Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford)

by Schwimley, Victoria

  He climbed down and stood between the bride and groom.

  “Now, here’s the ironic part.” He put his arm around Sarah. “Sarah here also raised a daughter single handedly.” They clapped again. “She did all those things for Jessica, as well.” He shrugged. “Well, maybe not all those things, I’m not sure about the football thing, maybe they built doll houses instead.”

  The crowed laughed and Jessica grinned sarcastically at him. “But truly, folks, if two people ever deserved happiness with each other, it is these two. So please, raise your glasses with me.” He turned to face both of them and threw an arm around Jessica’s shoulder.

  “Dad, thank you for all you have done for me over the years. Be happy with Sarah. She’s an amazing woman. Sarah, welcome to our family. I look forward to all the family holidays with more anticipation than ever before. You are a remarkable woman. You and Dad deserve each other. Thanks for the sister; I have always wanted one. Here’s to Grant and Sarah,” he said as he raised his glass high and drained it in one swallow. The crowd cheered and drained theirs in similar fashion.

  Sarah and Grant left soon after. They would take only a brief honeymoon as Grant couldn’t spare too much time from the store. He had a reliable assistant helping him out, but he still didn’t feel comfortable leaving for any length of time.

  Randy had missed quite a bit of time from his company when he came to help his father out before, so he and Amy had to leave the following morning.

  Jessica had arranged a few days leave from work, to make sure everything was cleaned and properly stored.

  Brandon also had to leave right away, also. Jessica felt a bit melancholy at seeing all her friends go. She was not looking forward to the isolation of the house, but was looking forward to the peacefulness of a few days alone. It seemed lately everyone was worried about her and asked too many questions. Even Brandon had noticed her mood and had eyed her suspiciously the entire evening. She had assured them all she was just tired and needed to catch up on her rest.

  After seeing off the last of the crowd, she packed a lunch, put on her swimsuit, grabbed her memo pad, and headed for the lake. She liked the serenity of the lake during the summertime, and she always managed to find an isolated space away from the crowds.

  She particularly needed some isolation today, after the hustle of the past few days. She had in mind to make a few notes regarding some of the photographs she had taken during her trip to Australia. She smiled at the memory of John’s enthusiasm. He was right, as usual. The photographs were unusually exceptional. It would have been a waste not to put them to use. Clair had loved John’s idea, and presented it with gusto to the new chain of command at the stores. Jessica had promised she and John would get started on it right away.

  With high spirits, and a mind full of ideas, she took her blanket and lunch and headed over the bridge. Midway, she stopped to look into the stream that flowed beneath, remembering for a moment the times she and her mother had thrown crackers to the ducks. She resumed her walk, breathing deeply to get as much of the country air as she could. A baby rabbit scurried from underneath a bush, startling her. She laughed at herself. “You silly thing,” she said. “Run and find your Mama.” The rabbit, stopped, as if listening, wiggled its nose at her, then hopped quickly back under the cover of the brush. She giggled and continued on her way.

  The sun was rising high and the temperature getting warm. She began to look for a shady place to stop. She walked a little ways farther before finding a small grassy area in a small alcove. Trees surrounded it. This would give her some privacy, and the water was only a few feet away. Already, she could feel the icy coolness of it. She spread out her blanket and sat down.

  With a clear head, she picked up her memo pad and began to make notes. The magazine was now preparing for their fall wardrobe. Jessica always found it hard to concentrate on a different season, when she was right in the middle of another. Summer was especially difficult. It was rather hard to think of jackets and jeans when she was roasting in a swimsuit.

  The sun beat down upon her. She picked up her towel and wiped the perspiration from her forehead. Gazing out upon the lake, the invitation beckoned her. Before long, the need for cool water overcame her. She cast aside her work, kicked off her sandals, and jumped into the water. The iciness instantly penetrated her skin, sending shivers throughout her body. She reveled in the coolness, savoring the velvety smoothness of the water. She swam so hard her limbs ached for relief.

