A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Fourteen
They dance a couple dances before Jeffrey leads them back to their table. A few moments later, their server brings their first course and they begin to eat. "Have you talked to Ava?" Sam asks, before taking a drink
"No, not since the other day, if there was a problem she would call me."
"I wonder if Richard and Cassie have gotten the cradles."
"I'm sure they have. The store said it would take a few days for them to get them."
"I can't wait to see Ava's face when we give it to her. They are so cute." Sam says, with a smile.
"Well, I can't wait to see you rocking our little boy to sleep in it. You know we need to start looking into the getting a nursery ready."
"Maybe we should focus on getting the house finished before we start focusing on one room."
"That's true, you know I've been thinking about names."
"I thought we decided on Aidan Jeffrey"
"I know we talked about it but I didn't realize we decided on it."
"Do you have something else in mind?"
"No, that's fine for a boy, but what about a little girl."
"Weren't we going to name her after our mother's?" Sam asks, taking a drink.
"No, you shot down that idea because your mother's name is Merle and mine was Beverly. No, I was thinking about the name Avery, or Jaidan."
"Would that be a bit confusing, and besides we're having a boy."
"We don't know that for sure. We don't have to use Jaidan as the first name or we can name her after you?"
"I thought we were having a boy?" Sam says, teasing him.
"Sam."
"Alright, if we have a girl, I don't want her named after me."
"Why I think you have a beautiful name?"
"I can't name my daughter Rebeca."
"Why not?"
"People will wonder how we came up with Rebeca when everyone in Springfield thinks my name is Sam."
"Maybe we should tell them your true name."
"Rebeca Whitmere is dead. She died in Russia all those years ago and I don't want to bring that back up for either of us, and besides what will Olivia say? And the only ones that knows my name was Rebeca is Ava and Cassie, we would have to explain it to everyone."
"Who cares what Olivia says, and if we have to explain it, it's not that big of a deal. But if you don't want to tell people your real name, we don't have too."
"Actually Sam is my real name." Sam says, playing with her food, refusing to look up.
"What do you mean Sam is your real name?"
"After I got back and I moved to Nashville. I was there for several years before I begin to feel like I was safe again and when I did, I decided to change my name to Samantha, legally. Pops always called me that and it infuriated my father and a part of me, even then wanted to get back at him." Sam says, looking up. "So I changed my name."
"I thought Sam was a name you made up to hide from Pertrinkov and the agency."
"It was partly, but getting back at my father was part of it and I do like the name. Are you mad that I didn't tell you?"
"No, I'm surprised. I thought it was an alias and honestly I didn't think about the telling everyone in town until we started discussing names." Jeffrey says, reaching for her hand. "Look we don't have to name her after you. We can name her after our mothers."
"First we don't know that we're having a girl. And you know my mother's name and we're not naming her that."
"It's not a bad name." Jeffrey says, as she looks at him.
"It's no worse than Harland Billy and if we're not naming our son after his father, then we're not naming our daughter after her grandmother."
"Yes ma'am." Jeffrey says, with a salute as their server comes back to their table.
"Are you finished?" He asks, nodding towards their plates.
"Yes." They both reply, sitting back as he picks them up.
"Would you like dessert?"
"Umm…." Jeffrey looks at Sam.
"We'll wait."
"Yes ma'am." Their server says, nodding as he turns away.
"Do you want to dance?"
"Sure." Sam says, as Jeffrey gets up and walks around the table to help her up. He leads her back out onto the dance floor.
They dance for the next few hours, until Sam has to go to the bathroom. While she's in the bathroom, Jeffrey calls the inn to make sure everything was ready. While Sam was in the bathroom, their server comes to their table. "Sir, would you like your check now?"
"Umm, yes."
"Yes sir." He leaves and returns a few moments later. Jeffrey hands him a credit card. When he returns, he signs the receipt and then hands it back to the server.
Nodding the man leaves and Jeffrey settles back to wait for Sam, when she returns, they dance a few more dances and when the band takes a short break, he leans in and whispers. "Do you want to go back to the room?"
"We can." She says, looking up.
Taking her arm, he leads her off the dance floor and they leave. As they are leaving Sam asks. "What about the check?"
"I've already taken care of it." Jeffrey says, leading her out of the hotel and down the sidewalk to their car.
A few moments later, they pull into the parking lot of the inn. Parking the car, Jeffrey gets out and walks around the car. Opening the door, he helps her out and then puts his arm across her shoulders as they walk towards the front door. They nod to the clerk before they head upstairs. Jeffrey opens the door for them again and then closes it behind them as Sam walks over to the couch.
