Changes

Chapter 17

Jae had her cast off and was back on her own feet, her therapy had been going so well. The therapist had said they only had to do a few more sessions and then she could be done, she was progressing so nicely. It felt wonderful to walk again and be able to do things on her own, she was a little slow going but that was just fine with her for now. It had only been a week since Chase left, she hadn’t heard from him at all, but maybe that was because she was still out at the farm with her dad. She finally remembered everything that had happened except the day of the accident, which from what her doctor said that was not unusual, most people never regained that day back. Which when she thought about wasn’t so bad, she did remember that morning with Chase but it was the afternoon that she couldn’t recall. From what her father said that after noon was when it happened and she was in the hospital anyway.
She was walking out toward the barn, enjoying the peace and serenity of the land and being on her own. David was out in the field, planting some corn. She thought a lot out here, it was nice. Jae turned as she heard a car pull up to the house. She noticed it was a black sedan, her brother, Jaden drove that.
She smiled as she watched Jaden pull his 6’4” frame out of the car and walk towards her. He smiled as he stopped in front of her and pulled her close for a hug. He hadn’t seen her since she came home from the hospital, he got caught up in work and trusted Chase to take care of her, obviously they had all be wrong.
“Jae, I think it’s time for you to go home.” Jaden said as they turned to walk back to the porch.
“I. . .I’m not ready yet, Jaden. I like it here. Plus I haven’t figured everything out yet.”
“What happened.”
“Robert came over and tried to tell me he was my fiancee and that he wanted money from a C.K. Walker, I told him I didn’t know a C.K. Walker but he didn’t believe me, he said that our photos had been all over the news. Chase came back and hit him but when I tried to get him to tell me if he knew who this Walker person was he got upset and left.”
“I see. . . Well, since he’s too much of a coward to tell you, I will. Chase is C.K. Walker. He owns Walker Industries, which owns the building you live in and the office that you used to work at. Chase said you could have your job back but I don’t know now. Where is he?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, he said his dad was sick and that he had to go by his parents.”
“Funny cause his parents were in the news this morning, they are here in town and both looked very healthy.”
“Then. . . Then I don’t know.”
“Jordan. . . Do you love him?”
“Yes, I do. I don’t know why, he lied to me. I can’t believe he’s lied to me this whole time, why, why would he do that. I was never after his money, I didn’t even really like him when I first met him, oh sure there was the attraction but he was different.”
“Then get him to explain, he helped out a lot when you were in the hospital, when we couldn’t be there he was, he kept everyone well informed on your progress, even bought that ring for you so that the nurses didn’t think it was a lie.” Jaden stated making Jae look at the ring she had on her left hand still.
“Why, would he do all of that then just leave me. He told me that he really liked me, I think he loves me, then why would he leave. I remember everything now, so why hasn’t he come back.”
“Does he know your out here.”
“I didn’t leave him a message but where else would I go, he was planning on bringing me out here anyways, I just came a few days early and just didn’t go back yet.”
“Dad’s really worried about you, he says you just walk around in a daze, your not eating right either.”
“I know, I’ve been so stressed and unsure of what to do. I understand now how Robert destroyed me and everything else. I just need more time to think. Do you think I could go visit his parents or maybe his sister, maybe I could find more out about him, understand things better than I do now. “
“I don’t see why not, all it takes is a phone call and all they can do is deny it.”
“I think I might do that, try to see if I can talk to them in a few days so that I get a little driving practice in and make sure dad doesn’t need the car. You know he’s dating someone?”
“What? Really, it’s about time.”
“I know, he’s not ready for us to meet her but I talked to her on the phone the other day, she seems very nice. She said they met at the grocery store. He doesn’t know that I know about her or at least I don’t think he does. I was thinking of inviting her to Christmas and surprise dad.”
“might be nice, but I bet he doesn’t want to bring her around us because he doesn’t know how we will react to her, you know since she isn’t mom.”
“I don’t know about you, Jason, or James, but im excited, he should be happy too. We’re all grown, adults, if he wants us to be so happy why cant we want that for him too.”
“I know, Jordan, calm down. I want dad to be happy just as much as anyone else, but I hope he chooses a good one.”
“I think that she is very nice, maybe I should arrange for everyone to come to dinner and invite her to come also.”
“I think you would have to swing that by dad first and see what he has to say since you are not supposed to know about this woman anyways”
“Yea, Yea”

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Chase came back after being gone for 4 days, he walked up to his apartment, deciding he needed the stairs rather than the elevator. He missed Jae, he didn’t want to leave but she asked questions that he wasn’t ready to answer yet. So he ran, like the scaredy cat that he was. He spent a day with his parents, they wanted to meet her. Then he went to the office and buried himself in work. And now he was back and tired, all he wanted to do was sleep. He let himself into his apartment, gazing longingly at the door to Jae’s apartment. He had no idea that she was gone.

