Chapter Six

George helped her up and they continued walking hand in hand to the hotel.

"When we were discussing this holiday, I envisioned long walks, romantic sunsets, lively talks, and just spending time together. Instead we've had near drownings, accidents, arguments, and 2 nights in the hospital. I don't know how much more excitement I can take." George smiled reflectively.

"I used to be an adrenaline junkie but now my greatest desires are the simple pleasures. Am I getting too old for you?" he asked.

Jessica laughed lightly. "My life has been the exact opposite. I lived a simple life, married, worked part time, and raised Grady when he came to us. Life was pleasant, safe, and wonderful. Somehow, things are turned around. I have plenty of excitement, and more mishaps than I need but I'm still enjoying life, I love writing, and I do treasure the passionate man holding my hand." She gave it a squeeze but didn't look in his direction.

"So you won't be breaking my heart?" He stopped and pulled her onto the grass, out of the way of pedestrians.

She stayed silent for a minute.

"Come on, Jessie. Take a leap of faith, in me if not in you."

She nodded her head slowly. George wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close. "That's my lass," he murmured.

Funnily enough both of them felt much lighter, a huge weight was lifted and they had a pleasant evening watching movies and talking.

If Jessica thought there would be drastic changes, she was mistaken. Outside of the pleasant conversation and the huge smile George couldn't contain, everything seemed as usual. He kissed her goodnight with a light kiss on the lips and went to his room.

The following day Jessica had to return to see the doctor for a follow up visit. She was cautioned against flying for another week but otherwise she was doing well. Her bruises were fading more and she was no longer stiff and sore. Leaving the office, George asked her what she would like to do and she replied she wouldn't mind a drive along the coast.

The drive was stop and go until they left the crowds behind and were soon passing small villages. They stopped for supper before turning around and heading back to the hotel. The entire drive they talked and listened to each other. Jessica always felt it was the little things that you remember when you least expect it. She told George about the time Frank thought she would want a pair of hip huggers which were all the rage and he purchased a pair for her and gave them to her for Christmas. The description of Jessica's shocked face when she opened the gift and described trying them on had George crowing with laughter.

When Jessica asked about George's wife, he told her he would tell her when they were back at the hotel. Always inquisitive, Jessica didn't let the topic drop when they returned.

George poured drinks and they settled in chairs in his room.

"George, if it's too much for you, this can wait for as long as you need." She paused. "I have noticed that you rarely mention her."

George leaned forward and took her hands in his. "My wife, Sophie, and I married after dating for only three months. We were young and thought we were in love and completely unprepared for married life. Her parents spoiled her and while my home life was comfortable enough, on my salary we couldn't afford maids and cooks so while Sophie had to learn how to cook and clean, I had to learn how to eat unappetizing food. In my defense, I did help with the cleaning since it frustrated her so much and I hired a woman to do the laundry." He paused to gather his thoughts. "The first year it was easy to overlook our problems. We were finally able to go all the way and that was thrilling in itself."

Jessica smiled. She remembered her and Frank's first year of marriage.

"Another year passed and Sophie was unhappy. She hated keeping house. She wanted to shop and meet friends for lunch and have me take her to the cinema and theater. Jessie, I was a lowly constable and she didn't like my profession at all. She didn't want to socialize with my colleagues and their families which didn't make me very popular with the other lads. She didn't want to get a job and had no desire for a career."

Jessica got up and moved to sit on George's lap. He smiled at her gratefully and put his arm around her waist.

"I wanted to start a family and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Children would chain her to the house, she'd lose her figure, and she wanted to travel. She moved back home and lived with her parents for a couple of months before they sent her back to me. They realized they spoiled her and didn't have the heart to correct her, as she needed, so they insisted she move back home."

"Oh no, that probably wasn't a good idea," murmured Jessica.

"It was horrible. We fought for the next three or four years, making each other miserable. I escaped by working longer hours. She complained but by then I was getting promotions and making more money that she could waste. I was too controlling, too demanding, expected to be obeyed. She was just as demanding, spoiled, and threw tantrums. It was not a happy life. Then she had to see a physician. She thought she was pregnant and was very unhappy but it turned out she had cancer and it was pretty advanced."

Jessica frowned in concern. Giving him a kiss on his cheek she longed to soothe him. She rubbed his back and squeezed his shoulder.

"Believe it or not, we came together. We came up with a plan and now I'm very proud that we were able to finally mature and work together. It was a difficult time for her, for both of us, but gone were the tantrums and wasting money. We fell in love, real love. Oh, we always liked each other but I think our hormones were in charge of us getting married. We didn't want to wait any longer to be together. Those two years we had are the ones I think of when I talk about our marriage. She told me she wished we could have done it from the start. She regretted not giving me children, making our home a happy one, and being a better wife. I had the same regrets. Oh, if only I had been a patient, loving husband."

