Chapter Three
It had been a long time since Jackson had come to visit Erica socially, except when it involved Bianca. In the last several months they rarely spoke and often would avoid attending the same social functions. So to say that Erica was surprised by Jackson's unexpected visit was an understatement, but she kept her cool and never allowed him to see how excited she really was. As Jackson entered the penthouse, he could barely muster up a hello, but Erica was too busy with her own thoughts to notice Jack's broken state. The conversation started with Idol chitchat about Bianca and work, and than as the hours passed they were like two old friends that rediscovered each other. They both had forgotten how easy it was between them!
As they laughed and enjoyed each other company, the old feelings did not take long to surface. For a moment, Jackson had forgotten why he came! He reached his hand up in an attempt to move a strand of Erica's hair out of her face, but instead he found himself with his lips on hers. Feeling overwhelmed by the depth of his emotions Jackson pulled back to catch is breath. I am sorry Erica, I should not have done that, he said, but Erica did not speak a word. The silence between them was deafening as each looked to the other for a sign of what to say next. The tension was thick and both knew that there was no denying what was happening, what had always happen when they were alone. Jackson began to speak, but Erica interrupted him. He thought that she would ask him to leave as she always did when things got too heated between them, but she did not. Instead, she looked at him with all the love that she was capable of having for one person and said `I love you Jackson'. His mouth touched hers, and gently he moved his tongue across her lips as if he was asking permission to enter her mouth. At first, he was playful, but as the kiss intensified so did his need to be apart of everything she was. There was a longing his touch that told her that it would not end here and she did not resist.
They were still kissing when Jackson lifted Erica up his arms and carried her to the bedroom. As he opened the door with his shoulder, he never took his eyes off of Erica. His strong arms embraced her body as he carried her across the room and gently put her down in front of the bed. As he began to undress her, thoughts ran through his mind, but none were of Veronica. All he could think about was Erica and how much he loved her. As they both gave into the passion that consumed their bodies, they heard Bianca's voice from the other room. Out of what must have been pure panic, Erica jumped out of bed, and fell on the floor. Jackson began to laugh, but Erica was not amused as she tried to reach for something to put on. She frantically began throwing clothes at Jackson, signaling for him to hurry up, but
Bianca was at the door before either of them had a chance to put one piece of clothing back on. They rapped the bed sheets around their bodies knowing that they could not hide what had happened.
Erica was surprised that Bianca was not angry with her. However, it was not hard to tell that Bianca was not pleased with Jack's actions. She was screaming at Jackson with such venom that Erica just stood there paralyzed by the words falling off of her daughter's tongue. `How could you Uncle Jack, how could you do this to mom'. Erica tried to defend Jackson, but somehow her words were lost to Bianca. Bianca turned her angry towards her mother and screamed `JACKSON IS ENGAGED MOM. Erica's face that moments ago reflect the passion between her and Jack was now lifeless. She seemed as if she might faint which caused Jack to reach out to her, but she remained still. With outstretch hands, Jackson fingers gentle brushed against Erica's shoulders, but she did not respond to his touch. She walked passed both of them without uttering a word. They followed behind Erica, hoping she would give them some sign of what to do next, but she did not.
She remained silent for hours never taking her eyes off the fireplace, until finally the flames went out. Her eyes moved towards Jackson and than back at the fireplace as if she was trying to make some kind of connection. Her gesture did not go unnoticed by Jack who held his hand over his chest in the hopes of protecting his heart from the dagger of her implication. Jackson's pain was evident as he struggled to sit down next to Erica. He turned to face her, not sure what to say, but knowing that he could not let this nightmare continue He softly said to her "I am sorry honey, I did not mean for any of this to happen. I know that I should have told you the truth and I came here to do just that, but being with you reminded me of how great we are together. What happened here today was not about two friends finding there way back, but about two lovers who had finally given in to their desire and realized that they belong together". Jackson looked at Erica trying to see the love which hours ago was dancing in her eyes, but it was not there. Instead, she seemed empty! At first Jackson got up to leave, but something stopped him. Instead of turning away from Erica, Jackson knelt down in front of her. He took her hands in his and softly said ` YOU ARE MY HEART AND I AM YOURS''. He kissed her on the cheek and said `I love you Erica and I always will, but today I realize that there will always be obstacles in our way". With that, Jackson got up and walked out the door.
The look of disappointment on Erica's face will remain with Jackson as a constant reminder of how painful true love can be. How could I loose the love of my life. As the thunder struck loud and hard against the window, Jackson was once again bolted back to reality. What am I doing, he asked himself (still focused on the picture of Veronica on his desk) WHAT AM I DOING?
