Meg's Moment

by Amy Johnson

  A moment later Ali returned with the fire extinguisher Megan kept under the kitchen sink and put out the flames drenching Jack and Mickey in the white, foamy solution. Jack immediately rushed to Megan and began frantically assessing her injuries, from flying glass and being thrown to the floor. She had blood coming from her head, her face, and her arms and legs. After being assured that help was on the way he carefully scooped her up and carried her into the kitchen where he sat her on the counter and ran some warm water.

  Damn it, there was so much blood he couldn’t see where she was cut or how deep or anything. It was just everywhere. He tried a few deep, calming breaths but the panic wouldn’t subside. She wasn’t fatally injured, he knew that, she was talking and responding to his words and touch. He felt her hands running across his skin and realized she was checking him for injuries. His heart hit the floor.

  “I’m fine, baby, hold still. I need to get this piece of glass out,” he told her while he carefully removed a shard of glass that was embedded in her right shoulder.

  With his rage barely contained, his emotions overflowing, and shaky hands he removed seven shards of glass from Megan’s arms and legs while Ali and Stacy used the first aid supplies from Jack’s truck to tentatively dress the wounds. Mickey was dealing with Josie who had also taken some glass to various parts of her body while she cried frantically on the phone with Dr. Ross who was already in his car and on the way.

  Other than quiet soothing words to Megan and a brief check to make sure everyone was alright Jack was deathly quiet, with thoughts of killing Ted with his bare hands dancing in his head. Once most of the blood had been cleaned up and he was sure Megan was going to be okay he fought to relax his muscles and calm down. He lost the battle as the smell of blood, salty tears, and fear of losing the woman he loved crept upon him and by the time the first sounds of sirens were ringing in his ears he was crying and shaking with anger and rage.

  Four uniforms came barreling through the door along with two firemen, Dr. Ross, old lady Everett and Megan’s father.

  Megan’s father rushed to his daughter giving her a quick once over and with tears brimming his weathered eyes, hugged her gently so he wouldn’t hurt her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked her, and when she nodded he said, his voice booming, “What the hell happened?” Jack told him the short version and then his boom went to a roar when he said, “I’ll kill the son of a bitch!”

  “You’ll have to stand in line,” Jack told him “Because if I find him first he’s a dead man.” Megan seemed in a daze, probably from the shock but everything seemed to hit home when she looked into her father’s eyes filled with tears. She began crying again and tightened her grip on her father with one hand and Jack with the other. After a moment she noticed someone was missing.

  “Where’s Mom?”

  “She took Granny to tour a new old folk’s home. They weren’t there when Ms. Everett called and I didn’t take the time to call them. Hell, I didn’t even take time to put on shoes.”

  Megan glanced at her father’s chubby bare feet and smiled. Cupping both her dad’s cheek and Jack’s she said, “My heroes.” Then in a shaky voice she added, “I love you.”

  Jack was thankful for the lump that had risen in his throat because if it hadn’t he would have told her he loved her too and he wasn’t sure she her words had been aimed at them both. But he did love her and as soon as things settled down he planned to tell her and show her in every way imaginable. But first things first and top of the list was getting her medical attention, getting her safe, and keeping her safe. In his house, in his bed, and in his heart was his preferable way to achieve that. “Will you stay with her?” he asked her dad and when he nodded, Jack kissed her cheek and said, “I’m going to talk to these guys, honey. I’ll be right back.”

  Jon relieved Mickey and took Josie in his arms as the firemen got out their equipment and began administering first aid, while the police began asking questions and scribbling in their notebooks.

  Jack and Stacy relayed everything to the police starting with the incidents that had previously been reported, the scene in the bar, and ending with the firebomb through the window a few minutes ago. They finished their statements and while Stacy called her husband, Jack went to find Megan. He found her sitting on the counter with Dr. Ross examining the back of her head. She was fit to be tied and angry as hell, poking a finger in some poor EMT’s face and yelling at him while her father yelled at her. Jack smiled. She was the perfect mix of sugar and spice. Sweet and sass. Heaven and hell. His bent angel.