Jessica hugged him as tears rolled down his cheek. "She told me to love again and now I would know how to do it properly." He gave a bitter laugh. "The problem with that was I had no desire to be with anyone for a long time. I didn't want to make another woman miserable. I know I work impossibly long hours and don't have time for socializing usually. And then you entered my life. I fell so hard for you but I cautioned myself to take it slow. I always gave in to your wishes because I wanted you to be happy. I didn't make demands. I figured you weren't ready yet."

"You were right. It was very hard to try to move on after Frank and the one time I tried was disastrous and I lost all my confidence," agreed Jessica.

"But I think I took it to the opposite extreme. I was basically a doormat. Whatever you wanted was fine with me. It still is but Jessie you endangered your life. I worry you don't have a safety net anymore. I highly doubt you would do the same things if Frank were alive. It's not fair because you aren't the same woman but do you have any idea of my anguish if you had died?"

Jessica's head was down. She did know there were family and friends that would mourn her death, and would be absolutely crushed if she had drowned.

"I'm happy to know you though and I don't regret even one day of knowing you, even when you're stubborn."

George hugged her tighter. His hands rubbed her back and he felt content.

Jessica leaned into him. Resting her forehead against his and savoring the moment. Maybe she was right to put her trust in him.

"You're going to stay here at the hotel for the additional days before you can fly?" asked George, breaking the silence.

"Yes, I'll stay here. When do you go back to work? Monday?" she asked.

"I'll go back on Tuesday and take you to the airport, Saturday." He placed a hand on her cheek. "I'll miss you very much so let's make the most of the days we have left."

Plans were made for their remaining days together and once George returned to work, they planned to spend their evenings together. It became obvious that their relationship had evolved. While they always enjoyed being together, they were quickly becoming inseparable. When George returned to work, Jessica decided to fill her days lounging on the beach, writing notes for a possible new book and thinking about when she could visit England again. Her schedule was somewhat more flexible as she could write anywhere she went.

Tuesday evening she enjoyed hearing about his first day back. He lifted a folder that he said he needed to read before he went to work the next day so he told her he would have to leave after dinner. It took several kisses before Jessica was able to let him leave.

Wednesday Jessica spent the morning in her room organizing her belongings and sorting through all her packages. She went out and purchased another suitcase and filled it with the gifts she bought. After lunch she decided to walk along the beach. There was a huge commotion along the cliffs and crowds of people. Jessica was filled with dread. Has someone gone into the caves? She followed the crowd and edged her way to the front. The bobbies were keeping the people from surging forward. It was announced that two young boys had entered the caves and a rescue squad was on the way. In the meantime several other people on the force had gone inside.

Jessica sent a prayer up for the boys. She heard murmuring in the crowd that one of the boys was only six and the other one only a year or so older. She saw a lady crying near an ambulance and was told she was the mother of both boys. Thirty minutes later a cheer went up and Jessica saw a little boy running to his mother with a bobby trying to catch up from behind. The crowd laughed and it seemed the boys were saved. Now there was grumbling about the caves. Why didn't they fence the area instead of just posting signs?

Jessica made her way closer to the ambulance and the reunited family.

"Mummy, they saved us from the water. I want to thank Johnny and George."

"Who are they? The ones that rescued you?" his mother asked.

"Johnny is a bobby! He's tall and has red hair. I'm going to be a bobby when I get bigger." He was struggling to stand still as he was being looked over by the paramedics. "The other man is George. He's not a bobby, he's a spector."

"Inspector," his mother corrected.

Jessica's head came up. It's not possible, is it? She thought. She went over to a group of officers and asked if they knew if Inspector Sutherland was out yet. She must have appeared official because they told her neither men were out yet but they were in radio contact. One of them was injured but not life threatening.

Jessica thanked them and moved closer to the front again. Johnny, the bobby, finally emerged. His arm was in a makeshift sling and he was soaked to the skin. He had fallen getting the boys out and couldn't help the inspector out so the rescue squad had to try to retrieve him.

Hours passed and she waited. She heard them say the tide was coming in and the men were coming out of the caves. She had paced and worried and now she knew how much George had worried while she was inside. The media had arrived so they were being pushed even further away. Jessica refused to leave and she pleaded with who she assumed was the Chief in Charge and thank goodness, he knew who she was and knew George was a good friend of hers. She promised to stay out of the way and he offered her a seat in the back of one of the cars.

