A/N: Please be sure to read Chapter 34 before Chapter 35 to avoid confusion. Today we have another double update! Thank you, dear readers. <3

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Three days I stayed with Care and her family until things calmed down. During that time Grandad called me, but Mom refused to speak to me unless I promised not to see Eric again. 

To hell with that noise. 

If Eric decided to give me another chance, I wasn't going to say no for the sake of a stubborn eighty-four year old who knew better. It didn't matter whether she'd raised me or not.

In some ways it was a relief to get away from her. 

"Your grandmother's being a pain in my ass," growled Grandad on the phone. "She wants me to agree with her, but I think she's wrong. It's your choice, kid. You're an adult now."

"Tell me honestly, Grandad." I bit my lower lip, wondering if I wanted to hear the answer. "Did you like Eric?"

"I won't lie, kid. I'm torn."

"How so?"

"You're right. He's a gentleman." Grandad chuckled. "I didn't think they made them like that anymore. He spoke honestly from the heart. He's smart as hell. He loves the hell outta you."

"You think so?" I asked as my heart lurched forward, wondering if it should dare to hope.

"Kid, no man looks at a woman the way he looks at you if he isn't head over heels," he answered in his genuine gruffness. "Trust me, I know."

My heart thundered against my ribs. 

"The problem is that if either of you refuse to budge on the religion question," he said with a heavy sigh, "it might spell trouble later."

"Oh, man! Not you, too."

"Now hold on, kid! Let me finish."

"Sorry," I muttered.

"Unlike your grandmother, I think you should cross that bridge when you come to it," he said. "This Eric respects the hell outta you. He wanted you to say Grace."

"Right!" I gave a frustrated huff. "Exactly, it wasn't like he was saying our ways were full of suck."

"Language, Jess!"

"Sorry, Grandad."

"You're right, though." He cleared his throat. "It would have worried me more if he had told us not to say Grace at all. But he wants you to keep your faith as long as you respect his wishes."

"So you like him?"

"He's a keeper, kid."

 I gave an excited squee, making Grandad chuckle.

"It's too late, though." I bit my lower lip. "He hasn't talked to me since. Eric said he wouldn't endure it again, and quite frankly I don't blame him."

"Yeah, neither do I." Grandad sighed. "Your grandmother took it too far."

"Ten bridges too far," I insisted. "Imagine if Eric were Jewish, Protestant, or Muslim and his parents wanted me to convert to their religion before I could date him."

He paused in consideration. "Good point."

"If only Mom could see..."

"Now I've been trying to get your grandmother around to our point of view." He exhaled an annoyed sigh. "But it isn't easy. She can be a stubborn pig-dog when she wants to be."

"I can't let her bully him--or me--like that."

"Understood." He paused. "I still miss the hell outta you, kid."

My heart twanged with regret. It didn't seem fair that Grandad should miss me simply because Mom wouldn't see the truth. But I couldn't give into her demands. I was an adult. 

I had to stand on my own two feet on this point. Or she'd never understand.

"Your grandmother does too," he admitted begrudgingly. "She needs time to pray and reflect, and I hope the Spirit will guide her towards a better understanding."

"Do you think she'll come around?"

"If you're asking me if you need to stay away for a few more days," he said, "the answer is yes. I talked to Yaya and Pappous about it. They're happy to keep you there for a week or two."

"Thank you!" 

"Don't thank me. Thank them."

The silence hung heavy for a few moments. "Hey, Grandad?"

"Yeah?"

"You know I love you, right?"

"I love you too, kid." He sighed. "Your college decision is up to you. But I'm not gonna lie. I hope you stay here. Not just for our sake. Long-distance relationships are tough."

He isn't wrong there.

"I wish I could talk longer," I said, "but I have to study for my exams."

"That's more important," he said in gruff assent. "Don't neglect your schoolwork, kid."

"Never."

"All right, I'll see ya soon."

"Bye, Grandad."

With a heavy heart I hung up the phone. Holding this stupid grudge went against every natural inclination of mine. In fact, part of me wondered if I wasn't being the same annoying 'pig-dog' as Mom. 

