Chapter 3
"Mike...,"
Jessica began nervously as he came through the door, following him as
he hung up his jacket.
"What?" He queried turning around to face her and raising
his eyebrows.
"Are you working this weekend?" She asked him
awkwardly, wishing she hadn't started this conversation. It was
harder than she'd imagined it would be.
"I've got a car
coming in that I could do with getting on with," he admitted
truthfully. "Why?" He looked at his wife suspiciously. Her
taking this amount of time to say what she wanted to tell him
couldn't be a good sign. He knew her well enough to know that.
"Well, you know...," she started, trying to
sound light-hearted.
"No I don't know,"
he reminded her bluntly.
"Well I
was thinking that maybe, if you wanted, we could perhaps take a trip
down to Sweet Valley this weekend," she explained, staring at
the floor, worried about his reaction. She knew he'd be pleased or
at least relieved about her finally telling her parents the truth but
she was scared to be dragging up the whole sorry episode again. She
knew she'd really hurt him.
"Sweet Valley? Why?" Mike questioned looking at her, not
wanting to get his hopes up. He'd been let down by her too many
times before.
"To see my parents," she said, forcing a
smile that covered up the nervousness she felt. He clearly didn't
know how to react. He hadn't expected her to do it voluntarily,
he'd decided not to even ask.
"You're sure?" He wondered astonished. "I thought
you said we shouldn't tell people before we were through the first
trimester."
"Well they're my parents it's different.
They've got to know sometime, haven't they?" She whispered with a
shrug, not sure how to take his reaction. She'd expected him to
either be overjoyed at her telling the truth or upset at being
reminded about it and this unemotional reaction was creeping her out.
This wasn't something she could hide anymore and she just wanted to
get it out of the way and face the music with her parents. However
scared that made her feel.
"About everything? Us? You being
pregnant?" She nodded and he leaned over and drew her into an
embrace. "You really are wonderful," he assured her,
laughing with excitement and nervousness at the prospect. She laughed
with him out of relief.
"I know. You don't have to tell me."
She threw her arms around his neck.
"Alex?
What do you want?" Elizabeth demanded into the phone. She was
holding it slightly away from her ear in shock. This was the last
person she'd expected to hear from. She was worried that Alex was
going to suddenly start screaming down the phone, as that was all she
did when she saw Elizabeth anyway. She hadn't stopped blaming her
for the sports scandal.
"Look Liz, I need to speak to you.
Can we meet up in the quad tonight?" Alex questioned in a small
voice, clearly not wanting to have this conversation either.
"What
is it about Alex?" Elizabeth asked cautiously, feeling like she
was being led into a trap.
"Just meet me at seven. Please,"
she said desperately, not wanting to elaborate.
"Okay,"
Elizabeth agreed, slightly dazed. She knew she had to go. Alex might
be in serious trouble and she couldn't desert her, no matter what
had happened between them.
"So
where were you all afternoon?" Steven demanded as he and Billie
sat down at the kitchen table, ready to eat dinner.
"I went
to the music department with Chas. I didn't think you would be here,"
she told him casually as she picked up her fork, refusing to get
drawn into a fight.
"Well I was," he retorted sharply,
clearly annoyed. "See I'm not the only one who hasn't had time
for our relationship lately," he accused, seeing an opportunity
to turn the tables on Billie. She was always accusing him of ignoring
her but she thought nothing of disappearing for a whole afternoon.
Talk about double standards.
"At least I'm using my time
productively, not spending it staring out of a window," Billie
argued back bitterly. She was tired of accommodating Steven's
obsession with his brother in law. It was crazy.
"I'm just
trying to protect Jessica," Steven snapped back defensively. Why
did Billie refuse to see his point of view?
"From what? A
person you've never even had a proper conversation with?"
"Exactly!
Nobody around here knows anything about him. He could be a murderer
for all we know." Steven leaned across the table for emphasis.
"If he's such a great guy, how does he make all his money?"
"Jessica's told you a thousand times that he restores old
cars," Billie replied with a sigh. How many times did they have
to go over this?
"You know that's just a front," he said
knowingly, he couldn't believe people fell for that.
"I'm
not going to have this conversation with you yet again," Billie
answered flatly, standing up to go to the bathroom, forgetting about
her food. "Steven, our arguing isn't about Mike or even Jessica.
