A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Thirty Three
After about twenty minutes, Jeffrey gets up, softly kissing the side of her head as he pulls the throw over her. Walking quietly from the room, he goes downstairs to the kitchen. Taking out the steaks from the freezer, he picks up the phone as he walks into the living room as he dials Ava's cell phone. After a couple rings she answers. "Hello."
"Ava." He says, walking over to his guitar. He begins straighten things up, taking the cups that Beau and Josh had used while they were there into the kitchen.
"Hi Dad, hold on a minute." She says, walking outside. "Okay." She says, as she closes the door behind her.
"Where are you at?"
"I'm at Sam's house."
"How is that going?"
"Really good.
"Good, are you working?"
"Yes."
"It's the weekend, why are you working?"
"Billy asked me to take on a new project."
"And it requires you to work on the weekend."
"Yes."
"If you need…."
"I'm fine financially. Billy wants it finished as soon as possible."
"What's this project for?"
"I can't say."
"Okay, have you heard from William?"
"Umm, actually he's in town."
"He's in Springfield, why?"
"He wanted to see me. We're sort of dating."
"You are!"
"Yes."
"Is it because of the baby?"
"That's part of it but that's not the only reason. I like William, and there is an attraction there."
"Ava, I want you to be careful. William…."
"He's a good guy Dad."
"But he can be…."
"He's a little like you, wild and carefree. It's one of the things I like about him and I trust him."
"I don't want you hurt. And if he…."
"William will not hurt me. I'll be fine."
"Okay" He says, backing off. "What about the election?"
"They're still working out the details."
"I called because I wanted to check on you. If you need me…."
"I'll call you, but I'm fine."
"Do not tire yourself out. I'm telling you that as your Dad and for Sam."
"Alright, I won't." She says, with a smile. "Is Sam there with you?"
"She's upstairs taking a nap."
"Okay."
"I'm going to let you go, but take the time to rest too."
"I will, and I'll come by before the weekend is out to see you guys."
"Okay." Jeffrey starts to hang up but then remembers he wanted to ask her about Olivia. "Ava, wait." He says.'
"Yes."
"Have you seen or talked to your mom?"
"Not since the other day before I went to Lewis."
"Okay."
"She has been harassing…."
"No. But Sam is a little bit worried about her and I wanted to see if she's been around."
"Alright, I need to go back in."
"Okay."
They hang up. Jeffrey goes over to the couch. Sitting down, he reaches for the remote. Turning the TV on, he flips through the channels until he finds a ballgame. Settling back, he lays the remote down.
An hour later, Sam rolls over. Reaching for him, she finds the bed empty beside her. Opening her eyes, she looks around the room. Not seeing him, she pushes the throw back and stretching she walks downstairs. "J." She says, looking around until she spots him on the couch and she walks over.
Looking down, she smiles when she sees that he's fallen asleep. She stands there for a few moments, watching him sleep before she goes into the kitchen where she finds the steaks sitting on the counter. Going over to the refrigerator, she takes the stuff out to make a salad along with a couple of potatoes. Turning to the sink, she washes the potatoes and then sits them on the counter before she takes the steaks out and seasons them. Putting them on a plate, she begins to cut up veggies for the salad.
When she finishes the salad, she wraps the potatoes in foil and then goes out to the patio. Taking the lid off the grill, she gets it ready for the steaks. As she walks back in, Jeffrey sits up. Turning he sees her coming in from the patio. "What are you doing?"
"I was getting the grill ready."
"Getting it ready?"
"Yes, for the steaks. I assumed you wanted to grill them."
"I did, but when did you learn how to light a grill."
"When I was in DC, I liked to grill out, but I didn't have anyone to light the grill so I learned to do it myself." She says, walking over to him. "Did you have a good nap?"
"I should be asking you that?"
"Yes, until I woke up and found that you weren't there."
"I wanted to check on Ava."
"Is she's okay?"
"She's fine. She's working today on a new project for Billy."
"Okay, I hope she takes it easy." Sam says, walking into the kitchen.
"She will, I already told her too." Jeffrey says, following her.
"Has she talked to William?"
"Yes, he's actually in town."
