Learning To Trust Again

Shifting his eyes back to Todd, Jake said ‘Todd I don’t know what game she was playing but she was the one who told her ex that you two were going to be there the other night. I think she gets off on his jealously and the pain he inflicts because of it, but what ever the reason she set it up so you’d get hurt. I had to take her in.’

‘That is crap’ Todd said, anger reverberating from every word, ‘I don’t believe a word of it. She wouldn’t do that to me. You just didn’t like her’

Frowning Jake said ‘whether I liked her or not has nothing to do with it, she didn’t care that you got hurt, it was all a game to her.’

‘Bull, she’s not like that. She wouldn’t do that to me’ Todd repeated, adamant in his belief in her.

‘Sorry I know it’s difficult to hear but she admitted it’ Jake said.

‘You’re just mad because my sister isn’t fooled by you anymore’ Todd ranted, completely lost in his rage now and not caring who he hurt, ‘you wanted to get some revenge on her and you’re using me to do it. But it’s not going to work. I don’t buy it for a second.’

‘Todd’ Rebecca said, shocked at her brother’s anger. Even though Jake had lied to her, she knew he was not capable of what Todd was accusing him of.

But Todd ignored her.

‘Just get the hell out of here’ he yelled at Jake ‘and don’t bother coming back, nobody wants anything to do with you, not anymore.’

‘Todd’ Rebecca said again trying to get her brother to see reason and stop the flow of hate emanating from him. Surprising herself as much as anyone her brother’s attack pushed her to coming to Jake’s defense. ‘Jake wouldn’t lie about something like that’ she said ‘he can’t have someone charged for no reason. I know you’re upset, you liked her, but please just listen. Think about it logically.’

‘Wouldn’t he Rebecca?’ Todd ranted ‘how well do you know him? Didn’t he lie to you before, when he found me in the lane?’

‘Todd!’ Rebecca exclaimed again, unable to believe what she was hearing. ‘How can you say that?’ She was horrified by her brother’s willingness to use a situation he helped cause against Jake. Despite her problems with him, Jake had done nothing but try to help Todd and to see him turn on him like this made her sick. And all of a sudden she realised this was the real reason for her ongoing hostility.

She looked away.

Learning To Trust Again

The next evening Jake made his way to the hospital as promised. Walking into Todd’s room he was more than a little surprised to see Rebecca sitting next to the bed. Given her attitude when he’d spoke to her last night, he was sure she’d have avoided being there knowing that he was planning to visit. ‘Hi’ he said quietly he eyes fixed on her face.

But Rebecca just looked away and mumbled ‘hi.’

She hadn’t intended being there when Jake arrived, but Todd had insisted she stay. He wanted her to go and find Jemma as soon as they knew what had happened. Rebecca wasn’t any keener on going to look for the girl than she had been to see Jake, but knew it was either her going, or Todd would. He needed to stay in hospital, he still wasn’t fit enough to even be out of bed, so she had no choice.

Jake turned to the man in the bed ‘hey Todd, how you feeling?’

‘Like I’ve been run over by a truck’ Todd said. He had watched the other two with interest, one searching and the other avoiding. He concluded that nothing had changed. Good. He was worried when he had asked Rebecca to contact Jake it may have reopened the connection, but he was pleased that that didn’t seem to be the case. If he hadn’t been so desperate to find Jemma, he would never have asked his sister to contact the other man, but Jake was the only possible point of contact he had. Jemma had been there with him the night he’d been attacked, Jake must have seen her, unless Simon had forced her to go with him and if that’s the case he may just need Jake’s help to find her. Not interested in making small talk or being polite, he got straight to the point ‘Jake, Rebecca told me you arrested Simon.’

‘Yes. He’s been charged’ Jake replied.

Todd then asked the question uppermost in his mind ‘do you know what happened to Jemma? She didn’t come to the hospital and I haven’t been able to contact her.’

Jake looked at Rebecca for a minute with a worried expression, but she was keeping her eyes averted. So turning back to the man in the bed he said ‘I’m sorry Todd, but I had to arrest her too.’

‘What?’ Todd exploded, ‘like hell you did. She didn’t do anything.’

