Read Online Home From Within by Jennifer McCartney, Lisa Maggiore - Free Book Online Page A

lied to Aunt Lodi. Well, she didn’t think of it as a lie but as a way to gather information about her family history. She’d told Aunt Lodi that she had a genealogy paper to complete for Humanities. Mr. Gambino did assign a paper; however, it was on her heritage. Jessica knew she was German, Swedish, and Norwegian. Her father taught her that as he lectured, using a map, about the history of America at war. The missing pieces were the stories about her grandparents and those before them. Why is her father so different from his sister? Why does he seem to care about his children but can barely put his arms around them?
    At dinner that night, Aunt Lodi brought up the paper before Jessica had a chance to formulate her lie.
    “A family tree?” her father questioned. “What does that have to do with your academics?”
    “Well, I’m not sure, but it’s an important part of history according to Mr. Gambino.”
    Her father and Aunt Lodi looked at each other. She smiled at him and gently said, “You know, I’m sure this is something we can figure out.”
    Jessica watched their apprehensive expressions. Aunt Lodi did not seem that concerned when Jessica had told her alone, but now, in her father’s presence, she seemed more rattled. This was the third day into Aunt Lodi’s visit, and her mere presence made Jessica feel like she could challenge the status quo of the household. Not head-on, but in small chipping away steps.
    “It would be nice to know more information about your parents,” Jessica said.
    “What exactly do you want to know?” asked her mother.
    “Well I need to make a family tree and put the names and birth dates of your parents and their parents before them. I also need to include immigration, like when they came through Ellis Island, and any stories that are relevant in our family history.”
    “You sound so professional, you straight ‘A’ student,” Aunt Lodi said with a grin. “Aren’t you so proud of her?”
    “Of course,” her mother said. “But let’s not get distracted. So you need your father and I to tell you about our ancestors?”
    “Yes,” Jessica said.
    All three adults looked at each other. Jessica stared at Jason as he shoved more venison stew into his mouth—one of Aunt Lodi’s concoctions.
What is wrong with our ancestors?
Jessica wondered.
    “When is your paper due?” asked her father.
    “Next Friday.”
    There was a long silence before her father spoke up again. “We will have a talk over the weekend, in the office.”
    “Sounds like a plan,” Aunt Lodi said, slapping the tabletop. “Now who wants some of my famous homemade brownies?” Aunt Lodi pushed herself up from the table and made her way to the kitchen. “And don’t give me that look, Katherine. My hard-core hippie days are over.”
     

     
    One of Jessica’s favorite times with Aunt Lodi was in the morning. She would wake up extra early, without the help of an alarm clock, and tiptoe to the guest bedroom. Aunt Lodi would be meditating on the bed, and Jessica would quietly slip under the covers while Aunt Lodi took cleansing breaths. Then, Aunt Lodi would pull Jessica in close. They would whisper, do exercises like the bicycle, and sometimes Aunt Lodi would read her palm. The most wonderful predictions about Jessica were made on her palm. Jessica will have a very successful career helping others, maybe have two children with a man that is very loving and generous. He will be big, like her father, but in a more teddy bear kind of way. Jessica always giggled about that. Aunt Lodi had been telling her that since she was little. As she got older, it would lead into the question: is there a special someone in your life? Jessica would always laugh, and Aunt Lodi would tickle her. But that was before, when it was impossible to have a special someone. Things were different now. Paul was someone special, but Jessica was not sure she could trust Aunt Lodi with that secret. If that secret ever crept into her