Death and Deceit (9 page)

When Kent met her mother he realized what a fragile state she was in. It made him want to love and protect Jessie all the more. She was a fragile girl like her mother and her worries were now becoming his concerns.

That night Jessie joined Kent in the hallway of her mother’s house. “I can’t sleep,” Jessie said. “If you want to turn in, it’s okay, go ahead.”

He had been standing just outside of Alan’s bedroom. He turned to her and grinned. “I know a way to burn off some of that energy.”

Jessie had to grin back. “No thanks.”

“Oh, yeah. Not in your parents’ house. Right?”

“That’s right, Kent.”

“I understand,” he said. “I’m just teasing you, trying to get through that icy
layer you’re wearing.”

Her eyes flooded with tears. “I’m sorry, Kent. I’m just worried. Mom is so thin looking, and Alan and I aren’t getting along.” She bolted out the front door. The night was quiet and warm. A sweet breeze wafted gently over the land. Jessie sat on the lawn and gazed up at the star-filled night.

Kent came to slip his arm around her waist. “I wish I
could
sleep with you tonight. I want so badly to hold you, to make you feel better.”

She looked into his eyes. “Oh, Kent, do you really mean that?”

“Of course I do. And that surprises you? What do I have to do to show you how I feel? I love you, Jessie.”

A look of surprise crossed Jessie’s face. “Oh, Kent.” She kissed him softly and they fell into an embrace.

“Let me love you, Jessie,” he whispered.

“Kent, not here.”

“No I know, not in your mother’s house.”

“Then where?”

“In the back yard — under the willow. It’s drooping arms will hide us, like a
tent.”

She kissed him again. “I love you, Kent.”

He lifted her into his arms and carried her beneath the willow’s protective
branches. Carefully, he laid her on the soft green carpet of grass. Pressing his body against hers, he rested beside her and caressed her gently. He could feel the tenseness melting away.

The swaying branches allowed the high, bright summer moon to send shafts
of light onto the pair, and as much as Jessie wanted Kent, she felt uncomfortable knowing that Sandra’s house was so near. What if she decided to take a walk?

She pulled from him. “This is not safe, Kent. What if—”

He placed a finger across her mouth. “Don’t worry, we’ll be quiet. Everyone around here is probably fast asleep by now.”

His mouth covered hers in an attempt to silence her fears. When he let her go and pulled back to gaze into her beautiful night eyes, she no longer objected. She reached for him and pulled him close to her bosom, the hot drive of her kisses urged him to go on. He would make her forget her worries, at least for a little while. Suddenly his body had energized, the tiredness he’d felt in the living room was all but forgotten. No matter what Jessie had to face in the future, he was determined to give her something wonderful to remember tonight.

She shivered at first, for there was a dampness to
the ground, and she felt cold inside like a corpse would feel. But then a corpse doesn’t feel anything. Her mind raced to move to a better place far away from the thoughts of her mother’s illness, her brother’s stubbornness and the horrible e mail threat.

She glimpsed Kent only fleetingly, as the branches of the willow drooped around them in a windless moment. His blond hair tumbled into his eyes, when he
positioned himself above her, and for a moment she could see his face and make out the look of tenderness...and something more. He reached a hand forward and cupped her face in a caress so tenderly. He looked at her as if she were some porcelain doll that might break into a thousand small pieces, should he not be careful. He traced his fingers down the side of her face and she closed her eyes, her shivers turned sweet and exciting. Her breath quickened, and the moon suddenly burst through the branches. When she opened her eyes, his mouth was a mere inch from hers. His breath became hers, when he finally kissed her.

God, the skin on her cheek was smooth. It was the first time they had made love
and he wanted it to be good. Her skin felt silky and cool, and he hadn’t realized the satiny texture of it. He couldn’t stop touching her, stroking the softness of her.
She had put on shorts before supper — said she found them in her old room
while making up the bed. She’d been away a long time and still she had clothes at home. His hand ran down the length of her beautiful legs, as soft and
inviting as the skin on her cheek had been.

He had felt homeless for a while now, with his parents gone, and he’d moved
clear across the country, leaving any relatives behind. But not now, with Jessie
in his arms he was home at last. He wanted to show her that tonight, to claim her for his own, not as a possession, but as the part that had eluded him, the one thing he needed to feel complete and whole.

He pulled back and gazed at her now. “You’re incredible, Jessie,” he whispered and kissed her again, almost with reverence.

She threaded both hands in his hair and pulled his head back. “Hey, what did I do to deserve that? That was a most beautiful kiss.”
He had tears in his eyes. She could see them glisten when he studied her.

“You deserve so much more than I’ll be able to give you, Jessie. But that won’t stop me from trying.”

Jessie laughed. “Oh, stop it. I’ll get a big head.”

He kissed her passionately, then pulled back and gazed in her eyes. The moon was shining straight into them. “Let’s not talk anymore. I just want to love you tonight. We’ll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”

That was fine by Jessie. She closed her eyes and let him touch her, caress
her. She barely felt his fingers when he laid open her blouse. But she felt them now, as he traced them over her erect nipples. Leaning into her, his lips sought one nipple then the other. Jessie squirmed beneath him. Suddenly she heaved uncontrollably and her hips rose to careen into him.

He took it as a positive move and squeezed her shoulders, pulling her into him even deeper. They were almost like one now, except for the technicality of joining body and soul. Kent began, and Jessie joined him in stripping away the clothing.

She felt the breeze, but it didn’t cool her. Nothing could cool down the passion she was feeling for him now. His kisses were wilder than before, more demanding than ever, driving her insatiably further into his embrace.

