Rebecca

Jake looked at his desk.  Well, at least he looked at the stacks of papers and files on his desk.  He frowned when the phone rang.  He released a sigh when another extension lit up. 

He walked to the window and stared at nothing.  Whatever happened to the time he had loved his work?  Now everything was only about money and he wasn’t sure who he was anymore..

The phone rang again.  This time his intercom buzzed.  He thought about not answering the summons, how would everyone react if he just walked out, quit answering his calls and just disappeared.  Would he ever reach the point when his own happiness would outweigh his sense of loyalty to the company he had helped to build?

He slowly walked to the desk and picked up the handset.  “Jake Williams, can I help you?”

All color in Jake’s face drained to white.  He grabbed his jacket and briefcase before he hung up. 

“Margie, my father is ill.  Have Charles take over my cases until I get back.”

“Okay.”  Margie stared at the air.

He had almost made it to his car when a twenty something young man walked in front of him.  “Mr. Williams?, I need to talk to you.”

“Talk to my secretary and set an appointment, I don’t have time.”

“I’ll only take a second sir.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“I have a packet for you.” He handed over a small brown envelope.

“I’ll call you after I look at it.”

“No need.  You have been served.”

The young man walked away.  Jake shook his head and started for his car.  He pitched the envelope and briefcase in the backseat.  Charles could take care of whatever company was suing them this time.

**********
An hour later Jake pulled into the drive of his childhood home.  The air was charged with a hectic silence.  Something was definitely wrong.  Jake hesitated at the front door, unsure as to whether he should just go in or ring the bell. 

The door swung open and a plump middle aged woman with hints of gray at her temples stood before him.  “Well, are you going to stand on the porch or show enough courage to come on in?”

“Maggie!!  It is so good to see you.”  He grabbed her in a bear hug and spun around.  Letting her go he said, “I wonder what kept me from coming to visit more often.”

“We’d all like to know the answer to that.  At least you made it before the worst.  Mr. David would never forgive you if you hadn’t made it in time for him to give you orders once more.”

“Is it really that bad Maggie?”

“I think you should go see your father now.  Ms. Rebecca is with him.”

Jake took the steps two at a time.  He stopped in front of his father’s bedroom.  Taking a deep breath he knocked.

“Come in.”

The sight that met his eyes sent shivers down his spine.  A beautiful red head was removing the napkin from his father’s shirtfront.  David said something under his breath and she smiled.  The radiance from her smile cast a warm glow over the entire room.  Her green eyes danced with the apparent joy she felt.

She moved the fall of copper curls from her face and looked up.  The smile never left her lips but the dullness in her eyes sent a chill across the room.

“You must be Rebecca.  Maggie said you were here.  I’m...”

“Jacob.  I can see the resemblance.”  She stood and began gathering the dishes.  “I’ll leave you to visit with your father.  Please do not stay long and do not upset him.  I’ll be in the study.”

Jake had to smother a giggle as he watched her sashay out of the room.  No one in his life had ever dismissed him so casually and left him speechless at the same time.

************

Jake leaned against the doorframe, fascinated by the hypnotizing play of lights across Rebecca’s hair.  A strange tingle floated through his chest.

Rebecca looked up from the desk.  “Jacob, please come in, have a seat.  I may call you Jacob?”

“I prefer Jake.”

“Fair enough.  Since you are finally here.  I thought I should bring you up to date on the condition of your father’s health and other affairs.”

Jake simply nodded.  If he would have opened his mouth to speak he would have burst into laughter and he didn’t think Rebecca would understand.

“Your father’s illness has become rather expensive and most of the actual cash has been depleted.  However, I have managed to keep the other assets of the estate intact.  The fact that the illness is in the last stage, there shouldn’t be much more damage to the estate.  The arrangements for the funeral...”

“Wait, stop,” Jake held up his hands. “ What are you talking about?  Last stage, estate damage, funeral.  Are we on the same page here?”

“How much do you know about your father’s illness?”

