CHAPTER 9
Thanks for all the great reviews! I'm glad so many are enjoying it! I haven't forgotten you, just busy with other stuff. I live in New England, and we were preparing for Hurricane Sandy. Thankfully, we didn't get hit hard where we are! I also have another story that was itching to get out. It's mostly written, but have to tweak it yet. Enjoy! Let me know what you think!
Sue and Jack smiled at the thought of a baby soon coming into the world. They each thought of having a child with the other. Jack reached under the blanket that was covering both their legs, and took Sue's hand in his. He entwined his fingers with hers. Sue was a little surprised by his move, but tried not to show it. Jack felt awkward like it was his first time trying to hold a girls hand. He put a paper in the book, and closed it laying it on the couch between them. He stretched and got the kinks out of his neck. He stood up and walked into the other room. Sue smiled as he walked away. She was enjoying spending this extra time with her love. She wished he wasn't so down about his grandmother's apparent affair. A few minutes passed, and Jack returned holding 2 steaming cups of coffee and a box of donuts. Sue smiled curiously at him.
"Do I even want to know how you made hot coffee when there's no power?" She teased.
"I have a magic wand, remember?" Jack answered raising his eyebrows at her, teasing her.
"Oh, I see."She teased back.
"Gas stove... I heated the coffee I made yesterday in a pan... hope it's ok." He said.
Sue took a sip, and smiled. They each took a donut and ate.
"When I was a little boy... and we would have storms like this, I would hide under the stairs with a blanket. I would pretend that I was lying in wait for the big dragon that was making our house rumble so I could slay him. Gramms knew I was scared, but she never let on. She once gave me a cardboard sword, and covered me with a magic cape, so he couldn't see me. I think that's about when I would fall asleep under there!" He said with fond memories.
"I see why you loved your grandmother so much. She sounds wonderful." Sue said, putting her hand in Jack's.
"Do you want to take a break from reading?" He asked.
"Not unless you do. I would like to know what happened." Sue said.
They picked up the book again to begin reading. Jack sat against Sue. Sue snuggled her head onto his shoulder as he began to read more.
June 17, 1942
I can't believe the pain that such a small beautiful child can cause. It took nearly 25 hours of labor and pushing before our child was born. At 9:46 PM, Emma Joanna was born into this world. She is beautiful, perfect... and resembles her father more that I care to admit. Jacob already asked the nurse to bring a bottle of milk so he can feed his daughter. I don't wish to hurt Jacob, or betray him, but I wish JW was here.
Jack stopped reading for a few seconds to process the information. June 17 was his mother's birthday, but her name was Emily Joan. None of this made any sense. She had gone through a lot to keep her secrets. Jack began to wonder if his mother even knew about her real father. Sue read the details of the baby out loud.
"She weighed '5 lb 9 oz and was 18" long. She has reddish blonde hair, and blue eyes.'She sounds adorable." Sue said with a sad smile on her face.
"What's wrong?" Jack asked. Sue shook her head no, but Jack knew better. "Sue? Why do you suddenly look sad?" Jack insisted.
"I know this is silly, but I think I'm jealous. I would love to have a little girl who had reddish blonde hair, with blue eyes who was this tiny little peanut that fit snugly in my arms." She said with a forced smile.
"You will have that, one day." Jack tried to reassure her.
"There are days that I feel as if I will never have my own family." Sue said sadly.
"You're going to make a great mom. One day, you wait and see." Jack said once more. Sue looked at him, slowly, more serious than before.
"I just don't see it happening." Sue said softly. Jack drew her closer to him. He lifted her chin so that she could read his lips. At least that was his intension.
"Don't do that to yourself." He said softly.
"What?" Sue asked.
"Sell yourself short." He answered. As their eyes locked, something stirred in his stomach. Hers too. He leaned toward her, gently pulling her to him. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his embrace. Their lips met in the middle somewhere. As they touched, there was a nervous energy passing between them. His left hand held her cheek as he deepened the kiss. It was sweet and innocent, the perfect first kiss. He pulled away, surprised by his own actions. She smiled as she blushed knowing that one kiss was about to open a can of worms neither was ready for. They stared into each other's eyes for a long time. Jack stroked her face. His fingertips rolled down the skin of her arm. He took her face in his hands, leaning slowly in again. Sue closed her eyes and leaned into touch. His lips again landed on hers. He was deliberate with his movements, his slow steady unrelenting passionate kisses landed on her lips again and again. He pulled her to him, igniting more of the spark that shown between the two. Jack unexpectedly pulled away from her. Sue looked at him confused. Jack's phone rang, breaking the moment. He looked a little angry at the interruption, but that faded when he saw it was his parents. He smiled and blushed as he heard it was his mother. He knew he needed to talk to her about what was going on but the details and the diary would have to wait.
"Hi Mom. Sue and I are fine. The house is holding up just fine. How are you and Dad?" Jack asked concerned for his parents' safety.
