A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Thirty Five
After leaving the bar, James drives Olivia back to the Beacon neither one says anything until they reach Olivia's room. She turns to him. "I'm sorry this evening was ruined."
"It's okay. Are you okay?"
"I'll be okay." Olivia says, unlocking her door before she turns back to him.
"Then I'll say good night then." He says, watching her.
"Okay." Olivia replies, as he turns and walks away.
Jeffrey finishes playing around midnight. Putting his guitar down, he walks off stage, taking a few moments to talk with the crowd before he walks over to Ava and William. "That was awesome." Ava says, hugging him.
"Thank you." He says, holding her to him.
After a few minutes, she steps back. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Then I'll come by tomorrow to see Sam."
"Why don't you both come over and we'll have dinner?"
"Okay."
"Good, before you go. Are you okay with what happened before?"
"I'm fine."
"Then I'll see you tomorrow, take her home and make sure she goes to bed." Jeffrey says, turning to William.
"I will." William says, as Ava leans up and kisses Jeffrey's cheek.
"I'll see you both tomorrow."
"I love you." Ava says.
"I love you too." Jeffrey says, as William takes Ava's hand and they leave.
Jeffrey goes back up on stage to gather up his equipment before he goes to the bar. Lizzie is cleaning up and when he walks up she reaches for an envelope under the bar and slides it across the bar to him. "Here." She says, picking up a towel.
"What is this?"
"Your pay, for playing tonight."
"I told you…."
"I know you told me not to pay you, but you deserve it. You really helped me out tonight. And tell Sam I appreciate her letting you go for the evening."
"I will." Jeffrey says, smiling as he picks up the envelope and putting it in his pocket.
"You know, it was good to watch you defend Ava. I wish my dad would have been there more, to do that."
"Your dad loved you."
In the Spaulding way, I guess. But you love Ava, no matter what she does. There always conditions to being loved by the Spauldings."
"I'm going to go home. Do you need me to stay?"
"No, I'll be fine." Lizzie says, putting some glasses away as Jeffrey nods.
Picking up his guitar, he walks out, scanning the parking lot as he walks towards his truck. Getting in, he starts his truck and then backs up. Pulling out his cell phone, he calls the station. Frank answers the call. "Springfield P.D."
"Frank, its Jeffrey."
"Hi, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, listen I just left Jon's Bar…."
"You and Sam fighting already."
"No, Lizzie asked me to play tonight to fill in for the group that cancelled on her. Anyway, I just left there and I think you need to send a unit by there. Lizzie's there and she's alone."
"Did something happen tonight?"
"No, I just think it's better if you send a car by."
"Okay, Mallet's on tonight and he's in the area, so I'll send him by."
"Thanks, Frank." Jeffrey hangs up and continues on to the loft.
When he reaches the loft, he quietly opens and closes the door before he walks into the living room, being careful not to make too much noise, fearing he might wake Sam and scare her. He's putting his cords away for the amp when Sam says. "Jeffrey."
Jumping, he turns around. Spotting her laying on the couch, he asks. "What are you doing up?"
"I was waiting for you but I fell asleep." She says, as he walks over to the couch. She sits up as he sits down. "How did it go?"
"Fine, she had a good size crowd tonight."
"You smell like cigarette smoke." She says, wrinkling her nose.
"I'm sure I do. I just left a bar. Lizzie says thank you, by the way."
"Thank you, why?"
"Because you let me go for the evening, in fact, she gave me this." He says, pulling out the envelope.
"What is that?"
"She paid me for playing tonight."
"She paid you." Sam says, reaching for the envelope. "How much?"
"I don't know, I didn't look." Jeffrey says, reaching for the back of his shirt and pulling off as Sam opens the envelope and pulls out a check.
"Oh my." Sam says, staring at the amount.
"What?" Jeffrey asks, tossing his shirt onto the floor.'
"She paid you $1500." Sam says, turning the check around.
"No, she didn't." Jeffrey says, reaching for the check. He looks down, staring to the check. "I told her not to pay me at all."
"Well, she did." Sam says, taking the check back.
