*dot*
It was true then. Jason had finally received the blood tests results. Finally, they could give baby Jack his last name. He handed the paper over his hands slightly shaking, Jess noticed, but inside she felt her heart drop into her stomach. There, clear as day, confirmed that Jason was the father, and not Phil. There was small smirk on his face when she looked up, but it quickly disappeared as he stood up.
They had chosen Marshall as Jess sighed knowing it was not the results she wanted, but the evidence was clear in this case. Jason was the father, and when he went to the store for food, Jess took the opportunity to call Phil. It greatly pissed him off.
"What?" he asked. "HIM? What the absolute fuck."
"It's not what I was expecting either," she commented holding onto the phone between her ear and shoulder. "Love you still."
"I love you too Jess. I'm getting papers drawn up." Her eyes widened at the thought but deep down she knew he was committed to ending his marriage for her sake. "I suspect like me, she's been with others. I just need evidence to prove it. Unless she gets me first."
"Any of your texts would be incriminating enough. Thankfully no goes through my phone. I rather enjoy the photos I get," she smiled knowing that their messages since Vegas had gotten worse, or better if Phil and Jess had any say in the matter. They were determined to keep everything confidential, but she really needed his touch and wanted it soon. Bidding him goodbye, they hung up with a kissy noise before silencing their emotions publicly.
Jason had taken care of buying a small stock worth of diapers and wipes while they stayed in Kansas City. It shocked many people they didn't have a carrier for him, but given how small he was, Jack had remained in the hospital for nearly two months after his birth. Jess was able to wrap him on her body for outings in the hospital, but finally on April 15th, they took him home to Jason's apartment. The boy was restless most nights but was at least nursing better now after alternating between formula and breast milk for so long. There was conversion about moving back to Los Angeles which Jason was upset about. He argued that they could remain there, and he could provide for them.
"I have plenty of money if that's your concern," he had said one night in a fight with her.
"It's not the money! I want to be able to provide for myself as well!"
Jason shook his head and knew he would lose this battle. Finally, they agreed to move back after Jack was fully cleared which happened near end of summer. With highs in the 80s, Jason and Jess had 2 checked bags which would arrive in LA for them, along with 2 backpacks, and Jack's diaper bag holding anything they may need for the travel. Jason handled the check in for everything as Jess observed the eight-month-old sitting up in the stroller as he held onto a stuffed tiger, a present that Alan had sent to him. Memories of Vegas had come when it arrived, and she laughed with Stu to explain the gift.
The short three hours to LA was over before they knew and at the terminal were Doug and Stu to pick them up. Exhausted by the travel, Jess promptly fell asleep holding onto the baby's hand as they left. Once back home in their apartment, both parents collapsed on the bed with Jack nestled between their bodies, a soft coo escaping them as they slept soundly. Jack was steadily getting to his milestones after learning to sit up fully. Doug offered to host a welcome back party at his house, and it was the first time that Jack met the people important to his mother.
Gathered around the table were Doug and Tracy on one end, with Stu and his new girlfriend Lauren, Phil and his wife Stephanie with their son, and lastly Jason and Jess. Little Jack sat on the end of the one table cooing at everyone around. It was the first time anyone had met Lauren and Tracy took an instant liking to her. They chatted aimlessly about anything, and this made Doug and Stu share a grin. At least they were friendly together. Tracy had taken Lauren outside to show her the garden while rocking Jack to sleep for a nap. It was here that it was obvious that Phil and Stephanie were having problems being in the same room. Jess had noticed that he refrained from looking at his wife and the softly hand taps causing his attention to turn back resulted in a cold sneer under his breath. It was something that no one else noticed she thought.
Phil's attention was mainly at trying to help with Jack, but Tracy refuted him by saying "as his official auntie, I must spoil this child to no end"and Jess was fine with it, even laughing at the declaration. Stepping out a moment to get some air, Phil and Stephanie followed out moments later in a heated argument.
"You are such an asshole!"
"Maybe if you were such a bitch, we would be able to spend time with my friends!"
"You only want to be here to prove a point to that boy. Admit it you hate him!"
