Things had been quiet for Jax and Brenda ever since the incident in the library. They had spent just about every waking minute together, sitting for hours in the library snuggled together on the couch, talking about everything and nothing. Sometimes they just sat there staring into the fire; both of them lost in memories of good times and bad that they had shared. Many of these reflective times ended with them making passionate love for hours on end -- the perfect way for them to enjoy their new life as man and wife and their new home.
As with all good things, their time alone at home had come to an end. It was time for Jax to return to work at the office and for Brenda to begin making plans for what she wanted to do next with her life. One thing they had decided during their long talks was that she no longer wanted to return to modeling; it had lost its challenge for her. It was no longer "fun." Jax had agreed to support her in whatever she decided to do with her life, as long as she kept in mind that it would be something that could also accommodate their future plans for a family. Of course, that was if they had not already accomplished that, what with all the "work" they had been putting in on that joint project over the past week.
8:15 A.M.
Jax and Brenda were sitting in the breakfast room, finishing their coffee. Brenda was still dressed in Jax's white robe, while he was dressed for the office. For the first time in a week breakfast had been very quiet. Neither of them wanted to admit how much they would miss the other this first full day apart. Brenda could not help thinking of the first day he had gone back to the office after they had gotten back together. Those feelings only added to her growing sense of loneliness. Jax looked up from his paper and noticed she was still staring at the same page of the Port Charles Herald that she had been looking at for the past half-hour. He knew the expression on her face all too well. He had seen it many times before and knew there was only one thing that would take it away -- the one thing he could not give her this time. She wanted him to stay home. He had to get to the office today. His staff had arranged a full schedule for him. Since he had rearranged everything in order to be home and undisturbed the past week, he knew he was going to pay for it today. He had already promised her that he was going to be home no later than 6:30 for dinner tonight, so he knew he had to get started and soon.
When Jax started folding up the newspaper he had been reading, Brenda realized it was time for him to leave. She promised herself she was not going to ask him to stay home, even though she desperately wanted to. She knew he had to go in to the office today. She was grateful for the past week. A week that she had enjoyed more than any time in her life, even with the strange smells and Thomas's theory about the original owners of the house. She felt closer to Jax now than she had at any other time in their relationship. It wasn't just because of the incredible amount of unimaginably satisfying lovemaking that had taken place over the week either, although she had to admit it had been fantastic. It had more to do with the fact that she could feel Jax inside of her, in her very soul, and felt that she had left a part of herself in his soul. It was a feeling that brought her great peace of mind when she thought about it. It was also a feeling that gave her hope that they had already succeeded in their family plans. They had not used any form of protection since they had moved into the house, and considering the amount of effort they had put into 'christening' the house, she had a very good feeling that by their first Christmas in the house there would be another member of the family for Santa to visit.
When Jax noticed the slight smile on her face, he was surprised. He had expected a long face and tears, not smiles. "What's up?" he asked as he stood up and reached for her hand to help her up. "What are you thinking about?"
When she stood up she wrapped her arms around him and looked up into those beautiful, blue eyes, "Oh, I was just thinking about this past week and what it could mean for our future here." She suddenly got the cutest twinkle in her eyes, and Jax suddenly realized what she had been thinking about.
"Oh, I see. And how far into the future were you thinking, Mrs. Jacks?" he asked, his eyes mirrors of hers.
"Well, actually I was thinking about Christmas. Jax, do you realize that if we did conceive our child this week, by the time Christmas comes this year our baby will be here with us?" She looked up at him with a huge grin on her face and a look of true happiness in her eyes.
"Would you really like that, luv? I know we talked all this through before we moved in and decided that the time was right, but I just don't want you to regret anything if we did conceive our child already. After all, we've only been married a few months, so I wouldn't blame you if you changed your mind and wanted to wait…"
Brenda pulled back from him with a look a fear on her face. "Jax, are you saying you don't want to have a child anymore?" She looked ready to burst into tears.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Brenda, I want to have a child with you more than anything in the world! It's just that I don't want you to do it only because you think it's what I want. I want you to be sure it's what you want as well."
