by Sarah Silver
They were all silent. It was a lot to take in, Jack knew. His father recovered first and he cleared his throat.
‘Where is this girl then?’ he said in an even tone.
‘She went back to California just yesterday. She’ll be back on Friday and you can meet her then.’
‘How about dinner on Friday then? Your mother and I would love to meet her,’ his father said.
Jack would have preferred to have Leila for himself for the weekend but he felt cornered and he nodded.
‘Friday it is then. Will you join us Aaron?’ their father continued smoothly.
‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ he said and winked at Jack.
The topic was immediately dropped and for that Jack was grateful. He loved his parents for that. They treated all their children like adults. They never made negative comments even when some situations like proposing to a girl weeks after you met her baffled them. They talked about the Christmas plans and caught up with news of their other relatives.
The lunch stretched on and he left three hours later. By the time he got back to the ranch it was three in the afternoon. He steered the car to the left and in the parking lot he saw a silver mustang and groaned. It was like a bad dream. Clarissa was back.
Chapter Eleven
He found her lounging on the deck, her long fingers wrapped around a glass of champagne. At three in the afternoon, Jack thought to himself, shaking his head. She had not heard him enter and now he padded up to her observing her and watching for those feelings he had had to return. He felt as if he was observing someone he once knew a long time ago.
Yet it was months ago that he and Clarissa had been engrossed in their affair. He knew the reason for his feelings disappearing was Leila. Though he now questioned whether he had strong feelings for her at all. Did you get over someone you once loved so fast?
She finally sensed someone and she whipped her chair round. She smiled, revealing a pair of white even teeth. As usual, her tits were hanging, squeezed into a tank top that was two sizes too small. Jack felt absolutely nothing, just a mild irritation at what he viewed as invasion of his privacy. His home was now a private domain belonging to his wife-to- be and himself.
He looked at Clarissa and smiled politely.
‘Hi Clarissa,’ Jack said in a casual tone.
She stood up and with flair wrapped her hands around him and then lifted one leg and wrapped it around his thighs. Still there was none the heat, that months ago would have been warming up his body. Gently, he disengaged her and she pouted.
‘What is it big boy? Aren’t you happy to see me?’ she said, posing as though for the cover of playboy.
‘You weren’t so friendly the last time I saw you,’ Jack commented.
Clarissa laughed and threw her head back, knowing that the gesture was a sure way to turn him on. Only this time, he felt nothing. He saw Carissa for the empty shell that she was. It was unfortunate that with such a package that was her exterior, she had no substance. Her interest was one thing only—money.
He shuddered with the realization of how close he had come to marrying her. Jack sat down opposite her and observed her with amusement. He was just relieved that Leila was not here. If Clarissa had found her here, she would have gone out of her way to claim her possession of him.
He could take his time now and let her say why she had come back.
‘You upset me very badly Jack and my feelings were heart,’ she said, adopting a little girl voice, which she resorted to when she was determined to have her way.
Jack hated it. He could not understand why a grown ass woman would want to speak like a five year old girl. Now he realized again, that her tone did not upset him as it once did. She was part of his past, he knew now.
‘I missed you so much Jack. There’s no other man like you and I was a fool for leaving although you drove me to it,’ she said sounding sincere.
‘What has changed about you Clarissa? I’m sure you still spend money like it grows on trees, right?’
‘A girl needs some retail therapy to keep her going,’ she said with a shrug.
‘You still don’t want children and you know that’s a deal breaker for me?’
Her expression said and before she could speak, he lifted his hand to quiet her down.
‘None of that matters now Clarissa. I’ll not waste your time or mine,’ Jack said, suddenly tired of the games he and Clarissa were playing. ‘I’m not interested.’
‘You can’t possibly mean that?’ she said, clearly shocked.
‘I do I’m afraid. I gave you a chance and you fucked up. I’ve moved on.’
She screwed her eyes and bore into his. ‘Who is she?’
‘It doesn’t matter Clarissa, what matters is that you and me are done,’ Jack said firmly.
‘But we can’t be done,’ Clarissa said in a surprisingly confident and strong voice. ‘Not by a long shot.’
Jack sighed. ‘We are Clarissa, let’s just both of us accept that and move on.’
‘But we can’t Jack,’ she said.
He hoped she would not turn out to be one of those women who got obsessed with a man.
‘Why the hell not? Are we not two adults of rational mind?’ Jack said, emphasizing the last two words.
‘Because I’m expecting your child Jack Farley.’
It felt as though the ground had opened up and was slowly pulling him into its jaws. Pregnant? Jack’s brain repeated the word unable to fathom what it meant. She couldn’t possibly be pregnant, not now! His heart seemed to have stopped beating and his brain refused to formulate coherent thoughts. This was not happening, Jack thought.
‘Yes Jack, I’m pregnant and I assure you that you are indeed the father.’
Jack closed his eyes and wanted to weep. How could things go so badly wrong when just a few hours ago he had existed in an orbit of unbreakable joy?
‘How sure are you?’
‘Very sure, I’ve gone to the doctors and he confirmed that I’m three months pregnant,’ she said and patted her tummy. He looked at it closely and saw that indeed her belly was a little rounded.