She may be your sister, Steven, but I'm your girlfriend. Where do I
rate on your list of priorities?" She slammed the door shut as
she left the kitchen.
"Hi
Alex," Liz said, forcing herself to sound casual as she sat down
on the bench with her.
"Look Liz, I'll just tell you
straight," Alex told her hurriedly, turning around to face her. "I
want your help."
"Why?" Liz asked curiously. Alex
had made it clear on more than one occasion since they'd got to
college that she didn't need her for anything.
"It's Mark,"
she whimpered, sounding completely disillusioned. "He's
left."
"What do you expect me to do about that?"
Liz was completely stunned. Alex blamed her for everything that had
gone wrong in her relationship with Mark, why was she asking her to
sort it out?
"I need you to convince the dean to retract his
decision," Alex explained slowly. She didn't want to ask Liz
but she was the only person she could turn to. "I mean, you know
they only took what was offered, you said so." Liz hesitated
before answering her, she didn't want to get her ex-best friend's
hopes up.
"Alex I'm really very sorry, I mean that," she
began cautiously. "But the university has decided to use them as
scapegoats and I don't think there's anything that I can do that will
change their mind, nothing will."
"You won't even try," Alex spat out bitterly.
"I have tried Alex," Liz corrected.
"Believe me there's nothing more I'd like than to get my
boyfriend back playing the sport he loves but..."
"Boyfriend?
You're back with Todd?" Now it was Alex's turn to be stunned.
"Yes,"
Liz admitted awkwardly, not quite resisting a smile. Alex felt
completely alone. She'd thought Todd agreed with her that Liz had
ruined their lives but now he had forgotten about it too. "Alex
is anything else wrong?" Elizabeth asked in a comforting voice.
She still knew Alex well enough to know when she wasn't telling the
whole story. Alex desperately wanted to confide in Liz like she used
to, she wouldn't admit how much she missed their friendship deep
down, but her loyalty to Mark wouldn't let her. She suddenly felt
extremely angry. All she wanted was one little favour, one tiny
favour and Liz wouldn't even do that for her.
"This was a
mistake," she choked out in a hard voice. "I should have known
you wouldn't help me. You just want to get back at me for not being
your friend anymore." She jumped up from the bench, debating
whether or not to leave. Elizabeth stared at her for a few
seconds.
"You know that's not true," Elizabeth replied
patiently, trying not to show how much the remark had hurt her. "I've
always been there for you. We were best friends for years."
"No
I've always been there for you," Alex told her, making up her
mind to leave.
"I
just can't believe the nerve of her," Elizabeth muttered
bitterly, pacing in front of Todd's bed. "I've always, always
been there for her. I've never purposely hurt her, I wouldn't.
She knows that doesn't she?" She wanted to feel angry with Alex
but all she seemed to feel was sadness at how such a great friendship
could end up this way.
"Of course she knows," Todd
assured her as he sat down on the bed. "She's just angry, she
doesn't really mean it."
"I don't care if she doesn't
mean it, she can't go around treating people like that,"
Elizabeth began ranting, finally finding some anger. It wasn't her
who had thrown their friendship away.
"Mark's been horrible
to her and she's lonely. She doesn't mean it," Todd
interrupted, he didn't want his girlfriend upsetting herself. Alex
would come around eventually. Elizabeth sighed, knowing his was
right.
"You're right, I guess," she admitted out loud,
almost wishing he wasn't. It seemed easier just to hate Alex rather
than admit that she missed her. He took her hand and pulled her down
next to him.
"She'll come around eventually, she's still
Enid underneath all this new persona," he assured her, stroking her
hair back behind her ear lovingly.
"Jessica,
I thought we were only supposed to be going for a weekend!" Mike
cried, looking around at her suitcases in disbelief.
"We are
only going for the weekend," she replied simply, not looking up
from her magazine.
"Then what's
all this stuff for?" He demanded, turning and looking at her.
"It's
just the essentials," she defended herself, confused about why he
was making such a big deal about it.
"Seven pairs of jeans is essential for a
weekend?" He asked pointedly.
"Somebody might spill something on them,
who knows," she shrugged, finally putting down the magazine and
looking at him. "I have to be prepared."
"Well I'm not taking it all,"
Mike informed her firmly. "Your parents will feel like they've
been invaded."
