Chapter 31

Thank you so much for all of you writing and letting me know what you're thinking. You taking the time to read and write something about it means so much. I still don't own any more than my own words. Enjoy!

Sue had finally made it off the couch nearly an hour after Jack had left for the office. She swept the living room and kitchen floors, and put away some dishes. She was still feeling a bit helpless, but grateful that she was at least able to handle the few chores she had done. It never occurred to her that the seemingly simple task of sweeping would cause her such pain. It was almost as much of a work out as her physical therapy.

The morning had warmed up to a bright late spring day. The flowers were all in full bloom and birds fluttered in nearby baths, chirping as they did. The dark green leaves on the trees called to Sue. She wanted to feel the warm breeze blow through her hair. The grass was growing thick near the doggie park, which she knew Levi would love.

As Sue walked with her best fur friend, her phone vibrated in her pocket.

"Mom?" Sue asked, curiously. "Everything OK?"

"Yes, dear, we're fine. I was calling to see how you are." Carla said.

"I'm great Mom, really." Sue said, her nerves of the impending conversation beginning to show.

"That's good news darling. Is this a good time? Are you busy?" She asked.

"No, not really. Levi and I are just out for a stroll in the park. What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing. I wanted to talk to you about something..." Carla hinted.

"What about?" Sue asked curiously.

"Well… How do I put this?" Carla asked more herself than Sue. "Umm, there was a pile of envelopes on your bureau and, I, naturally thought they were letters to be mailed but I noticed they didn't have addresses on them, only names…." She began. Sue's mouth began to fall open.

"You see sweetheart, I wanted to make sure they didn't need to be mailed, so I opened the first one to see if it was signed- ready to go…" Carla stuttered over her words. Sue gasped at the unspoken implication of her mother's words.

"Mother… what did you do?" Sue asked, her words barely audible.

"Well… You see… I read the letter you wrote to Jack." Carla said.

"You what?!" Sue screeched. "Mom, how could you?!" She practically yelled into the Blackberry.

"It's not like I gave it to him, or even told him about it." She tried to defend herself.

"Mother!" Sue exclaimed again.

"I know I shouldn't have, but once I opened the letter, curiosity got the better of me. Besides, I wanted to be sure things weren't worse than you were telling me." She said, trying to defend her actions.

"So you just read a letter that was obviously not for you?!" Sue yelled, her voice becoming more and more angry.

"I'm sorry sweetheart." She said. There was a long pause. "Sue?"

"I'm here." Sue whispered. "How could you? How could you do that?"

"Well, that was my question for you darling." Carla asked.

"What?" Sue asked confused and bitter.

"I was about to ask you the same question." Her mother began.

"What are you talking about?" Sue asked, the hurt and anger seething in her voice.

"Well… I called this weekend and Lucy said you weren't home, that you'd gone away for the weekend to Virginia Beach." She began.

"I did." Sue answered.

"By yourself?" Carla accused.

"Mom, I'm a big girl, that's really none of your business." Sue said.

"Sue, I have to ask… the night that you and Jack shared together… well, did that… what I mean to ask is, are you..." Carla stumbled over her words. "Are you pregnant?"

"Pregnant?!" Sue exclaimed. "I was right, this entire conversation is none of your business!" she said and hung up the phone, shoving it into her pocket. "Levi!" Sue called as she began walking back to her apartment. Her relaxing stroll with her canine pal was cut short. She nearly ran up the stairs and slammed the door behind her. Her Black Berry vibrated once more in her pocket, she ignored it.

Sue was steamed, angrier than she'd been in a very long time. Levi began to bark and paw and her coat pocket. When she wouldn't take the phone out, Levi brought the jacket to her side. Finally Sue knew she needed to check who it was if she wanted any shot at having a coat left.

It was her mother again.

"What mother?!" Sue exclaimed as she answered the phone.

"Sue… Sue please don't hang up on me again." Carla begged.

"Why shouldn't I?" Sue asked wanting a reason to click the disconnect button again.

"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have read the letter. And, I know I probably shouldn't ask you such questions, it's just…" She began.

