Jessica looked like a deer caught in headlights. She opened her mouth to
speak but then closed it when she had nothing to say. She looked between
Jonathan, Stephanie, and Chris, not knowing how to begin. All she knew was
that she was caught.
Stephanie laughed inwardly. It was nice to see Jessica squirm for once. She knew there was no way Jessica was going to come out of this unscathed. She was in way too deep now. Oh, this was sweeter than revenge, this was truth, and she couldn't wait to hear Jessica try to worm her way out of this one.
"You heard me Jessica," Chris said.
"Heard what?" Jessica said, tossing her hair back.
"How do you explain this one?" he asked smugly.
"Oh, so I'm caught big deal."
"Big deal," Stephanie said, "Big deal? That's all you have to say for yourself?"
"Well, what would you have me say?"
"I for one would like to hear the truth," Jonathan said to her.
"Fine! You all want to hear it, well fine!" Jessica screamed, causing Carter to start crying.
Stephanie held him close to her and soothed his crying, "It's ok baby, Mommy's here."
"Go ahead Jessi," Jonathan told her.
"I was with both of you at one time, I admit it. I played you both, but damn me, I felt guilty about cheating on you Christopher. So I told you, hoping you would forgive me, because you were the one I wanted."
Jonathan looked down, saddened to hear that he wasn't the one Jessica wanted, yet he was the one she married. Chris took Stephanie's free hand in his and she caressed it with her thumb, knowing that Jessica leaving and his subsequent search for her was still a sore subject for him.
"But you didn't fucking answer me, so I didn't think you wanted me," Jessica told Chris.
"Well, I did....at the time."
"So I went to Jonathan. There was no job in Japan, I just said that so you'd think I was devastated over your rejection. But I was fine in a few hours. I had someone else who wanted me."
"Nice to know I was so dispensable," Chris said.
"Yeah, me too," Jonathan interjected.
Jessica rolled her eyes, "So I married him, and then I got pregnant. But damn it, I didn't want kids, least of all yours Jonathan. Then I remembered there was a sucker who loved me, and I went to Chris."
"My husband is not a sucker," Stephanie said, gritting her teeth.
"Oh puh-lease sweetheart," Jessica said, "He took me back so fast, it made your head spin didn't it?"
Stephanie scowled, "He didn't love you, he loved me."
"Sure he did, you keep thinking that."
"It's true, I did love her," Chris argued.
"So you left her for me, that's really showing her that you love her."
"Shut up Jessica," Stephanie said.
"Whatever bitch," Jessica muttered, "So he took me back and I planned to marry him, I really did."
"Even when you were still married to me?" Jonathan said.
"Quickie divorce darling," Jessica said snidely, "I was going to pin the pregnancy on Chris. He would've taken responsibility and I was fine with that. I just had one little problem....Stephanie."
Stephanie guffawed, "I held my tongue when it came to you."
"Oh, but you didn't think I saw it. You didn't think I knew he was in love with you. Oh, I realized it, but I wanted him, and I almost got him too. I was this close to having you move out."
"But I foiled your plan didn't I?" Chris said, "When I told you that I loved Stephanie."
"I guess you can say that, but it wasn't that big a deal to me. I hated that you chose...her over me, but I got over it. I had a husband awaiting my return. So I went back to him, and he took me back because he loved me and I was carrying his child. And what's the thanks I get after I bear the child and give birth to it? I get him leaving me and taking my daughter with him. So I took Adri and came here."
"So why would you want to pin the baby on him?" Jonathan asked.
"Because I knew he'd take me in. And you would've never suspected a thing."
"Unfortunately you got caught," Chris said.
"I suppose. So what are you going to do now Jonathan?"
"I'm getting Adri and I'm outta here," he said, getting up, "Do you know where she is?"
"Upstairs taking a nap," Jessica said, "But you're not taking her."
"Yes I am Jessi, she's mine too," he told her, "Can you let me know where she is."
"Here, let me show you," Chris said, getting up, "Steph, did you want me to put Carter down or something?"
"It's a little early for his nap, but he'd probably like a bottle."
"I'll do that," he said, taking Carter from her, "Come on Jon, I'll take you to Adri."
The men left, leaving Stephanie and Jessica on the porch alone. Stephanie stood up and gave Jessica a triumphant look. Jessica, in return, gave her a dirty look. Stephanie felt like she was in some old western having a stare down before they were to have a shoot out.
"So the truth finally came to kick you in the ass."
"Just what you wanted," Jessica sneered.
"I must admit, I've been waiting for this day," Stephanie smiled.
"You just want me out of the picture because you know that Chris could fall in love with me again."
