The Biggest Part of Me (27 page)

Tom continued.  “When you came home from that wild birthday you had, I was prepared to tell you that the trip to Oxford had to be cancelled.  Actually, the rest of college had to be cancelled.  I needed you to go to work to help pay off the debt.

“Jason took me aside and showed me the marriage license.  He told me that you hadn’t remembered getting married and that was probably best.  He would get the marriage annulled if I would let him help pay off the debt.  He wanted you to get the education that you desperately wanted.  The idea of you taking a low wage job just to satisfy debts didn’t sit well with him.

“Jane, I probably shouldn’t have done this, but I agreed to be silent and to take his help.  He dropped out of college and went to work to help us.”

“He did what?”  The stunned expression on Jane’s face turned to anger.  “He didn’t finish college?”

“No.  He went to work at a manufacturing plant, learned the business, and made toy prototypes in his spare time.  He helped pay off every one of those bills.  It took us a long time.”  Looking Jane in the eyes, Tom said, “He saved our family financially.  He did it all for you.  Because he loves you.  Our family is free and clear, thanks to Jason Collins.”

“Why was he so hard to find when I was pregnant?”

“I suppose he didn’t want you to know what he was doing.  I suppose he didn’t want to hear you talk about Europe and school or ask him about his life.  He figured you wanted to get on with your life.  The man has his pride, you know.”

Jane thought about this.  “You didn’t know where he was, Tom?”

“No.  I knew he was in Gainesville but I had no idea where.  He sent a check every month with a post office box return address.  But Jane, if he had known you were pregnant you’ve got to know he would have been there in a second.  In a nano-second.”

Conflicting emotions were battling in Jane’s body.  Deciding to choose one to focus on, she turned to her brother and punched his arm as hard as she could.  “Why in God’s name didn’t you tell me we were in financial trouble?  Did you think I couldn’t handle it?  Did you think I was that weak?”

Rubbing his bruised shoulder, Tom said, “Ow!”

“I can’t believe you, Thomas Kendall!  How could you let Jason quit school and work to pay off our debts!”

“Well, I—“

“And that Jason!  I’m so mad at both of you!  How do you think I feel, knowing that the both of you gave up so much just so I could take a silly trip to Europe, which I ended up not going on, incidentally, and get a degree at a damn ivy league school!  Did you want me to feel as guilty as I do now?”

“Take it easy, sis.  It worked out for us—I’m a successful photographer and Jason’s got his toy company.”

“And we’ve spent seven long years trying to get over each other!  This is ludicrous!  If I didn’t love you and Jason so much I’d kill the both of you!”

Tom smiled.  Still rubbing his arm, he quietly said, “We were wrong, Jane.  I guess in a way we didn’t trust you.  We should have.  Please forgive us two big strong he-men who thought they had to protect the women folk.”

“Idiots!” she hissed, jumping to her feet and pacing.

“Yes, you’re right.  You’re right but would you rather be right . . . or happy?”

Jane stopped.  She folded her arms in front of her and rubbed her arms.  “What do you mean?”

“I mean that all that’s happened in the past—keeping the wedding from you, the finances, Jason’s quitting college, the pregnancy—it’s all in the past.  Don’t you think it’s time to move on?”

Jane sighed.  “What do I do now, Tom?”

“You tell me.”

Jane thought.  “That man is incredible.  I love him so much.”  And then with a conviction and strength she didn’t know she had, she asserted,  “I’m not going to lose him again.”

“Atta girl, Janie.”

“I’ve got to let him know that I trust him, that we can trust each other.  I’ve got to think how to get him back.  It’s got to be clever, imaginative, and romantic.”

Tom stood and walked to Jane.  He grinned and kissed her forehead.  “Well, if anybody can do it, you can.”

Jason was at his wit’s end.  After leaving the reception he rushed to the Patterson Marketing Agency to see if Jane was there.  Then he rushed to her apartment.  He rushed to his apartment.  He tried the neighborhood bar, their favorite deli, anywhere he thought she might be.  He called her cell phone every few minutes but got nothing.