"It's just what?" Sue demanded. "How could you do that?!" She yelled. "What possible excuse could you have to make that alright? What were you thinking?" Sue exclaimed in nearly one breath.

"I'm worried about you. You're my youngest and my only daughter." She explained.

"I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself mother." Sue said, still obviously upset.

"I only wondered about the situation with Jack because I know you two have feelings for each other, and… well, I didn't raise you to sleep around." She said, trying to defend her actions.

"I don't sleep around mother! I've never slept around! EVER!" She yelled. She took a deep breath trying to control her emotions and her temper. "You took something that is so precious to me, and turned it into a sleazy interlude." Sue said as she hung up the phone again.

"Sue, I'm sorry…. That wasn't my intention." She paused. "Sue?" She asked, then checking the phone, realized she'd been hung up on again. "I guess I deserved that." She said to herself.

"Yes, you did." Bill answered. "Give her some time to cool off, she'll come around." He assured.

"No, she won't. And I don't blame her." Carla admitted. Bill wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her close.

"Don't you remember being her age?" Bill asked with a slightly devious smirk playing on his lips.

"Yes, I do." She laughed. "We had all four of our kids by then…" Her voice trailed off. "And, if I remember correctly, I was just as, if not more interested in making those babies than you were…"

"My point." He said with a chuckle.

"You're taking this very well for being her father." Carla scolded. He laughed.

"She's a healthy, beautiful young woman who has a good man who loves her a lot." Bill said. "You should give her the benefit of the doubt where her relationship with Jack is concerned."

"What if she is pregnant?" Carla asked.

"So what if she is?" Bill asked. "Look, it's not like she's 15 and this is going to be a monkey wrench in her plans. She's a grown woman, nearly 30 years old. Time to let her be a grown up." He paused. "And, if she is going to make us grandparents, we will support her choice, congratulate her, and give her whatever she needs." He paused. "I don't know about you, but I miss cuddling a newborn." He said with a sincere, proud grandpa smile.

"I just want her to know I'm here for her." She said.

"She knows." Bill reassured her as he kissed her, letting his lips linger longer than normal.

"Trying to prove something?" Carla teased.

"Yep." Bill said as he swaggered away smiling. "Carla, let her be. You've swatted that hive enough, don't ya think?" She grumbled, but know he was right. "You know, thirty years ago, you would have chased me all the way to our bedroom after a kiss like that." He smiled, raising his eye brow at her. She blushed a deep pink and casually strolled past him toward their room, pulling at the front of his shirt to follow.

"Now who has something to prove?" Bill laughed.

XOXOOX

Sue was steamed. Sitting in the apartment was only making it worse. She snapped up her purse, coat and Levi's leash and burst through the door, right smack into Jack.

"Oh!" She cried.

"Sue! Are you OK?" Jack asked grabbing her by the arm to keep her from falling back. "Oh, my God, I'm sorry!"

"Jack? Hi…" She said, trying to fight the tears that were welling in her eyes.

"Did I hurt you? I'm sorry honey. Come here. Let me see." He said, guiding her back to the couch.

"No, I'm fine." Sue said, still angry. Thin trails of tears slipped onto her cheeks.

"What is it? Did I hurt your surgery area?" Jack asked worried.

"No." Sue said shaking her head.

"Are you upset that I ran into you? I'm sorry sweet heart, it was an accident." Jack said.

"No, of course not. Besides, I ran into you." Sue answered.

"Then what is it? What's wrong?" He asked concerned.

"I had a fight with my mother." Sue said. As soon as she made eye contact with Jack, the tears fell freely.

"What about?" He asked. "Not us?"

"Yes… well, no… yes!" She said.

"I'm confused." Jack said shaking his head. "Is she upset that we're engaged?"

"No. I haven't even told her yet." Sue paused and took a long slow breath. "Before my surgery I wrote everyone I love, letters… you know, incase…" Sue said, wiping her cheeks. "I guess she found them. She read yours." Sue said.

"You wrote me a letter?" He asked. Sue smiled and nodded. "What did it say?" He pressed. "Was it good? Or was it too good, and that's what the problem is?" He teased.

"Jack!" She scolded. He laughed. "In the note, I said that I love you, and our night together was the most special night of my life." She said, blushing.

