A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Seventy Nine
A couple hours later, Jeffrey rolls to his side. Sam is asleep beside him. Something woke him up, but he can't tell you exactly what it was, maybe he was dreaming, but he's laying there watching his wife sleep. Thinking about their life, how it was before she left and how it will be now that they are back together.
He looks down at her stomach and smiles. In another couple months she would begin to show and he couldn't wait to be able to see the baby growing inside her. He reaches over and lays his hand on her stomach, imagining what it will feel like to feel his son kick and around.
He lays there for a while watching her sleep. His mind sort of drifting until he begins to think about her willing giving him everything earlier. The way she had given herself to him even though she had fallen asleep soon after he'd helped her up and they had laid down beside each other. He reaches over and lays his hand on her cheek, brushing her hair back off her shoulder. He moves closer to her.
He lets his palm rest on her neck. His thumb against her pulse. He looks up and smiles and idea forming in his head. Slowly he moves his hand down, feeling the smooth softness of her skin beneath his fingers. He moves it over her shoulders, feeling the coolness of her skin. He gently rubs them and then moves down her arms until he reaches her hand, intertwining their fingers together. He holds her hand for a moment, before he leans in and softly kisses her.
She's walking through a small garden, surrounded by beautiful plants and trees. It's not a tropical garden but it's not a forest either. There is an ethereal feeling to the garden. The path is made of small pebbles and they crunch quietly under her shoes. She feels like the path is leading her somewhere but she's not sure where, only that she's meant to follow that path. She continues to walk and as she walks around a bend in the path. There is a small pool of water. She stops for a moment, admiring the water and the garden of plants surrounding the pool and in the distance she can hear the gush of water flowing over falls.
It doesn't sound likes it's a large waterfall but several feet. She decides to follow the sound. She continues along the path. It leads her to the bank of a small creek and when she looks across to the other side, she sees Jeffrey standing there. She smiles as he holds out his hand to her. She looks down and she sees a series of stones forming a path across the creek. She takes the first step and then next and next until she reaches the other side and as she does, she slips her hand into his. He helps her up the bank and she hears him says. "I've been waiting for you."
"I've been here all along." She replies, looking up into his eyes.
"I want to show you something." He says, turning them towards the creek.
Behind them is those falls. The water from the pool flows over them and the trees that line the bank of the creek hang over the water forming a natural tunnel. "This is beautiful, where did you find it?"
"I didn't, you created it."
"I created it, how?"
"This is your dream. You're the one that created this place. You're dreaming about the waterfall and the tunnel made from the trees. This is all you and it is beautiful. As beautiful as you are." He says, leaning into her. Softly he kisses her, their fingers still intertwined.
Slowly he deepens the kiss and she sighs softly. He feels her pulse jump. He releases her hand and slowly moves it back up her arm. When he reaches her shoulder, he moves his hand down her side. His thumb lightly brushes her outer breast and she feels a fissure of desire sweep through her. He pauses for a moment, letting his hand rest at her side.
She sighs softly and he takes her invitation and runs with it. His tongue stealing inside. She takes a step closer to him, wrapping her arm around his waist. She begins to play with his tongue and he smiles softly. She feels the smile and starts to pull away but he won't let her. He continues to kiss her as he reaches for her breast, holding it in the palm of his hand. He's conflicted. He wants to continue kissing her but he also wants to look at her. She makes the decision for him. She pulls away and then looks down at his hand. She hadn't realized until the moment that she had absolutely no clothes on. She looks at him and realizes that he too is completely naked. "How did we get this way? I don't remember…."
"This is your dream. I have no control over what happens." He says, looking down her body.
Seeing the slight swell of her stomach and knowing that it's that way from the baby inside her. Seeing the soft curls that cover her womanhood. He shivers slightly. "Are you cold?" She asks, and he looks up, shaking his head no.
"I was just thinking about how much I want you and wondering if you want me as much."
"You can find out." She says, watching him.
"I think I want to wait." He says, leaning over and softly kissing her breast.
He slowly moves over her breasts, kissing them, nibbling on them. He hovers for a moment over her nipple, letting her feel the heat from his breath mixed with the coolness of the air surrounding them. Instantly her nipple hardens, reaching for him. Softly he licks it. He feels her suck in a deep breath as he lays his hand on her waist. He plays with her nipple, rolling it with his tongue, sucking it deep into his mouth. For a while he stays there until she moves beside him, opening her legs in a silent invitation. He pulls away. Looking up, he watches her face.
