by Lisa Shelby
“Why would she want to do this to Miss Jacobs?”
“I can’t believe she would do this, but she told me all about it. After Miss Jacobs helped me, her boyfriend, Austin, wouldn’t stop talking about her. He had always talked about her, but after what she did for me apparently he kinda went off about how awesome she was. I think she’s jealous of her, sir.”
“Did she tell you anything else?”
“She just told me how she and Austin happened to be at the zoo when Miss Jacobs was there with her daughter. She thought it was funny to try and scare her with the picture. I guess Austin didn’t see them and had no idea she had gotten the picture when he went to get food. She said she left notes at first, but then when Miss Jacobs gave Austin her number, that was when it wasn’t funny anymore and she was pissed. She thinks that she and Austin are going to get married. If they break up, her chances at a happy life end and it will be all Miss Jacobs fault. I know Miss Jacobs only gave her number to Austin because she was worried about him. It’s not like that, Officer . . . I mean, Jonathan.”
“I know it’s not, Jesse. Thank you so much for calling. I know it has to be hard to call when Kayla is family.”
“Miss Jacobs is awesome and when Kayla told me what she did to her little girl’s room, I knew I had to tell somebody. I am so sorry. I didn’t know until last night. If I had known sooner I would have called, I swear.”
“Don’t worry about it, Jesse. You called and you have no idea how much we appreciate it. Do you mind sharing what you told me with other officers if we need you to?”
“Not at all, sir.”
“Are you at school today?”
“Yes.”
“Is Kayla at school today?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay, thank you, Jesse. Now get back to class and don’t say anything to anybody about any of this. Can you do that for me?”
“No problem. I haven’t told anybody. Austin is gonna freak out. He has no idea and he’s gonna feel so bad that any of this could have had to do with him. I’m so sorry for Miss Jacobs. Please tell her that for me?”
“I will, Jesse. Thanks for calling and I’ll be in touch.”
I’m not sure how I got here, but when I hang up I find myself pacing in the middle of The Gym parking lot. I’m still sweating and I’m filled with so much relief, anger and anxiety that I don’t even know what to do with myself. I know I need to start making calls, but my brain and my body are trying to calm itself and process the information I was just given.
I bend over with my hands on my knees and breathe. I give myself that two or three seconds and then run to my truck. I hop in and call Blackburn who should be sitting outside Emily’s classroom right now. I tell him what’s going on, and to just sit tight and not to let Emily know anything is up yet. I am ten minutes away and I need to be the person that tells her.
Next I call Mick.
“What’s up, Kelly?”
“Mick, we got her.”
“What do you mean her?”
“Kayla Simmons. She’s a student at the school and dates one of Emily’s SPED students. It’s all about jealousy, Mick. The kid she dates, Austin, has no idea. Her cousin is Jesse Miller. He called and told me.” I know I’m rambling. I hope I’m making sense.
“This is all over something as stupid as a student being jealous over a teacher? What the fuck is wrong with kids these days?”
“I don’t know, Mick, it’s complete bullshit but at least we have an answer. I already called Blackburn at the school and he’s notifying the principal. I’m on my way over there right now.”
“Thanks, Kelly. I’ll notify Detectives and we’ll get somebody over to the school ASAP. I’ll see you there.”
I drop my phone in my cup holder and thank God that Mick is cool about me and Emily. It sure is making all of this so much easier. I’m a sweaty mess, but I don’t even care right now. I just want to get to her and tell her that the nightmare is hopefully over. I know it will be hard for her to hear it’s a student, but hopefully there will be some relief as well and life can start to go back to normal.
My adrenaline hasn’t calmed during the drive to the school. I grab the towel in my gym bag and try to wipe off some of the sweat, but in reality I am taking this time to collect myself before I talk to her. I need to be her strength; somebody she can lean on. I can’t go in there all amped up. I need to be calm for her. I really just want to run through the front doors and into her classroom, but I know that I need to wait until her current class is over.
