Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford)

by Schwimley, Victoria

  “I promise.” It was barely a whisper. Then a little louder, “We will be there for each other.” She shook off her melancholy. “Now get a move on. I’ll be there in an hour, and you had better be ready. You can’t start you wedding day without your Wheaties.”

  “Aye, Aye, Captain. I’ll be waiting on the foredeck, ready to sail for my new adventure.”

  Jessica laughed and hung up. She was really going to miss her best friend.

  She jumped out of bed and went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. She settled down on the sofa to drink it.

  The phone rang. She was hesitant to pick it up. She glanced at the clock. It was only six-thirty. She couldn’t imagine who would be calling her at this time of the morning. She picked it up slowly, whispering into the receiver, “Hello.”

  “Jessie?” the voice said, questioning. “Jessie, is that you? It’s Mom.”

  She heaved her shoulders in relief. “Hi, Mom, what’s up?”

  “Honey, I hope I didn’t wake you. I was just calling to let you know we’ll be leaving in a few minutes, and I wanted to know if you want us to meet you at the church, or at your apartment.”

  “Oh,” she said thoughtfully. “I’m not really sure. I was planning on helping Amy get ready, so I won’t be here.” She paused, thinking. “I’ll tell you what. Call me on my cell when you get in. I’ll let you know where to go, then.”

  “Okay then, I’ll see you in awhile.”

  Later, at breakfast, she and Amy reminisced about old times. They would keep their friendship alive with the help of these stories. It seemed impossible that both women would be getting married so close together. Even though they had both agreed it would be best to wait, Jessica found herself wishing that today were her wedding, also.

  Halfway through breakfast, Jessie saw a familiar figure walk past the restaurant window. She froze, jumped to her feet, and ran to the window.

  Amy followed behind her. “What’s wrong?”

  “I guess it’s nothing. I just thought I saw someone I knew,” she replied, trying to sound as casual as possible, trying to make it appear as if nothing was wrong.

  “From the look on your face right now, I would say it was a very unpleasant someone.”

  Jessica smiled reassuringly, shaking her head. “I don’t really think it was who I thought it was, just my mind playing tricks on me. Let’s just forget it, okay?”

  Amy eyed her suspiciously. “Let me guess, and…oh by the way, don’t mention this to Brandon.” Jessica rolled her eyes. Amy sighed. “All right, but I don’t like it. And for the record, I think you need a few days off again. You’re overworking yourself again. I thought that after we came back from California you would slow down a bit, but you’ve done just the opposite,” she said.

  “I know I have,” she admitted. “It’s just that I miss Brandon so much. I have to keep busy so I can keep my mind off him.”

  “And speaking of Brandon—how is he? I haven’t seen him since we left California. I never really got a chance to properly thank him for his hospitality.”

  “Oh, that reminds me. He sends his apologies for not being able to attend the wedding. Apparently, there’s some big problem out at the ranch he has to deal with. He hopes you won’t hold it against him, and that his absence at your wedding won’t stop you from attending our wedding. He also said to tell you he’s sending a substitute. He says you’ll hardly know he isn’t there.”

  She frowned, a puzzled look on her face. Jessica shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t ask me; he didn’t enlighten me. I’m just the messenger.”

  Amy giggled. “I can hardly wait to see what he has up his sleeve. And, as if there’s anything in this world that would keep me from your wedding.”

  “Of course, you wouldn’t miss it, because you love me that much.” She glanced at her watch, jumping quickly to her feet.

  “Good Lord, Amy, look at the time.” Amy glanced at her watch and jumped to her feet, as well. “We still have so much to do. We’d better get moving.”

  Amy grabbed the check, running for the register as she shrugged into her jacket. Rosie waved her away. “Not on your wedding day, sweetie—go, and have a good wedding.” She winked. “And an even better honeymoon.”

  Amy kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, Rosie. I love ya. I’ll write from California, I promise.”

  Rosie waved her on. “Yeah, sure you will. You’ll be Mrs. High and Mighty and forget all about us poor working stiffs here on 5th Avenue.”