  Exiting the water, she threw aside any idea of a towel, and plopped her dripping wet body down upon the blanket. The sun did its magic and within minutes, she began to doze off.

  Just as she was about to enter that stage between floating and peaceful slumber, she was awakened by a rustling in the bushes behind her. She jumped awake and looked quickly about, scanning the tall brush for any sign of movement. Finding none, she began to feel a little foolish. Thinking it must have been the wind, and not wanting to admit there wasn’t much wind that day, she settled back down on the blanket and tried unsuccessfully to go back to sleep.

  Each time she closed her eyes she had visions of Jeffrey and his maddening laugh that day in California. She wondered why, today of all days, she would think of that. It probably was the water. Being at the lake brought back the memories.

  She couldn’t understand how she could be so fascinated, yet so frightened, of the same man. She hadn’t thought of Jeffrey the entire time she had been at her mother’s house. She had begun to think that perhaps she had gotten him out of her mind, but apparently, she had not.

  Try as she might, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She decided to return to the house. Just as she was standing to collect her things, she heard another noise behind her. This time she was alert and knew it was not her imagination. Jumping quickly to her feet, she fell right into the arms of Brandon.

  “Brandon!” she exclaimed, surprised to see him. “What are you doing here? I thought you had gone home.”

  “I changed my mind,” he said enfolding her in his arms. “Just the mere thought of you up here all alone, no one around, with all this beautiful scenery…” he said huskily, trailing off this sentence as he traced the outline of her suit with his finger, starting along the bottoms, his fingers slipping ever so slightly inside the elastic. He ended at the dip between her breasts. She moaned. “Well, I just couldn’t resist,” he whispered.

  He pulled back slightly. “I called Matthew. He said everything was under control, so I decided to come back and spend a few days with you.” He paused, scanning the lakeside. “That is, if you don’t have any other plans, or any other suitors that you’re hiding out.”

  “Were you just in the bushes spying on me a few minutes ago?”

  He looked up at the bushes, confused. “No. Why?”

  “I thought I heard something in there, just before you showed up. It spooked me. Maybe it was a squirrel or some other small animal.”

  “Yeah, maybe it was,” Brandon agreed. “Do you want me to take a look?”

  “No. I’m sure it’s fine.” She shuddered.

  “Anyway, you shouldn’t be out here alone. It’s not safe for a beautiful girl like you to be way out here all alone. Madmen like me might come along and take advantage of you,” he teased, nibbling her neck.

  She laughed nervously, glancing toward the bushes. “Now that you mention it, Mr. Phillips, I do happen to have a dozen or so secret admirers hiding out, waiting their turn.” She kissed him tenderly, playfully biting his lower lip.

  He pretended to pout. “Well, if that’s the way it’s going to be.” He started to walk away, swung back around, and caught her by the waist. He threw her down on the blanket, settling himself next to her. He kissed her passionately. She responded to his urgency.

  “Know what?” she asked, mischief dancing in her eyes.

  “What?”

  “I’ve always had a fantasy about making love out in the open like this,” she confessed.

&nb
sp; “No kidding?”

  “Yep, true. I often came out here when I was a young girl and fantasized about making love to a man, right here at this very lake.”

  “What would your mother say?”

  Jessica laughed. “She probably had the same fantasy.”

  “I make it my business to always please a lady.” He began to release her from the confines of her tight suit, inching it down slowly, kissing every part of her as the cloth left her body. Her skin glistened from the perspiration that formed upon her body. “You look so delicious.”

  He lifted her from the blanket and plunged into the water with her.

  “Brandon!” she gasped, struggling to regain her breath. “You still have your clothes on.”

  He looked down at himself, grinning. “So I do,” he said, peeling each item of wet clothing from his wet skin.

  Jessica began to swim off. He swam after her, catching her around the waist. Her laughter echoed through the trees. He pulled her under the water.