"I'm going to go back over there Monday and talk to her." Jeffrey says, pulling off his boots.
"Don't do that, but please go take a shower, you stink."
"I stink."
"Yes, go." She says, as he leans towards her. "Jeffrey." She squeals, pushing him back as he laughs.
"I'll be out in a few minutes." He says, getting up. "Why don't you go upstairs?"
"I'll wait for you?"
"You're tired, I can see that. Go on upstairs and I'll up as soon as I finish with the shower."
She looks at him and then sighs. "You're determined to take care of me."
"Yes, I am." He says, holding out his hand, helping her up. "I'll be up in a few minutes.
"Okay, hand me your boots, socks and t-shirt." She says, holding her hand out. He bends over and picks them up, handing them to her before he walks towards the bathroom and she walks upstairs.
Ten minutes later, he walks into their room. Sam is laying on the bed when he walks in drying his hair. She watches him walk over to the dresser, admiring the way he moves. He tosses the towel over to the basket as he reaches for his brush. She gets up and walks over to him, wrapping her arms around him. "You're supposed to be in bed, waiting for me."
"I was, but I got up." She says, laying her head against his back. He lays the brush down and reaches for the drawer the holds his boxer. "Don't." She says, releasing him as he turns around.
Looking down, he smiles, seeing the desire in her eyes. "You're supposed to be tired."
"My nap helped." She says, wrapping her arms around him again. "I was watching you as you walked in and I like the way you move." She says, laying a little kiss at the center of his chest.
"You like the way I move."
"Yes."
"What else do you like about me?" He asks, leaning against the dresser and wrapping his arms around her loosely.
"I like a lot of things but tonight I like that you want to give that check back to Lizzie."
"Do you know what I like about you?" He asks, reaching up and brushing her hair off her shoulder, so that it hung down her back and tickled his arms when he wraps them around her again.
"No."
"I like that you're a girl."
"I'm glad. I would be worried if you didn't."
"No, that's not what I meant, although I do like that."
"You only like it."
"Stop teasing, you know what I meant."
"I like teasing you."
He picks her up. "I'll show you what happens when you tease me."
"Yippee, I like it when you tease me." She says, leaning in to kiss him as she wraps her legs around his waist.
"Sam." He mumbles. She slips her tongue inside his mouth.
Both of them are playing with each other's mouth as Jeffrey walks towards the bed. When they're next to it, he pulls away. "Do you still want me to tease you?"
"Yes, but put me down and drop the towel." He leans in to kiss her as he lays her down.
Standing up, she leans up on her elbows, watching as he pulls the towel free. Slowly she moves her eyes over him, moving down his chest until she reaches his hips. She stays there watching him grow. Sitting up, she curls her finger and he takes a step closer to her. Crossing her arms, she pulls up her night gown up and tosses it to the floor as she looks up and he sucks in a deep breath.
Leaning forwards, she softly kisses his lower stomach. He reaches up, slipping his fingers through her hair. Softly she kisses him, moving over his lower stomach before moving up to his navel. Dipping her tongue inside, she plays with his navel. She feels him jump as staggering ripples of desire rushes through his blood stream. His rhythm of breathing becomes shallow while images of her taking him into her mouth and loving him until he lost complete control fill his mind. She feels the change in him. She leans back and looks down before she looks up. Her warm breath flows over him. He feels his erection growing as he need for her grows. Reaching for her as she pulls away, moving to kneel on the side of the bed, she wraps her arms around his neck. "I love you."
"I love you too." Jeffrey says, wrapping his arms around her as he steps closer to the bed.
He pulls her closer to him with one arm as he reaches up to brush her hair back. Leaning in, he kisses her softly, nibbling on her lower lip until she opens her mouth. Slipping his tongue inside they play with each other. Holding her tightly, he slowly moves one hand down her neck to her chest. Cupping her breast he breaks the kiss and pulls back. Looking down, watching her breathe, listening to the rhythm and realizing that her rhythm matches his and he smiles. Reaching for her nipple, slowly moving his thumb over it as he leans in and softly kisses the side of her neck, moving up to her ear, he nibbles on her earlobe, smiling as she sighs softly.