  She laughed as Amy and Jessica ran out the door, their hearts pounding as they made it to Jessica’s car, just in time to stop a patrol officer from ticketing her for elapsed time on the meter. He was just taking his pad out when Jessica caught him.

  “Hi ya, Joe, how are you this morning?” Jessica flirted, panting breathlessly.

  “It won’t work this time, Jessica. How many times do I have to tell you about feeding the meter?”

  She stuck her lower lip out in a pout. “I know, Joe. I’m sorry, but today’s Amy’s wedding day, and we just were caught up in a little reminiscing. You know last morning out together, and all that.”

  She wiped a pretend tear from the corner of her eye. Joe looked at Amy, who was nodding in agreement, a look of eagerness in her eyes.

  “Wedding day, huh? Is that right? You gettin’ married today?”

  “That’s right. My last day of freedom, and then I’m off to California. The golden state, land of sun, sea, and movie stars.”

  Joe chuckled, putting his pad away. “Well, all right then. I can’t write you a ticket on your wedding day. But don’t you forget about us when you get all caught up in your glitz and glamour. And if you see any movie stars, you tell ‘em Joe says hi.”

  She laughed. “You got it, Joe, and thanks.” She hugged him, opened the car door, and jumped in.

  “And don’t forget to feed the meter,” he called after them as they sped away.

  “We have plenty of time. You can slow down,” Amy chided.

  “Are you kidding? The hairstylist is due in a half hour and we have to be at the church at two.”

  Amazingly, they were able to finish on time. They were just preparing to leave for the church when Jessica’s cell phone rang, startling her. She snatched it up, checked caller ID, and called breathlessly into the phone.

  “Mom, I was getting worried about you. I thought for sure you would have been here much sooner. Is everything okay?”

  “We’re fine, honey, but we need to freshen up a bit. We got about a half hour down the road when Randy realized he forgot his tuxedo. We had to turn around and go back for it. Then we had a flat tire. We called the auto club, but they couldn’t get anyone there for an hour, so Grant had to change it. We finally got back on the road, but were in such a hurry that Grant wasn’t paying attention to his speed and got stopped for a ticket.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “So, now we’re finally here, but looking rather wilted. It was so late that we dropped Randy off at the church. Now we’re in dreadful need of freshening up.”

  “Good grief. I hope this isn’t some kind of portent of how this day will end.”

  “I’m sure it will be fine,” Sarah assured her.

  Jessica breathed deeply. “Well, we were just getting ready to leave for the church ourselves. My apartment is closer to the church, and you have a key. Why don’t you go over and clean up. We’ll meet you at the church.”

  Amy was waving at her from the door. She terminated her conversation and ran to catch up.

  “Come on. We have to hurry. I can’t be late for my own wedding.”

  “Why? They can’t very well start without you, can they?”

  For some reason, Jessica found this comment hysterical and roared with laughter. She couldn’t stop laughing. Amy kept looking at her, amazed at how long she was laughing.

  “Wow! It’s not that funny.”

  Jessica gulped for air. “I know. I can’t stop, though,” she managed to say between bouts of laughter.

  “It m
ust be nerves,” Amy said. “Only I’m the one who’s supposed to be nervous. Think of something sad.”

  Jessica shook her head. “Not on your wedding day.”

  “Well then, think of something romantic and sweet, but not funny.”

  She finally managed to bring her laughter under control, just as they were pulling into the church parking lot. The fits of laughter, however, had left her with a bad case of hiccups.

  Jessica was just securing Amy’s veil, when Sara walked in. She walked over to Amy and took both her hands in hers.

  “You look beautiful.” She placed a tender kiss on her cheek. “I’m sure your mother is smiling down on you right now.”

  Amy smiled, a little sadness turning her lips just slightly down. “I know she is; I can feel her here with me.”

  Jessica hiccupped from the corner.

  Sarah turned to her. “What’s up with the hiccups?” she asked.

  “She got caught in a laughing fit, and now she’s left with the hiccups.”