  Silent eyes burned with anger as they watched from their concealment. “She’s mine,” a voice whispered, anger flaring through it, hissing like hot coals. “I will have her, Brandon, if it is the last thing I do.”

  Brandon pulled a gasping Jessica from the water. He laid her down upon the blanket as she fought to control her laughter.

  “It’s good to hear you laugh again,” he said, as his mouth came down hungrily upon hers.

  She greeted him with equal hunger, fever coursing through her body. From the heat that soared through their bodies, it was hard to believe they had just come from the icy depths of the lake.

  She whispered his name as he devoured her. A loud rustling noise came from the bushes and they both jumped. “I want to go now,” she said, squirming against him.

  He pulled her tightly to him. “It’s okay. I’m here with you.” He could feel her trembling.

  They dressed quickly and hurried on their way. Jessica glanced back over her shoulder. As she did, she would swear she saw the silhouette of a man running through the forest. With some discipline, she pushed aside the idea. Brandon was here with her now. She was safe. Or was she?

  **********

  CHAPTER 24

  In the months following her mother’s wedding, Jessica’s life seemed to increase in activity. She was busy with her work and had little time to spare for herself.

  Jeffrey called several times, but Jessica refused to see him. She still had not come to grips with her feelings, and she was not ready to confront them.

  She saw Brandon as often as she could. Each time she saw him, he pressured her about the wedding. However, she couldn’t marry him until she put her feelings in perspective. She began to see him less often.

  The holidays were fast approaching and this added to her stress. She talked to her mother often. But she, too, had become relatively busy since becoming Mrs. Grant Jackson.

  Not only did she have her own usual church activities and her work at the group home, but also marriage to Grant brought on a completely new set of responsibilities. As a business owner, Grant was active in community affairs. Sarah found herself playing hostess at several dinner parties, and even began to attend Chamber of Commerce activities. She found she liked her new status, and the people she met.

  Amy seemed to have taken on just as many responsibilities with her new life. With the birth of the baby fast approaching, Jessica worried she might be overdoing it. Amy, however, argued that she was just fine, and claimed her doctor encouraged her to keep busy. “Besides,” she told Jessica during one of their long conversations, “the busier I keep, the faster the time goes by, and the sooner this baby will get here.” Jessica had to agree with her, but made her promise to be careful.

  Jessica went out often with some of the people from the magazine, mostly to discuss their work. She did see Jeffrey a few times, sneaking about like a weasel. She wondered if perhaps he could find something else do with his time, besides keeping watch on her.

  The uneasy feeling he exuded in her seemed to subside, and she found that she was beginning to find his pursuit flattering. One day, she found him waiting outside her apartment building with a bouquet of roses in his hands.

  As she exited the building, he approached, smiled, and handed her the roses. He then turned and left without saying a word. Jessica laughed aloud and went back into her apartment to place the flowers in water.

  Soon flowers began to arrive on a regular basis. At first, she disposed of them as soon as they arrived, but as time wore on, she felt less threatened by the gesture, and began to keep them. The cards always read the same; he proclaimed his adoration of her. The sentiment touched her.

  Time seemed to pass so quickly that one day Jessica awakened, and it was fall, as if the magic weather fairy had visited in the middle of the night. She wondered to where summer had disappeared.

  In late October, Amy called to announce the arrival of her new baby daughter. Exuberance rang out from her voice. Jessica arranged to fly out to see her new godchild.

  She arrived in California and thought about her last trip there. Granted, San Francisco was on the opposite end of the state. But just being in the same state brought back the memories. It was a trip filled with both happiness and sadness. It was where she and Brandon became engaged—and where she first met Jeffrey. She remembered her confrontation with Jeffrey in the locked room, and about how foolish she now felt for being frightened of him.

  Randy was there to greet her at the airport, looking grand in the role of new father. “Jessie,” he called out, waving her over to where he waited.

