Everything I Do-Chapter 9

 

"I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have you back here in Port Charles," Mac said to Miranda who sat across from him.

She reached over and placed a hand over his. "I can’t tell you how good it is to be back. I have so many special friends here, and I really missed you all."

Mac smiled. "So, do you consider me one of your special friends. I’m glad to hear that, you know, considering everything that has happened between us."

"I know," she said returning his smile. "But, I realize why you did everything that you did. I told you, I don’t hold you responsible for any of that. You are my friend, Mac. I think that you have proven that to me."

He nodded. "I understand that, but it seems that I still won’t be able to do enough to prove myself worthy of your forgiveness or your friendship. That’s kind of odd, isn’t it?"

She laughed. "Yes, it is," she said taking a drink of her water. *But,* she thought, *that’s what I’m counting on.*

*****

"Keesha," Jax said looking up when she came into his office. "I wasn’t expecting to see you today."

"I know," she said going over to him. "I was in the building, so I thought that I would stop by. I’ve missed you," she said bending down to kiss him. "And, I’ve missed this."

"Me, too," he smiled. "I thought you had sworn off of seeing me until you had everything done. Don’t tell me that you’re finished."

She nodded. "Yes, I brought your handbook," she said reaching into her bag. "I have also brought my completed thesis for your approval."

He took the items. "You have done very well. How did you get this all finished so fast?"

"It’s called motivation. I went to the Wired Café, and basically locked myself in until I finished everything, or at least finished, anyway. I have a few more things to do."

"I will be sure to devour you paper, but I have to admit that I would much rather devour you," he said pulling her down on his lap.

"Well, we will just see what we can do about that. Perhaps I can pencil you in for tonight. Are you up for that?"

"Always," he smiled. "So, when do you think that you will have completed whatever this assignment is that keeps you from me?"

She shrugged. "I don’t know. It shouldn’t take long. I’m getting fitted for my wedding gown today. So, I think that takes precedence over everything else, don’t you agree. You wouldn’t want me to postpone that, now would you?" she asked teasing him.

"No, please don’t do that. So, what does it look like? Don’t I get at least a little hint?" he asked.

She smiled and shook her head. "No, not even a little hint. Now, I really must fly," she said getting up. "I’m starting to sound like Lucy," she laughed.

"I know," he agreed. "It’s a little scary, isn’t it? Make sure you call me," he said.

"Okay," she said bending down to kiss him good-bye. "I really have to go," she said when he pulled her down for another kiss.

"You’ll have to give me a little more than that to tide me over until tonight," he teased her.

"Jax," she said pleading. "I don’t want to be late. It doesn’t look good for the bride to be late to her own fitting. So, if you really want to get married, you’re going to have to let me go. Now, I’ll see you later; I promise. Bye," she said walking towards the door.

"I love you," he said before she left.

"And I love you, too," she smiled and closed the door.

*****

"A couple more minutes, and you would have been late," Lucy told Keesha as she rushed her back to the fitting room. "Everyone is here already."

"I’m sorry I’m so late," she started to explain as she entered the room with the other ladies. "I went by J&J Jacks to drop off some work, and then I paid Jax a little visit."

"So," Lady Jane started with humor in her voice, "my son is the culprit that made you late. There is just something about those Jacks men that women just can’t resist, even if it means not being on time for a wedding gown fitting. They have already brought our dresses out," she said taking hers down from the rack and showing it to Keesha. "They are very lovely; you have wonderful taste."

She fingered the material and smiled. "Thank you," she murmured. Everything had just been paper before, but now she was touching an actual dress. "Everything seems so real now," she said looking around at her friends gathered there with their dresses.

"I know, it does doesn’t it," Jane said smiling as well. She came over and gave Keesha a hug. "I’m glad that it’s real now. I cannot wait until you are an official member of our family, because be sure we already consider you one."

"Thank you," she said returning the hug and letting the tears fall from her eyes.

"No crying," Carly said coming over to where they stood still hugging. "Come on, Keesh, this is supposed to be a fun and happy occasion. I will not have you crying, you, too, Grandma," she said patting her on the back.

"Carly’s right," Jane said letting go and wiping at her own eyes. It had been so long since Jax had been happy. It hurt her to see her youngest son so sad and worn down by Brenda. She was overjoyed that he finally found someone that build him up and made him happy. "No more tears."

"Right," Carly said laughing. "Now, let’s all get changed so that we can get to what we’re all dying to see anyway, Keesha’s dress."

After the fitting, the women went their separate ways. Jane noticed that Keesha stayed back and stood looking at her dress. She noticed that Keesha had been quiet the entire time they were there. "What’s wrong?" she asked lightly patting her back.

She shrugged. "Nothing, really. I just don’t know. Something doesn’t seem to be right."

"You aren’t having second thoughts about marrying Jax are you? He’s not that bad, really, he isn’t," she joked hugging her around the shoulders. "Now, please tell me what doesn’t seem right."

She smiled. "Oh, I don’t think that I could ever have second thoughts about marrying your son. It’s not like I haven’t had plenty of time to get to know him really well. It’s not him," she shook her head. "It’s everything; it’s the circumstances. You know that Miranda is returning, if she hasn’t already."

She nodded. "Yes, Jerry did mention that. No one really knows why she’s back, but why should that concern you? She and Jax were over a long time ago."

"I know, but something just doesn’t seem right about it. Then, there’s Brenda. She wants him back, you know. I’m prepared to give her a fight, but I just don’t feel that I should have to. Jax and I have waited a long time to be together, and although I knew that it wouldn’t be completely smooth sailing, we shouldn’t have any large worries."

