She Belongs to Me (45 page)

“Me too,” Bobby agreed.

“So…where’s
John
?” Jordan hissed.

Jordan watched the confusion crease Bobby’s
forehead
, unmistakably noticing the sneer in his tone as he asked where John was. Apparently, John hadn’t told him everything.

“He had me drop him off at his house; he was in a hurry to get to Lorraine. I wanted to go too, but he asked me to come here instead and let you know what happened. He assured me he’d let us know if anything changed in her condition.”

This news surprised Jordan. If Ronny was in custody, then there was no reason for John to be anxious to see Lorraine, maybe he was just trying to appease Jordan, lessen the beating he was going to get.

Bobby rested his bearlike hand on Jordan’s shoulder. “Why don’t you get cleaned up, eat some real food and get some rest? Jaynee looks as if she’s
gonna
be out awhile, but I’ll sit with her all night if you want.”

Jordan didn’t like the idea of going home alone and leaving Jaynee. But Bobby was right, and Jaynee had told
him he looked awful. It wouldn’t do any good for them to both be sick.

“Okay,” he acquiesced, standing up. “But, can I go to your house instead? It’s a lot closer, and I don’t want to return home alone.” He thought of the mess he probably had to clean up and grimaced. He leaned over Jaynee to kiss her goodnight and then turned to walk out of the room.

“Sure, bro. I’ll call Melissa and tell her you’re on your way.” He paused for a second. “Oh
,
and, Jordan…” Jordan looked over his shoulder at his giant, but gentle brother-in-law. “It’s safe to go home. When Melissa picked up Boomer, she took care of everything.”

“Thanks, Bobby. You’re the best brother a man could have.” Jordan walked out of the hospital room. Exhausted as he was, he still couldn’t help but feel incredible. His wife was going to be okay, and hopefully soon, he’d be a father. It’d been a rough two months, but in the end, life was good.

Of course, he still had to deal with John. He’d look forward to that little bit of aggression release.

63

Epilogue

Two weeks after the accident—as Jordan liked to refer to it—Jaynee was out of the hospital, but not before taking a pregnancy test. She was right, of course; she was pregnant. Once again, Jordan felt as if he was the happiest man in the world.

He kept his promise and gave his Captain his two-week resignation to quit the police force. Not willing to leave her side during her recovery though, he took advantage of his comp and vacation days and only showed up on the last morning for a going-away breakfast, consisting of bagels and doughnuts, thrown by his coworkers. Money wasn’t an issue. His construction company was booming, Jaynee had a book deal, which would bring in a little money, and she never let him spend money on her anyway, so they had more than enough savings.

Convicted on two accounts of attempted murder and one account of conspiracy to commit murder, Ronny received the maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, which meant he’d be out in seven to ten. Jordan figured there was no concern though. He knew Ronny didn’t hold a grudge against him or Jaynee. It was Rachael he hated. Jordan was certain when he did get released, he’d hightail it out of the area faster than you
could beat a stick. He probably figured Jordan would seek revenge for his crimes against them.

Jordan decided, as sick as it sounded, if Ronny attempted repentance, he’d set him up in another state with enough money to start his own business. Jaynee, obviously, thought he was crazy…maybe he was. But he figured if his Savior could forgive, then so should he.

Jordan also located Brian in Florida through information he received from Len
Powe
and offered him a deal as well because of his gratitude for protecting Jaynee.

Brian scoffed at Jordan. “I don’t need a handout,” he protested but listened when Jordan assured him he wasn’t about to handover anything, instead, he would offer him an opportunity he
’d
never received.

Brian was a latchkey kid because his mother worked two jobs to support them, and he had grown up around drug users and the worst society could offer. He’d been in and out of detention homes since he was thirteen. Though Jordan felt there was no excuse for choosing to lead a criminal or immoral life no matter your circumstances, he decided to give Brian a chance to prove, if given the opportunity, he could make something of himself.

Jordan explained to Brian he would not give him money but would pay for his college if he chose to finish.

Reluctantly, Brian agreed
;
he was shocked but grateful. Jordan never told Jaynee what he did for Brian and was relieved that other than a couple of phone calls of thanks, Brian did not attempt to contact either of
them. His last call had been when he was at his four-year mark.

Brian informed Jordan how he had met a girl—“Get this,” he explained to Jordan on the phone, his voice ecstatic. “She’s a preacher’s daughter…she helped me make Christ the center of my life, and we’re planning to be married right after I graduate in the spring.”

Jordan, thrilled by his conversion but apathetic about Brian’s insistence Jaynee and he come to his wedding, promised to consider it objectively. Brian understood and thanked him again for giving him a chance, telling Jordan, he now understood the power of forgiveness and why Jordan offered him this gift.

Because of the time John spent with Lorraine while she was recovering, Jordan never did get an opportunity to deliver the beating he intended.

Then when John confessed his feelings about Lorraine, Jordan couldn’t mess his face up. Instead, the next time they sparred, he held back nothing, and even through the pads John wore, he knew he’d have bruises for weeks.

Lorraine’s near-death experience enabled John to realize how he’d always felt about her. Lorraine, however, took a little convincing. She couldn’t comprehend how John was ever going to stop his womanizing. He assured her he could be patient and would prove his love. They’ll celebrate their third wedding anniversary in two months and their son’s first birthday in three.