"I fucking do hate him!" yelled Phil turning sharply in place a finger pointed toward the house.
They turned realizing that Jess sitting on the porch holding onto her cup midair, staring at them a bit shock. Stephanie cursed under her breath as Phil went to sit down beside her.
"What are you doing?" she snapped.
"Sitting down, away, from you!" he shouted finally plopping beside Jess. He was shaking slightly in frustration as she stomped away back inside. She took their son in tow leaving Phil behind in a cloud of dust.
"Fucking bitch," he mumbled under his breath. "I hope she at least said from reason for leaving so suddenly." He looked over at Jess and reached out to cup her open hand. He smiled at her and squeezed it tightly before pushing his hair and straightening his shirt.
"How long have you two been fighting?" asked Jess kindly pulling her legs under her bottom to sit better. "That was about Jason wasn't it? This one?"
"It was," agreed Phil softly holding his chin on his hands. "She's been secretively for about 6 months and I'm sure it's the same as my reason. I know where I stand though. Like I said I have papers drawn up, and that large down-payment I have for my lawyer is moderate. Thankfully I have the extra account to use that she doesn't know."
"The one I use sometimes? I thought that was the main one," said Jess confused, wide eyed.
"No. I'm not stupid!" he laughed sensing her hand lay on his. "It's the one I had when I was younger. Glad I kept it open. I've always had 15% of my pay go in it. Got myself a nice little amount of money sitting there over 9 years of teaching."
Phil and Jess stood up and returned to the house seeing that Jack had woken up and was laughing loudly at the silly faces Stu was making. Bidding everyone goodbye a few hours later, Jess approached Phil giving him a big hug while he gave a quick kiss to the cheek. Blushing, she was unaware that Phil looked over at Jason seeing the rage in his face. Smirking, he gave an equally big hug and released her slowly. Rustling Jack's head softly, he took noticed of the light brown tuff of hair and saw the bright blue eyes. Inspecting closely, it was the same shade as his, but maybe it just was the lighting in the room.
*dot*
It was in October when Phil finally got to have Jess to himself for an afternoon. It was oddly calming to be out that afternoon at the park, which they agreed to because his son wanted to play at the park. Watching him play happily made Phil look down at Jack feeling difficult emotions he wanted to ignore.
The small boy was 9 months now and was clapping as he watched those around him. He was trying to crawl but only fussed when he was on his tummy for too long. Seated in Phil's lap, his small fist wrapped the adult's thumb, and he peacefully began to doze off.
"Jess!" he called out holding the barely awake boy. Within minutes he was out once more. Phil reached for a small blanket and rolling it up to make a cushion for Jack to sleep. "He's out again."
"God he's like you I swear! Just out," she smiled kissing her son's head. "He's a precious though."
They talked like old times, under the watchful glaze of everyone around them. Phil's son came running up and convinced Jess to toss the football around before they set out playing tag. Laughing, Phil watched feeling nearly complete but knowing the small boy in his lap was not his, though he had wished it several times over. Jess and him belonged together and if he could just get that boy out of her life then everything would be better. He just had to divorce Stephanie and move out on his own, then Jess and Jack could move in with him. He was nearly there because he came across her phone records and messages sent to her boss detailing meet ups.
Shit at least I used code words with Jess, he thought passing the screenshots to his lawyer. He was impressed at the findings and this they knew would help his case. He had taken many opportunities to watch Jack for Jess earning him a few screaming matches with the boy even at their apartment. One day last week, Jess had asked him to watch Jack as she and Jason would both be out, and it was a Saturday meaning he wasn't in class. It had been a rainy day outside, so he wasn't able to go for a walk with him, but Jack was busy army crawling around the floor.
Jess arrived back carrying her backpack and a coffee in one hand as she walked up the stairs hearing shouting from down the hall. Pausing to make out the voices, she sighed heavily realizing it was Jason and Phil arguing loudly, the door wide open.
"— Then why the fuck are you here?" yelled Jason, a loud thud coming from the apartment. It must have been something that he threw in anger.
"Jess asked me to watch Jack. It was her choice!" retorted Phil.
