A Fresh Start
Chapter Twenty Eight
When they left the country club, Sam leans back against Jeffrey, laying her head on his shoulder while they ride through town. When they pull up in front of the building, he opens the door. "Thank you." He says, as he looks down and finds that Sam has fallen asleep. "Sam." He whispers, shaking her gently. "Come on." He says when she wakes up, helping her from the car. When Jeffrey closes the door to the cruiser, Officer Jenkins leaves. Opening the door to the loft, Jeffrey steps back allowing her to walk in and then closes the door after them. Following Sam into the kitchen, he asks "Are you hungry?" when she walks over to the refrigerator.
"A little bit." Sam says, closing the door.
"I can go get us something."
"No, I don't need to eat this late." Sam says, walking over to him "And besides you're tired."
"I can…."
"No, it's okay." She says, leaning in to kiss him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
She walks out of the kitchen. Sitting down on the couch, she looks out on Springfield as Jeffrey sits down beside her.
"Did you have a good time tonight?" He asks, picking up her feet. Slipping her heels off, he begins to rub her feet.
"Yeah." She says, sitting back and laying her head against the back of the couch, watching him.
"What did you think of the people?"
"Everyone was okay. You already know what I thought of Alan."
"Yes." He says, nodding as he reaches for the other foot. "And Rick and Beth."
"Rick; seems sad, almost pathetic and Beth she's self absorbed."
"I never saw her that way, but I suppose you're right."
"You know her, know her." Sam asks, looking over at him.
"Yes, we dated for a little bit when I first came to Springfield. It didn't last that long."
"Why?"
"She was… she wanted too much."
"More than you were willing to give her."
"Yes. What about everyone else? I saw you talking with Billy Lewis."
"Yes, now I like him. He and I can relate."
"He is a good ole country boy from Oklahoma, and completely different than his brother."
"I thought he was charming, maybe a little pious but I like Josh."
"You liked Josh."
"Yes, now I loved Reva. We would have fun. Everyone else was alright." Sam says, shrugging her shoulders as she yawns.
"I think we need to go to bed." Jeffrey says standing and helping her up. "You're tired."
"Is that the only reason you want to go to bed?" Sam asks as they walk upstairs
"Yes, it is."
A few minutes later, Jeffrey walks back into the bedroom. Sam is already in bed. "Is everything locked up?"
"Yes." He says, pulling back the sheet and laying down beside her.
Moving over beside him, she lays her head on his shoulder as he pulls the sheet up. "Will you sing to me?" Sam asks, laying her hand across his waist, snuggling closer to him.
"What do you want to hear?"
"I don't care." Sam says, shrugging her shoulders.
Softly he begins to hum before he starts to sing. Closing her eyes, she sighs softly, listening to him and feeling the rhythm of his and her breathing. A few minutes later, after he finishes the song, he looks down and smiles. Leaning over, he kisses her forehead before he closes his eyes.
Ava walks for hours through the harbor district after she left the palace. She knows William is probably worried about her, but she had to get out of that palace. She needed to think. Did she want to keep this baby? "Yes, that much I know." She says to herself as she walks by children's store. Stopping, she walks over the window.
In the window are a baby's crib, stroller, changing table, and rocker. Closing her eyes, she tries to imagine herself sitting in the rocker, holding a baby, maybe feeding him or her. She tries to imagine William with her, being at the palace. It all seems to be someone else's life. Turning away from the window, she starts to walk again, heading back to the palace.
After Ava left, William tries to focus on the stuff he left on his desk the day before, but his mind keeps drifting back to Ava and the baby. Getting up, he walks over to the window, the sun set about thirty minutes ago and Ava still wasn't back. When she had left his office, he asks the guard to notify him when she comes back to the palace.
Going back to his desk, he sits down. Picking up a piece of paper, he looks at it and then puts it down. Getting up, he leaves the office, walking out of the palace and down to the beach. He finds a spot and sits down. Listening to the waves come ashore.
"I'm going to be a father." He whispers, looking up at the stars, automatically picking out the North Star and the Big Dipper along with the Southern Cross and other constellations. He was still sitting there when Ava walks up behind him
"William." She says softly He turns, seeing her behind him he stands up as she walks up to him. "I'm sorry I ran off like that. But I felt the walls closing in on me and I had to think."
"It's okay. I was being a bit presumptuous to think you would come down here to live. I don't want to force anything on you. And I know neither one of us were prepared for this."
"No, we weren't. But you're the father of this baby. You deserve to know him or her." Ava says, sitting down in the sand and pulling her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "How this is going to work out I have no idea?"
