by C. M. Bryden
‘I know I’m no good at expressing my feelings. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have any, because I do.’
Jessie let him talk. Suddenly it was as though the floodgates had opened and at last Jake knew it was what he’d needed to do for years. He had to accept his feelings were as normal and as valid as anyone else’s. Saying what was in his heart was important. Before he knew what was happening, Jessie and Andrew knew more about Jake than they’d ever bargained for. It was Jessie’s gift of being able to analyse feelings and emotions that was going to help Jake; more than many sessions with a therapist could ever do.
Jessie told him, in no uncertain terms he’d been a fool and for once Jake agreed. He knew he hadn’t really taken to heart what Liza and Mark had tried to show him, he’d only listened to what Liza had said about wooing a woman with gifts, material things Jane didn’t need or want. He knew that now. Then Jessie asked him how could the simple equation of him being in love with Jane, and her being in love with him, be so difficult for them both to understand, acknowledge and not get right?
Jake shook his head. He didn’t know how to answer, and then it came out in a rush, ‘it’s Jane who wants the divorce. Not me. She’s adamant about that. I’ve even tried not signing or returning the papers but I can’t do that for much longer. My lawyer tells me I must sign and let the marriage end, but I don’t want to do that. I know once they’re signed, that will be it! It will be finished and I will have lost her for ever.’
It was obvious Jake was at last admitting defeat. He’d prevaricated for far too long. As for seeing Jane again, or her ever agreeing to be alone with him, or even getting her to listen to him as he tried to convince her he loved her, wasn’t something he could imagine ever happening.
‘Well, you’ve got a new mother-in-law now who’s going to help you,’ said Jessie, ‘so you’d better listen carefully and we’ll see if we can’t get you both together again?’
Just how she was going to do this Jessie had yet to think. It was going to take something like a minor miracle but, as Jake returned to his flat later he was at least convinced Jessie might well be the only person who could make the miracle happen and, for the first time in months, he felt more optimistic than he’d been in a long while.
It was a day or so later when Jessie managed to speak to Jane. Talking as women do with each other, and in a way men rarely understand.
Jessie’s relationship, as her new stepmother gave her an edge on asking personal questions. In fact, Jessie asked Jane outright to explain exactly what had been the cause of her marriage spilt with Jake? She knew it wasn’t just the loss of the baby that was bad enough, so there must be something else that had happened before then, something Jane hadn’t spoken about, because to Jessie’s mind they’d seemed so happy and in love before Jane had gone to America, regardless whether Jake had denied Jane didn’t love him!
Jessie knew the marriage had been arranged in the first instance to save Andrew’s company from closing. She had already remonstrated with her new husband about his ethics. It was then, to her surprise, Andrew had told her what had happened the day Jane and Jake had first met.
‘Jessie, you wouldn’t believe how electric the air was when Jane walked into the room. They both took one look at each other and you could hear the electricity between them crackling. It was a magical moment for me as well, even though I was only looking on, so how they must have been feeling I can’t imagine. When Jake said later he would help me only if Jane agreed to marry him I thought it would be a good idea. They seemed so suited to each other. She refused, of course, and I can’t say I blamed her because Jake hadn’t a clue how to woo a woman. I’m just surprised he ever managed to get a woman into bed before he saw Jane, as for romantic talk, well, as far as I can tell, Jake doesn’t do romance!’
‘But he bought her a beautiful engagement ring and wedding ring, without any help from anyone and I know he bombarded her with flowers and perfume…’ said Jessie. Her eyes filling with tears, she felt so emotional.
‘But any fool can go into a shop and get an assistant to pick you out the most expensive perfume and jewels. It’s the sweet talk that gets a woman into your arms and into your bed!’
‘But Andrew, you didn’t have to do any of those things to get me into bed.’
‘Well, that was because you fancied me something rotten!’ He said. Laughing, as he tried to calm down the situation.
‘I think I’d fallen in love with you a long time ago, but I was with someone else then and you had your lovely Isabel. I wouldn’t have broken up your marriage for anything, even though I envied you. But when you and I were both on our own I did think I might stand a chance, and I was right wasn’t I?’
‘As you always are, my darling girl. Now, to continue, what are we going to do to get Jane and Jake’s marriage back on track?’
And that was exactly the question Jessie asked Jane, to which Jane was reluctant to give her an answer.
‘The big problem was Jake and I didn’t fall in love, we fell in lust! We were like animals in bed. Couldn’t get enough of each other’s bodies. The only problem was he couldn’t tell me he loved me, so I didn’t think he did. Does that make sense?’
‘Well I understand what you’re saying, but are you sure that maybe he couldn’t believe his luck to have met and married a wonderful woman like you. Perhaps you intimidated him?’
Jane wanted her say, but Jessie was having none of it.
‘You’re a very clever woman and he might have problems dealing with clever women? Did you ever tell him you loved him? Did you ever say you couldn’t live without him? Did you ever make him feel it was him you wanted to be with, and not just because he’d saved your father’s company?’