"You have no reason to be here!"
Peeking around the corner, Phil and Jason stood maybe three feet from one another. Jason's fists were clenched with one sternly pointing at the door as Phil's arms were crossed at his chest. Undeniably, the two were angry at each other.
"Get the fuck out!"
"Jess isn't here yet! I am not leaving until she gets here!"
"I'm here and you should fucking leave!"
"I'm not leaving till Jess get back. You aren't her keeper man. You're not a man, just a fucking boy! Probably a shit father too!"
"Jack is my son! And you are nothing to me!"
"You think I give a shit about you? Jess doesn't need your sorry ass. She needs me and will always want me!" laughed Phil as Jason's face contorted in a mixture of pain, anguish and despair.
"Get out!" warned Jason taking a step forward.
Slowing inching herself in the door, she cleared her throat making them snap their heads at her, a red blush crossing their faces as she walked through and went to the bedroom to set her backpack down. When she emerged Jason stood alone, his fists clenched white, and his cheeks were extremely flush. After that, he began very protective of the three of them, not allowing Phil to see Jack anymore. After much fighting and Jess finally standing firm against the demands, because truthfully, she would never give Phil up. She had screamed at him, that he had not a single right to demand such things when they were never going out to begin with and reminded him, they were roommates who shared a son. This stopped Jason long enough to be reminded of the reality he lived in.
Jason admitted he only wanted what was best for their family. It shook Jess up so much that she had difficulties coming to terms with his words. Their family. The idea never formed in her head until he spoke it so confidently like it was second nature. Speaking with a relationship counselor, they agreed they would be more understanding, but it was very difficult for Jason when it concerned Phil. He had never trusted him around her and that was the cause of his jealously.
*dot*
It was December, Phil told Jess sitting at dinner one night, how he had been kicked out from Stephanie after she learned he was seeing someone else and finding out it was Jess in fact wasn't half the battle. At first admitting nothing was wrong, their lawyers combed through pages and pages of emails and texts detailing both of their infidelity. Stephanie's boss and Jess were the other persons, and for the first time the legal teams were shaking their head at the complex, messy divorce they had in front of them. Stephanie was sitting across the table with her team, her face in a scowl as Phil leaned forward opposite of her staring at the wall behind her trying to ignore the ramblings. Their lawyers were combing through the pages finding connecting issues about them and the mention of Jess several times caused Stephanie to harshly exclaim her distrust in the girl.
"Oh, please Steph! You were fucking your boss! Like you're a saint either," he shouted making her hands curl on the papers in front of her.
"You and that girl! Maybe all the texts and photos and videos you were sending to a girl thirteen years younger than you might have been enough for you to realize—"
"Maybe if you weren't so unappealing and I might find your 30-something year old body worth my dick's time," he laughed knowing it hit hard with his words.
"She was your goddamn student!" she shrieked; her face contorted so violently that everyone in the room had concerns to her next words. Everyone looked at one another as Phil's lawyer cleared his throat loudly. Sighing seriously, it seemed everyone connected the dots of Jess and Phil to his teaching at Rochester. She was no random person but someone much closer.
"She was your student?" her lawyer questioned him, his glasses nearly falling off his nose. "As in you taught her while she was a student?"
"Well," he hesitated knowing he had violated many school rules while he was employed at Rochester. "We have known each other for years before I was her teacher."
Stephanie huffed a moment before rubbing her arm in annoyance. Phil shrugged his shoulders and sat back in the seat basically confirming the information.
"Mrs. Wenneck? In your statements, you said recently during Thanksgiving, the atmosphere you both created by the way, included you finding out that photos Mr. Wenneck possessed of Ms. Billings would an bring an arousal to him instead of you."
Phil dropped his head down and felt his cheeks burning. He never in all his life wanted his private masturbation to be put on blast by his wife. He wanted to allow the feeling of love to be there from Jess. Stephanie crossed her arms and nodded as well. Clearly annoyed at the event, she added there were frequent times he would lock himself away. Sending mental daggers at her, she smirked as it forced him quiet.