I make my way to her room and Blackburn is there. He quietly fills me in and tells me that Sgt. Callahan is on his way along with Detectives. Sgt. Callahan has been a friend of Emily’s dad since they started on the force, and I’m sure that he’s been keeping her dad up to date with what’s happening. I just hope her dad doesn’t show up. Emily isn’t ready to see him right now if all the ignored text messages are any indication. I’m afraid that if he showed up today it might be too much for her.
There’s still twenty minutes left in Emily’s class, and she has no idea I’m here. I wait with Blackburn in the hall where she can’t see us. By the time the bell rings, Mick, Sgt. Callahan, and Detective’s Fred Wills and Matt Gilbert have arrived and are in the office with the principal. I’m glad they’re in the office and not all standing here when the bell rings. I think that would overwhelm her.
The bell rings and I step aside to wait for the kids to file out. Once I see it’s just Emily and Mrs. Colyer, I step inside the room. Her face lights up the moment she sees me, but falls just as soon as she registers the serious look on my face. It’s obvious by my appearance that I came here in a rush.
“What’s wrong, Jonathan? Is Ireland okay?”
“She’s fine. Everything is fine, baby,” I say as I take her hand.
“Why are you here then?”
“We know who it is, Em.”
“Who?” Emily and Mrs. Colyer both ask at the same time.
I look over my shoulder to make sure that there aren’t any kids in the room, and fill them both in on my call from Jesse earlier. Emily has tears streaming down her face, but she isn’t making a sound. Mrs. Colyer hands her some tissues and tells her to take the rest of the day and as long as she needs. As kids start to gather, she pulls herself together, and by the time Jesse enters the room you wouldn’t even know that there is anything wrong. It saddens me to think that this comes from years of practice.
Ascension (Don’t Ever Worry)
Emily
I have so many questions running through my head, but with the students quickly filling up the room, I know that now isn’t the time. I also have so many feelings reeling through me that it’s hard to keep myself in check in front of the students. I feel relief in knowing who it is, and that hopefully the madness is about to end, but I also feel bad for Austin and Jesse. Jesse had to rat out his own cousin, and I know that Austin is going to feel awful about this.
I can’t help but feel that some of this is my fault. Did I cross a line with Austin? I don’t think that I did, and I don’t think he had feelings for me other than maybe a little hero worship, but now I’m so worried that I crossed a line without knowing it. I will have to talk to him about that, but now is not that time.
“Hey Miss J. Who’s this?”
“Hi Austin. This is my boyfriend, Jonathan.”
“Oh, hey.”
Jonathan reaches out his hand. “Nice to meet you Austin. I’ve heard a lot of great things about you.”
“Ah, really? Thanks, Miss J.” he says as he extends his hand to Jonathan but sends a big smile full of pride in my direction.
“Of course, you’re a great kid and you know that. Where’s Jesse? Did he not come back today?”
“He’s here, but not sure where he is right now. He must be running late.”
As if on cue, Jesse enters the room. As soon as he sees Jonathan in the room he nearly comes to a complete halt, but then catches himself and continues acros
s the room to where he usually sits with Austin.
“Hi, Miss J.”
“Hey there, Jess. I know that I already told you this but it’s really great to see you back at school.”
“Thanks,” he mumbles while looking down at the ground.
Austin gets distracted by a friend and steps away. I take this moment to say a few words to Jesse.
Quietly, so only Jesse can hear I say, “Jesse, thank you so much for what you’ve done. I know it must have been hard. I hope you know how much I appreciate you risking trouble with your family for my daughter and I.”
His face turns bright red with embarrassment. He gives me a slight nod and then sits down in his chair. This is my sign that he’s heard me, but would like the conversation to be over. I respect his wishes and step away.
“Mrs. Colyer, if you don’t mind, I think I will take you up on your offer and leave for the day.”
“Of course. You two get out of here.”
I grab my purse, my jacket and Jonathan’s hand and we walk out of the classroom. The moment we exit the room, we take a couple of steps into the hallway and Jonathan squeezes my hand and pulls me to a stop.
