Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(77)

“Let me in,” he whispered in a soft voice

“Huh?”

“Why are you keeping me at a distance? You do this when there is something wrong. Don’t. Let me in.”

I shook my head ‘no’. The cap was threatening to loosen. Not here.

He looked at me a second more then pulled me into a tight hug again. He walked me away from everyone else.

“Look,” he said, “I didn’t know she would try to pull that. I thought she was engaged. There were a handful of other girls I thought might be mad, but they would be easy. I didn’t know...”

“Do you still love her?” I asked. I still had that helpful detachment. For now.

His jaw was clenched. "Yes."

Beep, beep,beep,beep.This just in—flash flood warning. Head for higher ground.

I nodded, lengthening my distance.

“I said I wouldn’t lie to you,” he continued. “Yes, I still love her. She was my first love, and she’ll always have that ‘first’ feeling about her. Always that first love.”

No issues. Information given. Information stored. Couldn’t give a shit. Honest.

I would have to remember to tell Lump she can move into the pool house. I was headed to Australia. I wondered if she would want to go back?

“But...it’s a was, Jess. Love, but not in love. I am in love with you. I want you. I couldn’t imagine being with her now, even if I never met you. I will always remember her, but I will never want her again. You, I can’t live without. Gladis has no doubt told you what last night meant for a Davies man. I have never done that for anyone.”

Sounded good from this great divide. So who’s to say? I just nodded.

He looked at me like I was a mental patient. Then hurt crossed his face.

“Get over it William. Why does everyone call you Willie if you prefer William?” I asked, off track.

He looked at me like I had a concussion and wasn’t able to focus. “My parent’s called me Willie, so it caught on. All the new people I meet take on what everyone else calls me. No one has ever asked, but you.”

“Shall I call you Willie?”

“Jessica--” He was growing tired of my detachment. “Please call me William.”

“I love you, William.”

He gave a huge sigh of relief. “I am yours, Jessica. Don’t give up on me.”

We stared in each other’s eyes for a minute. I would still cry when that bottle opened up, but for now I was just living for the moment. It might not last, so I had to get it while I could, but right now, it was great.

I would say the rest of the day/night went well. Of course, that would be lying.

Gladis’s kids showed up. Well, kid. One of three.

I was standing with William, Tom and Denise. Denise had greatly approved of how I handled the situation with Dezeray, and apparently realized that I was made of better stuff than she originally thought. Tom couldn’t wait to say ‘I told you so’. The last threat of despondency was let go, and I was finally welcomed into the family as William’s girlfriend.

Denise had asked if it was true about the acting.

“I embellished a little.” I shrugged.

Denise nodded like she thought I had so I thought I would elaborate. “I did do some commercials and get some small roles in films. But that is a far cry from being able to make it. I would have needed a big break, which really relies on luck—it is a long shot. Then I would have to keep the good roles going and continue to make good movies to stay on top, which is beyond hard. And even if I did that, it would enviably change me for the worst. So yes, what I said was fact. But no, that really wasn’t an option for the rest of my life.”

Denise looked impressed. It always sounded better than it was.

Dez and her mother had left, so I was free to relax. So I thought.

Chapter Sixteen

There was a tap on my shoulder. I turned around with no reservations. I beheld a woman in her forties or more with at least one face lift—face lifts were the norm around these parts. She had horribly dyed blond hair and expensive designer clothes on an unnaturally thin frame.

“Are you Jessica?” She asked with an elevated southern accent I was beginning to realize was high-society Southern. Hers didn’t sound Texan, but I was no expert.

“Yes?”

“You tryin’ to steal my money?”

“Um. What? I’m sorry I don’t think we’ve met...?”

“I’m Shauna, the middle-born.”

“Oh! So nice to meet you!” I stuck out my hand to shake. I was rebuffed.

“You tryin’ to move in and take my inheritance?!”

“What? No! No, you have it wrong. I am just renting the pool house. I answered an ad for it. I’m from California. Los Angeles. I am just renting. Gladis has been very nice to me is all.”

“Shauna,” William said firmly. “Jessica is just renting and knows nothing of Gladis’s monetary affairs. She doesn’t talk to Gladis of those affairs. You will need to take up your father’s and Gladis’s monetary concerns with Gladis.”

“I heard Gladis, I mean Mom... well the rumor is--”

“Shauna!” Gladis yelled from across the room.

Shauna straightened up and looked ever the disrespectful youth. Except, she was middle aged. Shouldn’t all this crap be left in teenage rebellion?