"The first thing we need to decide; and I don't want to upset you by asking this question, but do you want to keep this baby? I know…."
"Yes." Ava says, looking at him.
"Okay, good." William says, breathing a little easier.
"Did you think I didn't?"
"I didn't know for sure, after what you said at the Palace about Spaulding and Springfield. I wasn't sure."
"I…. I guess I did sound a bit selfish when I went off up there." Ava says, sighing she looks out at the ocean.
"Will you tell me what has you worried?"
Turning she looks at him for a few seconds before she replies. "All this." She says, nodding towards the palace. "I don't know if I'm princess material. And don't tell me that it doesn't factor into this. If the people find out about this, they'll expect a wedding."
"They would if I didn't already have an heir, but I have Will. That takes some of the pressure off of us."
"And what happens if something happens to Will?" Ava asks
"Nothing is going to happen to Will. He's sick right now…."
"Sick."
"Yes, he caught an infection and since he's had liver problems before the doctor's are being cautious by admitting him to the hospital. They're giving him antibiotics for the infection and are monitoring him now, but the doctor's seem positive that he'll make a full recovery."
"When did this happen?"
"Last night. When I came back from a state function his nanny met me and told me that he was running a high temp and when I went to the nursery I noticed that he was jaundiced a little so I took him to the hospital."
"That's where you were when I arrived?"
"Yes, I stayed last night and today, until Richard and Cassie arrived and then I came back to the palace."
"Richard and Cassie are down here?"
"Yes, Dr. Simon suggested that I contact Cassie, since she is Will's mother."
"If he's going to recover why would he tell you to call his mother? She was busy in Washington DC."
"I don't know, maybe because of Will's history as an infant, as a precaution."
"Okay." Ava says, turning back to the water.
"Are you going to stay on the island?"
"I have to get back to Spaulding. Alan has a big conference call scheduled with some investors in China. He wants me there."
"Will you promise me that you'll go see your doctor as soon as you get to Springfield and you'll call me and tell me everything that she says?"
"I'll go and I promise." Ava says, as they both stand up.
Putting his arm across her shoulders, he says "You know it's too late for you to fly back tonight. Why don't you stay at the palace and I'll have the jet fly you back tomorrow morning?"
"Okay." Ava replies as they walk up path to the palace.
After leaving the light house, Olivia goes back to the Beacon, arriving in time to put Emma to bed. Simmons leaves after her, pulling out his cell phone he dials the number to his man in Washington DC, after a couple rings he picks up.
"Yeah."
"It's me, the job has changed. I need you to come to Springfield. Check into the Springfield Inn when you get into town and then call me. I'll tell you the details when you get here."
"What about the girl?"
"Forget about the girl, the target's changed." Simmons says, hanging up the phone as he walks across the parking lot of the Beacon.
Jeffrey is up early the next morning. He went to Company, got breakfast, stopping at a florist stand around the corner from the loft. Opening the door quietly, he closes it and then walks into the kitchen. He takes the food out and puts it on plates, putting the plates on a tray he's about to leave the kitchen when Sam walks in. "J" She mumbles, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Go back upstairs." He says, turning around so she can't see what he's doing.
"What?"
"Go back upstairs." He says, turning her around and walking her towards the door to the kitchen.
"Jeffrey, what are you doing?"
"Go upstairs." He says, standing in the doorway as she looks back at him. "Please." He says, nodding towards the stairs.
"Alright." She says, walking back upstairs.
When he's sure that she's upstairs and not standing on the steps waiting for him to go back into the kitchen he walks over to the counter, picking up the tray he carries it upstairs. She's sitting on the bed, watching the door way when he walks in. "Get back under the covers." He says, walking over to the bed.
"J"
"Go on." He says, waiting as she slips back under the covers
When she's back under the covers, he walks back out into the hallway. Picking up the tray he walks back into their bedroom. Sitting the tray on the bed, he says. "Don't touch anything." As he runs back downstairs, grabbing the bouquet of lavender roses he runs back upstairs.
She's still sitting up with the tray across her lap. The covers are still in place when he walks in with his hands behind him. Walking over to the bed, he leans over. Kissing her softly, he brings out the flowers. "These are for you." He says, sitting down on the bed.
"They're beautiful." She says, taking the bouquet and burying her face in them. Inhaling the warm scent of sunshine and the sweet scent of roses, smiling, she looks up at him. "Why?"
"Because I wanted too, and because I love you and because you are as beautiful as these roses." He says, leaning over and kissing her again.