Sitting down, she reaches for the straps on her sandals and pulls them off, rubbing her feet as Jeffrey walks over to her. Sitting down, he takes her foot and begins to massage it as she leans back, closing her eyes. After a few seconds he says, as he reaches up to loosen his tie and unbutton the top two buttons on his shirt. "Why don't you go take a bath and then we'll go on to bed?"
"That sounds wonderful." Sam replies, sitting up.
"Go on." He says, helping her up.
When she starts towards the bathroom, he gets up to follow her. He's standing a few steps behind her when she reaches the bathroom door and opens it. For several seconds, she simply stands there and stares at the room. Slowly she turns to him. "When do you do this?"
"I asked the clerk this morning and then when you went to the bathroom, I called to make sure that everything was ready." Jeffrey says, walking up to her as she stands in the doorway, still staring.
Candle light flickered around the room and hot tub. There were millions of bubbles floating on top of the water and on top of them are red and pink rose petals. On the counter of the sink is a large vase filled with red and pink roses. Through the window, softly moonlight glistened on top of the bubbles and the rose petals. Turning to him, she asks. "Why?"
"Because, I wanted to, and this reminded me of the time we spent at the inn in England. We didn't have time to do something like this then. And I knew you would like it." He says, slipping his arms around her.
"I do like it." She says, leaning up to kiss him
Before they get too carried away, he pulls back. "Come on, let's enjoy this bath." He says, taking her hand and drawing her into the room.
Standing in the middle of the room, he watches her as he reaches up and begins to unbutton his shirt, pulling it from his pants. When he has it free, he slips his shoes off. Turning around, she lifts her hair as he unbuttons and then unzips her dress. Turning, she shrugs her shoulders. Letting the dress fall to the floor, while he stands there watching her.
He shrugs out of his shirt, letting it fall to the floor as she reaches around her and unsnaps her bra, shrugging out of it. Taking a step closer to her, he leans in and kisses her, softly at first. She moves closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Sighing softly, he pulls her too him, savoring the feel of her skin touching his, her breasts lying against his chest. Breaking the kiss, he lifts his head, looking down into her eyes. They've fade to pale grayish blue. If there was one feature he was forced to pick to be the one he loved the most, it would be her eyes. Leaning in, he softly kisses each of them. "I love your eyes." He whispers softly.
"My eyes, why?"
"Because they are so unusual, I love the way they change color. I love their shape. I love that they are the reason I realized who you were in DC."
"My eyes were how you realized that it was me when you were in DC."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"When I left your office that day with Noah, I knew there was something about you that I recognized, something I knew. I was talking to Noah about it when it hit me that I had looked into your eyes before."
"And you recognized it was me by realizing you had looked into me eyes before."
"Yes, it suddenly hit me and I had to find you again. I lied to Dr. Frost to get your address."
"You lied to him?"
"I told him were friends from school that had lost touch and that I was leaving for an assignment and that I wanted to see you before I went."
"I'm… glad." Sam says, leaning up to kiss him.
When she releases him, she notices the bathtub and turns to him. "Shall we."
"Yes." He replies, taking off the rest of his clothes as she pulls her panties down and then walks over to the tub.
Climbing in, she sinks down into the water as he turns to watch her. Turning, she holds out her hand to him. Slowly he walks towards her, climbing in. He moves over beside her. Laying his arm across the tub, he pulls her to him. Laying her head on his shoulder, she snuggles into him. "I was thinking about something."
"What?"
"About your middle name and the file you have from the agency."
"What about it? And why would you be thinking about that?"
"It just crossed my mind, but I remember reading something in there that I thought was curious."
"What was that?"
"It said that your dad was from Oklahoma."
"What? You had to have read that wrong?"
"No, I didn't. It said he was from Oklahoma, haven't you ever read that file?"
"No, I wasn't interested in what it says. I only wanted it to keep Springfield from finding out about my past." Jeffrey replies, shrugging his shoulders. "That's the only reason I have it."
"Well, I looked it over and I remember after reading that that you told me after Belfast that you thought your father was from the old neighborhood."
"Yes, I did. As far as I know my mother never left the Chicago area."
"So, how could your father be from Oklahoma?"
"I don't know. I'm not worried about who my father is."
"But wouldn't you like to know?"
"Sam, I've lived this long without knowing."
"I know, but he's a part of you. Aren't you at least a little bit curious?"
"No, not really."
"Okay." Sam says, reaching for his hand. He looks at her as if to say that's all you're going to say. "No, I've got a lot more to say, but we'll discuss your father later." Sam says, moving to press her body to his.
"Not that I mind your train of thought, but you're going to simply let it go at that."
