A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Nineteen
Billy walks into Lewis as Ava walks up. "Good Morning, Ava." He says, holding the door for her
"Good Morning, Billy. How are you doing?"
"I am good, and you."
"I'm okay. I came by to see if you have any openings."
"What are you looking for?"
"Admin assistant, office assistant, something like that."
"Come in and we'll see what we have." Billy says, walking towards his office. He walks in and holds the door for her. "Have a seat." He says, closing the door and walking over to and around his desk. "You were working at Spaulding?"
"That's correct, but since Alan's arrest Alex released me."
"What did you do while you were at Spaulding?"
"I was Alan Michael's personal assistant. After he left town, Alan brought me over to be his assistant. I have my resume." Ava says pulling it out, she hands it to him.
Taking it, he looks it over. "We do have an opening for one of our junior executive. His assistant is leaving in a couple weeks, so we need to fill the position quickly.
"Okay."
"If you want to follow me, I can take you to meet him."
"Okay." Ava says, following him as he stands up.
"Good." Billy says, picking up her resume. He walks over to his door. Opening in, he holds it for her. "Wanda, I'm going downstairs."
"Okay." She says, watching him walk through with Ava following behind him.
When they reach the hall, he pushes the button for the elevator. When it comes he holds the door for her. "Thank you." She says, walking on with Billy following her. He pushes the button for the second floor. A few moments later, they walk into an office. "Missy, is Jake in his office?"
"Yes sir, Mr. Lewis."
"Thank you." Billy says, walking over the office door. Opening it, he walks in with Ava following behind him."
"Mr. Lewis." Jake says, standing up.
"Hi Jake, How are you doing?"
"I'm fine, sir."
"I came by to introduce Mr. Peralta. I thought she would be a good candidate to replace Missy when a couple weeks." Billy says, handing him Ava's resume.
"Yes sir." Jake replies, taking the resume.
"Good, Ava it was good to see you again." Billy says, turning to her.
"You too." Ava explains, as Billy nods and then leaves.
"Please have a seat." Jake says, indicating the chair across from his desk. "So, Mr. Lewis believes you'll be a good replacement for my assistant." Jake says, sitting back to watch her.
"Yes sir."
"What are you qualifications?"
"I have worked the last two years as a personal assistant to Alan Michael and Alan Spaulding."
"And why are you no longer employed with the Spaulding organization?"
"With the situation concerning Mr. Spaulding, his sister Alex did not believe it was productive to keep me as his assistant. She did offer to give me a recommendation. I have included her information under the references on my resume." Ava says, nodding towards the paper he is holding.
"You are also the mayor's daughter, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you apply for a job through him?"
"Because I don't need my father to find me a job, I'll find one on my own."
He looks at her for several seconds before he asks. "When could you start?"
"As soon as possible?"
"I have a couple more interviews scheduled for today before I make a decision."
"Yes sir." Ava says, standing up. "I do want to tell you that I will need to take maternity leave early next year."
"I appreciate you letting me know." Jake says, standing up and holding out his hand.
"Yes sir." Ava says, shaking his hand.
"I'll be in touch."
"Thank you." Ava says, before leaving
Jeffrey and Sam spend the day driving around the falls. Around sundown, they end up on the Canadian side of the falls. "Do you want to go over to the fall?" Sam asks, turning to look at him.
"You're not tired?"
"No."
"Okay." He says, heading towards the falls.
When they reach them, he finds a place to park. Getting out, he gets the blanket out from their picnic as Sam gets out of the car. Walking around the car to him, she slips her hand into his, as he closes the door. There are several people around as they walk up to the falls.
"Let's find someplace private." Sam says, looking up at him.
"What are you planning Sam?"
"Nothing." She says, smiling while he watches her before leading him over to a stand of trees that is away from everyone.
"I can see those wheels turning." He says, taking the blanket and spreading it out for them. He sits down, leaning back against the tree while Sam sits down beside him, tucking her feet under her skirt. When she took a shower earlier, she changed from her jeans into a skirt.