Wary Jake looked at Rebecca again. She was looking at him now but her expression was stern as she waited for his explanation. The thought crossed his mind that he probably should have told her all this before. But he honestly hadn’t thought of it when they were talking, the last time he was at the hospital. If he was honest, his mind had been elsewhere when he had filled her in on Simon’s arrest. He had been so busy hoping for some sign of a softening of her attitude, he’d forgotten all about Jemma. He hoped she wouldn’t hold this omission against him too. He didn’t think he could take it if she hated him even more than she already did. Not to mention that this time, whether she believed it or not, the omission was completely unintentional.

News

For anyone waiting for more of Rush fanfic 3, I have posted a new part. Enjoy.

Loss and Longing

It was close to nine o’clock the next night before Stevie pulled up outside Grant’s house. It was later than she intended and she wondered if Grant would have given up on her. But as she reached the front door and saw him leaning in the open door way she knew she needn’t have worried. She smiled. “Hi.”

“Thought you must have got lost” he teased with a grin.

“No I just got held up, sorry.”

“I was only joking” he said. “I know you’re busy.” Then pulling her towards him he kissed her. Easing back he added “but I’ve been dying to touch you.”

She smiled “can we go inside first?”

He grinned. “I guess we’d better” he said and grasping her hand he pulled her inside and shut the door. However they didn’t get much further. He had barely shut the door before he brought his mouth down on hers. Stevie dropped her bag and wrapped her arms around his neck. Grant picked her up and carried her into his bedroom. Not that Stevie knew that until later. At the time, she was already lost and Grant was her sole focus. They could have been on the moon for all she knew.

But lying with her head on his shoulder a little later she let her eyes wander around the room. It had white walls and like the living room and kitchen, it was minimalist in design. The room consisted of a wide bed, two bedside tables and an arm chair. One whole wall was made up of built in cupboards, eliminating the need for free standing storage pieces. He had one piece of art on the wall behind the bed but there was no other adornment.

Grant was watching her and as her eyes came back to the bed he asked with a smile “so what’s the verdict?”

She looked at him and smiled. “Sorry I was a little distracted when we came in so I didn’t get a chance to look. I like it.”

He laughed and rolled onto his side. Leaning his head on a bent arm he looked down at her, his eyes travelling down the length of her body before coming back to rest on her face “at least now, when we are texting late at night, I’ll be able to picture you in bed.”

She laughed, “trust me, I look nothing like this when I’m in my bed at home.”

He grinned “so what do you look like then?”

“Well, usually I have something on.”

The sheet was only half covering her and moving it further off her, leaving her completely exposed to his gaze he said “I like picturing you like this better.”

Stevie felt a wave of heat surge through her as the smile slipped from her face. 

“Of course, you could always stay here” he said watching his finger move up her thigh “and then I wouldn’t need to use my imagination.”

Stevie stiffened.

His eyes moved up to her face and she gave him a worried look. “I can’t do that” she said “I need to be at home.”

“No pressure” he said “if or when you’re ready, just know you’ll be welcome. More than welcome actually” he added with a smile.

She smiled, grateful of his consideration and understanding and reaching up, she pulled his head down and kissed him.

Learning To Trust Again

Later that evening after arriving home from the hospital, Rebecca sat down on the couch in the living room. She was tired after sitting in the hospital most of the night the other night and the next day. Then having another sleepless night thinking about Jake and working all day, but she couldn’t relax yet. She had to keep her word to Todd first and she was not looking forward to it. Looking over at her phone on the coffee table she put her head back and let her breath out on a heavy sigh. She did not want to do this. But she knew she had to so lifting her head again she leant forward to pick up her phone. She took a deep breath and dialed Jake’s number. As she waited for the connection she hoped he’d be busy and she could just leave a message, then she wouldn’t have to actually speak to him, but within a couple of seconds she heard his deep voice on the other end.

 ‘Rebecca?’ he said.

She could hear the surprise in his tone.

‘Sorry to disturb you Jake’ she said in a cool, composed voice, neither of which she was feeling. She didn’t attempt to make small talk. She just wanted this over as quickly as possible. For her, it was not a pleasant experience. It just served to remind her what they had had, before Jake threw it all away.

