Chapter 23
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Two more weeks passed, friends stopped by, more to visit than to help. Sue had regained movement and control of her arm, and was nearly free of pain. Lucy was still pushing her to do her PT, but Sue was also seeing a physical therapist twice a week to help get her strength back completely.
Jack dropped by unexpectedly to find Sue visiting with Angie. The two friends were enjoying a cup of tea and Levi was enjoying the extra attention. Angie was showing off pictures of the newest member of her family- her great-great granddaughter Patricia Alexis.
"She's beautiful Angie, congratulations." Jack said.
"I hope I have a daughter as beautiful as she is. You're very lucky." Sue gushed touching the pictures fondly.
"Well, if you get on with some of that list of yours, you'll have an absolutely gorgeous child to hold, nurse and rock, one day yourself!" Angie teased. Sue blushed at the comments. Jack looked curiously at Angie but it was the deep hue of pink on Sue's cheeks that was creeping from her neck to the tips of her ears that had him intrigued. She peeked a glance at him through her lashes, praying he wouldn't notice.
"What about you, Jack? Do you want children?" Angie asked watching Sue's reaction as her mouth hung open with surprise at Angie's question.
"Me?" He asked turning his gaze away from Sue. "Umm, yeah, someday. I would love to have kids, if I found the right woman."
"Hmmm." She said softly looking back and forth between the two. "Well, interesting." Angie said with a sly smile as she took a sip of tea. "Now, what did I do with that picture from the hospital of the baby?" She asked, looking vaguely in the direction of the coffee table.
"It's right here." Jack said as he picked the picture up from table next to her tea cup and handed it back to her.
"Well, it's amazing what you'll find right in front of you, if you only look." She said with a giggle, staring Jack square in the eye with a look of innocence. Sue knew full well what that comment was in reference to, and gave Angie "the" look to quiet her. Angie only giggled, enjoying herself more.
"Well, I'll let you two visit, I don't want to interrupt you." Jack said reaching for his jacket.
Angie's phone beeped with a text.
"Don't be silly. I'm actually on my way to see this angel." She said as she walked to the door. She hugged Sue quickly. "Jack, will you be a dear and walk me out?" She asked.
"Sure." He turned to Sue. "I'll be right back." Jack opened the door for Angie who took his arm and walked down the stairs to an awaiting car.
"She's a lucky young woman Jack." Angie said.
"Yes, she is. I'm so grateful she is too. I don't know what I'd do without her." He said.
"Maybe you should tell her that." She said with a wink as she dipped into the car. Jack looked at her curiously. The window went down and Angie popped her head out. "Jack!" She called. "Ask her about the list." She waved as the car pulled away from the curb.
Jack watched as the taxi drove down the cluttered street. He looked up at the window to Sue's apartment and jogged back up the stairs.
"I didn't mean to chase Angie out of here. How is she? She looked tired." Jack said.
"Yeah, I think she is. She's very excited about spending time with the new baby. They're going to get a professional picture done this week of all 5 generations." Sue explained.
"Wow, that's awesome! Not many people get that chance." Jack added. Sue agreed.
"I'm going to take Levi for a walk, want to come?" He asked.
Sue looked suddenly nervous. Jack could see the trepidation in her eyes.
"You can wear my oversized zip up and I'll hold Levi so you don't have to worry about him pulling at you." Jack suggested. Sue cringed, looking scared. "Sue… I'll be with you, it'll be fine. No one will even notice you, never mind stare or say anything." Jack pleaded.
"OK. Just a bit in the park though." She agreed. Jack's smile stretched from one ear to the other as he helped Sue on with his sweatshirt.
By Wednesday Jack had taken Sue to his place twice more. They were sharing Chinese when Jack brought up the list once again.
"What's the number one thing on that list of yours?" Jack asked out of nowhere. Sue looked at him surprised.
"Ummm…" She hesitated.
"You don't know?" He teased.
"No, I know. I'm just not sure I want to share that with you." She defended, blushing.
"Oh?" He smiled. "Maybe you would…" He teased. She turned a dark shade of crimson. She crinkled her nose and bit her bottom lip hesitantly.
