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“Have you seen this week’s copy of Today magazine?” she asked after greeting him.
He'd been expecting her to ask how he was, so when she asked her question he was momentarily thrown.
Dread settled in his chest making it feel as if an elephant had just sat on him. He knew his lawyer had called Marcy Blake to convince her to back off the story. She'd told him she would think about it. By the sound of his sister's voice, the reporter had made her decision. Damn. He couldn't wait for Blair to get the paternity test done so he could put this emerging scandal behind him. But Blair and her lawyer were dragging their feet.
“No. It's not on my reading list.” Jake rubbed at the tension building in his neck. “I'm guessing you have, so tell me. How bad is it?” He tried to keep the aggravation out of his voice. His sister hadn't caused the situation so there was no need to take it out on her.
Sara didn't reply right away, and he took that as a bad sign. “Out with it, Sara.”
“It says you walked out on Blair Peters when you found out she was pregnant a few weeks ago.”
Anger and frustration washed over him. Jake slammed his fist down on the deck railing but he didn't get the satisfaction he desired. What he wanted was to physically destroy something. His preferred object of choice was Marcy Blake's computer, but at the moment just about anything would suffice.
“It also says you’re already seeing a new woman.”
Had someone at the wedding decided to capitalize on the fact he'd attended the wedding with a guest? Or was the reporter once again making up stories? Jake walked back into the house. The semi-tranquility he'd found outside had disappeared the minute Sara told him about the magazine headline.
“I thought you should know,” Sara said softly with real concern in her voice.
“Thanks. I have an appointment with my lawyer again tomorrow. I guess we'll have to step up the pressure to get the test done.” Jake clenched his fists as he fought to keep his emotions wrapped up.
On the other end of the line Sara cleared her throat. “Is there anything I can do to help? Maybe if I talk to Blair I can...”
“Thanks for the offer but I don't want you talking to her, Sara. For now I think the best thing to do is let the lawyers handle things.” Knowing that Sara as well as Dylan and Callie believed him about Blair helped alleviate the annoyance he felt toward his parents who doubted him. However, he didn't see how Sara confronting Blair would help the situation. In fact, it might only make it worse. Blair was after revenge or money or maybe both and a little girl talk wasn't going to change her mind.
“Okay, but if you change your mind let me know.” Sara paused before continuing. “Are you still seeing Charlie? Have you told her about this situation? She deserves to know, if you haven't.”
Jake almost dropped the phone. No he hadn't mentioned it to Charlie because he'd hoped his lawyer would take care of the problem so he wouldn't have to. If it was on the cover of Today magazine though, Charlie may have already learned about it.
“Damn!”
“I'll take that as a no.”
“Sara, I've got to go but if anyone asks you about this-”
Sara didn’t give him a chance to finish his sentence. “I have no comment. Come on Jake I know the drill.”
“I know you do. Listen, thanks for the heads up.”
“Call me if you need to talk or anything.”
Surprised by Sara's comment, he didn't respond right away. Lately he was the one to offer help not the other way around. “Okay.”
After ending the call with his younger sister Jake dialed Charlie's cell again. If she hadn't seen the magazine cover yet, he wanted to explain things to her before she did. While he'd rather tell her in person, he also didn't want to wait till he saw her Friday night. And if she had seen the article he needed to do some damage control. Something that also couldn't wait till Friday.
Like before, Charlie's phone rang several times before kicking over to her voice mail. Again he left a short message only this time he told her he needed to talk to her about something important. Then he hit end on his phone and sent it sailing across the room in frustration. The brand new smart phone hit the wall and then the hardwood floor with a thud.
***
The traffic light turned red and Charlie brought the car to a stop. Grocery shopping was not how she wanted to spend her evening. Yet she'd promised she would do it while her mom went to the doctor's office. Her mom had felt lousy all week, but that afternoon she'd come down with a high fever. She'd only agreed to see the doctor after Charlie promised to get the groceries.
When the light turned green she turned left down Maple Street and noticed that things looked even better today than they had the day before. In fact it seemed like every day things in town got a little closer to normal. Last week most of the town had still been without electricity but today everyone had power.
The majority of the fallen trees and other random pieces of debris had been removed so that the streets were again accessible. It seemed almost impossible that only weeks before a hurricane had swept through knocking out the dam and turning the town upside down. Sure, work still remained, especially on the dam and the homes that had been flooded, but for the most part people were now able to go about their everyday lives again. Even the schools were open again.
Most of it wouldn't have happened if not for Jake and his foundation. At the thought of him her heart rate increased and her body quivered in anticipation. He was due back in town on Friday and she couldn't wait to pick up right where they'd left off Monday night. On his last night in town they'd stayed up late exploring every inch of each other’s bodies before falling asleep wrapped around each other. Not wanting her mother to know how she'd spent the evening, she woke up before dawn on Tuesday morning and returned to her own bedroom. If her mom or brother suspected anything sexual existed between them neither said anything to her. The only indication her mom gave that she suspected something was a brief questioning look when Charlie told her Jake was returning and would need a room. She'd used the excuse that his return was to check on progress but she didn't know if her mom believed her or not.
Not that it mattered. She didn't have to explain her actions to her family. If she chose to be involved with Jake it was her business and hers alone. It didn't concern anyone. Besides, she didn't plan on marrying the guy. They were just having some fun together. There wasn't anything wrong with that. They were both consenting adults, free to be with whomever they wished. Even now he might be with someone. The words “committed relationship” had never been spoken. Neither of them had expressed the desire to be solely with each other.