If Kent had ever imagined loving someone like Jessie, he had never been able
to take the fantasy far enough, for a dream could never compare to the reality he was experiencing at that moment. Her body seemed almost electrified, and he felt the shocks coming off her. His own body was in a state of rigid pleasure, and if he didn’t do something about it soon, he might explode.

Sensing his urgency, Jessie cupped her hands around him. She moved her body closer still and took him inside her.

The passion of their bodies blended as he rose and fell above her, plunging then pulling away, to return again deeper, hoping with each thrust that he was satisfying her the way she truly deserved to be.

Jessie might as well have been on the moon, rather than beneath it, for she was unable to comprehend the space around her. Nothing existed except the pleasure she was experiencing, the feel of him, the blissful euphoria of their joining. She heard him moan and felt his body stiffen. After a time he wilted into her arms, his tears lay across her breasts and she comforted his cries. Then, silence.

****

Jessie and Kent stayed in Wakefield until Sunday.
Back at Jessie’s apartment on Sunday night, Kent offered to take the garbage out for her. While he was out, Jessie wondered if her brother had e mailed her yet. It certainly seemed odd that Alan would act like he did concerning their mother. Turning on the computer shook her a bit when she recalled the horrible message found there before. But she and Liz had checked later and found nothing. She had also checked a couple of times during the week, while Kent was in the apartment and found nothing. Tonight’s search turned up no mail waiting for Jessie. Half relieved but half concerned over her brother’s lack of concern, she shut the computer down.
Later, after Kent had left for home, she called Liz.

“How’s your mother doing, Jessie?”

“She looks tired and weak, but Sandra’s doing a great job keeping her spirits up.”

“And...how was the weekend...with Kent?”

Jessie laughed. “Frustrating at first.”

“Frustrating? What do you mean?”

“Planning to be in the same house, but sleeping in different beds. I just knew I’d lie awake wondering if he was sleeping — you get the picture.”

“Uh-huh. Then why did you do it?”

Jessie hesitated. “ Do what?”

“Why did you restrain yourself. Like, no one would know.”

“Sandra has a key. And I wouldn’t put it past her to walk in right in the middle of the night. Anyway, it didn’t seem right, not in my parents’ house.”

“How did Kent feel?”

“He was okay with it.”

“Then you haven’t...”

Jessie giggled. Liz was such a curious George. “No, we haven’t,” she lied. She hated lying to Liz, but it was too uncomfortable talking about it to her. She wished she had not even mentioned the earlier frustration and all that had followed. The love she had shared with Kent under the willow tree would remain between the two of them. It was private and special.

“Then there’s still a chance for me? Remember, may the best woman win.”

Jessie had thought Liz had given up. Now those words made her worry. She felt uncomfortable talking to Liz about Kent. She had to draw back. Liz was still after him.

“I’m sorry, Liz. I shouldn’t be going on like this. It’s not right talking about this
with you, considering how you feel about Kent.”

“Ah, forget it. I’m only joking. Seems you’ve claimed him. I’m the loser.”

Jessie shook her head as she undressed later for bed. She wished and hoped Liz
meant what she’d said on the phone, that she was the loser and that she’d finally given up on Kent. And Jessie wanted to have her friend back to talk girl talk with.
Just before retiring Jessie checked her mail again, hoping for a message from Alan. She was reluctant to call him again and start up the old feud on the phone. Instead another message appeared.

Your mother’s ill health may lead to death. It may not be the only one. Be
watchful, Pet. Walk with both arms swinging and watch out for your friends. Someone will deceive you, if you’re not careful.

Jessie’s breath caught. “My God,” she gasped. She clicked delete and the screen cleared. She couldn’t bear to see it again. But erasing the message didn’t calm her fluttering heart. She leaped up and drew all the drapes, checking the locks again just like she’d done the day she’d found out that Gary Burke had been following her. It had crossed her mind that Gary Burke could have sent the first message out of revenge of some sort. He seemed kind of weird anyway. But now she dismissed him. How would he know about her mother? Or would he? Jessie crawled into bed imagining the stalker near by — watching her every move.

On Monday when aerobic classes were finished, Jessie checked the carpet runners
and racks along the walls for any forgotten bags, clothing or towels that might clutter up the area for the cleaners. She spied a step-up in the centre of the room and walked out to retrieve it. It certainly wasn’t one of theirs. All their step-ups, along with the other equipment, were brand new when the club opened. The step-up she was heading for was old and battered. Many feet had tramped it that way. One of the clients must have forgotten it. She picked it up and turned it over searching for a name somewhere. Nothing. Well, she’d throw it in the storage room until someone claimed —

Jessie whipped her head around and glared at the ceiling. Hairs pricked on the back of her neck. It had sounded almost like an explosion, only the sound was higher pitched and popping. Then an eruption of glass and ceiling board shattered in her ears. A sick helplessness washed through her. For an instant she couldn’t move. Her feet felt riveted to the floor. Flying glass shards rained through the air. A huge slice of fractured glass crashed just a few feet from her. The thudding sound jolted her into action. She sprinted for the nearest doorway and flung herself on the hall floor.

“Are you all right?” an anxious voice questioned.

Slowly, Jessie uncurled her body and tested her unsteady feet. She looked up to see Tom, one of the cleaning crew. A great sob burst from her lips, and the maintenance man laid a large hand on her shoulder. “You’re safe now, Miss Albright. Take it easy.” He patted her arm gently trying to comfort her.

Jessie brushed at her clothes and pulled away from his touch. She felt nauseated.
Two other employees were now in the big room staring at the gaping wound in the ceiling. Jessie gazed at the string of hanging wires protruding from the ceiling hole where the large fluorescent light once was. A low shriek escaped from within her when she thought of what could have been. One of the men walked towards her shaking his dark curly head in amazement. “You sure are lucky, Miss,” he marvelled.