"No, we'll discuss it again but right now I don't want to." Sam says, moving away from him.
Reaching around him, she moves to straddle him, lying against him as he looks up at her. Leaning in, they kiss as he reaches up to bury the fingers of one hand in the hair at the nape of her neck. While they kiss, he gently begins to massage her neck for a few seconds before he moves his hand down her neck, gently caressing her. Moving his hands over her smooth soft skin as she begins to nibble on his jaw, working her way over to his ear, he sucks in a deep breath when she nibbles on his earlobe, running her tongue over his ear while he moves his hand down from her neck, caressing her upper chest. Pulling away, she looks up into his eyes.
Slowly she smiles, watching his eyes fade to a pale green. It's the first sign of his desire. She leans in again and kisses him, slipping her tongue into his waiting mouth as he reaches for her, cupping her breasts. Sucking in a deep breath, she moans softly when he rolls her nipples between his fingers. Laying her hands on his shoulders, she lowers her head to watch him. Shivers roll across her as he runs his thumbnails over her nipples. Heat builds higher with each caress until she sits back.
Tilting her head to the side, she moves her hands from his shoulders, downward. Bending her fingers, she scratches him. When she reaches his nipples, she stops, looking up, she does exactly the same thing to him, repeating everything, each caress, moving her fingers over him before she leans in. Licking his left nipple as he sucks in a deep breath, she begins to suck, running her tongue over him again and again. "Beca." He groans, closing his eyes, as he lets his head fall back against the wall for a few seconds before he answers her challenge.
Gradually, she moves her hands down his chest, her fingers outlining the muscles in his stomach. She feels him jerk as she runs a nails over his navel. He follows her, moving his hands down her body, playing with her navel. Rolling waves of desire crashes down on her. Moaning softly, she moves to his other nipple, playing with it. He catches her completely unprepared when he slips his hand between her thighs, cupping her. Pulling away from him, she moans. "J."
"Do you want me to touch you?" Jeffrey whispers.
Her breath is ragged. Deep swells of desire rush over her. She starts to move over him. He shakes his head. "Answer my question?" He whispers, catching her gaze and holding it.
"J!"
"Do you want me to…?"
"Yes." She sighs, giving in. He reaches for her. His fingers pressing against her desire, leisurely he caresses her. "Oh!" She moans, bracing her hands on his shoulders, moving her hips against his fingers.
He reaches for her deep center, knowing that he will find it ready for him. He slips a couple fingers inside her. Before too long, she's trying to pull away but he wraps an arm around her waist, holding her in place as he moves his thumb over her desire. She realizes the challenge and she rises to the demand. Reaching for him, she wraps her hand around him, squeezing him as if he was already inside her. Easily, she moves her hand over him, running her finger nail around the tip of his erection. "Sam!" He groans, leaning up to kiss her
"You wanted to drive me crazy." She whispers, after sitting back.
"I know. But I need you, really need you." He says, pulling his hand away.
She moves over him, looking into his eyes, guiding him inside. He holds onto her hips as she sinks lower until he's buried deep inside her warm center. She clings to him from deep inside, kissing him as he wraps his arms around her, holding her against him. Pulling away, he lays back. Looking up as she looks down, their gazes lock and she begins to moves, sliding back and forth while he holds onto her hips.
Leaning back, she offers her body to him. The angle forces him further inside. Wrapping his arms around her, he supports her as he leans forwards and begins to nibble on her breasts. Laving her nipple before suck it deep into his mouth, she shivers as his warm breath rushes over her. After a few minutes, he realizes that something's wrong and lifts his head. "What is it?" He asks, clinging to her hips.
After a few more seconds, she stops. She tries to catch her breath as she says. "I want you deeper."
He feels his stomach clinch as his heart begins to pound erratically. Leaning in, he kisses her. Pulling away from her mouth, he lifts her off him. "Where are…?"
"Come on." He says, standing up.
She looks up at him for a couple seconds before she takes his hand. He helps her up. He climbs out of the bath and then turns to her. "Wrap you legs around me." He says, as he lifts her.
"J?"
"Trust me." He whispers, looking up.
He shifts her a little bit and then slips back inside her. She sucks in a deep breath, wrapping her arms around his neck as he turns and walks out of the bathroom. The feel of him buried deep inside her, her body clinging to his as he carries her over to the bed pushes her need higher and she rolls her hips against his. He slows down for a second or so, closing his eyes before he looks up and continues on to the bed. Laying her down, he leans over her as she unwraps her legs from around him, bracing her feet on the bed as he thrusts deep inside her.
