I
don't own any of the Higher Ground characters except Jessie and Dani,
and Juliette's unborn baby. I don't own the song 'All At Once' by
Whitney Houston.
"You sing really well," Jessie
said to Shelby.
Shelby blushed noticeably. "Thanks. I didn't know I had an audience."
Scott walked over to Dani. "She looks so much like you," he commented.
Juliette cleared her throat, seeing Shelby's discomfort. "We should get back," she said. "We promised Sophie we'd help her with dinner."
"You guys go ahead," Shelby said shooting Juliette a grateful look. "I need to stay here and keep an eye on Danielle."
Scott and Jessie followed Juliette out of the cabin. Shelby sat down beside her sleeping daughter. "It's amazing,' she whispered into the emptiness. "Even after all these years, he still makes my heart flutter when he walks into a room."
Later that evening, Scott sat in Peter's office taking a business call. He hung up the phone and sighed. If things kept up the way they were going, he was going to have gray hair before he turned thirty.
The door opened and Jessie stepped in. Scott looked up and stifled another sigh. Jessie had undone several buttons on her business suit and had taken her hair out of the bun it was in. She set a small stack of papers on the desk.
"These were faxed to you a few minutes ago," she said in a throaty voice. He mumbled something inaudible. She perched herself on the desk, lifting her skirt a little higher off her knee.
"Will that be all?" Her voice hinted that she had more to give him, but he doubted it was business related.
"No, Jessie, that's all," he said, never looking up from the file he was reading.
She came around the desk and sat on his lap. She tossed the folder aside. "There used to be a time when you wanted more," she said, stroking his cheek with her long nails suggestively. "Remember how much fun we had?"
Scott forced her off his lap. "I have work to do, Jessie," he said in an all-business tone. "I told you, it's strictly professional from now on."
She muttered a few choice words and stomped out. Scott pulled out a mirror and started checking his hair for gray.
Shelby was still in the cabin a few hours after she put Dani down. She couldn't believe Dani had slept for two and a half hours. At home, Shelby was lucky if she slept for an hour.
She flicked on the radio as an idea came into her head.
Up in Peter's office, Scott flicked on the radio. He became silent as he listened to Shelby's voice.
I'd like to request a song. I'm seeing people this week that I haven't seen in years. People who are very special to me.
Well, Shelby, are any of these people past loves, by any chance?
One of them, yes. I'd just like you to play something that fits.
The DJ promised to do his best and soft music filled the room. Scott leaned back in the chair thoughtfully.
All at once
I'm drifting on a lonely
sea
Holding on to memories
And it hurts me more than you
know
So much more than it shows
All at once
All at once
I'm
drifting on a lonely sea
Wishing you'd come back to me
And it
hurts me more than you know
So much more than it shows
All at
once
And that's all that matters now
All at once
I'm
drifting on a lonely sea
Holding on to memories
And it hurts me
more than you know
So much more than it shows
All at
once
Scott rubbed his chin. So Shelby still felt something for him. He had to admit it was a mutual thing. Ezra came into the office.
"Oh, sorry," he said. "I didn't know you were still in here." He started to back out, but Scott stopped him.
"That's OK," he said getting up. "I have to go see someone anyway."