"Mr. Wenneck; in the events during the holiday, your wife chewed you ass for this," he read from the statement. "So, for fourteen hours at least, you both hide behind a mask in front of your family and ignored one another. Even through dinner, you both refused to look at each other. But later that night after your son, Eli went with Mrs. Wenneck's parents, you both fought it out for hours. Screaming at each other until both revealed you had partners with other people."
Phil and Stephanie nodded confirming the account. That conversation had turned from Phil cheating to Stephanie cheating and ended up how neither of them could be together anymore that night. He blamed her hormones which got him a slap to the face and a high heel to the ass. It wasn't until he had decided to make a more permanent move in Jess' direction, had she decided to be further away from him for good. Thus, they were sitting in this meeting beginning the real divorce instead of him doing it behind everyone's back.
"What do you both say to this? What are each of your thoughts in the matter of your nine-year marriage?" asked her lawyer asked kindly looking at each solemnly.
Phil thought deeply knowing his answer already, but he hadn't the words to really say it out loud. He knew Jess wouldn't easily leave as he did so easily for her, and when he enjoyed sex, it was often with Jess screaming his name repeatedly. Simply put, Phil harbored no feelings toward Stephanie and only cared about Jess, their future, and making her his number one priority. When neither of them answered, it became deadly silent in the room. You could say the tension could be cut with a knife. It was so hostile in the room when finally, someone spoke up.
"Maybe we can reach an understanding to not reveal the true nature of the divorce. For either of your sakes," warned Stephanie's lawyer.
"Having a relationship with your student, and with your manager are grounds for each of you to face legal consequences that neither of you probably want to deal with. If would be, in each of your interests, to settle this amicable without revealing the affairs," concluded Phil's lawyer with a nod.
Both lawyers closed their files and smiled softly at their clients. Stephanie stood up first and demanded he get his things out of the house promptly or she would call the cops after two days' time. Agreeing, Phil walked out behind his lawyer, finally feeling freedom from the restrictions he felt for so long. They entered another office where they stood to chat a moment.
"I must say that was rather interesting," he grinned.
"I married her because she got pregnant. I don't think I ever really loved her," commented Phil pushing his hair back.
"Yes, well, the matters involving you with Jess are alarmingly, but you seem rather smitten by her alluring beauty and smart wit. She is quite attractive based on the photos. I must say as a married man myself; I could see the reasons why."
Nodding, Phil felt relief at revealing the truth of his affairs. His lawyer didn't even judge him, hell he even agreed with him.
"Thank you. She's definitely a force to be reckoned with," he said standing and shaking his hands and leaving the law offices.
It was this that made Jess laugh out loud as he detailed the meeting at night. Since Jason was out on personal business with his dad for a week, she was staying with Phil's new apartment. Jack was sitting up in his highchair clapping cheerfully while enjoying his mashed potatoes. She got up to clear the table and paused when she reached for Phil's plate. He pulled her onto his lap and gave her a kiss causing Jack to shrill loudly.
"Oh? Am I not allow to kiss Mama?" he questioned the little boy. Jack laughed and kicked his legs in delight. "Well, I'm going to kiss her!"
Lightly pressing his lips on Jess, he dared her with his tongue. Holding his face, they kissed longingly, even after Jack had gone to bed. The boy was sound asleep in his playpen in Phil's bedroom. Stepped out on the balcony, he observed the glow of streetcars traveling down the road. It's blurry white glow lighting up as they passed.
"This should be us," he said quietly to Jess, who stood beside him. Looking at her, he could feel the heat radiating off her recently finished shower. Her hair was gathered on top of her head in a messy bun.
"I know. I always thought it would be this way," he heard her say quietly pulling him back inside. A dangerous look came across her expression, and Phil felt something erupt inside himself too. The familiar tug meant exactly what they wanted from each other. He gathered her in his arms and pulled at the nightgown's end, coming across no fabric on her bottom. There was nothing there to block him as he picked her up and ravished her on the sofa.
