Finding Her Way

by Jefferson, Riley

  Paula stood next to Jerrica waiting for her to answer.

  Devin was baiting her again.

  Totally ignoring Devin, Jerrica turned to Paula, “I’m sorry, but I’ve suddenly developed a headache. Maybe it’s the alcohol. Would you please excuse me?”

  “Ms. Daniel, could you please give your parents my apologies for having to retire early?” she said, turning to Devin.

  Devin nodded her head as Jerrica cased the room for Lauren.

  “Ms. Kerrison, why don’t you go rest and I’ll make sure your associate knows of your location,” Devin’s phony concern was written on her face.

  “Thank you, Ms. Daniel, I would appreciate your assistance. Goodnight, ladies.” Jerrica graciously smiled at both of them, then withdrew from the room.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The two-inch heels and restricting gown made running out of the main house impossible. It took longer for her to get to the cottage than anticipated. She had planned to have enough time to change into a more suitable outfit before Devin’s arrival. She estimated it would take at least twenty minutes for Devin to slip from the party without someone connecting that both of them were absent. She left the bedroom door partially open. She was pulling down the last window blind when she heard the front door open. Jerrica stood perfectly still with her back to the windows, staring at the doorway, anxiously waiting. Devin entered the room with so much arrogance that Jerrica could feel it from across the room. Her anger began to fester low in her belly.

  Devin strolled toward Jerrica, but stopped at the edge of the bed.

  Jerrica watched as Devin slid her hands down her lower back, over her curvy buttocks, tucking the dress as she seated herself on the bed. Her gaze didn’t wander as Devin crossed her legs. When their eyes finally met, Jerrica uttered, “Why, Devin?”

  Devin pondered the question a moment then wetted her lips. “Because I love you.”

  “What you are doing to me, you don’t do to people you love. You hide your cruel actions and selfishness under this blanket you call love. “

  Devin looked at her hands in her lap, her confidence wavering. “You wouldn’t talk to me. You totally shut me out of your life. I had to get your attention.”

  Tossing her hands in the air in frustration, she turned to one side. “There are better ways to get my attention than ruining my career.”

  “Ruining you?” Devin’s voice went up a few octaves. “What about me?”

  Standing, she stepped closer. “You never gave me a chance, us a chance. You walked out on us! You told me you loved me.”

  Jerrica could see the hurt in her eyes, hear the anger in her voice. “I tried to give us a chance. You’re the one who destroyed us. I told you from the beginning, I wouldn’t hide who I was ever again and that’s what you wanted me to do. You haven’t been honest with your parents or yourself,” Jerrica said and sighed., “I can’t deny that we had something special together, but I realize now it wasn’t love. Maybe it was admiration or lust, but we weren’t in love.”

  “No! Don’t say that, Jerrica! I know you love me! I know you do!”

  Without any warning, she lunged at Jerrica, knocking her off balance as she pushed her against the windows. Devin pinned Jerrica’s arms above her head, then captured her lips with her own.

  Jerrica struggled to get away, but the weight of Devin’s body prevented her from escaping. A shapely thigh shoved between her legs and further kept her off balance.

  Devin pulled her lips away, burying her face in the crook of Jerrica’s neck. “I know you love me. I know you do.”

  Jerrica could hear her repeating that phrase several times near her ear. “Devin, let me go,” Jerrica pleaded, trying to push her away.

  Devin shifted her weight again to hold Jerrica captive, but freed at least one hand.

  Panic rushed through every vein in Jerrica’s body as she not only felt, but also heard the material of her gown being ripped open, exposing her flesh.

  “No, stop!” Jerrica screamed as flash backs of a previous life flooded her mind. Quickly placing her shoe on the low windowsill, Jerrica pushed as hard as she could; sending them both tumbling toward the bed.

  Devin released Jerrica as she tried to catch herself before falling to the floor.

  Jerrica fell to her knees, but was able to scramble to her feet, pulling the ripped side of her dress closed.

