Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford)

by Schwimley, Victoria

  Irritated, John said, “What, you don’t trust me?”

  “No, it’s not that. This is a big boat. I was just curious.”

  “Relax. It’s okay. I’ll help John if he gets into trouble.”

  “Hello there.”

  Jessica turned to see several people in swimsuits boarding the yacht. They looked like models. Their long blonde hair, boys and girls alike, shimmered like silk in the sun. Their tanned bodies glistened with oil.

  One of the girls came over to Phillip and kissed him on the cheek, purring up against him. “Hello, Phil,” she cooed, with a heavy Australian accent.

  Phillip returned the affection, kissing her on the lips. Then he said, “Pam, this is Jessica Crawford. She’s the photographer I told you about.”

  Pam offered her hand in greeting. “I’m pleased to meet you,” she said. She eyed John with admiration.

  Jessica accepted the offered hand. “This is John. He’s my assistant.”

  Pam smiled at John and batted her eyes. Jessica rolled her own eyes.

  Then Phillip introduced Edward, Candy, Spencer, and Calliope. Edward stared at Jessica, a dreamy look in his eyes.

  “Don’t mind him,” Pam said, and knocked him on the back of the head.

  He gave Pam an angry glare and rubbed the back of his head.

  “Well,” Phillip said, “I believe we’re all on board now. Let’s shove off.”

  John and Phillip reigned in the rope and started the engines. When they were well out to sea, they cut the engines and hoisted the sails. John was in his glory. He soon forgot about his beef with Phillip, and his impending phone call to Brandon. He didn’t hear the phone ring when the operator called to let him know he could get a line out.

  Jessica was in love, in love with the sea, and the air, and the smell of the ocean, as she walked all over the yacht with her camera spinning. She seemed to have picked up an admirer. She turned to look into the baby blue eyes of Edward. Edward beamed at her.

  She pushed him back slightly. “Edward. We talked about this. I can’t work with you so close. Ten steps, remember?”

  Edward took the requested ten steps back, but as soon as Jessica began to walk again, he closed in. She sighed in exasperation.

  Phillip watched in amusement from the doorway of his cabin. “Come on in here, Jessica,” he invited, laughing. He put his hand against Edward’s chest, barring him from entering the cabin. Edward, message received, went the other way.

  “Thanks.” she sighed in relief. “I can’t seem to shake that one. I called break a half hour ago, but he didn’t seem to get the message.”

  “You can hardly blame him. His veins are flowing with testosterone and you are quite a looker in that bikini.” As if to prove his point, his eyes roamed up and down her body.

  She pulled her cover-up closed and zipped it up.

  “Now why did you do that? I was enjoying the view.”

  She blushed. “I’m working here, Phillip.”

  “No, you’re not. You said yourself, you’re on a break.”

  “If you don’t behave yourself, I’ll leave,” she warned, but accepted the glass of wine he placed in her hand.

  “No, you won’t. I’m all that’s standing between you and the testosterone king.”

  She laughed despite herself, and took a sip of the wine. “I have to admit, I am enjoying myself. Do you do this often?” She took another sip of the wine, savoring its sweet taste.

  “Not that often anymore. I got busy with things.”

  “That’s too bad. Let me ask you something. Do you mind if I’m blunt?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “My curiosity is peaked.”

  She rose up off the sofa and came to stand in front of him. Her nearness drove him mad with desire. His breathing quickened.

  “Why me? You are handsome, rich, young, and persistent. You could have any woman in the world. What did I do to encourage your pursuit?”

  He leaned over, breathing down her neck. His breath came in and out in rapid movements. Instinctively, she pulled back. He leaned in closer.

  “Your very nearness drives me out of this world. You’re gentle as a kitten one moment, then clawing like a lioness the next. Your beauty is exquisite, your full lips tender, tempting as a rose, and your round…” He looked down at her chest and grinned. “Well, they are succulent. Your innocence is charming. You have absolutely no idea what you do to a man. Do you?”