“He was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.  I assumed the treatments were helping.”

“Your father has a very rare lung cancer that is untreatable.  In the last couple of weeks it has moved into his brain.  The doctors are giving him less than a month at this point.  If you had been able to pull yourself away from your precious office you might have known some of this.”  She stared at him with those accusing green eyes.  There was no light or happiness at all, only accusations.

“I came as soon as I was called.  What was I supposed to do?  No one told me.”

“You came this time.”

“What is that supposed to mean.  This is the first time...”

“Okay, we’ll play your way and just pretend that Marie and I both have been calling constantly for the past six months.  Granted the only person we talked to was your wife or the machine.  I guess you’ve been to busy to catch up on your messages.  I finally told Marie to try your office.  I assumed you always talked to your clients.”

Jake’s face had began a transformation with each word Rebecca said.  She had noticed but chose to ignore the signs.  Was he angry with her for pointing out his faults?  The slight muscle movement in his jaw almost made her stop the words falling out of her mouth, but she refused to give him the upper hand.  She continued her speech but Jake had quit hearing the words.  His fist came down hard on the desk, upsetting all the papers, Rebecca flinched and quiet fell over the room.

A low growl came from deep in Jake’s throat.  Had she pushed him to hard?  “Damn Claire.”  He began to pace, trying to work off the anger.  The play of emotions across his face had Rebecca wondering if she had jumped to the wrong conclusion.  She saw the anger on the surface, but each glimpse of his eyes showed what was going through his mind; regret, sadness and more anger.

Suddenly he stopped and spun around.  She found herself speechless and stunned.

“Is there a phone I can use, privately?”  His words were soft but menacing.

“Yea.  You can use this one.  I have other things to do.”  She hurried out of the room closing the door behind her.



“Hello?” The female voice on the other end of the line was the breaking point.

“Claire, how thoughtful of you to actually answer the phone.”

“Jake?”

“Let’s skip the pleasant small talk, as if anything between us is pleasant anymore.  What game were you playing this time.”

“Jake I’m sorry you found out this way.  I just couldn’t face you.  I’m not completely heartless.”

“Yea, keep telling your self that.  Why didn’t you tell me about the messages from Dad?”

“What?  I thought you were calling about the papers.  What does your dad have to do with anything?”

“It appears Dad’s secretary and housekeeper have been trying to reach me for quiet some time now.”

“Oh, that.  You know your dad.  He overreacts to everything.  It’s always an emergency that turns out to be nothing.  I didn’t think it was important”

“You mean profitable.  Claire, I never thought you would sink this low.  I think it’s time we ended this farce of a marriage.  As soon as I get back, I’m filing for a divorce.”

“So, I take it you’re at your father’s house.  Well, let me save you some time.  I filed for a divorce last week.  I thought you would have already been served but at least now it won’t be a big surprise.”

Jake stared at the phone.  It had went silent.  She hung up on him.  What happened to the sweet girl he married ten years ago?  Did she change or was he only now seeing through her mask.  He sank into the chair, everything was catching up with him.  His father was deathly ill, his marriage was over, officially, and his career was draining him of his humanity.  He propped his elbows on the desk and buried his face in his hands.

This was how Rebecca found him an hour later.  She stood in the doorway, watching.  There was a deep sadness in seeing a man so broken.  Maybe she had been a little harsh.  Maybe it wasn’t all his fault.

“Jake?” It was barely a whisper but he raised his head in response.  Rebecca felt her heart twist.  The sadness was imbedded in his gray eyes making them appear flat.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you.  I was just going to let you know that dinner was ready, if you’re hungry.”

At the mention of food his stomach made a rumbling noise.  He realized that he hadn’t eaten all day.  A smile touched his lips but didn’t reach his eyes.  “That sounds good.”


**********

Rebecca sat on the patio sipping a glass of wine.  She was staring at the stars, lost in another world.

Jake stepped hesitantly through the doors.  “Rebecca, can I talk to you?”