  Devin kneeled on the floor breathing heavily. She used the edge of the bed to help her stand. When Devin finally turned around, Jerrica was in full swing, slapping her hard across the face. “How dare you! I am not something you can just take! You do not own me, Devin Daniel!”

  The look on Devin’s face as she held her hand to the side of her face was worth the pain now radiating through Jerrica’s hand.

  Devin’s eyes narrowed. “How could you hit me?”

  “You’re lucky that’s all I did! You were forcing yourself on me! What did you expect me to do? I am not one of your whores!”

  “I don’t know what I expected. I guess I hoped if I made you see we belong together, that you would come back to me. Everything just got out of hand.” A bright red handprint was beginning to develop on her cheek.

  Jerrica walked to the door. With one hand on the doorknob, she motioned to Devin. “I want you to go. Now!”

  Jerrica reached in her bag, retrieving the phone as Devin walked toward her. She held it out for Devin to take, “Take this! I don’t want any of your gifts.”

  A flash of anger raged through Devin as she ripped the phone out of Jerrica’s hand and pitched it at the wall.

  Jerrica watched as the brand new phone struck the wall, shattering into millions of pieces and scattering across the room. Jerrica looked at Devin in surprise.

  “I don’t want the fucking phone, I want you.”

  “Well, you can’t have me,” she said as she opened the door.

  “Mark my words, Jerrica, once you get tired of your pretty little girl toy, you’ll be back. You’ve never been able to resist me.”

  Confidence filled her voice. “I just did, Ms. Daniel. Now, please leave.”

  Jerrica watched as Devin’s blonde hair swayed on her back as she left. Was Devin referring to Madison? Jerrica locked the bedroom door before she sat down on the bed. Her hands were shaking as the adrenaline rush was beginning to wearing off. Without warning, tears started trickling down her face. She could feel the sobs building in her throat. A soft knock on the door startled Jerrica. She didn’t answer; instead sat motionless until she heard the loving voice on the other side.

  “Jerrica, are you ok? It’s Lauren.”

  Jerrica rushed across the room to open the door.

  Lauren wrapped the sobbing Jerrica in her arms. Trying to comfort Jerrica, the only way she knew how, by holding her tight. Lauren felt helpless, not knowing what exactly had transpired that evening. Acting more like a Mom then an employee, Lauren help Jerrica change into sleepwear and into bed. Lauren noticed the large rips in the gown as she draped it over a nearby chair. She held Jerrica’s hand as she recounted what had occurred that evening between Devin and her, pointing absently to the pieces of cell phone on the floor.

  Lauren heard the panicked tone in her voice.

  Jerrica could see the anger in Lauren’s eye, but was too weary to argue with her. The last thing she remembered before she passed out from exhaustion was Lauren kissing her on the forehead, then turning off the light.

  †

  The unexpected sound of music shocked Jerrica from her slumber. Reaching up, she flipped the switch to shut the alarm off. She pulled back the blankets about to get out of bed, but halted when she heard a light snore beside her. Cautiously rolling over, Jerrica saw a beautiful woman sleeping soundly on the other side of the bed. Jerrica smiled as she watched Lauren sleep. She slipped out of bed, heading for the bathroom to change. When she re-entered the room, she was in her jogging t-shirt and shorts. Jerrica softly touched Lauren’s arm to wake her.

  Lauren turned ont
o her back, slowly opening her eyes.

  “Good morning. Thank you for staying with me. I’m going to the beach for a run. Maybe you should hop in the shower to wake up and then order us some breakfast.”

  “How are you doing this morning?”

  “I’m doing okay, better than last night. Can I borrow your phone?”

  Lauren nodded as she yawned some of the sleep away.

  Jerrica picked up Lauren’s cell phone from the nightstand. Walking to the windows, she dialed Madison.

  Lauren sat on the side of the bed, observing.

  Within seconds, Jerrica clicked the phone off. “Voicemail again,” she said handing the phone to Lauren. “I’ll be back.”

  The sun was rising slowly in the sky. She did her warm up stretches on the wooden walkway that led to the deserted beach. There was a small breeze coming off the water, which made her happy she had put her hair in a small ponytail. The music was blasting through her ear buds as she started down the beach, with a muddled mind and a sad heart.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “You look lost, can I help you with something, beautiful?” Devin said with a devilish smirk.