  He was inches from her lips. She could do nothing but stare into his eyes, mesmerized by his words. She thought he was going to kiss her, and she would not be able to stop him. Instead, he picked up her hand and gently brought it to his lips. He did not take his eyes from hers. Then he left, leaving her standing there, watching after him.

  John found her some time later, standing on the deck, watching waves spray against the yacht as it sailed back to shore. The wind whipped her hair around. The salt air stung her tear-stained cheeks.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, pulling her against him.

  She shook free from his grasp. “Nothing. I’m fine. I just want to go home to Brandon.”

  “Did Phillip do something?”

  “No. In fact, he’s been a perfect gentleman. I’m just homesick.”

  “Just a couple more days should do it, probably three at the max. Can you hold on that long?”

  She laughed nervously. “I guess I can wait that long.”

  They stood in silence for several moments, watching the sun go down over the horizon, two friends on a faraway ocean. To an outsider they might look like contented lovers, but to each other, they were solace.

  The yacht finally docked. John walked around waking up the guests. Phillip moored the yacht and closed it up. He would send a staff member to clean it tomorrow.

  Jessica thanked each of the models for a job well done and waved as they walked off. Edward bent for a kiss. She kissed him on the cheek.

  “He won’t wash that cheek for a week,” Phillip teased. John, unaware of the situation, laughed anyway. Even a blind man could feel the crush he had on her.

  The three of them walked up the ramp, where a limo waited to take them back to the house. Jessica and John dozed on the way home. Phillip watched with fascination as small smiles played at the corners of Jessica’s mouth while she slept. He desperately wanted to be the object of her dreams.

  When they arrived home, John bid them good night “Will you be all right?” He eyed Phillip with suspicion, still not believing nothing had happened between them on the yacht.

  “I’m fine. I’m going straight to bed myself.”

  “No tea tonight?”

  “Not tonight, I’m really tired.”

  He kissed her on the cheek and walked sleepily off to his room. He cast a warning glance at Phillip as he did.

  Phillip guffawed. “Your friend is so valiant.”

  She smiled with sincerity. “There isn’t anything John wouldn’t do for me. He’s a true friend.”

  “Then you are lucky to have such a good friend. They are rare,” he added, sadly.

  “Good night, Phillip. I had a really nice day, despite my reluctance.”

  He bowed. “It was my pleasure.” He leaned over and touched his lips to hers. She pulled back.

  “No. This doesn’t change a thing. We had a momentary truce, but I still love Brandon.”

  She turned and fled the room, leaving him staring after her. He watched her go and vehemently hatched a plan.

  **********

  CHAPTER 16

  Jessica woke abruptly from her troubled sleep. Glancing at the clock, she rolled from the bed and ran into the bathroom. She showered and dressed quickly, more eager than ever to finish this assignment and go home.

  As she descended the stairs, she noticed an odd peacefulness to the house. No doubt, she had slept through breakfast. She knocked on John’s door, but there was no answer.

  She continued down the stairs, looking in several rooms, but she found no sign of life. Finally comin
g upon the kitchen, she found Mrs. Grayson, the cook.

  “Good morning, Miss Crawford,” she called cheerily. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Grayson, I did,” she lied. She wasn’t going to bother this pleasant woman with her problems. “Although, I must admit, I am somewhat embarrassed at having slept so late. Do you know where everyone is?”

  She nodded. “Yes, I do. Your young friend left on some errands. He said something about mailing some letters, and Mr. Stewart had some business to take care of. They left the house together. They said not to wake you because you had a late night and needed your sleep.”

  “Thank you. That was most considerate. However, I have a letter to mail, too. I think I will also go out for a while.”

  She stopped and looked at Jessica. “I don’t think that’s a wise thing to do, she protested. “This is an unfamiliar country to you. You might get lost.”

  “I’m touched by your concern, but really I can take care of myself.”

