Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford)

by Schwimley, Victoria

  “You know Amy?”

  Evelyn frowned in concern. She patted Jessica’s hand in a comforting gesture. “I guess this heat must be getting to you. Perhaps I should take you home so you can lie down.”

  Jessica swallowed hard and blushed in embarrassment. She jumped up. “No, really, I’m just fine. I was just on my way to the market. I haven’t a thing to eat in my apartment, and I’m afraid I was out rather late last night. I’m sure I’m just tired. I’ll be fine,” she assured her as she started to walk away.

  The woman looked hurt but brightened suddenly. “My husband used to be a doctor, you know. He could have a look at you; make sure you’re not sick.”

  Jessica turned to look at her. The sense of pride she displayed on her face when she spoke of her husband touched her. Jessica walked back to where she stood and bent to kiss her softly on the cheek.

  “Do you know, Mrs. Matthews, you remind me of my mother.”

  She displayed a smile bright enough to light anyone’s heart. “Really!” She exclaimed.

  Jessica nodded and returned her smile. “Yes, you really do. And I promise, if I’m not feeling better later, after I have shopped and eaten, then I’ll come over and let your husband take a look at me, Okay?”

  For quite some time, Mrs. Matthews just gazed thoughtfully at her, then she seemed to warm to this idea. She let Jessica go on her way.

  As she turned and started to walk away, the feeling that someone was watching her overwhelmed her. She turned back to look at Mrs. Matthews, who smiled and waved. She returned the wave and continued on her way. Maybe Amy was right. Maybe a trip would do her some good, but where should she go.

  Her answer was to come to her the following day. She walked into her office to discover a message Clair had left on her desk. She was to come to her office immediately. She recalled, with a knot in her stomach, the last time Clair had summoned her with such urgency. That was when she had run into Phillip Stewart, odd that she should think about him now. She hadn’t heard a word from him since his confrontation with Brandon. In fact, she was beginning to hope he had gone away.

  Clair was on the phone when Jessica arrived, smoking a cigarette. She really did look like a dragon sitting there in that oversized chair, smoke drifting out her nostrils. Jessica frowned in disgust, waved the smoke away, and stifled a laugh as she thought how appropriately her nickname fit her.

  Clair hung up the phone. She stood, and placing both hands on her desk, leaned toward Jessica.

  She flashed a conniving smile at her. “Jessica—my favorite photographer in the whole world; you know that right, you know you’re the best—and my favorite.” She rushed on, getting straight to the point, “How would you like to go to Australia?”

  Jessica choked on the diet coke she was drinking and spat, “Australia! Are you joking? Why on earth would you want me to go to Australia?”

  Clair sat back in her chair and crushed out her cigarette. She looked seriously at Jessica.

  “It’s either that or Oklahoma.”

  Jessica looked horrified at first, and then she realized Clair was joking as laughter rolled out of her overweight body.

  “I’m just kidding about Oklahoma,” she gasped between bouts of coughing, spurred by her laughter. “But not about Australia. You need a break, that’s apparent. I need someone with experience to handle this. I say that person is you. So what do you say? What would you say to an all expenses paid vacation to Australia? All you have to do is handle the layout. Make sure everything goes alright; so how about it?”

  Jessica was stunned, but started warming to the idea. “It sounds interesting, Clair, but why Australia?”

  “New clothing line, why else. The look is Aussie, and our client wants it to look authentic. No made up scenes for him. He wants the Australian outback, the real deal. So come on, what do you say? Be kind to your favorite editor.”

  She thought, for the briefest of moments, about trying to come up with a reason to refuse this request. Despite the nagging in the back of her mind, she couldn’t come up with a single reason to turn down this chance for excitement. She had never been to Australia.

  “I say why not. I was thinking about getting away for a few days, and this seems like it would be perfect. And since it is all expenses paid, I guess I can’t lose.”

  Clair nodded. “I guess it works out for all of us this then.”

