Chapter 30 *
Back at the house:
Monique's restless mind refused to allow her to lay inactive any longer. Thoughts filled by Allen were driving her nuts. In order to expend some unchanneled energy she made her way back into the house, grabbed her keys from the counter and went out to the garage. The car needed an appearance overhaul. The washing, vacuuming, and windows, would expose more of her pale skin to the sun than the regular rotating front to back every hour. She backed her car out of hiding and stopped in the backyard close enough to the hose but a safe water splashing distance from the house. Gathering up all the loose cd's, her towel, and the boombox, Moni exchanged them inside for the bucket, sponge, paper towels, Windex, etc. Double checking that the windows were up Monique set about killing 2 birds with one stone. Monique had finished washing and drying the exterior and beginning to vacuum out the interior, she turned the volume dial up a few notches on the radio. After several minutes of sweeping, Moni figured that was as good as it was going to get so she rolled up the windows and headed towards the Windex and some paper towels. With the stereo up so loud, Monique was oblivious to the roaring of a crotch rocket that had just come to a halt in her driveway. Upon turning off the engine, Jeff was greeted by the commotion emanating from the back. Losing one of his 99 lives, he sauntered around the corner of the house only to immediately stifle a laugh that fought to escape at full blast. In the vision before him, Monique was intently wiping down the windows of her car, but in rhythm with the blaring song AND her swinging hips. Jeff knew he hadn't been detected yet, so he chose to 'enjoy' the show for as long as he could get away with it. Once his amusement at her actions subsided, he realized he was staring at her in less than what his brother had seen an hour before. He mused inwardly at Matt's discoveries about her muscle tone and he too, wondered what she did for upkeep. There was no visible gym equipment in house or even in the open garage for that matter. Lost in his own mind, Jeff hadn't heard-he'd been discovered.
"Hey Hardy!" Monique yelled for the third time
"huh, oh hey!" Jeff stammered in embarrassment. He had planned to sneak up behind her, but she'd beat him to it.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Um, not long."
"Well bud, your free show is over."
"Damn, it was getting good. What are you charging for admission?"
"Whatever, Tim Allen. What are you doing anyway?"
"Just out riding my bike and wanted to see you."
"Sure, and I suppose your brother didn't stop by and tell you I was ½ naked either did he?"
"Well, sort of."
"Figures."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Depends. What?"
"When do you go to the gym?"
"What? I don't"
"Oh, so you've got your stuff somewhere in the house I haven't seen yet?"
'Jeff Hardy, what are you talking about? What stuff?"
"Your gym equipment?"
"I don't have any 'equipment'
"Well, how do you" Jeff broke off in frustration. She wasn't helping.
"I don't need to go to the gym, or use equipment here at home. I just do the same routine we did in the military. That doesn't require high priced, man made machinery."
They continued the current topic of conversation while Moni finished the windows on the other side of the car. She explained her routine to him- reps, times a week, what she used and all. He seemed to catch on, though one never knows with all that dye in his head.
Following a moment or two of silence, Jeff broached the subject of her quest. Moni told him that she hadn't heard anything since she mailed the letter and he could see she really was beginning to convince herself that she was never going to see any fruits of her labor. He didn't understand- but then she knew this man and he didn't. He wondered what kind of man would cause all this hurt, especially when she spoke so differently of him than she did her ex. He cautiously began to question her about him and was amazed that she volunteered the answers. Somehow what he thought was going to be a 2 minute conversation turned into an hour. He was surprised- normally so guarded, she was spilling out the entire story. Feeling uninhibited by her openness, he continued to ask the questions that came to mind as she lay forth the information. That last one touched a nerve, because all of a sudden she stopped her motions on the inside window and her head bowed chin to chest. Jeff saw a single tear run down her cheek and reached out to wipe it away. He was not prepared for more. The case closed, matter of factness about her misled him into thinking that was her only show of pain of any kind. Out of frustration, exhaustion and drawn out unrequited feelings, Moni dropped to her knees and began to cry. Jeff fell to the ground beside her and pulling her onto his lap his arms circled her tiny frame. Engulfing her body that now was shaking with sobs, he sat there and silently vowed he would hold her until she was through. He felt like such an ass for drudging up all the pain she had been subject to. It wasn't fair of him, but he had to know-he couldn't go on without knowing. She would never know how much he wanted to meet this man who made her feel so worthless, her love so unvalued that it didn't deserve a response, didn't rate any kind of truth from him, this man who gave her no reaction at all. It was beyond Jeff's understanding. Jeff knew, she wasn't the kind of woman to expect compliments day in and day out, but she at least needed to hear where she stood, how he felt but she had been used and led on because of one man's indecisiveness and irrational fear. Moni had given of herself time and time again, never to be rewarded with any effort on his part. He took from her whatever she would give and offered no retribution in it's smallest form. While his mind was racing with these thoughts, it was interrupted by her movement, he was so mad, he had forgotten that she was there, half naked in his lap. Coming back to her senses, she jerked her head up from its hiding place in her hands to look at his face. He knew she was ashamed, embarrassed at her appearance. Without saying a word, he turned her in his lap in order to help her to her feet. He took her by the hand and led her into the house. Moni tried to protest, pointing at all the items that were being left outside, but he paid her no attention. Still silent, he never broke his stride, except to open the back door and escort her inside. Like are primanded child, she allowed him to lead her to the bathroom. He gently forced her to sit on the toilet while he looked around for towels and washcloths. When she started to speak, he took a finger, placed it to her lips signaling her to remain silent. He wasn't going to let her object. Moni got nervous when Jeff turned to the tub and began to run water. Still she didn't say anything-his adamant desire for her to be speechless was evident.
