CHAPTER SIXTEEN
A New Connection
Everything was going in slow motion and he could feel Anna's hands on his back guiding him towards the room where his destiny was waiting for him. He stopped a moment outside the door to catch his breath and for once he was scared to see her. He had replayed this moment over and over in his mind imagining what he would say to her when he finally had the chance to see her beautiful face again. It was her face, her lips, and her body that consumed his every thought whether awake or asleep. He waited for this moment all his life, a moment that he could finally be with the woman who ran deep into his souls, but now he felt total fear. In the past it was always Erica running from him, and now they were on a path to each other. His fear was not rooted in his heart but in his need to give her everything that she deserved. She was the only woman alive that could make Jackson Montgomery insecure, which was another testimony of their love for each other. He wanted to be everything for her, a lover, a friend, a companion, everything. As his mind replayed their life together his smiled lit up the room at the realization that they had always been all those things to each other and much more.
His disappointment was evident to everyone including Veronica who turned to face him as he came in the room. He looked at Anna with the same lost expression he had when they first discovered Erica's car, but this time Veronica was there to witness it. His warm expression turned to coldness as he instructed Veronica to take a seat in front of him. For the first time she felt complete regret over her actions as she listened to Jack recant the evidence they had. It was not what he said that troubled her, but the hatred in his voice when he spoke. She recognized that tone because it was the same voice she had when she spoke about Erica.
She hardly heard a word he said as her mind traveled back to when they first met in the Valley Inn. It was a fundraiser for 'teens against addiction' and anyone who was anyone was there. Erica was dating Dr Hayward at the time, but anyone who knew Jack and Erica knew that there was still an attraction, an attraction that both denied. As she thought back to this night, she recalled how Jack could not take his eyes off of Erica. It seemed where ever Erica went, his eyes followed her around the room. Her mind was still focused in the past as she spoke aloud for both Jack and Anna to hear.
" Was it all just an act Jack".
Veronica looked back at both of them a little surprised by her actions, but wanting desperately to know the answer. She looked him directly in the eyes so that there was no confusion about what she wanted to know and repeated her question. He reached over and placed his warm hands on hers and with much a tenderness that she had missed said,
" I never meant to hurt you Veronica, I never meant to hurt anyone,
but especially you. When I first met you, I wanted to forget my life
with Erica. When I said that I loved you that was real, it just that
what Erica I share does not go away. I have tried to forget her and
move on, but what I have realized, what we have both realized that it
takes a lot more energy try to forget our hearts than it does to give
into them. Erica and I have chosen not fight it any longer. I was
never using you to make Erica jealous, I would never do that to your
or to Erica, but on some level Veronica, I think I was hoping that
Erica would realize her true feelings for me".
She pulled away from him and the anger returned, this time it surprised even herself. As he got up, she pushed the papers on the table at Jack, and began screaming at him,
"Why Jack, why would you choose that tramp over me. I gave you
everything that I had, but that was never enough. I love you Jack, I
am the one that loves you". She just hurts people with no concern
for anyone but herself. Please, don't leave me!
She seemed desperate now; almost child like as she pleaded with him to love her. The hatred that was brewing in his heart earlier was gone and was replaced with such pity for this broken woman. He knew of her pain, the pain he had experienced every time Erica walked out on him. She was holding on to Jack with great force that concerned Anna as she reached over to pull her away from him. He brought her face to his and searched her eyes for the woman that he had known, but she was lost to him now. Jack held her in his arms and softly whispered in her ear, "please tell me that Erica is alive".
Veronica turned away from him and looked out the window that overlooked the entire Police Station. She was much calmer now almost catatonic until she caught a glimpse of a dark hair man in the entrance of the police station. Her peaceful state became frantic as she pounded her fists off the window screaming out to Dr. David Hayward. "David, you have to help me" she said, as Jack and Anna looked at each other in utter confusion.
A New Connection
Everything was going in slow motion and he could feel Anna's hands on his back guiding him towards the room where his destiny was waiting for him. He stopped a moment outside the door to catch his breath and for once he was scared to see her. He had replayed this moment over and over in his mind imagining what he would say to her when he finally had the chance to see her beautiful face again. It was her face, her lips, and her body that consumed his every thought whether awake or asleep. He waited for this moment all his life, a moment that he could finally be with the woman who ran deep into his souls, but now he felt total fear. In the past it was always Erica running from him, and now they were on a path to each other. His fear was not rooted in his heart but in his need to give her everything that she deserved. She was the only woman alive that could make Jackson Montgomery insecure, which was another testimony of their love for each other. He wanted to be everything for her, a lover, a friend, a companion, everything. As his mind replayed their life together his smiled lit up the room at the realization that they had always been all those things to each other and much more.
His disappointment was evident to everyone including Veronica who turned to face him as he came in the room. He looked at Anna with the same lost expression he had when they first discovered Erica's car, but this time Veronica was there to witness it. His warm expression turned to coldness as he instructed Veronica to take a seat in front of him. For the first time she felt complete regret over her actions as she listened to Jack recant the evidence they had. It was not what he said that troubled her, but the hatred in his voice when he spoke. She recognized that tone because it was the same voice she had when she spoke about Erica.
She hardly heard a word he said as her mind traveled back to when they first met in the Valley Inn. It was a fundraiser for 'teens against addiction' and anyone who was anyone was there. Erica was dating Dr Hayward at the time, but anyone who knew Jack and Erica knew that there was still an attraction, an attraction that both denied. As she thought back to this night, she recalled how Jack could not take his eyes off of Erica. It seemed where ever Erica went, his eyes followed her around the room. Her mind was still focused in the past as she spoke aloud for both Jack and Anna to hear.
" Was it all just an act Jack".
Veronica looked back at both of them a little surprised by her actions, but wanting desperately to know the answer. She looked him directly in the eyes so that there was no confusion about what she wanted to know and repeated her question. He reached over and placed his warm hands on hers and with much a tenderness that she had missed said,
" I never meant to hurt you Veronica, I never meant to hurt anyone,
but especially you. When I first met you, I wanted to forget my life
with Erica. When I said that I loved you that was real, it just that
what Erica I share does not go away. I have tried to forget her and
move on, but what I have realized, what we have both realized that it
takes a lot more energy try to forget our hearts than it does to give
into them. Erica and I have chosen not fight it any longer. I was
never using you to make Erica jealous, I would never do that to your
or to Erica, but on some level Veronica, I think I was hoping that
Erica would realize her true feelings for me".
She pulled away from him and the anger returned, this time it surprised even herself. As he got up, she pushed the papers on the table at Jack, and began screaming at him,
"Why Jack, why would you choose that tramp over me. I gave you
everything that I had, but that was never enough. I love you Jack, I
am the one that loves you". She just hurts people with no concern
for anyone but herself. Please, don't leave me!
She seemed desperate now; almost child like as she pleaded with him to love her. The hatred that was brewing in his heart earlier was gone and was replaced with such pity for this broken woman. He knew of her pain, the pain he had experienced every time Erica walked out on him. She was holding on to Jack with great force that concerned Anna as she reached over to pull her away from him. He brought her face to his and searched her eyes for the woman that he had known, but she was lost to him now. Jack held her in his arms and softly whispered in her ear, "please tell me that Erica is alive".
Veronica turned away from him and looked out the window that overlooked the entire Police Station. She was much calmer now almost catatonic until she caught a glimpse of a dark hair man in the entrance of the police station. Her peaceful state became frantic as she pounded her fists off the window screaming out to Dr. David Hayward. "David, you have to help me" she said, as Jack and Anna looked at each other in utter confusion.