“Sure.  Have a seat.  Want some wine?”  She spoke in broken sentences.  Not sure what to expect.

“No thanks.”  He sat in the chair facing her.  “I wanted to apologize for earlier.  It wasn’t your fault.”

She waved his apology aside, “You don’t have to explain anything to me.”

“Yes I do.  My life is falling apart, but that doesn’t give me the right to take it out on you.”

She could see the pain in his eyes, felt she needed to ease some of the harshness there.  “Jake, it’s okay.  I forgive you.  Right now the most important thing is for you to be with your father.”

“Why are you being so nice?”  There was suspicion in his voice.

“Well, there was a time that no one believed in me.  Then I met someone willing to take a chance on me.  I guess he saw something everyone else overlooked.  He taught me to get passed the bitterness and not let it rule my life.  He made me want to be a better person and have a different outlook on life.”

“Dad.”  A softness entered his voice as he made the statement.  “Is that why you take care of him?”

“No I take care of him because he asked me to stay with him till the end.  I think of him as the father I never had.”

“Dad’s a lucky man to have a friend like you.  Thank you.”  He left her to her thoughts.


********

Jake sat beside the bed holding his father’s hand.

“Oh Dad, I’m so sorry for not spending more time with you.  I’ve been so selfish.  I’ve made so many mistakes, I don’t know if I can ever fix things.”

“Jacob, are you feeling sorry for yourself?”

Jake’s head shot up.  He had thought his father was asleep.  “No Dad, just venting my regrets.”

“Well, stop.  It’s a waste of time.  You did what you felt you had to do.”

“How did you get so wise?’

“By living life and making mistakes.  But enough about that.  I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Whatever you want.”

“Be nice to Rebecca.  She’s not as strong as she appears.  She’s had a rough time and could use a friend.”
“That’s probably the easiest thing you have ever asked of me.”

David smiled, “Good.  Send her to me before she goes to bed, I’d like to talk to her.”

Jake knew when he was being dismissed.  He was halfway out the door when David spoke again.  “You know I have always loved you son.  There is nothing to forgive.”

“I love you too Dad, see you in the morning.”  There was a lightness in his heart as he walked down the hall.


*******

“You wanted to see me David?”

“Yes.  My dear Rebecca, come sit by me.  How are you?”

“Fine.  But shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“Why?  I’m not going to miraculously recover.”

“Oh David.  You know I don’t like to talk about this.”

“Then don’t bring it up.”  The playfulness in his tone took the sting out of the rebuke.  “Now, I asked you here for a reason.  I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Of course, you know I’ll do anything for you.”

“Good.  I want you to help Jake.  I’m not going to be here much longer for him to lean on and I have a feeling he needs a strong shoulder to hold him up.”

“But he has his wife, why would he need me?”

“You have obviously never met Claire.  You’ll understand if you ever meet her.  Now I want a promise from you that you will stand beside him.. Be a true friend, he has so few true ones.”

“Okay, I can do that.”  Her eyes twinkled, “besides, I kind of like Jake.”

“Good.  Now I feel better.  I’m glad I have a friend like you.  I think I’ll go to sleep now.  Goodnight.”

“Goodnight David, I’ll see you in the morning.”


******


Rebecca met Jake in the hallway outside David’s room the next morning.  He looked like a new person.  She wondered how long it had been since he had a goon night’s sleep.

“Here, let me take this,” he said as he took the breakfast tray from her hands.

“Thanks.”  They walked into his father’s room together.

“You can put that down on the table.  I brought you a cup of coffee, if you want it.”

“You’re an angel.  Is there anything else I can do?”

“No, but you’re welcome to stay.”

Jake turned to pick up the coffee mug while Rebecca walked to the bed to wake David.  She noticed that he was a little paler than usual this morning.  Probably too much excitement yesterday..

“David?”  She touched his shoulder.  It was cold. “Jake, come here.”

