A Fresh Start
Chapter Ninety-Two
Julie walks into the Lakeview about ten minutes later. Walking up to the bar, she orders a drink and then sits down at one of the tables. Dr. Westbrook watches her as she sips her drink. He had been nursing his wounded pride since he had been released the night before from the Springfield jail, after his brother bailed him out. But Julie distracted him from his preoccupation with Sam and Jeffrey.
About ten minutes later, Dr. Westbrook is about to get up and go over to her when Marciano walks in and when she sees him, she raises her hand and he walks over to her. "Marciano." She says, as he sits down and the waitress walks up to the table.
"Bourbon, straight." Marciano says, as the waitress nods and walks away. "What's going on Julie?" He demands, coming straight to the point.
"I think that's obvious. I filed for divorce."
"I want to know why?"
"I think that's obvious as well. "Julie says, as the waitress brings Marciano his drink and then walks away.
"Obvious, how? We've been…."
"Fighting for years now and I can't do it anymore. I can't be what you think I should be and you won't let me be who I am."
"You're my wife."
"I'm more than that, and you can't accept that."
"Accept, what?"
"Just that you have to ask that question makes my point."
"It makes what point? We are married. I am your husband." Marciano argues, leaning forward.
"You're my husband, not my owner." Julie replies, leaning forward as well.
"I've never treated…"
"You've never treated me that way. You did at the hospital a few days ago. You did it that morning when you demanded I be home with the kids. You do it when you order me to do something instead of asking me to do it. And I'm tired of walking on eggshells, afraid to tell you what I feel, afraid of your reaction. You think you own me, and that I have to do as you believe and behave the way you think I should behave."
"That's part of being married. You are an extension of me."
"But I can be my own person and still be your wife, but you will never let me be that." Julie says, reaching for her purse.
"I'm not through talking to you. We can't do this." Marciano says, pulling out the envelope. "I won't be another couple that gives up."
"I'm not giving up. I'm facing reality. And the reality is that I don't want to live this way and you won't change."
"Why should I change when I'm right?" Marciano says arrogantly.
"And that is exactly why I filed for divorce." Julie says, standing up and reaching for her purse. Marciano reaches out to stop her but she pulls her hand back. "I'll be expecting to hear from your attorney."
"We're not through discussing this." Marciano says, getting up.
"Yes, we are. You're not going to change and I can't live like this anymore. No, I won't live like this anymore. I married you because I was terrified after Matt died. I'm not scared anymore. And if you will stop and think about this you will realize that this is the right thing to do." She says, before she walks way.
Marciano stands there for a few moments before he follows her to the lobby. "Julie, stop." He calls, following her through the lobby and out of the hotel with Dr. Westbrook following them.
She keeps walking towards her car, as Marciano calls to her. Unlocking the door, she is about to get in when he grabs her. "I'm not going to let you go. We're married and we will stay that way."
"Let me go." Julie says pushing him away as Dr. Westbrook walks up.
"Are you okay?" He asks.
"She's fine." Marciano says, turning to him. "This is a private…."
"I'm fine, thank you." Julie says, pulling out of Marciano's arms and looks at Dr. Westbrook, sensing the confrontation about to happen. She turns back to Marciano and says. "My attorney will be in touch." Getting into her car, she pulls the door closed and starts it.
"Julie."
"I've made up my mind."
"You're my wife. I'm not going to let you go, for no one or anything."
"This is exactly why I'm divorcing you. You have to control everything and everyone and I'm through being controlled." Julie replies, putting the car in gear. "Now I have to go pick up my kids." She says, before backing out.
She leaves as Marciano turns to Dr. Westbrook. "What do you have to do with this?"
"Nothing, I only came out to see that she was alright."
"So, you're just being nosy. How do you know my wife?"
"I don't know your wife." Dr. Westbrook replies before turning around and walking way, leaving Marciano, standing in the parking lot fuming.
By the time Reva got up the next morning, Josh has already left for the day. When she had gotten home the night before she hadn't meant to sleep in the other room, but Josh's demands and his refusal to explain why he was making the demands stuck in her craw. She was never one to blindly follow orders without some type of explanation, and Josh knew that.
Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she walks into the living room. Sitting down on the couch, she tucks her feet underneath her and takes a sip of the coffee. As much as she's tried to figure out Josh's attitude and demands, she saw no reason for his treatment of Jeffrey.
Jeffrey wasn't perfect. No one was. She'd made plenty of mistakes in her life, hell Josh had made some really big mistakes in his, but Josh had a tendency to forget his mistakes and attack anyone who did something that he didn't quite agree with. However, he usually was never vocal about his disapproval, except with Jeffrey. She was still thinking about the problem when the phone rings. Reaching over the back of the couch she answers the phone on the second ring. "Hello."
