A Fresh Start
Chapter Twenty Three
The man standing beside Sam's car is tall with dark green eyes, dark hair and no scar on his right cheek and he sort of reminds her of Jeffrey. Sam sighs, a sigh of relief as the man spoke. "I'm trying to reach the Memorial Hospital."
"Oh, okay." Sam says, standing up and turning. "You need to get back on the main road, go left, two blocks, turn right, go three blocks and the hospital will be on you right." Sam says, as the man nods.
"Thank you so much." He says, walking way.
Sam gets back in the car and closes the door, starting it, after she buckles her seat belt. A few minutes later, she pulls into the parking lot at the hotel. Jeffrey is laying down when she walks into the room. Sitting up as she puts the grocery bag on the bed, she lays down beside him as she kicks her sandals off. "Are you okay?" He asks, turning to her.
"I'm fine." She replies, looking up at him.
"Did you see him when you left the agency?"
"No."
"Are you sure it was the guy Reva described?"
"No, I only saw the bottom half of his right cheek and I couldn't see what color his hair was. It just freaked me out when I saw the scar. I had a strange feeling driving over there."
"You had a strange feeling, what do you mean?"
"I felt like I was being watched." Sam says, rolling to her side.
"Did you notice anything?"
"No not really, just the cars behind me. There was a dark sedan behind me, but I couldn't see the driver."
"Could you see anything else?"
"No, it was nothing Jeffrey." She says, reaching up to wipe away the frown lines on his forehead, just my imagination working over time."
"How are Richard and Cassie?"
"They are fine. They were leaving the center as I was leaving so we walked out together. I do have to tell you something?"
"Okay."
"I turned in my resignation to Dr. Frost and I emailed a copy to the director."
"Tonight!"
"Yes." Sam says, smiling at the shocked expression on his face.
"But I thought you wanted to take some time and think about it."
"I want to think about moving in with you. I don't need to think about moving to Springfield. I'll have time to think about us living together when I come back to pack everything up and take care of things here."
"Okay." He says, leaning over and kissing her. Noticing the bag out of the corner of his eye, sitting back he looks over and asks. "What's in the bag?"
"Oh, that." Sam says, reaching for the bag and pulling out a bottle of chocolate syrup. "That's for later." She says, reaching over him and putting it on the nightstand.
"Later, how much later?" Jeffrey asks, remembering another time with chocolate syrup.
"I don't know, it depends."
"On what?"
"On how… She reaches up and pulls him down beside her, "much fun you want to have." She finishes, kissing him as he puts an arm across her waist.
"Sam." He whispers, leaning back after a few minutes. She smiles up at him "You're going to wear me out." He says
"Are you complaining?" She asks with a smile.
"No." he says, leaning over her again, kissing her softly as he reaches for her t-shirt, his hand slipping underneath, and resting against her stomach. He feels her breathing deepen
She sighs softly when she feels his touch. Moving to sit up, she breaks the kiss. Crossing her arms, she pulls the t-shirt up and over her head, tossing it to the floor as she watches him, watching, while he slowly caresses her with his eyes.
"You're beautiful." He says, as she lies back down, kissing him
"You're not so bad yourself."
Taking her hand and pulling her towards him, he kisses her softly as she lies across his chest. Running his fingers through her hair, he sighs at the softness of it as he places his arm across her back, holding her tightly, his tongue slipping inside to play with hers. She moves to straddle him, smiling as he gasps when their bodies touch.
Moving to her neck, he kisses her softly as he moves up to her ear. Nibbling as she kisses the side of his neck and she feels him swallow as he buries his fingers in her hair, holding her against him for a couple minutes before he releases her and wraps his arms around her. Reaching for the clasp of her bra, he unhooks it before he stops her caresses by pushing her upright.
Braced against his chest, she stares down at him as he slowly runs his hands up her back to her shoulders, brushing the straps of the bra off her shoulders and down her arms until it falls between them. Reaching for it as she lifts her hands, he tosses it to the floor and then places his hands at her waist for a couple seconds before she moves back. Reaching for his sweatpants, she pulls on them as he arches his hips, helping her push them down his legs until they are at his feet, pulling them off and dropping them on the floor. Glancing up, she can see the shape of his erection through his boxers, leaning over she kisses him softly. "AH! Sam." He groans. As she sit up he watches her as she slowly caresses him with her eyes. She moves to lean over him but he stops her.
