[center][color=teal][h2]Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey[/h2][/color][/center]

Again, as Jess addressed her, Roxy reacted with surprise. Was the anchor really that convinced she wanted to shut her out completely? As relaxed as Roxy tried to act, Jess could feel her impatience growing. The empath looked down at the ground. Again, she was being a burden, but her attempts not to weigh the other woman down just made her feel rejected.

She'd been raised to be a problem-solver, and yet here she was, at a complete loss. Her dad wouldn't want to see this.

The thought nagged at the back of her mind as she and her mom stayed a little longer by the grave, talking, reminiscing about happier times, when the family had been complete. After one more look at the stone, both women slowly made their way back along the path, Jess' eyes cast down, her mother's hand on her shoulder.

[color=aqua]"He never doubted you'd be ok, you know,"[/color] her mom tried to reassure her. Jess knew better. Underneath that positive facade, he'd been tormented with uncertainty about her future, about his own condition, about everything.

Even so, the young woman nodded. [color=teal]"I... I meant it... I will be ok."[/color] She knew she didn't sound convincing. It was Roxy she was worried about - the anchor clearly had baggage of some kind, and Jess was just adding to it.

She felt the hand on her shoulder squeeze a little tighter. [color=aqua]"Before we go back, I could take both of you to one of the cafes around here,"[/color] her mom gently offered.

Jess took another glance at Roxy. [color=teal]"Do you... want that?"[/color] She personally did, it would be another way to bond and catch up, but Roxy would most likely feel like an outsider again.