Arriving back at his office in the late afternoon, Jason was discouraged and disappointed.  It was hard to imagine that his company had snagged the most important invitation of its life that morning.  Everything he had wanted paled in comparison to his love for Jane.

The offices still held the remnants of a big party—savory aromas from the lunch buffet, balloons drooping, banners sagging.  Half of a sheet cake sat on a large table for anyone that could possibly still be hungry.  Jason saw none of it.  His eyes were wide and empty.  He was afraid that he had lost Jane for the final time.

With a quiet voice Shelly asked, “You doing okay, boss?”

Jason smiled slightly.  “Just okay, Shelly.”

“Listen, I know you probably don’t want to deal with any mail, but you got this package today.  I thought it might be important since the return address is Patterson Marketing.”

“Thanks.”  Taking the small package he walked into his office and closed the door.  He poured himself a stiff drink and sat at his desk, looking out at Central Park.  He had relived the events of the day again and again.  What could he do to make it up to her?  He had said terrible things to her.  It all came from the hurt of the divorce papers—papers she hadn’t even sent.  Maybe she didn’t even want a divorce.  That was too much to hope for.  Anyway, she probably wanted the divorce now.

As he took another sip
, he looked at the package on his desk.  He better find out what it is, he thought.  Opening it, he saw a gold frame encasing an official document.  Inside the frame was a certificate entitled “Marriage Record.”  It was his marriage license, his and Jane’s.  On top of it was a sticky note that read, “I love you Jay, always.”  Looking on the outside package, he saw that it was postmarked a few days before.  Jason’s heart started beating rapidly.  He suddenly felt alive again.  She did love him.  Maybe this could be the beginning and not the end of their marriage.  Somehow, he would find her and make her forgive him for all the things he had said to her.  He had let her get away seven years ago.  He was determined he wouldn’t make that mistake again.

The intercom buzzed breaking into Jason’s swirling mind.

“Boss, Debra with the maintenance company in the Hamptons is on line one.”

After exchanging greetings, Jason was informed that a busted pipe needed attention.  “Well fine.  Go ahead and fix it.”

“Sorry, Mr. Collins, we can’t.  We have to have your written approval first.  Why don’t you come out and check it out yourself, sign the order, and we’ll fix you right up.”

Great.  Just what he needed.  Not knowing what else to do with himself, he said, “Okay, I’ll come right out.”  The long drive would probably do him some good.  He could think of where else to look for Jane.  He could think of how to win her back. 

Driving out to Long Island, Jason turned on his speakerphone and dialed a familiar phone number.  “Tom, it’s me.”

“Yeah, I heard you and Jane had a rough day.”

“You’ve heard from her?  Where is she?”  Jason could hardly breathe.

“She came here, Jase.  She was pretty devastated.  I really don’t care much for your hurting my sister like this, pal.  Again.”

“It was all a big misunderstanding.  Where can I find her, please Tom?”

“Not sure.  But I think I should tell you something.  I told her, Jase.  Everything.  It’s time.”

Jason took a moment to compose himself.  “How did she take it?”

“Pretty well.  Of course, she was extremely ticked off that we didn’t tell her years ago.”

Jason chuckled.  “Yeah, I’m sure.  Listen, I’m heading out to the Hamptons.  Busted pipe.  Call me immediately if you hear from her again.  Tell her I need to talk to her.  Find out where she is.”

“Okay, okay.  You got it.  And Jason?  Don’t blow it this time.”

“I won’t.” 

Tom smiled as he hung up the phone.

The sun was setting as Jason pulled into the driveway of the beach house.  Looking at his watch, he wondered why he didn’t see a maintenance truck already there.  As he opened the front door, his senses were immediately captured.  Nothing was as he had expected.  There was soft lighting in the great room and dining room.  A roaring fire was blazing in the hearth.  The dining room was set with china and crystal.  Covered dishes could not hide the aroma of succulent lobster and sizzling steak.  A bottle of wine sat chilling next to the food. 