"Mike my parents know what I'm like. They wouldn't expect
anything else but a truck load of stuff," she assured him, getting
up off the couch. She moved close to him. "Besides I might have
packed a little something for you," she teased, brushing her lips
against his playfully, raising her eyebrows meaningfully.
"Jess, we're not getting up to anything at your
parent's house," he told her determinedly.
"Come on, don't be boring," she tormented him.
"I didn't think you cared what anyone else thought," she said
smugly.
"I don't care. It's
just that it's their house. I respect their rules," he told her,
not sounding very convincing. "Besides we're not even going
for days yet. I always imagined you'd be the sort to pack at the last
minute. I remember when you moved in, it was shoved into boxes the
night before."
"Usually I am," she admitted honestly.
"But for the first time in days I'm not feeling sickly and I want
to make the most of it." She put her arms around his waist,
squeezing him tight. "Nervous about meeting the in-laws?"
She whispered softly, changing the conversation.
"Of
course not," he bluffed, looking away. Jessica could tell he was
pretending. The phone rang before she could answer him.
"Hi
Jess, it's me," a familiar voice said over a crackling line as
Jessica picked it up.
"Lila?" Jessica cried shocked.
"Of
course, I rang your dorm and your roommate gave me this number."
"It's been ages since I've spoken to you," Jessica
commented blankly, still dazed.
"I'm so excited, I just had
to ring and tell you." Lila's voice sounded so overexcited that
Jessica could barely understand what she was saying.
"Tell me
what?" Jessica said curiously. She could always rely on Lila to
have exciting news especially now that she an Italian countess.
"I'm
coming to California for a few weeks. Tisiano has some business and
we're going to stop in Sweet Valley. You're finally going to meet
him," she exclaimed.
"Wow, when are do you get here?"
Jessica couldn't believe her best friend was coming back. She'd
been praying for this.
"Well I'm at the departure lounge
now," Lila replied giggling. They both squealed down the phone,
overcome with emotion.
"When am I going to see you?"
She demanded quickly, not being able to wait.
"Well we're
staying at my parent's and we'll be sleeping of the jet lack tonight,
but we'll drive up to the campus first thing tomorrow," Lila
promised, desperate to see her friend too.
"Why don't you
meet me at the campus coffee house at about ten? Then I'll show you
around."
"Sure. I'd better go that was our boarding
call," Lila answered in a rush. "Bye."
Jessica stared at
the phone in disbelief as she put it back in the cradle.
"Mike
stop it! I have to go I have a class in half an hour," Jessica
murmured softly the next morning, leaning back and making a feeble
attempt to break free. He had her trapped up against the counter in
the kitchen.
"Skip it," he whispered, nibbling on her
neck. She didn't exactly push him away. She was regretting thinking
that a few kisses before she left wouldn't led to something more.
"I can't," she moaned. She was so far behind, it was
like she'd hardly been at college since summer. Which if she was
being honest wasn't far from the truth.
"What would you rather do? Sit in a classroom or stay
here with me?" His mouth moved down her neck to her shoulder
where the strap of her dress was and he ran his hand up her inner
thigh. She sighed gently, feeling her body starting to give in. All
she could concentrate on was his hands and lips.
"You know
what I'd rather do. But -," she managed to mumble in
complaint, despite the
tingles rushing through her body. She
tried to think of something to object with but her brain wouldn't
function.
"But what?" He mumbled back distractedly, to
involved with her to listen. He carefully lifted her onto the
counter. She felt any resistance she had left slip away and her lips
found his, as she wrapped her legs around his waist. When they pulled
apart for air common sense caught up with her. She couldn't stay
here with him no matter how much she wanted to, she had so much she
needed to do.
"Mike, I can't stay I've missed too much already," she
told him truthfully, firmly pushing him away and getting down from
the counter.
"One more class won't hurt," he replied
with a shrug. She shook her head.
"Yes it will. I need to fit
in as much as possible before the baby comes. I can't afford to
fall anymore behind, it's bad enough as it is." He gave her a
coaxing smile and walked over to her, putting his hands on her hips.
He ran a row of kisses from her cheek along her neck.
"Doesn't making love sound more interesting than listening to a
lecture on some dead person?" He whispered while he kissed her.
She forced herself to push him away again, knowing if he started
touching her again she'd give in.
"Mike look you need to go
to work. You have to have that car finished today remember?" She
reminded him quickly, hoping to put him off. "Besides I'm meeting
Lila at ten today. I need to be on campus by then anyway."
