Though Sandy was reluctant, she began to read. After reading some of my mother's daily routine or thoughts, she became quiet. I realized she stumbled across something important to me. She takes a deep breath and begins to read:
July 20, 1993
Today I found out I'm going to have a baby. I still have to tell Joel, though I'm sure he will be happy.
What should I do? This is not what I expected. Doc says I cannot abort as I have sugar. And this might affect me having babies in the future. But if he doesn't want our baby and I have to go to Spain next year, oh god, what do I do?
July 28, 1993
I went for a checkup; oh my, it's so tiny. I was so scared while I was walking. Before I didn't realize it, but after seeing it, I wonder, when I run, is my baby scared?
July 30, 2023
Mom and dad found out. They took me to the hospital, but the doctor told me the same. Mom and dad are fighting because of me. Baby, I won't let anything happen to you. I will bring you into this world.
August 2, 1993
Mom and dad are fighting. I got kicked out of college. Is it my fault? Joel, if I knew you would be like this, I would never ever.
March 17, 1994
Today I got accepted as an intern for Le Bron fashions, but.
April 9, 1994
Today I got another letter from Le Bron. They say I can resume in July. So, I've decided to accept the offer. Debra has also agreed to take the baby with her. I can also rest assured that the baby will have a good life. I can't keep it.
April 10, 1994
Today I signed the papers for the baby to Debra. I'm sure she will be an angel. Unfortunately, I can't keep her.
April 23, 1994
Today is a special day for me. Today our daughter Jessica was born. Joel had no choice. His mother slit her wrist. That's why he left me, but I'm not angry on him. After all I never want him to leave his parents cause of me. As for me and Jessica, I have given Jessica to Debra and I will take the Le Bron offer.
April 23 1995
The year has been really tough. I was shocked when I got told I had a visitor. After all who could come to visit me in Spain? I was amazed to see Joel! He finally convinced his mother and she accepted me. Today, on our baby's special day, we decided to get married. Jessica wait for mom and dad, we're coming.
May 25, 1995
Mom told me Debra's husband left her because he wouldn't accept someone else's child. He told her to choose between him and Jessica. She left his house and came back. Now she's rented a small house in the country. I never expected Debra would do this. she didn't come back. She only sent a letter she's leaving with Jessica. No contact address. Now the jade pendant is the only thing that make me have my daughter back. I hope Jessica cherishes it. Joel's mother gave it. She says, if Jessica is a true child of the Jiles bloodline she will find out the secret. I know my daughter Jessica will find out the secret. Jessica, I hope you don't get angry, but since you were born out of wedlock, your grandmother is OK to doubt me. But you are mine and Joel's baby, she will recognize you the moment she sees you.
"Jessica, looks like then your mother stopped writing, as the last entry is on March 18, 2020, and please be embraced cause I myself don't understand what she means by writing this." Sandy said in a very concerned tone as if she was going to throw a bomb.
Mar 18, 2020
Jessica came to meet me a few days back. I was shocked and amazed to see my daughter standing in front of me. She has forgiven us. We went to see Debra but she was asleep. We told the staff to take care of her. Now, she just has to meet her grandmother then after we announce about her, we'll bring Debra here as well.
Sandy takes a deep breath and says, "Jessica, your aunt has also written in the diary; do I read it."
"My aunt in mom's diary? What has she written there?" I asked in a curious tone. "Here, let me take a look."
As I took the diary and read, I was in a numb state. Seeing me, Patricia says, "What's the matter?"
I look at Patricia with a lost look and read what my aunt had written, "March nineteen, six in the evening, Janet, I may not be alive to tell you but my Jessica is your daughter and see comes to meet me every day. She came in the morning."
Patricia was shocked and said, "What? What does that mean? And, aunt passed away the next day "
"Yes, she stopped talking a week back and would sleep most of the time. The doctor also said it would be nice if she left while sleeping. That's why I didn't know about any of this."
Recalling the file, Sandy says, "Jessica, you just said right now, that file is of a property you have claimed, what's the address?"
I picked the file and after reading it, "It's a new locality, Texanville, that was being built nearby at the time."
"OK then, let's go to Texanville."Sandy says as she gets up.
I instantly stopped her and said, "Wait, wait. Why are you so hyper? I mean I'll check out this property later on."
Sandy slams her hand on the sofa and says, "Jessica, Aunt Debra wrote in your mom's diary for her to read, my Jessica is your daughter and the property is already claimed. You didn't, then who did?"
Patricia also says, "Yes Jessica, you know how hard Aunt Debra worked for you. Are you going to let her hard working property go in a cheater's hand? And another thing is bothering me. I mean, the diary belongs to your mother, what's it doing here?"
That rang a bell for me so I called the nursing home.
The receptionist on the line said, "Hello, Fariview Community Hospital, how may I help you?"