  “I was looking for someone,” the surprised woman replied, trying to shade her eyes from the rising sun, not able to see the person addressing her.

  Devin sized up the familiar woman standing at the bottom of the porch stairs. Her black hair was styled perfectly to accentuate her sun kissed skin and she had amazing bedroom brown eyes. She was a little shorter than herself, but had a very nice build. She pleasantly filled out a light blue polo shirt, khaki pants, and black Doc Martin shoes. “Who are you looking for?”

  “I’m looking for Jerrica Kerrison.”

  As if a light switched turned on in her head, Devin remembered. This was the woman she had seen Jerrica kissing the other day. Devin narrowed her eyes. Thinking quickly on her feet, Devin stepped into the light, completely revealing herself. Her golden hair flowed freely in the light breeze and her blue eyes stared at her new victim.

  This woman was gorgeous and she knew it. Madison stifled a small gasp as she recognized the one of a kind, double-breasted navy blazer, Jerrica was the owner of that garment. The blazer was the only thing this woman was wearing. The blazer was just long enough to cover her intimate parts at the top of her thighs.

  Devin’s smile grew wider when she saw the recognition of the garment in the stranger’s eyes. She stepped forward just enough to lean on one of the porch columns. “I’m afraid you just missed her,” she said, running a fingertip up and down the lapel. “We were up late last night with… business…and she needed to get a run in this morning to wake up. She’s on the beach right now.”

  †

  Madison was puzzled. She hadn’t heard from Jerrica since Thursday and even then, the conversation seemed filled with tension. Now here she was, in unfamiliar surroundings, looking at a half-naked woman, who was wearing one of Jerrica’s favorite blazers, with no Jerrica to talk to or explain what was happening.

  Devin continued on happily. “I don’t know why she insists on running every morning. I can find many other ways for her to get her exercise. You know what I mean?” Devin winked, running a finger on the bottom seam of the jacket. “Would you like to wait for her?”

  Madison felt her heart splinter into millions of pieces. Jerrica how could you do this to us? She wailed inside. “No, thank you. It’s…not…that important.”

  Madison turned her back to Devin as tears started to fill her eyes. She didn’t want this wicked creature, who relished her pain, to see her cry. Starting up the path, she could no longer contain the pain constricting her chest and began to cry openly.

  †

  “Madison?”

  Devin spun her head around to see Jerrica running up the walkway from the beach.

  Jerrica reached the porch, gasping for air and trying to speak. “Who was that?”

  Bending at the waist, breathing heavy, she heard Devin answer. “I don’t know, she didn’t give her name.”

  One hand on her hip and one holding onto the banister, Jerrica’s irritation for small talk with Devin was beginning to show. “What did she say?”

  Devin retreated toward the entryway, stalling before answering over her shoulder. “She was looking for you.”

  “You bitch,” Jerrica ran toward the main house.

  †

  Jerrica fell to her knees as the cloud of dust from the leaving car engulfed her. She was panting so hard, she thought she might pass out right there in the driveway. She had to get back to the cottage to get her keys. She had to catch her. Her muscles were burning, making every movement more excruciating then the last. Jerrica painstakingly returned to the cottage to find Devin and Courtney in the kitchen. Jerrica observed them playfully touching and kissing one another. Oh, my God, she slept with Courtney!

  Lauren exited the bedroom, ready for their presentation as Jerrica stood in the doorway.

  Jerrica rushed toward the kitchen and its occupants.

  Lauren stepped in between Jerrica and the cuddling couple just as she lunged at them.

  “You are a fucking bitch, Devin! I should choke you with my bare hands. You’re trying to destroy my life!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Devin replied as she scooted behind a bewildered Courtney for safety.

  “That’s bullshit and you know it,” Jerrica shouted over Lauren’s shoulder. Lauren was trying very hard to push her friend backward.

