#askashjacobson

'I'm not your mother...' Claires voice echoed in her mind. 'Your mother died after giving birth..you killed her.' Ash couldn't believe she was lied to. All those years.....all the pain of wanting her family together...tarnished...destroyed. She didn't have anymore tears to shed..."I need a drink.." she mutters to herself. She checks her wallet, deciding to go out....no cash. Sighing she decides to just skip it. She then turned her attention to the boxes. 'What is in there?...' she wonders. Getting up, she picks up one of the boxes. It felt a bit heavy to her which was weird. "Might as well figure out what's inside...."

Taking a box cutter, she tears through the tape, and she opens the box in a haphazard way. After scooping out the packing peanuts, she tilted her head in confusion. Inside it felt......soft? Taking it out, it was a stuffed rabbit. pure white fur, with a blue ribbon tied around its neck. "What...? I don't understand..." she says quietly. Suddenly a small envelope falls out from under its soft plush arm. Written in Caligraphy, it was addressed to her. Opening the letter it reads, 

'Happy fifth birthday Renee. I wish I can celebrate this happy day with you, but you're always on my mind. 

Papa loves you very much'

"D-Dad?..." she says, choked up. She opened a few more boxes, some with more stuffed animals, others with small boxes to put tiny trinkets in it, and a couple dresses. Each one with a letter inside, addressed to her. 

'Happy Lucky 13 Renee. I'm currently staying in Wales right now. Soon we'll be able to live together, just you and me. 

Love papa'

'Happy Sweet 16. I hope your dreams come true Renee'

'Happy 18th Birthday. You're a woman now, but you'll always be my little girl. Are you done with high school now? Did you make a lot of friends? I always wonder about that. 

Love Dad'

Tears started to form. 'He never forgot about me....this whole time he sacrificed everything just for me...' She thought. 17 years she was angry at him.....for what? She felt horrible now.

...............

She finally got the the last letter, after reading each one over and over. It looked pretty old, as if her father was saving the best for last. Her fingers shook as she carefully opened the envelope. it felt thicker than the others. Inside was a letter....and a photo. 

She picked up the photo and her eyes widened in shock. The back of the photo was labled, '1988. Performing at Ash and Dust with Annaliese.' She looked over at the photo carefully. Her father, was actually smiling. Not the nervous timid smiles he usually has but a genuine happy smile. His hair messy, and his clothes were a bit wrinkled but he didn't seem to care. Next to her a woman with long chestnut colored hair, pinned up in a messy bun, that framed her face smiled with her father. Her steel grey eyes are soft compared to Claire's piercing cold ones. She wore a simple red dress, with a black shawl. In her hand a microphone as if she were getting ready to sing, while her father readied his violin. 

"Annaliese....mom....." she whispers. She set the photo down, and then looked at the letter. It read, 

" Dear Renee.....

When you read this letter you're probably all grown up. In this photo is your mother and me, 4 years before you were born. I wish I was around to tell you sooner about the truth....and I'm sorry. Let me tell you a few things that you would want to know. 

Let me start with the name Ash. It was actually Annaliese's idea to give you that name. Because it was also the name of the night club where she was able to be herself, and have fun. The name Renee, your aunt claire said she gave you that name after her mentor....but Annaliese is the name of your mother's best friend. Who got her into singing...and how we met. 

Now please don't blame yourself for her death. She knew she was not strong enough to give birth but she wanted to see you until the end. She loved you very much. No matter what happens, stay strong. We both love you Ash. 

I hope one day we'll be able to see each other again. I won't give up and neither should you. 

I'm always proud of you no matter what Ash. 

Love, Dad'

"Well I think it's time you should know, since you've already degraded yourself with your antics." Claire says, taking a sip of her tea. "weak as usua..." she mutters before pushing the cup away. "You are not my child. You're my neice." She says looking at Ash with Malice. Ash stood there silent. 

'Please say she's just trying to fool me...' She thought to herself. She was already put down and called names by the woman but is she really trying to break her? "Oh that look you're giving me. You're trying to pretend I'm making up stories aren't you? Well, too bad for you. I'll tell you a story, dear, 'daughter'."

"Thomas and I were married when he was 23 and I was 18. I thought I would have my happily ever after with that man. Was I ever wrong." Claire says, her voice sounding bitter as she talked. "Your father used to perform at night clubs with my sister, also known as your mother. Her name was Annaliese. Annaliese Marie DeFleur. Your grandmother named her after her penpal from Germany. My little sister always being the favorite. While I worked my way up to corporate, Annaliese, that traitor....all she did was party and sing at those gaudy night clubs night after night.....That was when she took Thomas away from me." Claire bit her lip but remained composed. "

"Annaliese...is....my mother?" Ash asks, a bit choked up. All this time she believed that this woman.....the woman whom she worked hard to please, just to be in her favor....is her aunt? "Annaliese....where is she?...Where is my real mother!?" She yells, tears streaming down her face. "Why didn't she take me with her instead of leave me with you!?" Claire glares at her niece, back handing her again, causing the young woman to fall to the floor. "

"Annaliese died giving birth to you. You, Renee, killed your mother." Claire says, as-a-matter-of-factly. "Annaliese was born sick so of course, our parents gave her everything she wanted. While I remained in her shadow..." 

"But why take me in?...If I'm not your daughter why would you do this?" Ash asks, her voice shaking. 

"I wanted to put you in an orphanage, but Thomas wouldn't have any of that." Claire explains. "That man wanted to keep you. He made a promise to Annaliese that he would take care of you." 

"Then why did he leave!?" 

"He left because he was in debt. So I divorced him, and got custody of you. We had our own lives so I decided to make his miserable. As I made a living he traveled around, using what little money he had left to work his way up. He sent me letters begging me to let him see you. Of course I refused. He even went as far as to make sure most of his debt was paid so he can take you back to live with him, but I made sure it didn't happen so I sent you to the States." 

Ash froze in her place. So her father cared after all....'Papa..i'm so sorry...' She thought to herself. She spent years hating him so much, she finally regret it. Why would this woman do this? Why did she hold so much hate? 

"Get out..." Ash says, gritting her teeth. "Get out of here and don't ever speak to me again!" She screams, as she cried. Claire smirked, as if she won the war. "Such temper....quite befitting of a filthy child like yourself. Oh and before I return.." she takes out her phone and pushed a couple buttons. "Bring it out." She commanded.