Jess had nervous butterflies in her stomach all through breakfast.  She'd intended to ask her uncle's permission to apply to college in New York two nights before, but her uncle had been in the best mood she'd ever seen him, smiling and gracious with Annie and joking with Doug.  When she'd seen how happy everyone was now that their family was all together again, her resolve to bring it up had crumbled.  With things going so well, she was reluctant to start what she knew was probably going to result in a fight.

But then she'd gone back to school the next day to take her last final exams, and each time Marty had come in the classroom, he'd made a point of not looking at her.  Pretending she didn't exist hurt far worse than his reaction the previous day and when she came home, she was more determined than ever to leave town. 

This was her first opportunity to ask her uncle since he and Doug had stayed late at the office the previous night.  Now that the time had arrived, her heart was racing and her palms were sweaty.  Unable to eat, she'd finally decided there was no point in delaying.

"U – Uncle Jonathon?" she started, hating how shaky she already sounded.

"Yes, Jessica?" he said with a smile.

"I – I asked my guidance counselor, Mrs. Hayes, about going to college – on the East coast.  She said if you call her and say it's okay, she can help me start applying."  Uncle Jonathan's smile wavered and then fell as he stared at her.  "I would like to go to college in New York City," she continued when he didn't say anything.  "Since it's my hometown, I thought it would be good to go back."  

Seeing her uncle's face darken, her body began shaking with fear.  She glanced at Doug for sympathy, but he was gawking with his mouth open, seemingly just as stunned.

"Who gave you this idea?" Uncle Jonathon asked, his quiet tone menacing.

"N – no one.  I've been thinking about it for a long time." 

"Well, I don't give my permission," he said levelly, a muscle in his cheek twitching.

"Please, Uncle Jonathon," she pleaded.  "I really want to go to college.  I want to have a career so I can –."

 "You've got to be joking!" he interrupted loudly, his face flushing.  "A Blackwell female out in the work force?"

"A lot of women work now," she reasoned.  "Don't you have women working in your office?"

"Secretaries!" he scoffed.

"What if I go to school here in the state?" she suggested, hoping a change in tactic would get him to agree.  "I can go to the same one Doug –."  

"You've had enough education!" he shouted, hitting the table with his fist and making her jump.  "You're not going and that's my final word!"

"Dad!" Doug exclaimed, looking like he was in pain.

"Don't get involved in this, Douglas!" Uncle Jonathon warned.  "It's obvious she got this crazy idea because you insisted on going!" 

Doug slumped over his plate in defeat, while Jess struggled to get enough oxygen in her lungs.  He had no intention of ever letting her go, and the realization was making it difficult breathe.  If he wouldn't agree, she had to find some other way to get out or she would be trapped on the property for the rest of her life.

"I – I'll pay for college myself," she said shakily and lifted her chin in an attempt to appear stronger.  "I have my own money."

"No, you don't!" he challenged.

"But – my trust!" she said with shock.  "I do have money!"

"You can't touch that until you're twenty-five," he replied, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied look. 

"What?  That can't be!"

"But it is," he said casually as he picked up his fork.  "So – that's it." 

While he dug into his food, her mind raced.  Uncle Jonathon was lying, she was sure of it.  It seemed almost impossible that her father would have kept her from being able to use her money for that long.  He loved her too much to leave her without a way to support herself. 

But what could she do about it?  She knew if she challenged him, the situation could get ugly.  He might even get angry enough to attack her again.  But the alternative of doing nothing was far worse.  She looked at Doug.  He was pushing around the food on his plate with a grim expression, but she was sure he would protect her if she needed it.

"I want to ask the lawyer about it, the one who set up my trust," she said, and Uncle Jonathon narrowed his eyes. 

"What are you implying?" he asked quietly. 

"I – I just – have a hard time believing – my dad would set it up that way," she said shakily, forcing herself to meet his glare.

"You want to talk to the lawyer?" he said bitingly, throwing his napkin on the table with his face reddening.  "Let's go right now and call him!  Douglas, you might as well come too, since she's turned this breakfast into a farce!"

He stalked out, and Jess looked at Doug while they stood, but his head was down and his shoulders were stooped.  When the three of them reached the phone in the hallway, Uncle Jonathon pulled out his wallet, and then located a business card. 

"There you go!" he said angrily, thrusting it at her.  Picking up the receiver, she dialed 0 and after a moment, she heard a woman answer. 

"Operator.  How may I help you?" 

"I need to place a long distance call, to New York City, New York.  The number is Fleetwood 8-5599" 

"One moment please." 