  “Oh, please. If I wanted to destroy you, it would already be done.” Glancing up at the clock, Devin smiled, “You might want to start getting ready, your meeting is in less than an hour…darling.”

  Mustering up her last bit of energy, Jerrica growled as she pushed Lauren to the side, charging Devin. Courtney didn’t stand a chance as Jerrica shoved her away, wrapping both hands around Devin’s neck. The momentum pushed Devin back into the counter.

  By the time Lauren and Courtney were able to wrench Jerrica away from Devin, she was beyond reason.

  Jerrica was yelling and kicking, as Lauren dragged her toward the bedroom.

  Glancing back at the kitchen, Lauren knew Devin was fine as nurse Courtney was tending to the wounds. Lauren slammed the bedroom door behind them, dropping Jerrica to the floor. She had had enough. “Get your ass in that shower right now. You are behaving like a child! You can behave better than this! I want to kill her, too, but someone has to be the adult around here.”

  Jerrica stood, opening her mouth to talk, but Lauren stopped her.

  “I don’t want to hear it! Get in that shower and cool off!”

  Jerrica lowered her head in defeat. Without further conversation, she entered the bathroom.

  Twenty-five minutes passed before the bathroom door opened. Entering the room fully dressed for the meeting, Jerrica slowly walked to the bed where Lauren was sitting. Gracefully sitting down, she turned to face Lauren. “I’m sorry I put you through that. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  “No, you didn’t hurt me. What happened?”

  “Madison was here.”

  “Madison was here, when?”

  “I thought I saw her when I was returning from the beach. She seemed to be conversing with Devin. As I got closer, she ran toward the main house. Not having my contacts in or my glasses on I wasn’t sure it was Madison to begin with. When Devin finally told me she was looking for me, I ran after her, but she was gone. I wanted to chase her, but because of that damn scheduled meeting, I couldn’t. My anger just took control the moment I got back here.”

  “Do you know what they talked about?”

  “No, but it couldn’t have been good. She left in a hurry without waiting to talk to me.”

  “I hate to add to your troubles, but did you see where your blazer currently is?”

  Jerrica briefly looked puzzled, lowering her head in disbelief when the answer popped into her head. “Devin’s wearing it, isn’t she?”

  “Yes and if you put two and
two together, I think you can figure out what Madison might have thought or even been told by that crazy bitch.”

  “Shit! Can I borrow your phone?”

  Snatching it from Lauren’s hand Jerrica tried dialing Madison. Again, it went straight to voicemail, but this time she left a message saying they needed to talk. A dejected Jerrica dropped the cell phone into Lauren’s hands.

  Ever the supportive friend, Lauren commented. “You need to keep trying. She’ll have to pick up sooner or later.” Her tone changed, becoming sterner,

  “Devin is still in the cottage, Jerrica. We are leaving in five minutes. I won’t have any trouble getting you out of here, will I?”

  “No, I promise.”

  “Good. Now go put some lipstick on and we’ll leave.”

  Lauren cautiously opened the bedroom door, glancing down the deserted hallway. They made their way toward the front door, carrying their luggage, when a voice behind them stopped them in their tracks.

  “I will make sure you leave here with nothing, Jerrica. You will have no career and you will be alone.”

  They both turned around to see Devin standing in the hallway enraged.

  “You will be begging me to take you back. You’ll plead me for your life back,” Devin snarled.

  Jerrica forced a calm smile on her face, but her anger was bubbling just under the surface. “Maybe you should hold your breath while you wait for me to come back,” Jerrica snickered., “Oh, and by the way, I want my blazer.”

  Without a word, her eyes locked on Jerrica’s, Devin unbuttoned the blazer, letting it fall off her shoulders, down to her waist, sliding it off her arms. Standing nude in front of both women, she extended her arm, with the blazer dangling from her fingertips.

  Jerrica sauntered over, scooped the jacket over her arm and rotated on her heels. As Jerrica reached for the door, she turned to look at Devin.

  “I hope you enjoyed my sloppy seconds,” she said, nodding to the doorway where Courtney stood. Jerrica laughed as she let the screen door slam shut after her.