When he sits back she says. "Thank you. I love them."
"Good, now to the other part of your surprise." Jeffrey says, reaching for the cover on the tray. Lifting it, he says. "We have chocolate crepes, with strawberry sauce, fresh fruit, along with fresh squeezed orange juice."
"Chocolate crepes, where did you find those here?" she asks, picking up her fork.
"I asked Buzz to make them especially for you. We also have warm fresh croissants, strawberry jam and butter, along with fresh cheese." Jeffrey says, picking up the lid from the other plates.
"Are you trying to make me fat?" She asks, picking up a croissant, buttering it and putting a thick layer of jam on it as well.
"No, but I thought that you probably haven't had this since we were in Paris before we went to Russia and I remembered how much you loved the chocolate crepes. Buzz didn't have the raspberries so he substituted…."
Leaning over, she kisses him. When they part, she says. "Thank you, this is perfect. And you're right I haven't had any chocolate crepes since that morning in Paris." She says, taking bite of the crepe, closing her eyes. "Oh, these are wonderful!"
"As good as the ones in Paris?"
"Better, because these were made with love." She says, smiling. Taking a drink of orange juice, she begins to eat while Jeffrey watches her, eating a croissant with cheese and sipping orange juice. For a couple bites, she feeds some of the crepes to him. When they are finished eating, Jeffrey takes the tray to the kitchen and then returns to their bedroom. Slipping into bed beside her, he reaches over and kisses her. Lying back, he brings her with him, holding her as they kiss. After a few seconds, she leans back. Looking down, she smiles. "I love you."
"I love you too." Jeffrey says, smiling at her.
"What do you have to do today?"
"Nothing really, this is the holiday weekend so City Hall is closed. I have an idea." Jeffrey says, moving to his side and forcing her over onto her back.
"What's that?"
"You were telling Rick that you were thinking about starting your own practice."
"Yes."
"Why don't we go look at places for you have your office?"
"We could do that?"
"And that way, you'll get to see some of the town before you move here."
"Alright." Sam says, pushing the covers back and sitting up.
"We don't have to go right now." Jeffrey says, reaching to stop her.
"Why not? Sam asks, looking back over her shoulder and catching the look on his face. "Ummm, you have something else in mind, Mr. Mayor." Sam asks, moving back to him.
"Maybe." He says, reaching up to pull her down to him.
Kissing her as she lies down beside him, he leans over her. After a few seconds he moves over to her ear, nibbling and kissing the side of her neck. Reaching up she runs her fingers through his hair, loving the feel of it, the coolness of it, along with the softest of it. Turning her head she begins to kiss the side of his neck, repeating everything that he does until he moves down to her shoulder. Stopping at the base of her throat, he feels her swallow and then feels her pulse begin to race.
Leaning back, he looks down. Watching her, slowly moving his eyes over her face, kissing the scar on her chin where she fell at school chasing a boy that was harassing her, smiling at the dimples that flash when she smiles and then moving up to her nose, kissing the tip of it before he looks down into her blue eyes.
"I love you." He says softly, reaching to brush a strand of her hair from her forehead.
"I love you too." She replies, reaching up and running her fingers along his jaw. "Are you okay?" She asks
"Of course I am." He says, leaning over to kiss her, but she stops him by putting her hands on his chest.
"J"
"I'm fine; I'm realizing how much I was missing when you were gone." He says, moving to his side, bracing his head against one hand and laying the other under the t-shirt she wore to bed.
"I missed you too." She says, reaching up to brush the few strands of hair that lay across his forehead. "But we're never going to be apart again. We have the rest of our lives to tell each other how much we love each other." She says, reaching up and pulling him down into another kiss
Reminding him what they had been doing before he had gotten so serious all of a sudden. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she takes control of the kiss. Her tongue slipping inside to play with his as he slowly moves his hand up under her t-shirt, softly caressing her stomach and lower abdomen as she releases him, running her hands across his shoulders and down his back, feeling the muscles moving beneath them as he shifts positions. Breaking the kiss, she looks up at him and whispers. "Touch me."
Moving one hand up her abdomen, he cups her left breast, holding it, while he looks down into her eyes. "You know after you left, I used to have dreams about you sitting in a rocking chair in our apartment, holding our baby and feeding him or her. And I remember how warm I felt when I woke up, like you were there, actually doing it."
"J, I'm…."
"No, don't apologize. Those dreams kept me from going completely out of my mind when you left. They kept me from doing anything incredibly stupid. I admit I was really reckless after you left, but during the day, all day I would think about you and wonder what I would dream about that night."
