Part 12
Tommy had felt bad that Saturday morning because he'd promised Jessie he would take her to the park but instead he'd had to work that morning. Tommy had decided against leaving her with the sitter and just opted to take her to work with him for a few hours. She was whiny and irritated by this but in the end complied. So Tommy was sitting in studio C cleaning out the last of the junk from the closets when D walked in. At first when he heard Jessie talking he'd assumed she was talking to herself like she did often but when he heard a quiet gasp come from the entrance to the studio Tommy turned around to see D standing there. He didn't look himself at all. He was wearing some old sweats and a faded jacket and looked as if he hadn't showered or shaved in a few days. Tommy was more than a little taken aback.
Tommy: Hey D what's up man?
Darius was staring at Jessie as if he'd seen a ghost. It took him a whole minute to realize that Tommy was speaking to him.
Darius: What? Oh nothing. I was just wondering what everyone was up to in the studio. Who is this? He asked gesturing towards Jessie. Jessie stood up and smiled at him warmly. She stuck her hand out like her mother had taught her and introduced herself.
Jessie: Hi who are you? I'm Jessica Fletcher. Nice to meet you.
Tommy smiled as he watched the little girl who reminded him so much of his big sister with a warm feeling coursing through is body.
TommyT: Mandy'd be proud. She really would.
Darius looked as if he was terrified of this 40 lbs girl and stuck his hand out hesitantly. He didn't know how to react to this child who reminded him so much of Mandy the one woman he had ever loved. It was like seeing a ghost. Something in the little girls eyes caught his attention though. They were his own eyes staring back at him. He was almost sure of it. He just gasped for air at the thought and jumped back suddenly as though her touch had burned him. He knew Tom was staring at him as though he had lost his mind and the truth was maybe he had. How could this little girl be his? She'd married another man. Had this child with him but he just couldn't get over the eyes of that little girl. They haunted him.
Darius mumbled an apology and walked from the studio to his office. He was just going to have a little drink. Just enough to calm his nerves and to get him through the day. He heard a knock at the door and just stared at it. He heard it again louder this time and hid the small bottle in his hands in the desk. He said "come in". That's when Jude had walked in. He could see the shock horror and then pity cloud her face and he just put his head down. She made excuses and walked from the room leaving Darius to his inner demons and the thoughts of another man's wife.