  “All right then!” Jessica exclaimed and headed to the door. “I guess I’d better get busy making plans. I assume I’m taking John with me, right?” She raised her brows in an affirmative gesture.

  Clair reached for her cigarettes and lit another one, waving the match to extinguish the flame. “I didn’t think you would have it any other way.”

  She gestured an “okay” sign, and said, “Right you are, Clair,” and headed to the door, closing it roughly behind her in her excitement.

  Clair winced, picked up the phone, and dialed. “Mr. Stewart, please,” she said into the receiver. After a short pause, he came on the line. “Phillip, Clair Anderson here. She went for it, just as I said she would. But I don’t understand why you didn’t want me to tell her it was your company requesting the trip.—Oh, I’m sure she would have gone, anyway. Jessica’s the adventurous type. I’m going to be sorry when she leaves us.—What’s that?—Oh, I’m sorry. I guess you didn’t know; she’s getting married. Oh well, I guess her gain is our loss.—No you don’t have to worry, Phillip; I will respect your wishes. I promise that I will not tell anyone of your intent to oversee this project with her.—Yes, I’m sure it will be a surprise to her to see you. I guess I hadn’t realized the two of you had become such good friends.—Good day to you, too, Phillip, and have a wonderful time.”

  She hung up the phone and felt a stab of uneasiness. She didn’t like deceiving Jessica. She had been a loyal employee to the company, and frankly, Clair had taken a familial liking to her. But what was so wrong with a little infatuation? She could plainly see what was going on. Jessica was a pretty girl. It was perfectly natural that a man like Phillip Stewart would take a liking to her. After all, she wasn’t married yet. Perhaps Clair would be doing her a favor. She certainly could do a lot worse than hook up with Phillip Stewart. In fact, if she were a little younger, and a few pounds lighter, he might have taken an interest in her as well.

  She heard the rumors about him being a ladies’ man. Perhaps all he wanted from Jessica was a little fun. Then she could go on and marry her boyfriend from the country, and everyone would be a lot happier—including the magazine’s accountants, for Mr. Stewart was paying quite a hefty fee for this last minute excursion.

  Clair smiled satisfactorily when she thought of the meeting the previous week with Phillip. He appeared desperate, and she took advantage of that. He had wanted them to start immediately, but she had convinced him to wait until after Amy’s wedding. Jessica gave her full attention to seeing her friend married. However, now that it was over, she would be looking for new things with which to occupy her thoughts. She had one of those well-oiled minds that was always spinning. Well, within a couple of days, Jessica would be aboard a plane headed for Australia, and this would no longer be Clair’s concern.

  **********

  CHAPTER 10

  Jessica sat aboard the large 747 airplane listening to the soft hum of the engine as it jetted across the sky. It lulled her dreamily and she reveled at how peaceful it was on a plane at night. She glanced around at the sleeping passengers. A flight attendant came and tapped her gently on the shoulder.

  “Is something wrong?” she inquired softly.

  Jessica shook her head. “No, nothing’s wrong,” she assured her. “I’m just having a little trouble sleeping this evening.”

  She nodded her head in understanding. “Many people have trouble sleeping on a plane. Just let me know if you need anything.”

  “Thank you,” Jessica said as she watched her make her way back down the plane, stopping now and then to fluff pillows and retrieve stray blankets a
s she tucked in the weary travelers.

  Jessica looked over at John sleeping peacefully beside her and frowned. How is it he always manages to sleep so deeply, no matter what the circumstances are? She turned her head and stared out the window.

  As if sensing someone intruding on his dreams, John stirred and opened his eyes.

  “Jessie,” he whispered softly. “Why are you still awake? It’s nearly three in the morning.”

  She turned and looked at him. “I’m sorry if I woke you. I’m having an awful time trying to sleep.”

  “Is something wrong? Do you want to talk about something?”

  “No. It’s okay.” She patted his hand. “You go back to sleep.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure.”

  She nodded and watched as John pulled the blanket closer to his chest and shifted his body sideways.

  “John.”