Jason looked back at the door wondering if he had somehow stumbled into the wrong house.  He knew he hadn’t when he heard the quiet murmur of CARL coming towards him from the kitchen.  It stopped right in front of Jason.  He bent over to look at the computer screen.  In large letters were the words, “I’m sorry.  I love you.”  Jason’s smile reached all the way to his eyes and beyond.  In fact, he felt his entire body smiling and relaxing for the first time that day.  He began pushing a few keys on CARL, enjoying thoughts of his future with Jane.

Jane stood in the kitchen with her heart racing.  She nervously wrung her hands together waiting for some sign, any sign that Jason wanted to see her.  It seemed like an eternity since she heard Jason enter the house and CARL was sent out.  What would she do if he really didn’t want to see her again?  She couldn’t think about that now.  She would just wait and accept any decision that . . . 

Jane looked up.  A familiar song introduction filled the air.  Surely, she wasn’t imagining it.  No, that was their song.  Jane’s eyes welled up.  She heard the music grow closer.  Carl banged through the swinging door and stopped, causing the door to stay open.  Jane saw Jason.  His eyes conveyed the years of longing, the intensity of love that he felt for her.  She could only hope that her eyes mirrored those same feelings.

Jason stretched out his hand.  She quickly walked to him and was enfolded in his embrace.  Then taking her hand with one hand and placing the other on the small of her back, Jason slowly danced with Jane to their song, meaning with his whole heart every word of the lyric—“
You’re the biggest part of m
e
.
”
 

Jane melted to him, feeling the warmth of his body heating up hers.  She gloried in it.  Craved it.  Remembering something important, Jane broke away and went back into the kitchen.  She returned holding a stack of papers in her hand.  She looked at Jason and
, with a sensuous smile, she tore the papers in half.  Then walking seductively, she reached the hearth where she threw the divorce papers to the flames.  The papers were not the only things on fire. 

As Jane returned to Jason arms, she said, “Can you ever forgive me?  I love you so much, Jay.”

“Oh Janie.”  Jason sighed as he held her close.  “Can you forgive me?  You’re all I want in life.  You are everything to me.  I’m never letting you go again.  I love you.”

The passion with which they kissed threatened to burn the clothes they wore.  That passion spilled out as they touc
hed and tasted, hearts beating as one.

Jason stepped back and dropped to one knee.  “Jay, what are you doing?”  Jane asked amused.

“Don’t stop me, Janie.  I’ve wanted to do this for seven years, at least.”  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the tiny box containing the little engagement ring, bought years ago.  He gently opened it and looking back at Jane asked the question that had haunted him.  “Jane Elizabeth Kendall.  Will you be my wife?  I mean publicly, for everyone to know?”

Jane was choking on emotion.  Without a hesitation she said, “Yes.”  Jason slipped the ring on her finger and hugged her tightly.  Trying to get a grip on her voice Jane said, “Just try to get rid of me now, Jason Collins.”

Jason laughed out loud.  “I wouldn’t think of it.”  And the kissing began again.  

“Jay, Tom told me everything,” Jane said between kisses.  “Thank you.”  She kissed Jason long and deep.  “You’ve given me so much.  It’s time I gave back to you,” Jane said looking up at those large brown eyes that she loved so much.

Smiling Jay asked, “What did you have in mind?”

Jane returned the smile.  “How about we start with dinner?”

“If you insist.”  Jay kissed Jane’s face leading down to her mouth.  “Say, I was curious.  What happened to the busted pipe?

Jane grinned.  “What busted pipe?”

Jason’s grin mirrored his wife’s.  “How in the world did you arrange this with Debra at the maintenance company?” 

“Let’s just say that Debra is going to have professionally done photographs of her child for the next twelve years.”

Jason laughed.  “You know, Tom’s a good guy.”

Jane agreed. “He said it’s his wedding present to us.”

The dinner was delicious.  However, Jason couldn’t stop thinking about dessert.  Before Jane could stop him, Jason lifted her out of her chair and whisked her to the master suite.  They lay on the bed as the moonlight poured in from the large windows.  It was the only light in the room.  They kissed passionately.  The gentle sound of waves crashing on the beach was the only sound they heard.