  She pushed through the crowd in an attempt to make it to Randy, weaving through the throngs of people. She set her things down and threw her arms around him. “Hello there, brother.”

  He looked puzzled at first, then realizing she was right, brightened and returned the greeting. “Hey, sis. You know, it’s been all this time since our parents’ wedding, and I still can’t get used to the idea that I have a sister.”

  “Get used to it. Now, please take me to see my new niece, and godchild.”

  “You bet. I just love to show her off.”

  Jessica was quiet on the drive to the house, noting the tremendous differences between this city and her own. She was impressed with the house that Randy and Amy shared. It was simple and overlooked the ocean. It had a large porch with wicker furniture that had been covered for the season. Jessica pictured herself swinging in the porch swing, listening as the waves crashed down upon the seashore.

  Amy was waiting for them, new baby in her arms, as they entered the living room. She hurried to Jessica, hugging her tightly. She kissed her on the cheek and gently placed the baby in her arms.

  They had named her April, and Jessica noted how well it suited her. “She’s beautiful, Amy, absolutely gorgeous.” Jessica said, overjoyed at the sight of this baby who had brought so much happiness to her friend.

  “I quite agree,” Amy replied. “And now that you have seen her, I’m afraid it’s time for her nap. She gets cranky if she’s awake too long.”

  Reluctantly, Jessica allowed a nurse, who had entered the room as if by cue, to take away April. “A nurse?” Jessica asked.

  “Randy thought it would be best for a few days. I had a pretty hard labor. The doctors agreed the extra rest would do me some good.”

  “I’m sorry. Perhaps I should have waited awhile before I visited. I was being selfish.”

  “Don’t even think of it. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Amy said.

  Jessica nodded. She didn’t know much about having babies, so she really couldn’t say she knew how Amy felt. Nevertheless, she did notice that she looked a little tired.

  Her feeling was proven correct, when after lunch, Amy excused herself to take a nap. “You go right ahead; don’t worry about me,” Jessica assured her. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take the opportunity to go shopping for April.”

  Amy came beside her friend and kissed her on the cheek
. “Of course, I don’t mind. You can spoil her rotten for all I care.”

  After Amy had left the room, Randy offered to drive Jessica down to the shopping mall. She declined, stating she didn’t want to bore Randy with all her shopping, which could turn into quite an adventure. Laughing, and readily accepting her decline of his offer, he offered her his car instead, which she did accept.

  As they stood beside his car, she said, “Before I go, I need to talk to you about Amy.” He looked puzzled, but urged her to continue. “Ever since you entered Amy’s life, she’s been an entirely different person. I just want to say thanks for everything you’ve done for her.

  “Before you came along, she felt as though her life was ending; now when I look at how happy she is—well, I think you get the picture. I think you know that Amy and I are very close. She’s like a sister to me, and what affects her, affects me. I’m proud to have you in the family with us.”

  “I really don’t deserve any thanks. It’s no sacrifice loving Amy, as I’m sure you know. What she’s brought to me is just rewards for the love I give her. We have a happy life and my feelings for April…well, I don’t care that I am not the one who fathered her. She’s my daughter and always will be. When I look at her, I see the love of a mother who helped her grow and come into this life. I will do my best to make sure she has a good life.”

  She was relieved to hear this. She knew it all along, but had to hear it from Randy to be sure. She had felt uneasy about Amy’s marriage, feeling Amy was not in the best frame of mind when she agreed to marry Randy. She was the one who had been wrong. There couldn’t be any more love in this household.

  She left for her shopping trip in a jubilant mood. Shopping in California was an experience quite different from shopping in New York.

  She inhaled the sea air, filling her lungs with the fresh aromatic scent of the ocean breeze. She jumped into Randy’s convertible, top down, and headed up Highway 101. She exited off and drove to 20th Street. She found the Galleria Mall, thanks to Randy’s explicit instructions, and found a parking spot among all the other convertibles.