"He is, why?"
"To see her." Jeffrey replies. She turns to look at him. "I didn't go all Daddy on her."
"What do you mean all Daddy on her?"
"I didn't demand that she not see him. I simply asked her to be careful with him, and reminded her that he's a bit…."
"He's a bit like you."
"She said the same thing and it's one of the reasons she likes him but if he's so much like me, I know what he can do and that's what's worries me. I've hurt my fair share of women I admit that. I don't want my daughter to be treated the way I've treated some of the women I've dated."
"You're not exactly the same. I truly don't believe that William will do anything to hurt Ava. You have to learn to trust them."
"I'm trying, but I haven't been there for her, to protect her."
"I know, but you're there now. If she needs you, she'll come to you." Sam says, walking over to him and wrapping her arms around his waist.
Laying his arms on her shoulders, he looks down and asks. "Have I told you today that I love you?"
"I'm not sure… you told me that you missed me, but I…."
"I love you." He says, leaning over to kiss her.
"I love you too." She mumbles, moving closer to him.
After several minutes, he pulls away. Smiling, he says. "This feels good."
"What?"
"You and me, here, together, it feels right."
"Yes it does, but I'm hungry." Sam says, releasing him.
"Okay, I'll go put the steaks on." He says, reaching for the steaks as she reaches for the potatoes.
He walks out of the room as she wets the potatoes again before she rolls them in salt pepper before rewrapping them in foil and turning the oven on to bake them. She takes the salad and puts it in the refrigerator before she opens one of the cabinets and takes out the stuff to make strawberry shortcake.
Getting a knife, she slices some of the strawberries up, taking the rest she puts them in the blender to puree with about a cup of sugar as Jeffrey walks back into the kitchen. "The steaks are on the grill."
"Okay." She says, turning to him.
"What are you making?"
"Strawberry short cakes, we can have them for dessert later. But I wanted to cut up the strawberries and make the sauce now." He leans against the counter, watching her. After a few moments, she looks at him. "What are you thinking?"
"I was wondering if we would still be the way we are if we had gotten married sooner, if the accident didn't happen and we weren't separated."
"I want to think that we would be, but we can't say for sure."
"As much as it hurt loosing you then, I'm glad I have you back." He says, putting his arm around her waist and pulling him to her.
"I'm glad I've got you too." She says, looking up with a smile.
He leans over to kiss her, pulling away before they get too involved. "I'm going to go check on the steaks. "Do you want to eat on the patio? It's sort of cool out there, but it's nice enough for us to eat out there."
"That's fine." She says, finishing the last bit of the dessert before she checks the potatoes.
Gathering up the plates, silverware, glasses and napkins she walks out to the patio. He opens the door for her. Sitting the table, she walks over to him. "Are they about finished?"
"Probably another ten minutes." He says, flipping them over.
"Okay."
Ten minutes later, she brings out the baked potatoes with everything that goes with them, the salad and her dressing and a pitcher of tea for them to drink. Sitting down, they start to eat. They finish eating about an hour later. Jeffrey helps her clear the table. And when the kitchen is cleaned up, she pours him a glass of wine before she leaves the kitchen. Walking out to the patio, after seeing that the door is still open, Jeffrey is standing with his back to her, looking out at the view of Springfield. Going over to him, she hands him the glass of wine as she puts one arm around his waist. "Thank you." He says, smiling as he takes the wine and takes a sip.
"You always liked a glass of wine after dinner and I've noticed that you don't do it anymore."
"I got out of the habit and I don't want to drink when you can't." He says, putting the glass down and then putting his arms around her. "Would you like to dance?"
"You want to dance with no music?" She asks, looking up at him.
"I'll hum in your ear." He replies softly, taking her hand and pulling her closer to him.
She lays her head on his chest. Resting his head on top of hers, he begins to hum. Moving slowly, she closes her eyes, savoring the feel of his arms around her, the heat and strength of his body against hers. "I loved seeing you this afternoon when I got back from shopping with Cassie."
"I loved see you too." He replies, his tone telling her that he didn't quite understand what she meant.
"No, I meant seeing you with Max in your arms. You looked so good holding him in your arms."