"J oh J!" She moans, arching her back
Rolling her hips, she reaches for his, holding him, buried deep inside her. He pulls back, thrusting again and again and again. "Beca!" He groans. "I want you so much baby."
"Love me, J." She sighs, clinging to him.
Rolling her hips as he thrusts again and again, she closes her eyes, savoring the connection between them, sparks of desire burst behind her eyelids as the first waves of release rushes through her, filling her with wonderful waves of heat while he continues to thrust, adding to the release rushing through her. She feels him stiffen, looking up, she watches his face as the first waves of his release rushes out of him, filling her. Her body continues to squeezes his while his release rocks them both. He thrust a few more times, drawing out the pleasure for a few seconds before he collapses into her waiting arms.
Olivia knocks on Ava's door for about five minutes before she gives up and decides to go back downstairs, maybe Buzz would know where to find her. When she walks around the corner, it occurs to her to wait to see if Ava would come out after she stopped knocking. Standing around the corner, she waits for a couple minutes before she decides that Ava's not coming out of her room and leaves.
Ava is walking down Main Street. She wanted to get as far away from Company as she could to make sure that she wouldn't bump into Olivia. Walking up to CO2, she orders a mint tea from the young girl behind the counter. And as she's pouring it, she reaches inside her purse for her wallet as her cell phone starts to ring. Glancing at the screen, she answers the call as she hands the money to the young girl and then takes the tea. "Hello."
"Ava, are you okay?" William asks.
"I'm fine."
"Did you see Olivia?"
"No, I got out before she made it upstairs. I'm at CO2. I'm going to hang around Main Street for a couple hours and then go back to my room."
"Won't she come looking for you?"
"No, she's got to get Emma from school."
"Okay, do you have a key to Jeffrey's loft?" William asks, walking through the palace.
"What?"
"I was just thinking that if you can't get back into your room because of Olivia you could stay at the loft until Jeffrey gets back."
"I'm not staying at the loft."
"Why not?"
"I won't need to and I'm not going to take the chance that Jeffrey would find out."
"Maybe he should find out, he needs to know what's going on with Olivia."
"I'm not going to go running to him. He's on his honeymoon and it will only worry him. I'm fine at Company. She's not going to do anything to me."
"You probably thought the same thing before she tried to have you killed."
"She was upset about Emma then."
"She's upset about Emma now, and since I can't be there to protect…."
"I can protect myself."
"You know, what I mean Ava. I'm not there and your father isn't there to help you. I've got a vested interested in what happens to you now."
"Where are you going?" Ava asks changing the subject as she walks past the shops, window shopping.
"Umm, I know what you're doing but I'm headed to the French Embassy. They are hosting a reception for the new Ambassador and I have to make an appearance."
"You sound so excited."
"I am excited."
"Will, you sound as about as excited as me going to an opera or something."
"I'm ready for all of this to be over and I can go back to being simply myself."
"After everything that's happened can you go back to being yourself?"
"Yes, mostly, I know I'm going to be recognizable but I won't be in the spotlight like I am now and neither will you or our child."
"I know, and this is only for a few more weeks."
"I miss you though."
"And I miss you. You've got to go, don't you?"
"Yes, we're about to reach the embassy."
"Okay, try to enjoy yourself."
"I'll be fine and I'll enjoy as much as I can without you being here with me."
"Stay away from the single women, you're mine."
"Completely and totally."
"Good." Ava says, stopping to look at one of the displays.
"I'll talk to you later."
"Okay." Ava says, as he gets out of the car when the driver opens the door. He hangs up as he walks up the steps to the embassy.
Julie was finishing up a meeting at the Lakeview when Tom sits down across from her. "Tom." She says, putting her folders back in her briefcase. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't know. Is there anything you think you should tell me?"
"No, not that I know of, why?"
"Nothing has happened that might pertain to your divorce case."
Julie sits there for a few moments before she asks. "How did you find out?"
"Dr. Westbrook went by the police station to speak to Margo about it."
"He what! He has no…."
"You can take that up with him, but right now we're talking." Tom says, as she starts to stand up.
"There's nothing to talk…."
"He tried to kidnap you, we have some things to talk about, the first being why you didn't call me and tell me and second why you didn't go you Margo yourself and last what has been done about it."
"What do you mean what has been done about it? I don't want…."
"My job as your attorney is to look out for your best interest and to make sure you are protected…"
"You're job as my attorney is to file the papers and to make sure I'm given the divorce, making sure I'm protected is my business."
"You're my client and you're right but as your friend and Matt's friend it's my job to protect you since he's not here…."
"I can protect myself. I know how to handle my ex-husband."