Jane sat in silence for a few moments, digesting what Jessie had said.
‘I don’t think Jake knows what love is. He wanted my father’s company and thought I should come with the deal! I suppose I was as much to blame, because at first I lusted after his body as well, only my lust quickly changed into love.’
‘Why don’t you meet him then, before it’s too late?’ asked Jessie. ‘Perhaps he does love you but doesn’t know how to tell you?’
Jessie could see Jane was bristling.
‘No. I’m sure he doesn’t love me. He made it quite clear when we were at the hotel, after I came out of hospital by keeping away; it was as if I disgusted him. And then there was the time when he said he didn’t want children, when his mother said she was looking forward to being a grandmother? You were there with me and heard her say that if you remember?’
‘But that was because he thought she was interfering. It wasn’t her business. It was a matter between the two of you. Whether a couple have children is up to them, not whether a mother-in-law wants grandchildren or not?’
‘Well I want children and when I’m divorced, I will find a nice husband, one who wants me for myself. A man who loves me and wants to have children with me!’
It was at this point Jane burst into tears and went into her own office, shutting the door behind her, leaving Jessie shaking her head, knowing there must be some way to end the impasse between her dearest new step daughter, and her new son-in-law, but how? It was quite apparent it was going to take a great deal more than she’d already said to get them back together again. As for Jake, he would have to do his own chasing now. Jessie sighed. There was much more to matchmaking than she had ever thought!
Chapter Twenty
There was a thirteen-year age gap between Jessie and Jane, until now it had never seemed to matter. Somehow though, ever since she’d married Andrew, Jessie had seen a subtle change occur in their relationship and now she felt not only older, but so much wiser in her outlook and especially how she felt about love. It was as though since becoming Jane’s stepmother she’d taken on the mantle of responsibility of motherhood and, being with Jane, when she’d been at her most vulnerable, the day she lost her baby, had had a profound effect on Jessie. Her heart had ached, not just fo
r Jane, but for Jake as well. She’d tried hard not to forget his feelings and how he must have felt when his wife lost their baby, a child he’d had no prior knowledge of, until she’d collapsed at his feet! It must have been the shock that had temporarily frozen his feelings. But why didn’t Jane tell him she was pregnant as soon as they arrived at the hotel? Was it true only his mother unfortunately speaking out of turn had been the catalyst to the present disaster?
The weeks were passing by, with no hope of getting them together even invitations to spend weekends at the house in the country were refused by both of them, with Jake explaining he had too much work on, as for Jane, her excuses were as many and as varied as his! Excuses such as she had to go somewhere or other with her job, even though Jessie knew other colleagues could easily have done some of her work. It was as though they were both working themselves to the point of exhaustion in their efforts not to see each other.
Then came Christmas and the New Year, both events passing with Jake spending the holidays with his mother and stepfather in Italy, taking Sara back with him as his excuse. She’d completed her first term at college, but was keen to go home. She’d met an attractive young man from Milan who’d been working as a waiter in the hotel during the summer and, as he was going to work at the hotel again over the holidays, it was quite natural she would want to go back home. She’d changed as well since her escapade in London, maturing into a beautiful young woman.
To Jane’s surprise, when Sara returned to college in the autumn she’d taken to spending some evenings with her, always talking about Jake. At first it had irked her, but eventually she came to know nearly everything there was to know about the man she’d married in haste, but was now repenting at her leisure!
Andrew and Jessie also began to see another side to Jane. Her mood had finally lightened as her depression lifted and gradually, she was beginning to mellow in her outlook towards Jake. She no longer walked out of the room if Jessie or Andrew spoke of him, which they thought to be a good omen, as they still had visions of them getting back together.
With the Christmas and the New Year festivities over, Jessie knew she was putting on weight. She decided she would have to go to the gym and take some exercise if she was to keep fit and managed to persuade Jane to go with her. Unbeknown to them, Jake had also joined the same gym, aware that eating too much of his mother’s wonderful food was beginning to show.
The first evening at the gym, the two girls were given a fitness test where they were weighed, measured and given a small medical examination before they would be allowed anywhere near the equipment. Jane passed without any problem, as her own doctor had already passed her as being fit, when she’d asked his advice about going, mainly if it was safe after her miscarriage? As she only needed to tone her body, she was given the all-clear to go ahead, but not so Jessie.
She was advised to see her own doctor before she was allowed to use any of the equipment. The following day she made an appointment to see him, to get his approval before signing up for the course.
Jessie was stunned after her appointment, so much so she had to sit in the waiting room to recover before going back to her office.
Her doctor had done a complete medical and told her there was no reason why she shouldn’t do some light exercise, such as walking and swimming while she was pregnant but definitely nothing too excessive!
‘What do you mean, while I’m.…’ Jessie said, unable to finish her sentence.