"The jeans." He whispers, glancing down at her jeans.
Sitting up and kneeling between his legs she reaches for the snap, unsnapping them she reaches for the zipper, pulling it down, watching him shiver at the sound of the metal scrapping together. Pushing down, as he sits up, reaching for her mouth, kissing her as he reaches to help her, pushing and tugging till they have the jeans to her knees, when his hand slips between her legs.
She almost collapses when he touches her, caressing her. "Jeffrey." She sighs, wrapping her arms around him to keep from falling as her hips slowly rocks against his hand. "Oh J." she sighs "I want you." She whispers as his hand slips under her panties. Her body is flooded with intense waves of desire. "Oh god! Baby please!" she groans, as his fingers slip inside her, caressing her.
"You want it?" he whispers, kissing her as he caresses her.
"Yes, oh, please!" She cries. "J." she whispers. He reaches for her strumming her desire like he strums his guitar. "I feel it." She whispers, feeling her body closing around his fingers, pulling him deeper. "J." She groans again, as wave after wave of desire fills her.
Pushing her to her back, he leans over her, kissing her, as he continues to tug on her jeans and then her panties, tossing them both to the floor. Reaching for his boxers, her hand slips inside, freeing and caressing him. He feels weak as her hand closes around him. "Sam." He groans, rocking his hips with her caress.
She slowly moves her way down his body as he kneels over her. Kissing his chest, she stops for a few seconds to caress him and then she moves on, dipping her tongue in his navel. He feels a staggering wave of desire course through him. She can smell the desire burning inside him. Slowly her mouth replaces her hand, caressing him as he clinches tightly to the comforter while she takes him as deep as she can. "Sam." He groans "Oh!"
Softly licking him, she slowly runs the tip of her tongue over his erection, smiling as she feels him shudder. Taking him deep again, she feels him losing control when he pulls away. Tugging the boxers off, he reaches for her as she moves up, kissing him. Wrapping his arms around her, he rolls to his side, lifting one leg; he puts it across his hips as he slips inside her. "Oh, J!" She cries, taking him as deep as she can.
Slowly they rock, as he pulls her against him. "You feel so good, so tight, and so hot."
"Deeper, J, deeper." Sam sighs moving closer to him and he slips deeper inside her, brushing against that special place deep inside her. "Oh yes, yes, yes." Sam cries, feeling the desire building inside her
"Let go." Jeffrey whispers, kissing the side of her neck.
The feel of his hot breath against her skin, and the feel of his body caressing hers pushes her over the edge, arching her hips; she takes him deeper, holding him tightly as wave upon wave of passion floods her body. He feels her tightening around him.
"Yes Beca." He whispers, still thrusting against her tightening hips. As the final wave caresses him, he lets go, wrapping his arms around her as he feels desire rushing through him. His release brings another wave of desire flooding through her.
In the aftermath, they cling to each other. Holding each other, gasping for breath. Their breath feels cool against each other's skin. Slowly they come back to reality. Looking down at her, Jeffrey whispers. "I don't think we need the chocolate syrup."
"Maybe not, but it'll be fun anyway." Sam say, kissing the center of his chest. He feels the sparks of desire, flash inside him.
"Not right now, I've got to catch my breath." Jeffrey says, rolling to his back as she moves in beside him, laying her head on his shoulder, one arm across his waist, and one leg thrown across his.
She whispers "I love you so much Jeffrey O'Neill."
"I love you too." He says, kissing her forehead.
When Richard and Cassie's car pulls up to the door at the embassy, one of the guards walk over to it, opening the door, he helps Cassie from the car and then steps back as Richard exits the car. The guard stares for a couple seconds before he can find his voice and says. "Sir" as he snaps to attention.
"It's okay. You're not seeing a ghost." Richard says.
"But Sir, I was there, at your funeral." He says, still staring.
"It was his twin brother." Cassie says, as Richard looks over at her.
"His twin?" The guard asks, looking back and forth between them.