‘You don’t want children,’ Jack said in a flat voice.
She beamed. ‘Now I do. I can just see us as a family of three, sitting around the dinner table or going for pizza.’
Jack’s head pounded and he knew the veins across his head were dark and visible. He stood up and begun to pace.
‘Listen Clarissa, having a baby is not a big deal. Thousands of parents are raising their children yet they are not together as a couple.’
‘I have no intention of having a baby out of wedlock,’ Clarissa said, her black eyes glaring at him.
‘Since when do you have moral values?’ Jack snapped and then regretted it immediately. Infuriating Clarissa was not the best way to go about solving the issue.
‘I don’t care what you say Jack, I’m not having this baby alone. We love each other, don’t’ we? We’re doing it together—’
The unspoken threat hang between them.
‘Else what?’ Jack said.
Clarissa’s face was hard and cold. He had ever seen her that way.
‘Else you will never get to see your child, ever.’
All the air left his lungs. Jack felt as though she had grabbed a knife and stabbed him with it, right in his ribcage. His child, she was carrying his child? His eyes strayed to her rounded tummy. His longing for children had intensified over the years. Perhaps it was a sign of maturity but whatever it was, he wanted that baby badly.
‘Yes Jack, this is our child in here. Mine and yours. We could have a good life together,’ she said her voice now soft. ‘I think it’s a little boy. A copyright of his daddy.’
At the word ‘daddy’, Jack’s heart twisted. His mind conjured up the image of a little boy with black hair like him and a cheeky toothless grin. What was he going to do, he thought, running his fingers through his hair. He thought of Leila and her loveliness. He thought of his proposal
and his dreams to spend the rest of his life with her.
Though he had never acknowledged it before, he understood then. He loved Leila. He had loved her from the moment he had laid his eyes in her sundress. He shook his head, as if ridding his brain of cobwebs. He wasn’t ready to give up on his dream of marrying the love of his life. But the image of a black haired boy haunted him.
How could he turn his back on his own flesh and blood?
Chapter Twelve
Both Leila and Susan cried a little as they held on to each other outside Leila’s condo.
‘Texas is not that far you know?’ Leila sniffed, stepping back to look at Susan.
‘I know and besides we’ll come down for the wedding.’
Everything was happening so fast. She had packed away all her things in a storage facility and the condo was on the market for rent. Her friends at the shelter had thrown her a last minute going away party the previous day. She looked back at her condo building without regret. She had not been happy here and she was glad to leave it for good.
‘Are you nervous?’ Susa said, as they got into her station wagon, packed tightly with Leila’s luggage.
‘I’m nervous as hell!’ Leila admitted, belting up.
‘Then perhaps you should postpone the wedding, get to know each other a little better.’
‘If you met Jack, you would understand. He’s perfect in every sense of the word and the chemistry between us is amazing,’ Leila said.
‘Sex does not guarantee a happy marriage,’ Susan commented.
‘Neither does lack of it,’ Leila quipped and they both erupted into giggles.
‘Seriously though, I’m really happy for you and I can’t wait to meet Jack. I can’t guarantee that I’ll think he’s hot…’
They both laughed at that and the Leila reached for her friend’s free hand and held it.
‘I’ll miss you so much,’ she said with feeling.
‘Me too.’
Soon they were at the airport and hugging goodbye for the last time. Leila got into her flight and as she sat there waiting for the plane to take off, she contemplated the life that awaited her. She hadn’t yet met Jack’s parents and family and she looked forward to that. She knew that they were nice people, after all, they had raised Jack and he sue was ice. The plane soon taxied down the runway and with it her spirits also lifted.
She couldn’t wait to see Jack and this time he had promised to be waiting for her at the airport. She had teased him about that first time and he had had the grace to look embarrassed. They hadn’t spoken at all during the five days she had been away and now she felt as though she had not seen him in years. She couldn’t settle down during the journey and it was with great relief for Leila when they finally touched down in Lainley, Texas.
She saw him as soon as she walked through to the waiting bay. His presence startled how. I the five days she had forgotten just how devastatingly handsome Jack was. She stopped pushing her trolley and paused to just admire him. She pinched herself and grinned like a fool. The gorgeous man, looking slightly worried was soon going to be her husband.
He seemed distracted, with his hands shoved inside the pockets of his pair of jeans. He must be worried about her. The thought warmed her heart and she pushed her trolley towards him to relieve him of his misery. He turned, sensing her promise and Leila let go of the trolley and ran into his arms.
‘Oh Jack!’ she cried out.
‘Leila, Leila, I missed you.’
She had missed his manly scent, Leila thought happily, snuggling into his arms. She looked up and kissed him right at the mouth. A shot of desire went through her. To her surprise and slight disappointment, Jack pushed her away gently and took hold of her trolley. She followed him out to the car park obediently.
He was driving himself and after he had stowed her luggage in the boot, he came to the passenger side and opened the door for her. In the car, jack was rather quiet and she noted with concern that the look of worry had not left his face.
‘Is everything OK Jack?’ she ventured.