  “You are going to the hospital,” her father shouted. “The guy says you need stitches.”

  “For the last time, I-AM-FINE!” she shouted back. Then to the EMT; “Find Jack! He’s hurt too. He was bleeding and there was glass every…” Jack walked toward her and her father gave a sigh of relief.

  “Here, you handle her,” he told Jack. Shaking his head he said, “She always has been a stubborn little shit. Gets it from her grandmother.”

  “I’m right here, Meg, and I’m fine. I think most of the blood on me is from you.”

  Jack met Dr. Ross’s gaze, “How bad is it?”

  “Bad enough to be properly cleaned and stitched up. It’s deep. She needs to go.”

  Jack kissed Megan softly. His forehead against hers he said, “You’ve got to go to the hospital honey.” And after minimal protest she agreed to go. “And then you’re moving in with me.” She rubbed noses with Jack and brushed her lips against his.

  “You gonna nurse me back to health?” she whispered. “Kiss all my boo-boos?”

  “With pleasure, baby,” Jack replied, and her father decided that if Jack could make his daughter glow with happiness like that he wouldn’t beat him to death for sleeping with her. He still wouldn’t like it, but he wouldn’t kill him over it.

  Jon had returned to Josie where he was professionally kissing every injury she had while Mickey and Ali were taking their turns being bandaged. Stacy was sitting with Megan’s dad who was rubbing her back and trying to comfort her.

  It had been a long day.

  “Oh, Dear God,” Mrs. Johnson screamed, announcing her presence as she and Granny crammed into the already crowded room. “What in God’s name has happened?” Megan looked around the small kitchen and laughed. It looked like a make shift emergency room with the walking wounded scattered about. Granny was checking out the men in uniforms butts while her mother was in hysterics; crucifix in one hand and performing the cross with the other. “There’s blood everywhere and…” she glanced at her husband with a perplexed look. “Where on earth are your shoes?” Then her gaze fell on Jack who had his lips nuzzled in Megan’s throat. “And why are you kissing my daughter? And why is she covered with blood?” Then on to Jon and Josie, “Oh dear, God, one of your boobs is swollen.” And those were her last words before she fainted.

  “Another one bites the dust,” Granny said and broke out the moonshine.

  Jon rushed to Mrs. Johnson’s aid while Josie patted her boob and, rolling her eyes, she said, “duh,” and removed the can of fish food from her bra.

  Chapter EighteenLate that night Megan lay stretched out next to Jack on his couch watching Jay Leno, his body hard and strong behind hers, his hand curving around her hip. She’d been to the hospital, got her head stitched and was now flying high on some kick ass pain killers. Her mother had been treated and released and was now in the habit of calling every ten minutes to check on her. Her father was watching T.V. and yelling at Granny who was having an online date with a retired Hell’s Angel from Ohio. Life was as dysfunctional as ever.

  Josie was at Jon’s and would probably be moved in by the end of the week and Ali and Mickey were having a Julia Roberts marathon at her house. Stacy was no doubt having a long talk with Scott about her problem with alcohol.

  “Jack, I’m worried about Stacy,” Megan said.

  Jack stroked her hip. “Me, too.”

  “She needs help. We have to ma
ke sure she gets it.”

  “We can be there for her, but she has to do it on her own.” Jack sighed, “It won’t work unless she wants it.”

  “You know a lot about this?” Megan asked.

  He rolled to his back and positioned her on top of him. His brown eyes conflicted with pride and shame he said, “I’ve been sober for about five years now. It was the hardest thing I ever did, but it was also the smartest thing. It takes time and patience and lots of dedication, but I have faith in Stacy and like me, she’ll get through this.” Megan was speechless, shocked. Then she remembered never seeing Jack drink, and his concerned looks when she did, which lately had been way too much. And the meetings at 7:00.

  “Did you go to AA?”

  “Yep,” Jack laughed. “Actually that’s where I was when you called me with that ridiculous list hunt. I left there and went to your house where you were having a party.”

  Megan winced. “I’m a horrible person. I dragged you out of an AA meeting and offered you alcohol. Remind me not to not to sponsor Stacy.”