"Reva, its Cassie."
"Hey sis, what are you doing?"
"Fighting sleep, I don't know why I'm so tired."
"We were out late last night."
"Not that late, I've had later nights and I've never felt this tired before. I'm usually able to function with only a few hours sleep. I don't understand it."
"Maybe you're coming down with something."
"I can't be. We've got Sam's wedding, speaking of the wedding that's why I called. We did the bachelorette thing last night, but I think she deserves a wedding shower too."
"A wedding shower, don't you have your own wedding to arrange?"
"I'm handling that. In fact, I just about have everything in order, so are you game for a wedding shower?"
"Umm, I guess. I've got nothing else planned for today, except to brood about Josh."
"Why are you brooding about Josh?"
"We sort of had a fight last night after you dropped me off and I spent the night in the guest room."
"Reva."
"I know, but I'm so frustrated with him. He's not telling me something."
"So this was about Jeffrey?"
"Yes."
"And you don't believe he has a good reason for how he's behaving."
"I don't know whether he does or not, he won't explain anything to me. He just demands that I stay away from him."
"Alright, well we can't settle Josh right now, so do you want to do the shower?"
"Yes. It'll take my mind off my husband for a while."
"I'll call the rest of the girls and will get the plans set and then we'll get Sam."
"I'll be ready."
"I'll call you." Cassie says, as Reva gets up.
"Okay."
They hang up.
Rolling to his side the next morning, Jeffrey watches as Sam sleeps. After all the time they lost after the accident, and all the women he had been with, he never realized that the reason he couldn't settle down was because he wanted Sam. And from the moment she came back into his life, he realized how much he still loved her.
Moving over to her, he pulls her against him, holding her tightly, almost like he is desperate to hold onto her, afraid she would disappear again. And then he begins to think about the baby they were about to have. Everyone knew his reputation. How he avoided commitment and tried to pretend that he was a "lone wolf", and above all the normal conventional stuff. And now he was about to get married to a women he absolutely adored and loved, and he was about to be a father again and this time from the very beginning. He is pulled back to reality by Sam trying to move and him realizing how tightly he is holding her. Releasing her, he moves back as she asks. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He replies, smiling at her.
"J." She says, knowing better and reaching up to brush back the hair lying on his forehead.
"I'm fine, I was just thinking about you and the baby."
"Me and the baby?"
"Yes. You amaze me." Jeffrey says, leaning over to kiss her.
"I amaze you because I'm having a baby. Women have…."
"No, not just that, that's amazing but that's not what I meant. I was thinking about the years after the accident. How I couldn't settle down and the reputation I built from that. And then I saw you at the hospital and I realized who you were. And when I realized that, I realized that I wouldn't settle down because I wanted you."
"I didn't settle down either."
"But you knew why you weren't settling down. You knew that you wanted me and you didn't settle for anything else like I did."
"I did go out a few times. And I don't think you settled. You're marrying me." Sam says, leaning up to kiss him.
"But those dates never went anywhere because you knew that you belonged with me and you couldn't be with anyone else. I was with as many women as I could be with. I was hiding that's true, hiding from the pain of loosing you. Even Cassie was a way to forget that I didn't have you. That's what I meant by settling."
"You're a man. I can't expect you to abstain from sex, especially when you thought I was dead. You're human."
"You're human too."
"I'm a woman."
"What I'm trying to point out is that in a way, I cheated on you." Sam looks at him and then begins to laugh. "Why are you laughing?" He asks after a few minutes.
"You didn't cheat on me." Sam says, taking a deep breath. "You thought I was dead, that sort of releases you from the commitment we had to each other." She says, leaning up to kiss him again.
"Can I use that excuse?" Jeffrey asks after she moves away.
"What excuse?"
"That I'm a man."
"No, you can't."
"Isn't that a bit of a double standard? You will use that excuse to explain the things you do."
"No, it's not a double standard because men use that excuse way too often to get out of owning up to the mistakes they've made, or the incredibly bad decisions they make."
"Women don't make incredibly bad decisions."
"Oh, we do but we're usually willing to admit to them." Sam says, smiling as she pushes the covers back, pulling away from him.
"Where are you going?"
"The bathroom." Sam says, sitting up.
He reaches out to stop her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I've got to go to the bathroom."
"Can I get something before you go?" He asks, sitting up.
"J, I need to go."
"A kiss." He says, leaning toward her.
"A quick one." She says, not able to resist him as she leans in.