When the water temperature was to his liking, he swung around and finally broke the silence between them, "Take a warm shower, and call for me when you are done. I'll be in the living room waiting."
Before he could exit the room, her hand lifted to touch the handsome features of the face so near to her. Her eyes spoke the gratitude that he would not allow her mouth to say. Jeff took the outstretched hand at his cheek and rotated it to place a kiss on the palm and then on the back. With that, he left her to carry out his request. Moni discarded the sweaty bathing suit and stepped gingerly into the warm water. She had never felt so good. The instant pressure of the water combined with the wonderful feeling of having a huge weight lifted was indescribable. Although she felt embarrassment letting Jeff get to her that in answering his questions and constant prodding she had completely, spilled it all out making her head hurt and her eyes red with strain from never ending tears.
"I feel like such a baby-teenage girls getting dumped for the first time don't cry this much. What he must think of my independent exterior now."
Just then she realized he had seen her in her bathing suit-"oh lord" she sighed. It was too late now, nothing could turn back the clock to erase his visible knowledge of her body and what she viewed as its shortcomings.
Back at the house:
Monique's restless mind refused to allow her to lay inactive any longer. Thoughts filled by Allen were driving her nuts. In order to expend some unchanneled energy she made her way back into the house, grabbed her keys from the counter and went out to the garage. The car needed an appearance overhaul. The washing, vacuuming, and windows, would expose more of her pale skin to the sun than the regular rotating front to back every hour. She backed her car out of hiding and stopped in the backyard close enough to the hose but a safe water splashing distance from the house. Gathering up all the loose cd's, her towel, and the boombox, Moni exchanged them inside for the bucket, sponge, paper towels, Windex, etc. Double checking that the windows were up Monique set about killing 2 birds with one stone. Monique had finished washing and drying the exterior and beginning to vacuum out the interior, she turned the volume dial up a few notches on the radio. After several minutes of sweeping, Moni figured that was as good as it was going to get so she rolled up the windows and headed towards the Windex and some paper towels. With the stereo up so loud, Monique was oblivious to the roaring of a crotch rocket that had just come to a halt in her driveway. Upon turning off the engine, Jeff was greeted by the commotion emanating from the back. Losing one of his 99 lives, he sauntered around the corner of the house only to immediately stifle a laugh that fought to escape at full blast. In the vision before him, Monique was intently wiping down the windows of her car, but in rhythm with the blaring song AND her swinging hips. Jeff knew he hadn't been detected yet, so he chose to 'enjoy' the show for as long as he could get away with it. Once his amusement at her actions subsided, he realized he was staring at her in less than what his brother had seen an hour before. He mused inwardly at Matt's discoveries about her muscle tone and he too, wondered what she did for upkeep. There was no visible gym equipment in house or even in the open garage for that matter. Lost in his own mind, Jeff hadn't heard-he'd been discovered.
"Hey Hardy!" Monique yelled for the third time
"huh, oh hey!" Jeff stammered in embarrassment. He had planned to sneak up behind her, but she'd beat him to it.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Um, not long."
"Well bud, your free show is over."
"Damn, it was getting good. What are you charging for admission?"
"Whatever, Tim Allen. What are you doing anyway?"
"Just out riding my bike and wanted to see you."
"Sure, and I suppose your brother didn't stop by and tell you I was ½ naked either did he?"