He looked at her, his expression grim. ‘Not really Leila.’
Leila went still. ‘What is it?’ she managed to ask.
‘We’ll talk about it soon,’ he said and focused his eyes ahead.
Leila noticed then that they were not heading to the ranch but to the other side of town. She curbed her curiosity and sat stiffly waiting. She could not fathom what the matter could possibly be. Jack steered the car into the parking of a small restaurant and Leila jumped out before he could open the door for her.
She noticed nothing of the establishment as she followed Jack to a table by the corner. When they sat down opposite each other, Leila saw that he had worry lines at the corners of his eyes. He ordered water for the both of them and when the waiter left, he focused his attention of her.
‘First of all Leila, I want to tell you that I love you so much. I loved you from the moment you stepped out of the car that first day,’ Jack said, giving her a tired smile.
Leila gave him a strained smile in return. She felt happy that he had finally expressed his feeling but it was not possible to be completely joyful not with what was to come, which she could not guess at. Her whole self was suspended waiting for something unpleasant. Was he sick? Were his parents alright?
‘I love you too Jack, so very much,’ Leila said with feeling.
He reached across the table and took both of her hands in his.
‘That’s why this is so hard,’ Jack said and he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.
Leila was aware of all his movements, no matter how slight.
‘Before I met you or even registered with the mail order bride agency, I had a girlfriend called Clarissa but we broke up and I moved on,’ Jack said, keeping her hands in his.
Leila closed her eyes. This would not end well. Any mentions of past girlfriends in the present was not a good thing.
‘We broke up and she left. Anyway, she returned two days ago. Leila, she’s pregnant with my child. I’ve told her that there’s no future for us but she insists that if she goes, I’ll never see my child.’
It was just as well that she was seated because her whole body had turned to water. Pregnant? How could another woman be carrying Jack’s baby? A mixture of anger and jealousy ran through her. She snatched her hands away. Oh God, what were they going to do?
‘What does she want?’ Leila said, even though she knew the answer.
Jack looked at her, sadness echoed in his eyes.
‘Marriage,’ he said simply, shattering Leila’s world when he confirmed her suspicions.
Leila shivered and rubbed her bare hands. The Texan sun was out but she felt cold which started deep inside her core. Her future, which had seemed so secure had fallen apart. What was to become of her?
‘Will you marry her?’ Leila asked, fearful of the answer.
‘How can I marry her? I love you Leila,’ his voice spoke of the anguish that he felt.
She could not summon up the energy to feel any sympathy for him. She was the one who had just uprooted her life from California and moved across the country. Still a part of unwittingly admitted his dilemma. He was faced with stark choices and despite her own sacrifices to be with him, he too was squashed into a tight corner.
‘Why not just tell her that you won’t marry her?’ Leila asked, knowing how unfair the question was.
‘What about the child?’ Jack said.
His voice was rugged as though he had stayed up for several nights in a row. The child? Leila closed her eyes. She knew how much Jack wanted children. It was unfair of her to suggest that he give up the child. She looked up into his blue eyes, now dark with anguish. She understood then that Jack had two choices to make.
It was either her or the baby. She shook her head unable to believe that they were in such a situation. Didn’t the woman use contraceptives? Which woman in this day and age did not know that unprotected sex equaled to unwanted pregnancy o
r STD’s? Leila’s shook her head. It did not matter now. None of it did.
It was up to Jack now. Then something else crossed her mind.
‘Where is she staying this woman?’
‘Her name is Clarissa and you’ll meet her shortly because she’s at the house.’
There was nothing more to say after that. They left the restaurant for home. When they took the road to the ranch and the house came into view, Leila saw her immediately. She was seated at the front door steps and when she saw the car she stood up. Leila’s mouth filled with bile. The woman standing in front of them was nothing like she had imagined.
With dismay, Leila saw that Clarissa was drop dead gorgeous. She had red flaming hair that flowed to her shoulders and a bosom that took up most of her upper body. She wore tiny shorts that rode up her thighs and Leila was sure that if Clarissa turned, they could see part of her ass.
Chapter Thirteen
‘I’m bored!’ were the first words that Clarissa spoke to them, looking at Jack with a pout.
‘Clarissa, this is Leila and Leila, meet Clarissa,’ Jack said in a flat tone.
‘The mother of your baby,’ Clarissa pointed out.
In all that time, she had not looked at Leila. Now she gave her a once over, dismissed her and turned back to Jack. He looked at her, disgust rising in his throat. How the hell had he found himself in this situation.
‘Leila already knows that,’ Jack snapped and carried Leila’s case into the house.
He left the two women at the entrance of the house sizing each other up. He carried the case up the stairs to the guest room, the same one Leila had occupied earlier. Clarissa had thrown a fit, when he had shown her to the bedroom in the first hallway. He had ignored her tantrums and sulks and told her in firm voice it was either that one or she could leave sleep at the guest ranch.
When he returned for the other suitcases, Leila was nowhere to be found. Clarissa followed him in.
‘She has to go Jack, I can’t stand her here! What is she here for anyway, didn’t you tell her that the engagement is off,’ she said.