Digging deep into my mind, I analyzed my position. Asking myself what I hoped to achieve and whether or not this was the proper way forward.

I wanted Mom's respect. She needed to view me as an adult in my own right if we decided to keep a positive relationship going forward. No longer was Jess the tiny girl clinging to her skirt. 

She needed to let me go. Make my own choices. Date the man I'd chosen.

Most of all, she needed to let me fail. 

Mom was so worried about being the perfect mom and me being the perfect daughter that I didn't have any room to grow and develop into a woman.

That had to stop.

If diplomacy wouldn't make her see reason, perhaps my absence would. And if it didn't, I would cut her from my life like I did with my own mother.

But I didn't want that to happen. I wanted her respect.

As I approached Care's closed door, I could hear her arguing on the phone. Thinking Mom might have called her, I did a very iffy thing. 

I listened. 

Oh, shit! I'm turning into Mom.

My conscience nudged me to move away, and yet I couldn't resist. Because Care wasn't talking to Mom after all.

Care sighed. "Eric, I'm really disappointed in you... No, really I am. You're smarter than this."

My heart thudded against my ribs. You're sinning, Jess. This is your sister and your friend. Back away from the door.

Just one more minute, growled the demon inside. This is important shit.

"Jess is broken up about this," hissed Care. "She didn't order you to say Grace. Her mom did."

Silence fell until she made another angry retort.

"No, she doesn't agree with her mom." She huffed in frustration. "No, not them. Her grandad admires you. Quit painting everyone with the same brush."

She sighed.

"Jess is staying here because she's so mad at her grandmother. She threatened to go to California to study," she growled under her breath. "That's how much she loves you."

Care's defending you, and you're betraying her trust! shouted my conscience. For the last time, move the hell away from the door!

The only way you're gonna know the truth is if you listen, retorted my little demon.

"Well, you're as stubborn and stupid as Carmel," shouted Care in an angry whisper. "Jess is my sister! I'm not your carrier pigeon. Tell her yourself."

This is your last chance, said my conscience. You're an adult. Don't repeat the sins of your mom. Back away from the door. Now!

I heaved a heavy sigh and left, closing my bedroom door behind me. Turned out I didn't need to spy to hear the rest. As I flopped on my bed and retrieved my World Literature textbook, Care shouted loud enough for all of Worcester county to hear. 

"You know what? I'm sick of your bullshit!" she roared. "You have her number and mine. Call us when you decide to grow a pair!"

She slammed down the receiver. "God damn the stupidity of human beings! Can't live with 'em. Not allowed to kill them."

Ohhh, she's pissed. 

I haven't seen her this mad since Adam stole her Yoshi keychain in the third grade.

Care stormed over to my room and knocked non-stop until I opened it. She rushed in, plonked herself on the bed and sighed. 

"You know, all this is so unnecessary!" She yanked out her scrunchie and pulled her hair into a tight ponytail. "What the hell do they say about no religion or politics at the dinner table?"

"Not possible in my house," I replied.

"Your mom needs to keep her Catholic wiener in her pants."

That cracked me up. I don't know why. Maybe it happened because of all my pent-up anxiety and nerves.

Tears of laughter trailed down my cheeks like they did when Jack the Jock had told his crazy jokes. Care gave me an incredulous look until she also started laughing along with me. 

Some rational part of my brain knew it wasn't that funny. Still, her crazy-ass comment helped me vent all that emotion.

"Catholic wiener!" I cracked up again. "That's a good one."

She grinned at me. 

"Tell me the truth," I said.

"Always, whether you like it or not."

I gave her a crooked smile. "Am I being as stubborn as Mom?"

"No!" said Care with insistence. "For once you're the sane person around here."

"Hey!"

She shrugged. "You wanted the truth..."

Be careful what you wish for.

"Eric has ridiculously high expectations," said Care as she rolled her eyes. "He expected you to hop in his Mercedes and ride off with him into the sunset if you didn't agree with them."

"Say what?"

"He's not himself." Care sighed as she lay down on the bed. "He's in love with you, Jess. Even rational people go nuts when they're in love, especially when it goes wrong."

"Ugh!"

