by Rita Hestand
"I was worried to death." Dex explained as he leaned against her kitchen counter.
Was he? He certainly wasn't acting like it.
"Were you?" she asked, wondering what he was doing upstairs with a woman. "Looks to me like you were doing just fine."
"Oh, it was the lady above you. She's singled and having a bit of time moving things, she saw me in the hallway and asked if I could help. It's a lot better than having her making all that racket for you, isn't it?" Dex explained. He ran his hand over his face, suspiciously and saw the lipstick. Melanie watched him closely. He ignored it. "She thanked me….it was nothing." He shrugged defensively.
"Yeah, I guess." She answered curtly. "That's nice. And you are so…helpful."
"What's that supposed to mean?" His expression changed quickly to anger. She'd never seen him angry, it was something new and she was glad she saw him this way. In any relationship honesty had to be there. And now she wasn't sure that Dex was honest. That bothered her, but she'd deal with it later.
"Nothing, nothing at all." She floundered from his harsh tone. She hadn't seen Dex like this before, defensive. What did he have to be defensive about?
"Well, you sure don't look glad to see me" Evening his tone out now.
"Sorry, I've got a lot on my mind right now." She pointed out.
She bit her bottom lip nervously and put on a plastic smile.
"Dex, look, I've had a full day of shopping. I’m tired." She stammered as she opened the door for him, her expression wan. "I really need to get some rest. Maybe another time." Melanie told him.
"Sure," He looked shocked. "Well, I gotta get to work soon anyway. See ya."
"See ya." She uttered.
She hadn't heard their conversation but it sounded kind of chummy to have just met her. Melanie wanted to use the voice of reason, but something told her that she needed to use a bit of caution where Dex was concerned. She'd been so trusting of him, and thinking about it, she realized she didn't know him well enough yet, not well enough at all. Did Dex know that woman, and if so why did he pretend he didn't know her. Feeling a bit of anger roil through her stomach, she tried to use her voice of reason. But the ache inside her stomach didn't allow her. She doubled over, grabbing herself. What was wrong. She'd been getting these pains regularly now. Something wasn't quite right with her. But she chocked it all up to stress, because she'd had plenty of that lately.
She sat down on the rocking chair and doubled over, holding her head with one hand and her stomach with the other.
She was going to have to go to the doctor, this was not normal for her.
Getting a warm wash rag from the bathroom, she rubbed it over her head as her head began to pound.
She finally laid on the bed for a while, until the pain stopped.
When it did, she got up.
Trying not to focus on Dex, she put the dishes from the dishwasher in the cabinet. But her mind kept drifting to the scene on the stairs and the mysterious woman above her. Who was she and how did she know Dex?
She and Dex had no commitment to each other, so she shouldn't concern herself. Still, he had wanted sex with her the other day and today he was obliging another woman. It seemed kind of shallow to her. And there was lipstick at the corner of his mouth too. Had she kissed him? Why would a woman kiss a man she didn't know? That didn't fit. Unless she was a whore, but Melanie shook her head. No, it was just out and out flirting, and she had no right to condemn Dex. And he had no right to ask her for sex again, she confirmed. And if he pressed her again, she'd tell him so.
Anger sprinted through her for a moment as she walked into her bedroom to lie down again. She really didn't feel well. Maybe she had a bug of some kind, a virus. People caught stuff all the time working in a hospital.
She lay across her bed on her back, holding her stomach. Such cramps, it wasn't her monthly, this was something very different. She'd always been very healthy and she hadn't had a checkup in a while. Yes, she needed to have it seen about.
Her mind wandered back to Dex.
Maybe Dex had already started looking for her replacement. That hurt just a tad. But if he was just now getting to know the lady, he certainly wasn't wasting a minute.
She was quickly concluding that no man could be totally trusted.