It had been a long time since Jackson had come to visit Erica socially, except when it involved Bianca. In the last several months they rarely spoke and often would avoid attending the same social functions. So to say that Erica was surprised by Jackson's unexpected visit was an understatement, but she kept her cool and never allowed him to see how excited she really was. As Jackson entered the penthouse, he could barely muster up a hello, but Erica was too busy with her own thoughts to notice Jack's broken state. The conversation started with Idol chitchat about Bianca and work, and than as the hours passed they were like two old friends that rediscovered each other. They both had forgotten how easy it was between them!
As they laughed and enjoyed each other company, the old feelings did not take long to surface. For a moment, Jackson had forgotten why he came! He reached his hand up in an attempt to move a strand of Erica's hair out of her face, but instead he found himself with his lips on hers. Feeling overwhelmed by the depth of his emotions Jackson pulled back to catch is breath. I am sorry Erica, I should not have done that, he said, but Erica did not speak a word. The silence between them was deafening as each looked to the other for a sign of what to say next. The tension was thick and both knew that there was no denying what was happening, what had always happen when they were alone. Jackson began to speak, but Erica interrupted him. He thought that she would ask him to leave as she always did when things got too heated between them, but she did not. Instead, she looked at him with all the love that she was capable of having for one person and said `I love you Jackson'. His mouth touched hers, and gently he moved his tongue across her lips as if he was asking permission to enter her mouth. At first, he was playful, but as the kiss intensified so did his need to be apart of everything she was. There was a longing his touch that told her that it would not end here and she did not resist.
They were still kissing when Jackson lifted Erica up his arms and carried her to the bedroom. As he opened the door with his shoulder, he never took his eyes off of Erica. His strong arms embraced her body as he carried her across the room and gently put her down in front of the bed. As he began to undress her, thoughts ran through his mind, but none were of Veronica. All he could think about was Erica and how much he loved her. As they both gave into the passion that consumed their bodies, they heard Bianca's voice from the other room. Out of what must have been pure panic, Erica jumped out of bed, and fell on the floor. Jackson began to laugh, but Erica was not amused as she tried to reach for something to put on. She frantically began throwing clothes at Jackson, signaling for him to hurry up, but
Bianca was at the door before either of them had a chance to put one piece of clothing back on. They rapped the bed sheets around their bodies knowing that they could not hide what had happened.
Erica was surprised that Bianca was not angry with her. However, it was not hard to tell that Bianca was not pleased with Jack's actions. She was screaming at Jackson with such venom that Erica just stood there paralyzed by the words falling off of her daughter's tongue. `How could you Uncle Jack, how could you do this to mom'. Erica tried to defend Jackson, but somehow her words were lost to Bianca. Bianca turned her angry towards her mother and screamed `JACKSON IS ENGAGED MOM. Erica's face that moments ago reflect the passion between her and Jack was now lifeless. She seemed as if she might faint which caused Jack to reach out to her, but she remained still. With outstretch hands, Jackson fingers gentle brushed against Erica's shoulders, but she did not respond to his touch. She walked passed both of them without uttering a word. They followed behind Erica, hoping she would give them some sign of what to do next, but she did not.
She remained silent for hours never taking her eyes off the fireplace, until finally the flames went out. Her eyes moved towards Jackson and than back at the fireplace as if she was trying to make some kind of connection. Her gesture did not go unnoticed by Jack who held his hand over his chest in the hopes of protecting his heart from the dagger of her implication. Jackson's pain was evident as he struggled to sit down next to Erica. He turned to face her, not sure what to say, but knowing that he could not let this nightmare continue He softly said to her "I am sorry honey, I did not mean for any of this to happen. I know that I should have told you the truth and I came here to do just that, but being with you reminded me of how great we are together. What happened here today was not about two friends finding there way back, but about two lovers who had finally given in to their desire and realized that they belong together". Jackson looked at Erica trying to see the love which hours ago was dancing in her eyes, but it was not there. Instead, she seemed empty! At first Jackson got up to leave, but something stopped him. Instead of turning away from Erica, Jackson knelt down in front of her. He took her hands in his and softly said ` YOU ARE MY HEART AND I AM YOURS''. He kissed her on the cheek and said `I love you Erica and I always will, but today I realize that there will always be obstacles in our way". With that, Jackson got up and walked out the door.
The look of disappointment on Erica's face will remain with Jackson as a constant reminder of how painful true love can be. How could I loose the love of my life. As the thunder struck loud and hard against the window, Jackson was once again bolted back to reality. What am I doing, he asked himself (still focused on the picture of Veronica on his desk) WHAT AM I DOING?