"But now Eric needs to get the fuck over himself and admit it was her fault, not yours."

"It made him question whether or not we're a good match," I surmised.

"He's scared you're gonna ditch him someday because of his atheism," said Care. "I know I shouldn't betray what he said, but I'm sick and tired of all these stupid secrets."

I sat on the bed beside her. "But I'd never do that."

"I know that." She tucked her hands behind her head. "The annoying thing is that Genius Boy knows it, too. But he's too scared to take the leap. Even though you're standing up for him."

"What can I do to fix it?"

"Wait for him?" she replied. "Wait for both idiots to come around?"

"How is it possible that two of the smartest people in our group are being the biggest dumbasses?" I growled under my breath. "No offense."

"None taken." Care grinned. "I'll gladly keep twenty fewer IQ points in exchange for a bit of common sense."

"You're telling me."

Silence fell, and I debated whether to tell Care about my transgression.

"I was an ass-hat," I muttered under my breath. "Somehow I never manage to get through a fight without being some kind of an ass-hat."

"Why?" She sat up and furrowed her brow. "What happened?"

Don't tell her, hissed my demon. She doesn't need to know.

Shut up!

"I listened." I cringed as I said the words. "I'm just as bad as stupid Mom."

"Just now?"

"Yeah..."

Care's shoulders slumped. "Not cool, Jess."

"I know. I'm sorry." I growled under my breath, angry at my own idiocy. "I'm so freaking stupid all of the time."

"Hey, now. You're upset and not thinking straight." She pat my back. "Listen, I kept things from you because I keep things from him too. I want to show you I'm a good friend you can trust. Not blabbing all the time like I used to in junior year."

I nodded. "And I fucked it up." I gazed at her, my heart filled with regret. "I'm really sorry, Care."

"Just don't do it again," she said in a firm tone, her gaze intense as she held out her hand. "Promise?"

I shook it. "Promise."

"All right, then. I forgive you." She hugged me and pulled back with a smirk. "You picked a good time to spy. You probably could have heard me all the way in China!"

"Right?" I said with a scoff.

"You're such a nut..."

"But I'm a cute nut, right?"

"Yeah, you are!" She raced over to her TV and turned on her SNES. "You know what's gotta happen now, though."

She booted up Tetris.

Oh, no! I suck so badly at that.

"Better polish a silver plate, sis," she said in a childish sing-song, "because your ass is gonna get handed to you."

"Dude, I have an exam."

"You'll study until two in the morning anyway." She handed me a controller. "But first you're gonna move your butt to that bean bag over there and watch the master."

"Jeez, dude."

"Yep, payback's a bitch."

Care grinned after she reached level sixteen. She did indeed hand my ass to me.

***

Living with Care's grandparents for the next two weeks proved to be a welcome reprieve. Not simply because of the novelty factor either. They acted way less strictly than mine. 

As long as I kept my grades up--and by some miracle, I managed to get ninety percent or above on all my tests and essays despite all the nonsense--I could do whatever I wanted. 

As long as it was safe and legal, of course.

Care and I would stay up late on the weekends doing all the things I couldn't even think about at home. We watched Braveheart, Terminator II, Gattaca, and Blade Runner. Rated higher than PG, Mom had strictly prohibited those movies in our home.

Care's grandparents couldn't have cared less. "You're old enough and dumb enough to know what junk you watch," as Yaya would phrase it.

Clearly Yaya wasn't a big fan of sci-fi. She had the wisdom to let us get on with it, though.

After binge-playing SNES until our thumbs hurt, we decided to watch Total Recall, an X-rated film that would have made Mom shit kittens. Care set down a giant bowl of popcorn, a bag of Doritos, and a plate of Rice Krispies squares that we'd made earlier that morning. 

"You know what?" said Care. "This is freakin' awesome. As far as I'm concerned, you can live here for the rest of your life."

I laughed. "I love it here, sis. Thank you so much."

Care grinned and passed the plate of squares to me. Little piglet that I was, I took two without blinking. We hit them together as though we were making a formal toast with wine instead of tasty treats and chomped on them.

"Oh, my God! These are so good," I said, covering my mouth with my hand. "Mmm!"