She has her eyes closes. She's drowning in desire. It's like a three alarm fire, rolling over her. She looks up and her eyes seem to beg for him to take it further, to finish it. "You're not ready." He whispers, leaning in to kiss her.
He moves his hand down to her hip. She moves into him. Slowly he moves his hand up her side, trailing his fingers up and watching her shiver in anticipation and need. He moves his hand back down her side. He pauses for a moment at her navel. Leaning over, he kisses her, swirling his tongue over the tiny button inside.
"Jeffrey!" She groans, arching her back towards him.
For a moment, he looks up expecting to see her awake and watching him. She's not. He decides to push her a little farther. He leans in again but instead of swirling his tongue over her navel, he begins to suck. The tug of his mouth sends a staggering surge of desire sweeping through her.
She arches her back, pressing closer to his hungry mouth while she buries her fingers in the hair at the back of his head. She holds him to her. Her breathing becomes erratic. Up until that moment, she's let him do everything but she goes to the heart of everything. She reaches for him, closing her hand around his erection, she squeezes him and smiles when she feels him jump. She continues while he plays with her navel. Finally he pulls away, looking up. He moves his hand from her hip. Slipping it between her thighs, he finds her slick with need.
"J." She moans, squeezing him harder as she opens her eyes.
He looks up and sees she's awake. "I wanted to give you everything you gave me earlier." He says, to the question in her eyes.
Leisurely he moves his fingers over her desire, drawing answering waves of desire to rush from deep inside her. He feels her muscles clinch as she tries to stay in control and fails miserably. Sliding a couple of fingers inside her, his thumb replaces his fingers. He moves it over her desire while he caresses her from the inside. She feels her body growing tighter and tighter. The tension becomes almost excruciating as she sucks in deep breath after deep breath.
He continues, pressing his fingers deep, rubbing his thumb over her desire. He senses the moment she's about to loose it and he pulls his hand away. "No!" She cries, reaching for him.
He reaches for her leg, lifting it. He moves into position, replacing his fingers with his desire. He closes his eyes, savoring the feel of her body closing around his, holding him. He can feel the twitching waves of desire fluttering throughout her body. He surges forward and she's completely unprepared. The friction bursts through her as she cries out. "J, Please!"
He answers her by leaning down and kissing her. Increasing his tempo, until she thrusts forward as he pulls away. Incredible waves of desire sweep over him. He rolls her to her back and leaning up on his arms, he thrust again. Sinking deeper this time than he had before, he brushes her most intimate desire and he feels the muscles inside her clinch.
He continues on, thrusting deeper, the tempo increasing until if feels as though she's holding him in a strangle hold of desperate desire. Leaning down, he kisses her softly before he whispers. "Let go."
The softness of his voice and the warmth of his breath against her heated skin breaks her control. Sweeping waves of ecstasy rush through her, squeezing him in almost a vise like grip, but the pressure doesn't hurt. He continues to thrust, drawing out each sweeping wave. Finally, his release erupts from deep inside him, rushing through his body like a gathering storm until it bursts from inside him, filling her with another series of release. Each throbbing surge of his release brings an answering wave from her until he finally collapses into her waiting arms.
They both lay there, arms wrapped around each other, sucking in deeps breath while they try to regain control. Sam slowly opens her eyes and turning her head, she sees him laying there and whispers. "Was I just dreaming."
"Did it feel like a dream." He whispers, slowly lifting his head.
"It did at first but now it feels like you took us higher than we've ever gone before."
"Then I guess it wasn't a dream." He says with a small smile. His eyes still closed.
"You realize that's the second time you've broke the doctor's orders."
"I don't care. I'm fine and you're satisfied that's all that matters."
"Is that why…?"
"No, I wanted to drive you crazy. I woke up and I was thinking about us, the baby, our lives. Earlier and how you gave everything to me, taking me farther than you've ever done before and I wanted to take you that far too. Can you tell me about your dream?"
"I will later, right now I'm exhausted." She says, yawning.
Slowly he moves off her, and she rolls to her side. He lays his hand across her waist, pulling her back against him. "I love you." He whispers.
"I love you too." She mumbles, falling back to sleep as he smiles, falling asleep himself a few seconds later.
