Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford) (40 page)

Amy seemed to have taken on just as many responsibilities with her new life. With the birth of the baby fast approaching, Jessica worried she might be overdoing it. Amy, however, argued that she was just fine, and claimed her doctor encouraged her to keep busy. “Besides,” she told Jessica during one of their long conversations, “the busier I keep, the faster the time goes by, and the sooner this baby will get here.” Jessica had to agree with her, but made her promise to be careful.

Jessica went out often with some of the people from the magazine, mostly to discuss their work. She did see Jeffrey a few times, sneaking about like a weasel. She wondered if perhaps he could find something else do with his time, besides keeping watch on her.

The uneasy feeling he exuded in her seemed to subside, and she found that she was beginning to find his pursuit flattering. One day, she found him waiting outside her apartment building with a bouquet of roses in his hands.

As she exited the building, he approached, smiled, and handed her the roses. He then turned and left without saying a word. Jessica laughed aloud and went back into her apartment to place the flowers in water.

Soon flowers began to arrive on a regular basis. At first, she disposed of them as soon as they arrived, but as time wore on, she felt less threatened by the gesture, and began to keep them. The cards always read the same; he proclaimed his adoration of her. The sentiment touched her.

Time seemed to pass so quickly that one day Jessica awakened, and it was fall, as if the magic weather fairy had visited in the middle of the night. She wondered to where summer had disappeared.

In late October, Amy called to announce the arrival of her new baby daughter. Exuberance rang out from her voice. Jessica arranged to fly out to see her new godchild.

She arrived in California and thought about her last trip there. Granted, San Francisco was on the opposite end of the state. But just being in the same state brought back the memories. It was a trip filled with both happiness and sadness. It was where she and Brandon became engaged—and where she first met Jeffrey. She remembered her confrontation with Jeffrey in the locked room, and about how foolish she now felt for being frightened of him.

Randy was there to greet her at the airport, looking grand in the role of new father. “Jessie,” he called out, waving her over to where he waited.

She pushed through the crowd in an attempt to make it to Randy, weaving through the throngs of people. She set her things down and threw her arms around him. “Hello there, brother.”

He looked puzzled at first, then realizing she was right, brightened and returned the greeting. “Hey, sis. You know, it’s been all this time since our parents’ wedding, and I still can’t get used to the idea that I have a sister.”

“
Get used to it. Now, please take me to see my new niece, and godchild.”

“
You bet. I just love to show her off.”

Jessica was quiet on the drive to the house, noting the tremendous differences between this city and her own. She was impressed with the house that Randy and Amy shared. It was simple and overlooked the ocean. It had a large porch with wicker furniture that had been covered for the season. Jessica pictured herself swinging in the porch swing, listening as the waves crashed down upon the seashore.

Amy was waiting for them, new baby in her arms, as they entered the living room. She hurried to Jessica, hugging her tightly. She kissed her on the cheek and gently placed the baby in her arms.

They had named her April, and Jessica noted how well it suited her. “She’s beautiful, Amy, absolutely gorgeous.” Jessica said, overjoyed at the sight of this baby who had brought so much happiness to her friend.

“
I quite agree,” Amy replied. “And now that you have seen her, I’m afraid it’s time for her nap. She gets cranky if she’s awake too long.”

Reluctantly, Jessica allowed a nurse, who had entered the room as if by cue, to take away April. “A nurse?” Jessica asked.

“
Randy thought it would be best for a few days. I had a pretty hard labor. The doctors agreed the extra rest would do me some good.”

“
I’m sorry. Perhaps I should have waited awhile before I visited. I was being selfish.”

“
Don’t even think of it. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Amy said.

Jessica nodded. She didn’t know much about having babies, so she really couldn’t say she knew how Amy felt. Nevertheless, she did notice that she looked a little tired.

Her feeling was proven correct, when after lunch, Amy excused herself to take a nap. “You go right ahead; don’t worry about me,” Jessica assured her. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take the opportunity to go shopping for April.”

Amy came beside her friend and kissed her on the cheek. “Of course, I don’t mind. You can spoil her rotten for all I care.”

After Amy had left the room, Randy offered to drive Jessica down to the shopping mall. She declined, stating she didn’t want to bore Randy with all her shopping, which could turn into quite an adventure. Laughing, and readily accepting her decline of his offer, he offered her his car instead, which she did accept.

As they stood beside his car, she said, “Before I go, I need to talk to you about Amy.” He looked puzzled, but urged her to continue. “Ever since you entered Amy’s life, she’s been an entirely different person. I just want to say thanks for everything you’ve done for her.

“
Before you came along, she felt as though her life was ending; now when I look at how happy she is—well, I think you get the picture. I think you know that Amy and I are very close. She’s like a sister to me, and what affects her, affects me. I’m proud to have you in the family with us.”

“
I really don’t deserve any thanks. It’s no sacrifice loving Amy, as I’m sure you know. What she’s brought to me is just rewards for the love I give her. We have a happy life and my feelings for April…well, I don’t care that I am not the one who fathered her. She’s my daughter and always will be. When I look at her, I see the love of a mother who helped her grow and come into this life. I will do my best to make sure she has a good life.”

She was relieved to hear this. She knew it all along, but had to hear it from Randy to be sure. She had felt uneasy about Amy’s marriage, feeling Amy was not in the best frame of mind when she agreed to marry Randy. She was the one who had been wrong. There couldn’t be any more love in this household.

She left for her shopping trip in a jubilant mood. Shopping in California was an experience quite different from shopping in New York.

She inhaled the sea air, filling her lungs with the fresh aromatic scent of the ocean breeze. She jumped into Randy’s convertible, top down, and headed up Highway 101. She exited off and drove to 20
^th
Street. She found the Galleria Mall, thanks to Randy’s explicit instructions, and found a parking spot among all the other convertibles.