"Is that why it took you a few moments to reply when I said hello?"
"Yes, I was imagining you and our boy, meeting me at the front door and it looked so right."
"That's because it is right."
"I want to see you holding your son."
"You will."
"No, I mean now. seven months seems so far away."
"I understand what you're saying, but I've waited over twelve years to see you holding our child. I can wait another nine months." She leans up to kiss him. When she steps back, he tightens his arms around her. "I didn't say…."
"I know." She says, looking up.
She lays her head back on his chest and they continue to dance until he feels her shiver. "Let's go inside."
"No, I like it out here."
"It's getting cooler and you're cold."
"I'm…."
"You're cold, so come on." He says taking her hand.
"Don't forget your wine." She says, reaching for it.
She picks it up and then he leads her back inside. Closing the door behind them, he leads her over to the couch. He sits down as she puts the glass down on the table beside them and then he pulls her down beside him before he reaches for the throw and spreads it over them. "Is that better?" She lays her head on his chest and nods. "Good." He whispers, kissing the top of her head.
JR lands in Chicago around five p.m., getting his luggage from the carousel, he walks over to the rental agency. As he walks up, the clerk looks up and asks. "May I help you?"
"Yes, I need to rent a car." He says, putting his bag down beside him.
"Yes Sir, how long will you be staying in Chicago?"
"I'm actually headed to Springfield but I'm not sure how long I'll be here."
"Okay, we can rent the car with an open ended return date. Will you need hotel reservations when you reach Springfield?"
"No thank you, I'll handle that when I get there."
"Yes Sir. What type of car would you like to rent?"
"Do you have an Aston Martin?"
"Umm, I'm sorry, but we only deal in…."
"That's fine, a Mercedes, do you have one of those?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, I'll take one of those, but I want a convertible."
"Yes Sir."
After hitting a few buttons on her computer she says. "We have a black 2008 Mercedes Convertible."
"That will be fine."
"Yes Sir." She says, selecting the car
Printing out some papers, she lays them on the counter. "I need you to sign these please and then you'll be free to go?"
"Yes ma'am." He says, taking the pen and signing where she indicated.
She takes the papers and then picks up the phone. After a couple rings, she says. "I need the 08 Black Mercedes brought to the front."
"Thank you." She says, hanging up. "The car will be here shortly."
"Thank you." James says, reaching for his bag and turning to leave.
"Enjoy your stay in Springfield."
"Thank you." James says, turning back to her.
A few minutes later, a man pulls up with the car. He gets out as James walks out to the car. He hands the keys to him and then leaves as James puts his luggage into the car. Getting in, he starts the car and leaves. Two hours later, he arrives in Springfield.
Stopping at the first place he can, he walks into an old gas station. There's a man sitting behind the counter, looking bored. He grunts a greeting as James walks up to the counter. "Could you tell me how to get to the Beacon hotel?"
"The Beacon is about two miles past the Jessup farm."
"How do I get to the Jessup Farm?"
"Take this road through town, until you get to the y in the road, go to your right and follow it out of town. You'll run into the farm and the Beacon is two miles past that on the right."
"Thank you." James says, leaving the store.
Thirty minutes later, he turns into the parking lot of the Beacon. He stops for a moment to look at the building, amazed at what his sister had built. The beeping of the horn behind him gets his attention and he pulls in. Parking, he takes his luggage out and walks towards the hotel. Going inside, he looks around the lobby before he walks over to the front counter. The clerk looks up and says. "Welcome to the Beacon hotel, how can I help you?"
"I need to book a room?"
"Yes Sir."
"If you will fill out this card." The clerk says, handing him a card and pen.
He looks at the card and then smiles, imagining guests doing the same thing across Europe. His dad was right. The tourist would love this old fashion way of checking into a hotel. Even with the modern pc sitting beside them, the owner's use of file cards as a way to check guests in was charming and ingenious and something that would be completely lost on Sarah. His sister had great instincts about making guests feel as if they were at home. James looks around once more and then picks up the pen and fills it out. Handing it back to the clerk, as he looks around.
Reading his name, the clerk says. "We have another James R. Marshall staying here. And he's British too, but I guess the name James R. Marshall is common in England. How long will be staying at the Beacon?"
