The Vixen's Protégé

Chapter 13

Jack introduced Elvira to his daughter, Emily, hoping that they would get along. Surprisingly, they hit it off right away and even had some private conversations that only they were aware of, and Jack took notice of it.

"You know, I didn't expect Emily to connect with you so quickly, especially during her training days. It's brought me and her closer," Jack mused.

Elvira grinned, "Sometimes, it's the unexpected connections that bring people together. Just be there for Emily, even if she doesn't open up completely to you. Your presence alone means a lot to her."

Respecting her words, Jack was more than thankful, "Thank you for your help. I appreciate it." Leaning in closer, Elvira replied, her tone serious, "No problem, Jack. Consider this a simple gesture in preparation for a bigger favor I'm about to ask of you."

Meanwhile, after accomplishing her training, Emily bid goodbye to her educators and took a moment to say goodbye to Elvira as well. As they were getting ready to get in their car, Jack couldn't help but steal glances at Elvira. However, this did not go unnoticed by Emily, who felt a surge of unease creeping up inside her. And as they settled into their car seats, Emily gathered her courage and decided to confront her father.

"Dad, I have a question for you," she remarked, her voice trembling slightly. Jack turned to face her, his curiosity visible in his eyes. "What's that? You can tell me," he encouraged her. Taking a deep breath, Emily mustered her strength and asked the question that had been gnawing at her. "Do you like Elvira?" Her words came out straightforward.

The suddenness of her question caught Jack off-guard. He coughed, almost choking, as he fumbled with the ignition. "What?" he managed to stammer as he pulled out onto the road, trying to maintain his composure.

"I know you heard me when I first said it," Emily retorted, her frustration seeping into her tone. "Mom's not been gone for that long, and you've already replaced her, correct? You've been harboring feelings for Elvira?" Jack's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he tried to process Emily's words. He shook his head, dismissing her accusations, but deep down, her words struck a nerve.

As they reached home, their car pulled into the driveway, and as they stepped out, Emily couldn't help but feel a twinge of dismay. Their once warm and inviting home now seemed cold and lifeless. The vibrant touches of her mother's designs had been replaced or wiped off by the passage of time and the events that had occurred.

Emily inquired about it, curiosity clear in her eyes as she surveyed the entire area. "Dad, what happened in here?"

Jack quickly forged a reply, hoping to guard Emily from the truth. "It's best not to ask, Em. Let's just say this house has endured its fair share of storms and requires a makeover."

"Okay. I see. That's interesting." Emily feigned approval, hiding her actual thoughts. Nevertheless, Jack felt that Emily had fully embraced the idea of change in their lives, unaware that it was merely the tip of the iceberg, as troubling situations were destined to unfold, especially about Emily's unexplainable hardheadedness.

Exasperated by her daughter's rudeness, Jack doubted Emily's whereabouts upon her return home. "Where were you? Didn't you know that I came home a while ago? You forgot what I told you to do, Em!"

"Dad, I'm not a child anymore! I am capable of taking care of myself, and I had just met up with my friends," Emily retorted sarcastically.

"Regardless, you should have said something," Jack admonished. At that moment, Emily turned away, refusing to engage any further with her father. Jack struggled to recognize the person standing before him, especially in moments like these when he tried to do the dish his late wife used to cook for their daughter when she was still alive. "Shall we eat? I prepared your favorites," Jack offered, hopeful for a moment of normalcy. But the response from Emily was distant and disinterested.

"I'm not hungry," she replied absentmindedly, her gaze drifting elsewhere. Confusion and disappointment filled Jack's tone as he exhorted, "What? You know how much effort I put into cooking this. Please, just have a little." Suddenly, irritation consumed Emily, and her words poured out with fervor.

"Dad, can't you see? You're trying to recreate what Mom used to do, but Mom is gone! You can't bring her back!" Her voice quivered with a mixture of frustration and distress.

Hopelessness highlighted Jack's reaction; his words were contained with longing. "Em, I'm doing all of this for us. I miss your Mom too, you know? She's still with us in my memories and my heart. And I believe you feel her presence too. We don't have to pretend or suppress our feelings. It's okay to miss her openly."

Tears welled up in Jack's eyes as he pleaded with his daughter. Despite his love and genuine intentions, he realized that he couldn't do anything to ease Emily's sorrowful cries for her mother.

"I miss Mom, not just her presence, but for the life I had before everything went wrong," Emily managed to say between sobs, a single tear rolling down her emotionless face. "I promise to find a way to make it up to you, Em," Jack assured his daughter with determination. Just as Emily was about to express her desires, she trembled, her traumatic experience betrayed her once again in front of her father. Jack, fortunately, caught his daughter before she could collapse, remembering the help that the camp personnel had equipped for Emily. He found himself torn between utilizing the medication they had given him and the pain it repeatedly inflicted on his daughter.

As Emily drifted into a deep sleep induced by sedation, Jack decided to confide in Elvira and disclose the troubling thoughts that troubled him. Little did he know that his confession would inadvertently serve as a trigger for them to resume their unfinished mission, before leaving behind their predicaments.

"I think it's important for you to grant Emily's request so she can move on from the past and live a normal life, Jack," Elvira advised over the phone line.

"I'm still undecided. It doesn't feel right to expose my daughter to the harsh reality of life while she's still dealing with the pains from the past," Jack argued. "Shouldn't it be her decision, not yours? Emily seems ready; it seems like you're the only one with doubts," Elvira questioned.

"Alright. I will give it a try," Jack reluctantly agreed before ending the call. The next morning, when Emily woke up, she directly looked for her father, who was occupied packing their belongings for their departure. Emily wondered what he was doing, or perhaps it was because of her behavior the previous night when she expressed her frustrations to him.

"Good morning, Em. Get ready; we're leaving today," Jack told her, still organizing their things. "Where exactly are we going, Dad?" Emily asked with curiosity in her voice, "I don't recall having a doctor's appointment today."

"We're just going somewhere, Em, and I promise you'll soon find out why," Jack replied, hinting at the surprise he had planned. "Dad, I feel terrible. I'm truly sorry for everything I've done to you since the beginning. I never meant to hurt you with my words." Emily apologized as she looks at her father preoccupied with things, her voice filled with shyness and regret.

"I understand, and I'm also sorry for my part in the problems we've had. I promise to make things right for you," Jack guaranteed his daughter, sincere in his promise. After an hour of travel, Emily never anticipated that their destination would be Zion City once again. Memories of the devastating explosion and the shattered dreams that the place represented rushed back to her, yet her grip tightened around her father's hand as she bravely confronted her fears.

"Where are we exactly?" Emily inquired as their car came to a stop in a parking lot adjacent to a school. "We are here, Em, at one of the most admirable schools in all of Zion City—this is where you will be attending school," Jack excitedly announced brimming with enthusiasm.

"And how were you able to afford all of this, Dad?" Emily asked with curiosity. "Well, I had some money saved up from my retirement funds, and a good friend of mine was kind enough to lend me a helping hand. I know how much you love fashion design, just like your mom did," Jack responded, trying to make his explanation sound believable.

Emily's eyes lit up with gratitude and happiness. "Thank you, Dad! I can't believe you did all of this for me. I love you so much! she exclaimed, embracing her father tightly.

"I love you more than words can express, Em," Jack whispered, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

With bags filled with the necessities for school in hand, Jack left Emily with a smile in his eyes. Little did she know, he was eagerly awaiting the end of her day, preparing for another surprise that would make her heart soar.