| "Jake?" I asked after releasing him from the bear hug I had him trapped in, "How are we going to move without breaking the deal with the radio station?" He sat for a moment and then sighed. "Jess...you can either not do the interview and skip that deal...I have the money to sponsor you and you know I will.." he said and tried to continue, but my ugly temper got in the way. "YOU WILL NOT SPONSOR ME! NOT WITH HER MONEY..." I said loudly and forcefully. "Jessie dammit! Calm down and let me finish. Shit! You are our father's daughter!" he said and grabbed me by the shoulders shaking me to attention. "I do not want a dime of that money Jake..not one..I didn't ask to be born anymore than she really wanted me...like I could control the fact that I was born a girl, and not a precious son." I continued angrily. "Jessie! SHUT UP and listen!" Jake said again, this time angry. I closed my mouth and stared at him. "That's better. Jeez, Jess! I knew you'd probably react like that so I do have a plan B.." he grinned. "Well?" I glared at him, with my arms folded across my chest. He chuckled and shook his head, "You do the interview on Drew's show this Friday. Compete, kick everyone's ass, come back, do ANOTHER exclusive for the station, probably on Drew's show..then we go to Tulsa and you are sponsored by THAT radio station, owned by the same company as ROX...I already worked it out, Jess, knowing you are a stubborn headed woman who won't let me share what is rightfully half YOURS..." he was smiling at me and I calmed down. "Jake I don't want it. The only GOOD thing that came out of the whole mind-blowing and eerie situation is YOU. I get an awesome brother, manager,trainer, advisor, blahblah, BODYGUARD, and don't say you're not," I shook my finger at him, "Tay put you up to it...you two worry for no reason... but that's fine with me Jakey. You're kinda cool..think I better keep ya.." I teased. Jake hugged me, "You are a nut, Jess. But I think you're a keeper, too." I giggled at him. Then something dawned on me and I had to ask, "Jake, why were you listed as her only living relative? I mean, her name is on my birth certificate.." "Jess, she wasn't going to include you, she had the will drawn up a long time ago. She wrote that letter after she was already sick. Her lawyer knew she wrote it, but not what was in it. She didn't think we'd ever find each other, Jess. Apparently she saw your picture with Tay in the papers, and realized we lived in the same city. I dunno, Jess. But I KNEW you had to be my full sister, you're a stubborn hot head just like Dad.." he grinned. We spent the rest of the night talking. I told him all he wanted to know about our grandmother. She certainly missed out, not knowing him. He told me about my real father and memeories of growing up with him, once he gave up the search for my mother. It sounded like Jake and Dad had a good relationship, I was glad for him. I remembered very little about the man I thought was my father, except that I was afraid of him. Then I had an excellent idea. |
| "Jake! I have made a decision..wanna know what it is?" I asked. "What are you cooking up girlie?" he asked, smiling. "I am changin' MY NAME! We are a team, right?" I asked, not waiting for an answer, "So we are officially the new brtother-sister team.. Jake and Jessie LEE! Shoulda been my name all along and all I remember about my own father..well, you know what I mean..anyway..I was afraid of him. Whaddaya think?" I asked. "It'll work for a while, Jess. I think it's great..." he said. "What do you mean `for a while' ?" "Just till you have to file more paper work when you need to change it to HANSON..." he said. My mouth dropped to the floor. "Oh close your mouth, Jess. Like we can't all see it coming.." he said disgustedly. |
| "Jake! He hasn't asked and it's waaay too soon for that!" I shook my head. "I will be glad to move to Tulsa, I will get to see him more often, you get to get out of this COLD state that I didn't realize you hated so much, and I can hang out with Lacey more often. Plus I will be better able to help her with wedding plans. She asked if I would stand for them with Tay." I stared at Jake, who was grinning like an idiot. "WHAT!?" I demended, my hand on my hip. "He'll ask.." was all he said. We talked a while longer and then Jake threw a pillow at me and told me to get some sleep. "You're hitting the gym tomorrow and then we'll start packing up some of your stuff at the apartment," he said. "Kay, Jake. But keep your big trap shut and let ME tell Tay we're moving. I want to surprise him." I said and yawned. "You got it sis. Nite.' "Nite Jake." |
| I woke up to the familiar sound of my cell phone ringing by my head. I rolled over and flipped it open. "Morning.." I said sleepily. I heard Taylor's low chuckle come through the phone, "Morning sleepyhead. What you got going on today?" he asked. I smiled and sat up. "Well, since you asked..." I began and launched in to everything Jake had done while I was gone, radio sponsorship, the interview and all. I also told him about my mother, leaving out the fact that Jake wanted to use some of his new found wealth to relocate. "I'm sorry, Jess." Taylor said quietly. "Nothing to be sorry about, Tay. It's not like she was AROUND, for me or Jake, I think he's taking it harder than I am. She LOVED HIM..." I said. "I'm still sorry for both of you," he said and then changed the subject. "Soooo you're doing a radio interview?" he asked. "When was that?" "OH damn! Tay, it's on Drew's show...Friday. What time were you coming in?" I asked, "I don't want to have you waiting forever for me.." "I would.." he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice, but I will just take a cab to your apartment, Jess. I'll see you when you get in." "Oh no you won't! Jake will come and get you, you guys can meet me at the station..." I insisted. "Jake will not come and get me, Jess. You need him there. I will come to the station though, if you want." he said. "I am so nervous about the whole thing, Tay. I didn't think I would be. Yeah, come to the station. It'll take you and Jake to carry me out when I pass out from nerves." I joked. "Don't be silly, Jess. You'll be great." "Thanks, Tay. You know I love you, don't you?" "I love you too, Jessie.." he said. "And what is on your busy schedule today, Taylor?" I asked and listened while he told me, my head spinning at the thought of trying to find time through both to be together. Then I smiled to myself, I was moving closer to him. We could do it. |