  “Well, good lord child, get rid of them.”

  She turned back to Amy. “Okay, young lady, your moment to shine is finally here. Let’s get you married,” Sarah said as she placed her arm in Amy’s and led her to the door. Jessica trailed behind them, hiccupping.

  Amy’s father waited for them in the narthex. Tears came to his eyes when he saw his beautiful little girl all grown up. Jessica preceded Amy down the aisle. Her hiccups seemed to be under control. John was her escort, and followed by Kristen, escorted by Justin. Paula was next, with Ryan on her arm. They had only invited close friends and family, but the chapel was nearly full to capacity. Jessica marveled at the sight of the altar, sparkling with candlelight, adorned with white roses.

  At last, the bridal march began. All the guests stood and turned, as Amy, escorted by her father, swept gracefully down the aisle. Jessica looked at Randy, who beamed in all his happiness. She mouthed to him that he had better be good to her; he said she could count on it.

  They exchanged vows, and as the minister announced the newly united couple, Jessica and Amy turned, and at the same time burst out laughing. Sometime during the ceremony, someone had slipped a life-sized cardboard cutout of Brandon into the back of the chapel. He stood there grinning, a large artificial smile fixed to his cardboard face. He had kept his promise and had sent a substitute to the ceremony.

  The bride and groom began their descent back down the aisle, arms linked together. Jessica led the wedding party as they followed behind the happy couple. She was hiccupping.

  The reception, held at the social hall adjacent to the church, was elaborately catered. The party went on until well into the night. The newlyweds weren’t leaving for Hawaii until the following day, so they stayed until the end of the reception. Jessica cried many times that day, and spent the whole day hugging her best friend—wishing her the best life she could possibly have.

  It was nearly two a.m. when Jessica, all cried out, and quite tired of holding a one-sided conversation with her rather stiff escort, bid everyone a good night, and headed for home.

  When she arrived at her door, Karen came running out to meet her. “I’ve been waiting all night,” she said is a rush.

  Jessica opened her door quickly and ushered her neighbor inside. “Karen, do you realize how late it is? Did you stay up just so you could catch me when I got home?”

  Karen picked up Jessica’s arm, looked at her watch, and shrugged her shoulders. “It’s still early,” she replied. “Besides, this is important.”

  Now that she had caught her attention, Jessica couldn’t help but wonder what could possibly have kept this woman up, waiting and watching her apartment until she arrived home? She looked down at Karen, interest clearly present in her gaze. Karen was considerably shorter than Jessica. She had never realized this before. Perhaps it was the effect of the robe and slippers.

  “Well…” she urged. “Why don’t you tell me what it is that caused you to stake out my apartment all night?”

  “There was someone here to see you today. He came around twice, and he rang your doorbell for a long time. I sent him away. He gave me the creeps. Although I can’t say why, he really was quite handsome. I think it was the look on his face.” She moved her hands around trying hard to secure just the right words to describe his look. “Determined, yes, that’s it. He looked determined. About what I can’t say. It was almost as if he expected you to be home, and then he was angry that you weren’t.”

  Concern crept into Jessica’s being. “Go on, Karen, tell me what he looked like, and be specific. It’s very important.”

  She described Jeffrey right down to the dimple in the left side of his smile. A ghost jumped through Jessica’s soul at the thought that he had actually been at her home. She shivered. She now had no doubt it was Jeffrey on the phone that morning.

  “Is everything okay? Should I call the police if he comes back?”

  “No, it’s all right. I think I know who he is. It sounds like Brandon’s brother, Jeffrey. I don’t think he’s dangerous, but I’ll tell you what. I would prefer not to see him alone. He has kind of a wild streak in him. He likes to play games with Brandon. I seem to be his latest pawn. If he shows up again, ask him not to come back. Okay? Can you do that for me?”

  She looked hesitant and Jessica knew she was asking an awful lot of her neighbor. Just as she was about to tell her to never mind, Karen interrupted her. “Don’t worry. If he comes back, I’ll take care of him. If I have to, I’ll call the police?”