She had to get her mind off Dex. He could ruin her entire days off and she didn't want that happening. She'd been given nearly four days off and she didn't want to waste them. Next week she'd be taking her exam and becoming part of the department. Perhaps it was a good thing that they were putting some space between each other. Maybe she'd see that Dex had an entirely other side to him, a side she didn't want to deal with. Oddly, just like Brad.
The longer she laid there, the sleepier she got. Finally, she closed her eyes and didn't wake up until morning.
She got up the next morning early, refreshed and in a better mood. She shrugged the stomach thing as to eating something she shouldn't have. Still, she did need a checkup soon. She couldn't afford to get sick.
Rather than dwell on Dex, she started cleaning her apartment. Nothing like housework to take your mind off a man. She tidied up the place, cleaned her bathroom spotlessly clean, and then tackled the refrigerator. It was a welcome reprieve from worrying about her current situation. And she always managed to clean better when she had a bit of temper.
As far as Dex went, he was free to do as he pleased and from now on, so would she.
An hour later, she took her cellphone with her out on the balcony, she also took a foldup chair she kept in her closet, it was another second-hand store item she'd picked up. There was a slight awning over the balcony to keep the sun out of her eyes and she enjoyed the fresh air. Winter would be coming on soon and there wouldn't be that many good days to enjoy the weather.
Jesse called not long afterward, surprising her.
"Hi, how are you doing?" He asked, his voice was warm and welcoming.
"Jesse? Well, I'm fine. How about you?" she asked with a smile. Maybe they could be good friends now that they'd both matured a little.
"I told your folks about your schedule so they wouldn't worry so much."
"Thanks, I've got the next couple days off, so I'll give them a call. But I appreciate you setting their minds to rest."
"You're off the next two days?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, why don't you come home and visit?"
"I hadn't given it much thought, but I guess I could. I just hate driving my car any distance. It isn't as dependable as I'd like, and I don't want to have trouble on the road."
"Oh, have you thought about getting another one?"
"No, I haven't, but maybe I should. I went looking for furniture yesterday, but you know you are right, a car is what I really need to invest in."
"Tell you what, why don't I come up there tomorrow and we could go look around for you another car." He suggested.
"You'd do that."
"What come see you? Sure. I mean, if you aren't busy or otherwise tied up. I don't want to intrude." He hesitated.
She chuckled, "I'm not busy at all, and I think it's a great idea. I haven't done it before because I really don't know that much about cars and I was afraid I'd buy another lemon." She smiled into the phone.
"I can help with that, you know I'm good with them."
"Yes, I remember how you used to work on yours a lot and help your folks keep theirs up. Okay, what time can you be here?" She asked.
"About nine or nine-thirty. Is that too early?"
"Not at all, I'll be ready. And Jesse…"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"See ya tomorrow then." He hung up.
She laid the book down in her lap and smiled. Getting another car might solve a lot of her problems. And with Jesse along, she wouldn't get ripped off. He knew a lot about cars and he'd help her get something decent.
She leaned back in her chair and enjoyed the southern breeze. With a better car, she wouldn't have to walk, ride he
r bike or take a taxi. She was glad he called.
The next day she primped a little with her hair and put on nicer clothes. Just an everyday dress and flats, but it made her feel more feminine.
True to his word Jesse was there at nine.
When she swung open the door, he was standing there in his nicely pressed jeans, and a clean white shirt with a matching jean jacket. He wore a cowboy hat too. This was the Jesse she remembered. He smiled. "You look nice."
"Thanks, come on in, I'll get my purse and we'll be ready to go. Oh, do you have any idea where to go up here?"
"That sounds exactly like something your father would say." He smiled that shy smile that was all him, "I'm not quite the home-town hick you think I am Melanie. I come up here quite often and I do know my way around."
Melanie realized she had been putting him in that category and flushed, "I'm sorry. I guess I assume that with anyone that lives back home."
"I know several places, but first I gotta ask if you are looking for a new car or a used one."
"I can't afford a new car just yet. I'd rather find a good used car, if we can."