Gently with methodical rhythm, his hands, mouth, and tongue worked her body and she tried everything in her power to not cry out in complete ecstasy. Her nails scratched his head as he held onto her hips, his tongue performing against her giving him the most passionate bliss. He felt himself stiffen and remembered briefly he hadn't had her touch in over fourteen months. It had been a long, hard time to justify only hand jobs to, but he wanted to conserve the energy to really give her a good time. Only her moaning was making it hard to do this time. He was pulsed against the pants he wore, and once Jess had gone twice in his mouth, he sat up and gave them a moment to calm down before she sat up. Her hair was a perfect wreck.
"What the hell?" she chuckled. "It's been a minute since it was that intense."
"I take it he doesn't do that," laughed Phil leaning on the back of the sofa.
"No. He doesn't. It's rather annoying," confirmed Jess standing up. She pulled the nightgown off her body revealing her body to him. It made Phil pause because the last time he saw her in this state, he hadn't really remembered the womanly curve of her hips or the bell shape of her breasts as she leaned forward. His hands did reach down and pulled his pants off and then guided her onto him. There was a tenderness and kindness as he felt inside remembering the emotions well. He was always surprised each visit here and the thrashing of his pelvis increased as Jess pulled her elbows on either side of his head. Holding onto her sides, he increased his speed making her moan his name with volume. Reaching for a breast, he popped it into his mouth knowing it pleased her.
"Phil!" Jess cried arching backwards. The only thing preventing her from fall away was his hands on her hips. He could tell they were both nearly there and a moment later, the rush of him emptying came and she rocked forward pressing him deeper inside her. He didn't think it could do that but by damn it felt so damn good. Calmly, still sitting on him and still connected in obvious ways, Jess pushed her hair from her face and cupped Phil's cheek, knowing where she wanted to be.
"Phil?" she asked seeing his eyes go to her. "We've been at this how long?"
"About twenty minutes," he answered eyeing the clock. Laughing, Jess bounced on him making him grunt with another smirk. "Many years really."
Finally standing up, she went to the bathroom to clean herself a bit then returned to collect her nightgown that he threw at her. Phil had grabbed a pair of loose shorts that hung on his hips before grabbing a couple of slices of pie. It was a strawberry rhubarb and it caused Jess to pause and think of Jason.
"Are you really getting the divorce?" she asked quietly as he turned around to get a couple of forks. "We can stop this. There are repercussions we never considered, and I don't want to be the reason you have to quit teaching."
Phil frozen in place, refusing to turn around. It confused him why she mentioned this after such an amazing time together. He gripped the metal forks tightly and felt his heartbeat faster. Turning, she saw her sitting there observing him, he trying to find the words.
"Are you really doing it? We can stop this—" she offered seeing his face constrict. Her words stammered out as she tried to make sense of what she was speaking. "We've played this so long! What is everything is falling apart around us?"
"You aren't my student anymore. There is nothing wrong," he said firmly pacing his hands on his hips. "Are you saying this because of Jack?"
"No—" she replied swiftly.
"—Jason then?"
Jess sighed and stood up to gather her clothes and began walking away. The pie slices lay still on the counter. "We agreed to this long ago. When you weren't my student, we would more open about us! You said so yourself. We are meant to be together Jess!"
Phil's eyes showed every amount of love he could muster but Jess felt uneasy. She drew back and asked him to step aside. He didn't move but stood perplexed about her sudden change.
"Phil, please just — we need to consider everything. I have Jack and Jason and we are a –" she started again.
"What? A family? Jack should be my son and you know it!"
Jess could feel her tears forming but as Phil spoke his true feelings about Jack, she pushed her way through leaving him standing even more confused and probably hating himself too.
"Jess!" he called but she heard nothing of it. She ran to his bedroom and threw herself under the duvet and could hear Phil throwing something into the sink. Tears escaped as she sniffled her way into a fitful sleep. She knew inside that being with Phil had always been a gamble. It was ultimately causing her emotional stress she never imagined she would experience. She was the cause of his divorce; she was reason he was always wanting to be around Jack; and she would remain the only woman he would love. The reality of being with Phil had always been a fantasy but could she allow herself to follow through it all the way? As she thought, he came in to collect his pillow and disappeared back into his living room. Fuming under his breath, she sat up calling for him, but it was ignored.