"What did you dream about?"
"Different things, I dreamed about the look on your face when I asked you to marry me. I dreamed about the way you would look walking down the aisle, in your wedding gown, and I dreamed about you carrying our children and delivering them and then taking care of them."
"What stopped the dreams?"
"Cassie." Jeffrey says, looking down.
Reaching up, she lifts his chin. "It's okay. I'm glad she was there for you, that she brought you back to what… well maybe not what you were when we were together but she brought you back from taking chances and from trying to hurt yourself. I'll always be grateful to her for that."
"She did and Richard did. I don't know where or what I would be if I hadn't've gone to San Cristobel. I did some stuff down there that I shouldn't have down, but Richard and Cassie brought me back." He says, leaning over and kissing her.
Reminding both of them of what they had been doing. Sitting up, he takes his hand out from under her t-shirt, reaching for the hem he begins raising it up as she sits up lifting her arms and watching him as he pulls the shirt up and over her head, tossing it to the floor as he watches her, caressing her with his eyes as they travel over her. Stopping for a few minutes, he reaches out and cups her left breast again, leaning over he kisses her. Softly caressing her nipple as she buries her hand in his hair once more, holding him against as she lets her head fall back, closing her eyes and sighing softly. For a few minutes he gently caresses her, playing with her nipple. "J" she sighs, as he moves closer to her and tries to get her to lie back down.
Reluctantly she pulls away, looking up at her he can see the desire shining in her eyes. "What?" he asks, softly reaching out and cupping her other breast, caressing her. "Lie down and let me love you." He says, softly moving closer to her.
Leaning over, she kisses him quickly before she sit back and then drops her eyes down to his clothes, laying a hand on his upper thigh, she looks back up at him and he realizes what she wants. Moving off the bed, he stands up. Pulling the clothes off, he lets them fall to his feet and then he climbs back onto the bed, laying down beside her he lays his hand on her hip just above the elastic of her panties. Looking up, he waits.
Arching her hips, she pulls the panties down, kicking them off as he rolls towards her, slowly running his hand up her body as she wraps her arms around his neck, kissing him. Pulling her against him as he breaks the kiss, relishing the feel of her shivering when their bodies touch, feeling the desire burning inside burn hotter. Moving down her neck, he gently kisses her. He stops for a few seconds, lightly kissing her nipples before moving on slowly, down her abdomen, kissing and nibbling the burning skin while he listens to the ragged power of her desire in her breathing. Gently licking her navel and feeling her breath catch for a couple seconds before it begins again but it's more ragged.
Running her hand through his hair, she tries to direct him where to go, but he has his own ideas. Sitting up, he looks down as she opens herself up to him as she runs her hands down her body, holding herself open to him so that he can see everything. Fierce waves of desire washes over him. Leaning over her, he kisses her softly before he moves to lie between her legs, glancing up as he softly kisses her. Caressing her while her desire washes over him.
"J" She cries, when she feels his caresses. Slipping his tongue inside. "Oh!" She moans, arching her hips, trying to bring him closer. "Love me." She moans softly as he moves closer to her, tapping his tongue against her desire.
"J, oh god! Jeffrey" She screams, feeling the ripples of heat run through her
When he feels her begin to relax, he moves up. Kissing her softly before she breaks the kiss and looks up at him "Love me again." She whispers.
"Sam." He whispers, lying against her, pressing his desire against her for a couple seconds while he fights for control.
"I want to feel connected to you." She whispers in his ear. "Please, darlin." She slowly runs her hands down his back and over his hips, pulling him closer to her as she arches her back
"Beca." He groans, raising up and looking down at her. He can't deny her, or the desire that burns too hot inside.
"J." she sighs when she feels him slipping inside her, filling her with his desire. "Baby, you feel so good." She sighs, as she arches her back, taking him deeper.
"Beca." He whispers, leaning over her as he begins to thrust
Rising to meet him with each caress she feels them both spinning out of control. Looking up, she watches as he closes his eyes before he hangs his head and switches angles, gently thrusting deep inside her until he feels her surrender, clinging to him, caressing him as he continues to thrust.
"Beca." He groans, moving a little faster until the final thrust comes and he feels ripples of desire run over and through him, warming him until she reaches up and pulls him down into another kiss as he collapses in her arms.
He lays there; a few strands of hair are stuck to his forehead from the sweat clinging to his skin. She can still feel him inside her and the idea that he still wants her burns through her, making her want him. She begins to push against him, until he looks up.
