Were you mine?

Chapter 61 Coming back home

Lea had been staring at the ceiling for too long. Her eyes ached but she couldn't bear to shut her eyes. She glanced at the phone. Jake had promised he would come back in the morning. Would she be disturbing him by calling in the middle of the night? But she couldn't stop herself from picking the phone and hitting the dial pad.

He answered right after the first ring. " Jake! " Her voice faded. " Yes, Lea! Is everything alright? " Asked. He didn't sound like he was sleeping. He wasn't even at home. She could hear car sounds in the background.

" Where are you? I can't sleep. No matter how much I try. " Lea was fighting to hold back tears. " Lea, please don't cry. I will be there right away! I am not far from the hospital. " Jake was already sprinting with Phill on his heels. " No! I am fine. I mean no need to rush. I am just... Jake I am missing our old life. You, me and aunt. I want to go back. I want to go home to the hills. Right now. I need to. Will you take me? "Jake abruptly stopped in his tracks, almost bumping into Phill who was right behind him. " The hills? Right now? But Lea, the doctors said you need to rest... "

" That's exactly what I want to do. I want to sleep peacefully. I want to smell that old scent. Take me home, Jake. Please. I feel like this city is about to gobble up everything that belongs to me. " She could no longer hold back her tears. " Lea, please stop crying. I am coming right now. Let's see what we can do about it. "He hung up, turning towards Phill. " Will that be possible? "

Phill nodded. " I think it will be a good idea. Meeting old friends and town might help her relax. I will get a helicopter ambulance ready, so the journey is seamless.In the meantime... " He held Jake's gaze to make sure he understood that he mean every single word, " I will try to confront Mother while you are gone. I will do some digging around and try to find ways to transfer her shares without having to cause any ruckus. We don't want Mother to know about Lea neither do we want Lea to know about her. It would be in the best interest of everyone if we could give everything back to Lea without dragging our mother in the public. She can be a real bad b*tch! You must believe me on this. "

Jake nodded. " I think it will be good for me as well. This city has been chocking me as well. I need the breather as much as Lea does. "

Phill nodded, " Get her things packed and ready. I will talk with the doctors and get her ride ready. "

***

They made their way to the hospital's rooftop, where the helicopter awaited. The blades whirred as they approached, and Lea's eyes widened ." We are going in that? " Jake nodded, lifting her carefully into the helicopter, buckling her in securely before taking his seat beside her.

As the helicopter ascended higher into the night sky, the cityscape below them turned into a twinkling mosaic of lights, creating an almost surreal contrast with the darkness."Wow, Lea, look at that!” Jake exclaimed, pointing out the window. “I never thought I’d see the city like this. It’s breathtaking.”She turned to him, her lips curling into a faint smile. "It's beautiful, Jake. But I can't wait to see the hills again."

The helicopter flew over the cityscape for what seemed like an hour or two and soon the scenery began to change. Towering buildings gave way to rolling hills, dotted with quaint houses and thick forests.As they neared the hills, the air grew crisper, filled with the fresh scent of pine and earth. Lea inhaled deeply, her shoulders relaxing for the first time . Jake watched her, his heart swelling with affection."Feeling better already?" he asked, leaning closer to her.

Lea nodded, turning to face him. "Yes, Jake. It's like I can finally breathe again."Jake took her hand, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles. "I promise you, Lea, we'll make this work. We'll find a way to be happy again."Lea's eyes softened, and she squeezed his hand. "I've always believed in you, Jake. Even when everything felt like it was falling apart, I knew you would find a way." He leaned in closer, their faces inches apart." You did? "Jake asked as he wrapped an arm around Lea's shoulders, pulling her close. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was a sound she had missed more than she realized.

"Remember when we used to pretend we were explorers?” Jake asked, squeezing Lea’s hand gently. “We’d pack a bag with snacks and go hiking all day, just the two of us.”Lea laughed softly, nodding. “Yes! And Aunt always made sure we had extra sandwiches and water. She’d wave us off, saying, ‘Be back before sunset, my little adventurers.’ Those were some of the best days.”Jake’s expression grew wistful.It was evident,he missed her too.

"Do you remember the time we got lost in the woods, and she found us by following our laughter?”Lea’s eyes sparkled as she talked about the memory. “How could I forget? We were trying to find that hidden waterfall we’d heard about. When Aunt finally found us, she wasn’t even angry. She just laughed and said, ‘I knew you two would be together,"Jake chuckled, a soft warmth spreading through his chest. “She was right. We’ve always found our way back to each other, haven’t we?”Lea nodded, resting her head on Jake’s shoulder. “Yes, we have. And we always will.”

The helicopter flew over dense forests and winding rivers, the landscape below them shifting into a tapestry of natural beautyJake leaned closer, his voice a gentle murmur. “ How about that time we built a treehouse with Aunt? It wasn’t very high up, but it felt like our own little world.You pushed Kevin down.Poor guy still has the scar on his cheek.”

Lea smiled, her eyes distant as she recalled the memory. “Yes! Our first home. I was jealous he was with you. We had decorated it with old curtains and pillows. Aunt even let us sleep there one night. She brought us hot chocolate and told us stories until we fell asleep.”Jake’s eyes softened. “Those stories were the best. She had a way of making everything seem so magical. I wish she were here with us now.”

Lea looked up at him, her eyes filled with love and nostalgia. “She is, Jake. In every memory and every part of our lives, she’s with us.”They continued to reminisce.As the helicopter approached the hills,Jake pointed out a cluster of lights in the distance. “Look, Lea. That’s our old town.”

Lea’s eyes brightened. “We’re almost home.”As they descended, the details of their hometown came into sharper focus. The quaint houses, the winding roads, the patches of forest...they all felt like old friends welcoming them back.The helicopter hovered over a clearing near their aunt’s house before gently touching down. As the blades slowed to a stop, Jake helped Lea out of the helicopter. She took a moment to breathe in the fresh mountain air, her eyes closed in bliss.

“Welcome home, Lea,” Jake said softly, his arm around her waist.Lea opened her eyes, looking around with a smile that reached her eyes. “It’s perfect, Jake. Thank you.”

Jake pulled her close, their foreheads touching ,pressed together. “Anything for you."

They stood there for a while, savoring the feeling of being back to their roots. The night was silent except for the distant sounds of nature, wrapping them in a cocoon of tranquility.

Lea glanced up at the sky, her eyes reflecting the starry expanse above them. “Jake, do you remember how Aunt used to tell us that each star was a loved one watching over us?”Jake nodded, following her gaze. “Yes, and she’d point out the brightest star, saying it was our parents looking out for us.Sadly,they were Percy's,not mine.”

Lea smiled softly. “Mine are still there, though and I think Aunt’s up there now, too, shining down on us.”Jake kissed the top of her head, feeling a sense of completeness. “I believe she is, Lea. I believe she is.”