Laying her hands on his shoulder, she leans her head to the side as she moves her hands down his back. She moves them around to his lower stomach and for a moment he sucks in a deep breath, releasing it slowly as anticipation builds while he moves to the other side. For a few moments, she keeps her hand on his stomach. Turning her head, she kisses the side of his neck, sucking softly until he pulls back as she looks up. "I hope you did that where no one can see." She leans up, kissing him.
"And if I didn't then the world will see that you're mine." She replies, bending her fingers and scratching as she moves up his chest, knowing the he wants her to go in the other direction.
He wraps his arms around her, laying her back as he kneels over her. Taking her hands, he holds them over her head. Looking down, he watches the desire burning in her eyes. "I'm going to make sure the world knows that you're mine."
Shivering slightly, she pulls one hand free. Reaching up, she pulls him down to her. He takes her hand and lays it with the other one, holding it with one hand he lays down beside her, laying one leg over hers. Putting his hand on her waist, he pulls away after a few moments. Moving his hand up her stomach, he cups her breast again as he moves down to her neck.
She closes her eyes, letting her body soak in the heat of his breath. Listening to the rhythm of their breathing, feeling desire rush through her, making her muscles clinch deep inside as she arches her back. He leans over, letting the warmth of his breath tease her nipple, watching it harden, reaching for him. Slowly he licks it. "J". She moans, trying to pull her hands free.
He tightens his hold, while taking her breast into his mouth. He plays with her nipple as she arches her back. His leg slips between her legs and she presses against his knee, trying to ease the heat building inside her. Slowly she moves against his knees. He only allows it for a few moments before he releases her hand and lays both hands on her hips, stopping her from moving. She immediately reaches for him, closing her hand around him, she squeezing, mimicking the feel of her body clinging to his when he drives her past the point of control. He tries to pull away, but she tightens her grip. "If you're going to torment me, then so am I." She says, as he lays his head against her, closing his eyes, completely focused on her and what she's doing. "You want this." She whispers, turning her head to kiss the side of his neck.
He takes a deep breath and whispers. "I want you so much I'm hurting."
"Then go ahead." She says, opening her body to him and guiding him inside.
"Beca." He groans, feeling her closing around him, fighting the urge to thrust as she wraps her arms around him, pulling him to her. Lifting his head, bracing himself with each hand on either side of her head as he surges forward, burying him self completely inside her.
"J." She cries, while tiny flutters of release roll over her and she tightens her hold in his hips.
"Let go baby," He whispers, looking down.
Their gazes lock and she eases her hold enough that he can move, building on the desire rushing through them. Slowly she moves with him, rolling her hips as he pulls away and holding him against her as he thrusts deeper. The friction builds, pushing their passion higher and higher until she's moaning softly. He switches angles and she sucks in a deep breath, holding it while she feels fluttering waves of her release wash over her.
He continues to thrust until their bodies are slick with sweat and then he feels the waves intensify inside her, squeezing him tightly. He lowers his head to her, kissing her swallowing her scream of release as she arches her back. He surges forward, throwing his head back and his eyes close, feeling the tension snap, draining out of him and filling her with residual waves of release as he sucks in a deeps breath. She looks up, watching his face. Seeing the rapture on it and loving that she was able to bring him that far. He looks down as the last wave courses through him. They each see love reflected in the other's eyes.
Slowly he lies down in her arms, laying his head in the crook of her neck as they both close their eyes, savoring each other. She wraps her arms around him, burying her fingers in the hair at the back of his neck and loving the sweat clinging to the hair there. After a while, he mumbles. "You can tease me anytime you want too."
"What?"
He leans up and says. "I said, you can tease me anytime you want to."
"How about we tease each other."
"We can do that too." He says, leaning in to kiss her again before he moves to lie down beside her, laying his hand on her stomach. He says, after a while. "You know if you weren't already pregnant, I would hope this time would get you there."
She laughs turning her head she kisses him softly. "Me too."
"Come on, let's get in the bed. You both need to sleep." He says, pulling away from her.
