| "It just amazes me that someone..like that freak in the slammer..or her stepfather..would want to hurt her. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body." he said. "So we keep him as far away from her as she wants him to be." Jake said. "I had a hard time believing anything he said to me on the phone. Did she say anything after you left him?" Jake asked me. "No. Whatever went on in that house was unspeakable or she would have told me everything as soon as we left. She couldn't even speak. She just stared out the window until she fell asleep." "Alright, Tay. Don't worry, he's not gonna get anywhere near her unless she WANTS to see him. Dave and I will handle it. I have to agree with Jess, he's after her money." The coffee was just about done, and I knew Jess would be down any second. "Okay. Find out as much as you can about him though. I don't want to have a repeat of..." I couldn't even finish my sentence. Jake gripped my shoulder. "Me either, man. We got it." he said and then we dropped the subject as Jess came down the stairs. "Hey you clean up nice, dork." Jake teased her and she smiled. "Thanks geek boy. Since you're standing there, can I PLEASE get a cup of coffee?" "Yup! Tay? Dave?" Jake asked, and then poured for all of us. I watched Jessie, mesmerized, as she talked with us. She had put on a pair of low-waisted, denim shorts and another one of those tiny tank tops and a short sleeved over shirt. The tank rode up just far enough for me to see her navel ring, and that drove me crazy. Her hair was still damp, but pulled back in a loose french braid, except the piece that liked to find it's way into her eyes. Her silver locket contrasted with the brown of her skin and rested gently on her chest. She wore very little make up, just some lips gloss and a little mascara and she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. She noticed me watching her and she moved to my side. I put my arm around her waist and pulled her to my side, as we continued our conversation with her brother and Dave. I just happened to look up at the clock and notice it was about the usual time that my mother liked to have dinner when Jess' stomach growled audibly, making both she and I laugh. |
| TAYLOR: "You could set a clock by my tummy I think." Jessie said and set her coffee cup in the sink. "We better get going, guys." She switched off the coffee pot as the rest of us set our cups in the sink. She tugged at my hand and smiled, "I'll be right back, I almost forgot.." She raced back up the stairs and came back down with the gifts we had bought for the family. She grabbed her wallet off the counter and stuck it in her back pocket, then dug around in the bag for a moment. "There it is! Before I forget...this is yours Dave. A thank you for keeping my flighty bones in one piece." she smiled. "From both of us.." "Thanks guys." I think he actually blushed. He opened it and smiled brightly at Jess. "You are a nutty girl.." he shook his head as he stuck the pocket knife key chain in his pocket and hooked the pedometer to his belt. "I figured it might be better if you kept track. It might be better for you financially if you charged me by the mile.." she laughed. "Naw! I'm in the best shape in my life, and that's sayin' a lot in my line of work, thanks to tryin' to keep up with you, girl." "I say charge her by the mile.." I joked. "Thanks you guys." he smiled again and hugged Jess. "You have to wait for yours Jacob. It's at the bottom and I figure Dave is gonna go lose some more at poker..." she laughed. "Jessie you are a dork..get in the car before your stomach siren sounds again." he joked back and shoved her gently out the door. "Jake!" she shoved him back and then got in the car as I held the door for her. |
| TAYLOR: When we got to my mom's Dave, as Jess had predicted took off to play cards with the rest of the guys watching my parent's house. Watts, Zac, Lacey and Ike were already there and I could see Jess' eyes sparkling with excitement. Jake parked the truck and we went in together, Jake hollering through the house as if he'd grown up there, "HEY! I found 'em!! And they left the cabin too...amazing.." Jess socked him in the shoulder again. "Jacob! Not even home one day and already he wants me to kick his muscleheaded ass.." she teased. "In here Jake.." my mother yelled back and I grinned, leading the way into the family room. As we entered the room Jess was immediately surrounded by little people. Zoe and Mack had her by the legs and Jessica and Avery were tugging at her arms, each demanding their customary bear hug from her. "Whoa! I missed you guys too.." she giggled, "But I brought presents..well.." she grinned up at me as she sunk to her knees to kiss Zoe on her round rosy cheek, "Tay and I did. But I can't give 'em to you if you are tackling me." She put Mack in a light headlock and ruffled his hair, then kissed his cheek. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small box, and handed it to him. Then she whispered in his ear. Mack looked up at me and his eyes grew wide, then he tackled my knees. "Hey bud. I thought you didn't even miss me.." I teased. "I did. Jess said you picked out my present.." he answered. |
| "Yup! Open it.." Jess finished passing out the gifts and watching everyone open them, and I swear, she was more excited than the recipients. She was in the middle of a big, three-way hug with Watts and Lacey when she suddenly exclaimed, "WATTLEY!" and then giggled hysterically, shaking her head. "Taylor, I told you I was gonna be in big trouble.." she laughed as Wattley put her arm around Jess' neck and her hand on her own hip, then looked at me like my mother did when she was waiting for an explanation. "It wasn't me it, was her.." I grinned sheepishly and left it at that, as Lacey and Watts both groaned and rolled their eyes. Jess laughed and then spent a few minutes catching up with my parents and the house became noisy, with everyone talking and laughing, kids running around, the normal dull roar. I did notice however, that Jess spent alot more time than usual holding Zoe, or letting Mack sit on her lap. She passed out double the amount of hugs and kisses she usually showered on the little kids. She also spent quite alot of time at Jake's side and I wondered if the episode with her stepfather was affecting her and she didn't even know it. But, as always, when she was sure the others had enough of her attention to know that she loved them, she returned to my side and stayed firmly put, until my mother announced that dinner should be ready. Jess was up in a flash, helping my mom and helping the little kids get settled before sitting down next to me. The conversation turned to family, and to my surprise, Jake mentioned hearing from Alex. "When?" Jess asked, immediately setting down her fork. "A little while before Dave and I left to pick you guys up at the airport. He said he'd really like to talk to you Jess.." he said, as if he hadn't had this conversation with me earlier. I shot him a look and he glanced at me as if to tell me to go along with it, he'd handle it. I sat back and put my arm around Jessie's shoulder as he talked. I could feel her muscles tense as she answered his questions in the sudden silence at the table. My brothers both gave me a questioning look and I shook my head slightly, so they would know I would fill them in later. I felt Jess tense even more and then suddenly she exploded. |