Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford) (36 page)

She swallowed hard. “I was just reminded of something else.”

“
I know all about Phillip abducting you.”

Jessica was surprised to hear this. When she and Brandon had left Australia, the word was that Phillip had somehow managed to flee and still eluded the police.

“
Has your husband been arrested?”

“
Yes, he has. He turned himself in. That’s what I have come here to tell you. It is for this I wanted to thank you. But I feel I must finish my story. I want you to know just how much you have helped us.” She continued, at Jessica’s urging.

“
When Phillip found out about my liaison with Chad, he was outraged. He threatened to kill him if he didn’t leave the country. That night we said goodbye to each other, and I haven’t seen him since. That was the night I began hating Phillip. I have hated him for years.”

What prompted Jessica’s next actions, she didn’t understand. Perhaps it was a kinship with this woman, who had been held captive by her obsession for Phillip, or a common ground in understanding that Phillip could inspire both intrigue and hate. Jessica put her arm around her in an attempt to comfort her. She wondered if there truly was a way to comfort this kind of grief.

“
I know the man you are talking about. However, I also know a different side of him. One that is fun, entertaining, handsome, charming, witty, and even sometimes considerate.” She thought of the portrait that now stood in her living room. The latter man had purchased it for her.

“
I know that now,” she replied, breaking into Jessica’s thoughts. “My husband called me last week. He told me everything. He also said he loves me and wants to try to make it all up to me, after he gets out of prison that is. Until then, I’m going to stand by him. I think we can mange to achieve a point in our relationship that has always been lacking. I have you to thank for that. You are the one who made Phillip realize what it’s truly like to love someone. You made him understand that people have feelings, just like he does.”

She rose to leave. “Thank you for taking the time to see me. I have to be going now. I have a lot to do. I’m packing up the house here and moving to Australia, to be near Phillip.”

Jessica smiled warmly at her. “I’m glad things worked out for you. I’m only sorry it had to come so late, and in such a drastic way. I wish you the best of luck. I hope for a successful rehabilitation for Phillip. I have faith that your love will be the key to get you through.” She extended her hand to her. “Good luck to you both.”

“
And to you too, Miss Crawford, especially in your upcoming marriage. Phillip sends his apologies and hopes you can forgive him one day.”

“
Forgiveness is a difficult state to reach. Tell him I’ll work on it.”

She considered this for a while after Katherine left. Had she already forgiven Phillip? She thought perhaps that she had begun the process. She didn’t understand why, he had been heartlessly cruel to her, but still, wasn’t there room for forgiveness?

Remembering the roses Brandon had sent her, she reached across her desk and pulled them closer to her. She inhaled their fragrance as she thought back to the first time he had brought her roses. She laughed, remembering the expression on the delivery boy’s face when Brandon had plucked the bunch from his hands. Then he had personally handed them to her. So much had happened since then, and it wasn’t even that long ago.

Tenderly she lifted the card from its holder. Her face became expressionless as she read the carefully scrawled words written there.

Glad you are back, hope you had a good time. I can’t wait to see you.

Her heart beat rapidly as she grabbed the vase and hurried to Sandy’s desk. “Who sent these?” she demanded.

“
I don’t know. A deliveryman brought them. I thought they were from Brandon,” she said, frightened by the look of panic on Jessica’s face.

“
They aren’t from Brandon.” She shoved the card in her face.

Sandy raised her eyebrows. “I have to agree with you; he knows you didn’t have a good trip. Who else could have sent them?”

She pondered this question as she walked back to her office. She was pushing the thought away even as it crept into her head, but it kept returning. She knew in her heart that it had to have been Jeffrey.

She thought about it all the way to her mother’s house that afternoon. She had talked to Brandon the previous day. He said he would try to get away and meet her there, but he didn’t hold much hope of that, because of the time he missed during the trip to Australia.

She couldn’t help but think about Jeffrey. As strange as it may seem, his attraction to her flattered her. She might even have found it slightly amusing, if it weren’t for the nightmare she had just been through with Phillip. She wondered if he would try to contact her at her mother’s house.

The drive seemed longer than usual, but she finally arrived. She was exhausted and ready to climb into bed, but before Sarah would allow her daughter to do that, she insisted on feeding her a well-balanced meal.

Sarah seemed unwilling, or unable, to accept the fact that her daughter had escaped her ordeal so mildly. She was determined to deliver a positive attitude, and prayed that nothing would interfere with her plans for her future with Brandon.

A foreboding sense seemed to pervade her thoughts as she stood preparing their meal. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Perhaps it was a mother’s intuition, but she had the most frightening feeling of uncertainty that reflected in her daughter’s face every time she spoke with Jessica of her impending wedding. She seemed almost reticent.

She didn’t like to see her only child upset, and it troubled her to think that anything would preoccupy her so much. Perhaps it was just the strain of the past few weeks. She had been through a lot.

She considered postponing her own wedding for a while. She had this thought on her mind when Jessica appeared in the kitchen to see if she could help.

“
Can I give you a hand?” Jessica asked.

“
No thanks. I think I have everything under control.”

She sniffed the air and sighed. “Delicious, as usual,” she said, taking in the delicious aroma of the chicken baking in the oven. “What are we having besides chicken?” she asked, as she started to lift one of the lids from the pots boiling on the stove.

Sarah playfully smacked her hand in an attempt to stop her daughter from ruining the rest of their meal.

“
That’s rice in there. If you lift the lid it will all stick together.”

“
Oops, sorry. I guess I have a lot to learn about cooking. Don’t I?”

Sarah sighed. “It is about time,” she firmly agreed, “especially since you’re going to be married soon.”