"Jax, I've never been more sure of anything in my life, other than marrying you! I just hope I can be a good mother to our child. I mean, look at my family history. There are not a whole lot of role model candidates there for me to emulate. My mother left when I was two and died when I was four. My sister was no help. She was so busy being daddy's little princess that she never had time for me, unless it was to get me out of some jam I had gotten into. I don't blame her for my mistakes, really. I just don't want to make those mistakes with our child." She wrapped her arms around him again, lost in thought.
"Brenda, don't worry about that. You have so much love in you for our child that you will be a great mom. You've learned all of the things not to do from personal experience, so it'll be a snap to get things right. Besides, you're not going to be in this alone, you know. I will be right there with you every step of the way. Regardless of what I may think of my family now, when I was growing up, they were a very loving supportive family. Just one who made a lot of mistakes. I figure between the mistakes you grew up with and the support I grew up with, our kids have got it made. They'll have two parents who love them unconditionally and will support them in what THEY want to do, not necessarily what we expect them to do." Jax bent down and kissed first the top of her head and then tilted her chin up so that he could kiss her fully on the lips. He just stared at her for a minute, not saying anything, trying to figure out how to tell her it was time for him to leave.
Brenda could see the struggle in his eyes, so she decided to make it easier for him. She pulled his left arm from around her waist and looked at his watch, "Hey, you better get going, or you'll be late. Didn't you say you have your first meeting at 9:30?"
A smile crept across Jax's lips as he looked down at her, "You are something else, you know that? Here I am trying to think of excuses to convince you why I have to leave, and you turn around and throw me out! I think that's one of the reasons why I love you so much -- you know me so well." Jax took a quick look at his watch, "Yikes! I really do need to get going!" He bent down and kissed her before letting her go. "Ready?"
"No, but I'll let you go anyway. You promise you'll be home by 6:30?" Brenda asked as she was already making plans on how they would spend the evening.
"You bet! Honey, if I don't get out of here now, I'm going to start the morning running late." Jax kissed her again, took her hand and headed toward the foyer. Brenda helped him put on his suit jacket and his topcoat. As he was buttoning it up, Brenda reached for his briefcase. When Jax reached for the case she pulled it behind her back. "Brenda… I really need to get going honey." Jax was beginning to wonder if she was as okay with his leaving as she seemed a few minutes ago.
"Sorry, sir, but there is a fee to retrieve this case. It'll cost you one goodbye kiss to get it back!" she declared. The glint in her eye made it obvious to Jax that she was okay and just playing with him, so he decided to play along.
"Okay… It's a pretty steep price to pay just to go to work, but I guess I have no choice." He grabbed her and pulled her toward him. Brenda started to giggle as he tickled her before leaning down and kissing her passionately. So passionately in fact that Brenda forgot the reason for the kiss, to retrieve the briefcase. Jax didn't though. When he broke away from the kiss he looked down at her, "Does that pay the ransom, ma'am?" the twinkle in his eyes betraying any degree of detachment he might try to show.
Still flustered from the kiss, Brenda had to stop to take a deep breath before answering, "I think it definitely exceeded any ransom I could possibly have demanded, sir. The case is yours." Brenda handed him the case and kissed him one more time.
"Thank you kindly, ma'am. Oh, I forgot to ask you earlier -- do you want Thomas to come stay with you today? After all, it is the first day you'll be alone here. After what happened the other night, would you feel better if he was around here somewhere?" his concern for her was obvious in his voice and made Brenda love him all the more.
"No, I'll be fine. Besides, I won't be alone here. Mrs. Kelly is in the kitchen and Benton is around. Besides, there is no reason for it. I'm perfectly safe in my own home, Jax. I don't need a companion. I didn't object when there were workmen coming and going all the time, but now that we're moved in, there is no reason for a guard, okay?"
He could tell by the look on her face that she meant what she was saying. "Okay, whatever you want. If you get uncomfortable about anything, either you or Benton can call me or Travis to have someone come check things out okay? Since you don't need him here, maybe today would be a good day to approach Thomas about his new responsibilities as head of the International Security Division. I think I'll give him a call and have him come in."