‘Todd asked if you would go and see him at the hospital’ she added ‘he has some questions.’

Jake voice was flat as he said ‘I can do that. I’ll drop in after my shift tomorrow.’

‘Thank you.’

‘How are you?’ he asked.

But Rebecca couldn’t go there, it hurt too much to hear his concern. She answered as briefly as she could ‘I’m fine Jake but I’ve got to go, thanks again. Bye.’

‘Bye’ Jake replied with a note of sadness in his tone. But once again he was talking to an empty line. Rebecca had hung up.

Learning To Trust Again

Todd had continued to try to contact Jemma over the next twenty four hours without getting any further than he did the first time. Desperate, when Rebecca came to see him the next evening, he did something he never thought he’d do. After they exchanged greetings he said ‘could you call Jake and ask him to come and see me?’

Rebecca looked at him, her expression was anxious. ‘Todd I can’t’ she said ‘I’m not even speaking to him.’ Despite her mother’s words the day before she just couldn’t bring herself to open that wound again. She felt it was better to just try and move on. But Todd’s request wasn’t going to make that very easy.

‘Please Bec’s’ Todd said ‘I’m stuck in here and I need to find out about Jemma. She can’t or won’t take my calls. Something has happened, I know it. I can’t do anything lying here in bed. I wouldn’t ask if there was some other way.’

‘What about your mates?’ Rebecca asked, trying to think of a way out ‘would one of them know something?’

Todd frowned ‘no, for some reason they don’t seem to like her much. Besides they weren’t there that night, we were out on our own. I doubt they’d know how to contact her either. She isn’t from my usual group of friends.’

Rebecca could understand his mate’s reaction, she felt the same way herself about the girl, but she couldn’t tell Todd that. It was clear she was important to him.

 

Still trying to find a way out of contacting Jake herself, she asked ‘can’t you call him?’

 

Looking away, a sharp note in his voice, Todd said ‘I doubt he’d come if I ask him Bec.’ I haven’t exactly made my feelings about him a secret.’

 

Studying him for a minute she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t feel right asking anything of Jake now. Having made her decision not to revisit her relationship and what went wrong with it, she didn’t want anything to do with him. It still hurt just to think about him. But seeing her brother’s extreme concern Rebecca sighed. She was worried he’d discharge himself and go looking himself if she didn’t agree. His injuries wouldn’t stand that, not that he would take any notice of her telling him that though. Flopping down in the chair next to his bed, resigned to her fate, she said ‘okay. I’ll ask him. But I can’t guarantee he’ll come.’

 

‘Thanks Bec’s’ Todd replied with a smile.

 

Rebecca sighed but noticing he looked better already, she smiled too.

 

Going Home

Part 107

Before following Josh out Grace took a deep breath and tried to steel herself for the embarrassing scene to come. As she reached the kitchen Josh handed her a glass of wine and kissing her on the head led the way outside.

Margaret and Robert looked up and smiled as they walked out. But they were not the knowing sort of smile Grace had been dreading and she was thankful. However it didn’t stop the blush creeping up her neck and suffusing her face.

Taking a drink as he watched Grace’s face colour, Josh tried to help and turning to his mother he asked “good walk?”

Looking up at Josh Margaret nodded “yes thanks Josh, it was actually easier going than the way we went earlier.”

“Sounds good” Josh said. Then turning to his father he said “you want to try some fishing before dinner?”

Putting down the paper Robert said “good idea Josh” and getting up, he and Josh headed off down the bank with their fishing rods.

Looking out over the water as the men left Grace could kiss Josh for making things as easy for her as he could. But she still couldn’t bring herself to look at Margaret and as she couldn’t think of a thing to say they sat in silence for a while.

Sensing her unease Margaret decided having something to do may help Grace relax and looking over at her with a smile she said “how about we get dinner started then we’ll be ready when they finish their fishing.

Finally managing to look at her Grace nodded and managed a small smile. Josh was right they obviously weren’t going to say anything and taking a deep breath she relaxed a little. Then thankful to have something to do she got to her feet and followed Margaret into the kitchen.