He nearly dropped the mug of coffee in his haste to get to her side.  “What is it?”

“I think something is wrong.  Stay here while I call the doctor.”



David Williams was pronounced dead at 8:32 am.  His body was transported to the local funeral home.  All of the arrangements had been made months before, so there was nothing for Jake and Rebecca to take care of.  The only thing left was to come to terms with the fact that he would no longer be there to touch their lives.

Rebecca was sitting on the floor of the den in front of the fireplace.  The flames illuminated the tears on her cheeks.  Jake stood in the doorway debating what his next move should be.  She looked so fragile it made his heart ache.  Would she accept his comfort or would her pride demand she push him away.

Taking a deep breath he went and sat beside her.  “Becca, are you okay?”

The look on her face spoke volumes and Jake wondered if she would ever be okay again.  She opened her mouth but no sound came out, she couldn’t speak.  He put his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close.  She buried her head on his shoulder.  He felt the dampness from fresh tears.

Without thinking of the consequences he shifted and pulled her into his lap.  “Shhh, Baby.  It’s going to be okay.  You’re going to be okay.  I’m here for you.  Shhhh.”

For the longest time he just sat and held her, whispering gentle words and willing her sorrow to be absorbed by himself.  He would do anything to take away the hurt she was going through.  Slowly he noticed the sobs beginning to lessen.

She raised her head and wiped the tears from her eyes.  “I’m sorry.  You must feel just as bad as I do and here I sit blubbering like a baby.”
He didn’t release his hold on her, he simply rested his forehead against hers.  “I’ll be fine.  Right now I’m worried about you.  I know this is hard, is there anything I can do to help?”

She put her arms around his neck.  “Just stay with me.  I’m so glad you’re here, I don’t think I can make it without someone to lean on.”

“I’ll be here as long as you need me.”

“What about your wife?”

“She’ll never notice I’m not there.”  There was a blank look in his eyes as the words slipped out.

“Oh.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

The silence that followed was strained.  Jake wanted the comfort they had shared a few moments before to return.  He decided to take matters into his own hands.  “Hop up and I’ll get us some pillows, blankets and hot chocolate.  Then we can sit and talk.”

She simply nodded her head and slid off his lap.  She suddenly felt cold and empty without his arms around her.

Minutes later Jake returned with all the promised items.  He sat the hot chocolate on the table while he settled them in front of the fireplace.  He wrapped his arms around her and she snuggled closer.  They both needed comfort and sought it from each other.

No words were spoken for a long moment.  Rebecca began to relax and the exhaustion of the day finally caught up with her.  She felt herself drifting off to sleep.  “This is nice.  I could get used to this.”

Jake laid awake for a long time turning those few words over in his mind.  She was so peaceful and serene looking in sleep.  Yea, he could get used to this too.



Jake woke to the ringing of the telephone.  He glanced at Rebecca still asleep in his arms and almost ignored the phone.  Deciding he needed to answer it if only to keep it from waking Rebecca he slowly dislodged himself and hurried to the study.

“Hello?”

“How much longer are you going to be gone.”

“Claire?  What time is it?”

“Nine.”

“Why are you calling?”

“I went to the bank this morning and my check has not been deposited in my account.”

“What?”

“You can’t expect me to live in poverty while you’re out gallivanting.”

“Poverty?  Being a little melodramatic aren’t we?

“No.”

“Fine, I’ll call Margie and have her take care of it this morning.”

“Good.  How long are you going to be gone?”

“I don’t know.  The funeral is tomorrow but I don’t know how long it will take me to get everything sorted out.”

“Funeral?  I thought your father was ill not dead.”

“He was ill.  He died yesterday.”

“Oh Jake, I’m so sorry.  Do you want me to come down?”

“Hell no!  Why would I want that?!”

“I was just trying to be supportive.”

“Well, don’t!”  He slammed the phone down with enough force to knock the book on the edge of the desk to the floor.  He ran his fingers through his hair.  Would that woman ever give him any peace?