Reva spent most of the days at the farm, piddling around the house. Ms. Chitwood stayed to help with the boys but usually at night she went home. In a couple days, she would have to find something else because Cassie and Richard would be home. Getting up, she goes into the house. On the refrigerator is the number for the Beacon. Picking up the phone, she dials the number and after a couple rings the front desk picks up. "Thank you for calling the Beacon hotel, my name is Jennifer, how may I help you?"
"Yes, Jennifer. I need to book a room."
"Yes ma'am. How long will you be staying with us?"
"Indefinitely." Reva says, looking out the window.
"May I have your name?"
"Reva Shayne Lewis."
"Yes, Mrs. Lewis. We have several rooms open."
"It doesn't matter which one, but I would like a view of the lake and light house, if you have any of those rooms available?"
"Will you need a large suite?"
"No, the smaller one."
"Okay, we have a room available on the third floor. It's a corner room so you have views of the lake and lighthouse as well as the garden."
"That will be fine."
"May I have your credit card number, so that I can hold the room for you or will you be arriving tonight?"
"No, I'll be there day after tomorrow. Reva says, walking over to her purse. She pulls out her wallet and opens it. Pulling out a card, she says. "My number is 9999-1234-3459-4959."
"Thank you, and could I have the expiration and security code on the back."
"The expiration is 3/12 and the security code is 123."
"Thank you." Jennifer says. "I have one room to be charged to the credit card ending in 4959, beginning the day after tomorrow and you will be staying indefinitely, is that correct?"
"Yes. Is there anything else you need?"
"No, that will be all."
"Thank you for choosing the Beacon and we'll see you in a couple days, Mrs. Lewis."
"Thank you." Reva says, hanging up the phone. She looks out the window for a little longer before she turns away. Going upstairs, she goes to take a shower before getting dressed. An hour later she's walking out of the farmhouse.
Since Reva has been staying at the farm, Josh has spent most of his time at Lewis or on job sites. He knew that Richard and Cassie would be coming home in a few days and he has started to wonder what Reva would do when that happened. He's coming downstairs when Reva walks into Cross Creek. "Hi." He says, watching her.
"Hello." She says, putting her purse on the counter by the door. "Are you going into the office?" She asks, closing the door.
"Umm, yes. I've got some work that I need to finish before we start the new job in Summerville."
"Okay, then I won't be long." Reva says, walking towards the stairs.
"Reva, you can stay as long as you like. This is your home."
"It's my home as long as I play by your rules, right?" Reva says, turning to him.
Josh lowers his head. "It doesn't have to be a fight."
"Are you going to apologize to your brother and…?"
"He's not my brother."
"And that is exactly why there does have to be a fight. You won't accept him and you won't believe me when I say there is no reason and will never be a reason for you to believe that Jeffrey will be anything to me besides your brother. You won't believe me even though I'm you're wife."
"Why can't you understand why I feel this way?"
"Maybe because I've never given you any reason…."
"You've never given me any reason. You were married to my brother and my father."
"And we were both different people then. That was years ago, people change."
"And I remember how you threw our marriage away because you couldn't get him out of your mind."
"So this is also about Richard and the fact that Jeffrey looks exactly like him. How long has Jeffrey been in town." Josh starts to answer her but she interrupts him. "Do you know what happened that weekend that I spent with Richard on San Jamar, deciding what to do with Jon." Reva asks, looking at him. " I realized that Richard and I could never work because I would be pretending to be someone that I'm not. I remember being Catherine. I remember loving Richard and having his child. I remember my life in the palace but that is all that time is for me, memories. We both realized that we were trying to hold onto something that was real at the time we were living it, but it wasn't real anymore. And do you know why it wasn't real, because we're not the same people we were when Richard found me and we married. We changed. I remembered being in love with you. I remembered that I have always loved you and that was the change. He realized that he was in love with Cassie, because what he had been holding onto for six years was an illusion. You're worried that I will want Jeffrey because he looks like Richard. You're right Jeffrey could be Richard for me, but we both would be living a lie."
"And the fact that he's my brother. You've explained Richard. How do you explain the fact that you've been married to every one of the men in this family."
"First I shouldn't have to explain anything to you, like I'm a criminal on trial. I'm your wife and if you ever loved me you would accept what I have said to you."