  “Hmm,” he moaned.

  “I was just thinking about this trip.”

  “What about it?” he mumbled.

  “Never mind, it can wait. I’m sorry I disturbed you again.”

  “Okay. Good night, Jess.”

  “Good night, John.”

  She sat in silence for a minute, reflecting back to her conversation with Clair.

  “John, does something about this trip seem strange to you?”

  He sighed and sat up in his seat. “Okay. I’m awake now. You might as well tell me what’s on your mind.”

  “I was just thinking about how awkward this trip feels to me. What I mean is out-of-the-blue Clair calls me into her office and asks me if I want to go to Australia. The next thing I know, here we are on a plane, in the middle of the night, halfway to a place I have always wanted to go, yet never even dreamed of getting to. Don’t you think that’s a little odd?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe, but we have taken on spontaneous clients before.”

  “True, but halfway around the world, on virtually a moment’s notice? She gave me no time to prepare, hardly any time to pack, and she divulged very little information about the project itself. All I know is we are to be met at the airport by a representative of the company.”

  “By the way, what company are we working for?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know.”

  John raised his eyebrows. “Now that does seem odd. What do you mean you don’t know? Did you ask?”

  “Of course, I asked. In fact, she handed me our written itinerary, but that piece of information was missing. I specifically asked her whom we were to meet. Then her phone rang, and she dismissed me from her office. I went back later to talk to her, but she had disappeared. Her secretary told me she had gone home for the day. She had left our plane tickets on her desk. And why is it just you and me on this trip? No technicians, no models, no wardrobe personnel, no equipment.”

  He shook his head. “You’re the one who’s the head photographer. I’m just your assistant, remember. You’re the one who’s supposed to find out all the details about a planned trip.”

  “Maybe I would have felt a little better if I could have spoken to Brandon before I left.”

  “I thought you called him.”

  “I did, but he was out for the day and wasn’t expected to return to the ranch until late. I left a message for him, but he never called back. After that, I was too busy getting ready to go. I didn’t get a chance to call back again.”

  He patted her hand softly. “Well, don’t worry. You can call him from the airport when we land in Sydney.”

  She smiled in response to his support. “Tell me what you think of Brandon.”

  “Whoa—loaded question. I’d better watch out for the ricochets.” He laughed but received no response from her. “Honestly though, I think he’s a fine man. I’m a little concerned because things have moved so quickly for the two of you. But it’s your happiness I care about, so, if he makes you happy, then I’m happy, too.”

  “Thanks. I needed to hear someone say he supported me. But you know, he makes me feel important, as if there is someone in this world who thinks about me when he wakes in the morning, and when he lays his head on the pillow at night. He’s fascinated about what I do and who I am, and I love hearing about his life. I cannot stand it when we’re apart. He makes me feel—less lonely.”

  He pulled her roughly toward him in a big bear hug. “Hey, what do you mean less lonely. You have all of us, your friends; you are well loved.”

  “I appreciate that. But it’s not the same. You have Eric, Amy has Randy, and even Mom has Grant. I love Brandon.”

  “I know what you mean. It is different having someone special in your life. We need to get some sleep now; we have a big day tomorrow.”

  She nodded and pulled her own blanket around her as John snuggled back down into his seat. He reached over, grabbed her hand, and pulled it under the blanket with his. She was lucky to have him for a friend. It’s too bad he’s gay, she told herself; he would have made such a good catch. Then again, she supposed he wouldn’t be John if he were any different.

  If only she had been able to talk to Brandon. She hadn’t liked leaving the country without telling him first. She would do what John suggested and phone him from the airport. With this thought, her spirits lifted, allowing her finally to drift off to sleep. She was startled awake by an announcement over the loud speaker.

  “Please fasten your seat belts and bring your tray tables to an upright position,” the flight attendant instructed over the loud speaker, “and please place all packages under your seat or in the overhead compartment until we have landed,” she added. She began her inspection up and down the aisles, making sure all passengers had obeyed.