"You'll
have plenty of time to get to campus to meet Lila," he informed
her in a dismissive tone. She looked at him for a few seconds and
shook her head. "Don't you want to be with me?"
"I do
want to be with you, believe me I do," Jessica assured him. "But
you can't try to dictate what I do."
"I don't, I just-," he
started to object.
"Sometimes you do," she interrupted.
"You've often convinced me not to go to class before and
remember what happened with the Thetas?"
"I don't mean
to do anything, I just want to be with you that's all." Jessica
sighed affectionately at his response and then smiled at him.
"I
know you do but if we're with each other twenty-four hours a day
we'll suffocate each other. Anyone couple would suffocate each
other," she told him gently. He looked thoughtful for a second
and then nodded slowly.
"I guess so," he agreed
reluctantly.
"I guess it's like that saying about too much of
a good thing."
"All right, all right I get the picture
I'm off to work," he told her. He gave her a peck on the cheek
before rushing out the door. Jessica stood still a few moments, a
little surprised at what had just happened. She'd tried the direct
and honest approach rather than scheming for the first time in her
life and it had actually worked. Maybe it was time to turn over a new
leaf.
Billie
felt a hand touch her shoulder and paused with her hand on the door
to the ladies toilets at the coffee house.
"Chas," she
cried shocked when she turned around. She hadn't expected to see
anyone she knew here. It wasn't exactly one of her usual hangouts.
She wasn't sure how she felt about seeing him, lately being around
Chas made her feel a little uncomfortable but she couldn't deny
being this close to him made her heart race.
"Hi Billie,"
he said with a smile, reading her reaction. "I don't normally
see you about here," he commented casually.
"I normally
have better things to do," she admitted. Sitting around drinking
coffee would never exactly be a highlight of her day. "At the
moment I'm trying to avoid Steven though." She didn't see any
pointing in lying, he probably realised the truth.
"Things
are that bad?" He asked bluntly. Not looking as disappointed for
her as he should have done. She nodded simply, trying to find some
words.
"I'm thinking of moving out," she whispered,
finally finding her voice, a tear sliding down her cheek. He cupped
her chin and wiped it away.
"What do you want?" He
wondered, looking into her eyes. She looked up and met his gaze. You,
that traitorous voice in her head answered.
"I-I don't know,"
she stammered softly. She had no idea what to say, she didn't want
to betray Steven.
"I think you do," he whispered leaning
into kiss her. Billie surprised herself by responding passionately.
"Lila,"
Jessica cried, waving her arms to get her attention as Lila came
through the doors of the coffee house. She turned and spotted
her.
"Jess," Lila screeched, rushing over to her and
giving her a long hug.
"Where is he then?" Jessica asked
as they pulled apart, looking around for Tisiano. She couldn't
believe she was finally going to see him in the flesh.
"He's
outside. He had to make a call," Lila answered casually, pulling
her skirt down as they sat back down.
"You look great,"
Jessica said sincerely. She couldn't help but feel slightly
envious.
"So do you," Lila responded reassuringly. "I
love your dress it's very chic."
"Not as chic as your
outfit," Jessica returned the compliment. They didn't say
anything, both unsure where to start.
"So how are things?" Lila enquired, breaking in the
silence.
"Everything's fine," Jessica replied awkwardly.
Debating whether or not to tell her friend about her pregnancy. For
some reason it seemed harder to tell Lila, they'd both sworn they
wouldn't have any kids more than once. "How about you?"
"I'm
great. Italy is amazing," Lila enthused, sounding a little forced
as well.
"But?" Jessica queried, sensing her friend wasn't telling
the whole story.
"Well Italy is great, I really mean that. It's just
that it can get a little lonely when Tisiano is off doing business
and things," she explained. "Anyway at least me and Tisiano agree
on the important things like no kids until we're at least forty.
Can you imagine having some little brat under your feet?" Lila
teased, laughing out loud. Jessica forced herself to laugh to.
"Actually Li,"
Jessica started to explain nervously.
"So you must be the
Jessica I've heard so much about," a gentle voice with an
Italian accent interrupted.
"Guilty as charged," Jessica
said with a laugh, relieved to be changing the conversation. "You
must be Tisiano." He nodded, taking a seat next to Lila. Lila
had landed on her feet, Jessica thought, he was certainly something
to look at.