Pressing his lips to her, he nibbles gently on her lower lip until she opens her mouth. Slipping his tongue inside, he gently caress her mouth as he reaches up and rests his hand against her cheek for a few moments before he moving his hand up to her hair and trying to pull her to him.
When he tries to deepen the kiss, she pulls away. "Sam." He whispers.
"I've got to go. I'll be right back, I promise." She says, climbing out of the bed and running for the door as he collapses back against his pillow.
Closing his eyes, he tries to catches his breath but all he can see is Sam. And all he can taste is her kiss on his lips. And all he can feel is the feel of her body next to his. He's still laying there when she comes back upstairs. Slipping back into bed, she moves over to him. "I'm sorry." She says, lifting his arm.
"You're killing me, you realize that."
"I had to go, but I'm here now." She says, leaning over him and looking down, smiling.
"Umm, yes you are." He says, reaching for her and rolling her over onto her back. "I'm not letting you go, for a while." He says, kissing her. Moving his hands down her back, he pulls her against him and then smiles as she gasps. "I need you." He whispers hoarsely.
"I'm here." She says, wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm going to love you Beca." He says, moving down to her neck.
Softly kissing her, he nibbles on the skin beneath his lips as he moves down her body. When he reaches the valley between her breasts, he leans back, watching her struggle to breathe as well as control the desire rushing through her. "Don't fight it, Beca. Don't fight me." Jeffrey says, kissing her again.
"J." She mumbles, wrapping her arms around him, burying her fingers in his hair. Pulling away, he moves up her breasts, hovering over her, letting the warmth of his breath wash over her until she arches her back, reaching for him as she whispers. "I can never fight you."
Leaning over, he takes her nipple in his mouth, lightly caressing her until she reaches up and runs her fingers through his hair, holding him there. Closing her eyes, she lets her body be swept away, loving the feel of him caressing her, the feel of their bodies tangled together but yet so far apart and wanting to feel all of him. "J." She groans, arching her back again.
He moves on, caressing her other breast, as he moves his hand down her body, stopping for a few seconds to play with her belly button before he continues. He lays his hand on her lower abdomen. She's completely aware of everything he's doing.
Aware of the fact that he's teasing her, but she's not willing to stop him, she wants to be teased and she hasn't reached the point that she's desperate for release. He knew this so he continues to play with her. Leaving his hand on her lower stomach, he continues to play with her breasts, manipulating them with his tongue.
After a few minutes, she realizes what he's doing and she decides to make him choose, whether to play or to continue. Reaching for him, she moves her hand down his chest, scratching him as she goes. She watches him shiver and feels the goose bumps under her fingers.
When she reaches his waist, she moves on, not stopping as he expected her to do. Reaching for his erection, she begins to caress him. Building the desire burning between them, releasing her breast, he lays his head against her chest, gasping for breath while she continues. "Beca." He groans, swallowing as he fights for control.
"I know." Sam replies, slowly moving her hand along his desire. "And I want to love you."
He looks up and then moves up. Kissing her as she wraps her arms around him and he moves into place, sinking into her welcoming warmth. "Beca." He groans again, feeling her body closing around his.
"Love me, J." She whispers, arching her back.
Slowly he thrusts, giving into her demand. As the passion builds he thrust harder, holding his body buried deep inside hers, loving the feel of her caressing him from deep within and wanting this connection to last forever. Changing angles, he smiles when she gasps and then arches her back, pulling him to her and holding on to him as tightly as she can. Her needs, take control of his desire and leaning up, he begins to thrust in earnest, pushing them both for release.
"Beca."
"J, baby." She whispers, wrapping her arms around him and holding him against her.
He thrusts again and she moves with him, answering his caress. They continue until warm gushing waves of release rush through her and she arches her back, clinging to him until he feels the final caress rush over her and his release breaks free, flooding her body. Gasping for breath, he collapses in her arms while they struggle to regain control. After a few moments, he leans back and looks down at her and smiles. "I love you."
"I love you too." She says, reaching up to brush the hair back from his forehead. "Do you have to go?"
"In a little bit."
"Okay." She replies, letting him go. He moves to lie down beside her.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'll probably catch up with Megan and LaKeisha and hang out with them."
"I'm going to go get a shower I'll be right back." He says, as she nods.
Pushing the covers back, he sits up and stretches while she watches him. As he leaves the room, she gets up and asks. "Is there anything you want for breakfast?"
"I've had what I wanted for breakfast." He replies, looking back over his shoulder.
"I meant food."
"I'll get something at Company."
"You don't want my cooking anymore?"
"It's not that. What I want makes you sick?"
"I can…."
"Sam."
