The family secret

14 - Fixing mistakes, part 4

KELSEY

She was furious with JJ. Ever since they had s*x again, he sends her texts every single minute. Is she didn't respond right away he sends her five more. Take a hint asshole, I don’t want you, she thought. She went into her bath room and took a long hot shower. It was her fourth time she showered. Why did she feel so dirty? It was not like she never had s*x before and it was not the first time she didn't enjoy herself. What was different this time? She had no idea. Kelsey put on her underwear and a simple grey jumpsuit with laces holding the front closed. She stepped in a pair of white ballerina slippers and sat down at her make-up table. Her round face didn't need much make-up, but her hair was a mess. Once again, she wished her hair was curly. She brushed her hair and put on some mascara and lip-gloss. Ready to go to church like she went to every Sunday, she stepped outside her room and walked downstairs. Her mother wasn't ready yet, so she made some coffee and drank it with some sugar in it.

‘You're going to wear that to church?’ her mother asked. Kendra Weekland looked divine as always. She was wearing a rose gold strapless dress, with a pearl neckless and white heals. Her shoulder length brown hair was weaving with every step she took.

‘Yes.’ Kelsey told her mother confidently. She stood up, ready to leave the room.

‘Where are you going?’

‘To uncle Jack's house. I promised to drive with Ava today. She didn't want to ride with Jaden again.’

‘What about JJ?’

‘I don't know, he could walk for my care.’

‘And here I was offering you a muffin.’ JJ was standing in the doorway with a grin on his face and a bag in his hands.

‘She can't have those.’ mother said.

Kelsey rolled her eyes, ignoring her mother. ‘So, you do remember how to speak out loud. I thought you only send text messages now.’

‘You were ignoring me. I had to make sure you weren't mad anymore.’ JJ answered.

‘Well, I am mad. Thank you for stopping by. Now leave.’

‘Kelsey...’ her mother growled.

‘Stay out of it mom. I have enough on my mind right now and I don't want to hear your thoughts.’

‘Kelsey, I'm sorry. Can we at least talk about it?’ JJ asked desperately.

‘No, I don't want to. Leave me alone.’ Kelsey pushed JJ aside and left the kitchen without breakfast. She knew aunt Shauna always made extra. So, she decided to go to their house early. Thank God JJ was going back to Denver today. She really wished he would leave her alone, but she knew he wouldn't. She sighed. ‘Stupid family.’ she said out loud.

JADEN

‘I have to go.’ Jaden said to Stella.

‘Why?’ she asked. Her bare legs were wrapped around his waist, not letting him go.

‘I have to go to church with my family. My dad is already disappointed with me. If I don't show up, he will freeze my bank accounts for sure.’

‘Your father is an ass.’

‘Wow, tell me about it.’ Jaden slowly got off the bed and put on his clothes. He did not have the time to go back to his shed to get clean clothes, so these ones would have to do it for now. Stella was watching his every move as he goes. He didn't care. Let her stare, he thought. ‘Do you have to work today?’ he asked.

‘Yes, only lunch and cleaning. I finish at five. Would you like to pick me up afterwards?’

‘Doesn't your boyfriend come home tonight?’ He was not going to get caught f*****g someone's girlfriend. Not again at least.

‘No, he will be home around midnight.’

Jaden grinned. Stella had spread her legs open and she was touching herself. ‘Stop or I would never leave. I will pick you up at five.’ With another look at the girl he enjoyed so much he stepped outside her bedroom and left her apartment.

Luckily, he didn't have to drive far and he parked his car within five minutes in front of the church. His parents were waiting outside. He walked up to them. Not everyone was their yet. He wasn't the last to arrive.

‘Mom.’ he said while giving his mother a side hug.

‘You didn't sleep at home?’ she asked.

‘No, I stayed with some friends.’

‘Oh, I just thought you would be happy because JJ is home. He asked where you were.’

‘JJ is home? Where is he?’

‘He will arrive soon.’ mother said. Jaden raised an eyebrow. She was acting weird.

‘Son, don't humiliate me today.' father told him. 'I can't have you and Julian f**k up this family. We don't want any other negative attention after Ava got arrested this week.’

A car stopped in front of them. It made all of them look and their mouths dropped open. Justin stepped out of the car and quickly walked over to the other side to help Madi out. Gus was sitting in the back seat. It was weird, because Madi never came along with him. She always stayed home with Gus. Jaden saw his father loved it. He was smiling all over.

‘Madi, nice to see you here today.’ Jaden said. She held Gus tight in her arms. She didn't look like she was comfortable being here today. Well, that made two of them, Jaden thought. They had to wait a long time for the last of the family to arrive. The church was almost fully filled now.

‘Just leave me the hell alone, JJ.’ Kelsey yelled. She had stepped out of the car and run inside the church. Everyone was staring at JJ, but he lowered his face. Jaden grinned. For once he hadn't screwed up.

JUSTIN

Sitting next to Madi in church, made him feel proud in some ways. She didn't want to come at all, but he wanted to let her know that he meant what he said. She was part of his live now and he went to church on Sunday, so she had to go too. His father was proud of him. He could see it in his eyes, even though he would never say it out loud. Only JJ got his praises every time he won a competition.

