***Beach house***
Jonathan hung up the phone. He had agreed to bring Jennifer to the police station in the morning to speak with Lt. Grey.
He locked all the doors, and double checked that the garage was closed. He cleaned up from their pizza, and made her a glass of water. He ran the glass upstairs and put it on her nightstand, before returning back downstairs.
She was fast asleep on the couch, so he picked her up and carried her to the third floor.
He gently laid her on the bed, and took her shoes off.
He was torn. He wanted to undress her but he didn't want her wake up and think he was attacking her.
He decided to gently wake her up.
"Jennifer….Jennifer…." He was shaking her shoulder.
"hmmm?" she stirred a little bit.
"Darling, let's get ready for bed".
She nodded. She got up and put her pajamas on, and came back to bed.
He changed too and climbed into bed next to her.
She snuggled up to him.
"You ok?"
"I'm fine. I think I want to go to the support group each week. At least for a little while."
"I think that's a great idea".
"Thank you for taking me to it, darling". She kissed him.
"Darling, I have to tell you something".
"What is it?"
"Lt. Grey called a little bit ago, after you fell asleep. They caught the person who attacked you. I told him we would go to the police station in the morning".
"Why? I don't know that I could recognize him. It was dark, and I tried to not look at him".
"Well, I think we have to sign some papers that we want to press charges. I don't think we are going to have to see him".
She nodded.
She was quiet, and kind of staring off into space.
"You ok?"
"Yeah. Just thinking about things".
"Like what?"
"Like the fact that I would be drooling in a corner somewhere if you weren't in my life. And that if Susan hadn't called, I would probably still be sitting on the couch, crying. And how I don't deserve either of you".
"Babe, this wasn't your fault".
"I know. I mean, I kind of know. I still think I was a little lackadaisical about how secure the house was that night. And maybe I should have slept downstairs on the couch, instead of in our bed".
"And maybe it would have still happened and maybe it wouldn't have. It's impossible to know, and you are going to drive yourself crazy thinking about what you should have done. You said yourself you didn't know that he was in the house till he put a hand on your face. Darling, the house could have caught on fire and you wouldn't have known. It could have happened to anybody".
"But it didn't, it happened to me."
"I know. And I wish I could change it".
"I just hate that you were affected, and Susan was affected. You guys had to put up with my emotions afterwards, and I am sure that was no easy feat."
He rolled over so that he was on top of her.
"You are pretty amazing, you know that?"
"How so?"
"You go through the most horrific thing a woman can go through, and you are still thinking about everyone else".
"Darling, you always put me first. It's high time I do the same for you".
"Darling, you do it every day. You just don't realize it".
He kissed her.
"How do I put you first? You are the one who is always surprising me with gifts and trips and dinners out. I am the one who is always burning your dinner, and putting my cold feet on you, and using up the hot water".
He kissed her. "And I wouldn't have it any other way, babe."
She nodded.
"Everything is fine, I promise".
She kissed him.
"I'm scared".
"I won't hurt you, I promise".
She nodded.
They made love, gently, and romantically, and then fell asleep.
***The next morning***
Jonathan and Jennifer were up and at the police station by 8:30. They signed the papers to charge her attacker with rape, breaking and entering, 2 counts destruction of property, and 2 counts aggravated assault. He wasn't anyone who knew them from anywhere, he was just someone out looking to attack a woman. He admitted he had followed her from the interstate. She was just another one of his random victims.
That made her feel a little better, but not much. She wanted him prosecuted as much as possible.
After signing the papers, they headed home.
***Willow Pond***
Jonathan and Jennifer got home around 11. They came inside and settled on the couch. The gate company was coming at 12, and the window repairman was coming at 1. Their new bed ensemble should be delivered by 5.
They were sitting on the couch, having a cocktail. Jennifer turned to Jonathan.
"When are Max and Freeway coming home?"
"Tomorrow".
"I don't know how I am going to thank you for rescuing me this week, darling. You put everything else on hold for me".
"I think a kiss should do it".
"That's all you want?"
"That's it".
"Well, that's easy". She leaned up and kissed him a few times.
"I loved being with you at the beach house, darling. It was nice to not have distractions".
He whispered in her ear. "For better or for worse, remember?"
She nodded.
They lifted their glasses. "Here's to better days ahead".