“Jake, are you okay?”  Her voice was barely above a whisper with a hesitation in it.

Jake jumped.  “Rebecca, you startled me.”

“I’m sorry,” a small smile played on her lips.  “I heard you yelling and I thought something was wrong.”

All the anger in him drained as he smiled back, this time the smile went all the way to his eyes.  “I’m fine.  You can come closer, I don’t bite.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and have him a hug, “Thank you.”

He let his arms rest on her waist and leaned back to look in her face, “For what?”

“Last night.  For being so nice.”

“No problem.  I’m here as long as you need me.  Now let’s go find some coffee.”


*******

Jake and Rebecca were sitting in the study going over David’s papers when Marie came in.  She stopped just inside the door and began twisting her hands together.  “Mister Jake?”

“Yes Marie?”

“Mister Jake, Miss Rebecca, I think you should come quick.  There is a very rude lady here, she says she’s your wife, Mister Jake.”

“Damn.”  Jake’s eyes took on a murderous glare as he stalked out of the room.  She was still standing in the entryway.  “Claire, what the hell are you doing here?  I told you not to come.”

“I was worried about you.”

“Stop right there.  I’m not in the mood for your theatrics.  You can turn around a drive right back home.”

“But Jake, it’s late.  You’re just overwrought and emotional right now.  You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Yes I do.  Leave!”

“I can’t.  I had the limo drop me off and Stan’s already headed back.”

“Okay.  You can stay until morning but only if you behave yourself.  One wrong word and I’ll personally toss you out the front door.  I’ll show you the guest room.”

“Jake, is everything okay?”  Rebecca poked her head around the door.

“So, is this why you want to throw me out in the middle of the night?”  Claire pointed a finger at Rebecca.

“Claire, this is Rebecca.  She took care of Dad.  We were just going over some of his paperwork.  Rebecca, this is my estranged wife, Claire.”

“Well, you can send your little pal home now Jake.”  Claire refused to address Rebecca directly.

Rebecca had had enough.  “Actually, I am home.  But I think I’ll retire to my room before I forget my manners.  Goodnight Jake, I’ll see you in the morning.”  Rebecca turned and walked up the stairs.  It took all of her pride to not run, she had to get away.

“Claire, I warned you.” Jake growled at her between clenched teeth.

“I’m sorry Jake.” She said to his back as he walked away from her.

“Marie, please show Claire to the guest room in the east wing.”

“Yes Mister Jake.”
*******

Jake found Rebecca in her room curled up in a ball in the middle of her bed.  “Becca, are you okay?”

“Go away.”  She sobbed.

He put his hand on her shoulder.  She shuddered and pulled away.  “Becca, Honey, tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing.”

“I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”

She sat up on the bed and drew her knees to her chest.  He reached to wipe a tear from her face.  She jerked back “Don’t!”

He drew back as if slapped.  “Becca...”

“Don’t Jake.  I just let my emotions get a little out of control and drew the wrong conclusion.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Last night.  You were so sweet and it felt so nice.  I let my guard down and thought I could actually start to care.  I haven’t felt that in a long time.  I felt safe.”

“Really?”  He beamed at her and started to reach out.

“Then reality hit.  Claire showed up.”

“What does Claire have to do with any of this?”

“Well, for starters she’s your wife.”

“Estranged wife, we’re getting a divorce.”

“Oh really?  Let me guess, you never really loved each other, you haven’t slept together in months, we only stayed together for the kids.  Take your pick Jake, I’ve heard it all before.”

“Becca, you’re wrong.  I’m sure at one time I loved Claire.  I can’t speak for her.  We just began to see life differently.  There are no kids and we have had separate homes for over two years.

“I can’t make you any promises Becca, not with my life so up in the air.  But I do want to get to know you better.  Can we at least be friends and just see where it takes us?”

“Friends?”  She rolled the idea around in her head.  “Yea we can be friends.  But can I be alone right now?”