"And you don't need to sleep."
"Of course I do." Jeffrey says, getting up and holding out his hand.
She takes it and he helps her up, pulling the covers back, he follows as she slips under the covers. Lying down, she snuggles back against him as he puts one arm over her hips laying his hand on her stomach he softly caresses her lower stomach as she closes her eyes. "I love both of you." He whispers, kissing her shoulder.
"We love you too." She whispers and he can tell she's about to go to sleep. So he pulls her closer, sighing softly he closes his eyes. A few minutes later, they are both asleep.
After James left, Olivia went in to check on Emma. She sits down on her bed, watching her sleep. After a few minutes, she leans over and softly kisses her before she leaves. She walks over to the balcony, opening the door she walks out, keeping the door open as she takes a deep breath.
James walk into his room, walking over to the bar he pours himself a drink before he walks over to the balcony. Leaning against the doorway, he looks out over the lake, watching the moonlight play on the water. He keeps seeing Olivia, standing in front of Ava and Ava's father and seeing the desperation in her eyes. Sighing softly before turning away he walks back into his room, closing the door behind him.
Putting his glass down, he sits down on the couch and then lays back, closing his eyes. A part of him wants to drop Olivia and only see her as part of the Beacon deal, but he knew that something happened to her and he wants to know what that is. Getting up, he walks over to the door and leaves. A few moments later, he knocks softly on Olivia's door. Olivia is still on the balcony when James knocks. Walking into the room she walks over to the door and opens it, surprised to see James standing on the other side. "Hello." She says.
"Can I come in?"
"Ah, sure." Olivia says, stepping back. James walks in as she closes the door and she turns to him. "Was there something you needed?"
He turns to her, watching her for a few moments before he says. "I've been thinking about what happened tonight.
"Okay." Olivia says, walking into the room.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
"You were there. You…."
"No, I know what happened tonight. I want to know what happened between you and Ava's father. I know it's not really any of my business and a part of me wants to stop seeing you unless it's about the Beacon deal, but I saw something in your eyes tonight. I could hear the anger in your voice. So I want to know what happened between you. And maybe if I understood what happened and why you are hurt and angry…."
"You would be able to understand why I hit my daughter." Olivia says, walking over to the one of the chairs.
"Yes." James says, following her.
She looks at him for a couple seconds before she says. "You're right it's not any of your business. But since we're working together I can understand why you want to know." She says, looking towards the balcony for a few moments. "I met Jeffrey when I was seventeen. I am originally from San Cristobel and my family wasn't from the aristocracy and I resented that. My mom tried to control me and I was the typical teenager. One night the American embassy was giving a party and I wanted to go. One of my friends was going to get me in but my mom forbade me to go. I defied her and I went anyway. When I got to the party, I met Jeffrey and he took me in as his guest.
From the moment I walked in I was completely swept away. I was at the biggest party of the year. I was hanging out with all the titleholders and aristocracy and I had the attention of a man that was much older than me. I was nervous but I pretended not to be. I also pretended to be older than I was. Jeffrey bought me drinks and we dances. The royal family was there too and I was star struck when I met Richard for the first time. I also met his brother Edmund that night." Olivia says, sighing softly. "After I met Edmund, he started hanging around me when Jeffrey would leave to do something Edmund would be there trying to get my interest. I kept rejecting him and when Jeffrey would come back he would run him off but he kept coming back.
I didn't really pay that much attention to him. I was focused on Jeffrey and having fun. For the first time I felt included and that's a heady feeling for someone that always felt like they were on the outside looking in. When the party finally ended, Jeffrey took me upstairs. I was really drunk. He kissed me and we start to fool around but then I passed out. After I passed out, Jeffrey left me. While he was gone, Edmund came in. I was passed out so I don't know really what happened. I sort of remember trying to push him off me, but he held me down and he raped me."
James stares at her for a few minutes, shocked and then he asks. "What happened next?"
