Chapter 2

The alarm clock started blaring at 6:00 in the morning. Chris raised his hand to press the snooze button. Jessie rolled over to let him out of bed. He climbed out and went to take a shower. Five minutes later Jessie came into the washroom, brushed her teeth and poked her head into the shower to kiss him good morning.

"Want some company?" she asked

"As much as I would, I can't be late again. Dr. Petersen was none to happy the last time."

"Too bad," she pouted.

"Can I take a rain check though?"

"Alright," she said poking her head in again to give him another quick kiss.

She then proceeded to the kitchen to make the coffee. When Chris emerged from the bedroom they swapped places and while Chris made breakfast, Jessie showered. Twenty minutes later she came out of the bedroom in blue jeans, a tee shirt and her hair still damp. On the table was a bowl of fruit, yogurt and cottage cheese. They sat down and he handed her the entertainment section of the paper while he read the sports section.

"What classes do you have today?" Chris asked while they ate.

"Sociology and Anthropology," Jessie replied.

"And what do those courses have to do with your nursing diploma?"

"Absolutely nothing, I told you I need a break. I'll catch up next semester, I promise."

"Tell your parents that, I dare you. Though you're right. You do need a break. The veins in your forehead were beginning to pop last semester."

"Very funny….it was that stint I did at Riverwood Psych hospital." Then leaning towards Chris she said jokingly, "All work and no coffee make Jessie very cranky."

They burst out laughing and then got up to put their dishes away. Once that was done they went to the front door and gathered their things. Jessie made her way out to her jeep. In the driveway was also a 1966 blue mustang she and her cousin had fixed up for Chris' birthday last year. She had looked long and hard for a blue mustang to replace the one that he had smashed into Francine's car two years ago and lucked out finding a '66. She could still remember the look on his face when she brought him outside to see it. His jaw had hit the pavement and it was then that he picked her up and elated, had asked her to marry him right then and there. Of course she said yes and thus began their lengthy engagement. She waited for him to lock the door and kiss her goodbye.

"What time will you be home tonight?" she asked.

"Around 5:00."

"I'll see you then. Now remember no flirting with the nurses and play nice with the other doctors."

"I can't flirt! That goes against the cliché about doctors and nurses."

"Alright, only a little though. Oh and don't forget you need Saturday off so we can go register for the wedding," Chris gave her a look, the look of a deer caught in headlights. "And before you ask, yes you have to register with me otherwise it won't be stuff we want."

"Yes dear. I'll try. Have fun at class, and don't flirt with that Sociology T.A. either. I hear the girls talk," he joked as he got into his car.

As he drove away Jessie was the one left with smile on her face. She pulled out of the driveway and took off in the direction of the university. Just then her cell phone rang, it showed Chris' number.

"Hello," she said.

"I forgot something."

"What's that?"

"I Love You."

"I Love You too."

They both hung up the phone and smiled. After all they'd been through they had promised each other that they wouldn't part without saying those three words just in case something horrible happened. That rule had forced them to always resolve any disagreement they may have, so what if it was sappy. Jessie arrived at the university and started her daily drive around the parking lot looking for a parking spot. She didn't have to look very long; someone was waving her down saving a parking spot for her. It was her sociology T.A. James. She pulled into the spot and he greeted her at her door.

"Hey, I saw you pull in just behind me."

"Thanks, I appreciate it. Usually I'm not so lucky, takes forever to find a spot. So any surprises I should know about before class starts?" she asked while reaching in the back for her book bag.

"Not that I've been told. How is the big assignment coming?" he asked as they made their way to the building.

"I'm having a hard time with it actually."

"How come, do you need a hand?"

"There are so many areas I could explore; trying to nail one area down is driving me crazy."

"So choose something that interests you the most and you could explore the before and after. I remember I did my term project on the Cold War. It was interesting to see just how everyone involved reacted."

"I've always been fascinated with Hitler and the Holocaust. My grandfather went into one of the concentration camps after the war was over; he said it was the most difficult thing he ever faced in his lifetime."

"Run with that then, you have a first hand experience there also."

"Good idea. Here we are."

James opened the door for Jessie and let her enter first. There was no denying that he was attracted to Jessie and enjoyed the conversations that they had, but she was engaged. He had to keep that in mind, but if Chris ever hurt her, he'd be first in line to offer a shoulder to cry on.