"Yes. Now we really need to get inside. He needs to rest." Cassie says, walking up the steps to the front doors of the embassy. As they approach the door another guard opens it for them. Standing back, he stares as Richard and Cassie walk into the embassy. One of the maids is walking by and Cassie stops her. "Could you go upstairs and get a warm bath ready? And make sure our room is ready."
"Yes ma'am." The maid replies, watching Richard walk into the library.
He is standing in the middle of the room, watching, as Cassie walks in. For a couple minutes they stand there watching each other before he says. "I didn't think about asking this, but what you said out there, about the twin. There's no possible way that can be true."
"I thought you knew already. I thought maybe Noah or Jeffrey told you."
"Of course I don't know. I would know this. My father would have told me."
"Given everything else that Prince George didn't tell you, are you sure about that?" Cassie says, walking over to one of the couches
"How could I possibly have a twin? Why wouldn't I know?" Richard asks, turning to look her.
"It was part of the deal your father made with your mother when you were born. He would take you and she would take your brother and they would both leave the country."
"But she wasn't expected to live, according to Charlotte's letter."
"Apparently she did, and she moved to a town outside of Chicago."
"I don't understand." Richard says, shaking his head
"Here, sit down and I'll try to explain." Cassie says, patting the cushion beside her, walking over to the couch Richard sits down. "A few weeks before you went to Chicago, two agents saw a man that looked exactly like you there, and in fact they thought is was you until they checked with Washington and found out that you were still in Springfield, they followed him for a few days until he had a car accident. His accident was much more severe than yours and he was pronounced brain dead a few days after the accident."
"But how does that involve me?"
"The agents left him there. And then when you had your accident, the agency sent agents to Cedars to see how severe your accident was and when they realized that your injuries weren't life threatening but well beyond the scope of Cedar's doctors they approached your brother's family and asked them to turn his body over to them, they agreed."
"But how did they find out that he was my brother? There are people in this world that resemble each other. It doesn't mean they are related."
"They had a DNA test done. You were a perfect match, 100% compatible."
"So the life support that Reva turned off was my brother's."
"Yes, after you asked Reva to turn your life support off the agents switched you with your brother. It was your brother's heart that was given to Rick."
"Rick."
"Yes, when you died Rick needed a heart transplant, your… your brother's heart matched perfectly."
"What happened after that?"
"We had your funeral." Cassie says, her tone changing.
"What are you not telling me?"
"I'm not proud of this but when they told me that Reva had been the one that turned off your life support, I was furious at you and at her. Edmund was too and he convinced me to pursue charges against Reva for murder."
"But Cassie, I had a living will. I didn't want extensive measures taken to keep me alive."
"I didn't know that."
"Edmund did?"
"Yes, I know. I figured that out eventually. After Edmund had your original will destroyed, I had a forgery made, and Doris was forced to drop the charges."
"How did you find out about my brother?"
"Jeffrey. He explained everything when he came to San Cristobel to tell me you were alive the week before you woke up."
"I had a twin brother. My father had another son he never acknowledged. My mother survived after we were born. Why didn't he contact them after Princess Charlotte died?"
"Maybe he did, maybe he thought she hadn't survived. Maybe your mother begged him to leave your brother out of palace life and to leave them out of his life. I don't know." Cassie says, taking his hand.
"I can't believe I had a twin brother and I never knew it." Richard says, looking over at her.
"I'm sorry, you never knew him."
"What about his family? Do you know where they are?"
"No, but I'm sure Jeffrey does or the agency."
"I want to find them. I want to know them."
"We can talk to Jeffrey and Noah."
"Okay." Richard says, nodding.
"I'm going to go take a hot bath. Do you want to come up with me?"
"No, I think I'll sit down here for a while."
"Okay." She says, leaning over they hug before she leaves the library.
Reva is sitting in the living room at Cross Creek when Josh walks in. Looking up, she smiles as he walks over to her. "So are you over your pout?" She asks, as he sits down beside her.
"I wasn't pouting Reva."
"You were. I don't know what you have against Jeffrey, maybe you're still jealous of Richard and Jeffrey reminds you of him. I don't know, but he's my friend and he's Cassie's friend and he's Richard's friend as well."