Leaning against him, she lays her head on his chest over his heart. Putting his arm around her, he pulls her to him, both of them watching as people walk by. As the sun sinks below the horizon and it gets dark, the people settle down. And then the water begins to glow in reds, blues, greens, pinks, gold's and purple.
Over the next hour, they watch a light show behind the falls. When the crowd is completely focused on the light show, Sam moves closer to Jeffrey, laying her hand over his stomach while they watch light show. She listens to the rhythm of his heart beat and feeling the rhythm of his breathing behind her hand. About halfway through the show, she slips her hand under his shirt, laying her hand on his stomach. He looks down for a couple seconds watching her, before he pulls his attention back to the light show.
A few seconds later, she moves her hand over his stomach, drawing little patterns as she lays her leg over his thigh as he swallows softly, sucking in a deep breath before he asks. "Sam, what are you doing?" She looks up as he looks down and he sucks in deep breath when he sees that hot fire burning in her eyes. "You had this planned all along." He says, watching her.
"You started it."
"Sam, there are people everywhere."
"Why do you think I wore the skirt?" She says, moving up to kiss him while she moves her hand down, cupping him.
"Sam." He whispers, jumping from her touch.
"Don't deny this, you want to." She says, moving her hand against him.
"We can't do this here. What if we get caught?"
"That's what makes it fun." She says, moving over to his ear, nibbling on his earlobe for a few seconds before she straddles him.
She sucks in a deep breath when she feels him pressing against her, the roughness of the denim from his jeans, the heat from his body, and the hardness of his desire pressing against his jeans. Leaning back, she reaches for the button on his shirt. She begins to unbutton it, nibbling on his neck and ears until she reaches his last button. She kisses him, swallowing his groans as he tries to relieve some of the pressure building inside him, wrapping his arms around her, he pulls her against him, forcing a moan from deep inside her.
She leans back, looking down into his eyes. Reaching up, he slowly moves his hands down her face, laying his hand at the base of her throat, his thumb lying over the pulse beating against her throat. Slowly he moves his thumb over it and he feels her pulse skip a beat before it quickens. Leaning up, he softly kisses her neck while wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly, moving down her neck to the base of her throat, smiling against her as she swallows. He gently bites her, before moving his tongue over her, softening the sting of the bite, gently sucking on the warm skin behind his mouth.
She wraps her arms around his neck, burying her finger in his hair. It feels cool against her fingers, in complete contrast to the heat burning her up inside. He moves on, moving down to the v of her shirt, dipping his tongue inside, caressing her breasts. "J." She moans softly.
He leans back, watching her for a few seconds before he reaches for the buttons on her shirt. He begins to unbutton her shirt, slowly revealing her breasts. Brushing her shirt open, he looks up. He can see the need in her eyes as she licks her lips, watching him. Leaning forward, he gently nuzzles her breasts. She moves closer to him, trying to direct him. He chuckles softly as he continues to play with her, playing with her and ignoring her greatest demand.
After awhile she gives up and decides to tease him, brushing his shirt open, she moves her hands down his chest. Her fingers bent, scratching him as she moves down his chest. She stops for a moment or two, playing with his nipples before she moves on to his stomach, scratching him, dipping a finger into his navel, and playing with it. He sucks in a deep breath as a staggering wave of desire rushes over him. He decides stop his teasing reaching for her breast, he closes his mouth over it. Caressing it through her bra, tugging on her nipple, the fabric adding to the feel of his mouth and it stops her progress.
She gives herself over to him, letting her body fall into everything that he's doing, each caress, every nip burns through her. She almost forgets about him until he moves his hips against her. She looks down, as he looks up. Lifting her skirt, she lets it settle around them as she reaches for the buttons on his jeans. Popping the top one open, she tugs on the rest until she has them open. Laying her hand over him, she shivers as he shudders. "Beca." He whispers, closing his eyes as he takes a deep breath and swallows once, fighting for control.