"Jeffrey came back to check on me a couple hours later, by that time I was waking up. I knew something wasn't right, but he was there and I felt safer and it felt right so we had sex and then he left after I fell back to sleep. I didn't walk up until the next morning. After I woke up, I left the embassy and went home. My mom was furious that I had stayed out all night and more furious that I wouldn't tell her what I had done. But within a couple months it became obvious that I would have to tell her."
"Why?"
"Because I was pregnant. I was always on time so when I missed my cycle I went to a clinic on the south side of the capital and they confirmed what I already knew. I was terrified after I found out. I went back to the embassy but by that time Jeffrey was gone and they refused to tell me where he was. A few days later, I had to break down and tell my mother. After I told her, we had a huge fight. I was so angry and I was yelling at her until she collapsed."
"What happened?"
"She had a massive stroke and it killed her instantly." Olivia says, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes.
He gets up and walks over to her, kneeling in front of her and reaching for her hand, he says. "Tell me the rest."
"I had my brother and my sister to raise. I was their only family and I was pregnant. After we buried our mom, I went back to the embassy to see if I could find Jeffrey. This time I spoke to a man named Ditkins and he told me that Jeffrey worked for an US agency and had been moved to a different location, which I already knew. I tried to get him to tell where that was, but he wouldn't tell me. I even started to explain what was going on, but he interrupted me and said that he knew the situation and suggested that I handle the issue on my own and then he escorted me out of the embassy."
"So, you were alone, pregnant, raising two kids and no one to help you. Why didn't you go to the royal family?"
"Why would I do that? I met Richard once at that party and we spoke for about a minute and I certainly wasn't going to Edmund. I didn't remember him being with me at the time and I still don't remember all the details but I remembered how he made me feel when Jeffrey would leave that night so I didn't want his help."
"So, what did you do?"
"I quit school and I went to work. I found an attorney through legal aid and she helped me arrange for an adoption. When I went into labor, I delivered Ava and I gave her up immediately. I never saw her. A few days later, I went back to school and I finished up my final year. When I graduated, I applied for college. A few years after that I went to work at the palace and eventually I was engaged to Richard."
"You were engaged to Richard?"
"Yes, after Catherine or Reva left him."
"So, what happened?"
"Reva came back and he found out that I had known all along where his son was. Reva begged me that night she brought him to me to protect him from Edmund. And as I said before, I didn't remember what had happened with him at the embassy, but I knew that there was something about him that I didn't trust, so I followed Reva's request. Richard couldn't forgive me for that."
"So, how did you find Ava and Jeffrey?"
"Ava came to town about two years ago. She was staying at the Beacon and Emma was close to her. I went out one evening and I let Ava watch her. Emma got into something she wasn't supposed to and she got sick. I blamed Ava and I went after her."
"How do you mean you went after her?"
"I hired someone to kidnap and…." She looks away.
"And what?" He asks, watching her.
"He was supposed to kill her." Olivia says quietly.
"You ordered him to kill her."
"Yes, I was angry and I didn't know at the time she was my daughter."
James stands up and walks over to the couch. Sitting down he looks at her. "How did you find out about Jeffrey?"
"Jeffrey was running for mayor and shortly after I found out about Ava. I was on Main Street. Jeffrey was working Main Street for the election because it was close to or on Election Day. I saw Ditkins and I recognized him. Since I had found Ava, things that night in San Cristobel had started to come back to me and when I saw Ditkins I confronted him. He admitted that I was raped that night and when I asked him what happened. He explained that Jeffrey had raped me and to keep from facing prosecution he had signed on as an agent for one of the US agencies that operated on the island. The deal was that he would work for them and they would, in return, protect him from the authorities in San Cristobel."
"What did you did? And why didn't you recognize him when he came to town?"
"His name was familiar to me, but Jeffrey looks nothing like the man I met that night in San Cristobel. I was furious that he was free, living his life, running for Mayor. He was responsible for what happened that night at the embassy."
"I noticed that he looks exactly like Richard." James says, sitting back.
"He had surgery to make him look exactly like Richard to be able to be his double the last year Cassie and Richard were in San Cristobel."
"So, why isn't he in jail and how did he end up being Mayor?"