The doctor took her hand in his and smiled. ‘Exactly what I said Mrs Reynolds, you’re pregnant, at least three months, possibly more, but until we do a scan I can’t be sure.’ Seeing the shocked look on her face he asked her softly. ‘Hadn’t you realised you were pregnant?’
‘No. I hadn’t. I thought I was starting to go through the menopause! I’m not a young woman, so it never entered my head I might be pregnant.’
‘You’re a healthy young woman, newly married, why wouldn’t you become pregnant, especially if you don’t take any precautions? It’s quite a common occurrence, you know?’
He laughed and patted her hand. ‘I’ll see you next week and we will do that scan, in the meantime, eat well, take plenty of gentle exercise, have lots of fresh air and enjoy being married. You’re not ill, you know. You also have a husband who loves you. Make the most of the next few months, because when your baby arrives you will be run off your feet!’
As soon as Jessie walked back into the office, Jane walked across to meet her, to ask how the doctor’s appointment had gone, until she saw Jessie’s face. She had the look of someone who’d just won millions on the lottery but, before she could speak, Andrew walked into the office.
‘Guess what’s happened?’ Jessie said to him.
Andrew wasn’t very good at playing guessing games, especially with Jessie, as he usually lost.
‘I don’t know what’s happened. Instead of me guessing, why don’t you just tell me?’
‘We’re going to have a baby!’
Andrew went pale and, for a moment, he wanted to sit down. Somehow, he managed to keep his composure, which was just as well, as by then Jessie was laughing and crying, at the same time, jumping up and down and twirling Jane, who she’d clasped in her arms in her excitement.
‘I can’t believe it!’ She said. ‘All I wanted was to get the “okay” to do some exercises and instead, I find out I’m pregnant. What do you think of that?’
Andrew was by now on his feet with Jessie gathered in his arms, smothering her with kisses; telling her how wonderful she was and was just about to pick up her handbag and take her home when the office door opened and in walked Jake!
Andrew and Jessie stopped kissing. There was a stunned silence for a moment or two, until Jane, wondering what had happened to stop the hilarity, turned and found herself face to face with Jake. She too went pale, as she realised who it was. Suddenly, Jessie reached out to take him by the arm, afraid he would turn tail and run if she wasn’t quick enough to stop him. At last, she thought, she had them both in the same place at the same time and now it was up to them! Andrew meanwhile was looking at his wife with a bemused expression on his face as he said.
‘Jake, we’re going to have a baby!’
Jake wasn’t quite sure who Andrew was talking about. Surely, he didn’t mean Jane was having a baby. The expression on his face froze, until Jessie took hold of his hand.
‘It’s me Jake. I’m going to be a mother! What do you think of that?’
‘I think that’s the most wonderful news I’ve heard for a long time. I wish you both every happiness, perhaps one day I will be able to tell you the same good news when my wife decides she would like to have my baby?’
All that could be heard in the office was the gasps of shock being exhaled followed by a stunned silence. Andrew and Jessie looked from Jake to Jane. They could see how pale she’d become, and how she was trembling even though she felt rooted to the spot.
Jake walked towards her. ‘Sweetheart,’ he said. The first time he’d used any term of endearment to her, Jane’s eyes widened, her colour quickly changing.
‘Darling Jane, I love you. I can’t live my life without you. I’m only half a man when you’re not with me. I need you. You’re my life.’
Everyone in the room could hear the emotion in his voice and his heartfelt plea. Jake was begging. For a while, Jessie and Andrew clutched at each other, willing Jane to have pity on him.
As for Jane, her legs were threatening to buckle under her at any moment and she knew she must sit down before she fell in a heap on the floor, but there was no fear of her falling as Jake had taken hold of her, steadying her, oblivious of Jessie, Andrew.
All she saw was Jake was crushing Jane to his chest, his lips searching for hers, and then kissing her with such intensity, it was as though his very life depended on her lips.
Jane couldn’t believe what was happening either: her amber-eyed pirate had come for her, he’d finally rescued her and, at that moment she knew, without a sh
adow of doubt that they would be together, for always.
Nothing would ever part them again!
Epilogue
With the divorce papers cancelled, and as soon as could be arranged, Jane and Jake had their marriage blessed in the old church in the village. All their friends and families were gathered around them on a glorious day that was full of promise for their future. As they renewed their wedding vows before the altar, Jake placed her wedding ring back on the finger where it so rightly belonged and, for the second time, he gallantly kissed her hand. At that moment, Jane knew her father had been right, some arranged marriages can be successful and she intended hers to be the proof that he was right. As for Jake, he knew by finally opening his heart he’d at last found a pirate treasure that could never be surpassed. He held the biggest prize of all in his arms as he kissed his wife, vowing he would love this wonderful woman for the rest of his life, and beyond. And then, when they were alone, he promised himself he would put all his loving thoughts into actions. This time, Jane would be in no doubt he loved her, not just for now, but forever and beyond.
For the first time, the fates finally agreed between themselves that now Jane and Jake were together once more and truly in love, their work was done.
All I can say is long may love live!
THE END