He bends his knees to lower himself to my eye level and asks, “Baby, you okay?”
I let out a heavy sigh and look into the most beautiful pair of eyes I have ever seen. “I’m okay, just glad that this whole mess will hopefully be over soon. Besides, I have you to hold on to so I know that everything will be okay in the end.”
Jonathan leans forward, and whispers in my ear. “Damn straight, baby. There’s no getting rid of me. I’m here for the long haul so I’m glad you’re good with it. Now, let’s get out of here.”
As we walk towards the front doors, we pass a set of parents that don’t look too happy to be paying the school a visit. I can’t help but follow them over my shoulder to see them enter the office and be greeted by Sgt. Callahan.
Jonathan leans towards me and says, “Kayla’s parents you think?”
“Must be.”
We cross the lot to Jonathan’s truck and he helps me up and into the cab. He takes my hand, kisses the back of it and says, “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”
Thinking he’s running back into the school, I’m surprised when he runs around the front of the truck and then jumps into the driver’s side of the cab. “I’m back!” He looks like a kid on Christmas morning and those dimples are on full display. There’s a twinkle in his eye as he leans over the console and I know what he’s going to say before he gets the words out. I don’t stop him because to be honest, I love it every time he does it. “Gracie, I’m going to kiss you now.”
And to say he kisses me is an understatement. As always, that connection that we have shoots through me and he fills me with warmth. That warmth that always comforts me all the way down to my toes. His lips tell me exactly what he wants me to know, and I can feel his love and want with every touch.
He releases my lips, leans his forehead against mine and says, “Let’s go for a little field trip. What do you say? Ireland is with your mom, so let’s go for a drive.”
“Sure. If it will make you happy, and I get some alone time with you, then a drive it is.”
We end up at the Rose Gardens and have a perfect view of Portland with Mt. Hood off in the distance. Even though it’s a cold and rainy day and the mountain isn’t completely visible, it’s still beautiful.
Just as he shuts the truck off, he gets a text and reads the gist of it off to me.
“Mick says that Kayla got scared and confessed to the whole thing. Since she’s been eighteen for the last six months, she will have some serious charges to face. To sum it up, she won’t be bothering you anymore, Em.”
Jonathan hops out of the truck and comes around to my side. He opens the door and takes my hand. I think he’s going to take me for a walk, but instead he opens the back door on my side.
“Get in, babe, I want to hold you in my arms, and that just won’t work up front.”
“Jonathan Kelly, are we parking? Are you trying to get me in the back seat to take advantage of me?” I ask in mock horror.
“Oh, Miss Jacobs, nothing would please me more, but I am not sure today is the day for that. Right now I just want to hold you, and celebrate your safety and peace of mind. Now get in, baby.”
I do as I’m told, and true to his word he holds me and we talk. He apologizes for not taking a shower before coming to get me, but I don’t mind a sweaty, salty Jonathan at all. He doesn’t try to take advantage of me. He is the perfect gentleman. I can tell he’s afraid to make any moves that might push me further than he thinks I’m ready for, and this just makes me love him even more.
After a couple of hours in the back of his truck, we agree it’s time to go.
Just as we’re about to move to the front seat, I get a text from Austin.
Austin: Miss J, I just want to say how sorry I am. I had no idea what Kayla had been doing. If I had known, I would have stopped her or told you. I hope you are okay?
Miss Jacobs: I’m fine, Austin. Thank you so much but it’s not your fault.
“Poor kid. I knew he would feel bad,” I sigh.
“He’ll be okay, Em.” Jonathan tries to assure me.
“I know he will, but I still feel bad for him. I feel like I did something somehow to cause all of this.”
Jonathan opens the truck door and jumps out onto the pavement to help me out. “All you did was care and offer support. You didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t want you to dwell on it.” He opens the passenger door, and as I walk in front of him to climb in he slaps me on my ass. “Now, get that sweet ass of yours in my truck!”