"You can't expect me to blindly accept what you say, when history proves otherwise."
"I seriously can't believe you're being this bullheaded. When I was with Billy and HB the situation was different. I was different, you were different, and hell HB and Billy were different. You want to base this refusal to accept Jeffrey on something that was based on a time when we were different people and a time when he had nothing to do with.
"So you're saying I should accept what you're saying like a horse with blinders."
"I'm saying you should trust your wife." Reva says, turning for the stairs.
He wants to follow her, but he had to go. He had a meeting to go over the plans for the Summerville job with the foreman. Grabbing his keys of the bar, he walks over to the door, opening it, he walks out.
Reva is standing at the top of the stairs, listening as he leaves. Reaching up, she wipes a solitary tear away before she goes down the hall to their room. It takes her most of the morning to load up her stuff. She carries the last load out to the car, and then goes back into the house. Looking around, she spots the carving in the mantel. She walks over to it. Reaching out, she slowly runs her fingers over the carving, tracing the heart and letters that Josh had carved in there. She sucks in a deep breath as another tear rolls down her cheek. Reaching up, she wipes it away before she turns around and leaves.
Jon is sitting at a table in the break room. Some of his co-workers were talking around him, but he hadn't joined in the conversation. For a moment, he glances up at the TV. He is shocked to see Alan's picture on the screen. He glances down at the headline scrolling across the screen. "Former CEO and patriarch of the Spaulding family was convicted of bribery and blackmail yesterday." He stands up so fast that his co-workers look at him. And one starts to ask if everything is okay, but Jon walks away before he can. He pulls his cell phone out, finding Reva in his contacts and dialing her number. After a couple rings, she picks up. "Hello." Her tone is hallow.
"Mom, its Jon. Is it true?"
"Is what true?"
"Alan was convicted of bribery and blackmail yesterday."
"I suppose it is. I haven't really been paying attention to the news lately."
"It's on CNN. He's was convicted yesterday at least that's what they are saying."
"I don't know sweetheart." Reva says, stopping at the gate leading to the farm.
"Is Dad back from his honeymoon?"
"No, they should be back in a couple days." Reva says quietly.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing, why?"
"I can hear it in your voice. Something's happened."
"It's nothing you need to worry about. I'll be fine." Reva says, trying to sound a little more cheerful.
"Stop pretending and tell me what's wrong. Did something happen to Marah or Shayne, Billy… wait Josh, something happened with Josh." Jon says, as she gets back into her car and drives through the gate. Getting out again she closes the gate before he says. "What did he do?"
"It's nothing you need to worry about."
"This has to do with Jeffrey."
Sighing, Reva realizes that she's going to have to tell him what's been happening. "Alright, I'll explain what happened as long as you promise to let me handle it." Reva says, parking and getting out of the car. She leaves the rest of her stuff in her car.
"I'm not promising that until you tell me what's happened."
"Do you remember the fight we had several weeks ago. Josh went…."
"He went to my bar and got drunk and a couple guys jumped him."
"Yes, we were fighting about Jeffrey."
"He's still denying that Jeffrey is his brother."
"Yes."
"But from what you told me before, you don't know for a fact that Jeffrey is Josh's brother."
"We do now."
"How?"
"Shortly before your dad got married I remember a locket that Marah had growing up. There was a picture in there of HB and Ms. Martha and Hawk and Sarah. When HB died, I cut a lock of his hair off and I put it in the locket for Marah. When I remembered that, I realized that we could prove beyond a shadow of a doubt whether Jeffrey was HB's son or not. So I took the locket and I went to Sam."
"Why did you go to Sam?"
"I wanted to run the test before I said anything to Jeffrey. It didn't work out that way. When I got to the loft, Jeffrey was there. He had been involved in a serious accident the night before and was home, so I had to tell him what we suspected and what I wanted to do."
"Did he give you a sample?"
"Yes, and I contacted Rick. We made arrangements for me to bring the samples by after your Dad's wedding and then he would run the test. So the day after the wedding I contacted Rick again and I took the samples to him. He rushed the test and called me a few days later with the results. I went to Cedars and picked up the results and then I went to Lewis and I told Josh what I had done."
"You didn't tell him before hand."