"I'm not sure. It depends on how long it takes to complete my business."
"So, you're here for business."
"And to meet some family."
"Yes sir." The clerk says. "We have a room available on the third floor at the end of the hall. It's has a balcony off the main room over looking the lake and there's a small balcony outside the bedroom. Would that be okay?"
"That will be fine. Tell me, do you have a Sarah Langley staying here?" James didn't really think Sarah would stay in Cassie's hotel but he thought he would ask.
"I can check, after I finish this."
"Of course."
A few moments later, the clerk finishes typing his information into the computer. Reaching for the key to his room, she lays it on the counter. "We'll process payment when you leave, I've noted the credit card number you put down and it will be held on file until you check out."
"Thank you." James says, taking the key.
"No, to see if your sister is here?" The clerk says, pulling up the computer. "You said her name was Sarah Langley."
"Yes, she would have checked in sometime yesterday afternoon or evening."
The clerk pulls up the lists of yesterday's check in, scanning it she shakes her head no. "I'm sorry we don't have a Sarah Langley registered."
"Okay, would you have another hotel in the area?"
"There is Towers, it's in town. You might try there and there's the Springfield Inn, that's off 5th street of the docks."
"Okay, thank you." James says, picking up the key for his room and his bag. He walks towards the stairs.'
After taking Sarah to lunch, James took her to Towers to check in. She refused to stay out at the Beacon, saying she preferred to be at the center of Springfield. Not really understanding her, he takes her back to town and they spend the afternoon going around the town, visiting the shops along Main and 5th Streets. They had dinner at Towers and then he escorted her back to her room before he came back to the Beacon.
When she walks into her room, she checks to see if she has any messages on her cell phone and then she dials the number to her office. "Emma." She says, when she picks up.
"Yes, Mrs. Langley."
"Are there any important messages?"
"No ma'am."
"Have you spoken with my husband?"
"No ma'am, he hasn't come by."
"Okay, I'm sure that cook advised him that I am out of the country."
"Yes ma'am."
"Have we heard anything from the Portugal deal?"
"No ma'am, but your brother was in this morning."
"He came by my office."
"Yes ma'am, he asked to see you but I told him that you were out of the country."
"Did you tell him were I was?"
"Yes ma'am, you didn't ask me not to. I thought you…."
"It's alright, Emma. I will deal with my brother."
"Yes ma'am."
"If my husband does come by, please tell him that I am in America taking care of some business with my father."
"Yes ma'am."
"Thank you, Emma."
"Yes ma'am."
Sarah hangs up. Going into the bathroom, she returns an hour later, wrapped in a robe. Picking up her briefcase, she opens the side pocket and pulls out the pictures that Alex had found. Taking them out, she spreads them out on the table. Picking each one up, she looks at them closely before she lays them back down. Shaking her head, she gathers them back up and puts them back into the envelope. Putting the envelope back in her briefcase, she stands up and goes over to the bed. Taking off the robe, she lays it across the end of the bed before she pulls the covers back and lies down.
When Cassie drops Sam off at the Beacon, she goes home. Richard and the boys have been home about thirty minutes when she walks in. "Will, you stay in your room until you can apologize to your brother." He says from the bottom of the stairs.
"What happened?" She asks
"They were upstairs playing video games and RJ switched the game and Will got mad. They started to fight and Will hit him." Richard says, walking into the kitchen.
"Where's RJ?"
"He's in his room, lying down."
"Where did Will hit him?"
"In the eye." Richard says, taking some ice from the freezer.
"Here, I'll take care of that. You go deal with Will."
"Alright." Richard says, handing her the ice. Before he leaves, he leans over and kisses her. "Hi." She says.
"Hello."
"Did you find…?"
"We'll talk after we deal with this."
"Okay." She says, leaving as Cassie takes out a Ziploc bag and begins to put the ice inside.
Closing the bag, she leaves the kitchen. Going upstairs, she taps softly on RJ's door. He's lying down on his bed. She can tell that he's been crying as she walks over to his bed but he doesn't say anything as she sits down on the bed.