  Jessica did as instructed. Then she reached over and grabbed John’s hand, squeezing it tightly. She smiled brightly at him. “Well, it looks like this is it.”

  He smiled in return. “Are you feeling better today?”

  She nodded. “Yes, I am. Thank you so much for our chat. It did wonders for my spirits.”

  Within minutes, the plane had come to a stop, and passengers began crowding their way off the plane. Jessica and John held back, searching through their belongings for their passports. They found them at the same time and held them up in triumphant unison. They laughed, then stood and made their way up the aisle and through the crowd gathered near the plane’s entrance.

  “I’ll be right back,” Jessica said the minute they entered the terminal. “I need to try to reach Brandon again.”

  “Is something wrong with your cell phone? I can let you borrow mine.”

  “No thanks. My phone is working, sometimes. I’m having terrible reception, though. Besides, the rates will break me. I’ll use a calling card. She ran off to make her call.

  When she returned, she was frowning. She flopped down on the bench next to John. As he reached across her to throw some trash into a receptacle, she leaned against him, despaired.

  “What’s the matter? Is he still not home?”

  “No, he’s home, but he’s out riding around the ranch. I talked to his brother, Matthew. He promised to let him know that I arrived safely. I just hate the fact that Matthew has to be the one to tell him I left the country.

  Any sign of our ride?” she asked, glancing around the airport. Just then, she noticed a familiar figure striding toward them. She nearly fainted with shock and dismay as the room spun and things went black before her eyes. John caught her and shook her softly.

  “Jess, what is it? Are you all right?”

  She somehow managed to catch her breath. “I don’t believe it. Look who we’re working for.”

  John followed her gaze, stared in mutual disbelief at the approaching figure. “Isn’t that Phillip Stewart?”

  She shook her head. “Can you believe it? Why? Why him of all people? What a dirty trick. I’ll get Clair for this.” She spun to greet him.

  “Good day,” he called exuberantly. He tried to pick up Jessica’s hand, but she yanked it back in protest. He didn’t seem the slighte
st bit perturbed, but turned instead and extended his hand to John.

  John looked nervously about, and then reluctantly extended his own hand in return. Jessica, incensed, slapped it back and glared at John. He only shrugged.

  Phillip laughed. “Still my spit fire I see.”

  “I demand to know what you are doing here,” she spewed.

  “I think that’s rather obvious; I’m employing you.”

  “I know that, fool, but why? I’d rather camp in a viper pit.”

  He took a step back, pretending to be hurt. He clutched his chest and then held his hands out, spreading them in front of her.

  “I need a good photographer and you’re the best. It’s that simple. I’ll be your host for the next few weeks, so relax, and enjoy my hospitality.”

  “Host!” she screamed. You mean hoax, don’t you? You brought me here on the pretense of working, but you have no such thing in mind, do you Mr. Stewart?”

  “Oh, but I do, Jessica. That’s such a beautiful name, by the way. I do so love that name. Don’t you love that name, John? But really, Jessica, you insult me. Would I waste your valuable time by ushering you all the way to another country for a bogus job?”

  She eyed him suspiciously. “Then where are my models, my lights, my technicians, make-up artist, and the rest of my crew?”

  “That’s all taken care of. You will have models galore at your disposal. Beautiful models I might add. I wanted native Australians. They give much more authenticity to the scene.”

  “Well, you can forget it; we’re not staying. Come on, John, we’re leaving.”

  He held up a hand to stop her. “I think you’ll find that impossible, dear. You see, it’s the end of the tourist season here, and I’m afraid all the flights back to the states will be booked solid. You won’t be able to get a return flight for a least a couple of days. So why don’t you just make the most of my hospitality. Enjoy the time you spend here. Australia is a beautiful country.”

  She attempted to push her way past him, but he blocked her. She narrowed her eyes in anger. “I wouldn’t be caught dead being your guest.”

  She sidestepped him, heading for the ticketing counter. John ran behind her, trying to keep up. She could hear Phillip laughing behind her.