comfortable with you.”
“Vincent is comfortable with everybody. I’ve known him for a while. We work together, remember?”
“Right, the attorney who helped with your passport.” She nodded. “Look, Jessica. I’m sorry for how I handled things on the island. I talked with my sister and let her know she dealt with you wrongly as well. She should have quietly pulled you to the side, explained the situation, and asked you to change. Demanding you obey her as if you were a child was wrong.”
“You demanded, too.”
“And I was wrong as well.”
“I probably could have given more thought to my choice of swimsuits. My sole thought was on looking good for you and pleasing you.”
“Believe me, I was pleased.”
Pregnant pauses had rarely existed in their conversation. It was almost as if two strangers were trying to get to know one another.
I never knew my house could be so quiet. When she was home alone, either the television, stereo, or iPod usually kept her company.
Nathan shifted to look at her more fully. “So where do we go from here?”
By staying with me, you’ll go to the morgue. “Where do you want us to go?”
“Back to where we were before the vacation—being together, enjoying each other.”
But I’m planning something you will not enjoy. “ I’d . . . like that, too.”
“Why’d you hesitate?”
Because getting back with me is a death sentence. “Because what happened at your sister’s house really hurt me. How can we have a future when your family hates me?” Like my sister hates your family!
“That’s not true, baby. My sister stopped short of apologizing, but she did admit that she’d come on rather strong. Mom likes you, and was disappointed you’d gone home early.”
“She said that?” Nathan nodded. “I like Miss Elaine. She’s the type of mother I always wanted but never had.”
“Stick with me and you might get what you desire . . . and more.”
Sadly . . . you won’t. “I don’t know, Nathan. I’ve missed you and want us to get back together. But it’s scary to put your heart out there and not know if the person holding it will crush it or caress it. Maybe we should spend some time apart and make sure that we’re what each other wants.”
“Are you sure you’re not sleeping with Vincent?”
Jessica’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you haven’t slept with someone? Usually when someone keeps accusing you of something, they’re the guilty one.”
“I told you why I asked; he was all over you and you weren’t pulling away. Had you already ended us in your mind?”
“Vincent makes me laugh, something that hadn’t happened since I got off the plane. We are friends. He asked me out. I said yes. All I did was go out and try and have a good time.” She crossed her arms, anger growing at the continued insinuations. “Besides, until you put a ring on it, you have no ownership of what’s sitting over here.”
Nathan nodded slowly. “I see.” He stood. “I guess on that note, I’ll head on out, and give you the time apart that you say you need. I had some news to share, but it can wait.” They walked to the door. “When you feel like you’re ready, give me a call. And if I’m still available when that happens . . . we’ll go from there.”
The air crackled with tension as they stood there. Finally, Nathan reached over and pulled Jessica into his arms. The hug was heartfelt by both of them. He kissed the top of her head. “Take care of yourself.”
She watched him walk to the steps, listened to his booted footsteps as he went down them and out to street parking. Slowly she closed her door and leaned against it. To say she was between a rock and a hard place was an understatement. Did she gain the love of her sister by taking the life of her man?
Blood is thicker than water. You remember that!
For the rest of the afternoon, her sister’s words echoed in her mind. “It killed me to watch you leave, Nate,” she whispered, as tears
“Vincent is comfortable with everybody. I’ve known him for a while. We work together, remember?”
“Right, the attorney who helped with your passport.” She nodded. “Look, Jessica. I’m sorry for how I handled things on the island. I talked with my sister and let her know she dealt with you wrongly as well. She should have quietly pulled you to the side, explained the situation, and asked you to change. Demanding you obey her as if you were a child was wrong.”
“You demanded, too.”
“And I was wrong as well.”
“I probably could have given more thought to my choice of swimsuits. My sole thought was on looking good for you and pleasing you.”
“Believe me, I was pleased.”
Pregnant pauses had rarely existed in their conversation. It was almost as if two strangers were trying to get to know one another.
I never knew my house could be so quiet. When she was home alone, either the television, stereo, or iPod usually kept her company.
Nathan shifted to look at her more fully. “So where do we go from here?”
By staying with me, you’ll go to the morgue. “Where do you want us to go?”
“Back to where we were before the vacation—being together, enjoying each other.”
But I’m planning something you will not enjoy. “ I’d . . . like that, too.”
“Why’d you hesitate?”
Because getting back with me is a death sentence. “Because what happened at your sister’s house really hurt me. How can we have a future when your family hates me?” Like my sister hates your family!
“That’s not true, baby. My sister stopped short of apologizing, but she did admit that she’d come on rather strong. Mom likes you, and was disappointed you’d gone home early.”
“She said that?” Nathan nodded. “I like Miss Elaine. She’s the type of mother I always wanted but never had.”
“Stick with me and you might get what you desire . . . and more.”
Sadly . . . you won’t. “I don’t know, Nathan. I’ve missed you and want us to get back together. But it’s scary to put your heart out there and not know if the person holding it will crush it or caress it. Maybe we should spend some time apart and make sure that we’re what each other wants.”
“Are you sure you’re not sleeping with Vincent?”
Jessica’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you haven’t slept with someone? Usually when someone keeps accusing you of something, they’re the guilty one.”
“I told you why I asked; he was all over you and you weren’t pulling away. Had you already ended us in your mind?”
“Vincent makes me laugh, something that hadn’t happened since I got off the plane. We are friends. He asked me out. I said yes. All I did was go out and try and have a good time.” She crossed her arms, anger growing at the continued insinuations. “Besides, until you put a ring on it, you have no ownership of what’s sitting over here.”
Nathan nodded slowly. “I see.” He stood. “I guess on that note, I’ll head on out, and give you the time apart that you say you need. I had some news to share, but it can wait.” They walked to the door. “When you feel like you’re ready, give me a call. And if I’m still available when that happens . . . we’ll go from there.”
The air crackled with tension as they stood there. Finally, Nathan reached over and pulled Jessica into his arms. The hug was heartfelt by both of them. He kissed the top of her head. “Take care of yourself.”
She watched him walk to the steps, listened to his booted footsteps as he went down them and out to street parking. Slowly she closed her door and leaned against it. To say she was between a rock and a hard place was an understatement. Did she gain the love of her sister by taking the life of her man?
Blood is thicker than water. You remember that!
For the rest of the afternoon, her sister’s words echoed in her mind. “It killed me to watch you leave, Nate,” she whispered, as tears
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