"So what were you about to say?" Lila asked
Jessica, quickly trying to return to their conversation. She could
tell Jessica had something big to tell her. She took a sip from the
can of coke she had walked in with.
"Well Lila, about the
kids thing. You know I wrote and told Mike and I had got married,"
Jessica tried to explain, the words not coming out as she'd meant
them to. Lila nodded her head encouragingly. "Well getting me down
the aisle isn't the only thing he managed to do. He also managed to
get me pregnant as well." Lila spat her coke out of her mouth and
stared at Jessica in shock.
"God you really do like doing
things quickly, don't you?" Lila choked out, still amazed at her
announcement.
"Congratulations," Tisiano said, smiling
sincerely at her, filling in for his wife's shocked reaction.
"Was
it planned?" Lila questioned bluntly. She could imagine Jessica
Wakefield as a lot of things but a mother wasn't one of them.
Jessica shrugged. Tisiano looked surprised at her blunt question.
"No it wasn't
planned," Jessica admitted truthfully.
"How do you feel about it?" Lila asked, wondering how her friend
was handling all this. It couldn't have been the most welcome news.
"A bit overwhelmed," she explained. That was one big
understatement.
"You'll be fine," Lila assured her,
deciding not to push her friend. "So am I going to get to meet
your husband during my visit then?" Jessica shrugged again.
"I
don't know. I guess you can meet Mike if you want to," she said
casually.
"Oh I do. I want to meet the guy that finally
convinced you one guy can be enough," Lila teased with a
smile.
"Lila, you've got it all wrong. I'm the girl that
finally convinced him that one woman can be enough," Jessica
asserted, smiling back her. "I'm just going to go to the rest
room before they take our order," Jessica announced, suddenly
standing up. She walked down the small corridor that led to the rest
rooms. She stopped suddenly, an astounded, horrified look on her
face.
"Jess," Billie cried, pushing Chas away.
"Billie,
what on earth do you think you're doing?" Jessica demanded
angrily, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her away from
Chas.
"Look I don't know what your problem is but-,"
Chas began to defend Billie. He wasn't about to let her be spoken
to like that.
"Please Chas, just go," Billie pleaded,
knowing the only chance she stood was if she reasoned with Jessica
alone.
"I'm not
leaving you," he argued sharply.
"I'm fine," she told him looking at him pointedly. He
sighed and obediently left.
"Look I can explain," she
told Jessica, her voice trembling.
"Really? This I have got
to hear," Jessica replied sarcastically. What did Billie think she
was? Stupid?
"What just happened with Chas, it didn't mean
anything. It really didn't," Billie assured her.
"Oh
right," Jessica said in a harsh voice. Nobody walked over
Jessica Wakefield and certainly not someone who was cheating on her
brother.
"I love Steven, really I do," Billie said,
trying to convince herself as much as Jessica. "But we've been
going through a rough patch, Chas was just trying to comfort me."
Jessica softened slightly after the past few months with Mike, she
knew what a rough patch in a relationship felt like.
"That's
no excuse," she told Billie sternly. Refusing to let her off the
hook completely.
"I know but it won't happen again just
please don't tell Steven," Billie begged desperately. She
couldn't face losing him, she'd invested too much in their
relationship.
"I can't promise that," Jessica said
shaking her head. That would be betraying Steven, wouldn't
it?
"Please Jessica," Billie persisted, sensing she was
weakening. Jessica sighed.
"Okay but if I find out it's
happened again, I won't be held responsible for what I do,"
Jessica snapped, forcefully. Billie threw her arms around her in
relief.
"Thank you so much."
"Don't thank me for
lying to my brother," she growled, pushing past her into the
rest room.
"I forgot to mention it earlier but we're
playing host again tomorrow," Jessica told Mike casually, as
she brushed her hair in front of the mirror.
"What? When?"
Mike called back from the bathroom.
"Tomorrow. Lila and
Tisiano are coming over," she explained, hoping he wouldn't be
annoyed that she'd invited people into his apartment. She knew that
it was really both of theirs now but she couldn't help still
thinking it was more his than hers. She'd felt guilty about half
ignoring Lila and Tisiano after she'd comeback from her fight with
Billie. She hadn't been able to concentrate and she'd had to do
something to make up for it.
"You're not cooking, are you?"