Olivia sighs and then says. "After I spoke to Ditkins, I confronted Jeffrey about what Ditkins had said. He didn't deny it but he didn't confess to doing anything that night. Ditkins had said that he was still under the protection of the agency and couldn't be touched as long as he was. So I couldn't presses charges and he advised that I let it go."
"But you couldn't?"
"No, I couldn't, so I went to the press. The election for mayor was close but Blake won. Unfortunately for her, Ditkins had ordered champagne and ordered it to be delivered to the winner of the election. The champagne was poisoned. When Blake won the election, the champagne was delivered to her and she drank some of it and slipped into a coma. Jeffrey was given the office by default. I went to the DA, and I told her the whole story, including what Ditkins had told me before the election. Ditkins had been arrested for poisoning Blake. Doris confirmed with him everything I told her. The governor had already announced that since Blake was attacked and in a coma he was allowing Jeffrey to take over the office. After I spoke to Doris and she confirmed everything with Ditkins, she went to governor, explained everything and pressured the governor to rescind that offer to Jeffrey. The governor agreed and withdrew the offer, by this time, I had confronted Jeffrey again about what he'd done and that Ava was our daughter and that I would make sure that she had nothing to do with him."
"So, you tried to destroy him too."
"Yes, he used me that night and from what Ditkins had said was the one responsible for me being raped."
"Did you question why he was still free, if he raped you?'"
"You're not understanding this. I thought he was protected from prosecution by the agency, according to Ditkins. He's free now, because he wasn't the one that raped me, Edmund did. And Edmund's father covered it up with the help of the US agency that Jeffrey worked for." Olivia says patiently.
For a while, James stares at her. Getting up, he walks over to the balcony. Taking a deep breath, he looks out at the lake. Turning around, he looks at her. "I understand that you were hurt. You were young and you were taken advantage of, but from listening to you tell this story, you telling as though you had nothing to do with what happened. What Jeffrey did, doesn't excuse trying to kill you daughter, or destroying an innocent man's life."
"Jeffrey wasn't innocent. He knew I was younger than I was pretending to be."
"But when you slept with him you knew what you were doing. He may have known you were underage, but you knew what happened when he came back to that room. You could've stopped him."
"You don't understand."
"No, I do understand. You went to that party, wanting to escape your life. But you were in control of your actions."
"But what he did…?"
"He took advantage of you and the situation, that is true, but he's not totally at fault for what happened, so I agree with him and Ava on that point. Has he admitted his part in what happened?"
"Yes." She replies, her tone clipped.
"And did he apologize?"
"Yes." She replies again, in the same tone."
"So, why are you still angry?"
She looks at him for several moments before she stand up and walks over to the bar and pours a drink, downing it. She turns back to him. He's been watching her the whole time. She can feel his eyes on her. She pours another drink as she says. "Because an apology doesn't make up for what was done." She says, turning to look at him."
"Can you not put yourself in his shoes?"
"Why should I?" She asks, taking a drink.
"Forgiving him and letting the anger go will help you move on."
"He took advantage of me. He knew…." James starts to say something but Olivia holds up her hand. "…he knew I was underage and he still did what he did."
"This isn't completely his fault."
"I was seventeen."
"Yes, you were. But you were old enough to make a decision. You chose to go to that party. You chose to get drunk. You chose to pretend that you were older than you were. You didn't ask to be raped when you went to that party, but you were. Jeffrey wasn't the one that did that. He's admitted he part in what was done. He's apologized for it. And unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done to redo what happened and holding onto that will only hurt you more than it will him or your daughter."
"Why do you care?" As you said, this is none of your business."
"Because I was a lot like you. I spent a lot of my life waiting for retribution for things that were down to me by other people." James says, looking at her. "But I can see that you're not going to listen to me, so I think I'm going to go." He says, walking over to the door. "I hope this doesn't affect the deal we've made for the Beacon."
"I'm a business woman. I can keep my personal life separate from my business decisions."
"Okay." He says, nodding as he opens the door. He walks out, closing the door behind him as she downs the rest of her drink and pours herself another one.