"If I had to pick just one thing to accomplish on that list it would be rocking my child on the front porch while he or she nursed." Sue finally admitted. Jack smiled. "What about you?"
"While that sounds wonderful, I don't think I'd want to try to nurse a child." Jack chuckled. "If I could only do one thing…" He began. He watched Sue as she watched him intently. "I would have to say… I want to make love to my wife on the beach at sunset." His words flowed like butter, smooth and sweet. His eyes never left Sue's, and her lips turned up just a bit on the ends.
XOXOXOX
Thursday morning Sue had a doctor's appointment to make sure everything looked good. Lucy had offered to go with her, and took a personal day off from work.
Jack was sitting back at his desk chewing on a pencil when an idea popped into his head. He nearly jumped from his chair and jogged into D's office and asked for the day off which D agreed to without hesitation. Jack then asked him if his sister still owned the beach house in Virginia Beach. D said she did and offered to call and arrange for him to rent it for the long weekend he had planned.
Jack texted Lucy asking her to pack Sue a weekend bag, including a bathing suit. Lucy happily agreed and promised not to tell Sue what was going on.
With his plan in place, Jack called Sue to see how she made out at the doctor's. Sue had good news, which was a relief to Jack. He asked if she would like to go for ice cream to celebrate with him.
"Sounds like fun." She said. When she got off the phone she told Lucy she'd be going out with Jack for ice cream later.
"It'll be good for you to get out." Lucy replied hiding her secret.
"Would you like to join us? I'm sure Jack wouldn't mind." Sue offered.
"Thanks, but I'm watching my girlish figure." She explained. "Why don't you have a nice long relaxing soak in the tub before Jack picks you up?" Lucy suggested. Sue closed her eyes, rolling them back in her head.
"That sounds wonderful." Sue said. Sue gathered her clothes and did as Lucy suggested, soaked for a long while in the tub. While she was soaking Lucy quickly packed a bag and left it outside the door. Sue got out of the tub and dressed for her evening out with Jack. While she was drying her hair, Jack came and stole her bag, putting it in the trunk of his car before she could see it.
Once Sue walked into the living room, she noticed Jack sitting on the couch.
"Jack? You're here already? Well, I'm ready." Sue said.
"I just got here, I guess traffic wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." He said exchanging glances with Lucy. "You look great." He said staring up at Sue.
"Thanks." She said, turning to Lucy. "Luce, are you sure you don't want to join us?" Sue asked.
"Yeah, Luce, you're welcome to." Jack added to cover.
"Thanks guys, but that scale was begging me to get off yesterday." Lucy explained.
"OK then." Sue said and turned toward Jack. "Gelina's awaits!" Sue said.
"Oh, I thought we'd try this new place I heard about." Jack said hurriedly.
"Where?" Sue asked.
"It's a surprise." He said and zipped his lips. Sue and Lucy laughed as they left. Jack was glad she accepted his 'answer' because he didn't ever want to lie to Sue.
Jack immediately hopped on the highway, headed south. It wasn't long before there were out of the city and in Virginia. A half an hour passed and Sue finally spoke up.
"Jack? Where exactly is this ice cream shop?" She asked.
"Ummm.." He started.
"Jack…" Sue pushed.
"Virginia…" He began.
"Virginia?!" She exclaimed. "They didn't have any good ice cream shops in DC?"
"Well, I'm sure they did, but…" He said shyly.
"OK, well, we're in Virginia… where exactly?" She asked again sounding a bit put off.
"Virginia Beach." He answered looking guilty.
"Did you say Virginia Beach?" She asked in disbelief. He nodded and pulled away quickly from a possible smack.
"Jack! Virginia Beach?!" She gasped. "That's gotta be a four hour drive!"
"Three and a half." Jack answered.
"By the time we get there, all the shops will be close!" She argued.
"Yeah, but they're open all weekend- and that happens to be how long we're going to be there." He said cringing once again.
Sue looked at him with her mouth open.
"All weekend?" She asked in disbelief. "Jack, I… we can't stay the whole weekend." Sue protested.
"Why not?" He asked.
