Chapter 33
The doorbell rang at Sue's apartment. Levi pawed up at Sue's hand as she turned the stove down on the vegetables. Sue opened the door to see her fiancé standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers.
"Aww, they're beautiful. Thank you." She said leaning up to kiss him on the cheek.
"Like you." He said. He followed her in, grabbing her hand on their way into the kitchen.
"Something to drink while I finish dinner?" She asked.
"Sure. Beer?" He asked, smiling. She nodded back at him toward the fridge. Jacks eyes got big as he turned around to the refrigerator, opening it to see a six pack. Taking one out, he offered it to Sue. She denied it.
"What smells so incredible?" He asked.
"Chicken l'orange." She answered. "Hope you like it." Jack walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissed her neck, sending shivers down her back.
"I'm sure I'll love it." Jack whispered in her ear as he nibbled on it. "So, what made you buy me beer?" He asked.
"Just because I don't drink beer, doesn't mean you can have one when you come over." She said squirming away from him.
"Can I help?" He asked picking a green bean out of the pot. She playfully slapped his hand away. She uncovered the pot with the brown rice to stir it but carefully watched Jack from the corner of her eye.
"Go sit down, dinner will be ready in a few minutes." She said shushing him away. A few minutes later, dinner was dished up and served. Jack leaned across the table and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.
Jack sat back down and began eating his dinner. His eyes rolled back into his head and he moaned at the incredible flavor.
"This is amazing." He said gratefully. "Where did you learn to cook?"
"My mom, grandma, and neighbor Nellie." She answered. Jack looked at her curiously. "She was an elderly lady who lived next door to us when I was young. She could cook better than anyone I'd ever met."
"Still with us?" He asked. Sue shook her head. "Too bad, I was going to suggest we invite her to the wedding." Sue smiled. "So, where did you take off to at lunch? You said you'd tell me about it over dinner." He asked curiously. "Or was that just a ploy to have dinner with me?" he teased.
"Do I need a ploy?" She asked, arching an eye brow at him. He laughed and shook his head.
"No sweetheart, you ask, I'm here." He said kissing her hand. "So…"
"I got a couple of emails from a guidance counselor at Baldwin Senior High School, Maryanne Holt. She wanted to talk to me about speaking to the student body about bullying, and how they should be more understanding of others and the differences in people." Sue explained.
"Why you?" Jack asked.
"Well, because I'm deaf, and I'm an FBI agent I guess." She said.
"How did she find you?" He asked, taking another bite of his chicken.
"Her husband knew me from school, and when my name was in that article a couple weeks ago about the surveillance we did on the DeMarco case, and how I was able to read their lips, came out, it caught her attention. They got to talking about it, and it jarred his memory of me." Sue explained.
"You were friends?" Jack asked.
"Not exactly. He was a couple years behind me, but he too was bullied because he was very studious, smart." She continued.
"A nerd…" Jack offered.
"That's exactly the thing that gets kids bullied. I hate labels. There were so many kids in school who were bullied, called names… Some it bothered, some it didn't. Maryanne told me that he wanted to stand up for me, but wasn't able to." Sue said, her mind drifting back to her teen years.
"So, are you thinking of doing it?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, actually I am. What do you think?" She asked.
"I think it's a good idea. It's a chance for you to share some of your experiences and at the same time, show others who are different they'll grow up to be something, someone, and maybe, it'll make the bully's stop." Jack said.
"Or at least think about what they're doing, who they're hurting. Sometimes all it takes is to put a face to those who you're hurting to make people stop hurting." Sue added.
"Sounds like you've made up your mind." He said smiling at her.
"I would really like to make a difference. If I can keep one kid from going through what I did in school, it'll be worth it." Sue said.
"When are you going to call her back?" Jack asked.
"Tomorrow. I will go talk to her at lunch again and then see what they have in mind for times. I can talk to D about getting a couple hours off to go do some good community service." She cringed.
"What?" Jack asked.
"I can't imagine they're going to give me the time off. I just got back!" She said.
"Try. What's the worst they can say? No? Then arrange it, and take your lunch to do it." Jack said. "We'll make this work."
"We'll?" She asked.
"Uh huh." Jack said nodding. He finished his dinner, picking an extra green bean off her dish. He took her hand and led her to the couch. "You sit, and I'll clean up."
"Jack, you don't have to do that." Sue insisted.
"I know. I want to." Jack said. "Where's Luce tonight anyway?" He asked.
"She had something to do for her grandma. She said to make her a plate, she'll eat when she gets home." Sue explained.
"You know her grandmother is going to stuff her full, right?" Jack laughed.
"I know. Just put some foil over the chicken. Jack went to work and quickly put everything away and washed the dishes. Sue joined him, drying. He tried to stop her, but she insisted it would go faster if she did.
"OK, but only because I want to spend some time with you on that couch over there." He laughed. He leaned over and kissed her softly on the corner of her mouth. He was surprised when she pressed herself against his lips more, capturing them. Jack put his wet, soapy hands on her cheeks and pulled her more toward him, deepening the kiss. Sue broke the kiss, trying to pull away from his slimy hands. She began to giggle and run away from him. Jack grabbed a towel and made chase, catching her on the front side of the couch. He snagged her hand, pulling her to him. She snapped back so fast, it knocked him off his feet, right on the seat of the sofa. He pulled Sue to him, pressing his lips to hers again, kissing her passionately. Their tongues danced, creating a lustful desire between the pair. Jack maneuvered himself so Sue straddled him. His hand followed the natural curves of her body, from her thighs to her hips, up her arms to her shoulders and back again. His fingers drew random designs on her forearms, playing with her fingers now and then. Jack let out a breath, a shaky breath. "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to wait til our wedding night." He said smiling. Sue blushed. "I can't find the words to explain to you how much I want you. How much I want to be with you…" He began when Sue interrupted him with a smile as it landed on his lips. Jack's hands ran along Sue's back, holding her tight to him. It was only when Levi nudged the couple to announce Lucy's arrival home that they broke the lip lock.
"Hello Jackson. I didn't know you were stopping by tonight." Lucy said with a coy smile.
"Umm, yeah, Sue invited me for dinner." He said simply, sitting up.
"And, is my best friend your dessert this evening?" She teased. Sue's face burned brightly.
"Luce!" Sue scolded.
"What?" She asked. "What did you make? It smells incredible." Lucy asked.
"Chicken l'orange." Sue answered. "There's some in the fridge if you're hungry."
"Oh, no. Thanks, though. Gramma insisted I eat before I came home." Lucy said.
"See, didn't I tell you?" Jack teased.
"Oh, Sue…" Lucy began. "Maryanne Holt called right after you left today. She wants you to call her first thing in the morning."
"Did she say what it was about?" Sue asked.
"Nope. She said she wanted to talk with you about her proposition." Lucy answered. "Do I want to know?"
"She wants Sue to speak in front of the student body about being bullied, and how, just because you might have a handicap, you can do anything." Jack answered.
Lucy smiled wide. "What a great idea! You so should do that." She said grabbing a bottle of water and heading off to bed. "Good night you two."
"Night Lucy." They both said.
"Feel like taking a walk? I have to take Levi for his nightly stroll." Sue asked.
"Sure." Jack answered.
The pair headed out the door and across to the park. As Jack slipped his hand into Sue's she thought to herself, 'I love my life!'