"He was Richard's friend and I'm not jealous of him. He hurt Cassie deeply with the stuff in San Cristobel…."
"And don't you think that if Cassie can forgive him, maybe you ought to as well. I don't want to talk about Jeffrey anyway. I have something I need to tell you, a couple of things actually."
"So, you're going to tell me why you ran out on me and went to help Jeffrey O'Neill."
"I told you that already. He is a friend, he needed help. I went." Reva says, frustrated at Josh's attitude. "This is something else. I want you to listen to me and don't interrupt me until I'm finished."
"Okay."
"First is that I have to take a couple trips. I'm leaving tonight. The first one is to the Inn out on Route 19. I have to meet Jonathan there." Josh starts to say something but Reva holds her hand up to stop him. "He's not dead. He and Sarah are alive. They have been all along. After Tammy died, Jonathan realized that Alan was never going to give up on getting Sarah away from him and he would never be able to control his anger towards Alan for killing Tammy and he also realized that he was all Sarah had. He had to take care of her, so he faked their deaths.
Until a few months ago, I had only seen him, one last time at his bar, just a few hours after he was supposedly killed. A few months ago, Colin contacted me about Sarah. She was severely anemic, so anemic in fact that she needed a bone marrow transplant, so I kidnapped Lizzie because she was the best match for Sarah and we extracted bone marrow from her and then covered up the incision with a tattoo. It wasn't just a party weekend that weekend, I was saving Sarah's life and up until today that was the last contact I had with them."
Forgetting about that she asked him not to ask questions till she was finished, Josh asks. "So, why did you contact him today? You know what Alan…."
"Yes, I know what Alan will do if he finds out that they are alive, but the situation has changed and we have support we weren't counting on or considering."
"What support?"
"Richard." Reva says.
"Richard is dead?" Josh replies, looking at her as if she might have lost her mind.
"I haven't lost my mind and he's not dead. He's alive, he's been alive for the last five years."
"Reva, there is no way that Richard is alive. You turned off his life support."
"It's too complicated of a story to tell you right now. I've got to get to the Inn, but he is alive. I saw him when I was in Washington with Jeffrey."
"How did I know Jeffrey O'Neill would have something to do with this? You can not trust the man; look what he did to Cassie."
"Would you get over Cassie, Jeffrey is a good man. And it wasn't just Jeffrey that told me, Sam was there too."
"Who the hell is Sam?"
"Sam is Jeffrey's former partner and girlfriend. I also saw Richard with my own eyes. I touch him. I talked to him. Cassie was there. It is Richard. He is alive and he's the reason I'll be making these trips. I'll be using the Lewis jet to take Jonathan and Sarah to Washington. What will happen from there I don't know?"
"No, you're not!" Josh says, looking over at her, his eyes flashing with determination.
"Excuse me."
"I said you're not going. I'm not going to watch you put yourself is some desperate situation that Jeffrey O'Neill created. I won't allow you to be drawn into whatever game he is playing."
"This has nothing to do with Jeffrey. Neither he, nor anyone else knows that Jonathan is alive. This is Richard's and my son. I will protect him and my grandchild from Alan." Reva says, standing up and walking over to the fireplace. I am sick and tired of you trying to control me, change me. How long have you known me Joshua Lewis?"
"Sometimes too long."
"If that's the way you feel then you can leave again. But I will protect my family." Reva says, turning she walks over to the stairs.
"Reva."
"No, I'm going to the Inn. I'm going to get my son and granddaughter and I'm taking them to Richard and Cassie. I will be back in few days." She says, walking upstairs to pack as Josh stares after her.
"Damn it Reva, I won't let you run off on some wild goose chance that Jeffrey O'Neill has concocted, Richard or no Richard, Jonathan or no Jonathan." He says, picking up the phone, he dials the number to the pilot. "Chris." Josh says, just as Reva comes downstairs. "I need you to do something for me?"
"Yes sir, Mr. Lewis."
"If my wife contacts you about using…." Reva pulls the phone out of Josh's hand and hangs up. "Reva, what are you doing?" He demands
"I should ask you the same thing. Don't Josh, don't try to stop me." She says, picking up her suit case and walking out with him following after her.
"Damn it Reva, why do you have to go off on another wild goose chase? Why do you always think you have to be right in the middle of something?"
