Chapter Forty: Death to Love:

Jason and I got closer over the summer. We would call every evening. We hung around on the weekends. He even met my family before the Fourth of July. Grandma and Ms. Doris instantly adored him. Mama kept smiling at him in a creepy way. Jason even met Henry’s approval.

“You will be doing Kinsey some good,” he told him.

“Uh… Thanks, I guess,” Jason said. I gave Henry a panicked look. I was trying not to think about her. Speaking of which, I hadn’t heard from her the rest of the summer. It actually felt nice. Not stressing out and looking over my shoulder was actually a good thing. Grandam, Ms. Doris, and Henry didn’t have to say anything to me about her. It soon became easier to push her out of my mind. Jason and Addie made that possible. Things got even better when I Jason’s family. His parents were so nice.

“Is this your girlfriend?” his mother asked. I blushed as Jason smiled as he put his arm around my shoulders.

“Yep,” he said.

“Wow,” his mother said. “She is lovely.”

“T-T-Thanks,” I said. His dad smiled at me.

“She’s really cute,” he said. Jason’s sister and her husband even stopped by for a visit. We turned when we heard the front door open across the room. A woman with long strawberry blonde hair dressed in a white dress suit walked inside.

“Hello, family!” she greeted everyone. Behind her was a tall man with shaggy brown hair in a black t-shirt and jeans.

“Hey, honey!” the mother said.

“Jamie!” Jason said. “You made it!” He turned to me. “Kinsey, this is my sister, Jamie, and my brother-in-law, Liam.”

“Hi,” I mumbled. Jamie looked at me, squinting.

“So this is your girlfriend?” she said. “She’s really cute.” My cheeks turned red again.

“Thanks,” I whispered. I ended up having dinner with Jason’s family. I couldn’t describe the feeling that I felt with the family happily talking and laughing with each other. I found myself smiling as I started eating. Jamie and her husband worked with the Navy. They were visiting the family while on break.

“So what do you plan on doing after high school?” Jason’s mother asked. I took a moment to think.

“I did sign up for an international program to go to Japan,” I answered. “I don’t know if I will get in though.”

“Ooo,” she said. “That sounds interesting. I hope you do get in.”

“Thank you,” I mumbled. I ended up enjoying the rest of dinner. His mother was an excellent cook. Grandma and Ms. Doris were good too. But they made more lavish dishes for things like parties. Jason’s mom made food for the family. Her 7Up cake for dessert was the best thing I ever tasted. Afterwards, my boyfriend walked me home.

“Your family is so nice,” I said.

“Yeah,” Jason said, putting his arm around my shoulders. “They can be a bit crazy at times, though.”

“Hm,” was all that I said. If he called that crazy, I would welcome it with open arms. As I walked up to my front door, I wondered that every day could be this happy.

Sadly, the answer would be no.

Two weeks before school began, I got a call in the middle of the night.

“Hello?” I asked. I heard sobbing on the other line. A confused look came over my face.

“Hello?” I asked again. “Who is this?” More sobbing filled my ears. It took me a moment when to recognize who it was.

“Mrs. Trainor?” I asked. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Jason’s mother whimpered as she told me what happened. The phone dropped to the floor. She did it. Miranda actually killed him. I ran across the hall to Grandma’s room with the grim news.

This had to end. But I just didn’t know how.