“
I wouldn’t worry too much about that, Mother. They have a full kitchen staff at the ranch.”

“
Oh! I hadn’t thought about that. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to live in such luxury. Why, I never would have dreamed of letting anyone cook for my family. I think taking care of a family is part of the joy of having a family.”

Jessica rolled her eyes at the ceiling before replying to her mother’s statement. “Mother, please don’t think that way. I think it will be nice having a cook. It means I’ll have more time to spend with my family. Just think, instead of being in the kitchen all the time preparing meals for them, I will have time to teach them some of the more important aspects of life.”

“
Such as…?”

Jessica came up beside her and kissed her on the cheek. “I can teach them all about what a wonderful grandmother they have, and then when they visit, they will spoil you with affection because of all the wonderful things they have been told about you.”

“
I guess I can’t argue with that, now can I?”

“
No ma’am, this is one time that I am right!” she said with finality as she helped her mother carry the food to the table.

After they were seated, she turned to Jessica, intent on finding the answer to her earlier thoughts. She scooped out a helping of rice and tapped it onto Jessica’s plate. She didn’t know where to begin so she just blurted it out.

“
I’ve noticed that you seem a bit tired lately, and a little distracted. I was wondering if it’s too soon to plan my wedding. It hasn’t been that long since Amy’s wedding, and then your trip to Australia. Now here you are to help me plan my wedding. I think we should consider postponing it for a while.”

During this monologue, Jessica showed a look of strong protest across her face. Sarah hurried on with her speech, determined to say all she had planned.

She continued, “Just for a little while, just until you’re feeling stronger. I know Grant will understand.”

Jessica stopped her before she could go any further. Placing a hand on top of Sarah’s hand, she looked her in the eye. “Don’t worry about me. Yes, it’s true, I do have an awful lot on my mind, but it has nothing to do with the weddings. And I don’t even want you to think about postponing yours. I have waited a long time to see you happy. I will not let anything come in the way of that. Do you understand?”

“
It’s funny. A little while ago I was just thinking the same thing about you, about how I’ve waited so long for you to find happiness, and how I hope nothing will get in the way.”

Sarah noticed the surprised look that crossed her daughter’s face, and in that moment, she confirmed all her suspicions of trouble.

Jessica said nothing. Excusing herself from the table, she rose to leave the room. “I hope you don’t mind if I go to bed now, Mother. I’m tired after the long drive here today.”

“
No. You go right ahead. I’m just going to do up these dishes and read a book for a while.”

Jessica laid her hand on her shoulder and kissed her goodnight. Sarah reached up and squeezed her daughter's hand in return. As she watched her leave the room, she had an uncanny sense of disaster.

Jessica had a similar sense, as she lay restless in her bed. Visions danced in her mind, teasing her senses. She thought about Brandon and his deep, sensuous face and handsome smile. Against her will, Jeffrey’s form took the place of Brandon’s, as if he were willing himself into her life. She stirred, tossing and turning, forcing the images to go away. She saw Jeffrey smiling down at her.

She relived her captivity. She imagined Jeffrey had been the one to come to her rescue, instead of Brandon. She woke and tried to shake off the feeling as she rose from the bed. She crossed to the bathroom, picked up a glass, filled it with water from the faucet, and drank with insatiable thirst.

As she replaced the glass in its holder, she caught her image in the mirror. She pondered it for a moment. She had changed in the brief time since she had known Brandon. A smile had replaced the lines that had once been frowns. It was strange, but she had thought she was happy before. However, now that she had Brandon, knew what it was like to have his love, she realized just how unhappy and empty her life had really been.

Then why did she continue to think of his brother? Could it be that the attention he showed her intrigued her? Did she, in fact, secretly encourage his advances? She knew there were people who caused tragedies in their own lives, just for the attention, but she had never been that way. Had she? She was flattered by his interest, of that there was no doubt. Who wouldn’t be? Jeffrey was handsome, fascinating to talk to, and educated in the ways of the world. Because she also had traveled, they had something to share.

She tumbled back to bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The remainder of her visit sped by, a pleasant distraction for her. She had asked Brandon to join her if he could. Not expecting to see him, she was pleased when he showed up on the doorstep with bouquets of flowers for both Sarah and her.

They spent a glorious couple of days doing nothing but relaxing, enjoying each other’s company, and helping Sarah plan the wedding.

By the time Jessica prepared to return home, all the feeling of foreboding had left. She was in high spirits when she left her mother’s house. The only thoughts she had on her mind were of Brandon and the impending weddings.

His presence, as comforting as it had been, left her wishing he lived closer, so they could spend more time together.

Jeffrey had not been mentioned during their visit. Brandon hadn’t brought him up, and she certainly wasn’t going to ruin their time together by mentioning him.

When Jessica pulled into the parking garage, she began to feel anxious. She half expected to see some sign that Jeffrey had been there, but there were no notes, no visitors hanging around unexpectedly, and no flowers waiting on her doorstep. She sighed in relief, irritated by the stress his stalking had placed on her.

Tired from her drive home, she climbed into bed, leaving the unpacking for the morning.

She woke to the alarm clock and moaned. Looking at the clock, she noted it was already past eight. She had plans to run downtown this morning to do a few errands, but she had no intention of going into work.

Just as she finished dressing, the telephone rang. As she reached for it, a feeling of uneasiness swam over her. She was relieved to discover John’s voice coming at her over the line.

“
Hey, Jess. Are you feeling nice and relaxed now?”

“
As a matter of fact, I am. I really needed the trip. Is this an official call or did you just call to say you missed me?” she asked, not sure if she really wanted to know the answer.