This choice: Once you start dating Deborah, Sarah becomes jealous. • Go Back...Chapter #6Once you start dating Deborah, Sarah becomes je... by: fantaghiro   The next few weeks were very rough for you. You spent a few days at the hospital helping Sarah accept the massive change she woke up to. She handled the news better than you expected, trying to find solace in the fact the fact that she was still alive and younger and healthier. And Deborah was a godsend, reaching out to Sarah and making a real connection with her.
Sarah wasn't thrilled with the idea of moving in with Deborah and having to live Jessica's life, but she eventually accepted the necessity of your agreement with the hospital. You promised you'd see her as much as possible, explaining Deb's plan to pretend to have a relationship with you. At the time Sarah found that to be quite funny. You weren't exactly a 'player' - Sarah had worked hard to bring you out of your shell when you started dating, and the idea of you rebounding with such a pretty young woman after your wife's 'death' was very amusing to her.
You spent as much time as you could with Sarah in the hospital, but there was a slight awkwardness to your relationship. You did nothing more than hug, hold her hand and kiss her cheek. You were almost never alone, with doctors and nurses around so much, and Deborah's presence reinforced the limitations on your behavior. She also forced you to begin calling Sarah 'Jessica', saying that you both needed to get used to that. Dr. Saunders encouraged that as well, pointing out that most of the hospital staff had no idea of what had truly happened to your wife.
When she was discharged to go home with Deborah, you had to go back to your empty house and face planning Sarah's funeral. Between that and family and friends visiting to comfort you, there was no opportunity to see her for a few weeks. The best you could manage was to call 'Jessica' nightly. It was comforting to pour out your heart to her - she was always a great listener. She listened quietly as you emptied out the emotional strain of funeral arrangements and missing her. The day your sister pushed you to go through Sarah's clothes and belongings was particularly bad, and being able to talk to her about it that night was a relief.
But the converse was more difficult for you. As long as you were talking, it was easy to pretend that it was still Sarah on the other end of the line. But whenever 'Jessica' spoke it was difficult to remember that the young, girlish voice belonged to your wife. She talked about the stress of learning her new life and it all sounded so alien to you - 8th grade, teenage friends and relationships, dance class, soccer. You couldn't really relate to any of it, though you were sympathetic. Deborah had completely immersed her into Jessica's life - going through old pictures and videos, having her participate in Jessica's activities, and spending her free time with Jessica's friends. You asked Deborah to slow down, that she might be pushing too fast but she convinced you that it was necessary. "The quicker Jessica acclimates to her life, the better off she'll be," she pointed out. "This is the one she has now, so she must get used to it. I want to build connections for her so that she'll feel like she belongs - it would be too easy for her to spiral into loneliness and depression. I'm not giving her time for that."
Sarah did ask you about skype, saying she missed seeing you. You said you really couldn't as long as you had family staying. The excuse was not wanting to raise any questions or suspicion - but you had to admit to yourself that perhaps you just weren't comfortable with the idea of video chatting with 14 year old stranger, even if she were actually your wife.
Eventually the funeral and mourning period passed and your family and friends let you be, going back to their own lives and concerns. You were looking forward to finally seeing Sarah, or 'Jessica', again. You called Deborah to ask about starting your visitations. She said that it had been long enough to avoid questions - and for 'Jessica' to get mostly settled in to her new routine. So the two of you began your 'pretend' relationship.
You started going over to Deborah's house every few nights. The three of you would talk, watch movies, play boardgames - basically get to know each other in the context of the new relationships. Deborah made it a point to give you and Sarah some time alone, but she still kept an eye on the two of you. "Remember," she told you, "Jessica is now my teenage daughter. I know you still love each other but you need to take things slowly and be careful. You two have all the time in the world, so be patient. I'd prefer you not do anything until she's 16 at least."
You were frustrated but completely understood her attitude. And frankly, you weren't sure about the physical side of your relationship anyway. You didn't know how long it might take you but for now you exactly comfortable getting close in that way with 'Jessica'. She, on the other hand, had no such compuctions. After all, her feelings for you hadn't changed - and you weren't the one who looked different. You were still the same man she'd been married to for the last 13 years. And with her teenage hormones, her feelings were even more difficult to control.
Still, things started out well enough. The three of you seemed to bond into a kind of family. You did things together, going out to dinner, picnics, the zoo, an amusement park, museums....
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But it got more complicated as the weeks passed. Deb's friends and family learned about her new paramour and had to meet you. They all took to you quite well - perhaps too well. They were shocked when they saw that you and Deb never got time together, so they began offering to watch 'Jessica' while you and Deb went out. You could only put them off so long without things looking odd, so soon you and Deb were going out alone a couple times each week. Likewise, you had to act more intimate with Deb when around her friends or in public, so your relationship began to change. You didn't exactly fall for her, but you certainly became closer and more comfortable. And you couldn't ignore the fact that she was a beautiful woman. You hadn't been with a woman in months now, and your body began to react to being so close to Deb's. You felt more and more aroused when you kissed or held her, even though you refused to act on your desires.
Sarah didn't take too well to the apparent change in your relationship. You noticed a tension building. Finally, one evening you went to see them and walked into the middle of an arguments. Deb looked frazzled and frustrated, while 'Jessica' appeared in every way to be having a teen tantrum. "How could you!" she screamed at Deb. "You can't take Jim away from me. I see what you're doing!" Her yelling grew louder and she called Deb several names. Deb had enough and slapped her. "I'm your mother and you can't talk to me that way," she said firmly. "Everything I've done is for you! Jim and I are faking an entire romance so that you can still be a family. How dare you say those things!"
Jessica burst into tears and flounced out. You heard her bedroom door slam.
You took Deb into your arms as she broke down. "It's been so hard, Jim," she cried. "I'm trying, but I don't know what else to do. She's acting so crazy."
"Shh," you told her, "we'll work this out. It's alot of stress on her. Think of what she's gone through. She just needs time and understanding."
But Sarah's jealousy grew worse....
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