"Jax, you can't do that. Your schedule for today is so full already you will barely have enough time to finish and get home on time. Why don't you invite him to dinner tonight? That way you can talk to him as long as you want, and I get to have my two favorite men in the same room at the same time." The look she gave him almost made him want to stay home.
"Well, when you put it that way I don't know… Should I be jealous, Mrs. Jacks?"
"What do you think, luv? Seriously, Jax, why don't you invite him for dinner? I'll have Mrs. Kelly make something really nice, and we can make an evening of it. Besides, how could he refuse to get started after a great meal and our company?" Brenda chuckled as she waited for his answer.
"I like it. Okay, I'll call him when I get to the office." Jax glanced at his watch, grabbed his briefcase from her, and headed for the door. He stopped suddenly just as he opened it, turned around, and kissed her again. "That'll have to hold you until I get home. I love you." He said as he finally headed out the door to the waiting security car. Travis had convinced him to use a driver for a while, until they could figure out what had happened in the library. Normally he would have refused, but he decided he could use the extra time to prepare for his meetings since his schedule was packed so tightly all week.
Brenda watched him get into the car from the porch. She waved to him as he drove away and went back inside. When she closed the door she leaned back, tapping her head against the door. The house suddenly seemed so quiet. Brenda got an idea and headed off toward the kitchen, calling for Benton and Mrs. Kelly. She had a plan she was sure would knock Jax's socks off. Suddenly today was not going to be the disaster she had imagined it would be. She started humming softly as she entered the kitchen to put her plans in motion for tonight.
6:15 P.M.
Brenda was surprised when she heard Jax at the front door. Not only was he home in time for dinner, he was actually early! She ran to the front door to let him in, not wanting him to disturb her surprise. She opened the door just as he was reaching for the knob. "Hello there, Mr. Jacks," she said with a smile. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. "How did things go at the office?"
Jax was surprised by her greeting, but eagerly returned her kiss. He had been waiting all day to do that and was not disappointed by the first kiss they shared, not to mention the second, third, fourth… He did find himself becoming suspicious of Brenda's exuberant greeting though, but he let the feeling slide when he realized that whatever she had planned for tonight would be just as pleasant for him as it was for her. Knowing his wife, probably more so. "Hello, yourself, Mrs. Jacks. Things went surprisingly well for my first day back. I was only running 20 minutes behind schedule most of the day, and my last appointment cancelled, so I figured why not come home early? This way I can get some work done in the library until dinner is ready. Do you mind?" He kissed her again.
"Not at all. Mrs. Kelly has planned dinner for 7:30, so you have until about 7:15 to do whatever you need. After that, you're all mine!!" Brenda stood on tiptoes and kissed him again, more passionately this time. "I'm sorry Thomas couldn't make it for dinner tonight. I know you wanted to talk to him about starting his new job. I have to admit though, I am kind of glad he had other plans. This way we have the evening to ourselves. We can make up for all the time we lost today with you away at the office." She kissed him again quickly then pulled away and helped him take off his coat. "Why don't you go on into the library and get started. After all, the sooner you start, the sooner you'll be ready for dinner, right?" The look in her eyes told him he was going to enjoy dessert a whole lot more than dinner.
"You're wish is my command, madam." Jax bowed gracefully to her, picked up his briefcase from the foyer table, and headed toward the library, coming back to kiss her one more time before going in.
Jax worked undisturbed in the library, checking late faxes forwarded from the office and following up on some e-mail he had brought home with him. He was so busy in fact that he never noticed the figure hidden in the shadows by the fireplace.
Everett was pleased to see this young man finally get his priorities straight. Work came before anything else. There may be hope for this one yet. Just then there was a gentle tap at the door, and he stepped more deeply into the shadows to continue watching unnoticed.
Brenda stuck her head in the door. "Honey, are you about finished? Dinner is ready and Benton has it on the table for us." She looked over at the huge desk to see it almost completely covered with files, reports, and faxes. "How on earth did you get all of that in your briefcase?" she asked as she walked into the room.
Jax looked up as she approached and immediately set down the file he was holding and stood up. She looked unbelievable!! He found himself unable to speak.