She leans against him, slipping her hand under his boxers, cupping him. "Sweet…." He mumbles, moving his hips insistently. Wrapping her hand around him, she squeezes him, mimicking the feel of her loosing control as he tries to thrust against her hand and she shivers against him. "Beca please, I need you." He whispers, reaching to kiss her.
She allows the kiss for a few seconds before she moves back. "Lift your hips." She says, reaching for the waist of his jeans. Lifting his hips, she tugs his jeans down, freeing him. He settles back against the tree, looking up as she moves over him, she reaches for him, guiding him inside as she settles over him, making sure that he's completely covered. He wraps his arms around her, holding her tightly against him.
She begins to rock her hips, moving against him while he holds onto her, kissing her neck and breasts, nibbling on her ear before she leans down and kisses him, increasing the rhythm of her hips, soft velvet slick with desire rubbing over him. He feels her release building as she clings to him, lifting his hips, thrusting into her as much as he can. "J" she moans.
"Go on." He whispers, leaning in to kiss her, moving down to her throat, swirling his tongue of her throat.
She begins to move in tight circle, her muscles clinging to him, squeezing him as tiny flutters of release swells inside her. She's barely hanging on for the end of the light show, waiting for the fireworks. When she hears the first burst, she feels her release break, exploding through her as the fireworks burst around them, filling the sky with bursts of red, blue, green and golden light.
He looks up at the sky and then at her, watching her face as her release takes total control and it's the sexiest thing he's ever experienced in his life. He wants to roll her beneath him, bury his body inside hers until neither one can feel anything but each other, but he can't do that, so he relaxes back and watches her until the final wave tightens around him and he feels his own release burst free, flowing through him and filling her with sweet waves of heat.
He release breaks as the last of the fireworks explode around them and he groans loudly, but Sam is the only one to hear him. Lying against him, she struggles to catch her breath, laying her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat. Slowly the desire recedes and reality breaks in. "I think the shows over." Jeffrey whispers, kissing the top of her head as she smiles.
"Not yet." She whispers. "We have many more shows to experience." He chuckles softly, wrapping his arms around her.
Julie is walking through the park next to Al's dinner when Jacob walks up to her. "I've got nothing to say to you."
"Jules…."
"Don't call me that." Julie says, glaring at him.
"Alright, just listen to me."
"You've said enough to Margo."
"He tried to kidnap you. Someone has to protect you."
"I had it under control." Julie says, walking around him.
"You had it under control but he was dragging you to his car. And whatever is going…."
"You don't know everything that is going on. I didn't ask you to interfere."
"But you were relieved when I did."
"You don't get it. The majority of the reason why he tried to kidnap me is because you interfered. He's very…."
"Abusive…."
"No, territorial." Julie says, walking away with Jacob following her.
"You're not his personal property. And no matter what he thinks you've done, no man has the right to force his will on you."
"You don't know the story."
"Then tell me."
"Why do you care? I'm thankful for what you did, but it's none of your concern. I handle my husband!"
"Why are you fighting help?" He asks, watching her.
"I'm… just stay out of my business." Julie says, walking away from him.
When Cassie gets home, she walks into the living room and sits down on the couch. She pulls out the results and reads them again. It wasn't just her past that worried her about James being her father. It was how it will affect everyone, Reva, Rusty, Hawk, even Josh and Billy.
The biggest problem was Hawk. Here was a man that had accepted her like his own and now her biological father had arrived. She didn't want to hurt either one of them, but she wasn't sure she was up to the tension that will be there when they were around each other. And she knew of no one that she could talk to about this besides Richard, since he too had parents that he had never known. Sighing softly, she folds the paper up and then gets up for the phone, dialing Ms. Chitwood's number. "Hello." She answers on the third ring.
"Ms Chitwood, its Cassie Winslow."
"Yes ma'am."
"I was wondering if you would be available to watch the boys tonight. Richard and I have some business we need to take care of."
"Of course, do you want to bring them here or shall I come to the farm?"