I don’t know why, but in that moment I have the most random thought.
I let out a gasp at my thoughtlessness and ask, “Jonathan, I can’t believe I never asked!”
“What are you so excited about?” He asks entertainingly confused.
“Your truck . . . don’t you always name your trucks?”
He gives a sly little smile and says, “I do. Is that what you’re so excited about?”
“Well, what’s her name?” I squeal.
He throws his head back and burst out laughing.
“Well?”
“Oh baby, you are too cute.” He leans in and kisses my temple. “Helen, her name is Helen.”
“Helen?” I say perplexed. This is not what I expected.
“Yes, Helen. She’s sexy and silver. So I went with Helen for Helen Mirren. There’s no denying she’s a sexy older woman; a female version of a ‘silver fox’.”
I can’t help the fit of giggles that escapes me. He never ceases to surprise me—I think that’s why it tickles me more than it should. He’s strong, supportive and silly all at the same time. He’s perfect. It’s in this fit of laughter that I realize it’s time to let him know that he doesn’t need to remain a gentleman. I’m ready to be taken advantage of.
“Hey, Georgia?”
“Yes?”
“Can we go back to your place?”
He just looks at me with a smile on his face and one eyebrow raised, and I know he knows what I’m asking with my request. To confirm that he understood just what I’m implying, he grabs me by the waist, places me in my seat, stretches my seat belt around me and buckles me in. He doesn’t say much on the way home, but I don’t think I have ever seen him drive so fast.
Walking into Jonathan’s house reminds me of the last time I was here. That day was so full of joy and passion. Jonathan did everything he could to bring back what we had in California. That was also the first time he really talked to me about Matt and his mom. He opened up to me that day, and even though in the back of my mind I knew that I belonged to him, that was the night that it became concrete. I remember being afraid to speak those three little words to him that night.
Unfortunately, it took his shooting for me to finally confess my love to him. I learned a valuable lesson sitting there in that hospital, waiting for him to
wake up. That lesson was to never hold back, and to always let those you love know what they mean to you. I don’t plan to let any more days go by that Jonathan doesn’t know how much I love him.
When we walk into the house we’re greeted by a very excited Frances. I squat down and give her the attention she’s looking for while Jonathan slides his truck keys onto the counter. Once I’m standing back up, he gets her attention and opens up the back door for her. He says he wants to take a quick shower, and asks me to let Frances back in when she’s ready.
She’s an old gal, and it takes her some time, but she finally comes back to the door so I can let her in. I’ve just finished drying her wet paws off when I turn around and Jonathan is in front of me, already showered and dressed in clean clothes. That must have been the fastest shower in the history of all showers.
“I’m so glad to have you here again, Em,” he says as he walks toward me.
Wasting no time, I take him by the hand and lead him to his bedroom. When we enter, I flip the switch for the fireplace and walk over to turn on his low lit light next to the bed, just like he did the last time I was here. I stand him next to the bed and continue to take the lead.
“Jonathan, I know you’re trying to take it slow and ease back into things after our time apart.”
I grab the hem of his fresh shirt and lift it over his head.
“You are being a total gentleman, and you didn’t even make any moves while we ‘parked’ today,” I add, as I kick off my flats, and then unbutton his jeans. He’s barely breathing and hanging on my every word. My every move.
“I appreciate that and it means the world to me, but just because we can’t have any sleep overs doesn’t mean that we need to take everything slow.”
I pull his jeans down his strong thighs and gently push him back onto the bed. He falls back, but sits up on his elbows to watch the rest of the show. I pull his jeans the rest of the way down his legs and drop them to the floor. He seems to have been in a rush to get dressed because he’s going commando and is now completely naked.
To see this beautiful man laid out before me is a sight to see. He is a perfect specimen, and I could study every lean muscle on his body, but we’ll save that for later. He still hasn’t said a word, but his eyes haven’t left mine once, and I can tell he’s listening intently to every word that I am saying to him.