  Jack kissed her chin, then her lips. “You didn’t know, babe. Plus I already told Stacy I’d sponsor her, but she has to call me. I won’t pressure her into it. It has to be her choice.” If she hadn’t already been falling for him, she would have then. He was the most patient, compassionate person she’d ever met. He’d known Stacy less than two weeks and already he was willing to share her pain and assist her to recovery.

  Megan kissed him sweet and tenderly along his jaw. “Is it hard?” she asked. Jack was confused and she realized that around Jack that was a loaded question. “Recovery, I mean. It is difficult?”

  He seemed disappointed for only a moment. Propping his arm behind his head he said, “Yeah, it is. Its real tough but I had my dad to lean on so I was lucky.”

  “But I thought your dad owns a bar?”

  “He does, but he’s also a recovering alcoholic. We did it together. It was my mother’s dying wish.” Megan’s heart broke for him. “See, my dad and I never saw eye to eye on much. When I got old enough, I started spending the summers with my uncle who was also a pretty heavy drinker, so I got exposed to it a lot. Then my mom got sick and my dad really hid in the bottle. By the time she was bad I was getting out of an awful marriage and my dad and I, both, were in pretty deep.” He paused for a moment and stared straight at the ceiling. “So the day before my mom died she called me and my father in the room and told us that the only thing she wanted from us before she died was for us to get sober and work on our relationship because after she was gone we would be all each other had.” Megan didn’t bother to wipe the tear that fell down her face. “We promised and the next day she died. We went to a meeting that night.”

  Megan didn’t know what to say so she just held him tight, admiring his strength and courage. She’d had a storybook childhood and little tragedy until recently. Her heart ached for him and his father.

  And Stacy, and the journey she was just beginning.

  The phone rang and Jack reached behind him to get it. She heard her mother’s voice coming through loud and clear and she folded her hands in prayer and tucked them under her chin, tilting her head to the side and closing her eyes. Jack smiled and said, “Yeah she’s still asleep. She’s fine. I won’t let anything happen to her. You should get some sleep now. You had a tough day. Okay then, have a good night.”

  Jack clicked the phone off. “That is one persistent lady.”

  “We Johnson woman tend to be. We are used to getting what we want.”

  Jack smoothed her bangs out of her face. “And what is it you want Ms. Johnson?”

  She smiled the smile that started it all. “I’ve already got it. I want you.”

  Jack sat up and carefully cradled her in his arms. “Good. Get used to it, because you’re mine.” Her heart fluttered and her belly did that whole flip flop thing.

  “Then take me to bed,” she purred and Jack stood and carried her to the bedroom and laid her on the bed. He leaned over her, not putting any of his weight on her because she so banged up and kissed her lovingly and gently, just a sensual, soul kiss. Then after disrobing, he joined her. Megan nestled into him and, feeling his arousal, she reached for him but he stilled her hand.

  “Honey, I almost lost you today. You’re cut up, stitched up, bruised up, and probably still very sore. I was a selfish bastard last night and…

  “Jack.”

  “…and I refuse to be tonight. I can make love to you tomorrow and the night after that, and the night after that, and the night after that, and the night…”

  “Jack.”

  “…and I know I am irresistible and it will be damn near impossible for you to keep your hands off of me but if I have to handcuff you…”

  “Handcuffs?”

  “…don’t think I won’t. You will just have to be happy with me holding you all night. Feel free to dream about me and, if you must, you have my permission to indulge yourself in a wet dream if it gets you by but…”

  “Jack!”

  “…there will be no ride on the love train tonight. Sorry to disappoint ladies, but as promised Jack will return to his regularly scheduled love making tomorrow at a time to be later announced. So stay tuned and…”

  “I was only going to say goodnight.”

  “Liar.”

  Megan smiled and fell asleep indulging in her first real wet dream starring the dreamy and delicious Jack Westin.

  ***

  Megan’s head was pounding when she woke up, in perfect tune to the phone that was ringing off the hook. She ignored it and reached for Jack but he was gone, leaving behind a tantalizing impression in the sheets of where he had laid. She heard the shower turn off and then Jack’s hurried footsteps into the bedroom to quiet the ringing phone so it wouldn’t wake her up.