He teased, popping his head around the corner with his toothbrush in
his mouth. He could do without her almost burning the kitchen down
again.
"Don't worry I've already ordered in," she assured
him. Not sure whether to feel offended by his remark or not. "We
can't disappoint the Italian royalty after all. I'm surprised they
even want to eat with us American peasants."
"Good
because I had visions of several fire trucks outside the building,"
he joked, although he was partly serious.
"I'm a good cook,"
she replied firmly. This time she really was offended. He made a
coughing sound.
"Sure you are," he said with a knowing
smile. He'd lived with her long enough now to know that her
culinary skills could leave a lot to be desired.
"I'm
beginning to wonder what you married me for," she sulked. It
wasn't her fault she wasn't as good a cook as he was.
"Come
over here and I'll show you baby," he said patiently, putting
his arms around her and pressing his lips to hers, hoping to calm her
mood. "If you think that's surprising then you'll never guess
who came to see me at the garage today," he murmured, keeping
his lips against hers.
"Who? The state senator?" She
responded mockingly.
"No, even more surprising than that,"
he asserted.
"The president?" She continued
half-heartedly, still not taking him seriously. He shook his
head.
"Even more surprising than that."
"Okay I
give up. Who came to see you?" She asked, starting to feel
slightly curious.
"Steven," he informed her, faking a
disinterested voice. She practically choked in shock. Was her brother
finally coming around to them? Maybe miracles could happen.
"My
brother came to see you? Why didn't you say anything?" She
gasped, confused about why he'd kept silent about it. "What
did he say?"
"Well it was hardly interesting to me, was
it? I just thought it was surprising that's all. He brought me some
doughnuts and then he invited us to dinner next Tuesday at his and
Billie's, believe it or not."
"Did he look like he'd
lost his mind?" She said, laughing out of relief. She needed
Steven on her side when she spoke to her parents.
"Don't get
your hopes Jess," Mike warned her, looking slightly awkward at her
excited reaction. "He said it was only because it was what Billie
wanted him to do and that he guessed he would have to put up with me
until you saw some sense."
"Look I don't want to go to
theirs for dinner," Jessica admitted, turning away from him and
looking back in the mirror. She wished she hadn't got her hopes
like that. He stood behind her, putting his arms back around her and
placed a light kiss on the top of her head.
"Don't let Steven
get you down," he told her, trying to boast her confidence. "We
can go there and try and convince him he's got to get use to us.
He'll get the message eventually."
"I don't think he'll
ever get the message," she said sadly. She sighed hopelessly. "But
it's not that, it's Billie. I caught her kissing someone else today."
"So? That's not your problem," Mike answered flatly.
Given the way Steven was treating them, he couldn't care less what
happened to him.
"Yes it is, Steven's still my brother, no
matter what. I couldn't just sit there and watch them
two
together, pretending to be the perfect couple," she moaned. She
knew she wouldn't be able to keep her mouth shut.
"Well
then, how about we invite them over tomorrow along with your friends,
that way you'll be on home territory and I still get to gloat over
Steven," he offered with a smug smile. Jessica looked thoughtful
and her eyes stared into his in the mirror.
"Okay I guess
I'll call the Takeaway and let them know we have two more guests."
"Great,"
Jessica mumbled, walking impatiently down the aisle of the
supermarket. "Why can I never find what I need?" She sighed
out loud. Although the main meal was coming from a takeaway, she
still needed to pick up a few things such as napkins and ice cream
for dessert. The store obviously hated her because she couldn't
even find that. She looked around the shelves and her eyes fell upon
an identical face strolling down the other end of the aisle, looking
engrossed in the products. "Liz," she called loudly. Liz
looked up and spotted her immediately.
"Hi Jess," she
replied casually, as Jessica rushed over to her.
"What are
you doing here?" Jessica asked in a breathless rush.
"I'm
just picking up some stuff for my dorm room," Liz explained,
surprised at her sister's interest. "What about you?"
"Oh,
I'm just preparing for doomsday." Jessica informed her with a
sigh. Liz resisted the temptation to laugh. Jessica could be too
melodramatic for words sometimes.
"Why's that?" She
tried to keep her voice serious although she couldn't quite resist
a smirk. She didn't want to rile her sister.
"Steven's
coming over for dinner," Jessica said, sighing loudly again.
This time Liz had to cover her mouth with her hand to stifle a
giggle. "Liz it isn't funny," she cried angrily. Liz threw
up her hands.