Dusk was falling when there was murmuring again. Several officers, soaked to the skin, came out of the cave. They were tied together and at the end of the chain was George. His suit was soaked and his tie was missing. She ran out of the car and straight to George. He was still attached to another person when she dove at him. She kissed him passionately and there was a cheer.

George gave her a bear hug and began talking to the gentleman next to him. Jessica lifted her head. "What did you say?"

"I told him as soon as you climb off me, I'll untie him so he won't think he's part of a threesome and invited to join us." chuckled George.

Jessica blushed a fiery red and the officers standing nearby laughed. It was laughter filled with relief and exhaustion and everyone was grateful for a happy ending. Paramedics came over and started examining the officers. George was given clearance to leave and take a couple of days off. Jessica nearly dragged him to the hotel. He was wrapped in a blanket over his wet clothing and wearing a pair of slippers but he was stopped every few feet by someone to thank him. Once in her room she told him to take a hot shower and she would get him a meal.

She went downstairs to the shops in the lobby. She bought a pair of swim trunks since she couldn't find underwear, and a T-shirt. She also bought a few toiletries and hurried back to her room. The shower was still going and the food hadn't arrived so she took the tags off the clothing and paced.

She couldn't stop tears of joy from falling. The stress of the day caught up with her and she was soon sitting on the end of the bed sobbing. George came out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist. He saw the shorts on the table and quickly put them on before sitting next to Jessica and rubbing her back.

"I tried not to be scared." she hiccuped. "Oh George!" She began kissing him, eager to feel him safe in her arms. George allowed her to push him back and he welcomed her kisses, so much so that the knock on the door interrupting them took a minute to register.

It was the food. They ate quickly. George looked exhausted so Jessica pulled back the covers and shooed him to bed. She kissed his forehead and told him goodnight before grabbing her book and sitting in a chair to read. She was too jumpy to go to sleep right away.

She woke up with George's arms around her. This was a habit she could easily learn to love. She smiled as she realized he wasn't wearing a shirt. He must really hate wearing clothes to bed. She suddenly sat up.

"I'm still wearing the swimming trunks, lass," he assured her. "Good morning."

She blushed but relaxed against him again. "Good morning."

He told her about yesterday's dangerous adventure. She shivered to think he had been in danger, again.

"I do hope they fence it off now," she said fervently.

"I understand they're going to do just that. And sturdier blocks around the opening too."

"On a happy note, you have two days off now." She moved her hand across his chest, rubbing it slowly. "What should we do with all that free time?"

George looked down at her incredulously. "What would you like to do?"

Stretching upward her lips managed to capture him in a fiery kiss. "How are you feeling?" She asked. She was delicately tracing his chest with her fingers.

"Are you sure, Jessie?"

"I'm sure I love you and I want to be with you," she assured him. "You told me to take a leap of faith and I am. I trust you not to intentionally hurt me. I already trust you with my life."

George brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. "Thank you, Jessie."

Jessica plowed into her scrambled eggs as though she hadn't eaten in days. She looked up at George who was smiling in amusement. She blushed heavily. "I'm so embarrassed."

"Darling, it's a hotel. People make love in them all the time. You did work up quite an appetite." He smiled wider. "It is nice to know you appreciated my expertise." He chuckled softly as she picked up her toast to throw at him.

"I was surprised, that's all. Usually there's a build up…it can take time…," she trailed off. "I wasn't expecting it so soon."

It shouldn't be possible for George's smile to get any broader. "I have to admit I never had an irate neighbor knocking on my door before. And then the front desk called."

Jessica put her head in her hands. "You told them it was the tv. I bet they've heard that one before."

"Do you want to head out?"

"No! We can't leave. They'll know it was us!" exclaimed Jessica.

"So you want us to stay in so they're thinking we're doing it again?" he teased.

Jessica's face colored and she smiled bashfully.

"I would like to find out how loud you can get," he mused.

"Out! We're going out!" she declared. She slipped on her shoes while George pushed the cart into the hallway. Grabbing her purse, she went out the door. She couldn't believe she made so much noise during their lovemaking.

It didn't take long for Jessica to slip into her JB persona. JB always stayed in control. It amused George but he understood her need for circumspection.

The day for her to return home arrived. The airport was crowded and Jessica was happy George could use his credentials to walk her to the gate. They waited for an hour in the lounge to board and she spent the time clutching his hand and trying not to think about how long they would be separated. When her flight was announced, they stood and George gave her a hug.

"It won't be long, lass." He kissed her lightly. "I'll miss you."

A tear slipped out and ran down her cheek. "I'll miss you too but we'll be together soon. She put on a brave smile and gave a finger wave. Straightening her shoulders, she took a deep breath and started walking away. She could slay dragons and walk across hot coals barefoot. They would see each other again.