"It's a school night so if you don't mind I would appreciate it if you would come to the farm."
"Of course, what time to do you need me there?"
"Six, should be fine."
"Yes ma'am."
"Thank you, Ms Chitwood."
"You're welcome, ma'am."
They hang up, Cassie glances that the report before she says. "Richard's right I have to take this one day at a time. And the first thing I have to do is tell my father the results." Picking up the results, she puts them in her purse before she reaches for the phone again, dialing the Beacon. When the front desk picks up, she says. "Can you connect me to Mr. Marshall's room?"
"Yes ma'am." The clerk replies, connecting the calls.
James is going over some files and reports that Sarah faxed to him early this morning when his phone rings. Reaching for it, he answers before the second ring finishes ringing. "James Marshall."
"Mr. ... Marshall." Cassie says, holding the phone tightly.
"Yes, who's speaking?"
"I'm sorry, it's Cassie…."
"Oh hi, I didn't recognize your voice. How are you doing?"
"I'm good. Listen I was calling to see if you could meet me and my husband for dinner tonight, say seven o'clock at Olivia's."
"Umm, sure. I would be happy to meet you."
"Good, we'll see you then."
"Okay." He hangs up a few seconds later, staring at the phone and wondering about the invitation before he returns to his work.
Cassie lays the phone down and then gets up to straighten up the house like she told Richard she would be doing. When the boys get home, she tells them about Ms. Chitwood coming over and then she fixes them a snack and then sends them out to play while she gets their supper ready. She's finishing that when Richard walks in.
Sitting his briefcase by the door, and laying his keys on the counter he goes over to Cassie. "Hello, darling." He says, as he wraps his arms around her waist and kissing her cheek.
"Hi." She says, pulling the casserole out of the oven.
"That smells good."
"It's for the boys." Cassie says, putting it on the stove before she turns to him. "We're having dinner at Olivia's tonight."
"We are? He asks, surprised.
"Yes, and James will be joining us."
"Are you sure this is how you want to do this, in public?"
"Yes, I decided you are right, I need to take this one day at a time and the first thing I need to do is give him the results of the DNA test."
"What about the boys?"
"Ms. Chitwood is coming over to watch them while we're at dinner."
"When is he expecting us?"
"Seven and Ms. Chitwood will be here at six." Cassie says, as Will comes in crying, and holding his knee. "Sweetie, what happened?" She asks, as Richard releases her.
"I was chasing RJ and I tripped and fell on the rocks in the driveway." He says, reaching up to wipe his face and leaving smudges of dirt.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up." She says, turning him towards the bathroom as Richard heads upstairs.
She lifts Will up to the counter and then takes a washcloth and wets it with warm water. "It's going to hurt?" Will whimpers, holding his hand over his knee.
"Will, we've got to clean the dirt off or it will get infected and make you sick. It's not going to hurt, I promise." She says, pulling his hand away from his knee.
Gently she begins to clean his knee, cleaning away the blood, dirt and gravel. Laying the wash cloth down, she opens the medicine cabinet and takes down the band aid, peroxide and antibiotic cream. Reaching for the peroxide bottle, Will starts to cry. "No mommy that will hurt." He says, as he tries to pull his leg away.
"Will, stop. This will help."
"But it stings."
"I know but that's how you know that it's working, it's cleaning out all the little things that could make you sick, okay. Now hold still." Cassie says, holding the wash cloth against his leg as she pours the peroxide on his leg. "See, that's not so bad, was it?"
Will shakes his head no. "It sort of tingles." He says, watching her finish dressing the cut. When she finished, she put everything away and then pulls his pants leg down. "You need to go change and get ready for supper. And bring me those pants so I can fix the hole." She says, as he runs from the room.
"Yes ma'am." He calls, headed for his bedroom as Cassie walks down the hall to hers.
Richard is walking out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. "Is he okay?"
"Yes, he's got a couple of scrapes and a small but deep cut in his knee. And he ripped a brand new pair of jeans."
