| JESSIE: Tay and I stood hand in hand as we all said our goodbyes. Jake and Dave reminded us that we really needed to get going and then I kissed Taylor, not caring who saw, just wanting to show him how much I would miss him. "I love you, baby.." I whispered in his ear and stroked his cheek. "I'll call you first thing tomorrow, baby..I promise.." he told me. "Kay.." similar goodbyes were going on near us, and I kissed Tay again. "Come on, Gumby.." Jake teased and took me from Tay's arms. "See ya Tay..." Jake gripped Taylor's shoulder and smiled, while I quickly kissed Daddy, Ike and Zac on the cheek. After one more kiss for Taylor, Jake and Dave led me out of the building and through the crowd to our waiting car, Keith and Kevin with Watts and Lacey close behind us. The trip home was uneventful, and Jake came with Dave and I to the house. Jakey practically tucked me in, I was so tired. I heard him tell Dave to be back at 9 am, that I would probably sleep like a rock until then, and I agreed silently. I quickly got undressed, pulled Taylor's pillow to my chest and the covers over my shoulder, closed my eyes, breathed in deeply and was asleep instantly. I woke up around 8:30, jumped in the shower and got myself dressed, in old, faded cutoffs and a tank top. I pulled my wet hair into a ponytail, went downstairs and started breakfast for myself. I made a pot of coffee and then went to answer the knock at the door, knowing it would be Dave. "Hiya..come on in.. I got my breakfast on the stove, wanna eat?" I grinned. "Sure, Jess. Huge turnaround from last night.." he smiled back. "I slept like a log, too much excitement...hey can you watch that a minute? I have to make myself look in the room they didn't finish.." "Okay, but I'm no chef.." he grinned. "Just don't let it burn..I'm starving.." I yelled back over my shoulder. i opened the door to the unfinished room and swore to the top of my lungs. "Jessie?" Dave came running. "What the hell?" "Oh I'm alright.." I said disgusted. "Better eat up, Dave. We need to take the truck today.." |
| Dave ate breakfast with me and then politely left the kitchen when Tay called. "Busy day today, baby. Gotta a bunch of errands to run and I'll probably go to mom's for a while.." I told him. He shared his plans with me and then we said our I love you's and goodbye's, ending with a promise from Tay to call me before he went to bed. I made Dave drive me in the truck to rent the tools I would need to finish that room, then made him help me unload them. I opened the slider and got to work, finishing the floor by lunch. I stopped to eat and then ran the baseboards and put the strip back in front of the slider by dinner. Dave came in as I was sweeping up and whistled in appreciation. "I dunno why the hell the stupid contractor couldn't get it done that fast..any moron could figure it out.." I said. Dave just chuckled and shook his head. "You stayin' home for dinner or going out?" he asked. "Just goin' down to mom's..why don't you take off? I can get there on my own?" "And have your brother or Taylor behead me? Never? I'll wait.." he joked. I shook my head and went to my bedroom to take a shower. When I returned, clean and decent enough for dinner, Dave drove me down to Tay's mom's. "What's going in the room you had to have done so fast?" he asked on the short drive. "Wedding present for Tay. I'll tell if you promise not to.." I grinned. "Ooh I can keep a secret.." he joked. "I bought him piano like the one he has at his mom's so he can write whenever he feels like it.." I told him. "And you had to redo an entire room for that?" he smiled appreciatively. |
| JESSIE: "Yeah..it's gotta sound right, plus with the hardwood floor I'll be able to hear it too.." I grinned. "Tay's a very lucky guy.." he said as we pulled up to mom's. "Thanks Dave. Wanna come in?" I asked. "Nah..gonna go play poker with the guys down there. Gimme a buzz when you're ready to go home." "Kay..see ya.." I spent a nice evening with Diana, Lacey and the kids. Watts was invited but she decided to work instead. Jake stopped later on and let Dave off the hook, driving me home. Jake and I sat and watched TV and talked a little bit, then we realized it was starting to get late. "I better get going sis. You ready to come back to work tomorrow?" he asked. "Yup! Probably got a crapload of e-mail to answer tomorrow, plus someone needs to go to the PO box...Watts probably is getting swamped too. Hey, are you gonna say something to Lacey? Jake, she'd do so well teaching.." "I'll mention it Jess. But I think you and Watts would be the better ones to talk her into it." "Kay. When is Abbey coming in Jakey?" "She'll be here for the weekend, why?" "I was missing her. If I am, you must be just about insane.." I grinned. "Okay. Where are you going with this buttinski?" he grinned. "MARRY HER FOOL! Okay? That's where I was going with it...blah! Like you didn't know.." I rolled my eyes. |
| Jake chuckled and put me in a light headlock. "God you're a pain in the ass..how'd I get stuck with you?" he teased. "Kiss my ass Jake..you know you love me..." I poked him in the ribs. "You're just bent 'cause you KNOW I'm right..." I giggled and twisted his arm behind his back. "So, when are you gonna ask her?" Jake twisted out of that and hoisted me over his shoulder, making me squeal. "SHE'LL be the first to know, dork." he set me down and ruffled my hair. "Now.." he said, grinning, "I'm gettin' out of here before Tay calls and I have to listen to all that mushy stuff.." "Oh shut up! You're just going home to call Abbey and be all mushy yourself." I hugged him. "See you in the morning, Jakey." "See ya sis.." he leaned down and kissed my cheek. "Jake?" I stopped him, Watts was suddenly on my mind and I was very worried. "What?" he looked at me closely, knowing I was serious. "Jake what about Keith? I don't like the way he thinks he needs to GUARD Wattley. Tay noticed it too.." I felt tears stinging my eyes, I definately did not want my friend to deal with such a terrible situation. "He said he didn't think Keith realized he's not supposed to guard her from Zac. Can't you guys get someone else?" "Dave and I are already on it, Jess. We decided to put Gary with Keith, and Palmer with Kevin for Lacey for a while. If you count me, you always have two, so we just decided to make it equal. Don't worry Jess. We won't let it happen to her too." Jake said and stroked my hair. "Thank you, Jacob. Better get going, Abbey's probably wondering where you are.." I grinned, then laughed as my phone rang. "Yeah..say hi to Tay for me too.." he smiled. "Bye, Jakey." "Later, sis.." I shut the door and ran for the phone. |