"Okay, you're right. I can think of much
better things to do with an evening than sit there
and watch our
brother and your husband make snide comments at each other all
night," she admitted truthfully.
"And my best friend from
high school who I hadn't seen in months is going to be sat there
watching it as well," Jessica said sadly. She'd wanted Lila to
go back to Italy with the impression that even though the pregnancy
wasn't planned, everyone was happy about it. Now that illusion was
going to be shattered by Steven's stormy face.
"Why did you
agree to it if it wasn't what you wanted?" Liz wondered simply.
If her twin thought for a second before she acted, she might not get
in these situations in the first place. Come to think of it, she
might not have got pregnant in the first place.
"I don't believe you," Jessica
complained, reading her twin's thoughts. "This pregnancy didn't
happen because I was being impulsive or stupid. I was being careful,
really really careful ..."
"I just thought that ...," Liz
tried to placate her.
"That I
wasn't capable of being sensible about anything?" Jessica
demanded bitterly.
"No just that maybe if Mike got carried away, that you...," Liz
started to explain. She couldn't see how else this pregnancy had
come about, it wasn't planned after all.
"I do have a mind of my own, you know. Neither of us are that
stupid, we've always used protection," Jessica informed her,
struggling to keep her voice down. Liz looked at her guiltily, she
hadn't meant to hurt her feelings.
"I'm sorry,
Jess. It was a nasty thing to say," she apologised. "So why did
you agree to this dinner?"
"I just didn't want to get into
another argument. Things finally seem to be settling down a bit
between me and Mike," Jessica explained, to exhausted to remain
angry with Elizabeth. She didn't want to rock the boat with her
husband when the pregnancy was so new. It was going to take a lot of
getting used to for both of them.
"I can understand that,"
Liz sympathised. "You and Mike don't seem to be able to disagree on
anything without there being an explosion." They were both quiet
for a moment, not sure what to say.
"So I guess you've made
up your mind then," Jessica stated bitterly, staring into Liz's
shopping basket.
"What?" Liz said bewildered, shocked by
her twin's sudden outburst. Jessica fished the packet of condoms
out of the basket and held then up in front of Liz.
"About
sleeping with Todd."
"No, it's just in case," Liz
fronted, not wanting to have this conversation in a supermarket.
"I
think you'd be making a mistake," Jessica told her honestly. She
hated to think her twin was rushing into this simply because it was
what Todd wanted.
"What makes you so sure?" Liz enquired
defensively. She didn't need to be made any more confused.
"You
told me yourself you don't trust him. You have to trust someone
completely before you have sex with them." Jessica's voice rose
slightly in frustration.
"Oh right so you're saying you
trusted Mike completely?" Liz challenged, feeling angered by
Jessica's hard reaction. Jessica stared at Liz shocked by her words
and then sighed.
"No but-," she mumbled.
"You'd
only known him for a few weeks. I've known Todd all my life and I'm
the one who is making the mistake?" Liz asked bitterly. How
could her twin judge her?
"Look Liz, you're not me."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Liz demanded
confused.
"I like taking risks, I always land on my feet
eventually. You like playing it safe, you want everything to be
perfect," Jessica explained. She just wanted to protect her
sister's feelings.
"I do not," Liz answered sternly.
Why did everyone think of her that way? Jessica looked into her eyes,
trying to understand what she was saying.
"I just don't want
you to be disappointed," Jessica said, softening her
attitude.
"I'm sick of being perfect Liz, I can take risks
too you know." Liz struggled to keep calm.
"Why are you
in such a rush to lose your virginity?" Jessica asked
bluntly.
"It's not about that! Look, you wouldn't
understand." Liz turned on her heals and stormed over to the
checkouts.
"Why isn't she answering?" Jessica
muttered irritably, slamming down the phone in annoyance. She been
trying to get hold of Liz ever since she'd got home from her
afternoon class. She couldn't leave things like they were, she
wasn't always the most considerate person but she couldn't stand
having Elizabeth angry at her. She wearily dragged herself into the
kitchen, finally deciding to give up for a bit, she felt
completely shattered. Liz would come around eventually, they couldn't
hold grudges against each other for very long. She slowly started to
set the table deciding to do something constructive. She wasn't
going to leave it to the last minute and get stressed out about it
like she normally would have, she couldn't afford to be like that
anymore. She suddenly felt dizzy and closed her eyes and took a deep
breath. Her vision was blurry. She dredged over to the cutlery draw
and put her hand to her head as another wave of dizziness over took
her. That was the last thing she remembered before everything went
black.