"I'm in the middle because this is my son, my granddaughter and Richard can protect them like no one else can."
"How, up until… whenever we thought he was dead, how is Richard going to protect Jon and Sarah from Alan Spaulding, not that I believe that this guy is truly Richard?"
"It's him!" Reva snaps. "And the way he can protect Sarah and Jon is that he is still a member of the Royal Family, as is Jon and Sarah for that matter. And I don't know about you but royalty usually trumps the Spaulding's. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a long drive and I need to be at the Inn before Jon and Sarah arrive." Reva says, putting her bags in the car, she leaves a few minutes later with Josh watching her.
About two hours later, Reva pulls into the parking lot of the Inn. Walking in, she checks the parking lot for any out of state tags, but everyone seems to be from out of state so she has no way of knowing if Jon and Sarah have already arrived. Walking up to the front desk, she waits until the clerk finishes with another customer before she steps up the counter.
"I would like a room please." Reva says, as she put her purse on the counter.
"Yes ma'am, how long will you be staying?"
"Only one night." Reva says, as the clerk hands her a card to fill out. "My son and granddaughter will be joining me." She says, as she hands the card back to the clerk.
"Yes ma'am. We have a room up on the third floor that will be big enough for all of you." The clerk says, as Reva pulls out her credit card and hands it to the clerk.
"That sounds fine. Have there been any young men with a baby come through?"
"No, but I've just started my shift. I can check to see if any came on before my shift."
"No, that's okay. I'm sure I'm the first one here." Reva says, taking the room key and walking away. She was a few steps from the counter when the clerk asks. "Mrs. Lewis, what is your son's name?"
"Jon Winslow." Reva replies, before she walks upstairs to the room.
About an hour later, Jonathan arrives with Sarah. He looks around the parking lot until he spots Reva's car. Walking into the Inn, he walks up to the counter with Sarah.
"Yes, may I help you?"
"I'm meeting my mom here and I saw her car in the parking lot." Jonathan says.
"Yes Sir, her name?" The clerk asks.
"Reva Lewis."
"Yes, she on the third floor, room 32."
"Thank you." Jon says walking towards the stairs with Sarah in his arms and their luggage slung across his other shoulder.
Reva is sitting on the couch over looking the private garden when someone knocks on her door, getting up she walks over to the door she whispers. "Jon, is that you?"
"Yes, let me in?" He replies, looking around to make sure that no one sees him or Sarah.
Unlocking the door, she opens it. There are tears in her eyes when she sees them. "You'll have time to cry when I get inside." Jon says taking a step toward the door as Reva steps back, closing the door once they're in the room.
"Let me hold her." Reva says, holding her arms out for Sarah as Jon starts to ask what is going on. "I'll explain everything but I need to hold my grandbaby." Reva says, as Jon hands her Sarah.
"Oh, you've gotten so big." Reva says, holding Sarah close to her.
"She's six months old now, going on seven and very independent, just like her grandmother." Jon says, watching them.
"She's so soft. And she looks healthy."
"She's doing a lot better since the transplant. She's gaining weight and growing. Colin is very pleased with her progress."
"Yes, he told me." Reva says, as Sarah starts to fuss.
"I think I need to put her down. We've been driving for hours."
"Alright." Reva says, handing her back to Jon. "The bed is through there." She says, pointing to a door way across the room. Jon leaves with Sarah as Reva walks back over to the couch. A few minutes later, he returns.
Sitting down beside his mother he turns to her and asks. "What is this about Mom? Why did you send for us?"
"I have very good news. We don't have to worry about Alan anymore."
"Why not? Did he die? Is he locked up?"
"No."
"Then what's changed. He will not rest until he has her back if he knows Sarah is alive."
"I know, but we have someone in our corner now, someone that outweighs Alan Spaulding and the Spaulding family."
"Who?"
"You're father."
"My father, Alfred and Richard are both dead so they have no pull with the Spaulding's…."
"Richard does and he's not dead."
"Of course he is. I saw his grave. It's not far from Tammy's."
"He's not dead, I saw him with my own eyes. I touched him. I talked to him. I saw him with Cassie. Jon, he is alive and he wants to see you and Sarah."