"See, that's the farthest thing on my mind, because I know Chris loves me."
"You sure about that?"
"I'm as sure as the day is long," Stephanie replied, "Someday Jessica, you'll find someone you want to stick with. You'll find the perfect guy for you. And you know what?"
Jessica grunted.
"He'll turn you down flat," Stephanie said smugly, "Because he will see you for the lying, cheating wench that you are."
"I hate you," Jessica said, meaning it.
"Not as much as I hate your sorry ass. Good riddance Jessica, it wasn't nice knowing ya," Stephanie said, walking past her into the house.
She went into the kitchen and saw Chris holding Carter and feeding him his bottle. She walked over and kissed Chris deeply, surprising him a little. When they broke apart, Stephanie kissed Carter's forehead.
"Wow," Chris muttered.
"I love you so much."
"Well, good, since I love you very much too."
"I'm glad we're finally getting rid of her."
"I know, it only took like forever," he said, brushing some of her hair away from her face.
"And me threatening to leave you," Stephanie said, giving him a timid smile.
"Hey, you still have to call the lawyer's."
"I'll do it first thing in the morning."
"Good, because I don't want to get a divorce...ever," he said seriously.
"You won't."
"You guys," Jonathan said from the doorway, Adriana in his arms, "I'm going to head out."
"Ok, thank you for coming over and clearing everything up. It really took a lot off our minds."
"I'd imagine. And don't worry, I'll get Jessica out of here too."
"Even better," Chris laughed.
They walked Jonathan and Adriana out of the house where Jessica was still fuming. Jonathan grabbed Jessica's arm and practically dragged her down the steps and to her car. She reluctantly opened the door, allowing Jonathan to get the carseat.
"No, you're coming home with me," Jonathan told her.
"Whatever."
"Goodbye Jessica," Chris called out, waving.
"See ya Jessica," Stephanie said, "Don't ever come back ok?"
Jessica scowled at them before hesitantly getting into her car, under her husband's watchful eye. Jonathan put Adriana in her carseat in his car and got in. Giving a small wave to Chris and Stephanie, he signaled for Jessica to go first so he could follow her. Jessica drove off, with her husband following. Chris and Stephanie stood there until they disappeared to the horizon. They walked inside the house together.
"Well, I'm glad that's all over."
"Me too," Chris said, "Me too."
"Maybe now we'll never have to see her face again."
"One can only hope."
Stephanie laughed inwardly. It was nice to see Jessica squirm for once. She knew there was no way Jessica was going to come out of this unscathed. She was in way too deep now. Oh, this was sweeter than revenge, this was truth, and she couldn't wait to hear Jessica try to worm her way out of this one.
"You heard me Jessica," Chris said.
"Heard what?" Jessica said, tossing her hair back.
"How do you explain this one?" he asked smugly.
"Oh, so I'm caught big deal."
"Big deal," Stephanie said, "Big deal? That's all you have to say for yourself?"
"Well, what would you have me say?"
"I for one would like to hear the truth," Jonathan said to her.
"Fine! You all want to hear it, well fine!" Jessica screamed, causing Carter to start crying.
Stephanie held him close to her and soothed his crying, "It's ok baby, Mommy's here."
"Go ahead Jessi," Jonathan told her.
"I was with both of you at one time, I admit it. I played you both, but damn me, I felt guilty about cheating on you Christopher. So I told you, hoping you would forgive me, because you were the one I wanted."
Jonathan looked down, saddened to hear that he wasn't the one Jessica wanted, yet he was the one she married. Chris took Stephanie's free hand in his and she caressed it with her thumb, knowing that Jessica leaving and his subsequent search for her was still a sore subject for him.
"But you didn't fucking answer me, so I didn't think you wanted me," Jessica told Chris.
"Well, I did....at the time."
"So I went to Jonathan. There was no job in Japan, I just said that so you'd think I was devastated over your rejection. But I was fine in a few hours. I had someone else who wanted me."
"Nice to know I was so dispensable," Chris said.
"Yeah, me too," Jonathan interjected.
Jessica rolled her eyes, "So I married him, and then I got pregnant. But damn it, I didn't want kids, least of all yours Jonathan. Then I remembered there was a sucker who loved me, and I went to Chris."
"My husband is not a sucker," Stephanie said, gritting her teeth.
"Oh puh-lease sweetheart," Jessica said, "He took me back so fast, it made your head spin didn't it?"
Stephanie scowled, "He didn't love you, he loved me."
"Sure he did, you keep thinking that."
"It's true, I did love her," Chris argued.