I replied quickly, "Hello, I'm Jessica Jiles. My aunt, I came for some of her stuff that was left behind."
The receptionist says in a calming tone, "Miss Jiles, we all remember you even today. How may I help you?"
"Ah, yes, may I know if you or anyone knows about the diary in my mother's belongings?" Though I thought it's a dead end question, but I was surprised to get the answer.
"Miss Jessica, we don't know who the lady is but she came with you. So she left the diary for your aunt to read. But, sadly she passed away two days later. And, we didn't know the diary was in the other drawer. Sorry for the discomfort caused." The receptionist said in a calm tone.
"oh, no, no, don't please, Ah, you said she came with me."
The receptionist didn't let me complete the sentence and said, "Yes, Miss Jessica, but you were a little different that day. I almost didn't recognize you. But, the next day you were normal, so I thought you might have been extra tired that day."
Though I was shocked, I still told in a calm tone, "Thank you and thanks once again for taking care of my aunt."
The receptionist said, "It's alright Miss Jessica. Though it's our job, but we love to take care of them."
Now I was furious, really furious. That impostor took my property, no problem, but she actually came to meet my aunt with my mother. OK, that I definitely won't allow. Though I don't care about my mom, but not my aunt.
I sighed and said, "Guys, you won't believe this, but that impostor came to with my mother to see Aunt Debra, but she was asleep that day. I presume she knew the in-patients sleep in the afternoon. The receptionist also said, 'I was different that day."
Patrica gets shocked and says, "What? Your lookalike, like a twin?"
Sandy retorts saying, "Now a twin, a replica. Maybe she looks like Jessica, but how and why did she claim Jessica's identity?"
I took a sigh and said, "Well, first, let's go to Texanville, and check out this property aunt bought for me and where have I signed." I took a deep breath as if I was getting ready for a war, "OK, I'll take my leave guys. I'll call if I need you guys."
As I arrived in Texanville, memories just flew into my mind. I clearly remember, my aunt brought me here when I was only seven weeks old. I grew up here. I was in elementary school when I met Sandy. She had just shifted from Los Angeles. We both kind of clicked it off, as they would say.
I parked my car in front of the Sweet Teapot Room. It's the local cafe and practically everyone comes here. So, I got out and went in for a cup of coffee. Even after setting up my studio over at Chesney and eventually bought a villa over at Chapel road and then moved in with Aunt Debra, but we used to come back every now and then.
I went over to an empty table and took a seat. As James came over, a smile spread on my face.
As he came over, he also smiled and said, "Jessica, welcome home. So, the usual, coffee with a strawberry and chocolate chip pastry."
"Yes, please."
As I replied, James said, "One minute, I'll bring your order over right now."
As James came back with my coffee and pastry, songs were playing on the TV. The cable channel used to play a top ten list every day around ten in the morning.
But suddenly the show got disrupted as a news bulletin was being announced. And, honestly I couldn't believe what I saw in front of me. Thanks to the photo, I recognized them immediately. What actually shocked me was the replica of me standing beside them, and more shocking was Kyle standing beside her.
James also saw the news and said, "Jessica, she almost resembles you."
A little surprised by his statement, I asked him, "Almost? What do you mean by that?"
"Well, she does look like you, but her features are not as fine as yours. You're like created by god and she looks like created by humans, if you understand what I mean, but yes, for those who haven't seen you, she can fool them. And, isn't that Kyle?"Seeing my tense look, "Jessica, is everything alright between you both?"
I took a deep breath as if I was gathering my breath to fight and said, "Well, as you can see he's not beside me, so obviously she's more important."
After all, he gave me a divorce and is standing beside her, so she must be more important. But, at that time what I wanted to know was, who was the substitute?
Just then my phone rang so I took the call, "Hello, Jessica Walter."
"Jessica forget about the news, don't watch it. Patricia told me you are over at Texanville. I'm coming, where are you, at home or?"
Realizing the voice is familiar, I looked at the screen and saw it's Derak's call, "Oh, Derak, sorry I was a little lost."
"Jessica, I'm your brother, you don't have to say sorry. But I will make him pay for what he did. where are you?" Derak said in a dominating tone.
"Ah, I'm at the Sweet TeaPot Room."
As the line got disconnected, James said, "Jessica, are you alright?"
I looked up with a smile and said, "I'm fine, actually more than fine. Now I know why he left. So, I don't have to ponder and reduce my blood anymore."
James smiles and says, "I'll get you a chocolate fudge."
James is also one of those who knows me. He joined the cafe seven years ago and has been the longest working waiter here. I have this habit of eating chocolate whenever I feel down, and often would come here to eat.
As odd as it looks, my husband should have been the person who should have known me more than anyone, but here everyone knew me more than him and he was the person who didn't care about me and left me for another woman.
"Jessica, Jessica."