"Yummy ooey gooey deliciousness," said Care. 

"I can say God as much as I like!" 

Care and I started shouting "God" like a murder of crows. It caught Yaya's attention, who knocked softly on the door. We stifled our chuckling and paused at the main credits. 

"Are you girls okay?" asked Yaya. 

"Yep, we're good," called Care. "The normal amount of crazy."

"Alrighty then," she said with a hint of wariness. "You girls have fun."

Mom would have hanged us at first light for taking the Lord's name in vain. On purpose. As a joke. Whereas Yaya took it in stride. 

"It's good to see you eating again, girl," said Care as I grabbed two more squares. "We were all getting a bit worried about you."

"Yeah, I was upset about all that crap." I leaned back. "But you know what I realized?"

"What?"

"This is my life," I said. "If Eric and Mom don't want to accept me, that's their choice."

"Damn straight." Care shrugged. "Their loss."

"Yeah, I honestly don't give a shit anymore."

"Especially since your grandad visited us twice."

"He's a good guy," I said in a dreamy voice. "I'm so lucky to have him as a father figure."

"You're damn right." Care gestured at the DVD player. "You mind?"

"Not at all. Let's do this."

Life jolted me out of my dream world all too soon. 

I'd never forget when the call came. 

We'd reached the point where the main ass-hat of the film had decided to shut down the ventilators to asphyxiate the citizens on Mars in a vain attempt to regain control. Care and I kept our eyes glued to the screen. We chomped mindlessly on popcorn once we'd eaten all the Rice Krispies squares.

Yaya gave a tentative knock on the door.

"Jess, sweetheart?" she asked in a choked voice. "Can I come in?"

Care paused the movie in an instant with a shocked look. It took a lot to upset Yaya, which meant some serious shit had gone down. 

"Come on in, Yaya."

As soon as she entered and I saw the look on her face, I knew. My heart sank deep into my stomach, threatening to release all my snacks on Care's pale gray carpet. 

"Jess, sweetie."

I rose, my head swimming. "Wh-What happened?"

"It's your grandad," she said, her voice choked with tears. "He's had a heart attack."

Care murmured an expletive under her breath as she leaped to her feet and wrapped a supportive arm around me. 

God, no! This is all my fault!

Somehow I found my voice as tears stung my eyes. "Did he--?"

"No, dear. He's still alive." Yaya breathed a sigh of relief. "They took him in an ambulance about an hour ago, but we need to go to the hospital right away."

My thoughts reeled at the speed of light, filled with pain and regret. What if Grandad died? What if I'd missed out on my last days to be with him over a stupid family feud? 

Had I become that woman I despised in every rom-com known to mankind? All those missed opportunities because some woman had pined over some dude?

No, it wasn't about Eric. It was about my freedom. 

Grandad had agreed with me. This wasn't my fault.

Still the guilt wouldn't stop as my stomach lurched beyond my control. 

"Of course," I said, closing my eyes as my stomach burbled in protest. "Excuse me."

Holding my hand over my mouth, I rushed to the bathroom. My poor stomach didn't even give me a chance to turn on the light or close the door. Hell, I barely had the wherewithal to lift the toilet covers.

Against my will, my stomach ejected all the snacks into the toilet bowl. Yaya raced into the bathroom and held my forehead as I threw up over and over again. 

"You're okay, sweetheart," she said, patting my back. "You're okay. Just relax, honey. That's it. Yaya's here. Care, get me a cold facecloth, will you? Thank you, dear."

It took my stomach forever to calm the hell down.

"I'm okay, Yaya." I rose to my feet and cleaned my face and rinsed out my mouth before brushing my teeth. "Sorry, I don't know what happened."

"You ate a bit too much too fast," said Yaya, rubbing my back as she handed me the cold facecloth. It felt heavenly against my flushed skin. "Too much excitement at once."

I nodded.

Yaya gave me the space to sit down and collect myself while Care gave me a stick of mint gum to calm my raging stomach. After a few minutes, it settled down enough that I could trust myself in a moving car.

"Are you sure you're okay now?" she asked, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze.

I stood up tall and squared my shoulders, ready to face my family.