"For one, I don't have clothes." She said.
"Lucy packed a bag for both of you before we left." Jack said.
"Of course she did." She said still in disbelief.
"Is that it? Clothes?" Jack teased.
"You have to work, we have no place to stay." Sue listed.
"Took the day off, rented a place…" Jack said with a sly smile. "Sue, you needed to get away. I could see you were starting to go stir crazy. I thought this would help." He explained.
"I wish you'd at least mentioned it to me." Sue said.
"If I had, you would have found 100 reasons not to go." He said. Sue opened her mouth to deny it, but Jack interrupted. "And don't deny it, we both know it's true. Sue folded her arms in a huff, defeated. Jack watched for a long second and began to rethink his decision to kidnap her. They drove in silence for another half an hour before Jack tapped Sue on the hand.
"Hungry?" He signed.
"Famished." She said. The next sign for food they saw, they left the freeway.
"Sorry it's nothing fancy." Jack apologized.
"Burgers and fries are fine." She sulked. Jack watched her.
"Sue, if you really don't want to spend the weekend with me, we'll head back after we eat." He offered.
"I didn't say that…" She began. "…it's just this is really the first time since the surgery that I've been away from the security of home."
"Where you've been hiding." Jack said. "You can't let yourself fall into a depression over this- it's too hard to pull yourself out of it. That's what I saw beginning to happen."
Sue looked at him, hating him for being right.
"Guilty." She said.
"Look, let's play it by ear. We'll see how it's going. If you really need to go after that we will." Jack offered.
"You didn't get us a couple of rooms at a roach motel- did you?" Sue asked.
"Nope." He simple said. Sue looked at him, urging him to divulge more. "You'll see. I think you'll approve." He said laughing. She threw her hands in the air, again defeated, but at least less depressed. They returned to the highway, headed south once more.
Another two hours passed, Jack turned off the open road into a little town just on the outskirts of Virginia Beach. They stopped for groceries. His GPS directed him toward the coast, away from any city congestion, down a gravel road. Jack noticed a beach house on the right, the only burgundy one on the road. He pulled into the driveway and hopped out. He let Levi out of the back and opened the door for Sue. He went to the trunk and took the groceries while Sue took her duffel bag. The three walked to the door and found the key under the mat. When they opened the door, both were blown away by how beautiful it was. The kitchen was the first room they walked into. It was bright yellow with sand colored accents. The appliances were all stainless steel. There was an island for food prep and eating as well as a small table in an out cove. The living room had a large window to the left of sliding doors that led to the back deck which looked out over the Atlantic. Tall sea grass and beach roses grew high and thick on either side of a ramp that lead out to soft sand. Sue was instantly drawn to the glass doors to watch the waves softly lap the shore line. The moon hung high reflecting on the water.
"It's beautiful." She whispered.
"I thought you'd like it." He smiled.
"Jack… this is too much- a house, right on the beach…" She began.
"Don't worry about it." He reassured her.
"But…" She argued.
"It's D's sister's place. She needs a little 'security' work done in a few weeks, so we traded favors you might say." Jack explained. "Why don't we take a walk?" He suggested. "Come on Levi!" Jack said patting his leg opening the door to the deck. Levi started for the door but hesitated looking up at his mistress for permission. She smiled and pointed to the door.
"Go on…" She said with a laugh.
"Still mad at me?" Jack asked.
"No." She answered with a nod.
"Good. I hate it when you're mad at me." Jack said.
The pair walked along the water's edge for thirty minutes before a yawn slipped away from Sue's control.
"Come on. Let's get unpacked, then some sleep." Jack suggested. They walked back to the house, Levi last to enter the house, not wanting to give up his fun quite yet. "Why don't you sit and relax for a few minutes while I unpack. You can enjoy the water a bit longer." He said. She smiled at him, sitting on the couch, leaning against the back.
"Do you want to take a look around the rest of the house? Decide which room you want?" Jack asked. She didn't answer him. He noticed she was staring at the sea still. He slowly walked to her side to find she was asleep. Jack smiled and laid the couch blanket over her and made his way to a room to sleep.