"Hi, mom." He says, sitting up.
"Here." She says handing him the ice pack wrapped in a towel. He takes in and puts it on his eye and then pulls it away. "No, leave it on there."
"It hurts."
"I know, but it will help later. What happened?"
"We were playing a game, he went to the bathroom, so I switched the game and when he got back he got made and pushed me. I told him to stop but he did it again, so I pushed him back and he hit me. I know I'm supposed to protect him, but…."
"You're not in trouble RJ." Cassie says, reaching to brush back his hair.
"Okay."
"Lay her and keep the ice on your eye."
"I will." He says, as she stands up.
She leaves as RJ lays down. Walking across the hall, she pushes the door open. Richard and Will were on Will's bed. "I was only trying to be like you." Will says.
"Like me."
"Yes, like you were with that man at the barn. He was mean to you and you hit him."
"Will, that was different. I was defending myself. RJ wasn't being mean to you. He decided to change the game."
"He should have asked me. It was my game."
"Yes, he should have, but that doesn't mean that you should've hit him. He's your brother, and you have to love him. You can't hit him, just because he makes you mad."
"Did you hit Uncle William?"
"No, I didn't know your Uncle William when I was a boy."
"What about Uncle Edmund?"
"There were a few times that we scuffled, but we usually got into trouble for doing it."
"Am I in trouble?"
"What do you think?"
Will sits there for a few moments. "I think he changed my game without asking but I shouldn't've hit him. He wasn't trying hurt me like that man at the barn tried to hurt you."
"And what else should you do."
"I have to go apologize to him."
"That's right."
"And if I apologize, I won't be in trouble anymore."
"Sometimes saying you're sorry isn't enough. I want you to bring me your games, all of them and the game boy."
"Yes sir." Will says, getting off the bed. He goes over to his toys and picks up his games and toys. He brings them to Richard and gives them to him.
"You can have them back in a week. You're also going to bed an hour earlier starting tonight."
"Yes sir." Will mumbles.
"Now I think you need to go talk to your brother."
"Okay." Will says, turning he sees Cassie in the doorway. He wants to run to her but she steps out of the way and he walks through.
Richard gets up from the bed slowly and turns to see Cassie standing at the door. "Did you hear what he did?"
"Yes, what was he talking about when he said that he was trying to be like you?"
"We had a bit of a run in with one of the men that was at the auction barn." Richard says, walking slowly towards her.
"A bit of a run in."
"Yes, there was a guy there that was being confrontational."
"Confrontational."
"Yes, he saw me walk up with the boys and he started running his mouth and when I didn't respond, he took a swing at me. I ducked and then I punched him. Will and RJ saw me do it."
"What did you do to your back?"
"My back, it's ah… fine."
"You're walking like you're and eighty year old man. What did you do and did you do it when he punched the guy at the barn?"
"No, I didn't do it when I punched the guy in the barn. I helped Jeffrey carry the cradles up to the loft."
"Richard!"
"That was three flights of stairs and those cradles were not light. You know what Sam told you about lifting heavy things and what it could do to your back."
"I…."
"Did he let you do that?"
"No, of course not. Jeffrey offered to let one of his friends carry them but I insisted on doing it."
"Why would you insist on doing something that you know would hurt your back?"
"Because I'm tired of being careful."
"Oh, sometimes you absolutely infuriate me." She says, walking out of Will's room.
"Cassie." Richard says, following her. "I'm only a little sore. I didn't reinjure my back."
"I don't care." She says, walking into their room.
"I'll be fine in a few days."
"You'll be fine in a few days. If you… just take your shirt off and lay down on the bed, on your stomach."
"What are you going to do?" He asks, pulling his shirt up.
"I'm going to massage your back, so that the muscles will relax and release the tension in them so that you'll be able to move tomorrow morning."
"I can soak in the tub for a while."
"You're going to do that too. Cassie says, kneeling on the bed as he lays down on his stomach.
Reaching for her nightstand, she opens the drawer and pulls out some oil. It's made of Lavender, Chamomile and honey. Pouring some into her hand, she rubs her hand together before she reaches for him and begins to rub his back, slowly working the tension from the muscles.