"See us!"
"Yes, he's going to help with Alan."
"How is he going to help with Alan?"
"He's still a member of the Royal Family, as are you and Sarah. Being a member of the royal family offers you protection that we didn't think about before. Richard wants you to bring Sarah to the embassy in Washington. You will be safe there. Alan can't touch you."
"Yes, he can. He has people everywhere."
"The Embassy is the sovereign ground of San Cristobel. The laws of San Cristobel apply there. If Alan finds out you're there, you have the royal family of San Cristobel in your corner. That outweighs any clout that the Spaulding's may have."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes, I should have thought of it sooner." Reva says, taking Jonathan's hand. "If we can get you to Washington, you and Sarah both will be safe. Alan can't touch you. We'll figure out what to do from there."
"Okay, when do we go?"
"I think we need to stay here for tonight. I'll call the pilot and have him have the Lewis jet ready for first thing in the morning."
"Okay." Jon says, looking away.
Reaching out, she lightly caresses his cheek while she asks. "What are you thinking?"
"I was just thinking that I'm going to see my father tomorrow. I haven't seen him since I was a kid. What will he think?"
"He'll be very proud of the man you've become."
"Did you tell him about Tammy?"
"No, Cassie did. He's upset about that."
"Does he know about us?"
"I'm sure he does."
"Does he know about what happen when I first came to Springfield?"
"I don't know."
"How did he survive?"
"It's a long complicated story, but apparently it was his twin brother's life support that I turned off that day. The agency that Jeffrey worked for switched them and he's been in the agencies hospital for the last five years in a coma."
"I wish Tammy was here for this. She missed Richard so much." Jon says, reaching up to wipe away a tear.
"I know she did, but she would be happy that you're going to get to know him. And that Sarah will know her grandpa. I think we better get some sleep. We need to get and early start tomorrow morning."
"Okay." Jon says, standing up. Turning he leans down and hugs Reva. "I love you Mom."
"I love you too." Reva says, hugging him back before he goes into the room where Sarah is sleeping.
When the door closes behind him, Reva pulls her cell phone from her purse. She dials the number for pilot after a couple rings he picks up.
"Hello."
"Chris, its Reva Lewis."
"Hi, Mrs. Lewis. How can I help you?"
"I need you to have the Lewis jet fueled and ready to leave tomorrow morning. I'll be flying back to Washington."
"I'm sorry Mrs. Lewis, but Mr. Lewis called and specifically ordered me not to take you anywhere in the jet."
"He did, when?"
"A couple hours ago ma'am."
"Listen to me Chris; you will take me to Washington in the morning. I will be at the airport no later than eight o'clock. You had better be there."
"What about Mr. Lewis?"
"I'll handle Josh, you be at the airport, with the Lewis jet fueled, flight plan filed and ready to go. Do you understand?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Thank you." Reva says, before she hangs up. Taking a couple of calming breaths, she dials the number for the hospital only to find out that Richard has been released, she then calls information and gets the number for the San Cristobel Embassy and has the operator connect the calls. After a couple rings, one of the guards answers the phone.
"The Embassy of San Cristobel."
"Yes, I need to speak to Richard please."
"May I ask who is calling?"
"Reva Lewis."
"Yes ma'am, I'll see if he's available."
The guard lays the phone down on the desk. Walking over to the library door, he looks inside. Richard was still sitting on the couch where Cassie left him. "Excuse me Sir there is a call for you."
"For me?" Richard asks, looking up.
"Yes sir, A Reva Lewis."
"Yes, thank you. I'll take it in here." Richard replies, getting up he walks over to the desk and picks up the phone, pushing one of the buttons he says. "Hello, Reva."
"Yes Richard, it's me."
"Did you find him?"
"Yes, he's here along with Sarah."
"Can I talk to him?"
"He's asleep. We'll be flying in tomorrow morning on the Lewis jet."
"I'll have one of the cars meet you at the airport. Is he okay?"
"He's fine. Tired, I think he's nervous about meeting you."
"And my granddaughter?"
"She's as cute as a button. She's grown so much."
"I'll see you in the morning." Richard replies, just before he hangs up. Turning, he sees Cassie standing in the door way.
23.12