Chapter 6

Jim woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. As he walked back into the bedroom he saw Janessa's figure lying there and he instantly became full of disappointment in himself. He couldn't deny that she looked beautiful with her ebony hair fanned out on his pillow. "Well, Jimbo, you really did it this time." he said to himself as he put on a pair of pajamas. He knew that he would have to tell her in the morning that this could never happen again. She was young and had her whole life ahead of her. She didn't need an old man like him. In an effort to make himself feel better about what they had done, Jim grabbed a pillow from the bed and went to sleep on the couch.

Janessa was woken up by the smell of cooking bacon. She was disappointed to find herself alone in bed. Scenes from the previous night replayed in her mind. All of was so unexpected, the kiss, the sex, the sleeping in Jim's bed. She rose from the bed to get dressed and use the bathroom. Janessa walked into the kitchen to find Jim standing at the stove in a blue bathrobe making breakfast. "Hey, good morning. Did you sleep well?" Jim asked. "Yeah, thanks for asking. Did you?" Janessa couldn't lie, the small talk was kind of awkward.

Jim sat a plate of bacon and eggs in front of Janessa and then went into the bedroom to get dressed. He came out of the bedroom dressed in a pair of black pants and a red sweater. Janessa couldn't help but think that red was really Jim's color. Jim sat down beside her and looked as if he was getting ready to tell her that a loved one had passed away. He kept rubbing the back of his neck and wringing his hands. "Listen, Janessa," Jim said, "What happened last night was wonderful but it can't happen again. I can't do that to Dennis. Plus, you're a young woman with your whole life ahead of you. I'm an old man who has a dangerous job. I can't do that to you. Please, don't think I regret this." Janessa nodded at Jim's words with tears in her eyes. She knew what he was saying was true, but a part of her didn't believe it. "I understand, Jim. I really do. I don't regret it either. Thank you for everything." She got up to leave. Jim walked her to her car and opened the door for her. As she got in he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, "Hey, I'm sure I'll see you around." With those words, Janessa Becker drove back to her Uncle's house with tears streaming down her face.