Brenda noticed the expression on his face and could not resist the urge to smile. She had forgotten what she was wearing when she saw the desktop. No wonder he wasn't talking. "Is something wrong Jax?" she asked coyly.
"Ahhh… no nothing. I was just admiring your outfit. Is that new?" he asked as he came up to her. He lifted her hands so he could get a better view of what she was wearing. He didn't remember ever seeing it before, and he was sure he would have remembered it if he had. It was a form-fitting, ivory satin gown with a deeply scooped neckline. On top of it Brenda wore a matching coat. She had purposely left the coat untied to give him the full effect of the gown. He pulled her closer to him. One pass of his hands over her body told him that what he saw was all she was wearing. Obviously, Brenda had VERY big plans for dessert, and he had every intention of enjoying every morsel of it. "Well, what are we waiting for? Dinner awaits!"
Brenda took Jax by the hand, and as they both started laughing, she led him toward the stairs. Jax stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked at Brenda, slightly confused. "I though we were going to dinner?"
"We are. I asked Benton to set it up in our sitting room. I figured you'd be tired after your first day back at the office, so it would be less tiresome for you if we ate by the fire. That way, after dinner you could take a nice, relaxing shower, and we could enjoy a late dessert. What do you think?" She looked up at him with an expression that told volumes.
"I think I married a genius!" He bent down and kissed her. It was a kiss that promised just a portion of what the evening had in store for both of them. "Let's go!" Jax took her hand and started up the stairs.
After Jax and Brenda had left the library, he came out of the shadows again. More agitated than he could ever remember. He had such hopes for this young man. Obviously he was going to need a lot of tutoring on the priorities in life, and he felt he was the best tutor. He let his anger get the best of him though. When he saw all the unfinished work sitting on Jax's desk, he went over and swept everything onto the floor. He vowed that this was the last time that woman was going to entice her husband away from what was really important. As he faded back into the shadows, he started making plans for his next move.
Once they finished dinner, Brenda pushed Jax into the bathroom to take his shower. When he tried to entice her to join him she refused, promising him that it would be worth it for him to shower alone this time. When he finished his shower, he found that Brenda had taken his clothes and left his royal blue robe and pajamas in their place. When he came back into the sitting room, he found that Benton had removed the dinner service, replacing it with a bottle of champagne and a small, covered, silver tray, set up on the table by the fireplace. Brenda had taken several of the large, throw pillows from the couch and put them on the floor in front of the fire. She was standing there, holding out a glass of champagne for him. She had turned out all the lights and lit candles around the room. The light from the fire behind her made her look like nothing he had ever seen before. He walked slowly over to her and accepted the glass she offered. She reached out to him to entice him to sit with her by the fire, which he willingly did.
Once they were seated Brenda lifted the cover from the silver tray to reveal a plate of huge fresh strawberries and a dish of whipped cream. She dipped a berry in the cream and held it up for Jax to bite. After he took a big bite of the fruit, she placed the rest in her own mouth, allowing a small amount of juice to run down her chin. As soon as Jax saw it he leaned in to first lick away the wayward juice and then to kiss her passionately. From this point on the rest of the evening was far more than he could have anticipated. One kiss quickly led to another and another. Before either of them realized it, they were laying down slowly undressing each other. The lovemaking there in front of the fire was overwhelming for both of them. Afterward, they lay by the fire, wrapped in each other's arms and nothing else.
"Brenda, that was incredible! I don't know that I've ever felt so satisfied! Come to think of it, ever since we moved into this house our lovemaking has been unbelievable. Think it has anything to do with our family plans?" He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, as he wrapped his arms more tightly around her naked body.
"Maybe. Maybe because we aren't concerned, even though subconsciously, about getting pregnant we feel freer to enjoy each other. Whatever the reason I don't want it to stop!" She turned slightly to place a kiss on his chest. When she returned to her position, snuggled under his arm, she began to softly run her fingers across his chest, moving them ever downward with each pass. "So did you enjoy your dessert?" she asked as she ran her fingers lower still, discovering just how much Jax had enjoyed his dessert, obviously ready for seconds.
