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This an ongoing story that I’m posting over the next few hours. I’m not sure how I’m going to end this, any suggestions? I’m writing this on the fly, so this story will be rough, really rough, but I thrive on this impromptu stuff so … there you go. 🙂 Thanks for reading!
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Jessie stiffened at the sound of her mother-in-law’s voice. Every last trace of vulnerability left her face and she became cold and hard.
Alecia sighed and braced herself.
“This doesn’t concern you, Margie,” Jessie said.
“It certainly DOES concern me when it has to do with either of my sons.” She addressed this last to both women.
Lisa started squirming in Margie’s arms. She reluctantly handed her back to Alecia. “I think she’s getting tired,” she said softly while giving the child a quick kiss on her head.
“Yes, I’m going to see if I can’t get her to sleep a bit before Carter gets …” she glanced at Jessie. “Before the guys get here.”
Alecia walked away. Both Jessie and Margie watched her for long moments before facing each other once again. Both were wary and watchful.
Finally, Margie said, “What are you doing here, Jessie? I’m not sure you’re the first person Pierce wants to see when he gets off that plane.”
Jessie sputtered a bitter laugh. “And you are? I don’t recall you two exactly being chummy these past months.”
Margie winced and ran a hand over her eyes. “We’ve made our peace, Jessie. It wasn’t easy, believe me.” She gave the woman a pointed look. “But we got past it.”
“So … you two DID fight over me, then.” Jessie said, her words accusing, but her tone of voice sad and a bit melancholy.
“I’ll be honest with you,” Margie began.
Jessie’s laughter rang out so loud that it caused Lisa to jerk in Alecia’s arms. “That’s one thing I can say for you, Margie, you have always been honest with me.”
Margie simply gave her a wan smile before continuing. “I don’t like you. I’ve never liked you and I’ve never thought you were good for Pierce,” she took a breath before Jessie could cut in, “But,” she lifted a finger, “when I saw how miserable Pierce was without you, especially after the miscarriage … it just ripped my heart to shreds.”
Jessie stepped back in surprise.
“He loves you, Jessie,” Margie said quietly. “God knows why, but he does.”
Jessie looked back to Alecia.
Alecia lifted a brow and silently challenged her to tell their mother-in-law why she was there. She looked back down at her daughter’s drooping eyelids and silently thanked God that her relationship with Carter was never as tumultuous as Jessie and Pierce’s was, though if she were perfectly honest with herself, she would have to admit that they were suited for one another. They most definitely had passion for one another.
She gently rocked her daughter back and forth and watched her face relax and her tiny chest rise and fall with each breath. Though she and Carter had passion, their relationship was downright boring when compared to Jessie and Pierce.
And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Alecia noticed that Jessie sighed when she realized she wasn’t going to come to her rescue. Her sister-in-law glanced down at her expensive shoes and appeared to be battling with herself. Alecia knew that Jessie loved her husband. She knew that she was just hurt, lonely and confused because first she lost her baby for reasons unknown and then lost her husband to his civic responsibility.
Why couldn’t Margie and Pierce see this?
“Is Pierce on the same plane as Carter?” Jessie asked after long moments had passed by.
“As far as I know,” Margie answered, “but we haven’t exactly been keeping in touch lately so I can’t know that for sure.” She shot Jessie another pointed look.
Jessie ignored her. Both women then turned to look at Alecia.
She straightened from her slouching position and opened her eyes innocently. “Carter didn’t say anything about Pierce being with him when I talked to him and quite honestly, I forgot to ask him. I was just so happy to hear his voice …”
Jessie nodded sadly. “No problem. I’ll just …”
“Hey babe, what’s the hold up?” A man had silently sidled up next to Jessie without anyone noticing him.
Jessie’s back went ramrod straight, as if someone had fired a gun in her ear. Margie nearly growled when she noticed the young man and Alecia cringed.
“Geez, not now, you moron.” Jessie snapped. “I told you to stay in the car.”
“You’ve been in here a long time,” he whined, “and it was getting hot out there. What’s going on?” the man asked while looking innocently at all three women.
“Is this,” Margie sniffed and arrogantly looked the young man up and down, “HIM?”
“Yeah, I’m her boyfriend, you old bag,” the man sneered. He had a slight accent and Alecia couldn’t decide if it sounded more Irish or English.
“Oh Lord,” Alecia muttered under her breath. Lisa twitched in her sleep.
“Excuse me?” Margie snapped, her head held high, her thin nostrils flaring.
Jessie flinched and pushed the young man away from her. “I’m sorry, Margie. He truly is an idiot … I can’t believe …”
“I can not believe,” Margie repeated, every word clipped and enunciated, “that you would CHOOSE to spend time with this heathen as opposed to working on your marriage.” She gave both of them a scathing look before continuing, her eyes now fully trained on Jessie’s face. “I quite feel sorry for you, young lady.”
Before Jessie could open her mouth, her phone began to vibrate loudly. Distracted, she removed the slider phone from her small bag and glanced at the screen. She gasped.
“What gives, luv?” the man asked her while looking over her shoulder.
“Pierce just text me,” she said quietly. “He’s on the plane and coming home.”
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