While she heard several clicks, she looked up.  Uncle Jonathon was glowering at her, his face still red while Doug stood behind him with a grim expression.  Then she heard ringing, and turned her back to them.

"Shriver, Levin, and Lipton," a female voice with a strong New York accent answered.

"This is Jessica Blackwell.  I would like to speak to Mr. Levin, please." 

"Of course, Miss Blackwell!  I'll have him on the line in just a moment." 

"Hello, Miss Blackwell!" Mr. Levin greeted jovially.  "How can I help you today?" 

"I – I had a question – about my trust," she started breathily.  How angry was Uncle Jonathon going to get when she proved he'd lied to her?  Would Doug step in this time?  Or would he be angry at her too?  "Do – do I have to wait until I'm twenty-five – before I can have access to the money?"

"Yes, I'm afraid that's right."  She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall as a wave of disappointment washed over her.  "Your father was concerned about you having access to so much money at a young age.  He thought it best you were older, so you would be mature enough to handle it."

"I see," she said dispiritedly, while she blinked back tears. 

"However, your uncle is the trustee.  If you need to draw on some of the funds, you can always ask him." 

"Thank you, Mr. Levin," she said, and then swallowed against the lump in her throat. 

"Have a good day, Miss Blackwell.  If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to contact me." 

"Yes, sir."  She hung up the phone with despair. 

"Well?" Uncle Jonathon demanded loudly, and she turned around. 

"You were right," she admitted quietly.  He straightened his back, smiling with triumph.  "Uncle Jonathon, will you please give me some of my money so I can go to college?" she asked, and his smile dropped.

"No," he replied through gritted teeth.

"Then I'll get a job and pay my own way." 

"You will not!" he shouted indignantly.  "A Blackwell?  Working like some – some –," he sputtered, unable to continue. 

"I'm not staying here!" Jess shouted, unable to hold back.  "As soon as I graduate, I'm moving out! 

"You're still a minor!" Uncle Jonathon thundered.  "You're not going anywhere!"

"Dad, please stop!" Doug begged.

"Then I'll leave when I turn eighteen!"

"What's going on?" Annie cried, coming into the hallway.

"You're not going anywhere!" Uncle Jonathon shouted, jabbing his finger in her direction with his face turning redder, but Jess refused to back down.  Her whole life was at stake, and if she gave in now, she'd never escape.

"You can't keep me locked up!  Not if I don't want to stay here!"

"Is that so?"

"Just stop!" Doug pleaded. 

"I'm leaving and I'm never coming back!"

"How dare you speak to me like that!" Uncle Jonathon roared, while Annie cried, "Jess, what are you saying?"

"Leave her alone!" Doug shouted, tears coming to his eyes.  "I can't do this anymore!" 

"Don't interfere, Douglas!  I'm warning you!" Uncle Jonathon shouted as he rounded on his son, his face nearly purple

"No, Dad!  Can't you see this isn't right?  I can't be a part of it anymore!  I won't!" 

"Go to your room!" Uncle Jonathon ordered, pointing to the stairs. 

"No!  I won't!" Doug shouted.  Uncle Jonathon staggered backwards, dropping his arm and holding it as if Doug's refusal had injured him.  "Jess deserves to hear the truth!" 

"What truth?" Jess asked.

"Don't – say anything!" Uncle Jonathon commanded, his breathing suddenly erratic.

"I don't understand what's going on!" Annie wailed, ringing her hands while she looked at all of them for answers.

"My father wants to keep you here so he can stay in control over the business." 

"What?" Jess gasped. 

"Douglas!  I'm – begging!" Uncle Jonathon choked out, hugging himself. 

"The mine, the house, all the property, it'll belong to you, Jess!" Doug explained with tears in his eyes.  "You're the heir, not me!"

"Is that true?" Annie asked Uncle Jonathon, but he staggered back against the wall, shaking his head.

"He wanted – he wanted me to marry you," Doug muttered, unable to look at her while he wiped his face.  "That way I'd stay in charge."

"Johnny, tell me it isn't true!" Annie begged while Jess covered her mouth with her hand, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach.  Douglas had lied about being in love with her?  How could her uncle have been so evil?

"He was afraid if you married someone else, they'd take over and ruin the business.  I wouldn't – blame you – if you hated me!" he sobbed with his head hanging.  "You never – deserved this! I'm sorry!"

"Johnny, what have you done?" Annie asked with horror.

"It's not – not like that!" Uncle Jonathon gasped while hugging himself, his face shiny with sweat.  "It was – already agreed – with Billy!  He said – Doug – could have – it all!"