"A lot of women think they know how to handle their ex's and most of them end up dead. I'm not going to allow that to happen to you, or your children. They've lost one parent they can't afford to loose you too."
"I can protect my kids. It may take some time but Marciano will eventually realize that this is the right thing for us to do and he'll…."
"He's not going to accept this. He thinks you are his property and he's going to fight to hold on to you, that's why I've already filed for a restraining order to be placed against him."
"You what!"
"I had Margo filed a restraining order against him. It will be part of the papers that will be submitted to the judge for the hearing."
"You can't do that!"
"It's already done. He will be served with the order later today. He's forbidden to come within 500 feet of you or your children. He's forbidden to speak to you directly, so any communication between you and him will have to go through his attorney and me."
"Tom, you can't do this. You'll only make this worse. He's fighting me because I…."
"You what!" Julie looks away. "Because you what?" Tom asks
"Because I promised that I loved him and that I would never leave him and now I am doing exactly what I said I wouldn't do."
"You're doing what you believe is right. If that means a divorce then he should accept that and move on."
"It's not that simple. His ex said she wouldn't leave him and she did. I said I wouldn't leave him and now I am. He's holding on because I lied to him."
Sighing softly, Tom sits back. "From what you told me about your relationship, he pushed you to this Julie. And from what you told me about the reasons that you decided to marry so soon after Matt's death I'm surprised that it's taken this long for you to come to this point. Before you can ever take care of anyone else you have to be able to take care of yourself. And this marriage was doomed from the very beginning and I think you know that."
"Whether it was or not, I promised him that we wouldn't end up there and now we are. He's fighting this because…."
"He can't let go. And that is something you're not going to be able to show him how to do, or wait for him to figure out. He attempted to kidnap you against your will, no matter what you promised him, that's a felony and he's responsible for those actions. Now I convinced Margo not to file formal charges against him, but only if we file the restraining order and you promise to only speak to him through me or his attorney, no personal contact."
Julie looks at him for several seconds before she asks. "What happens if this is included in the papers that go before the judge?"
"He'll be apprised of the full situation and will make a judgment accordingly."
"And after the hearing, will the order go away?"
"No, most likely the judge will keep it in effect."
"For how long?"
"The shortest amount of time could be six months, most likely a year, possibly more."
"And what are my options?"
"Right now to follow my orders, after the hearing you have to follow the judges."
"I don't like this. He's not trying to hurt me?"
"You may not believe he is. But he tried to kidnap you and that is a felony."
"Fine." Julie says, reaching for her briefcase.
"Remember what I said, you don't speak to him unless it's through me or his attorney."
"He doesn't have an attorney."
"Then it's through me."
"Fine." Julie says, walking away.
When she reaches her car, she about to get in when she sees Jacob walking into one of the shops down from her. Putting her briefcase in the car, she locks it up and then starts towards the shop. Jacob is talking with one of his brother's employee's when Julie walks in. Looking up, he smiles and then says. I'll be with you in a minute."
"Fine." Julie replies, standing beside the door with her arms crossed.
He finishes talking to the employee and then turns to her. He walks over to her slowly. When he reaches her, he asks. "Is something wrong?"
"Is there some place where we can talk?"
"Umm sure, my office is through here."
Julie follows him back. He opens the door and is about to close it when she says. "Leave it open, I'm not going to be here that long."
"Okay, what can I do for you?"
"You can stay out of my personal business. You had absolutely no right going to the police about what happened the other day."
"He tried to kidnap you."
"He's angry at me because… it doesn't matter why. I want you to stay out of my personal life. I don't need a savior."
"You needed me the other day and you would continue to need someone one if something wasn't done."
"It wasn't your place to do something. He's not going to hurt me."
"Maybe not, but he was going to kidnap you. And since you seem hell bent on denial, someone has to look after you. I believe you have kids depending…."
"Don't bring my kids into this I can protect my kid's just fine. This isn't his fault, it's mine."
"It's your fault he tried to kidnap you."
"Yes, it is. Because I made promises…just stay out of it and mind your own business." Julie says, turning to leave.
Jacob reaches out to stop her. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to do that. I don't care if you believe that this is your fault, he has absolutely no right to try and force you to do something you don't want to do, no man has that right."
"You don't know what's going on? You don't…."
"You right I don't know the whole story, but I'm pretty sure that whatever has happened it's not completely your fault, like you want to believe. And letting your guilt put you and your kids in danger will not correct the issues here." Jacob says, lightly caressing her cheek.
Julie pulls back, "And neither will your interference, in fact it will only complicate the situation, so mind your own business. I'll take care of myself and my kids." She says, walking out of the office. He follows her to the front counter, watching her walk out of the store.