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The next day, Jae looked up the Walker’s number, hopefully the operator had given her the correct one she thought as she dialed the number to Chase’s parents house.
“Walker Residence, how may I help you?” A female voice asked.
“Um . . . I’d like to talk to Mrs. Walker, if she is available.” Jae stated
“She’s out with her daughter at the moment, Mr. Walker is available, however.” She said again.
“Okay, can I speak with him?”
“May I ask who is calling?”
“This is Jordan McKenzie”
“Alright, just a moment.” She said and put Jae on hold.
“Ms. McKenzie, I don’t believe I know you,” A deep male voice asked her.
“Hello Mr. Walker, no, you do not know me, I am a friend of Chase’s. He actually is my neighbor or was, I’m not sure about that situation. He has seemed to disappear for a few days or so on me.”
“Oh, yes, you must be Jae. I didn’t know that your real name was Jordan”
“Yea, my family gave me the nickname because of growing up with 4 men.”
“Oh, I see. Well, what can I do for you”
“Well, I was wondering if I could come over and get to know you and maybe find out some information from you about your son. He has lied to me and I want to know why he has kept things a secret”
“What has he lied to you about”
“About who he is and what he does. I do not appreciate him lying to me. I thought he was different”
“I can assure you that if he has lied he has had a very good reason for it.”
“Oh, I’m sure he does. I would just like to know some more about him so that maybe I can understand these reasons whatever they may be.”
“Have you talked to him”
“Not since my ex boyfriend came and threatened me and demanded that I get money from a C.K. Walker, whom I did not know at that point in time; however, I do now. Anyways I had asked Chase at that point to explain to me and he left, said that you were ill. I trust that you are better since you were on the front page of the newspaper this morning.”
“Yes, my dear, I am doing fine, although I must say I did not know that I was ill. I believe I am going to have a conversation with my son also. So you would like to meet us?”
“Yes, sir. I met your daughter briefly over a month ago, I have been in a bad situation of late.”
“I know all about that dear, I also know that my son cares about you a lot”
“He has a strange way of showing it, Mr. Walker.”
“I see that, how about you come on over for dinner tonight”
“That would be lovely, um. . . Is this a formal affair or will my normal jeans work out.”
‘Come in what ever you are comfortable dear, if jeans are that then come in jeans.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Please call me C.K.”
“Thank you C.K., what time should I be there.”
“How about 4:30, we can have some drinks and talk before we get to dinner”
“Wonderful, I will see you then. I appreciate this very much”
“Your welcome, dear.”

Jae hung up the phone and smiled, hopefully they were as nice as they seemed to be on the phone. Jae glanced at the clock and realized she had like a whole day to get ready to go over to the Walkers. She grabbed her jacket and went outside to the barn, where her father was working on the tractor. When she got out there, she leaned against the door and watch her father work. She heard him cuss ad couldn’t help but laugh out loud. It was so funny to hear her father, who always yelled at them for cursing, cuss a blue streak because of a bolt.
David’s head snapped up at the sound of his daughters laugh, he smiled. It was good to have her back, completely back, remembering everything. He grabbed his rag and tried to get all the grease off before he walked over toward her.
“I remember when I used to come out here and pester you all the time.”Jae told her father.
“Yes, you were a pain most of the time. But it was nice having you around. I’m glad you back, baby”
“Me, too daddy.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Oh, nothing. . . Everything. This thing with Chase, Jaden told me who he really was. I’m glad he did but I still wish that Chase would have just told me about it.”
“Well, some things can’t be changed. He had some valid reasons for not telling you. If you grew up with money your whole life, wouldn’t you want to not tell someone and have a normal life for a while” David told her. Jae sighed softly and then turned and walked to the house. She had a lot to think about and even more, she thought, once she met his parents.