  “No, oh no, don’t do that.” Karen looked startled at Jessica’s sudden insistence. “What I mean is—well, let me explain a little about Jeffrey.” She took her arm and led her to the sofa. They sat down in unison.

  “You see, it isn’t that there’s anything wrong with Jeffrey, and I really don’t think he would do anything to hurt me, but he and Brandon don’t get along. I just don’t think Brandon would understand if he found out his brother was visiting me here. I don’t want to be the cause of more animosity between the two of them. Therefore, I don’t think calling the police would be a good idea. Besides, I don’t think the police would do much—except advise me to get a restraining order. I think that would only make the game more interesting to Jeffrey. Don’t you agree?”

  She looked skeptical and eyed Jessica with concern. Finally, she shook her head. “Okay. It’s your life, but I’ll tell you girl, I wouldn’t want him knocking on my door,” she stated firmly.

  “I don’t either, but I just don’t want to go to extremes. I haven’t known Brandon long, and I really don’t want to screw things up with him. Do you understand?”

  “Sure, I understand. Listen, I have to get back to my own apartment. I’ve left the boys long enough.”

  “I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow. And thanks for—well, just thanks.” She waved backward as she left Jessica’s apartment, heading toward her own, shaking her head in disagreement. Jessica waited until she was sure she was well inside. Then she went to secure all her doors and windows.

  Too exhausted to worry about it anymore that night, she tumbled into bed, where she slept restlessly all night. She didn’t know what Jeffrey wanted, but she knew she wasn’t going to like it.

  The morning brought sunshine and a renewed spirit. The previous day seemed like a dream. It was hard to imagine Amy married and halfway to Hawaii by now.

  Jessica walked casually to the refrigerator and peered inside. She groaned aloud, “How long has it been since I’ve done any shopping?” She picked up a container and peered inside. Judging from the furry growth on whatever it was she was holding in her hands, and by the looks of the pantry, which was next on her inspection list, she would have to guess quite some time.

  Dressing quickly, she headed to town to do some shopping. She tiptoed past Karen’s door, using the excuse that she didn’t want to wake her. However, if she wanted to be completely honest, she wasn’t in the mood for a reminder of their previous night’s discussion.

>   The sun was hot and Jessica began panting from the exertion. She slowed her pace. Her long legs worked hard to restrain her body.

  She returned the waves of several people she passed on the street. It felt strange, and rather embarrassing, to pass so many people who knew her by name, but only recognize their faces. She knew where they lived, but she couldn’t remember their names. Even stranger was the fact that until she had met Brandon, she wouldn’t have cared what their names were, or where they lived for that matter. They were simply her neighbors, and that was all that mattered.

  Now, she found herself intrigued by them. Suddenly, she wanted to know all she could about them. She wanted to know where they worked, who their families were, how many children they had, even what they had for breakfast. She vowed to make a greater effort to get to know them.

  “See what a good influence you have on me, Brandon.” She spoke this thought aloud. She was rewarded by hearing her name whispered in her ear.

  She turned quickly, but no one was there. She searched the faces of those around her. The street was busy, more crowded than usual due to the good weather. She rocked gently on her feet, straining to peer between and over people, her skin pale and frightened. A woman came to take her elbow.

  “Jessica, are you all right?” she asked, concerned.

  Jessica stared hard into the woman’s face but couldn’t place her. She stumbled a few steps, and then found herself sitting on a bench.

  “I’m sorry, but do I know you?” she whispered softly.

  The woman chuckled softly. “Why, my dear child, of course, you know me. We’re neighbors—have been for a few years now. I’m Evelyn Matthews. My husband and I live three doors down from you.

  We own this flower shop here. It’s our retirement dream. We purchased the shop in the late eighties. We lived above the shop for many years, but recently bought our apartment so we would have more room for the grandkids to visit. You have bought flowers from us on many occasions. In fact, just last month you were in here getting flowers for Amy. You said you needed to cheer her up about something.”