He suddenly shot her a real smile, one that spread across his face and reached to her heart.
"You could if you really wanted one." He told her with a shy smile.
"I'm not using that money. I haven't touched it, and I don't intend to."
His smiled widened. "Still the same ole Mel, I've always known and admired."
He nodded and smiled again, this time more relaxed as he took a seat on the couch.
"I think a good used car is wise, and I can help you on that a lot. So, I've got about three places we can look to find what you need. Do you have any make and model you are interested in?"
She thought about that a minute and sat down beside him, "Well," she smiled. "Since you know how to work on Chevy's let's start there."
He grinned, "You're my kind of girl."
She chuckled.
"What kind of car are you driving right now?" He asked.
And suddenly she looked at him with complete relief. It flooded through her like a tidal wave. Up unto now, she hadn't realized it, but there truly wasn't many she could trust anymore. Her mind wandered, when he'd come with her folks they had ridden in her father's car. Jesse didn't know it, he hadn't realized what his statement meant. But, Jesse didn't know what kind of car she drove, so that meant he wasn't involved in her stalker problem and she could trust him. Relief flew all over her. At last a man that she didn't have to worry over. In more ways than one. He'd never tried to get her into bed either and right now she appreciated that more than she could say.
"I have a little Ford. I bought it when I started college because it was cheap…"
"Well, at least it got you through college." He grinned.
"Yeah, that's about all." She chuckled again. "Let me get my purse and lock up and we'll be ready to go."
"Great."
He watched her double latch the patio door, and check all the rooms before she left. He didn't say a word.
They took his pickup when they left.
"I couldn't help but notice how you lock everything up. Do you have a security problem here?"
Melanie sighed heavily, "No…not exactly. I guess I should tell you…"
He threw one hand on the steering wheel and one hand over the back of the seat so his hand rested close to her shoulder. He pushed his hat back and looked at her. "Tell me what?"
"I'm being stalked, Jesse." She murmured softly.
A flicker of apprehension crossed his face as he cleared his throat and studied her statement.
Jesse stared into her eyes. His look galvanized her. He pulled over into a vacant lot and put the truck in park, then turned to look at her. It was as though he couldn’t talk and drive at the same time. Or he wanted to give this his full attention.
"A stalker?" he repeated, his forehead wrinkling with worry.
"Someone has been watching every move I make. They went so far as to call, and not talk, like a prank caller, and locked me inside my own bathroom. I've seen the car they drive, it's a black Cadillac with dark tinted glass. I've seen them twice. I don't know if it's a man or a woman, but they are stalking me. That much I'm sure of."
"My God, honey, why didn't you tell me sooner?" His concern came out of nowhere and his endearment shocked her a bit. He was so earnest she was startled. But it was a pleasant surprise to see he was concerned.
"Well, when you came up with my folks I didn't want them to know about it. And you only stopped by the other day. Honestly Jesse, I didn't know who I could trust. And just so you know, the police may contact you. They are contacting all my friends."
He nodded. "Okay, I can handle that. But who would want to do this to you? I mean you don't flaunt your inheritance, so who would want to do this? You haven't told anyone about it, have you?"
"No, well, yes, in fact, I don't even think about it most of the time. I told Neely at work, she's my friend I totally trust her. But no, I have no idea, Jesse. None. The only possible person I've made mad is Brad, but I don't think he would come all the way from Chicago to do this. Although, I guess I did tell him about the inheritance at one point, I do remember arguing with him about the fact that I wasn't going to touch it. And then there is Dex, my neighbor, I haven't known him that long. But he doesn't know about the money." Melanie confessed. "But he'd have no reason to."
"A college friend?"
"No, most of them have moved away, since college. I don't even see any of the college crowd anymore. I guess they have all gone their own way."
"Then who?"
"I just don't know. I've racked my brain trying to figure it out, Jesse."
He pulled her chin up with the crook of a finger and stared into her eyes, "I'm so sorry this is happening to you."
