, and other things too, I know I should have been in touch , but I didn't know how to react when the mandate came on me "

Valerie's voice softened, " Jake , I'm sorry about that , I had no idea of what was happening,but why didn't you tell me , you were leaving , why did you just disappear like that?"

I took a deep breath , trying to gather my thoughts , " I don't know, Valerie, I was just .... overwhelmed by the whole thing I guess, But I'm back now , and I want us to make things right between us , can we meet up and talk?"

There was another pause on the other end of the line ,and I wondered if I had lost her,But then her voice came back on, sounding tentative, " Okay , Jake ,we can meet up , but I need to tell you something, and it is not going to be easy "

My heart skipped a beat as I wondered what she was going to say , But I knew I had to hear her out , no matter what . "I'm listening, Valerie, what is it?". But there was silence at the other end , Valerie!! I called out , then the phone was dropped, ..I quickly sent her the address, and the location of the place .

Valerie

I wrapped my hands around the warm cup of tea, letting it's soothing aroma fill my senses as I sat at the small cafe , The address had been sent to me by Jake , our designated meeting place ,and I had arrived early, eager to finally see him again.

As I lifted the cup to my lips , my eyes drifted towards the door, my heart skipping a beat with every passing minute.

The Cafe's gentle hum of conversation and the soft clinking of cups and saucers provided a comforting background noise , but my attention remained fixed on the entrance, willing Jake to walk through it.

The tea's warmth spread through my hands , a comforting sensation that did little to ease the growing sense of unease in my chest , I checked my watch for what felt like the hundredth time , the minutes ticking by at a glacial pace .

I pulled out my phone and checked the screen , my heart sinking like a stone when I saw that there was no new messages. I tried calling him again, my fingers trembling with anxiety as I dialed his number, The phone rang , each ring feeling like an eternity, Voicemail, Again , I left a message, trying to keep my tone light , but my voice cracked with emotions.

The Cafe's patrons began to thin out , and the staff started cleaning up , I orya steak and some soft drinks , hoping that eating something would distract me from the growing of unease, But every bite felt like ash in my mouth,and every sip of my drink felt like a bitter reminder of Jake's absence.

As I ate , I found myself watching people ,trying to take my mind off Jake's no show ,but every face I saw seemed to blend together,a blur of features that weren't Jake's, My eyes kept drifting back to the door , my heart aching with every passing minute.

The Cafe's music changed , shifting from background jazz to something more upbeat , But the melody felt discordant , a jarring reminder of the emptiness inside me The lights seemed to grow brighter , but they only illuminated the dark corners of my heart.

As the evening wore on, I gathered my things and slipped out of the Cafe ,into the quiet of the night ,The cool breeze enveloped me , carrying with it the scent of night blooming flowers. But even the sweet fragrance couldn't mask the stench of disappointment and heartache.

As I walked slowly, my feet carried me on autopilot as my mind replayed the events of the day, The lights of my apartment building came into view, and I felt a pang of relief , I was almost home.

But as I approached the entrance, I hesitated, Something felt off , it was as if the very foundation of my world had been shaken , leaving me feeling lost , worse and alone , I felt like I was staring into the abyss, with no safety net to catch me if I fell .

I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself for what lay ahead , But as I stepped into the darkness of my apartment hall, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking into the unknown, with no Jake to hold my hand.

As I creaked the door open , the soft creaking sound seemed to seemed to echo through the silence , I stepped inside , my eyes adjusting to the dim light in my room, I had just walked into my apartment, exhausted and emotionally drained from the long day .

Just as I was about to collapse into the couch , my phone rang, on the my confess table, I had mix emotions, but my heart skipped a beat as I rushed to pick it up , my hands shaking slightly, and I didn't bother checking the caller ID, I just assumed it was Jake, finally calling to explain his absence.

" Hello ?" I said , in a teary tone , I was anxious, hopeful,and scared all at once .

But instead of Jake's familiar voice , I heard a warm , gentle tone that made my heart sink ," Baby ?" my Dad said , his voice was filled with concerns.