Jax rolled her over on top of him, seeing she was as ready as he was for a second helping of dessert. "What do you think?" he asked as he placed his hands on her hips, gently moving her against his arousal.
"I think we're both ready for seconds here!" She leaned down to kiss him, lifting her hips to accept him. Soon she found herself flying, totally overwhelmed by the love and passion she was feeling. When they reached the summit of their passion, Brenda collapsed onto Jax's chest. "WOW!!" was all she could manage to say.
Jax lay beneath her, unmoving for several minutes, trying to bring himself back to reality. "That pretty much sums it up, my luv!" After a few minutes, Jax got up the strength to roll Brenda off of him and sit up. He looked down at her, lying naked in front of him for a minute, totally overcome by her beauty and his love for her. Finally getting up enough energy, he stood up, taking Brenda with him and carried her into the bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed and lay down beside her. She quickly snuggled up next to him, wrapping her arm around his chest and draping her leg over his. Jax was amazed, as he pulled the covers over them, at how quickly she started to drift off to sleep, obviously satisfied and exhausted by their lovemaking. He soon realized that he was quickly following her into sleep, memories of what had happened in front of the fire filling his heart as he fell asleep.
February 23, 1999
5:45 P.M.
Brenda was startled when she heard Jax call to her from the foyer. She had not expected him for another hour. She quickly made her way from the dining room to greet him. "Hi you! You're early!" She reached up to kiss him. "What's up?"
"I figured since Thomas is coming to dinner tonight, I'd get here early and get my work done before he got here. That way I can spend the whole evening with Thomas …and with you, of course, dear" Jax couldn't resist the urge to tease her.
"Very funny! If you keep that up, I may just lock you in your study and spend the evening alone with Thomas!" Brenda began to laugh as she swatted him on the shoulder.
After helping Jax take his coat off, Brenda walked him to the library door. "I'll leave you to your work. I have a few things I need to finish up with Benton for dinner. Will you be finished by 7:15?"
"Of course. If Thomas gets here earlier, come get me. I didn't bring anything home that can't wait until tomorrow." Jax kissed her on the lips before heading into the library. He looked around as he went in, having the feeling he was being watched. He had been thinking about Thomas's theory of the ghosts of the original owners being in the house all day today. Most likely because of the uneasy feeling he had about the files he had left on the desk in here last night. He was sure when he left to have dinner with Brenda, he had left several of them open, not to mention the cabinets with the office equipment open. After all, he had planned to come back after dinner and close up everything. Since Brenda had other plans, he never made it back last night. When he came to retrieve his things this morning all the files were closed and piled neatly on the desk. He didn't realize until he was already in his office, that not only were the files neatly stacked, but the equipment cabinets were also closed. The only explanation that made any sense was that after clearing their dinner from the suite, Benton and come in to tidy up for him. Everything seemed to be in order now though.
The next hour flew by quickly. He had purposely left the library doors open so he could hear when Thomas arrived. He enjoyed hearing Brenda and Benton getting the table ready for dinner. He liked the sound of Brenda's laughter, as she teased Benton about something and he teased her right back. This house really did feel like their home and not just a house. Jax was sure that this was probably the best present he had ever bought, for both of them! Just then he heard a knock at the door. He began piling up his reports and files, realizing that it must be Thomas, early as usual. The rest of this could wait until the office tomorrow.
The figure in the shadows could not believe what he was seeing. Again he was putting personal concerns before business, and it hadn't even been the wife this time. It was purely his choice. Well, he was determined to put a stop to this right now. Jax was going to stay in this library until his work was finished, and there were no two ways about it!
Just as Jax was turning back from closing up the equipment cabinets, he saw the hallway doors start to close by themselves. He shook his head for a second, thinking he was seeing things and looked up at the doors again. By now they were completely closed.
He could hear Brenda and Thomas talking in the foyer and decided to join them. When he reached for the door handles to open them, they would not budge. He tried again, pulling harder this time, nothing. Jax looked down to see if the key had possibly jammed in the lock, but it wasn't even there. He tried a third time to open the doors, but they would not budge. It was like someone stronger than he was holding them shut.