And today was, as always, Jordan’s favorite day of the week.
Though now that he wasn’t a detective
anymore, he could sleep in any day.
It was Jaynee who woke up at the crack of dawn, but only because she insisted on doing everything.

She
spoiled
him. So he decided she deserved a little spoiling this morning. He brushed her hair back off her neck and planted tiny kisses down her throat.

“
Mmm
,” Jaynee murmured.

“Good morning, my love…did you want to sleep in, or can I interest you—”

His words were broke off by a tiny knock and then a whimper behind their bedroom door. “Mommy….” Justin whined. “Johanna won’t share.”

Unfortunately, their four-year-old twins had other ideas for Sunday mornings.

Jaynee tilted her head up toward the door to hear her son. “What is it, Justin…what won’t Johanna share?”

“The remote to the TV,” the little voice answered.

“For the love of—” Jordan started, but Jaynee placed her fingertips over his lips. He continued anyway, “There are three televisions in this house. Don’t make me come out there,” he shouted playfully. They both heard giggling and scampering as the two retreated from their door.

“See,” Jaynee teased. “You can’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He nuzzled his head between her jaw and shoulder. “I know,” he said between kisses.

She giggled as his breath tickled her neck. “But they’re worth it.”

Jordan shrugged and continued his trail of seductive kisses. “Most of the time,” he whispered.
“When they don’t interrupt my attempts to spoil you.
Where was I?”

Almost ten years and Jaynee still felt the familiar thrill soar through her body. “I think you were here.” She pulled his hand around her waist.

“We probably don’t have very long,” he groaned.

“That’s okay. We’ll wear the kids out today, and you can take your time tonight,” she suggested.

Jordan’s eyes widened, and his breathing accelerated. “That’s all I needed to hear, Mrs. Monroe.” He pulled her closer, tightening his grip around her. “I love you,” he crooned.

“I love you too, Jordan, forever.” She kissed him back fervently then pulled back. “Oh, incidentally,” she said. “I was thinking.”

Jordan pulled back a few inches, narrowed his eyebrows and gazed into her eyes warily. It was unusual for her to stop him when he kissed her. She laughed at his expression.

He held his breath. “Yes, what is it, Jaynee?”

She waited, allowing him to reflect for a moment.

“You’re killing me, you know how I hate—” he grumbled.

She smiled and wiggled herself under his body to get exactly where she wanted. “Well, it’s the office. I don’t think we need it anymore. Since I can’t do any work in there and leave the twins alone downstairs to their own devices. And it takes up the entire back of the house. So I
was thinking maybe we could remodel it into two rooms instead.”

“Two rooms?
What in the world would we do with two additional rooms, if we didn’t need an office?” He shook his head in confusion. “Why would you want—” He stopped midsentence.

He bolted upright, staring at her, waiting. They hadn’t been trying, but they hadn’t been trying to not get pregnant either, and they were starting to get worried. She was thirty-two and he was thirty-seven, and Jordan really wanted more children.

“Jaynee, are you saying? Are you pregnant? Are you positive? How far along are you?” His face went from a curious countenance to a thrilled expression in a matter of seconds.

She grinned widely, delighted by his excitement. “Yes, yes and yes and about six weeks. You always were a top-notch detective, Mr. Monroe.”

He jumped out of bed with a hoot and a holler.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going? I wasn’t finished yet.”

“Oh, sorry,” he said, jumping back beside her even more enthused than before. He kissed her hands, her neck and then her belly. Lightly touching the soft flesh then stopped. “Two rooms?” he asked. “Twins again?”

She nodded.

Jordan sighed, and a glorious look washed over his face. He rolled over on his side and pulled her with him. He cupped her face as he kissed her, then his hand moved to caress her hair down her back.

Jaynee could tell he wasn’t going to go any further this morning. So she curled up in his arms. She could wait until tonight. She sighed with complete contentment as he automatically pulled her closer.

“Happily ever after, love,” he whispered, kissing her softly again.

And they lived…

Life isn’t always happily-ever-after, rather, loving forever, regardless.

— Carmen
DeSousa

63

“Walter,” his mother whispered as she opened his door.

She hadn’t entered his bedroom in years. He cringed as he awaited more of her wrath.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, sitting down gracefully on the edge of his bed. “It wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry I hit you.”

He puckered his lips and sniffed as he attempted to retain the tears. “
It’s
okay, Mom. It was my fault. Everything was my fault.”

She sighed. She couldn’t deny the legitimacy of his words. “I love you, Walter, and I’m sorry for everything. Sorry I haven’t been a better mother, a better person. But, I wanted to wish you a goodnight.”

She kissed him on the forehead and then left without another word, pulling the door closed behind her. She never apologized. Why would she start now?
Especially when she wasn’t responsible.

Walter rolled over, drew his legs in tight and repositioned himself into a ball. He wished he could
change the past, wished he had never returned, wished they had locked him away forever. It
was
his fault;
everything
was his fault. He wished he’d never been born. Only fifteen and he had already ruined his life.

Hours later he heard his father creep into his bedroom, no doubt checking that he
’d
remained home as he’d ordered him.

How could his father have worked after everything that happened? His way of retreating from reality, Walter imagined. His father had been a physician for years; he didn’t have to take after-hours emergency calls. He could have allowed one of his interns to take the midnight-calls. He owned the practice for God’s sake.