Moving On

C h a p t e r 6

A couple days had gone by. It was Sunday morning. I woke up late. Around 10:30. I heard Veronica had let herself in around 7:00 and fed Julie and the dog. Some mornings she does that.
"Daddy!"
"Good morning, baby." Julie handed me the paper. I knew Julie just wanted to look at the comics so, I handed her those. We both sat there in silence reading. I knew she was going to get bored quickly though.
"Can you tell me something else about Mommy please?"
"I'll try."
"Okay!" She yelped in excitement.
"Alright. Did you know your mommy was a cheerleader?"
"No. What's that?!" She said still in thrill and excitement.
"Yeah. They have Pom-Poms and they yell out cheers to the sports teams to motivate them. Yeah, she used to cheer with your aunties."
"Really?!"
"Yeah, with Cheryl, and Toni, and Veronica. God, your mom was so gorgeous. She looked just like you, Bug." I tickled her. She began laughing. She was just like Betty. In so many ways. It was crazy. The resemblance.
"We probably still have all of her cheer stuff around here somewhere."
"Really?"
"Oh, sure."
"Daddy?"
"Hm?"
"How long did you know mommy for?"
"A long time, baby. A long time."
"Like how long?"
"Umm, let me think. 15 or 16 years."
"Wow."
"Yeah, that's almost 10 years longer than you've been alive."
"Wow!!" She said in amazement.
"I can't believe how big you are." I ruffled her hair. I talked to her for a little longer then I got her dressed. I put her in a yellow dress. Then, I brushed her hair out and put in a white headband. I always want to put her in a ponytail but, one, I don't know how, and two, it reminds me too much of Betty. I put her in some white converse. Then, I showered and got dressed. I fiddled with the necklace again. I tucked it into my shirt. Julie was downstairs watching tv with her grandmother. She was sitting in her lap. I made some coffee.
"Alice, can I talk to you?"
"Sure, Jughead."
"Can you cook?"
"Well, yeah."
"Like a really nice meal?"
"What for?" I looked down. It was really hard to have the courage to get it out of my mouth.
"I kind of have a sort of date type thing tonight."
"Congrats. I'm glad your moving on."
"Really?"
"Jughead, it's been five years. I don't think she's coming back. We have to face the reality of that and move on. She hugged me. We both tried to hold back our tears.
"Lasagna sound good?"
"Hm? Oh sure." She left for the grocery store to get ingredients. She came back and started cooking. She let Julie help her cook. I made myself and Julie some sandwiches. I called Tabitha to see if lasagna was okay and she said yes. I walked the dog for almost an hour. I came back home and the food was almost ready. Since we would still have a couple hours, we were going to put it in the fridge. I started cleaning up the house. Putting away the toys, washing the dishes, stuff like that. I still had to do these chores even with Veronica and Alice on my side. It was still my house, after all. Archie called and asked if they could come over. I said yes. Alice was on her way out. Archie and I greeted each other. Her had Tommy's had in his and was carrying Cecilia on his hip. Veronica had baby Daisy in the little baby carrier on her arm. We sat in the living room and Julie and Tommy went upstairs to play. We talked for a few hours until 5:45. I fixed my hair in the mirror. I decided to take the necklace off and put the ring in it's original box. The one it came with when I bought the ring. Julie and I played a little before Tabitha arrived and I quickly picked the toys up. Julie and I greeted her at the door and I let her in.
"Hi Ms. Tate!" Juliet squealed.
"Hi there, Julie!" Tabitha waved to her.
"Hi."
"Hi, Jughead."
"Dinner is ready in the dining room."
"Great."
"Come on princess." I said grabbing Julie's hand. I put Julie in her seat which had a booster because she was still too short to reach the table.
"The lasagna looks good."
"Mhm."
"You make it?"
"Hm?"
"Well, I mean, your a guy. Can you cook?"
"Sure. No. I'm kidding. Haha."
"Haha." She laughed.
"My mother-in-law helped me." Tabitha just gave me a look that said, "really?"
"Well, actually, she and Julie made it."
"Well, it does look delicious." We began to eat some of the lasagna. I had already made some Macon cheese for Julie since she wasn't always a fan of her grandmother's cooking. After Julie finished eating which was pretty quick, she went to go play in the living room until she fell asleep. I brought her up to her bed and came back downstairs. When I came downstairs Tabitha was looking at a picture frame on the side table under the window. It was a group picture of all of us. It was a picture from Betty and I's wedding. There was Betty's sister and JB as bridesmaids. As well as Cheryl and Toni. Veronica was Betty's maid of honor. Sweet Pea, Fangs, and Archie were my best men. My parents and Betty's mom were all standing together. Kevin got online training to officiate us. Juniper was the flower girl. And Dagwood was the ring bearer. Fred and Fp walked Betty down the aisle. Two of the people that were closest to a father to her. It was so magical. So much for a small wedding.
"Who are all of these people?"
"Hm?"
"Oh wait I know some of them."
"Yeah, Veronica and Archie there."
"I've also seen these two. The red head and-"
"You mean Cheryl and Toni."
"Yes."
"And those men, too."
"Kevin and fangs?"
"I think."
"So, who are the others?"
"Well, let's see. That would be, my sister, Jellybean. And that's my sister in law Polly. And those two read head children are Polly's kids, Juniper and Dagwood."
"Oh I see."
"Ever hear of Jason Blossom?"
"Not really."
"Then I won't get into it."
"Anyways, those are my parents, and my mother in law."
"Mhm."
"Oh, and that's sweet pea. He brought Josie that time but they've been on and off for years."
"Oh okay. Is that it?"
"Just about."
"Your wife, she's so beautiful."
"Oh I know."
"Julie looks just like her."
"Oh, I know." We talked a little more until I walked her out the door. Then, the most unexpected thing happened.
"Well, good night, Tabitha."
"Good night, Jughead." I don't remember what happened next really. Either she leaned in, or I did. I don't really know. But, we shared a kiss. It was super long, but, it was a kiss. I pulled away, as she did.
"I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. I haven't officially moved on. I'm confused. It's really hard. I haven't kissed anyone like that in nearly 5 years."
"Wow. Well, I'm sorry. I better go."
"Oh okay. Bye."
"Bye, Jughead." Tabitha drove off into the night and I sat down on the steps in front of the house. There was still a blood stain there. On that step. I went upstairs to see Juliet sleeping peacefully in her bed. I climbed into my bed next to where hot dog was laying. I woke up around 3 am to here Hot Dog barking at something. The landline on my nightstand. It hadn't been used in years. Only Betty used it. Hot Dog was growling at the phone. It seemed like it had been ringing for a while. I the decided to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" I said confused. A deep, dark, creepy voice said back to me:
"Seems like you didn't quite get the message. If you ever want to see your wife again, here's what you have to do: brings the kid to the docks at sweet water river. 4 am Thursday. Don't be late. Just you and the girl. Alone. No weapons. And no cell phone. Got it?"
"Uh-huh." I said terrified.
"Alright. If not, I'll come for you and your child." I hung up the phone in fear. I just laid there awake for a while. Then, I had to make sure Julie was okay. I went into her room around 4 am. She was sound asleep. I picked her up in a baby doll style and brought her into my room with me. I made sure she was real close to me. She had a little white fuzzy bear onesie on. She was so peaceful. She looked just how Betty looked when she slept. I just laid there in deep fear for a long while. Another sleepless night in the Cooper-Jones household.
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