"Jess, Jess." She could vaguely
hear a soft voice and someone was shaking her. She forced herself to
open her eyes and struggled to focus them.
"What happened?"
She whispered as she finally saw Mike clearly. He pulled her up off
the floor into his arms, so she was in a sitting position. Her head
started to spin again and she rested it on his shoulder.
"I
don't know," he admitted, his voice frantic with worry. He
tightened his grip on her. "You must have passed out, I guess.
Are you all right?"
"I guess so," she said with
uncertainty, her voice still a whisper. She didn't feel all right,
she felt like her head was going to split into two but she couldn't
tell him that. He gently touched the small bump on her head.
"I'm
going to go call the doctor," he explained quietly.
"No,"
she moaned. The last thing she wanted was to drag herself out and
waste people's time, she'd be fine in a few minutes. "I'll
be ok." She could feel him shake his head on top of hers.
"No
I'm going to call him," he asserted firmly. "You could have a
concussion or anything. We need to find out what's wrong."
"Mike
please, people faint all the time," she pleaded. "Besides
we're having Lila over tonight. I need to get everything ready."
"That's not important. Jess, you're pregnant, there could
be a problem with the baby," he continued to argue, still
shaking his head.
"Mike we're both fine," she answered,
trying to sound as certain as possible. She forced herself to her
feet and instantly felt dizzy again. He quickly put his arms around
her again and held her up. He lowered her into a chair at the kitchen
table.
"That's it Jess. I'm calling the doctor." He
turned to go to the phone, looking determined.
"Mike really
it's nothing, please listen to me. I just haven't had a chance to eat
that much today that's all," she confessed quickly, hoping to
persuade him to change his mind.
"What?" He asked,
clearly shocked. He'd expected her to be responsible enough to take
care of herself.
"It's not like I do it all the time,"
she defended herself, feeling extremely guilty. If she was this
irresponsible when pregnant, what was she going to be like as a
mother? "I just didn't have time this morning and then I had this
fight with Liz so I was really upset and I just didn't feel like it,"
she finished embarrassed. He took a seat next to her. He stared at
her. She could tell he was debating with himself what his reaction
was going to be.
"You've got to start taking care of
yourself," he told her sternly, staring into her eyes. "It's
not just you anymore."
"I know and I will," she
assured him gently. Her head was finally starting to clear. He didn't
look convinced by her response.
"Ok," he agreed
reluctantly. "I'll fix you something to eat," he murmured with
a sigh accepting her answer. He stood up and started making her a
sandwich.
"What did I do with the ice cream?" She
suddenly cried, her brain racing off to other issues.
"What?
What ice cream?"
"The ice cream I brought today for
tonight," she explained anxiously, starting to get out of her
seat. He pushed her back down gently.
"I'll
look for it," he said firmly. He searched until he noticed the
carrier bag on the floor. He pulled the lid of the tub of ice
cream.
"What's the matter?" She asked desperately,
immediately noticing the look on his face.
"It's sort of
defrosted," he informed her truthfully, showing her the gulpy
liquid in the tub. A look of horror formed on her face and she burst
into tears.
"Oh god, not this again."
"Hey,
it's not the end of the world," he comforted her, confused by
her reaction.
"Yes it is! I can't even manage being a wife.
How on earth am I going to be a good mother?" She asked in
between sobs, finally admitting her deepest fears.
"Of course you'll be a good
mother," he assured her, looking even more confused. "You'll
be a great mother," he told her sincerely.
"No I won't,"
she moaned worriedly. He bent down to her level and put his arms
around her.
"Yes you will. You're loving and caring, you'll
be a perfect mother." She dried her eyes on his shirt, feeling
slightly comforted by her husband's confidence.
"But what
are we going to do for dessert now?" She wailed, still feeling
overwhelmed. He shrugged.
"There's still plenty of time. I'll
go pick something up." He pulled out of their embrace. "Why
don't you go lay down in bed for a while?" She shook her
head.
"No I'm just going to go and get ready." Let's
just hope this is slightly less disastrous than the titanic, she
thought anxiously as she headed to the bedroom.