"Well, sort of."
"Figures."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Depends. What?"
"When do you go to the gym?"
"What? I don't"
"Oh, so you've got your stuff somewhere in the house I haven't seen yet?"
'Jeff Hardy, what are you talking about? What stuff?"
"Your gym equipment?"
"I don't have any 'equipment'
"Well, how do you" Jeff broke off in frustration. She wasn't helping.
"I don't need to go to the gym, or use equipment here at home. I just do the same routine we did in the military. That doesn't require high priced, man made machinery."
They continued the current topic of conversation while Moni finished the windows on the other side of the car. She explained her routine to him- reps, times a week, what she used and all. He seemed to catch on, though one never knows with all that dye in his head.
Following a moment or two of silence, Jeff broached the subject of her quest. Moni told him that she hadn't heard anything since she mailed the letter and he could see she really was beginning to convince herself that she was never going to see any fruits of her labor. He didn't understand- but then she knew this man and he didn't. He wondered what kind of man would cause all this hurt, especially when she spoke so differently of him than she did her ex. He cautiously began to question her about him and was amazed that she volunteered the answers. Somehow what he thought was going to be a 2 minute conversation turned into an hour. He was surprised- normally so guarded, she was spilling out the entire story. Feeling uninhibited by her openness, he continued to ask the questions that came to mind as she lay forth the information. That last one touched a nerve, because all of a sudden she stopped her motions on the inside window and her head bowed chin to chest. Jeff saw a single tear run down her cheek and reached out to wipe it away. He was not prepared for more. The case closed, matter of factness about her misled him into thinking that was her only show of pain of any kind. Out of frustration, exhaustion and drawn out unrequited feelings, Moni dropped to her knees and began to cry. Jeff fell to the ground beside her and pulling her onto his lap his arms circled her tiny frame. Engulfing her body that now was shaking with sobs, he sat there and silently vowed he would hold her until she was through. He felt like such an ass for drudging up all the pain she had been subject to. It wasn't fair of him, but he had to know-he couldn't go on without knowing. She would never know how much he wanted to meet this man who made her feel so worthless, her love so unvalued that it didn't deserve a response, didn't rate any kind of truth from him, this man who gave her no reaction at all. It was beyond Jeff's understanding. Jeff knew, she wasn't the kind of woman to expect compliments day in and day out, but she at least needed to hear where she stood, how he felt but she had been used and led on because of one man's indecisiveness and irrational fear. Moni had given of herself time and time again, never to be rewarded with any effort on his part. He took from her whatever she would give and offered no retribution in it's smallest form. While his mind was racing with these thoughts, it was interrupted by her movement, he was so mad, he had forgotten that she was there, half naked in his lap. Coming back to her senses, she jerked her head up from its hiding place in her hands to look at his face. He knew she was ashamed, embarrassed at her appearance. Without saying a word, he turned her in his lap in order to help her to her feet. He took her by the hand and led her into the house. Moni tried to protest, pointing at all the items that were being left outside, but he paid her no attention. Still silent, he never broke his stride, except to open the back door and escort her inside. Like are primanded child, she allowed him to lead her to the bathroom. He gently forced her to sit on the toilet while he looked around for towels and washcloths. When she started to speak, he took a finger, placed it to her lips signaling her to remain silent. He wasn't going to let her object. Moni got nervous when Jeff turned to the tub and began to run water. Still she didn't say anything-his adamant desire for her to be speechless was evident.
When the water temperature was to his liking, he swung around and finally broke the silence between them, "Take a warm shower, and call for me when you are done. I'll be in the living room waiting."
Before he could exit the room, her hand lifted to touch the handsome features of the face so near to her. Her eyes spoke the gratitude that he would not allow her mouth to say. Jeff took the outstretched hand at his cheek and rotated it to place a kiss on the palm and then on the back. With that, he left her to carry out his request. Moni discarded the sweaty bathing suit and stepped gingerly into the warm water. She had never felt so good. The instant pressure of the water combined with the wonderful feeling of having a huge weight lifted was indescribable. Although she felt embarrassment letting Jeff get to her that in answering his questions and constant prodding she had completely, spilled it all out making her head hurt and her eyes red with strain from never ending tears.
"I feel like such a baby-teenage girls getting dumped for the first time don't cry this much. What he must think of my independent exterior now."
Just then she realized he had seen her in her bathing suit-"oh lord" she sighed. It was too late now, nothing could turn back the clock to erase his visible knowledge of her body and what she viewed as its shortcomings.