"They're children!" Annie cried, looking at him like she didn't know him. 

"But – he didn't –!  He was supposed to –!"

"I thought you loved Doug!" she exclaimed, wiping away tears.  "How could you hurt him?  And Jess!  How could you hurt your children?" she shouted accusingly.

Uncle Jonathon slid down the wall, and fell over on the floor, gasping as he clutched his arm. 

 "Dad!  What's wrong?" Doug shouted, dropping to the floor next to him.

"Oh, God!  It hurts!" Uncle Jonathon cried out.

"Johnny!" Annie screamed, joining Doug on the floor just as Uncle Jonathon roared in pain, his body stiffening.

"Tell me what's wrong!" Doug begged his father.

"He's having a heart attack!" Annie cried as he writhed on the floor.

"Dad!  No!" Doug sobbed while trying to hold his father.  "Don't die! Please don't die!"

While the two of them tried to help Uncle Jonathan, Jess realized her uncle really might die if they didn't do something.  Picking up the telephone receiver, she dialed 0 with a shaky hand.

"Operator.  How can I help you?"

"We need an ambulance at the Blackwell estate!  My uncle – Jonathon Blackwell is having a heart attack!"

"Johnny!" Annie sobbed in the background.

"I'm passing on the information right now," the operator said quickly.

As soon as Jess hung up the phone, she thought of something else, and ran out the front door.

"James!" she shouted as she ran towards the open garage doors, and he came into view.  "Open the gate!  An ambulance is coming!  Uncle Jonathon is having a heart attack!"

His face fell and he turned towards the black car.  Jess ran back into the house to find Annie and Doug crying over Uncle Jonathon who was lying perfectly still.

"Is he –?" she asked, tears springing to her eyes.

"He's breathing," Doug sobbed.  "But – it's not good."

"An ambulance is coming," Jess said, joining them on the floor.  "They'll help him."

"Dad, I need you!" Doug begged while Annie wept next to him.  "Please don't die!  Please don't leave me!"

It seemed like it took forever, but they finally heard the wail of a siren, and Jess got up and ran outside.  A station wagon appeared from behind the trees with James following in the black car.  Two men in white uniforms stepped out and once they'd retrieved their equipment, Jess waved them in.  She and Doug helped Annie up and they stood out of the way while the men began working on Uncle Jonathon.  He looked terrible, with his face completely drained of color and covered in a sheen of sweat.  While Annie sobbed on her shoulder, Jess held her, fearing he wasn't going to make it. 

When they had him on a gurney, Doug joined him in the ambulance, and Jess and Annie followed in the black car.  Once seated, Annie began sobbing again and Jess tried to comfort her.  While they rode to the hospital, Jess tried to think, but her thoughts were a jumbled mess.  The only thing she was certain of, was that as angry as she was at her uncle for what he'd done, she didn't want him to die. 

The arrival at the hospital was hectic.  They took Uncle Jonathon away and when Doug tried to follow, they held him back.  A nurse tried to get information from him, but he was too distracted to answer questions.  With Annie still crying uncontrollably, Jess stepped forward to help the nurse by prodding Doug or answering the questions she knew herself. 

When the last of the paperwork had been completed, all that was left to do was wait.  Because of the prominence of the family, they were given a private room instead of having to sit in the crowded waiting room.  By now Annie had calmed enough to stop crying, and the three of them sat silently, each lost in their own thoughts.  In the quiet, Jess was finally able to reflect on what she'd found out.   

She believed Uncle Jonathon was telling the truth when he'd said her dad agreed that Doug should inherit the mine.  He wouldn't have wanted her to be saddled with it like Uncle Jonathon was.  As she thought back to how her uncle had treated her over the years, it finally made sense.  He'd been angry because she was standing in the way of Doug taking his rightful place at the head of the company. 

Doug's anger towards her in the beginning made sense too.  She remembered his reaction when he first met her, 'She's just a kid!' and realized Uncle Jonathon had to have formed the plan from the very beginning, even before she'd arrived.  She knew she should be angry with Doug for agreeing to be a part it, but she just felt sorry for him.  His father had manipulated and used him, and Doug had gone along with it, but out of a feeling of indebtedness.  He'd wanted to prove his loyalty to a father who had adopted him and given him so much.  

If only whatever agreement her dad and Uncle Jonathon had worked out been finalized before he died, she thought sadly.  How different all of their lives might have been.  There was a knock on the door and then a doctor walked in.  All three of them stood as Doug asked, "How is he?"

"It was touch and go for a while, but he's going to make it."

"Oh, thank goodness!" Annie exclaimed, as they all slumped with relief.