"We can get him some more jeans. He was going to out grow them anyway."
"But we just bought those before school." Cassie says, suddenly feeling very tired and Richard realizes it.
Walking over to her, he wraps his arms around her. "Why don't you take a hot bath and relax and I'll look after the boys until it's time for us to go?"
"You did that last night."
"Did you rest at all this afternoon?" Richard asks, looking at her.
"I was taking care of the house."
"Then you need to rest before we go to see James. I'll watch the boys and make sure they are taken care of, go take a bath and relax." He says, releasing her and turning her towards the bathroom before giving her a gentle push.
"I never realized how bossy you are." She says, walking towards the bathroom.
"I'm only bossy when I'm right, now go." He says, pointing towards the bathroom.
She goes inside as he goes into the closet. Getting dressed in a pair of black pants and a light green polo shirt, he slips his shoes on before he goes downstairs, catching a snippet of Cassie singing and wincing slightly before he leaves the room.
An hour later, Cassie is walking downstairs when Ms. Chitwood knocks and Richard goes to answer the door. The boys are in the living room when Cassie walks in as Richard says, holding the door for her. "Hello, Ms. Chitwood."
"Good evening, Mr. Winslow." She replies, walking in.
"Call me Richard." He says closing the door as Cassie walks into the kitchen.
He stops to stare as Cassie says. "Hi, Ms Chitwood."
"Good evening, Mrs. Winslow. It's good to see you again."
"You too, the boys are in the living room. Their dinner is in the oven. They need to be in bed by eight if we're not home by the. RJ has some homework that he needs to finish after he eats dinner and he shouldn't need any help with it."
"Yes ma'am."
Cassie and Richard go into the living room, followed by Ms. Chitwood. Giving the boys a hug, they leave a few minutes later. Richard drives over to the Beacon. Getting out, he walks around the car. Opening Cassie's door, he helps her from the car and then closes the door behind her. Putting his arm across her shoulders, he pulls her to him. "You look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you."
"Are you nervous?"
"A little bit." She says, moving closer too him.
"You're going to be fine." He says, squeezing her shoulders as they walk into the hotel. When they walk into Olivia, the hostess is going to sit them first but Cassie stops her. "Take care of the guests, I'll set myself. Mr. Marshall will be joining us, so when he arrives direct him to our table."
"Yes ma'am."
Cassie walks over to a table that is somewhat secluded from the rest of the restaurant. Richard holds her chair for her and then sits down beside her. One of the waiters walks over to the table as he sits down. "Hi, Mrs. Winslow." He says.
"Hi Travis, how is your sister?"
"She's getting better."
"I'm glad."
"Thank you, ma'am and may I ask, what would you like to drink?"
"I would love a glass of wine, but that's not possible, so I'll have some water with lemon."
"Yes ma'am, and Mr. Winslow?"
"I'll have some ice tea, thank you." Richard says.
"Yes sir, would you like to order…?"
"No, we're waiting for someone." Cassie says.
"Yes ma'am, I'll get those drinks for you then."
"Thank you, Travis." He leaves as Cassie turns to Richard. "If you want some wine, it's okay?"
"No, its fine." Richard says, looking up to see James walk in. Cassie sees the look on his face and turns to see James start towards them. Richard feels her tense up.
Reaching for her hand, he squeezes it gently as James walks up. "Cassie, Richard." He says, nodding to them as he sits down.
"Thank you for coming." Cassie says, as Travis walks up with their drinks. "Thank you Travis." She says, as he puts the drinks down.
"Yes ma'am." He replies, turning to James. "And may I get you something to drink, Sir."
"Yes, I would like and bourbon straight up on the rocks." James says, as Travis nods. He leaves and James turns to them. "I assume this is about the DNA test."
"Yes." Cassie says. "Dr. Bauer contacted me this morning to tell me that the results were in and I went to pick them up this afternoon." Cassie says, reaching for her purse. She takes out the results and hands them to him.
He opens them up and then reads over the results before he looks up.