  “Why don’t you let me call Mr. Grayson to escort you? He would be most pleased to accompany a pretty young woman, such as yourself, and I would feel so much better if I knew you were in safe hands.”

  Jessica patted the older woman’s hand. “Thank you, Mrs. Grayson. I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself. There is no need to disturb your husband. When Mr. Stewart returns, can you please tell him I have a list for him, just some things that I need. Ask him to wait for me. I’ll only be a short while.” She fled the room, ignoring Mrs. Grayson’s protests.

  She quickly retrieved the letter she had laid on the desk. She wanted to be back before Phillip returned. She was eager for him to get her the things she needed. The quicker she finished here, the better she would feel.

  She was halfway up the stairs when she thought of leaving John a note. Returning to her room, she sat at the desk and took a piece of paper from the drawer. As she began writing, a peculiar thought struck her. She did not remember feeling the diary when she took out the paper. She opened the drawer again and looked inside. The diary was missing.

  Shaking off the fear that clung to her, she finished composing her note and hurried from the room, not wishing to loiter any longer. She pushed the note under John’s door and ran from the house.

  She was hurrying so quickly that she didn’t see Phillip standing outside the door. She bumped into him.

  “Oh, Phillip, you startled me.”

  “I’m sorry.” He looked at the letter in her hand. “Where are you going?”

  She held the letter up for him to see. “I was just on my way to mail a letter to my fiancé. I was trying to hurry so I could get back before you returned.”

  He took the letter from her hands. “Here, let me take care of that for you.”

  She tried to protest, but he had already stuffed the envelope into his jacket pocket.

  “Come with me. I want to show you something I think you will be interested in.”

  She hesitated briefly, and then followed him around to the back of the house. He entered through a door in the rear.

  “I didn’t know there was an alternate door,” she noted, surprised.

  “I had it installed as a means of escaping the house, in case of a fire.”

  “That was smart of you. Where are you taking me?”

  He looked her straight in the eyes. He smiled, trying to dislodge her suspicions. “It’s a surprise, but I think you’ll like it.”

  They were at the bottom of a staircase now. She didn’t recognize this part of the house. He led the way to the top, pausing outside a door.

  “This is my room, but we aren’t going in there just now.”

  She visibly relaxed as the sudden panic she felt eased. “But, Phillip, there is no other place to go. The stairs end here.”

  He turned slowly toward her, grinning. “Not so,” he said, touching a button hidden discreetly under a table. A panel slid open. Jessica squealed with delight.

  “A secret panel!” she exclaimed. “How clever of you.” She couldn’t help but be amused, despite the uneasiness she felt in the pit of her stomach.

  “Come on now. I want you to see this, in case there is ever a fire in your room.”

  She hesitated for only a moment as he already had the other panel open. They went back down a different set of stairs Relief flooded over her when she recognized the corridor that led to her bedroom.

  “So, I was right, after all. Your room is directly above my room, isn’t it?” He nodded. “I heard you in there the other night. I’m embarrassed to say it made me a bit uneasy.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I came to your room that night, after you retired. I wanted to apologize, but the light was out, and I didn’t want to disturb you. Instead, I used this passageway to get to my own room. I was up quite late, pacing. I have a lot of things I’m trying to clear from my head.”

  She started to turn the knob of the door to her room.

  “Jessica, wait.” She let go and turned to face him.

  “I have more to show you.” He picked up her hand and led her across the hall to the door she had tried before—the locked door. She pulled back.

  “There’s no need to be nervous. Come, I’ll show you. You wanted to know what was in here.”

  He opened the door and stepped inside. It was hot and musty smelling, but otherwise no different from any other room in the house.

  “Come in and shut the door. It smells rather musty in here; I don’t want it to permeate the rest of the house.” She hesitated for only a moment before shutting the door.

  “What’s so interesting in here? You said last night it was just being used for storage.”