"We have him stabilized now and he's resting," the doctor continued, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.  "There has been damage to his heart, but I believe he will recover.  However, he'll have to be careful from now on.  He won't be able to work like he has, and maybe not at all," he said pointedly to Doug.

"I understand," Doug replied while the doctor lit his cigarette.  "He won't have to do anything if he can't.  I can handle all of it."

"That would be best, at least until we know what his health is."

"Can we see him?" Annie asked.

"Not yet.  We don't want to overexert him right now.  Maybe later tonight you can see him one at a time, if he continues to improve."

"Thank you, doctor," Doug said, reaching out to shake his hand.

"I'll have a nurse come back in a while to update you," the doctor said, stepping backwards in the direction of the door.  "But for now, you might as well grab a coffee or something to eat.  It's going to be a long day."  When the door closed, Doug collapsed in a chair and put his head in his hands.

"He's going to be okay," Annie said with a wobbly smile, her eyes suddenly shiny.

"Yes, he is," Jess agreed, returning her smile and giving her a hug.

"I think I'd like to have some coffee," she declared, quickly wiping her eyes and straightening her shoulders.  "How about you, Doug?"

"No, thanks," he said, sitting up, as he wiped his face.

"Do you want anything, Jess?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Well, alright.  Hopefully I won't get lost," she said with a relieved laugh, and headed out of the room.

Jess took a chair and Doug leaned his head against the wall behind him, looking up at the ceiling.

"You must hate me," he said quietly.

"I don't hate you, Doug," she replied with a sigh.

"You should hate me," he said bitterly, his blue eyes filled with anger as they met hers.  "I hate myself.  I knew what he was doing – what I was doing was wrong.  Not at first, but I realized – when I started to care about you." 

"I think – it's because you loved your dad," Jess said gently.  "You wanted to prove it to him." 

"You're such a sweet kid," he observed, shaking his head sadly.  "You're better than all of us.  Well, maybe not Annie," he added with an ironic laugh.

"I wish your dad had just asked me.  I would have given everything to you.  I'll give it to you now.  I don't want the mine, or even the house!  This isn't the kind of life I want to live, just like this wasn't what my dad wanted."  His shoulders drooped and his eyes filled with sorrow.  "I still want to leave, Doug.  I want to go to college, but what about your dad?  He said I couldn't go."  Doug studied her for a moment, and then leaned forward.

"I'm going to get him to agree.  And I'm going to talk to the lawyers about having him removed as the trustee of your estate.  They'll have to agree he's too ill to deal with it now.  I'll make sure you have access to your money."

"Thanks," Jess said gratefully, and then blinked back tears as she realized what he'd just given her.  She could do whatever she wanted, go wherever she wanted.  She was finally free. 

"I can't believe you don't hate me for what I did," Doug said, shaking his head.  "I'm ashamed I agreed to my dad's plan."

"Doug, it's really –."

"Please, Jess," he insisted.  "I want you to know the truth.  All the times I took you out, I was supposed to be trying to get you to fall in love with me.  But everything I said to you when we were together, it was all real.  I wasn't making up any of that stuff, and I did grow to love you, but like you did with me, like a sister." 

Jess felt sick, remembering how her uncle had pushed them together.  Seeing the look on her face, Doug dropped his head, looking ashamed. 

"When you said you didn't love me, I knew it was never going to happen.  I tried to convince him, but – he wouldn't give up.  He still thought there was a chance.  I quit college because I didn't want to leave you alone with him.  And I decided I wasn't going to let him hurt you anymore, but I shouldn't have waited," he continued bitterly.  "I should have spoken up on Christmas day.  Then you wouldn't have felt like you had to fight to leave, and maybe he wouldn't have had a heart attack." 

He leaned forward and put his head in his hands again and Jess's heart went out to him.  His father had hurt him terribly.  He'd hurt all of them, including himself, and the worst part was that it could have been avoided.  If he hadn't been so blinded by his determination to have his way, he could have seen how wrong it was to force his son choose between doing what was right and proving he loved him.  And he would have seen that she didn't want any part of the mine, or the life he was trying so desperately to hold on to.  Hopefully one day he'd understand, but she wasn't sure his heart would be able to take it when he did.

****

Whew!  What a wild ride!  What do you make of everything you've learned?  How does this change things?  And most importantly, what will Jess decide to do next?  I can't wait to hear what you think!

Thank you so much for reading!  If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider voting on it to help support it in the Watty's!  The song is Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker and the picture in the multimedia is one I found quite a while ago that helped me imagine the hallway in the house.  Very helpful since so much happens there!