"Alright, bacon still makes me sick. But I can fix you breakfast."
"I know you can, but until you stop having the morning sickness, I'll get something to eat at Company."
"So, you're going to eat at Company everyday until I have this baby?"
"Yes, if it keeps you from being sick."
"Jeffrey." She says, sitting back down on the bed.
"I'll be fine, besides it also give me a chance to see Ava." Jeffrey says, walking over to the bed. "Okay." She looks up and nods. "Don't worry that you're not doing your wifely duties?"
"I'm…." She starts to say something and looks up. "I want to take care of you."
"And you take care of me just fine." Jeffrey says softly, leaning over to kiss her. "You especially take care of me when you love me."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
"I know." Jeffrey says, chuckling as he stands up and she slaps him.
"Go, take your shower and then get your breakfast at Company." Sam says, as he walks out of the room.
Getting up, she pulls the covers up on the bed and then slips her robe on. Going downstairs, she puts on a pot of coffee before walking into the living room and turning the TV on. A few minutes later, she's standing at the door with a cup of coffee when Jeffrey opens the door. "Thanks." He says, taking the coffee. "It's all yours." He says, leaning over to kiss her quickly. Taking a sip of coffee as she walks into the bathroom and he heads upstairs to get dressed.
A couple days after the Lord Chancellors announcement, William is able to reach an agreement with the Mexico delegation. When the final meeting dismisses and before he leaves Parliament, he stops by the Assembly Chamber. The Lord Chancellor is leaving a session of Parliament when he arrives.
"Lord Chancellor." William says, walking up to him.
"Your Highness." The Lord Chancellor says, bowing to him.
"Could I have a word with you?"
"Yes Sir." The Lord Chancellor replies, walking towards his office.
When they reach his office, the Lord Chancellor holds the door open for William to enter before he walks in and closes the door behind them. "Is there something wrong, Sir?"
"No." William says, turning to him. "I came by to see if you needed me to be in the country for the next few days while you prepare for the election."
"No Sir, I don't see why we would."
"Good, I'll be leaving the country later this evening, but I will return Monday evening or Tuesday morning."
"Yes Sir."
"I've reached a settlement with the Mexican delegation. I'll have my assistant type up the agreement and then send it over."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Thank you, Lord Chancellor." William says, walking to the door.
"Your Highness." The Lord Chancellor replies, following him to the door.
"Lord Chancellor." William says, as he opens the door.
"We'll see you when you return."
"Yes." William walks out as the Lord Chancellor closes the door behind him.
When he returns to the palace, William goes to his office first to leave the agreement with Jodi. "I need you to call the pilot and have him get the jet ready and have one of the staff pack my bags. I'm going to Springfield early."
"Yes Sir." Jodi replies.
William leaves and goes to look for Colonel Mitchell. He wants to find out the situation on San Jamar. Walking into Colonel Mitchell's office, William nods and his assistant starts to get up. "Stay as you were."
"Yes Sir." She replies, sitting back down.
"Is Colonel Mitchell in?"
"He's in a meeting with the General's Sir."
"Are they are discussing how to help the situation in San Jamar?"
"I'm not sure, Sir."
"Okay, where is this meeting?"
"In the briefing room, Sir."
"Thank you." William replies, leaving the office, he walks down the hall to the briefing room.
Opening the door, he walks in as the generals and Colonel Mitchell turn. They all begin to stand as William says. "As you were."
They all sit back down at the table as William takes one of the empty chairs. "What is happening on San Jamar?" William asks.
"We've received word that the rebels have been taken into custody." Colonel Mitchell says.
"Do we know what happened?"
"We're getting sketchy information, but it seems that the citizens in the capital forced them to surrender." One of the generals replies.
"And Prince Conrad."
"He's sent in the guard to secure the rebels."
"The royal guards."
"Yes sir."
"Well we won't have to worry about any accidents happening and the rebels ending up dead." William says. "Prince Conrad has his guards well trained and they will make sure that the rebels are treated fairly, even if Princess Alexis will call for their heads." Prince William says, as the other generals laugh. "It looks like the crisis is over. So, I will be out of the country for the next few days. I've finished up the talks with the Mexican delegation and we will submit the agreement before Parliament for a vote."
"Yes Sir." They all reply
"When will you be returning Sir?" Colonel Mitchell asks.
"Monday night or Tuesday morning, I'm headed to Springfield for Jeffrey's wedding and to spend some time with Ava."
"Yes Sir." They all reply.
"Gentlemen." William says, standing up.
The generals and Colonel Mitchell stand and bow as William leaves the room. About an hour later, he's on his way to the airstrip.