AN: I forgot towrite my appreciation, so I'm re-posting this chapter...it's one in the morning. Ugh. Anyway! THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the support. I am so happy that ya'll think that I'm keeping Jackson and Lisa in character. I was really scared of making them too OOC. I hope this chapter is up to par as well! Thanks again!
Chapter Two
Jackson Rippner parked his black Mercedes Kompressor a few houses down from Lisa Reisert's. It was just nearing dusk, and he would look like just a regular gentlemen caller to any passer-by. He turned his car off and took a deep breath, knowing that Lisa probably wouldn't be too happy to see him. After all, she'd stabbed him in the throat with a pen, thrown various household objects at him, and shot him in the stomach…it wasn't exactly a good note to leave on.
But, the one thing he'd kept with him those eight months being away from her was the look in her eyes as he lay on the floor of her dad's home, waiting for death. He swore he saw a tear roll down her cheek; even as she dashed out to the Lux Atlantic for damage control. Before Jackson was supposed to be taken to jail, he was transported to a hospital to ensure he'd be alive for trial. He spent a month there in recovery from his fatal wounds, and then had miraculously escaped and hopped the first flight to London. He spent another month in speech therapy before moving France for some more hits. Jackson hadn't come back to the states until Halloween, and that is when he'd heard some interesting news about Lisa.
As he approached her house, he noticed the BMW Z-5 parked in Lisa's driveway. This was perhaps going to be more difficult than he anticipated. He wondered if he should just come back later, when it was dark and Lisa would be asleep. He could just sit by her bedside and watch her sleep like he had done so many times before. But he couldn't wait any longer…
It had been eight months…and Jackson hungered for the feel of Lisa's skin against his own. He was obsessed with every part of her being. He paused and stood in front of her house before actually walking to the front door. He turned the knob, and to his surprise, it was unlocked. He was slightly taken aback by the fact that she'd re-adjusted so quickly.
A wave of relief washed over him as he realized she wasn't anywhere in earshot. Her house looked much the same as it had been during the months he'd observed her. The pictures…the furniture…everything. It's insanely clean as always, he mused. It was then he heard Lisa; she was singing. Jackson carefully made his way upstairs, being painfully quiet, just wanting a glimpse of her…and then he would come back later when she was alone. He prayed that he wouldn't run into her "friend." Her door was almost all the way closed, but he could hear her words clear as day. Jackson had heard Lisa sing casually before, but this was so different. There was so much...happiness to her tone...it was almost wistful. He noted her soft, breathy tone. He peered through the small crack. She was singing to reflection in the mirror. She'd obviously just showered- her hair still in a towel. She wore red sleeveless dress (though it was mid November, it was still 70 degrees in Florida.) He moved quickly away as Lisa turned around to face the door. What Jackson saw took his breath away; there stood Lisa Reisert with a protruding stomach and a heavenly glow. He watched as she ran her hands over the bump, still singing to it. He trembled slightly. So it was true. Everything he'd heard…
"I'm so sorry you'll never know your daddy …" she sighed and he saw a tear run down her face as she sat on her bed. Jackson's heart stopped beating. It was hisWell, there hadn't really been much doubt in his mind. It had been the first thought that had smugly come to him when he'd gotten word of the pregnancy. And why not? It was perfectly logical: she looked to be about eight months along and that was how long it had been since he'd their bathroom encounter. She was too much of a loner to be seeing anyone else. Lisa was carrying his child.
"Leese, are you ok?" he heard a male voice say. His jaw tensed up. It was then he saw a blonde man step out of Lisa's bathroom. She looked up at the man and smiled, wiping away the tear.
"Yeah, I'm fine…it's these silly hormones," she faked a smile. Jackson wanted to go to her so badly. He also wanted to choke the blonde man for even looking at Lisa. No doubt this guy was sticking around taking care of her and hoping to become a father figure for Jackson's child. The thought made his blood boil. He would deal with this obstacle soon enough, but first; he had to think of a way to surprise dearest Lisa.