The sincerity in his voice made tears come to her eyes.
Taken by surprise she stared into his concerned face, "So am I? But I've got the police working on it for me now."
"Tell me about getting locked into your bathroom. How could they do that?"
"I don't know. Earl, the maintenance man at the apartments said they would have had to have a key. But they managed to saw the knob off so I couldn't get out."
Jesse frowned. "Sawed the knob off."
"Yeah, Earl confirmed it. It scares me Jesse…"
"I can understand that. It bothers the hell out of me, too." He muttered and turned to stare out the window.
"It does?" She asked in a soft voice.
He looked back at her, his expression of concern warmed her heart. "I still care about you Melanie. You don't turn things like that off."
"Jesse?" She twisted her head.
"Let's put that aside for now. You've been on my mind a lot lately." He admitted, "but I'm not stupid, I know you have a life of your own now. And I promise I won't intrude any more than you want me to."
Their eyes met and she realized he was telling the truth.
"I know you have your life up here. I understand it. But I've known you all your life, Melanie. We've been close all our lives. I want you to know you can tell me anything. It won't go any further and certainly not to your folks. This would make them angry and make them want to pressure you to come home."
"You're right about that." She nodded. "And right now, Jesse, I couldn't handle any more pressure."
"I'm sure of that. I've sensed your tenseness, but didn't know where it was coming from When I first came up I thought it was me. That's why I was so quiet."
He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. "I had hoped for a long time you'd get homesick and move back, but then when you didn't. I realized that you were just one terrific girl I'd miss the rest of my life."
"Jesse…" She cried.
He looked at her now, looked deeply inside her. "But I realized something else the other day when I came up with your folks. If you really want something, it's worth sacrificing for, and you need to do something about it. So, I'
m here, Melanie. And Houston isn't that far away. I realized I can't make a life for myself in that little town anymore. All the good girls are taken. I need to get out and do something. I thought maybe I could find someone to care about up here. I was right, I found someone I care about up here. And that someone is you! I know I shouldn't say this, because you have your own life to live. And from the sounds of it, this Dex character is a part of it now. So, I'm here as a friend. I hope you'll trust me to be that…."
"Jesse!" She felt flattered and confused and warmed by his sweet confession.
"Don't stop me now, I've been practicing this speech for a long time, I can't stop now."
She smiled, he chuckled.
She felt tears in her eyes at his heart-felt confession.
"I'm not as sophisticated as most the men you've probably been with, but I'm steady, work hard, and I've found out I love hard too. I love you Melanie, I always have and I always will. I'd probably never be enough for you, but I'm glad I've told you. Because I can honestly say, you are the only girl I've ever loved, or ever will." He said. "I tried to date Maureen, but that wasn't a good fit. She still loved Carl, and she was in love with being a housewife. But now that I've got that out of my system, I think we are both old enough and mature enough to handle a solid friendship, don't you?"
"Yes, yes I do." She smiled.
"Let's get on with the car buying. You need a reliable car. And," He paused. "You aren't under any obligation to love me back Melanie. I want you to know that. I don't expect it. I just wanted you to know is all. I'm here for you any time. And although I'd marry you in a minute if you'd ever want to, I'll never put pressure on you again about it. It's just something I should have said to you a long time ago."
"Why didn't you say this years ago?"
He shook his head, his shoulders slumped, and looked out the front window. "Because years ago, I was a jackass of a hick back then. I hadn't learned much, hadn't explored the world much. But getting into the plumbing business has taught me so much and I guess I owe your dad for that. But more than anyone, I owe you. If you hadn't left and woken me up to the fact that there was more to life than Lone Oak, I'd have never had the inclination to do better. Your dad, he's the one that told me I could do whatever I really wanted with my life. He had faith in me. That meant a lot to me, as my dad, well, he thinks the world starts and ends at home. He's never lived out of that town, he's never gone anywhere, never really done much with his life. If I had followed that example, I would never have accomplished what I did."