"Oh…" Jack said realizing the issue.

"Yeah, exactly! My mother jumped to all the wrong conclusions and practically scolded me for sleeping with you." She said.

"But, you didn't sleep with me… at least not in the way she means." Jack defined.

"I know that, but she doesn't. She assumed things by reading the fine print between the lines…" Sue said exasperated. "I'm so angry with her! She had no right to do that!" Sue yelled.

"I agree. But, are you upset with her because she read the letter or because she found out about us?" He asked.

"Yes." Sue pouted. "I'll admit, I am disappointed because I wanted to be the one to tell her the news about us, but I'm furious that she would stoop so low as to read a letter that clearly had your name on the envelope and your name at the top of the letter!" She stopped, but continued looking at her fingers in her lap. "UGGGHHH!" Sue exclaimed. "I just can't believe she did that!" Sue turned to look at Jack. "Do you know, she actually had nerve to ask me if I'm pregnant!?" Sue said with disgust in her voice.

"You know, we could work on getting you pregnant, then she will have at least been right…" Jack offered.

"If that's your solution to help solve this problem, let me do the thinking!" She teased.

"What the heck? I'm up for it?" Jack teased more. Sue gave him 'the' look and he finally laughed but backed off the subject. He took her by the hand and led her to the couch. He wiped the tears stains from her cheeks and slowly leaned in and kissed the same spots softly. His lips traveled from her cheeks to her eye lashes to her forehead. His lips finally claimed hers. He could feel the tension in her as his tongue pressed through her lips.

Sue wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him to her, gasping as she gave into her desire. He could feel her need for him and the stress wash away as their kiss progressed.

Jack broke away staring at Sue with wide eyes and an even wider smile. "Yeah, well… if we don't stop this, we're going to end up on the other side of that bedroom door of yours… and neither of us is prepared for that right now…" He said blushing slightly.

"Yeah…" Sue said biting her bottom lip while she blushed a deep pink. She took a deep cleansing breath letting it out in a huff. "I'm just so irritated with my mother!"

"I don't blame you." Jack agreed. "Maybe we should get some lunch, and go for a walk… let you calm down some."

"What for? Can't I just be angry for a little while?" She grumbled.

"Sure… for a little while." Jack conceded. "But you do know that you're going to have to talk to her eventually."

"Why?" She asked rhetorically.

The pair walked along the sidewalk window shopping as they went. They stopped for a snack and coffee at the local pastry shop. When they got back to the apartment Jack suggested they go to his place to check on the kittens.

Sue walked into the living room to find to tiny puff balls asleep on the couch. She made her way to them, picking them both up and placing them on her lap. Neither of them even batted an eye. Levi made his way to them, sniffing and licking them.

"Want to call my parents with me?" Jack asked.

"No…" Sue said nervously. "Not after the afternoon I've had with my mother."

"You didn't even tell her we're engaged?" He asked as he picked up his cell phone.

"No. I was too upset about the whole letter thing, I never even thought about it." She admitted.

Jack dialed his parents' number and waited. He walked to Sue's side, sitting next to her on the couch. Unconsciously he slipped his hand into her, entwining his fingers with hers.

"Mom? It's Jack." He said. "How are you?" There was a pause, Jack simply smiled. "No, everything's fine. Mom, I promise, there isn't a problem." He said with a nervous laugh. "Actually, I wanted to share something with you and dad. Oh… no… mom…" he stuttered. He covered the phone and turned to Sue. "She went to get my dad." Sue smiled. It was obvious she was a little more than nervous.

"Hi Dad… yes, Mom, I'm still here."

"You're on speaker with me and your dad. What did you want to talk to us about?" She asked.

"Well, I wanted to let you guys know that I, am getting married." Jack said nervously, but smiling.

He suddenly pulled the phone away from his ear. Sue looked at him concerned.

"Happy- cheering" he said.

"Ahh." Sue said, her nervousness fading some.

"Oh, son, that's wonderful! Who? Who is she? What's her name?" His mom asked. "It is a she, isn't it?" She asked nervously.

"Yes, mom, she is a she!" Jack said laughing out loud. "It's Sue. Sue Thomas." He explained to his mom and dad.