Jane nodded. "I know, but you have to realize that Brenda is not a treat to you. Jax loves you; I know that he would never leave you for Brenda. Do you have plans for dinner tonight? John and I would love for you to join us."

She smiled. "Thanks, and I would really love to take you up on your offer, but…"

"But, my son has given you a better offer," she finished for her laughing. "Of course, we taught Jax how to give a better deal than the competition, and it seems that we have taught him well."

She sighed. "Yes, you have. It’s been a while since we really spent any time together. Actually we were together more when he was just my best friend. Funny how things work, isn’t it? Well, I suppose I need to get home so that I can get ready for tonight."

"Isn’t that cute," Jane said as they walked towards Keesha’s car. "We make sure that we’re presentable for our significant others, and then when we’re married, they see us at our worse anyway. It makes me wonder why we go through all the trouble anyway."

Keesha laughed as she unlocked her car door. "Very true, you are quite a wise woman. Maybe I should just show up over there in a house dress and curlers so that he can see what I’m really like."

"Knowing my son, he would just love you even more for it. Well, you two have a wonderful night," she said giving her a hug. "Remember, the more grandchildren, the better."

"You have a good night, too, and I’ll be sure to keep that in mind," she promised her laughing. "Thanks for listening."

"Anytime," she said walking away towards her limo.

Keesha nodded her head and got into her car. The Jacks were wonderful people, and she couldn’t wait to become a part of their family.

*****

Keesha stood in front of the window with the small picture in her hand. She smiled as she looked through the window and up at the stars. She really needed to tonight, just being with Jax seemed to make everything better.

"Here is your wine," he said joining her at the window and handing her the glass. "What’s that?" he asked noticing her quickly folding and putting the picture into the pocket of her robe.

"Nothing to concern yourself with," she said sweetly as she walked away from the window and to the bed.

"Right," he said smiling and joining her. "How did the fitting go? I am assuming that picture was a likeness of your dress."

"And you would assume correctly. Everything went well. Except that I cried when I first got there, and I had a long talk with your mother afterwards about my melancholy mood. It’s your fault you know."

"My fault? How is it my fault? You’re not pregnant, are you, and suffering from extreme mood swings? Because if you are, I will take full credit."

She smiled. "No, hardly not. I missed being with you," she said placing her glass on the bedside table and reclined against him. "And, that coupled with seeing the dresses, that just sent me over the edge. Everything seemed so real. I think that I’m going to be a complete mess when we finally do get married."

"We cannot have that," he said reaching over to put down his own glass on the table on his side of the bed. He smoothed the hair back from her face. "Our wedding will be a happy occasion with lots of laughing, not crying. You know how much we love to laugh, Keesha." She looked up at him, and he smiled down at her. "Our wedding and our marriage will be wonderful, I promise you that."

"Okay, I believe you," she said shifting to her side. She tried to stifle a yawn. "You know, I’ve been looking forward to spending some time together all day, but I’m exhausted," she laughed.

"Oh, I don’t think that was your intention at all," he teased her. "I think that you are merely using me for my body, and once you’ve gotten what you want, all you want to do is sleep. You’re not interested in talking to me at all, all you want it sex."

She laughed sleepily. "So, you’ve figured me out. Yeah, Jax, you’re just my little sex-slave. I really don’t even have to marry you for that, do I?"

"Oh, I think that you do. I don’t come cheap," he laughed with her. "My love looks very tired, and her bantering sounds sleepy, too. Go to sleep my love," he said sliding down further in the bed taking her with him.

"Good-night," she said placing her head on his chest and an arm around his waist.

"Good-night to you, too," he said reaching up to turn off the lamp.

*****

Carly came out of Michael’s room and turned off the light and shut the door. It had been a very long day, and Michael just didn’t want to fall asleep. She groaned when she thought about the pile of dirty dishes waiting for her in the kitchen from her little attempt at making dinner. She laughed when she thought about the look Keesha would have on her face if she saw the mound of dishes.

The knock at the door halted her walk to the journey. She looked at the time and wondered who would be coming there this late. Jason hadn’t said anything about coming over when she talked to him earlier. She opened the door and seeing who it was, tried to close the door again.

"Caroline," he said. "Is that any way to treat a guest?" Gerard walked into the apartment and looked around. "A step up from where you once were, I must say."

"What are you doing here?" she said closing the door. "Why are you in Port Charles anyway?"

He shrugged. "I’m on vacation. I must say that you achieved your goal. You’ve found your mother, correct?"

She folded her arms and studied him. "Yes, I have, what of it. As a matter of fact, I’ve found my father, too."

"Really, I didn’t know that you even wanted to find him. Did you use your resourcefulness and money in finding him, because you surely didn’t have mine."

She rolled her eyes. Smiling, she said, "I do have my ways, but luckily I didn’t have to use any of them. I found out my father is Jerry Jacks. I’m sure you heard of him."

"You said that Jerry Jacks is your father," he said musing. "Well, isn’t that something. Caroline Benson is a Jacks." He smiled at her again. "Good night, Carly," he said moving to leave. "I’ll contact you again when I need you."

"Need me for what?" she said opening the door.

"Don’t worry about that just yet, Caroline. I’ll contact you," he said leaving.

She closed the door behind him and leaned against it. She couldn’t let her past come back to haunt her now. She took a deep breath and went over to the kitchen.

next
home