Sue watched him intently. His face, his eyes. They were focused and full of concern. The lines around his eyes seemed to soften a bit, it must be good news Sue thought. She got up and walked to the window. Sue watched out the window at the storm that was beating relentlessly on the outside of the house. The branches from a nearby tree were slamming into the siding making a spooky scratching noise and knocking into the windows. Sue was grateful for not being able to hear the noises, she wasn't afraid of storms, no matter how bad they got. There were times the limbs nearly gave way. The sky was black with darker clouds moving in. How much more could their little town handle before the levy gave way, or the banks of the river over flowed? Jack hung up the phone and smiled at Sue. She smiled back blushing slightly.
"Everything alright at your parents'?" Sue asked. Jack shook his head yes as he walked to her side at the window. He gently slid his arm around her waist, and turned her to him. They both looked out the window.
"It's still pretty bad out there isn't it?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, it doesn't seem to be letting up any. Do you think it will flood?" Sue asked.
"Doubt it, but it's too dangerous to go anywhere til the power comes back on. My Dad said trees are down all over." Jack said. "You know I meant what I said earlier?" Jack asked. Sue looked at him, confused. "You always put yourself down, you have no confidence in yourself as a woman. You have no clue how beautiful and sexy you are." He said as she blushed a dark shade of crimson. "Any guy would be lucky to have you in his life." Jack said. "I know I am." He slowly turned his face to Sue's, his eyes searched for hers, for permission to continue forward with what they'd started before his phone had rang. He slowly reached to her face, brushing the hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Sue let his hand linger, smiling softly as he did. His left hand went to her shoulder and slowly trailed down her arm, to her hand. His fingers entwined with hers as he pulled it to his lips, softly caressing them. Sue watched Jack, not sure if she wanted to stop his advances. She had, for so long, wanted him to change their relationship. She put her empty hand on his chest as he approached closer to her. Jack put his hands on her hips, pulling her to him. He smiled at her, just watching.
"You still love the rain?" Jack asked, remembering a conversation they'd had a long time ago.
"Yeah." She said smiling, glad that he'd remembered that tidbit. Sue touched his face with the back of her hand, trailing it up his cheek. Jack leaned into her touch. He took her hand, kissing the palm, then her wrist and arm.
"Me too." He said hesitantly. He slowly leaned into her, bringing his lips closer to hers. His grip tightened around her as their lips finally touched. The kiss was slow, soft at first, almost as if their lips didn't know what they were doing. Both were hesitant with their caresses, nervous. Sue wrapped her arms up around Jack's neck deepening the kiss, making it more aggressive. The newly formed couple kissed with the passion and lust of teenagers.
Jack led her to the couch they'd just been sitting on. Their lips met again with the same vigor they'd just experienced. Their tongues sought out the others. Their passion rose, the need for each other rose. Jack's hands ran the length of Sue's body. His lips left a trail of lustful caresses along her jaw, neck, and collar bone. His hand wrapped around her back, holding her close to him. Sue's hands were running rampant through his hair and on his chest. Their lips were swollen from the passion they were sharing. Jack trailed kisses along her neck to her earlobes. Sue returned the favor by treating his neck with long slow caresses. She made her way to his ears, lightly licking the inside of his ear, and sucking on his lobe, flicking her tongue on the end of it. Jack let out a primal groan that came from deep within. Sue's teasing was driving him nearly to the edge of his control. Jack pulled her into his arms, and laid her on the couch under his grip. He looked longingly into her eyes, trying to slow his pace to regain some control of his actions. She was breathing heavy from the spent passion they were sharing. Sue had the same longing on her face that Jack was feeling. He slowly leaned down to kiss her. The kiss was measured, slow and sweet. Sue's hands found their way around his back and into his shirt. Little sparks flew from his back when her hands touch his naked skin. Jack moved to caress her neck. He tugged at her shirt to allow his hands to wander on her velvety skin. Jack nudged her shirt down some from the top to kiss the top of her chest as his hands moved across her stomach. Suddenly Jack could feel the couch cushion giving way to their weight and movements.
"I've never been in love with my best friend before. I'm not exactly sure how this is supposed to work." Jack said as he continued his onslaught of passion. Sue looked him deep in the eye and smiled.
"Something like this..." Sue answered as she kissed him full on the mouth, pressing her lips hard against his.
Jack broke the kiss, but didn't say anything. He took her by the hand and led her to of the spare bedroom. As his hand turned the handle, allowing them inside, Sue was visibly nervous. She couldn't think straight. Where was he taking her? What secret lay on the other side of this door? He had said it was a sewing room. The daylight was showing just enough for her to see there was a bed in the middle of the room, covered completely with a homemade quilt. Jack took Sue by the hand and led her to the bed, sitting down next to her, not saying a word. The two knew words weren't needed. Sue was pretty sure words would only ruin what they had. His lips found their way to hers again, softly, deliberately caressing them...