The priest had started with the morning prayers. After that he started with a lecture. Something about finding love and cherish them. It was not that Justin was not interested and listened to what the priest said, Justin was currently holding little Gus and he didn't want to sit still at all.

Suddenly a man stood up and spoke, interrupting the priest. ‘I would like to call out Jack Weekland. His son was in the news, openly kissing a boy. I feel ashamed to knowledge the boy is from the same church. Gay people are a sin and I don't want him near my children.’

People started to whisper. The priest tried to get back to his lecture, but more people started to give their opinion's.

‘What is happening?’ Madi asked nervously.

‘I don't know. This normally never happens.’ Justin gave Gus over to Madi and stood up to. ‘I would like to say something.’ He had spoken in a loud but confident voice. Everyone stopped to whisper and looked up to him. ‘I never knew my brother was having trouble in finding love. But what is love exactly? The priest said something about finding love and cherish them. Cherish someone doesn't have to mean you are intimate. Sometimes it's about caring for someone, to make sure the people you care about are okay, not harmed in any way and safe. For some it means you have to give up a part of you to be close to someone. sometimes you have to learn to love someone. So, why is it wrong that Julian has found himself someone to care about, someone he feels safe with?’ He looked to his Madi. Her eyes were tearing up, but not from sadness. She looked proud. He had listened to her. He remembered what she had said about giving her a place she felt safe and he gave her something to live for. ‘Life isn't perfect, but it could always be worse. Love isn't perfect. Sometimes we hurt the people we love and still they stay. Why? Because of love. No matter if it's a boy or a girl or someone way younger, older, with a darker skin tone, someone sitting in a wheelchair. It doesn't matter as long as you care for that person, because that is what love is.’

‘I totally agree.’ his mother stood up a few seats next to him.

‘I do too.’ an elder lady said.

More and more people stood up. They cheered and clapped their hands.

‘Well spoken, son.’ his father complimented him.

Justin looked proud to the people before him. They were all standing, agreeing with him. A few were looking doubtful. He meant what he said. Love doesn't mean you have to be intimate, but it could also mean you care for that person. He didn't love Madi yet, but he cared about her. He really wanted to know her better.

JJ

After church everyone was feeling happy. Justin was a miracle worker. He had stood up for Julian. Something JJ wouldn't have done. He was a scared kitten and he knew it. That was why he forced himself to Kelsey, because he was scared of losing her. He rode back home with Jaden and left Kelsey alone for the day. He was having fun with Jaden and Ava till father knocked on Ava's door.

‘Ken, your mother and I are going out for dinner. You can order something if you like. Maybe invite over Kelsey, she is alone at home. Have fun.’ their father said and he closed the door.

‘I want pizza.’ Ava said.

‘Me too.’ Jaden agreed.

‘Should we invite Kelsey over or do we just go to her house?’ JJ asked.

‘Let's go to their house. Mom always knows when we drink her wine. Aunty Ken doesn't mind if she misses a bottle or three.’ Ava said with a grin on her face. She knew mother wouldn't allow her to drink wine. She was only fourteen years old.

They all put on their shoes and went over to the other side of the property. They didn't knock on the front door, they just walked in.

‘Kelsey! Yoohoo, we are here to order some pizza and drink some wine!’ Jaden yelled into the big hallway.

Kelsey looked outside the living room. ‘Hey guys. That is nice of you. I love pizza.’ She hugged Ava and Jaden and was awkwardly watching JJ. She turned her head around to look away from him. ‘So, are we going to order some pizza or what?’ she asked.

They all walked to the dining room and ordered some pizza with an app. They all were impressed with Justin's speech today. It was all they could talk about. Sometimes JJ saw Kelsey look over to him.

When the doorbell rang, Kelsey and Ava went over to collect their pizza. They came back with four delicious smelling boxes.

‘Shall I get some wine? Kels, were do keep those bottles?’ JJ asked.

‘The basement. You know where it is?’ she asked.

‘Of course, I do.’ JJ laughed. Their houses were built in the same model. The only difference was that the third level in their house had three more bedrooms, making it in total six bedrooms and seven bathrooms in total, while Kelsey's house only had three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Their attic, was just an attic and a small gallery with Kendra's drawings. He walked to the basement door and turned on a soft light. It was a lot colder in the basement, what made it the best place to keep the wine cool. He didn't go to his basement much. JJ always was more of a beer guy, but he knew his basement didn't have a room inside with a locked door. He thought it was weird, because why should they build a room in a basement? JJ walked over to the door and looked closely to the locks. There was a dial, a keyhole and a slider. He found a key hanging next to the door. He opened all the locks. The door wouldn't open right away, but he managed to open a small bit, before opening the rest of the steel door. He didn't see anything in the room, so he took the lamp standing on the floor. His eyes widened with shock as he saw the scene before him.

‘Kelsey!’ he screamed at the beginning of the stairs. ‘KELSEY!’

‘What is it?’ she asked out of breath, standing in the doorway.

‘Kelsey, why is your sister laying locked up in the basement?’