"Sam." He whispers while she continues to push until he rolls to his back, bring her with him.
Leaning over him, she kisses him. Her tongue slipping in to play with his, catching him by surprise as she begins to rock, tightening her body around his as he tries to thrust.
"Darlin, you make me feel so good." Sam gasps as he brushes against her special place.
"Beca." He cries. "Baby, yes!" He groans when he feels her tighten her grip. She surrenders to the heat burning inside both of them
Clinging to him, she lifts her hips one time and then feels her body shatter, like a piece of glass dropped off a rocky ledge. "Jeffrey!" she screams, collapsing in his arms as he surrenders again, swells of passion wash over him and he feels as though he's drowning in pleasure as he wraps his arms around her.
The next morning, Ava is up early along with William. She is standing in the courtyard, watching the sun come up when he walks in. "Hi." He says, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "How are you feeling?"
"A little better, I guess. I still have to tell Olivia and Jeffrey."
"I'll be there if you want me too."
"No, I think it's better if they hear this from me first. We'll bring you into it after we figure out what we're going to do." Ava says, looking at him.
"Will you be okay flying back today? Yesterday was pretty stressful, maybe you should stay here another day. I would be…."
"No, I'll be fine. And Alan needs me to be at this call."
"Alright, I called the pilot last night after you went to bed and he will have the jet fueled and ready to go in a couple hours. I have a couple hours before I have to be at the hospital to relieve Cassie and Richard, so if you want we can hang out, or something."
"That would be nice." Ava says, smiling for the first time since she found out she was pregnant.
"Why don't I have cook bring us up some breakfast and we'll sit and talk."
"Okay." Ava replies, as William goes off to find a servant to send to the kitchen.
Moving to lay beside him, They tries to catch their breath as they lie beside each other, their eyes closed. Rolling to his side, watching her, he sees the tear start to roll down her cheek. "Hey, what's wrong?" He asks, reaching up to wipe the tear away.
"I don't know." Sam whispers, reaching up to wipe another tear away. "I just feel really emotional." She says, looking at him.
"Are you upset? Did I hurt…?"
"No, no, you never hurt me. I don't know what's wrong. I'm not sad, I'm not upset. I actually feel at peace, so I don't know why I'm crying." She says, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Shhh. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." Jeffrey says, putting his arm across her shoulders and pulling her over to him, lightly kissing her forehead, as she snuggles closer to him. "I love you." He says. "And you can be as emotional as you would like to be."
"Thank you." She mumbles, kissing his chest. "And I love you too."
A few minutes later, he leans back and asks "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She says, pulling away from him and looking up. "Did you say something about us going to look at office space for my practice?"
"We can do that?" Jeffrey says, sitting up in bed.
"Then let's go." She says, pushing the covers back and sitting up. "I get the shower first." She says, as she starts to leave the bed.
Reaching for her hand, he stops her. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine." She says, leaning over and kissing him before she climbs out of the bed and heads for the stairs as he whistles softly.
While Sam is in the shower, Jeffrey calls the Beacon to see if Ava has gotten back from San Cristobel. That much of Olivia's story from last night he did believe, but that was it. After a couple rings, the front desk clerk answers the call.
"Hello, Beacon Hotel. How may I help you?"
"Yes, this is Jeffrey O'Neill. Could you connect me to Ava Peralta's room please?"
"I'm sorry but Ms. Peralta isn't in her room." The clerk replies.
"She hasn't returned from San Cristobel."
"No, but Ms. Spencer is in her office. Would you like to speak with her?"
"No, I'll try back later." Jeffrey says, hanging up the phone.
About five minutes later, Sam comes upstairs with a towel wrapped around her and her hair. Jeffrey is still sitting on the bed when she walks in. She can sense immediately that something is bothering him. "What's wrong?" She asks, walking over to him.
"Nothing, I just tried the Beacon but Ava's not back from San Cristobel."
"So, you believe what Olivia told you last night?"
"No, not all of it, I do believe that she went to San Cristobel but I'm not sure it's for the reason that she said." Jeffrey says, putting the phone on the nightstand before standing up.
"If you're worried about her Jeffrey, call her cell phone."
"No, I'm not really worried. I'd just like to hear her voice and know that she's alright. I'm sure she'll contact me when she gets back into town." Jeffrey says, leaning over to kiss her before he heads downstairs for a shower.
About an hour later they leave the loft, headed for 5th street and possible offices spaces for Sam's clinic.
28.11