  This was evident as she looked about. Boxes of things lined one wall, and antique furniture stood in one corner of the room. An old train set, still set up and waiting for a conductor, stood in another corner. She touched it, seemingly saddened.

  “Was it yours?”

  “No. It was my fathers, but I used to play with it when I visited. It was set up in the game room downstairs. I put it in here when I did the renovations.

  “Now, you must be careful in here. If you remember, I told you this room was left as it was, so some of the boards are a little soft.”

  “Why didn’t you rebuild it with the rest of the house?”

  “I don’t like this room. It has bad memories for me.”

  “Then why did you bring me here?”

  He looked at her with confusion. “Because, what I want to show you is in here.”

  He touched another button hidden under a picture frame. Another panel sprang to life. An appalling smell floated from within the hidden room. Jessica instinctively stepped back, holding her hand over her nostrils. Phillip didn’t seem to notice the smell.

  “Oh, Phillip, what is this place?” Jessica asked, repulsed.

  He walked abruptly to her, his face mere inches from her own. “You read the diary, didn’t you?”

  She was at first shocked, then ashamed. She hung her head. “Yes, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to pry. It was just there, and I became so absorbed in it that I couldn’t put it down.”

  “It’s okay. I wanted you to read it. I hoped you would. I loved my grandmother very much. I loved her so much that I would have done anything to make her happy. Did you wonder what happened to Elizabeth?” She nodded, speechless. “Follow me and I’ll show you.”

  A person’s curiosity can cause her to do odd things. It is what made her follow him that day. She had become obsessed with the characters in the diary, and had to know what became of them, especially Elizabeth. So she did follow him, and when the door slammed shut behind her, she jumped. Phillip calmed her by placing his arm around her shoulders, crooning to her.

  “Don’t worry, I can open it again.”

  She smiled uncertainly at him, but allowed him to guide her.

  “This is where Elizabeth spent the last part of her life.”

  She surveyed her surroundings, her
eyes wide with fright.

  “What are you telling me?”

  “I put her in here. She was nothing but trouble. She hated Grandmother and made her terribly unhappy.”

  “No, I don’t believe it. You couldn’t possibly have done such a thing. You were only a child when Elizabeth disappeared. That’s what your grandmother says in her diary.”

  “Oh no, Elizabeth really did go away for a while. She went abroad with my parents, but she came back and wanted to start seeing grandmother again. I couldn’t let her do that because she always upset her so. I asked her to go away again but she wouldn’t, so I put her in here.”

  “What happened to her?”

  Sorrow briefly touched his eyes, a fleeting moment of remorse. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. I only meant for her to get scared enough so she would want to leave, but she got very sick, and nothing I did for her made her better. She begged for the doctor, but I really thought she would get better. I was really scared by then, so I ran for grandfather, but it was too late. By the time I found him, Elizabeth had died. He said we should bury her, and tell everyone she went away. We found an old blanket and wrapped her up in it. Then grandfather carried her down the back stairs and through the secret passageway. However, while he was carrying her, he had a heart attack and died. I couldn’t let them find Elizabeth, so I dragged grandfather into his study, turned the lamp on low, and put the phone in his hand. I wanted to make it look as if he had been working late when he had his heart attack.

  “Then I went back to the passageway and got Elizabeth. I took her out and buried her myself, and then I went back in and called the police. The ambulance came, but of course, by then, it was too late.”

  He stared hard at her, trying to read her expression but couldn’t.

  “That was the night I went to Grandmother’s room, crying. I told her what happened. She was the one who decided that I must go away. She understood that I was only trying to help her.”

  “But why did she write in her diary that she didn’t and wouldn’t ever know where Elizabeth was?”

  “Because she didn’t, not at first anyway, and then I think the whole thing was too much for her. It was like a miracle, and she snapped back to her old self. It was as though my grandfather’s death had broken some kind of spell. She said I should go away, and she said she should stop writing in her diary because she had a hard time hiding words, and if someone were to find it, they would know what I had done.”