"No, I didn't. He would have tried to stop me. Anyway, I showed him the results. He was going to destroy them but I stopped him, explaining that Jeffrey already knew what we suspected and that we were waiting for the results of the test to confirm it. I also reminded him that I could easily get another copy from Rick and that I would tell him exactly why I needed it. After that I left Lewis and I went straight to Jeffrey's loft.
I showed Jeffrey the results and we talked for a moment and then I left. I was telling him good bye and I had leaned up to give him a kiss when Josh walks up. He pulls me away from Jeffrey as he punches him. Luckily, Jeffrey was still holding on to the door handle and me, so that stopped him from falling, which would have possibly broken his ribs again. I was absolutely furious with Josh. I made sure Jeffrey was okay and then I dragged Josh out of there.
"What happened next?"
"I thought he would follow me home but he didn't. Instead he walked in while I was telling Billy what had happened at the loft and about Jeffrey knowing the truth. Billy left and I was finally able to get Josh to tell me why he was insisting that Jeffrey not be told."
"And why didn't he want him told?"
"Josh and I have a long and complicated history and there have been times that we've done things simply to hurt each other. A lot of that history happened when we were younger and we fighting what we felt for each other, finding ourselves and our lives together."
"Stop explaining Mom, and tell me the reason."
"It's really a combination of a couple of things."
"Which are?"
"I've been married several times, not only to Josh but I was also married to Billy and to HB. Josh is afraid that I will decide that I want Jeffrey because he's a Lewis and I've been married to all of the Lewis men."
"He didn't want Jeffrey told because he's afraid that you'll decide that you want Jeffrey and leave him. Is he crazy or stupid?"
"No, I'm sure he believes it is a valid reason to keep the truth from Jeffrey."
"And you told him that you wanted nothing to do with Jeffrey?"
"Of course I've told him that. But he's convinced that my past history proves his point and he won't believe that I don't want anything but him. He's basically confirmed that he believes that I am the slut of Springfield.'
"You're not that. You said there were a couple reasons that Josh didn't want Jeffrey told. What was the other reason?"
"Jeffrey looks exactly like your father."
"I know that but he's nothing like Dad."
"We know that and on some level so does Josh but for some reason he's forcing himself to believe that I will leave him for Jeffrey whether it be because of our past history or because Jeffrey looks like Richard."
"Jeffrey's married, and from what Dad has said there is absolutely no way anyone could come between him and Sam."
"Josh knows all of this. But the fact remains, he believes that I will decide that I want Jeffrey and I'll leave Josh for him."
"So, what's going to happen?"
"I don't know. I just left Cross Creek with my stuff. I've been staying at the farm but your Dad and Cassie will be back in a couple of days so I took a room at the Beacon."
"Do you thing this is the end for you and Josh?"
"I don't want it to be, but I can't see how we can be together when he has so little faith in me. I'm sorry to dump all of this on you. We'll work it out eventually, so I don't want you risking coming back here to fight Josh for me."
"Josh deserves me fighting him for you and he's a blind fool if he lets you go because he's believing things that absolutely have no use in reality."
"Thank you for saying that, but please promise me that you'll stay there with Sarah. I'll handle Josh and this disaster he's creating."
"Mom, if Alan's convicted…."
"Promise me Jon, stay with Sarah."
"Alright, but if I have to come up there I will. Does Marah know about Jeffrey?"
"Yes, I told her."
"How did she take it?"
"She was shocked, maybe a little freaked out. I invited Jeffrey and Sam to spend the holidays with us."
"How is that going to go over with Josh?"
"It really doesn't matter. Jeffrey is a part of this family, Josh is going to have to accept that."
"Good luck with making him see that, listen I've got to go back to work, but I want you to call me any time for any reason."
"You keep safe and don't worry about me and Josh."
"If you don't call, I may before forced to sneak…."
"You're not coming here. Even if Alan is locked up, Lizzie is still free and there are no plans to send her to jail."
"I haven't forgotten about Lizzie, but you're my mom and I'll come back home if I need to."
"Jon…."
"Mom, don't argue with me, you know I'm right. I won't purposely put Sarah in danger, but I'm not going to let Josh treat you like trash either."
"Alright, you go back to work and for now let me deal with Josh."
"Fine, I'll talk to you in a few days. I love you."
"I love you too, son. I'll talk to you soon."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye." Reva says, hanging up the phone. She stands in the kitchen, looking out the window. The silence presses in on her.