She entered the mall and gazed about. They had already begun decorating for the holidays, and the sight of all the beautiful ornaments put her in a festive mood.

There were several children’s shops to choose from and she had more fun shopping than she had ever had. With some effort, and a little imagination on the part of the salesperson, Jessica managed to buy pretty lace dresses and sleepers to fit April. She also found big stuffed bears, a rattle that made several different kinds of noises, and many more items to delight and stimulate the mind of a tiny infant. She bought so many things that she was having great difficulty carrying all her purchases.

She was just coming out of a small boutique, where she had just purchased the most beautiful Christmas dress for April, when she bumped into someone.

“
Oh, I’m so sorry,” she apologized. “I can’t see a thing over all my packages.”

“
Here, let me help you,” the familiar voice offered.

She froze, turned sideways to see around her mountain of boxes, and stared straight up into Jeffrey’s smiling face. She frowned at him.

“
Jeffrey. What are you doing here?”

“
I have come to help a damsel in distress,” he declared, bowing from the waist in a mock curtsey. “What else would I be doing here?” he said, as he truly had no other reason to be in a shopping mall in California.

“
You have to quit following me,” she said. “It isn’t right.”

“
What isn’t right?” he objected. “That I happen to be in the right place at the right time. Just when I knew you needed my help the most.”

Knowing it would do no good to argue, and grateful for the help he was offering, she allowed him to take some of her packages, which threatened to topple over at any minute. She led the way to the car.

“
How did you know I was here?” she asked as they walked.

Jeffrey smiled down at her. “I’ve told you before, I know everything about you.”

“
You know this behavior and obsession of yours is not exactly normal. Why don’t you go out and do some real work, and quit following me like a puppy dog?”

Laughter spilled from him as he envisioned himself following behind her, nipping at her ankles. “Is that really what I’m doing?”

“
What would you call it?”

“
I’m just watching out for you, that’s all. I feel a need to protect you,” he confessed.

“
I appreciate your concern, really I do, but I don’t need looking after. I’m a big girl; I can handle myself.”

“
Yeah, like you could handle all those packages,” he commented, winking as he placed the last of her purchases in the trunk of the car.

She sighed. “You got me there, but I don’t think it’s the same thing.”

“
Okay then, if I can’t follow you around, will you have dinner with me tonight?”

She rolled her eyes. “I can’t. If you know so much about me, you also know that I’m here visiting family.”

He nodded. “Yes, I know, your new stepbrother and his wife with the new baby,” he said, gesturing at all the packages in the trunk. “And I do say that is one lucky baby,” he said with a chuckle. “Look,” he continued, “I’m sure your family won’t mind one night away from you. So what do you say? You know I’m not going to leave you alone until you agree.”

Knowing he was right, she reluctantly agreed. “Okay but not tonight, it’s too short notice, tomorrow night, and I’ll meet you. I don’t want you to pick me up.”

“
It’s a deal,” he said, extending his hand to shake on it. “I’ll meet you right here at eight o’clock tomorrow evening. We’ll go from there.”

She nodded in agreement as she attempted to step into the car. Jeffrey pulled her to him and kissed her quickly on the lips. Before she could protest, the kiss was over and he was gone.

Seething with anger, she jumped into the car and drove off, working frantically to calm the rapid beating of her heart. “Damn him,” she sputtered. “Why does he have this effect on me?”

She loved Brandon, of that she was sure. Wasn’t it perfectly normal to feel such a strong attraction to someone when he made such a display of his affections? She wondered if she really felt that way, or was she trying to justify her feelings?

By the time she arrived at Amy’s, she had managed to calm down. She even managed to push the kiss to the back of her mind as she was caught up in the excitement of presenting her new gifts to Amy.

“
You really went overboard,” Amy said.

“
You said it was all right if I spoiled her rotten. Didn’t she say that Randy?” she asked, looking for a comrade. He was reading the paper, but looked up to give her a, don’t get me involved stare.

“
Traitor!” Amy spat playfully. Knowing she was beat, she settled into enjoying the gifts. Jessica had even managed to find a little gift for Amy that was perfect for the occasion. Amy turned over the little gold trinket box, reading aloud the inscription engraved on the bottom.

To Amy, my dearest friend, on the birth of your first-born child. May you always be as happy as you are today.

“
This is the sweetest thing you’ve ever done,” Amy said, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Jessica gave her a moment to bring herself together, and then said, “My mother had one of these boxes when I was born. She put my first lost tooth in it. She still has it in the attic somewhere. I came across it when we were getting ready for a rummage sale at her church.”

“
I think it’s a wonderful idea. I will do the same thing for April. It will be a tradition, and when you have your baby, you shall have a box just like it.”

“
Hold on. I haven’t even gotten married yet and you already have me giving birth.”

“
Well, the wedding isn’t far off, so maybe you should begin thinking about it. You aren’t getting any younger, you know. Besides, April’s going to need a playmate.”

Jessica smiled, falling into silent thought. She noted the worried expression that crossed Amy’s face, but she couldn’t do anything about it. Amy glanced at Randy who shook his head in warning.

“
You should have seen me struggling with all of these packages,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “I’m sure I was quite a comical sight.” She laughed.

“
I was wondering how you managed.” Jessica hesitated and Amy prodded. “Well, how did you?” she insisted.

Jessica blushed. “Funny you should mention that. Wouldn’t you know it; I bumped into an old friend while I was at the mall? It was the strangest coincidence seeing him there. In fact, he invited me to dinner tomorrow evening. That is, if the two of you don’t mind.” She watched helplessly as Randy and Amy exchanged suspicious glances.