  Too late. If the phone hadn’t done it, the sight of him standing blissfully naked two feet in front of her would have. Hell, that delicious sight would be enough to wake any woman from the dead.

  “Hi,” he said and smiled, leaned down to kiss her.

  “Hi yourself,” she managed, her heart thudding wildly in her chest.

  The phone rang again and they both stared at it.

  “If we don’t answer it, she’ll just come over,” Megan informed him and after giving the matter a moment’s thought Jack snatched up the phone, winking at Megan, and touching her in places that sent her body into overdrive. Megan was so turned on. Foreplay while talking to her mother on the phone, definitely a carnal sin, she thought, but quite possibly one worth experiencing the wrath of hell for. She grabbed Jack’s arm and dragged him down on to the bed with her, teasing and taunting his amazing erection with her fingers. He shivered and tried to bat her away and she found that she enjoyed the challenge. She moved her tongue seductively down his neck and to one flat copper nipple buried in a mass of chest hair. She gently sank her teeth in and pulled and Jack shot straight out of the bed, almost knocking her to the floor. His demeanor went from teasing and seducing to serious and concerned in a spilt second. He stood, naked as a jay bird, running his fingers through his hair nervously pacing the room. He hung up the phone and tossed it on the bed, then sat silently as if trying to get his bearings together.

  “What?’ she asked and he took her hand, his eyes a stormy brown. He opened his mouth to speak but no words were able to come out. “Just tell me, Jack. I’m a big girl. What’s the matter? Is it my Mom? Granny?” her voice broke, “Stacy?”

  Jack looked at their hands interlaced together. “Ted,” he said and Megan couldn’t control the relief that consumed her body. The cops had found Ted. Good, she had a few things she wanted to say to him.

  “What about him?” she asked feeling a little control surface.

  “He’s dead.” Okay that was the last thing she expected. Her face went pale, her legs suddenly numb, she asked, “What do you mean dead? As in heart stopped, not breathing?” Jack nodded and pulled her into his arms.

  “How?” she
breathed, not able to control her emotions and not bothering to understand them either. She didn’t want Ted, she didn’t love him and had filed for divorce and would have been content never seeing the snake again. But dead? Never. She would have never wished that on him. Jack held her tighter and she figured he was probably fighting with a few emotions of his own.

  “I don’t know, sweetheart. That was the police and they want us at the station for questioning. I guess we’ll get those answers there.”

  She forced herself to calm down. “Okay,” she said, “we probably should get dressed then.” She got up and began rifling through her bag and wrestling on her clothes. Jack, too, got dressed and they were on their way out the door when the phone rang again. This time they ignored it and trekked to Jack’s truck.

  ***

  Megan and Jack were immediately separated as soon as they arrived at the police station. Megan glanced around the room at the busy hum of the city’s finest bustling around. There was the sound of fingers drumming on key boards, phones ringing, radios crackling and heavy, hurried footsteps. An elderly man dressed in a crisp suit with a head full of salt and pepper hair smiled at Megan and offered her a Styrofoam cup of thick black sludge. She accepted the coffee and thanked him.

  “Mrs. Malone, I’m Sgt. Wagner. I just have a few questions for you, dear.” Megan nodded and admired the honest gray coloring of his eyes. For a man of his age—which she guessed was around mid-sixties— he was still quite handsome.

  “Let’s start at the beginning,” he said.

  ***

  By the end of her interrogation Megan was exhausted. She was scared, confused, angry, and pretty much brain dead. Ted being dead didn’t make sense, the questions Sgt. Wagner had asked her didn’t make sense, and now she was left all alone waiting to be questioned some more. About murder. Of her cheating, drug dealing husband.

  Megan was now sitting in a small room with four chairs, a scarred wooden table, and a window covering one wall. She’d seen enough cop shows to know that it was a two way mirror. She resisted the urge to cross her eyes and stick her tongue out. Of course that might help with her defense if she had to use an insanity defense.