"So you left her for me, that's really showing her that you love her."
"Shut up Jessica," Stephanie said.
"Whatever bitch," Jessica muttered, "So he took me back and I planned to marry him, I really did."
"Even when you were still married to me?" Jonathan said.
"Quickie divorce darling," Jessica said snidely, "I was going to pin the pregnancy on Chris. He would've taken responsibility and I was fine with that. I just had one little problem....Stephanie."
Stephanie guffawed, "I held my tongue when it came to you."
"Oh, but you didn't think I saw it. You didn't think I knew he was in love with you. Oh, I realized it, but I wanted him, and I almost got him too. I was this close to having you move out."
"But I foiled your plan didn't I?" Chris said, "When I told you that I loved Stephanie."
"I guess you can say that, but it wasn't that big a deal to me. I hated that you chose...her over me, but I got over it. I had a husband awaiting my return. So I went back to him, and he took me back because he loved me and I was carrying his child. And what's the thanks I get after I bear the child and give birth to it? I get him leaving me and taking my daughter with him. So I took Adri and came here."
"So why would you want to pin the baby on him?" Jonathan asked.
"Because I knew he'd take me in. And you would've never suspected a thing."
"Unfortunately you got caught," Chris said.
"I suppose. So what are you going to do now Jonathan?"
"I'm getting Adri and I'm outta here," he said, getting up, "Do you know where she is?"
"Upstairs taking a nap," Jessica said, "But you're not taking her."
"Yes I am Jessi, she's mine too," he told her, "Can you let me know where she is."
"Here, let me show you," Chris said, getting up, "Steph, did you want me to put Carter down or something?"
"It's a little early for his nap, but he'd probably like a bottle."
"I'll do that," he said, taking Carter from her, "Come on Jon, I'll take you to Adri."
The men left, leaving Stephanie and Jessica on the porch alone. Stephanie stood up and gave Jessica a triumphant look. Jessica, in return, gave her a dirty look. Stephanie felt like she was in some old western having a stare down before they were to have a shoot out.
"So the truth finally came to kick you in the ass."
"Just what you wanted," Jessica sneered.
"I must admit, I've been waiting for this day," Stephanie smiled.
"You just want me out of the picture because you know that Chris could fall in love with me again."
"See, that's the farthest thing on my mind, because I know Chris loves me."
"You sure about that?"
"I'm as sure as the day is long," Stephanie replied, "Someday Jessica, you'll find someone you want to stick with. You'll find the perfect guy for you. And you know what?"
Jessica grunted.
"He'll turn you down flat," Stephanie said smugly, "Because he will see you for the lying, cheating wench that you are."
"I hate you," Jessica said, meaning it.
"Not as much as I hate your sorry ass. Good riddance Jessica, it wasn't nice knowing ya," Stephanie said, walking past her into the house.
She went into the kitchen and saw Chris holding Carter and feeding him his bottle. She walked over and kissed Chris deeply, surprising him a little. When they broke apart, Stephanie kissed Carter's forehead.
"Wow," Chris muttered.
"I love you so much."
"Well, good, since I love you very much too."
"I'm glad we're finally getting rid of her."
"I know, it only took like forever," he said, brushing some of her hair away from her face.
"And me threatening to leave you," Stephanie said, giving him a timid smile.
"Hey, you still have to call the lawyer's."
"I'll do it first thing in the morning."
"Good, because I don't want to get a divorce...ever," he said seriously.
"You won't."
"You guys," Jonathan said from the doorway, Adriana in his arms, "I'm going to head out."
"Ok, thank you for coming over and clearing everything up. It really took a lot off our minds."
"I'd imagine. And don't worry, I'll get Jessica out of here too."
"Even better," Chris laughed.
They walked Jonathan and Adriana out of the house where Jessica was still fuming. Jonathan grabbed Jessica's arm and practically dragged her down the steps and to her car. She reluctantly opened the door, allowing Jonathan to get the carseat.
"No, you're coming home with me," Jonathan told her.
"Whatever."
"Goodbye Jessica," Chris called out, waving.
"See ya Jessica," Stephanie said, "Don't ever come back ok?"
Jessica scowled at them before hesitantly getting into her car, under her husband's watchful eye. Jonathan put Adriana in her carseat in his car and got in. Giving a small wave to Chris and Stephanie, he signaled for Jessica to go first so he could follow her. Jessica drove off, with her husband following. Chris and Stephanie stood there until they disappeared to the horizon. They walked inside the house together.
"Well, I'm glad that's all over."
"Me too," Chris said, "Me too."
"Maybe now we'll never have to see her face again."
"One can only hope."