"Oh, sweetie, that's wonderful!" His mom gushed.

"Congratulations son!" His dad said.

"I always knew there was something special about her." She said. "When? Did you set a date yet?"

"No date yet… but I did ask her two days ago, so who knows…. The food could already be planned by now!" He laughed.

There was a long pause that concerned Sue. Jack simply smiled and formed his hand to look like a mouth and opened and shut it numerous times. Sue giggled.

"Mom, I have to go. I want to go see what Sue came up with today while I was working. I wanted to let you two know. Yeah. OK. Love you too." He said as he hung up the phone.

"So?" Sue asked.

"They're thrilled. They both want to meet you as soon as they can! Mom has offered any help she can be, anything you need." Jack said kissing her.

"Your turn." He said.

"Not yet… I'm not done being mad." Sue said in a little girl voice.

"Suit yourself." Jack said walking into the kitchen for a drink. He sat next to Sue on the couch. Sue watched him, noticing the way his lips turned up and how his dimple showed more when he smiled. His lashes so long and thick she was jealous… and those dark chocolate brown eyes. A girl could get lost in them.

Sue sat on her knees and ran her hand along his cheek and jaw. She surprised him by leaning in to kiss him. It wasn't long before the two were tangled in each other's arms caught in a passionate embrace, their tongues dancing to the beat of their hearts racing. Jack trailed kisses from her lips to her neck and back. His teeth gently scraped her skin making her whine with anticipation.

Jack smiled.

Meanwhile, Carla slowly dialed Sue's number once more. It rang four times before she gave up it would be answered. She prepared to leave a message.

As Jack's hands explored Sue's outer curves, Levi pawed at them. Jack brushed him away as he pushed the kittens onto the floor to join Levi. The canine wouldn't quit. He nudged his nose against Sue's face making her scream.

"Levi!?" Sue asked, pushing herself away from Jack. "Levi, what is it?" He went to her coat.

"My phone." Sue explained. She took out the phone to see it was Carla again.

"Sue?" Carla asked. "I thought I would get your voice mail."

"It's me." Sue said, much calmer than her previous calls. Jack rubbed her shoulder then held her hand.

"Before you say anything, please… let me." Carla begged. "I should trust your judgment, and not interfere, after all, you are a grown woman, well beyond the age of consent." She began. "I'm sorry that I read that very private note you wrote that was obviously not for me." She paused.

"I'm glad I did because at least now, I know for sure how you feel about Agent Hud- Jack." She paused, taking a deep breath. "I just want to be sure that you're ok."

"I'm fine mom. Jack and I shared something special, but that is between him and me. To answer your unasked questions… and your vocalized ones… NO, I am NOT pregnant. Yes, Jack and I went away together this weekend, but not for what you think. He thought I needed a break from here, a change of scenery. He was right, I did." Sue let out a long, cleansing breath. "I love him Mom, I really do love him. I believe he's my soul mate." Sue began.

"I see." Carla said.

"Jack asked me to marry him this weekend, and I said yes. We're thinking about a Christmas wedding, but nothing is set in stone yet." Sue breathed waiting for the shoe to fall from her mother's reaction to her news. "And… yes, my dress will be white." She quickly added, not wanting Carla to actually vocalize the question.

"Oh, Sue… that's such wonderful news." She paused. "The engagement, not the color or the dress." She said embarrassed. "If I had taken the time to think about it, you did mention in the note to Jack something about him not crossing the line with you… Anyway." She took a deep breath. "Congratulations Susan." Carla gushed. "I'm very happy for you, excited for you."

"Thanks mom." Sue said, a tear falling to her red cheeks. There was a long agonizing pause.

"Sue? You still there?" Carla asked.

"Yes." Sue answered.

"If you need anything…" Carla began.

"I know Mom. Lucy and I stayed up most of last night planning, and for the most part, it's good to go. I want to talk to Jack about my choices, but after that, we start booking. I will let you know the details as soon as I know them." Sue said.

"OK Sweetheart. I have to run, I have a dentist appointment that I'm going to be late for. I love you darling." Carla said.

"Love you too Mom." Sue said as she hung up the phone once again.