He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.  “Yea, just let me know if you need anything”

She laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.  Friends?  She was on the verge of giving him her heart and he wanted to be friends.  Some things just never change.  Boy could she pick em or what?

Jake stood outside the door for a long time fighting the urge to rush back in the room and take Rebecca in his arms.  He wanted to hold her until all the memories of old hurts were gone.  He wanted her to have so many good memories that the sadness in her eyes would never come back.  Claire had caused more uproar in his life, one more black mark against her.

The household was in a black mood the next day.  Everyone tiptoed around each other until the funeral.

The service was beautiful.  The entire town had showed up.  David Williams had been a popular man.  Jake sat between Claire and Rebecca to keep them separated.  Although he would have felt better if he had them in separate rooms.

Claire looked bored and played with her nails throughout the service.  Rebecca sat still as stone with silent tears on her face.  Jake had put his arm around her shoulders after she had jerked her hand away.  There was no way to rebuff him without causing a scene and he knew Rebecca would never do that.  He also knew that once they were alone he would face the full force of her anger but he was willing to take the risk if it meant being able to touch her.

By the time they made it back to the house Jake was ready to burst.  Both women had given him the silent treatment.  He knew how to handle one woman but the other was driving him crazy.

As soon as they walked in the entryway Jake turned to Claire, “I want to see you in the study.”  It was an order and she didn’t argue.  Jake watched Rebecca trudge up the stairs.  He would have given anything to be able to follow her, but first he had to take care of Claire.

“I’ll get to the point.  What will it take for you to go away, for good?”

“Let’s see, the house, my car, half the savings, half the stocks and five thousand a month.”

“Okay, but only a quarter of the stocks and twenty five hundred a month until you remarry.”

“Four.”

“Three.”

“Deal, when are you leaving?”

“As soon as I pack my bag.”

“I thought you didn’t have a car here.”

“I don’t.  Richard is taking me back.”

“Ah, good old Richard.  Always there to pick up his partners pieces.  I’ll have him draw up the decree.  Sixty days can’t go by fast enough.  Goodbye Claire.”

“Goodbye Jake, wish I could say it had been fun.”

Jake had a feeling that he had been played.  Oh well, Claire was setting him free.


Jake bounded up the stairs two at a time.  He stopped in front of Rebecca’s door.  Seconds ago he couldn’t wait to see her, now his palms were sweaty and he had to force himself to knock.

“Come in.”

Rebecca was sitting in the rocking chair staring out the window.  Jake felt his heart tighten.  He knew she was hurting and he ached to comfort her but he was also afraid.  Afraid she’d push him away again.  He took the chance and moved to kneel in front of her.

“Becca, are you okay?”  She didn’t answer.  He took hold of both of her hands.  “Look at me.  Please?”

She couldn’t resist the pleading in his voice.  She raised her head to look him straight in the eye.  He brought her hands to his lips and gently kissed her palm.  He increased his hold when she tried to pull back.  “Please don’t pull away from me .  Right now, I need you as much as you need me.”

“Jake I...” she shook her head.  “I can’t”

He released her hand and placed his on both sides of her face.  He gently caressed her cheekbones with his thumbs.  “Let me just hold you. I want to take away your hurt.  Just follow your heart.”

Trying to think coherent thoughts with him this close was not an easy thing to do.  How could he take away the hurt when he was the one who was going to cause the pain.  If she followed her heart she already knew what the end result would be.  She had been down that road before.  She sighed and went into his arms.

His hands slid down her shoulders to caress her back as he pulled her into his lap.  The wave of desire that swept over him left his head spinning.  He almost didn’t realize what he was feeling.  It had been so long since he had felt desire for anything or anyone.

When she turned her face up to look at him instinct took over.  He crushed her lips under his.  The kiss was brutal at first.  The strength of his desire rocked them both.  When she parted her lips on a soft moan from deep in her throat he slipped his tongue in the soft warmth.  His hands slid around to cup her breasts.